Croatian leaders issue remembrance messages for Srebrenica genocide anniversary

In a post on Facebook, Milanovic paid "the deepest respect to all innocent victims of Srebrenica" and expressed his "deepest sympathy" to their families.

"Preserving the historical truth and maintaining a lasting condemnation of policies that led to such crimes remain our duty and the foundation of long-term peace," he said.

Milanovic added that the UN General Assembly resolution establishing an International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica had helped ensure that the memory of the victims would be permanently preserved.

Plenkovic, writing on X and Facebook, also extended his condolences to the victims' families, saying Croatia "clearly and unequivocally condemns this horrific crime".

"The victims of Srebrenica remain a permanent reminder of the consequences of hatred and a lasting call for humanity, reason and respect to prevail over division. By preserving the culture of remembrance, it is our duty to build societies in which there is no place for violence and where the dignity of every individual is respected," he said.

Plenkovic added that Croatia remained committed to peace, stability and Bosnia and Herzegovina's European future, where "dialogue, mutual understanding and cooperation will be the foundation of its progress".

Croatia's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs also expressed solidarity on social media with survivors, the victims' families and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"We remain committed to promoting peace, justice and reconciliation. The Srebrenica genocide must never be forgotten. It is a lasting reminder of the importance of protecting human dignity and preventing such atrocities from ever happening again," the ministry said.

More than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were killed by Bosnian Serb forces after the fall of the UN-protected safe haven of Srebrenica on 11 July 1995.

The remains of just under 7,000 victims have so far been identified and buried.

On Saturday, the remains of a further 10 victims, recovered from mass graves between 1997 and 2022, were laid to rest at the Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial Centre.

A 2024 United Nations General Assembly resolution designated 11 July as the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica.