“On behalf of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), I would like to express our sincere condolences to the Serb families who lost their loved ones in the Birač region during the 1992-1995 armed conflict,” said Head of the OSCE Mission Kathleen Kavalec, on the occasion of the commemoration on 5 July 2020.
“Today’s commemoration is another reminder of the horror of the war. Across BiH people mourn the loss of their family, friends and neighbours. We underline that every innocent civilian victim of war deserves to be acknowledged and perpetrators must be brought to justice.
Furthermore, we attach great importance to mutual empathy, in other words, the people of BiH recognizing, respecting and taking into account the suffering of all victims and their loved ones. We see this as the foundation for a brighter future for you and your children.
Your community still suffers from past atrocities committed against the civilian population. At the same time, thanks to joint efforts of the local population and community leaders, you found a way to live together and have started common developments. The OSCE Mission to BiH will continue to play its role in the region to support these processes.”