Montenegro escalates government crisis due to Srebrenica

Montenegro's Parliament approved on Thursday (17.06) with a two-thirds majority resolution recognising and condemning genocide in Srebrenica in 1995, in which more than 8,000 Bosniaks were killed. Through this resolution, which also prohibits public denial of existence or relativism of this genocide, July 11th is also announced the Day of Remembrance of Srebrenica Victims.

For the adoption of the resolution, which the opposition demanded, 55 MPs -- 40 from the opposition, but also 15 from the majority -- opposed were 19 from the ruling Democratic Front, 7 abstained. But there were also URA and the Democrats from the majority, following the adoption of their correction, that the blame for crimes in the wars of the 1990s cannot be attributed to any nation but is individual.

“I believe we have sent a clear signal that Montenegro is the centre of democracy in the region”, Bosniak party leader Ervin Ibrahimovic said, while the leader of Montenegro's Islamic community Rifat Fejzic said the support of two-thirds for the Srebrenica genocide resolution strengthens confidence in a brighter future and that such a Montenegro walks on a safe path towards the European Union. The resolution was welcomed by leading politicians in Sarajevo. Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency member Zeljko Komsic said it was an act of civilization and that Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia should do the same. At the same time, the resolution was strongly condemned in Serbia.