UN chief urges justice as Bosnia marks Srebrenica genocide anniversary
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UN chief urges justice as Bosnia marks Srebrenica genocide anniversary
Solemn funeral procession carries remains of 10 Srebrenica genocide victims to Potočari
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On the 31st anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres urged the world to confront denial and uphold justice as Bosnia and Herzegovina marked one of the darkest chapters in modern European history. Speaking on the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the Genocide in Srebrenica, Guterres condemned attempts to distort the truth about the 1995 massacre, in which more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were systematically killed by Bosnian Serb forces under the command of General Ratko Mladić. “The intention to destroy the Bosnian Muslims from Srebrenica failed,” Guterres declared. “We stand in solidarity with the survivors and the families of the victims, including the Mothers of Srebrenica, whose courage preserved this truth before the world.”
The UN chief emphasized that international courts have conclusively established the crimes as genocide, stressing that criminal responsibility is individual and cannot be attributed to any ethnic or religious group. “Remembering Srebrenica also means confronting hate speech and discrimination, and renewing our determination to make ‘never again’ a reality for everyone,” he said. Guterres called on the international community to listen to survivors and take concrete steps toward justice, reconciliation, and lasting peace. “Let the memory of Srebrenica strengthen our commitment to human dignity, today and for generations to come.”
The European Union echoed these calls, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos issuing a joint statement ahead of the anniversary. They condemned genocide denial and the glorification of war criminals, warning that “there is no place in Europe for genocide denial.” The EU leaders urged regional leaders to embrace dialogue and accountability as the bloc prepares to commemorate the massacre. “We must ensure that the truth about Srebrenica is preserved and that those responsible are held to account,” the statement read.
In Bosnia, the commemoration took on added urgency as the remains of 10 newly identified victims were laid to rest at the Potocari Memorial Cemetery. The victims, whose identities were confirmed through DNA analysis, were among thousands still missing from the 1995 massacre. In Sarajevo, a solemn procession accompanied their transfer from the capital to the memorial site, where families gathered to mourn. “The growing number of visitors shows that the goal of Biljani remaining a permanent historical fact and reminder has been achieved,” said Jasmin Musić, mayor of Ključ, where another massacre—one of the earliest in the Bosnian War—claimed 258 Bosniak civilians in 1992, including five-month-old Amila Džaferović.
The Türkiye-funded Srebrenica Genocide Museum marked its first anniversary this week, preserving the memory of the victims through personal artifacts and survivor testimonies. Reisu-l-ulema Husein ef. Kavazović of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina described global recognition of the genocide as “a civilizational act,” warning that forgetting would only embolden future atrocities. “Remembering the genocide in Srebrenica is not only an act of honoring the victims but a permanent religious, moral and national obligation to preserve the truth,” he said during a memorial service in Sarajevo’s Gazi Husrev-bey mosque.
As Bosnia grappled with its past, Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk marked a separate tragedy—the 1943 Volhynia massacres—by announcing plans for a Wall of Memory in Warsaw bearing the names of every identified victim. Speaking in a video message, Tusk condemned nationalism and stressed that memory must serve truth, not hatred. “The answer to nationalism cannot be more nationalism,” he said. “Memory and truth must help us build a better future, free of hatred and contempt.” Tusk also linked the preservation of historical truth to Ukraine’s EU accession process, stating that “whoever wants to join this community must be ready for this truth.”
Meanwhile, Cyprus marked the 15th anniversary of the deadly Mari naval base explosion, which killed 13 people in 2011. President Nikos Christodoulides reiterated the state’s apology for the failures that led to the disaster, calling the victims “heroes” who fought an unequal battle against systemic negligence. “The fatal blast at Mari cost 13 people their lives unjustly,” he said, adding that the tragedy had plunged the country into an unprecedented crisis. “The state is doing everything humanly possible through institutionalised procedures, continuous training, and strict protocols to limit potential risks and provide security.”
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