5 hours agoCommissioner Varhely, Serbia: There is no place in the EU for those who deny genocide
Periskopi(5 years ago)
(5 years ago)European Union Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbor Oliver Varhely today has participated through a video message in the commemoration of genocide victims at Srebrenica. He said there is no room in the European Union for those who deny genocide and praise war criminals, until he stressed that genocide did not exist only in Srebrenica, reports [...]
He said there is room in the European Union for those who deny genocide and praise war criminals, until he stressed that genocide did not exist only in Srebrenica, reports the Bosnian newspaper Avaz.
Varhely recalled that the 1995 terror in Bosnia was recognised by two international courts as genocide, while stressing that attempts to rewrite history are unacceptable.
“The events in Srebrenica were recognised as an act of genocide before two international courts. These confirmed facts must be accepted. There is no place in our Union to deny genocide and commend war criminals. Efforts to rewrite history are unacceptable. Political leaders in the Western Balkans must be an example to reject the root of hatred by overcoming the tragic legacy of the past. Their words and actions should bear a common vision for their citizens, the choice of truth and justice instead of fear and hatred is essential especially for new generations”, he said.
The European commissioner said the genocide did not happen only at Srebrenica, while stressed that Europe's s '%e has forgotten neither its responsibility nor its inability to prevent what happened in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995.
It is our joint duty today to remember the genocide in Srebrenica. We remember and honor the victims, share the grief of families and survivors. Europe has not forgotten our responsibility and our inability to prevent and stop war and genocide. It is also our duty to ensure responsibility, it is important to repeat the same message each year, Srebrenica is a constant reminder, our common responsibility not to commit genocide again. Therefore, it is our duty to remember Srebrenica forever, as it reminds us that genocide took place not only in Srebrenica but also elsewhere. There is no difference between genocide, genocide is genocide. Recent decisions by international courts have shown once again that authors cannot stand without punishment”, Varhely has said.
He said knowing the past helps us to make progress.
Bosnia and Herzegovina today marked the 26th anniversary of Serbia's genocide in Srebrenica. This massacre was the worst in Europe since World War II.
In July 1995, Bosnian Serb forces killed over 8 thousand Muslim men and boys in the Srebrenica enclave, which had been designated a secure “ ” country by the United Nations.
