Podgorica: Commemoration of July 11th at the Memorial Park in Pobrežje

(Patria) - Organized by the Bosniak Council in Montenegro, the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Genocide in Srebrenica is being commemorated today at the memorial park in Pobrežje in Podgorica.

Representatives of the Bosniak Party, the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), Social Democrats (SD), Social Democratic Party (SDP), and the Liberal Party (LP) are attending the commemoration of July 11th, as well as citizens laying wreaths at the memorial.

The President of the Bosniak Council, Suljo Mustafić, stated that Srebrenica is the saddest word in our language, and Potočari is the largest cemetery in our history.

"Today, 14 civilians are being buried in Potočari, and remembrance overcomes transience. The highest international body, the UN General Assembly, has partially eased our pain with a resolution," Mustafić pointed out.

He says they expect the chapter on Srebrenica to be part of the educational system, believing it will not remain just words, but that the war crimes will be fundamentally condemned.

"We expect state institutions to prepare for the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide next year. Any denial of genocide leaves open wounds," Mustafić warns.

The Mayor of Podgorica, Olivera Injac, emphasizes that the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia have deeply wounded our region.

"Remembering the victims in Srebrenica is part of our history that we must not forget or suppress. Srebrenica is a symbol of pain and suffering and reminds us of all the horrors of war. By commemorating the victims, we show our intention for society to be built on reconciliation and solidarity. May this day remind us of the fragility of peace and the work to preserve it. May it never happen again to anyone," Injac said.

Elizabeta Mrnjavčević from the Action for Human Rights (HRA), on behalf of 76 non-governmental organizations, appealed for July 11th to be declared a day of remembrance for the genocide in Srebrenica and for schools to teach about this event and Montenegro's participation in the wars of the 1990s.

"As a society, we must work to ensure that such evil never happens again," Mrnjavčević states.