As every July for the past ten years, the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights takes the opportunity to recall the anniversary of the crime in Srebrenica, when nearly 8,000 people were killed. Ten years have passed since 11 July 1995, the day which marked the beginning of one of the most horrendous weeks in the recent history of the Balkans, the former Yugoslavia and Serbia. There is no doubt that it is the families and friends of the victims of the Srebrenica tragedy who have suffered the most during those days and all the days and nights since. The public in Serbia has for weeks been discussing the nature and significance of crime, the roles of individuals and the nation’s responsibility for crime, apologies, attendance at memorial services, reconciliation, conspiracies. How reminescent of the atmosphere that prevailed fifteen years ago, when the wars broke out, or ten years ago, when Srebrenica happened.
The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights for this reason calls on Serbia’s public, politicians, elite, media and citizens, not to render senseless today’s commemoration of Srebrenica victims. Everyone should make an effort and at least today clearly make a distinction between war and crime, soldier and innocent civilian victim, national interest and rabid killing. We owe that to those who lost their lives in Srebrenica in July 1995 above all; we owe that also to all other victims of the unfortunate wars over the past 15 years. We must instill this view and such values in our future and the future of the whole region.
The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights pays respect to the victims in this manner as well. We will continue doing our utmost so that the perpetrators of this and all other crimes are arrested and punished. We will also do our utmost so that they are brought to justice and are judged by history as they deserve, as criminals, not as heroes. Only so will the families of the victims receive moral satisfaction and our nation gain the moral right to self-respect and a future in peace.
