Agius: Recognition of genocide in Srebrenica would bring peace to the region

Some key and touching messages from the speech held by President Carmel Agius at the funeral in Srebrenica were posted on the official web site of the ICTY.

- A fundamental part of any reconciliation process is justice, President Agius said, adding that “justice alone is not enough“.

He pointed out that an open communication and exchange between ethnic groups are crucial for reconciliation. Members of different communities ought to jointly acknowledge the past, pay respect to victims and work together to ensure that such horrific crimes never happen again.

Turning to the role of the Tribunal, President Agius underlined its significance in uncovering the truth about what happened in Srebrenica 21 years ago.

- I stand before you proud that the ICTY has incontrovertibly established that genocide did occur here, in Srebrenica, in July 1995, and that it has prosecuted and convicted a number of key figures responsible for it.

He added that the Tribunal’s contribution has enabled decisive rejection of the attempts to deny what happened, strengthened determination to preserve the memory and helped efforts to strive for peace and reconciliation.

- Only by fully acknowledging the past can we achieve a future of true and lasting reconciliation, President Agius said and added:

- The victims of Srebrenica would only find peace when they know they have not been forgotten; that their cruel and untimely death has somehow served to foster and secure a peaceful coexistence among all ethnic groups of this great country; that justice has been done; and that there is a commitment never to have another Srebrenica again, President Carmel Agius said in his speech in Potocari.