After an article titled "Srebrenica Massacre" by R. Jeffrey Smith was published on the Encyclopedia Britannica, the Institute for Genocide Research Canada (IGK) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina responded, leading to the term "massacre" being changed to "genocide."

Specifically, Elmedin Konakovic, the Foreign Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina, along with the IGK, sent letters to the Encyclopedia Britannica requesting amendments.

“The International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, and many national courts have determined that the intent of the perpetrators and the scale of the crimes committed in Srebrenica in July 1995 meet the definition of genocide. Therefore, the genocide in Srebrenica is not based on political, historical, or expert opinions of any politicians, historians, or lawyers but on facts that have been legally established under international law and the rulings of international courts in The Hague,” stated the IGK in their letter.

They also reminded of the adoption of the Resolution earlier this year, which declared July 11 as the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the Genocide in Srebrenica, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly.

They emphasized that the core function of an encyclopedia is the precise use of terms, which, as they added, should primarily serve to strengthen international law based on the genocide in Srebrenica.

“As an undeniable fact that is a legal issue, not a matter of feelings or a debate that ends in rotten compromises and inevitably leads to genocide denial, your use of the word ‘massacre’ instead of ‘genocide’ does not contribute to the strengthening of international law in a time when brutal killings are happening worldwide. Additionally, according to the authentic source, the Srebrenica Memorial Center, the number of victims of the genocide in Srebrenica is at least 8,372, with over 1,000 still listed as missing,” the IGK pointed out, adding: “Given that the use of the term ‘massacre’ does not align with the valid legal rulings of international and national courts, the UN General Assembly's Resolution on the genocide in Srebrenica, and that your incorrect use of the term insults the victims of the genocide in Srebrenica and thus supports those who deny the legally established and ruled genocide, we ask you to correct the term ‘massacre’ to ‘genocide.’ We also request that you correct the number of victims of the genocide in Srebrenica. In addition to the Institute for Genocide Research Canada, many friends of truth and justice about the Srebrenica genocide worldwide demand this.”

Konakovic, as announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also stated in his letter that the Encyclopedia Britannica, whose primary mission is to provide global educational resources based on facts, features an article by R. Jeffrey Smith titled “Srebrenica Massacre” with incorrect and inaccurate terms that contradict numerous international legal documents.

“I remind you that the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, and many national courts have determined that the war crime that occurred in Srebrenica in July 1995 was genocide. This is not a matter of biased interpretation but a legal fact based on international law and several rulings of international courts. Furthermore, in May this year, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a Resolution declaring July 11 as the International Day of Remembrance and Commemoration of the Genocide committed in Srebrenica in 1995, clearly recognizing the genocide at the highest international forum. Accordingly, the use of the term ‘massacre’ is not consistent with the court-confirmed and internationally accepted term of genocide in Srebrenica. Vague terms such as ‘massacre’ or ‘conflict’ and similar language directly undermine and insult the victims and thus support the policy of denial, which is still widespread. I appeal to you, as the leadership team of the globally recognized and respected Encyclopedia Britannica, and to your editors to accept these facts and rightfully correct the term ‘massacre’ to ‘genocide,'” Konakovic stated in his letter.

Tracy Grant, the Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia Britannica, responded to the letter, noting that Konakovic had made a compelling argument and that much of the world considers this unspeakable tragedy a genocide, as well as regarding the number of lost lives.