Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said in a video message marking the 25th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide on Saturday that the crime in and around Srebrenica on July 11, 1995, was the worst genocide in Europe since World War II.

“I am deeply honoured for this opportunity. If not for the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, I would be with you in Potočari in person today. Excellencies, ladies and gentleman, 25 years ago, we in Malaysia too were deeply agonized and grief-stricken by this mass killing in Srebrenica. It was the worst genocide in Europe since the Second World War. The agony and grief still reverberate in our hearts and minds. Our thoughts and prayers are with more than 8,000 victims of the Srebrenica genocide.

Again we extend our deepest condolences to surviving family members and their loved ones. The Srebrenica Memorial in Potocari will forever stand out as a testimony for remembrance of this tragedy and its victims, for the strength and fortitude of the survivors, for the importance of achieving justice and accountability, and at last but not least – for the need to sustain efforts to fight and eliminate all propaganda, racial prejudices and hatred among us human beings.

The memorial and this remembrance is a testimony for Bosnia and Herzegovina to heal the wounds and end the trauma, and to move on with reconciliation and meaningful progress that the nation has longed for and rightly deserved.

Excellencies, ladies and gentleman, Malaysia is proud of the many achievements of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We take satisfaction from our close cooperation since your independence, right through the days of the United Nations peacekeeping operations and the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia as well as during the post-conflict reconstruction.

Relations between our two countries continue to grow stronger. Today the international community comes together to remember the victims of the infamous Srebrenica massacre and to support Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On behalf of Malaysia, I extend our best wishes for the continuous peace, unity as well as greater progress and prosperity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. May Allah the Almighty grant his blessing to all of us,” Malaysian Prime Minister said in his video message.