Srebrenica Genocide Cases Brought to Light Thanks to Courage of Victims

This was the opening message of a two-day international conference on the investigation, documentation and processing of genocide cases in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The conference was held in Sarajevo and was organized by the Association of Victims and Witnesses of Genocide.

The association’s president, Murat Tahirovic, said the conference was important because it provided an opportunity to discuss what has been done to determine the truth about war crimes committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina, twenty years after the Srebrenica genocide.

“We want to summarize what we’ve done over the course of the past 20 years since the establishment of the [Hague] Tribunal and the existence of courts in the region, which have also processed genocide cases, and to see what the future plans are in terms of processing crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Do we have enough results to stand in front of the victims and say, ‘Yes, we’ve achieved the response and results expected from us?’ Or are there still many more things that need to be done?” Tahirovic said.

Theodor Meron, the president of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) discussed the tribunal’s merits in uncovering the truth about war crimes committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“The tribunal made the first historical decisions on genocide in Srebrenica,” Meron said.

Chief Hague Tribunal prosecutor Serge Brammertz spoke about the process of demonstrating the genocide and a joint criminal enterprise in Srebrenica. He said systematic killing under the leadership of high-positioned leaders was committed in Srebrenica in July 1995.

“The Hague Tribunal has not fully investigated crimes and genocide. A large burden remains on domestic judicial bodies, because a lot of work still needs to be done,” Brammertz said. He said genocide denial should not be tolerated and victims had to be respected.

Jonathan Moore, the head of the OSCE Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, honoured the victims of Srebrenica in his speech.

“The fulfillment of justice is what the victims need. That’s why the OSCE has followed more than 500 genocide and war crimes trials, in order to assist in respecting international standards,” he said.

Ernest Petric, a member of the Advisory Board for the Selection of Judges of the ICTY, said the international community attempted to codify a convention for the prevention of crimes against humanity based on experiences in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Rwanda.

“We want to contribute to the improved protection of the international community and the prevention of crimes. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a dispersed and suffering country today. A little bit more assistance is needed – not only to Sarajevo – in order for it to become a part of the European Community,” Petric said.

Speaking on behalf of Bakir Izetbegovic, a member of the Bosnian Presidency, adviser Amel Suljovic addressed the conference participants. He said the admission of crimes was a key factor in the recovery of Bosnian society.

“The recovery will not bring the dead back, but it will unchain future generations,” Suljovic said.