Bosnia’s Becirovic: Without Belgrade’s support, genocide would not have been possible

"Today, with sorrow and respect, we bid a final farewell to seven innocent victims of genocide and express deep sympathy with the families who lost them," he said in his address.

He recalled the historic moment at the United Nations headquarters in New York earlier this year, where the International Day of Reflection and Remembrance of the Srebrenica Genocide was officially commemorated for the first time by the UN General Assembly.

"I thank all the countries that supported the adoption of this important resolution. It is not only meaningful for Bosnia and Herzegovina but for the entire world. Its implementation has already begun, and July 11 will now be marked globally for as long as human civilisation exists."

The Presidency member stressed that the genocide of Bosniaks was the culmination of a barbaric aggression against the internationally recognised Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, reminding the public of the legally confirmed existence of joint criminal enterprises by UN courts during that period.

"Thirty years have passed since the mass killings, torture, persecution, extermination, deportation, and forced displacement. Thirty years of searching for remains and exhuming graves. Thirty years of confronting the terrifying consequences of genocide, pain, sorrow, and trauma. Thirty years of fighting for truth and justice, and against denial and distortion. Thirty years of the courageous and unyielding fight of the Mothers of Srebrenica for a safer future for all."

He pointed out that the planning of the genocide spanned years and condemned the pre-war propaganda that dehumanised Bosniaks by labelling them "fundamentalists," "extremists," and "terrorists."

"The level of indoctrination was so high that a Serbian parliamentarian once publicly stated that one hundred Muslims should be killed for every Serb."

Becirovic warned that this kind of discriminatory rhetoric is again resurfacing today, with Bosnia and Herzegovina, an active member of the global anti-terrorism coalition, being subjected to new forms of propaganda.

"We must not forget that this vicious political and media campaign laid the groundwork for the only genocide committed in Europe since World War II. The genocide against Bosniaks was no accident; it was planned, organised, financed, and executed with brutal precision."

He reiterated the responsibility of Serbia’s leadership at the time, led by Slobodan Milosevic, stating:

• The aggression on Bosnia and Herzegovina was launched from Belgrade;
• Without Belgrade’s support, the genocide would not have been possible;
• RS paramilitary forces were under the command of the Yugoslav Army General Staff;

The President of Serbia was aware of the genocide and even congratulated war criminal Ratko Mladic on the “military success.”

Becirovic urged Serbia’s current leadership to abandon policies that threaten Bosnia’s independence and sovereignty and to build bilateral relations rooted in equality and mutual respect.

He concluded with a warning that the same ideologies that led to the genocide are still present today and emphasised that only a strong state and vigilant citizens can prevent future atrocities.

"Despite everything, we did not surrender, we did not fall—and we never will. Peace is not safe unless we defend it. Truth is not indestructible unless we remember and preserve it. There is no justice without a fight for it," Becirovic stated, offering his final words of solidarity to the families of the genocide victims.