High Representative: All genocide victims have a right to dignified burial

Anadolija

Twenty-five years after the Srebrenica genocide, families are still looking for the remains of their loved ones, international community's Valentin Inzko, in charge of overseeing the civilian implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement that ended the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia, said, calling for those who have any information on the location of other mass graves to come forward.

“Today we are saying farewell to only eight victims, which are put to their eternal rest! Unfortunately, they are still searching for mass graves throughout the country. Therefore I ask all people who have information to provide them to competent institutions. Every victim has the right to dignified burial – that is one of the oldest human rights.

Regretfully, we are also faced with the re-writing of historical facts, relativization of crimes and even with the glorification of convicted war criminals.

Domestic and international courts have determined that the genocide has been committed.

Nobody has accused any nation, as there are no bad nations, there are only bad individuals. However, naming a student dormitory after a convicted war criminal is inhumane and anti-civilisational, it is offensive for universal human rights. With that decision, that politician deeply hurt all victims of war. Therefore I urge him and ask him to take off the plaque he had placed, and change the name of the student dorm, on behalf of the future of new generations.

I also appeal to all politicians to adopt the law on ban of genocide denial, to avoid similar cases in future.

And no one has done more to universally spread the truth than heroic Mothers of Srebrenica. They deserve our admiration and our support!

Amongst them was the late Hatidza Mehmedovic. Her entire treasure, as she referred to her family, was buried in Potočari. In her loneliness and sorrow, this wise woman went through all the labyrinths – from blame to forgiveness.

She also used to say: “If I could just hear them saying that they were sorry for what they did. Or, at least, if I were able to see just the slightest glimpse of repentance on their faces or in their eyes, my heart would feel much better.“

Just five years after burying both her sons, Hatidza publicly invited everyone who had participated in the genocide, if they felt the need to do so, to visit the cemetery and ask the victims for forgiveness.

This testimony to the power of forgiveness binds us all. I want this testament of Hatidza to be globally recognized, just as Srebrenica is! And I want us all to work on forgiveness as it is only THROUGH FORGIVENESS THAT THE WHOLE MANKIND WINS, humanity wins!

And finally, to all the dead, may they rest in eternal peace” Valentin Inzko said in his video address.