"Still no justice and peace for Srebrenica" Kosovo Prime Minister says
A commemoration ceremony was organised in Kosovo for the 28th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, which is described as the biggest human tragedy in Europe after the Second World War.
Kosovo Prime Minister Kurti, Deputy Prime Minister for Minority Affairs and Human Rights Emilija Rexhepi, ministers, representatives of international institutions and organisations in the country and guests from Bosnia and Herzegovina attended the ceremony held at the Institute of History in the capital Pristina.
The ceremony started with a minute of silence and a cinevision show about the Srebrenica genocide.
In her speech in Bosnian, Kurti criticised the politicians in the region who deny the genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina and said that there is still no justice and peace for Srebrenica and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Kurti pointed out that Serbia has still not been punished for Srebrenica even though a quarter of a century has passed since the genocide and said, "We always remember and suffer from the fact that the criminals have never received the punishment they deserve. Although Serbia is held responsible for not stopping genocides, it has never been held responsible for committing genocide ruthlessly."
Kurti also added that it was not only some Bosnian Serbs who were responsible for the Srebrenica massacre, but Serbia as a state.
Bosnia and Herzegovina MP Semsudin Mehmedovic, who was present at the ceremony, emphasised that the people of Kosovo, as well as the Bosniaks, are facing the cover-up and minimisation of the crimes committed against them, and said: "Follow the criminals, you have a state, issue arrest warrants and prosecute them, this is our duty."
What happened in Srebrenica?
Following the occupation of Srebrenica by Serbian troops under the command of Ratko Mladic on 11 July 1995, civilian Bosniaks who took refuge with Dutch soldiers under the United Nations (UN) were later handed over to the Serbs.
The Serbs, who allowed women and children to reach the area under the control of Bosniak soldiers, massacred at least 8,372 Bosniak men in forest areas, factories and warehouses. The massacred Bosniaks were buried in mass graves.
The victims, whose bodies were found in mass graves during the efforts to find the missing after the war, are buried with a ceremony held in Potoçari Memorial Cemetery on 11 July every year after identification.
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