The President of the Municipal Organization of Families of Fallen Soldiers and Missing Civilians in Srebrenica, Branimir Kojić, stated that the Dutch government’s decision to allocate one million euros to the Potočari Memorial Center demonstrates its continued support for those it armed throughout the war.
Kojić claimed that, based on available information, 8,135 compensation requests were submitted, with 2,374 approved so far, suggesting that the Netherlands is compensating not only victims but also those responsible for atrocities against Serbs and the destruction of Serbian property.
He further alleged that Emir Suljagić, the director of the Potočari Memorial Center, might have claimed compensation for the death of his father, Suljo, even though it was proven he died well before July 1995.
- “This is yet another example of how those responsible for the war in the former Yugoslavia, together with their Western allies, continue to meddle in places they don’t belong, siding with Muslims—the same Muslims they armed during the war,” Kojić said.
Compensation over Justice
Kojić argued that the establishment of an independent commission to compensate Muslims highlights the practice of using money to resolve issues.
“Knowing that Serbian mothers do not sell the bones of their sons, they have already paid over 50 million marks for 612 deceased Muslims,” Kojić added.
He noted that the families of fallen and missing Serbs from Srebrenica anticipate future demands from Suljagić and his allies, such as calls for Serbia to pay compensation.
- “Their focus is on money, while we seek justice, which we couldn’t obtain in The Hague. Now we see the Netherlands compensating Muslims, just as we cannot get justice in the Court of BiH, where every Serb, including the President of Republika Srpska, faces prosecution,” Kojić stressed.
Western bias against Republika Srpska
According to Kojić, while Republika Srpska has formed an independent international commission to establish the facts about events in Srebrenica and Sarajevo and prove that genocide against Muslims in Srebrenica did not occur, the Netherlands and other Western countries are using financial payments to absolve themselves of their role in the breakup of Yugoslavia.
He added that Western countries do not view all victims in BiH equally.
- “If they did, they would at least provide answers to Serbs—such as the whereabouts of Sakib Mahmuljin or why Austria has not extradited Kemal Mehmedović, who families accuse of beheading Podrinje Serbs and displaying their heads as trophies to Orić,” Kojić said.
- “We wouldn’t have Murphy telling us fairy tales here, but instead demanding that his country extradite Almir Beganović Prcan, one of those responsible for the murder of Nenad Rankić,” he added.
Call for unity
Kojić called on the Serb people to unite and distance themselves from those willing to betray Republika Srpska and its institutions.
- “We must be as strong and united now as we were during the war. We cannot abandon the fight to preserve our Republika Srpska. We must speak daily of our suffering and seek ways to ensure those who killed us are prosecuted according to law and justice,” Kojić concluded.
Dutch compensation program
Dutch media reported that the Dutch government will allocate one million euros to the Potočari Memorial Center to ensure its continued operation.
The media also noted that “since 2019, families of murdered Bosniaks have been able to apply for compensation through an independent commission. A total of 8,135 requests were submitted, with 2,374 approved.”
- “Over 25 million euros have been paid to the families of 612 victims,” the media added.
Suljagić stated that the decision was the result of extensive discussions between the Dutch government and the families of Bosniak victims.
Source: RTRS
