Memorial Centre “Srebrenica” presented a report about the denying of genocide in Srebrenica to the public, as a result of a one year research on the activity of denying and minimizing the crime of genocide by the individuals and institutions in the country and in the world.
The director of the Centre, Emir Suljagić, said that the battle against the denying of genocide is more important now than ever.
“The battle against denying of genocide is more important now than ever. The time has come for the Memorial center Srebrenica” to take the leading role on this path. Even though that this institution exists since 2001, it was preoccupied with the responsibility of burying the identified victims of genocide. However, now we create another important chapter of development of this institution, trying to position ourselves as leaders in working to raise awareness and educate people all around to world about genocide.”
“This report s a first step on that path. I would like to use this opportunity to thank Monica Green, the leading researcher i author of this publication, as well as the team of people who contributed tremendously in its realization: Haris Hasanović, Nedim Jahić, Hikmet Karčić, Hariz Halilović, Admir Mulaosmanović, Mirnes Sokolović, Amra Begić Fazlić and Šefika Đozić“, said the director of the Memorial Centre Srebrenica, Emir Suljagić.
The report has been made in Bosnian and English language, and it grasps the research of context of war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the politics of “ethnic cleansing” and war crimes in Eastern Bosnia that came before the genocide in Srebrenica, work of the International tribunal for former Yugoslavia, International Court of Justice and Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
It also analyzes activities of the official institutions and individuals in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia in covering up the crime of genocide, researches the nationalistic narratives about denying of genocide, the number of its victims and other messages that are dominant in the public.
The report also covers a few studies of the case, overviews a few publications that directly deny the genocide and brings to light information about the international factors that actively took part in the campaign of denying the genocide in Srebrenica.
“Everybody who decides to read this report in good faith, will find high quality information based on facts and truth. Considering the great sensitivity of the subject that the report is talking about, we are proud that not one part of this publication is directed against the Serbian nation as a whole, but exclusively against the individuals and the institutions of the system that is responsible for the genocide and its denial.”
“I hope that the way we communicated the key messages of this reasearch will set a model of how, with the pure facts, scientific approach and high academic standard of reasearch, we can talk about the genocide in Srebrenica and not let emotions and “national narratives” influence the things this institution has to say about genocide, the defendants, deniers and institutions responsible“, said Suljagić at the end.
This report is the first one of its sort, and the Memorial Centre is already working on a project that will enable for monitoring of denying of genocide i reporting to the public about it becomes the regular activity of this institution. The report will be delivered to the Bosnian and international institutions, and specially to partners in the academic community.
Full denial report you can read HERE.