The European Union Delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina has issued an apology letter to associations of genocide victims and witnesses, expressing their deepest regret for the pain caused by their recent tribute to civilian victims in Bratunac.

After EU Delegation representatives laid flowers at the military cemetery in Bratunac on Tuesday, several associations, including the Association of Genocide Victims and Witnesses, the Movement of “Mothers of the Srebrenica and Zepa Enclaves,” the Association “Women of Podrinje,” the Association “Mothers of Srebrenica,” and the Association “Women of Srebrenica,” sent a letter to the EU Delegation in BiH on July 17, 2024, demanding respect for genocide victims and correction of what they called “hypocritical” actions.

Adebayo Babajide, the chargé d'affaires of the European Union in BiH, thanked them for their letter and reiterated the EU's clear stance on the nature of the war in BiH.

“We express our deepest regret for the pain we have caused you, as witnesses and survivors of the horrific crime of genocide. Let me clarify that this was never our intention when we paid tribute to innocent civilian victims in Bratunac. The European Union's stance on the nature of the armed conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1992 to 1995 is clear. The EU has consistently respected established facts, especially regarding the genocide committed in Srebrenica in 1995,” the letter states.

Babajide emphasized in the letter that genocide was indeed committed in Srebrenica in 1995, as confirmed by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in 2004 and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2007.

He also condemned any attempts to deny, glorify, or relativize the genocide in Srebrenica or the role of the perpetrators.

Emphasizing that they reject any attempts to contextualize or justify the genocide in Srebrenica, including references to the suffering of innocent Serbian civilian victims in the Birac region, Babajide expressed regret that their recent visit to Bratunac was interpreted as equating the crimes.

“We assure you that it was never our intention to equate the genocide in Srebrenica with the suffering of innocent Serb civilian victims in the Birac area, neither in scope, intent, nor numbers. We also believe this does not mean we cannot pay tribute to innocent civilian victims on all sides. Every innocent civilian victim is, in itself, a tragedy of war and deserves empathy, respect, and recognition,” the letter states.

They further clarified that EU representatives paid tribute to innocent civilians at the city cemetery in Bratunac, and the Bratunac Municipality confirmed that innocent civilian victims of the recent war were buried there.

“Furthermore, they provided us with Municipal Assembly decisions confirming that the cemetery we visited is the local city cemetery. The monument where the wreath was laid is a cross without any inscription. We acknowledge that those responsible for crimes are also buried in the Bratunac cemetery. We understand that you were hurt by the tribute paid to civilian victims at this same location. Again, this was never our intention, and we apologize for the pain we have caused you. We assure you that we will never, under any circumstances, pay tribute to war criminals,” the letter states.

Unambiguously condemning the perpetrators of crimes, the EU Delegation stated that they consider the relevant associations of genocide victims and witnesses, and the Mothers of Srebrenica, as advocates for reconciliation through respect for all innocent civilian victims.

“We hope this clarification helps in better understanding our intentions. As we regularly emphasize in our ongoing engagement, we assure you that we remain fully committed to the truth about the Srebrenica genocide and justice for the victims, as well as the need to provide them with justice and compensation, and a safe and secure environment for living and remembrance throughout the entire eastern Bosnia and beyond,” the letter concludes.

The EU Delegation also expressed their readiness to meet and discuss the matter with the representatives of the associations.