Resolution for Srebrenica, sir. US Ambassador to the UN: Sinjal to nations that experienced genocide, that such atrocities will not be repeated

US Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Robert Wood said the resolution on genocide in Srebrenica represents an important signal to Bosniaks and other nations worldwide that such atrocities will not repeat.

It's a stain on the international conscience. It is up to us to show that we have not forgotten people, Bosnia and other nations who have experienced similar types of massacres and genocide”, Wood told the Voice of America at United Nations headquarters.

He stressed that this resolution is most important for the Bosnian people.

It's a way to end the terrible events of that period. There are parties that do not share our opinion on the solution and effect we are trying to achieve. It is unfortunate, but on the other hand, we think it is important for all and the Bosnian people to end up in some way. In fact, this will never happen to those who have lost family members”, American diplomat Wood said.

The United Nations General Assembly will review the proposal for the resolution on Srebrenica and express its opinion on the draft of that document on Thursday, May 23.

The session will be held at 10:00 with the American hour, or 1600 with Central European times.

With the resolution on Srebrenica, July 11th would be proclaimed International Day of Memory for the genocide committed against Bosniaks in that area during the war on Bosnia and Herzegovina's territory from 1992 to 1995.

As specified by the Voice of America in the United Nations, a simple majority of members of the General Assembly, which usually reaches 97 countries from 193 total, is required for approval of the draft resolution.

When it comes to drafting the text of the document that had access to the Voice of America, the changes that were proposed by states during consultation should be included in the prembula paragraphs, while the key paragraphs remain unchanged.

Also for Voice of America, it was confirmed that the final version of the draft resolution should include a provision marking the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica.

“in which they lost at least 8,372 lives, thousands were displaced and families and communities destroyed”, the draft text said.

The period before the debate and planned vote was marked with consultations at UN headquarters, active lobbies from lawyers and opponents, as well as sharp statements by Russian-led critics, Serbs and representatives of the Bosnian-hercegovian entity Republika Srpska.

Russia strongly opposes, demanding the withdrawal of this document. In New York, in co-ordination with Serbia, he lobbies actively for it.

Official Belgrade, despite the existence of several international courts' judgments, which proved that genocide against Bosniaks had been committed in Srebrenica in 1995, does not recognise this and characterises the event as a crime of mass proportions.

The International Court of Justice in The Hague, in a 2007 trial brought by Bosnia and Herzegovina's indictment against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, ruled the responsibility of Serbia, which according to the court é not preventing and condemning the crime and genocide in Srebrenica in July 1995, while the same indictment directly committed the genocide of the Republika Srpska Army and police.

With that conviction, the mass killings of more than 8,000 citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina's nationality were determined as genocide and proven that then authorities in Belgrade did not commit, participated in or encouraged the execution of genocide during the war. to Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1992 to 1995.

Former Republika Srpska President Radovan Karadzic and former Republika Srpska Army Commander Ratko Mladic were sentenced to life imprisonment.

The resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly are not binding, but they are interpreted as having political weight and reflect the views of the members of that body on the matter or topic on which they are approved.