A memorial ceremony was held in the Croatian Parliament on Thursday to commemorate Srebrenica Genocide Remembrance Day, with a few poignant confessions including that of Hasan Hasanovic. During the war, he was left without 74 family members, among them two brothers that he gave a promise to his mother he would take care of. He managed to take the body of one of the brothers to free territory. He carried it for 27 kilometers.

Hasan Hasanovic was born in 1973 in the Likari village.

“I finished my elementary and secondary education in Bratunac and Potocari as excellent student. I also enrolled in faculty, but gave up everything after I left to the JNA (former Yugoslav army) in 1991,” he said in his emotional speech before the Croatian Parliament.

After military service in Belgrade, his unit was tasked by then chief of staff Veljko Kadijevic to attack Vukovar, Croatia.

“My decision was to run away. I consider it a noble act. I escaped from aggressor's army, which left for Croatia not to defend something but to destroy and kill,” he said.

Croatian Parliament marks Srebrenica Genocide Remembrance Day

Hasanovic spent the following months on a run.

“Hiding in forests, I resisted both military and civil police,” he recalled.

He successfully returned to his village, but soon afterwards the war started in his Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“The first bombs in the beginning of May killed my cousin Seval on his 14th birthday. He died on his mother's lap,” Hasanovic said.

What happened next, he continued, was his Serbian language teacher, who still lives freely in Bratunac, came to his village and burnt it to ashes. “My village and Croat village Ravno were the first totally burnt villages in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

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In the months that followed, the eastern town of Srebrenica became a sort of a hub for refugees from that part of the country.

“Srebrenica was becoming the largest war camp in modern Europe. And it remained until 1995. People were constantly murdered, and the international community either didn't or just poorly reacted,” he stressed.

People were starving.

“When it comes my mind, trust me, I'm kissing bread! During 1993, for 18 days of the (holy month of) Ramadan I didn't see bread at all. In that period, my father aged 44 starved to death. My friend's baby died. Soon after my father's death, his 77-year-old mother was killed along with a 13-year-old neighbour, as well as her brother who was 15. In that family, everyone was killed in 1995, that family was left without roots,” Hasanovic told the audience at the Croatian Parliament.

At the same time, he continued, the world was promising they would be protected.

“And how did they do that? They took away some weapon that we had. We were left bare handed. The Serbs were fortifying their bunkers. There is also a video from 1995 where the Dutch battalion is helping the Serbs to enter Zeleni Jadar (an area near Srebrenica). Unfortunately, this is true. For me they are the same,” said Hasanovic.

His 74 relatives were killed, among them his 18-year-old brother.

“I promised my mother that he would reach free territory, and he died on the first day. Next to him was Nazif, with his son Mersed. They were holding hands, but they were dead. They were killed by an anti-aircraft machine gun. There were huge holes on their bodies. They were killing with heavy weapons,” he stressed.

With his other brother, Hasan stepped on a landmine.

“He was seriously wounded, I was carrying him towards free territory, without giving up. I was 22. Because I promised to my mother, I didn't give up, even without knowing how far the free territory is. After 9.5 hours my brother asked me to lay him down. He asked me to lay his head on my lap, which I did. Then he said something I am going to sleep and waking up to for 28 years.  He told me he won't be seeing my son anytime soon. And what I used to see in films only, he took a deep breath and asked me to tell our mum when I see her that he didn't suffer. And that he was brave. While he was looking right into my eyes. He was murdered innocent.”

Hasan didn't give up. He is the only resident of the Srebrenica area who took a body of a murdered person to free territory.

“I carried it for 27 kilometres. I am proud of that.”

Hasanovic thanked Croatia which was among the first countries to pass a resolution dedicated to the victims of the Srebrenica genocide, expressing regrets that perpetrators are still denying it.

The remains of 30 people, including four minors, will be buried in a mass ceremony at the Potocari Memorial Centre on July 11.

To honour the victims, this year's Peace March will be attended by nearly 4,000 people.