The co-sponsors of the resolution on Srebrenica agreed on the final text of the resolution, which should be discussed at the session of the United Nations General Assembly on May 23, and sent it to the president of the UNSC and members of the UN.
The text of the resolution was largely agreed upon earlier, and in the last few days, two amendments submitted by the Government of Montenegro were considered.
After a thorough consideration, the interregional main group reached a consensus on the inclusion of Montenegro’s amendments, which were refined and included in the text of the result.
The first amendment states that criminal responsibility under international law for the crime of genocide is individualized and cannot be attributed to any ethnic, religious or other group or community as a whole. This clearly defined that the responsibility for genocide is individual, thus denying the opponents of the resolution any argument for its rejection.
The second amendment of Montenegro “affirming the inviolability of the general framework agreement for peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina in all its provisions” was redefined considering that it referred to the “coexistence of entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina”. This amendment is “turned around” and instead of Dayton, entities and coexistence, it talks about “unity in diversity of Bosnia and Herzegovina” – as it ruled for centuries and which is becoming the main motto of the EU (unity in diversity).
The co-sponsors also state in the letter that the adoption of the resolution represents a key opportunity for unification in honoring the victims and recognizing the key role of international courts in recognizing the genocide in Srebrenica.
– We extend our continued call to member states to support and co-sponsor the draft resolution, in the spirit of unification against genocide denial. We repeat that this draft resolution on memory seeks to unite, not divide – the letter states and once again calls on the members to adopt the resolution by consensus.
Finally, the resolution has seven points:
1. It is decided to declare July 11 as the International Day of Remembrance and Commemoration of the Genocide of 1995 in Srebrenica;
2. Unreservedly condemns any denial of the genocide in Srebrenica and calls on member states to preserve the established facts, including through educational systems by developing appropriate programs, also with the aim of remembering, preventing denial and distortion and the occurrence of genocide in the future;
3. It also unreservedly condemns actions that glorify those convicted of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide by international courts, including those responsible for the genocide in Srebrenica;
4. Emphasizes the importance of completing the process of finding and identifying the remaining victims of the genocide in Srebrenica and a dignified burial, and calls for the continuation of the prosecution of the perpetrators of the genocide in Srebrenica who have yet to face justice;
5. Calls on all states to fully comply with their obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, with due respect for the relevant decisions of the International Court;
6. Requests the Secretary General to establish an information program entitled “Genocide in Srebrenica and the United Nations”, thereby starting activities in preparation for the 30th anniversary of the genocide in 2025;
7. Invites all member states of the United Nations, other international and
regional organizations and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, academic institutions to mark the International Day, including special
commemoration and activities to commemorate and honor the victims of the genocide in Srebrenica in 1995, as well as appropriate educational and public awareness activities.
