The Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial Center, a memorial and cemetery for the victims of the 1995 genocide, will receive one million euros from the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This funding is intended to support the center's ongoing work in preserving the memory of the genocide, commemorating its victims, and promoting peacebuilding. The funds are a result of the recommendation from the Compensation Commission for Srebrenica.

“Srebrenica will always remain a dark chapter in the history of the Netherlands,” wrote Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans and Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp in a letter to the Dutch Parliament. “Bosnian Serbs committed genocide in the Muslim enclave in 1995, while Dutch peacekeepers were responsible for its protection,” Dutch media reported.

Since 2019, families of the murdered Bosniaks have been able to file for compensation through an independent commission, a program that has now concluded. According to the ministers, a total of 8,135 claims were received, of which 2,374 were approved, leading to over 25 million euros being paid to the families of 612 victims. The Compensation Commission called on the government to help provide “subsequent care for the broader survivor community” to aid in the process of facing the genocide.

The decision follows extensive preparations and discussions between the Dutch government and victims’ families, explained Emir Suljagic, the director of the Memorial Center.

“This decision is not only a recognition of our mission but also a commitment to work together with the international community to preserve the truth about the Srebrenica genocide,” Suljagic stated.

Progress in this process officially began in 2022, when the former Dutch Defense Minister, during her address in Potocari, acknowledged, “The international community failed to provide adequate protection. As part of that community, the Dutch government shares responsibility for that failure. Therefore, we offer you our deepest apologies.”

Suljagic highlighted the importance of continuity in confronting truth and responsibility: “We have remained steadfast in presenting the facts. We have never silenced the responsibility of the international community and all key actors from July 1995,” he emphasized.

In recent months, the Memorial Center has undertaken a series of activities in program cooperation with universities and organizations in the Netherlands, demonstrating a clear commitment to continue joint research on the Srebrenica genocide. These initiatives include research projects, exhibitions, and academic conferences that strengthen ties between the two countries and foster awareness of the genocide on an international level.

“The lessons from Srebrenica are more crucial today than ever for the civilized world. The genocide against Srebrenica's Bosniaks is part of Europe's collective memory and belongs to the dark chapters of European history. Future generations will learn about it, as they will also learn about our struggle for freedom. We have retained our pride and dignity, and every partnership we have formed has been on our terms. We are the owners of our story and history, and we have the right to fight for our future,” Suljagic concluded.