The mayor of Brčko, Siniša Milić, made decisions on declaring July 4 and 11 days of mourning in the Brčko district of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
As stated in his decision, the Day of Mourning on July 4 is declared “to mark the anniversary of the suffering in Srednje Podrinje and Birč, and July 11 to commemorate the suffering in Srebrenica”.
Milić points out that the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, by all accounts, did not reach a consensus on this issue this year either.
“Given these circumstances, the fact that days of mourning will be declared on the territory of the entity, for different dates, and respecting the legal nature and multi-ethnic character of this community, after consulting with political partners, in accordance with my powers, I made this decision,” Milić said.
He says that the decision represents “the deepest expression of respect for all victims of the past war, regardless of which nation they belong to, as well as an act of solidarity with their families and compatriots wherever they live.”
“We call on all fellow citizens to show dignity and respect to all victims of the past war, not only on this occasion but also on every other occasion. This is not a political issue, but a question of civilizational achievement and general culture,” said the mayor of Brčko District.
He adds that “the past cannot be changed, but with mutual appreciation, respect and forgiveness, as life in the community dictates, we can make the consequences of war less difficult for everyone and the future certain and desirable”.
