At the United Nations Square in Vienna, in front of the UN building, the “Flower of Srebrenica” monument was ceremonially unveiled, a symbol of remembrance of the Srebrenica genocide, truth and a warning to humanity. The ceremony was attended by the Chairman of the Presidency of BiH Željko Komšić, Member of the Presidency of BiH Denis Bećirović, Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Austria and BiH Beate Meinl-Reisinger and Elmedin Konaković, and numerous representatives of institutions, the diplomatic corps and the BiH diaspora.
The monument was erected with the support of the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Austria, and organized by the Federation of Bosnian and Herzegovinian Associations in Austria “Consilium Bosniacum”.
The Chairman of the Presidency of BiH Željko Komšić emphasized that the United Nations Square is the most appropriate place for a monument to the victims of the Srebrenica genocide, recalling that it was the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, established by the UN, that established the judicial truth about the genocide.
“The role of the UN Court was crucial in documenting the crimes, but we must not forget the dark side, the fact that the United Nations, as an international institution, bears part of the responsibility for the genocide in Srebrenica,” said Komšić.
He added that Bosnia and Herzegovina today proudly takes a stand against injustice in the world, condemning both the genocide against the Palestinians and Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
“Our bloody history teaches us that we must never again leave the fate of our people in the hands of others,” said Komšić.
Member of the Presidency of BiH Denis Bećirović emphasized that the unveiling of the monument at UN Square, precisely on United Nations Day, has deep symbolism.
“The genocide was committed in the UN safe zone, which is why it is important that right here, in front of the UN building, we pay tribute to the victims and send a message that the deniers of the truth will not succeed,” said Bećirović.
He thanked the Republic of Austria for its support in adopting the Resolution on the International Day of Remembrance of the Srebrenica Genocide, emphasizing that the Bosnian-Herzegovinian community in Austria represents a strong bond between the two countries.
“We are fighting for a democratic Europe through the culture of remembrance. Thank you to friendly Austria for preserving the truth about the genocide committed against Bosniaks. Long live the friendship between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Austria,” said Bećirović.
After the fall of Srebrenica on July 11, 1995, members of the Army of Republika Srpska and their supporters killed more than 8,000 Bosniak men in a series of mass executions.
6,765 victims of the genocide have so far been buried in the Srebrenica-Potočari Memorial Center, while 250 victims have been buried in local cemeteries at the request of family members.
More than a thousand victims of the Srebrenica genocide are still being sought.
In 2007, the International Court of Justice in The Hague issued a verdict stating that the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS) committed genocide in July 1995 in Srebrenica, which was then a UN protected zone.
The Hague Tribunal, the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the judiciary in Serbia and Croatia have so far sentenced a total of 54 people to 781 years and five life sentences for genocide and war crimes. Among others, the wartime president of the RS and the army commander of that entity, Radovan Karadžić and Ratko Mladić, were sentenced to life imprisonment.
