The international day of commemorating the Srebrenica Genocide is part of global remembrance. At the same time, lobbying, denial, glorification of the war crimes, and alliteration of history. In a world without empathy, who are the friends of the multiethnic Bosnia and Herzegovina? The guest on the Plenum show was Zlatko Lagumdžija.
Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United Nations, Zlatko Lagumdžija, stated that the commemoration of the International Day of Remembering the Srebrenica Genocide will be held on Thursday at the United Nations General Assembly, emphasizing that the organization is no longer led by Bosnia and Herzegovina but by the United Nations.
By adopting the Srebrenica Resolution, he recalled that the International Day of Remembrance was established two years ago, and that Bosnia and Herzegovina organized the first commemoration following the adoption.
“Last year, including this one, the commemoration was organized by the United Nations. This is now an established practice which is no longer tied solely to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The resolution will be implemented as predicted by the decisions of the United Nations, and that is how it will be as long as the United Nations exists.”
Srebrenica Is Important for the Entire Humanity
Speaking about the commemoration programme, Lagumdžija said that attendees will be addressed by the UN Secretary General, the President of the General Assembly, and the Special Advisor for Preventing Genocide, while Bosnia and Herzegovina will be represented by a member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denis Bećirović.
He emphasized that the representatives of the Association Majke Srebenice (Mothers of Srebrenica) and the Srebrenica Memorial Center are also among the speakers.
“On behalf of the Memorial Center, the speech will be held by Hasan Hasanović, a genocide survivor and museum curator. His life story and the stories of other survivors always leave a strong impression on attendees. Then, people from across the world understand how much Srebrenica is important, not only for Bosnia and Herzegovina, but for the entire humanity.”
He added that Dina Sinanović will speak on behalf of the Mothers of Srebrenica, whose personal story will bear witness to the consequences of genocide through the experience of the victims’ families.
“Srebrenica Is No Longer a Local Tragedy”
Speaking about the significance of the Srebrenica Resolution, Lagumdžija assessed that its greatest contribution is the internalization of the remembrance of the genocide.
“Srebrenica is no longer a local tragedy. It became a global warning. After the Second World War, only two judgments were delivered establishing that genocide had been committed – one for Rwanda, and the other for Srebrenica. This is why it is important for the world to understand that what happened cannot repeat ever again.”
He reminded of diplomatic realities that preceded the adoption of the resolution, adding that representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina had spent months talking to the numerous statesmen and diplomats around the world.
“We led intense talks with the heads of state and government, out of the public spotlight. Many countries that in the beginning weren’t familiar with the facts about genocide in the end supported the resolution and even today participate in its implementation.”
Lagumdžija believes that the adoption of the resolution showed how the question of the Srebrenica genocide transcends the borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Srebrenica is not only a matter of our country. It is a universal lesson about what happens when the international community fails to prevent genocide.”
Fight for Truth Requires Institutional Actions
Speaking about the importance of institutional action, he emphasized that the fight for the truth could not have been achieved solely by the survivors and the families of the victims.
“Without the witnesses of the genocide, the truth would not be complete, but equally, it would not be possible to achieve results without serious institutional action by the state. This is an important lesson we must remember.”
Commenting on the attempts of genocide denial and glorification of war criminals, Lagumdžija said that there is no single solution to stop such phenomena.
“There is no single answer or a single solution. Many different activities are required – from resolutions and monuments to education, culture, and art. Everyone needs to contribute to spreading the truth.”
The UN Monument Passes the Truth on to Future Generations
He particularly emphasized the significance of a permanent monument to the victims of the genocide at the United Nations, calling it a masterpiece of art that will remind future generations of the Srebrenica tragedy.
“Today I talked with a group of children from New York who will visit that monument. Many of them didn’t know what happened in Srebrenica. This is why such projects have a huge impact – they pass on the truth to new generations.”
In the end, he emphasized that the greatest ambassadors of Bosnia and Herzegovina are genocide survivors and victims’ families.
“We have truth on our side and have final and binding judgments from international courts. We are obliged to pass on this truth in the name of those who are no longer with us, but for future generations, so that such crimes never repeat again. Srebrenica is our great tragedy, and a universal warning to the entire world.”
“The MBB Axis Changes Focus”
Speaking about political action against the interests of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lagumdžija drew a parallel between the opposition to the Srebrenica Genocide Resolution and the activities related to the monument for the victims of the genocide.
“If we draw a parallel between the Srebrenica Resolution and the monument, to the public, it seems that there was a major battle over the resolution in the last two months leading up to the vote. It was exactly the same with the monument, except a different tactic was used, where they did not go public.”
According to his words, the MBB Axis – the political term describing the Moscow-Belgrade- Banja Luka alliance – did not end, but changed focus.
“The fact is that the MBB Axis is still active, and they are now just changing their focus. I can now freely say that it is much easier for us to explain what the MBB axis is doing, precisely because it showed its true face during the Srebrenica Resolution.”
Without International Law, the World Becomes a “Planetary Jungle”
Lagumdžija linked the issue of Srebrenica to a broader attitude toward international law, especially in the context of the wars in Ukraine and Palestine.
“In the world where the new two wars are taking place against Ukraine and Palestine, we must respect international law, because without international law, this becomes a planetary jungle. In Srebrenica, conditionally speaking, a relationship breaks over whether the rule of the powerful or the rule of law is what our tomorrow will be.”
Although he admitted that reasons for pessimism exist, he assessed that the forces advocating divisions are still not the majority.
“Currently, the darker, black sides, the black Internationale, are amplified. That is not disputed. But they are not the majority. Neither in our region nor in Bosnia and Herzegovina are they the majority.
“No one Serious Sees Bosnia and Herzegovina as Anything other than a Single State”
Speaking about Bosnia and Herzegovina’s international division, Lagumdžija said that the last couple of years brought significant foreign policy breakthroughs.
“In the last two years, through the attempts of secession, and what we did through the Srebrenica Resolution and the Srebrenica Monument, these are the things my colleagues say are the biggest foreign policy breakthroughs you have ever achieved.”
He recalled that during the diplomatic fight for Resolution talks were led with important international partners, including Egypt and Pakistan.
“We led key talks with the President of Egypt and the Prime Minister of Pakistan. One argument I cited was their statements. I didn’t have to explain anything. I just said: Can you please just read what the man is talking about?”
He said that today, among serious international actors, there is no dilemma about the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Rest assured, no one serious sees Bosnia and Herzegovina as anything other than a single state. A single state that is multicultural, European, and democratic.”
Seeking Friends among Those with Shared Interests
When asked who the friends of democratic and multiethnic Bosnia and Herzegovina are, Lagumdžija said that interests increasingly impact international relations.
“In this entire situation, we have to turn to seeking friends, but friends with the most mutual interests. There is no reason not to seek mutual interest with our friends, primarily in our Euro-Atlantic structures, our friends in the European Union.”
He added that Bosnia and Herzegovina has important friends among the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. He singled out Egypt and Pakistan.
We would have reached the Resolution without Egypt and Pakistan, two countries that decided, directly at the presidential level, to give us their support. Although they faced terrible pressure from the MBB axis, they were on our side.”
“A Greater Awareness of the State Is Lacking”
In the end, Lagumdžija concluded that responsibility for the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot depend solely on international partners.
“What we lack is more awareness about the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina and responsibility for it. Not only in those who are against the state, but in those who are state-oriented, who appear to be part of the Bosnian and Herzegovinian front.”
