The exhibition “Genocide in Srebrenica: 11 Lessons for the Future” by Hikmet Karčić was opened today at the European Parliament, in the presence of the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, numerous MEPs, representatives of international organizations and civil society, as well as survivors of genocide.
The exhibition was supported by the political groups EPP, SD, Greens and Renew.
On behalf of the host, Helmut Brandstatter addressed the audience, followed by President Metsola, who opened the exhibition. Short speeches were given by Ondřej Kolář (EPP), Matjaž Nemec (SD) and Tineke Strik (Greens), and Ivo Davor Stir (EPP).
The author of the exhibition, Hikmet Karčić, stated that the idea for the exhibition originated in 2015, after Russia vetoed the Resolution on the Srebrenica genocide in the UN Security Council. In his speech, he appealed to the European Parliament to act more decisively in the fight against genocide denial.
Almir Salihović, a genocide survivor who managed to escape from Srebrenica through the forest as a ten-year-old and who now lives in the town, said that Srebrenica needs a special economic status.
“We need programs for employment, education and the future of young people. Because without life, there is no memory,” said Salihović.
As the Srebrenica Memorial Center pointed out, the exhibition calls for learning from the past, but also points to the contemporary challenges faced by survivors and returnees in Srebrenica.
Photo: Srebrenica Memorial Center
