New York, United States – The United Nations has passed a resolution to establish an annual day of commemoration for the 1995 genocide of over 8,000 Bosnian Muslims by Bosnian Serbs, a decision that faced strong opposition from the Serbs who fear being labeled as supporters of mass killing, causing concerns among other nations about its impact on reconciliation efforts in Bosnia.
The resolution designates July 11 as the “International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica,” with the hope to honor the victims of the massacre. Despite not directly mentioning Serbs as the perpetrators, the resolution faced lobbying against it by Bosnian Serb President Milorad Dodik and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. Vucic expressed his disapproval of the resolution, stating that those responsible have already been convicted and sentenced, and adding that the resolution solely aimed to put blame on the people of Serbia and Republika Srpska.
The adoption of the resolution was met with mixed reactions, with Zeljko Komsic, the Croat member of Bosnia’s tripartite presidency, expressing support, along with family members of the Srebrenica victims, U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk, and many Western and Muslim nations. The United States, among over 40 co-sponsors, welcomed the resolution’s adoption, highlighting the importance of honoring the victims for a more peaceful and stable world.
The Srebrenica genocide in 1995 marked a brutal climax of Bosnia’s 1992-1995 war, fueled by nationalist sentiments and territorial ambitions. Despite denials from Serbia and Bosnian Serbs, two U.N. courts have established the events in Srebrenica as genocide, making it Europe’s first genocide since the Nazi Holocaust during World War II.
Germany played a crucial role in introducing the resolution, aiming to prevent the repetition of past crimes and to honor the memory of the Srebrenica victims. Menachem Rosensaft, an adjunct professor at Cornell Law School and son of Holocaust survivors, emphasized the moral and legal imperative of designating July 11 as a day of remembrance for the Srebrenica genocide victims.
The resolution marks a significant step towards acknowledging the atrocities committed in Srebrenica, emphasizing the importance of commemorating the victims and ensuring that such heinous acts are never repeated. This decision by the United Nations reflects a global commitment to justice and remembrance.