Finland on Friday commemorated the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide during the Bosnian War.
“It is imperative to stand up for human dignity and promote culture of peace, mutual understanding and reconciliation,” wrote the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in post on its social media platform X, expressing sincere condolences to the families of the victims.
On July 11, 1995, Bosnian Serbs conquered the Muslim enclave of Srebrenica, which had been declared a "safe area" by the United Nations.
In the subsequent days, around 8,000 people were killed, the majority of which were men and adolescent boys.
Women, girls and children were deported in buses to the front line of the area controlled by the Bosnian army.
The massacre was formally recognized as a genocide by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the International Court of Justice.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson-in-Office and the Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in a joint statement commemorated the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide.
“Today we mark 30 years since the July 1995 genocide in Srebrenica, when more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were brutally killed and buried in mass graves. We honour the memory of the victims and extend our sincere condolences to their families. We continue to stand in solidarity with the survivors,” they said in the statement.
Despite the passage of three decades, the search for truth and justice continues, as nearly 1000 victims remain missing.
“It is regrettable that, contrary to the verdicts by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, the International Court of Justice and domestic judiciary in Bosnia and Herzegovina that what was done in Srebrenica was genocide, there are still those who are in denial of what has happened,” the statement added.
The OSCE remains committed to supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina, its civil society, and all those engaged in pursuing justice, promoting human rights and dialogue as essential pillars of fostering meaningful reconciliation.
“Through our Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the OSCE has, and will continue to, assist in strengthening the country’s democratic institutions and the rule of law,” the statement added.
- Finland
- commemorates
- Srebrenica
- Genocide
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
