14th anniversary of the Srebrenica Memorial Center marked: 6,575 genocide victims laid to rest so far

The Srebrenica Memorial Center today marked 14 years since its opening. The commemoration was attended by the High Representative in BiH Valentin Inzko, the Vice-President of the BiH entity RS Ramiz Salkić, mothers of Srebrenica, representatives of Podrinje associations, Tuzla Mufti Vahid ef. Fazlović, reports the Patria agency. 

Tributes were paid to all victims of genocide and flowers were laid. To date, 6,575 genocide victims have been buried in the Memorial Center. The Srebrenica Memorial Center was officially opened by former US President Bill Clinton on September 20, 2003.

- The Memorial Center in Potočari has immeasurable importance for the present, but also for the future, for the future generations of our children, who must forever cherish the memory of the victims of the genocide against Bosniaks in the "UN protected zone," Salkić said. 

He stated that the white tombstones in Potočari, the tears of the survivors, and the number of those buried, serve as a daily reminder of our great obligation to constantly search for the bones of those killed in the genocide.

- We must search, use all permissible means, to find our loved ones and bury them here with dignity. We also use this day to call on neighbors and all those who know where the graves are to tell us, because only then will they distance themselves from the criminals who committed crimes in their name. Likewise, we must all contribute to truth and justice prevailing, and for the perpetrators of crimes to be punished. We call on the authorities to process criminals faster and search for the killed, witnesses to testify, and those who hide criminals and crimes to stop doing so. Because, whoever hides a grave, whoever hides those responsible and criminals, is an accomplice to the crime - stated Vice-President Salkić.

He emphasized that in the coming period, even greater efforts are needed to complete the entire complex of the Memorial Center as soon as possible.