The “Flower of Srebrenica” monument was officially unveiled on October 24 at United Nations Square in Vienna, in memory of the victims of the July 1995 Srebrenica genocide.
The monument, erected by the Association of Bosnian Associations in Austria “Consilium Bosniacum,” stands as a symbol of memory, truth, and a warning to humanity.
Speaking at the event, Željko Komšić, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasized that the judicially established truth about the genocide and crimes against humanity is now recognized worldwide.
“The genocide in Srebrenica has become a historical precedent in Bosnian history, as it represents the first documented and institutionally recorded attempt to exterminate a people on such a scale. The role and assistance of the United Nations Court in this process have been enormous,” Komšić stated.
He also reminded attendees not to forget “the dark side of the UN’s role” during the genocide.
“By declaring Srebrenica a protected zone and enforcing demilitarization — which, in practice, disarmed only the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina while leaving the Army of Republika Srpska armed — the UN enabled the genocidal operation to take place in July 1995,” Komšić added.
Foreign Minister Elmedin Konaković also attended the ceremony, stressing that the culture of remembrance must be upheld throughout the year, across the world — not only on July 11, the anniversary of the genocide. He warned against the denial of war crimes, the glorification of war criminals, and the spread of hate speech, saying such acts threaten Europe’s moral and social stability.
The Srebrenica genocide, carried out by the Army of Republika Srpska in July 1995, resulted in the murder of more than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2007 officially recognized the events as genocide, while the Hague Tribunal has convicted 16 individuals for crimes committed in the UN-protected area, seven of whom were found guilty of genocide.
Nearly 30 years after the atrocity, more than 50 individuals have been sentenced to over 780 years in prison by international and regional courts.
