Paris to get a monument to the victims of the Srebrenica genocide in July

(Patria) - A monument to the victims of the Srebrenica genocide will be opened in July at Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris, during the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the genocide.

Almost a year after the United Nations (UN) adopted the Resolution on the Srebrenica Genocide, the opening of a monument to the victims of the Srebrenica genocide has been confirmed in Paris, announced the Balkan Research Network of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIRN BiH).

The resolution was the decisive reason for the authorities of the French capital to approve the construction of the monument, at the initiative of the Association “International Solidarity BiH – France” (SIBH-France), the president of this association, Jacques-Olivier David, confirms for Detektor.

- The monument is expected to be installed at the beginning of July and officially opened on July 11 - states David, who says the initiative for its construction was submitted back in 2022.

The statement notes that Srebrenica Street has existed in Paris since 2016, marked by a plaque that speaks of the crime that occurred in this city in July 1995. The idea for the monument came after organizers of the genocide anniversary commemoration in Paris had for years pointed out to the authorities the fact that the commemoration site at the time was not appropriate and dignified for commemorating and honoring the victims.

After years of lobbying and discussions with government representatives, and seeking support from other related associations, SIBH-France received permission to build the monument in the renowned cemetery. Every year, this cemetery is visited by more than three million tourists due to its numerous monuments, as well as the fact that it is the final resting place of famous writers and artists.

- The monument project in the 20th arrondissement of Paris and the inclusion of the International Day of Remembrance of the Genocide in the Parisian memorial calendar were unanimously voted on by the attending councilors of the Paris Council - David explained to Detektor.

The monument to the victims of the Srebrenica genocide will be built next to the monument to the victims of the Rwandan genocide committed in 1994, when about 800,000 people were killed in that country, as well as other monuments, such as the one honoring French soldiers who died during World War II.

Following the approval of the city authorities, the preparation of the monument began in BiH, and the author will be sculptor Admir Halilović. The monument itself will have text about the genocide inscribed on it, as well as a map of BiH. An online fundraising campaign is underway to finance the creation, transport, installation, and maintenance of the monument.

In addition, the City of Paris has also contributed to the construction of the monument by donating the land on which it will be built.

The opening of this memorial will be the central part of this year's commemoration of the Srebrenica Genocide Day in Paris, which will be held at the end of June and the beginning of July. In addition, SIBH-France plans other program components within which the crime of genocide will be studied.

- During this day, there will be speeches, a continuous reading of the names of the 8,372 victims of the genocide, testimony from a survivor of the column, and a day of study on the qualification of the crime of genocide - adds David.

Traditionally, a peace march will be organized on the streets of Paris, starting from the Serbian embassy in France and proceeding all the way to the Republic Square, to remind of democratic values and the fight for their protection and promotion.

After the construction of the monument, SIBH's next activities will focus on changing the text currently on the plaque in Srebrenica Street, which states that the monument honors “victims of the massacre” – instead of genocide.

The Hague Tribunal, the Court of BiH, and the judiciaries in Serbia and Croatia have so far convicted a total of 54 people to 781 years and five life sentences – for genocide, crimes against humanity, and other crimes committed in Srebrenica in July 1995.

Through several judgments of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, it has been established that genocide was committed in Srebrenica in July 1995, in which more than 7,000 men and boys were killed, it was announced.