Strong message from activists in Belgrade: We will never forget the genocide in Srebrenica

(Patria) - On the occasion of the 28th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica, Women in Black, a non-governmental organization, and the Humanitarian Law Center organized a standing in black and silence this evening at Republic Square in Belgrade, from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM. On that occasion, a stage action titled “We will never forget the genocide in Srebrenica” was also performed.

As announced by the organization whose representatives are present in Potočari every year, the genocide in Srebrenica is the largest war crime in Europe after World War II.

"The regime of S. Milošević is an accomplice to the genocide by providing enormous political, military, and logistical-financial assistance to the Army of Republika Srpska. On this occasion, we remind that:
- The state of Serbia is the first and so far the only state in the world that has been declared responsible by the judgment of the International Court of Justice (2007) for violating the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
- In the Hague Tribunal, the individual criminal responsibility of a large number of members of Serbian armed formations and political institutions acting in the spirit of realizing the territorial project of Greater Serbia has been proven beyond any doubt, and the genocide in Srebrenica is part of that project.
- In Serbia, there is not only a continuity of denial but also a state policy of denying the genocide: the state of Serbia continues to protect war criminals because it is known who is in power: instigators and followers of crimes led by President A. Vučić. To the shame of this state and society, they take pride in crimes committed in our name, and therefore there is no justice for the victims, the prosecution of war crimes is practically suspended, and the public space is dominated by a lack of compassion for the victims of the genocide.

- The judgment of the Hague Tribunal (May 31, 2023) against former heads of the State Security Service of Serbia, Jovica Stanišić and Franko Simatović, confirmed the direct involvement of the Serbian regime in war crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. By shamefully silencing that judgment, the current regime once again shows a complete lack of responsibility and further insults the victims.

- Murals glorifying war criminal Ratko Mladić, convicted of genocide in Srebrenica, are still located throughout Serbia. This has completely exposed the regime - it has never condemned war criminals until now, and now it openly supports and protects them.

On this occasion, we demand:
- That the genocide in Srebrenica be recognized, primarily as respect for the dignity of the victims, and not just as one of the prerequisites on Serbia's path to accession to the European Union.
- That the president and all other state representatives stop denying the genocide and all other war crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina and beyond.
- That the denial of genocide and all crimes against humanity and war crimes be qualified as a criminal offense.
- That July 11 be declared the Day of Remembrance of the genocide in Srebrenica.
- That murals glorifying war criminal R. Mladić be removed.
- That the state of Serbia abandon the policy of causing regional instability by interfering in the internal affairs of neighboring countries, primarily Bosnia and Herzegovina," the statement said.