The President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, has stated that Republika Srpska has always treated the events in Srebrenica as a crime scene but denies that genocide occurred there because the definition of genocide was not met in Srebrenica.
“There was no genocide in the sense known to international law or as defined by the United Nations. This is supported by relevant experts who specialize in this area. There are people who believe that no genocide was committed in Srebrenica. On the other hand, there are continuous efforts by the Bosniak side and parts of the international community to impose this as a norm and to prohibit discussions on the subject. There is no genocide in the world about which it is forbidden to speak,” Dodik added during his address in the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, where the final report of the Independent International Commission on the Suffering of All Peoples in the Srebrenica region from 1992 to 1995 was being discussed.
Dodik stated that it is not true that Serbia was convicted of genocide or that it failed to prevent genocide.
“It has been accurately established that Serbia neither created nor organized genocide, and that is a fact. What is true is that an atmosphere for such a narrative was strongly lobbied,” the President of Srpska remarked.
President Dodik added that the fundamental criteria for genocide were not met in Srebrenica.
“The biggest names dealing with this topic have stated there was no genocide. We have the right to consider how you have lobbied and used international mechanisms to this end. If there had been wisdom, we should have agreed, before any court judgments, to an Independent International Commission composed of the world’s leading experts who would establish the truth,” said Dodik.
Dodik further stated that Republika Srpska has never denied the possibility for those involved in the events in Srebrenica to appear in court and be accountable for their actions.
“Everyone who was sought has gone to court,” stated Dodik.
He mentioned that this stance is a response to the reports previously made under the pressure of the Office of the High Representative (OHR) and the prevailing atmosphere within the government of Republika Srpska.
“We cannot enter into what has been judged in The Hague, but it concerns the Bosniak side trying to exploit this to maintain the topic as it is known that this issue and its emergence at the United Nations is not an initiative of anyone from Srpska or the Serbian people,” Dodik concluded.
Source: RTRS
