Silence on Genocide Opens Space for New Fascism!

Serbia today has a government of the 1990s and media of the 1990s. More than 8,000 Bosniaks were killed in Srebrenica and we have people who remain silent about all of that, stated for the Bosnian news agency Patria (NAP) Enis Imamović, a member of the Serbian Parliament.

He surprised the public last week with a courageous appearance in the Serbian Parliament in Belgrade, when he used a parliamentary question to demand that the Serbian authorities declare their position on the genocide in Srebrenica. Earlier statements by President Tomislav Nikolić in which he denied the genocide were, he says in an interview with Patria, an additional reason to launch this initiative.

- I demanded a clear stance from Serbia on the issue of genocide. The silence we have had in recent years opens up a large space for the spread of nationalist ideas that are already encroaching on fascism. This is a fundamental issue of importance for the future of the entire region. That is why it is important that the highest officials and institutions in Serbia clearly and loudly state their position on the Srebrenica genocide – says Imamović for the Patria agency.

- Reality sends us clear warnings, such as nationalist outbursts, the most recent of which include the posting of posters supporting Ratko Mladić in Belgrade, thanking him for Srebrenica, as well as threatening slogans directed at Bosniaks in Sandžak, where the chant goes „Oh Pazar, new Vukovar, oh Sjenica, new Srebrenica“. This trend was started and nurtured in the RS, and we see that in recent months it has crossed over into Serbia. As a member of parliament for the SDA Sandžak, which is legally authorized to promote and protect the rights of Bosniaks in Serbia, it is my duty to react and demand a response from the state – emphasizes Imamović.

He reminds that Serbia is a candidate for membership in the European Union and must align its behavior and legislation with that of the European Union.

- And, the EU standard on the issue of Srebrenica in the European Union is clear. With the resolution adopted on July 7, 2005, July 11 was declared the Day of Remembrance for Bosniaks, victims of genocide. SDA Sandžak is a pro-European party that insists on the rapid European integration of Serbia, and consequently on the removal of all obstacles on that path – he adds.

He believes that Serbia today faces many obstacles, especially in the areas of human and minority rights, the rule of law, and equality before the law.

- A major obstacle for Serbia on its European path is certainly the current behavior of state institutions and officials regarding Srebrenica, which also represents an obstacle on the path to regional reconciliation and cooperation – he pointed out. Imanović states that this initiative is a debt and obligation towards future generations.

According to his words, he expects an official statement from Serbia's institutions on Srebrenica within the legal deadline of 15 days. The response should be given by the President of the Parliament, Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić, the public prosecutor, and the ministers of justice and police.

- Depending on those responses, we will see in which direction we will go towards one goal, and the goal is full respect for the victims of the genocide in Srebrenica and a clean slate on that issue that we leave to future generations of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. The goal is also to protect the citizens of Novi Pazar, Sjenica, and the entire Sandžak from the emergence and promotion of these and similar fascist ideas and threats. So, it is important that the perpetrators are found and adequately punished as an example to anyone who might in the future do something similar – says Imamović.

Asked whether he had any reactions after his appearance in the Serbian Parliament, Imamović says that several colleagues congratulated him, but that he is still waiting for an official reaction from the authorities.

- These are open questions and they should be discussed openly. We in the Serbian Parliament represent Bosniaks, and everything concerning Bosniaks is a trust we assumed in the elections. Srebrenica, as one of the greatest historical sufferings of all Bosniaks, should be the focus not only of Bosniak politicians and Bosniak intelligentsia, but also of the political representatives of the Balkan states, the EU, and the international community – said Imamović, as reported by NAP.