Minister Elmedin Konaković Attends the International Day of Remembrance and Commemoration of the 1995 Srebrenica Genocide at United Nations Headquarters

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Elmedin Konaković, attended the commemoration of the International Day of Remembrance and Commemoration of the 1995 Srebrenica Genocide, held today in the General Assembly Hall at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

This year's commemoration marks the second event at the United Nations Headquarters since the adoption of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 78/282 in May 2024, which designates July 11 as the International Day of Remembrance and Commemoration of the Srebrenica Genocide. By adopting this resolution, the international community confirmed that remembering the victims of the Srebrenica genocide is a universal civilizational obligation. It emphasizes the importance of preserving the facts established by the judgments of international courts as a key prerequisite for building lasting peace, trust, and accountability. Additionally, the resolution establishes a permanent international framework for fostering a culture of remembrance and educating future generations, committing the international community to firmly oppose all attempts to deny genocide, engage in historical revisionism, or glorify convicted war criminals. Such actions not only represent a denial of facts but also directly violate the dignity of the victims and survivors, posing a significant obstacle to building trust, reconciliation, and lasting peace.

The commemoration was led by the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General for the Prevention of Genocide, Chaloka Beyani. The program included testimonies from genocide survivors Emina Sinanović and Hasan Hasanović, an address on behalf of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, remarks by the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dr. Denis Bećirović, and a video address by the President of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Annalene Baerbock.

The survivors' testimonies highlighted the lasting human consequences of the Srebrenica genocide, underscoring the importance of preserving the memory of the victims and respecting the facts as a foundation for responsibly dealing with the past.

The observance of the International Day of Remembrance and Commemoration of the Srebrenica Genocide at the United Nations Headquarters reaffirms that nurturing a culture of remembrance is not solely the responsibility of Bosnia and Herzegovina but a shared obligation of the international community. Bosnia and Herzegovina remains committed to preserving the dignity of the victims, fostering a culture of remembrance, and strengthening international cooperation in promoting peace, justice, and respect for international law. Passing on the facts established by international court judgments to future generations and nurturing the memory of Srebrenica genocide victims constitutes a vital contribution to global efforts aimed at preventing genocide and other grave violations of international humanitarian law.