In Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday, on the 28th anniversary of the genocide committed in Srebrenica, a commemoration was traditionally held to nurture the culture of memory and not forget the crimes of the genocide in Srebrenica, reports Anadolu.
Several hundred persons of BiH origin and their French and Swiss friends gathered to honor the innocent victims of the genocide in Srebrenica in front of the “Broken Chair” on the United Nations (UN) Square in Geneva.
Yesterday, the remains of 30 victims of the genocide committed in July 1995 against the inhabitants of the “UN protected zone” in Srebrenica were buried in the cemetery of the Memorial Center in Potočari. So far, 6,721 victims of the genocide committed by the then Army of Republika Srpska under the command of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić against Bosniaks in Srebrenica have been buried. About 1,000 victims of the genocide are still being sought.
On Tuesday evening in Geneva, “Srebrenica Inferno” was performed by children and young people from six non-governmental organizations and associations of Bosnia and Herzegovina. citizens from Switzerland and France, while in front of the monumental stone with the inscription “Genocide in Srebrenica 11.07.1995”, which was placed in the UN park, white lilies and roses were laid.
From the association of BiH Diaspora was informed that strong messages were heard from Geneva last night.
“Participants of the commemoration loudly pronounced the words ‘Srebrenica’ and ‘Genocide’ in front of the UN, an international organization that at one time did not protect the UN security zone,” the statement said.
The participants paid tribute to the victims of the genocide in Srebrenica and conveyed messages of solidarity with the people of Podrinje, and emphasized that they will make sure that the truth about the events of the war is spread.
Emina Suljić, a lawyer and future lawyer with the Association of Bosniaks in Geneva, spoke about the crimes that took place in Srebrenica in 1995. She stated that Srebrenica must not be forgotten so that it does not happen again, and that forgetting and ignoring the genocide can only be fought with memory and education.
Džemal Tosunbegović from the Thonon Bosniak Association, Habul Muhamed from the Cluses Bosniak Association and Elvedin Menković from the Annecy Bosniak Association emphasized the importance of remembering and learning from previous mistakes so that Srebrenica never happens again to anyone.
Ajla Kuduzović from the White Ribbon Commission said that all Bosnians abroad remember, warn, and strive for progress and reconciliation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The founder of “Islamic Relief” Hany el-Banna was the guest of honor at the commemoration, he recalled the dangerous situations he experienced in Sarajevo during the delivery of aid.
“We didn’t have any money then, but we managed to collect something to support the people in Bosnia and we continue to support them to this day,” he said.
He emphasized that Bosniaks have the right to live with dignity and in peace.
Counselor Dzeneta Halilović from the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Bern said that about 9,000 people were killed in the area of Srebrenica by the genocidal plan of extermination, and their remains have not yet been found. She expressed the hope that July 11 will be declared a day of mourning in Bosnia and Herzegovina, stating that the UN General Assembly should finally pass a resolution on the day of remembrance of the genocide in Srebrenica and the ban on denying the genocide.
She emphasized that the UN, through its organs and mechanisms, should carefully monitor and protect the judgments of the Hague Tribunal and that this should be visible in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region as a whole.
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