The Embassy of the United States of America in Bosnia and Herzegovina assessed that the denial of the Srebrenica genocide by the President of the Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik and other leaders from the RS at yesterday’s NSRS session and rally in Banja Luka is reprehensible and irresponsible. The denial of genocide, the Embassy emphasizes, is an insult to the victims of all nationalities and causes additional pain to the victims’ families. Denying the genocide destroys the social fabric of BiH, is a threat to its stability and is illegal according to the laws of BiH.
“Genocide took place in Srebrenica in 1995. This has been confirmed on several occasions by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the International Court of Justice. Nothing Mr. Dodik says or does can change the facts, not even organizing day-long events dedicated to denying genocide and spreading disinformation about the resolution currently being considered by the UN General Assembly,” the US Embassy said.
That resolution, as stated, is an initiative to recognize and commemorate the Srebrenica genocide in order to honor the victims. Contrary to Dodik’s claims, it is not directed against any member of the UN, nor does it attribute responsibility to any nation. The frequent denial of the Srebrenica genocide makes this kind of international commemoration of the events of 1995 even more important.
“Mr. Dodik’s threats to initiate the secession of the RS from BiH and his support for the unconstitutional electoral legislation of the RS are another proof of his disrespect for the Dayton Peace Agreement and his intention to undermine the state structures of BiH. The creation of a parallel election system would represent an unconstitutional and anti-Dayton action and would deny voters in the RS a basic democratic right guaranteed by the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The US is ready to respond to those anti-democratic and anti-Dayton activities. We support the territorial integrity, sovereignty and multi-ethnic character of BiH and reject any attempt at secession,” the statement concludes.
