The chief European diplomat, Josep Borrell, estimated that reconciliation in the region after the wars of the 1990s is everyone’s responsibility and that the leaders of the countries should reject the rhetoric of division.
He stated that one of the darkest chapters in modern European history was written in July 1995, stating that more than 8,300 boys and men were systematically killed and buried in mass graves in the hills surrounding Srebrenica.
“There is still a disturbing trend of denial in Bosnia and Herzegovina and throughout the region. Any denial of genocide is a slap in the face of justice and an obstacle to reconciliation. The EU’s position is clear – there is no place for genocide denial, historical revisionism or the glorification of war criminals in societies that value truth and justice,” he added.
The head of European diplomacy further emphasized that 29 years later, “14 of those victims, who were recently identified”, will find their peace in the Memorial Center and Cemetery of Srebrenica – Potoçari.
Borrelli emphasized, among other things, that reconciliation is everyone’s responsibility and that it should become a ubiquitous daily practice in politics, education and every other sphere of everyday life, Euronews.rs reports.
“The role of political leaders in the region is, above all, to reject the rhetoric of division and actively promote reconciliation, which, again, requires respect for historical facts, respect for victims and the promotion of a culture of peace and cooperation”. added the senior EU official.
He pointed out that the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the International Court of Justice have proven without question that this crime is genocide.
