Bundestag commemorates Srebrenica massacre 30 years ago

The German Bundestag in Berlin commemorated the massacre in the Bosnian city of Srebrenica 30 years ago with a minute's silence and a plenary debate. "The genocide was also a failure of the United Nations, whose peacekeeping forces failed to offer those seeking protection precisely that—protection," said Bundestag President Julia Klöckner (CDU ) in her speech. It "therefore also represents the realization that the enforcement of human rights requires concrete, very concrete, action from all of us."

Bundestag President Julia Klöckner (CDU) speaks in front of microphones in the Bundestag, wearing a white top and holding a script in her hands — President of the Bundestag Julia Klöckner (CDU) Photo: Kay Nietfeld/dpa/picture alliance

The 1995 Srebrenica massacre is considered the worst war crime in Europe since World War II . Shortly before the end of the Bosnian War, troops under Bosnian Serb army chief Ratko Mladic stormed the then-UN-protected zone in Srebrenica on July 11, 1995, abducting, killing, and burying more than 8,000 Muslim boys and men in mass graves. Women, girls, and children were deported in buses to the front line, to the territory controlled by the Bosnian army.

Europe as perhaps the only answer

The Dutch UN soldiers were later accused of tolerating the capture of Srebrenica. "They couldn't intervene or didn't want to," said Gunther Krichbaum (CDU), Minister of State for Europe at the Federal Foreign Office, about the UN soldiers. This shows that United Nations mandates "are only effective if they are robust; otherwise, they lose their organizing and deterrent effect." Krichbaum described Europe as "perhaps the only response we can give to something like" Srebrenica. "So that hatred and nationalism can be overcome."

Damir Arnaut, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Germany, in the Bundestag, he has placed his right hand on his chest — Was present in the Bundestag and was welcomed by Bundestag President Klöckner: Damir Arnaut, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Germany. Photo: Katharina Kausche/dpa/picture alliance

The massacre is also "a warning for all of us – a warning not to look away, but to look," Krichbaum emphasized in his speech to the Bundestag. "When people in Europe or elsewhere are threatened because of their origins, religion, or identity, we cannot remain silent." The Minister of State added: "Srebrenica must never happen again, never again. It is our responsibility."

Möller: Srebrenica a "monstrous crime"

The deputy parliamentary group leader of the SPD , Siemtje Möller, spoke of a "monstrous crime." Srebrenica was possible "because the international community allowed it," the politician warned. Furthermore, the judicial investigation into the crime is still ongoing.

Judgments by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) have legally established the genocide character of the Srebrenica massacre. The UN General Assembly had decided to establish an international day of remembrance in 2024 – despite Serbia's opposition. From now on, July 11th will be dedicated to the memory of this war crime.

pg/pgr (afp, dpa, kna)