Večernji list publishes audio recording of interview with Minister Mektić

ZAGREB, (Patria) - BiH Minister of Security Dragan Mektić denied saying that "Serbs must go through catharsis and recognize the genocide in Srebrenica".

"Večernji list" edition for BiH published an interview with Minister Mektić on Saturday. When asked by a journalist: "As a Serb, do you believe that genocide was committed against Bosniaks in Srebrenica?", the answer stated: "Let's look at Germany, the German parliament apologized for the Holocaust again the other day. We Serbs must go through this catharsis and recognize the genocide. No one can commit crimes, like those in Srebrenica, in my name. These were committed by sick minds and those individuals should be prosecuted".

Mektić denied the claims of "Večernji list" today.

"I absolutely did not comment on that issue related to Srebrenica in that way, and I completely reject and deny it. I spoke about the crime in Srebrenica in the context of Milorad Dodik's statement, and that was partially stated in the interview, when I said that in the early 2000s Dodik publicly announced on television that it was completely clear to him and that it was unambiguous that genocide was committed in Srebrenica," Mektić told reporters in Sarajevo.

Mektić claims that in the interview he said that there were crimes on both sides, and that, referring to some statements by high-ranking Serbian authorities, a "terrible crime was committed in Srebrenica", "for which the Serbian people cannot be responsible, but rather individuals responsible for such crimes."

The editorial office of Večernji list published a part of the audio recording in which the Minister of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina answers the question about the genocide in Srebrenica. The recording can be heard saying that "Serbs must go through catharsis, that no one did it in the name of the Serbian people... it was not done by the Serbian people, but by sick minds, alienated from the people... who should be prosecuted."

Listen to the recording by clicking HERE