Mr. Haris Alibašić, president of the Board of the CNAB and member of the Michigan Chapter of CNAB stated that “This is very important to Bosniak American community in Michigan and in other states to honor and remember victims of tragedy in Bosnia and Herzegovina and elsewhere in the world. We hope that recently arrested war criminal, general Ratko Mladić and his political leader Radovan Karadžić will be swiftly prosecuted and convicted so that justice will be served and truth preserved regarding the aggression on Bosnia and Herzegovina and the genocide against the Bosniak people.”

Last year, State of Michigan House of Representatives adopted the House resolution proclaiming July 11, 2010, as Srebrenica Remembrance Day and the week of July 11, 2010, as Bosnia and Herzegovina Tribute Week in the state of Michigan.

On behalf of CNAB,

Hamdija Custovic, Spokesperson

Copy of the Senate Resolution SR70

In the proclamation, Mayor Foxx saluted the Bosniak Americans living in Charlotte, the largest city in North Carolina, who have successfully integrated into the diverse Charlotte community. Furthermore, he stated that the 16th anniversary “raises awareness of the tragic suffering of the Bosnian people and honors and remembers those who died as a result of the policies of ethnic cleansing and genocide”.  Mayor Foxx thus proclaimed July 11, 2011 as Srebrenica Remembrance Day and the week of July 11, 2011 as the  Bosnia and Herzegovina Tribute Week.

On behalf of Bosniak families living in the state of North Carolina and the Congress of North American Bosniaks, Hamdija Custovic, CNAB spokesperson and President of the Carolinas Chapter of CNAB, sent a letter   to Mayor Foxx in which he thanked the mayor and the city of Charlotte for embracing the Bosniak community  and honoring the genocide victims.

On behalf of CNAB,

Hamdija Custovic, Spokesperson

City of Charlotte Srebrenica Genocide Proclamation

Mayor Fischer also proclaimed the week of July 11 – 17 as Bosnia and Herzegovina tribute week and urged all citizens to observe these proclamations.

Below are the copies of the proclamation:

Institute for Genocide Research Canada (IRGC) is pleased to inform the public that a well known genocide denier and anti-Muslim campaigner, Srdja Trifkovic, has been denied entry to Canada. As a result he was unable to give a planned lecture at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. This is a welcome outcome that can be attributed to a determined and successful campaign by the Canadian and American Bosniak community.

IRGC would like to thank and congratulate the Canadian immigration authorities for a job well done in barring Trifkovic from entering Canada to engage in hate speech activities. This is a monumental step in Canadian democracy to protect its ethnic and religious minorities from dangerous implications of hate speech and genocide denial.

On behalf of the many victims of the crime of aggression on Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Bosnian genocide, the IRGC would like to thank the Congress of North American Bosniaks, the Institute for International Law and Research of Crimes against Humanity, University of Sarajevo, the Islamic Community of Bosniaks of Canada, the Bosnian American Genocide Institute & Education Center, Bosnian Academic Forum and many other organizations and the community as a whole for their outstanding support and dedicated lobbying for truth and justice. Special thanks to members of the IRGC team of experts and the many academics and intellectuals who made a major contribution to the success of this campaign. Our particular thanks also to the media outlets for their regularly following and reporting on this case.

Denial of genocide is incompatible with the democratic governance and social values in Canada and other democratic countries. This basic principle, so well understood by the Canadian and American Bosniak community, is recognized by the Canadian and American governments and society.

It is our duty as human beings to fight to prevent crimes of aggression and genocide. The truth about these crimes is not self-sustaining, instead we need to remain constantly vigilant to preserve the truth, based on scientific and historical facts universally recognized by the international courts and national governments. IRGC is committed to fighting for genocide awareness through scientific methods and research of all instances of war crimes throughout the world, not just those committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

IRGC continues to work tirelessly to increase awareness in Canada regarding  the magnitude of the crimes of aggression committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the genocide against Bosniaks that Srdja Trifkovic has constantly sought to trivialise and deny. We are convinced that the contribution of academic research and analysis to wider recognition of the nature and reality of these crimes is essential if peace and reconciliation are eventually to be achieved. It is through activities of this kind that IRGC, with the support of its many friends, of the truth concerning crimes against Bosnia and Herzegovina and its peoples, was able to prepare the ground for the adoption by the Canadian Parliament in 2010 of the Resolution on Genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina which proclaimed 11 July a day of commemoration for the victims of genocide in Srebrenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. In this way, the members of the Canadian Parliament, paid tribute on behalf of the Canadian people whom they represent to the victims of the most terrible crime committed in Europe since the Second World War, the Srebrenica genocide.

Sincerely,

Professor Emir Ramic
Institute for Research of Genocide Canada

Dear Professor Toope,

On behalf of the Congress of North American Bosniaks (CNAB), an umbrella organization representing more than 350,000 Bosniaks in the United States and Canada, I would like to express our dismay at the news that a well known genocide denier Srdja Trifkovic is scheduled to speak at an event organized by the Serbian Students Association at your prestigious academic institution. We hope that this decision was made by the lack of awareness about Mr. Trifkovic’s background and previous works, many of which contain repeated and open denials of the Srebrenica Genocide, an event that was, case after case, reaffirmed, by the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, as an act of genocide according to the United Nations charter. We need not remind you of the horrific outcome of Serbian ultra-nationalists’ plan to annihilate and ethnically cleanse the Bosniak people in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Regardless of the topic of the lecture, it would be an insult to all those who truly value human life, to provide an academic platform to someone who is an open apologist of politics of hatred and propagates further genocide denial regarding the events that occurred during the aggression on Bosnia and Herzegovina. Such an act would be comparable to allowing a holocaust denier to lecture students, knowing fully that person has abused the power of free speech and more importantly abused his/her academic privilege. In fact, such an act of genocide denial in Germany and other European countries would be punishable by law. We strongly believe that only through sincere understanding and coming to terms with the truth about the genocide can there be true reconcilement between Serbs and Bosniaks.

In the letter addressed to you on February 18, 2011, Mr. Stephen Karganovic, the president of the Srebrenica Historical Project, tried to make an argument on the basis of free speech, while simultaneously in the letter putting in the quotation marks all references to the Srebrenica genocide, and thus further propagating the mythology of genocide and holocaust denial. We support freedom of speech but with it comes great responsibility, particularly in the academic setting. After the Holocaust, the civilized world made a promise to never let such atrocities happen again, yet because of unchecked rhetoric and appeasement, the unthinkable atrocities happened again in the heart of Europe, against the Bosniak people. It is therefore of utmost importance that we increase the awareness of the dangers of genocide denial in order to prevent a genocide from happening again elsewhere in the world.

We owe it to the victims of genocide everywhere, not just in Bosnia, to honor them by performing our duties as human beings to disengage from those so called scholars who wish to poison us with conspiracy theories and hateful propaganda. Therefore, we strongly urge you to act responsibly and disallow Mr. Trifkovic from holding a lecture at your university, an institution well known internationally for academic excellence and learning. At the end of the day, it is your decision whether to allow those who deny genocide to use your university as a platform to promote their interests. We sincerely hope you will make the clearly right and moral decision to not let that happen.

Sincerely,

Haris Alibasic, MPA
President of the CNAB Board of Directors

After five years of lobbying by the Canadian – Bosniak community, the Canadian parliament has unanimously adopted the Srebrenica genocide resolution {M-416} recognizing the genocide that happened in Srebrenica, Bosnia and Hercegovine, in 1995

In light of the recent strides that we have made, we would like to inform you about the steps that have led up this important moment

Beginning of the lobbying exactly on the tenth anniversary of genocide in Srebrenica

 The lobbying process for this resolution started five years ago, specifically, on the tenth anniversary of the genocide.  Then, a member of the parliament – Jean Augustine, the first African American woman in the Canadian parliament, a member of the Liberal party of Canada and a close friend of the Bosniak community, read a statement to the parliament which said: “the massacre in Srebrenica was the worst crime of genocide in Europe since World War II.  A resolution, presented by the Congress of North American Bosniaks, for the tenth anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica states that the political aggression and genocide created by the Serbian forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina completely define the crime of genocide from point two: Conventions for preventing and punishing the crime of genocide.  Recalling these crimes are still fresh in the hearts and minds of all friends of truth and justice in Canada.”

 That same year, then minister of foreign affairs in Canada – Pierre Pettigrew (Liberal Party of Canada) turned to the Canadian public with a statement in the name of the Canadian government which stated: “the massacre in Srebrenica represents the worst crime in Europe since World War II. The best way to pay respects to those who were killed in Srebrenica is to arrest all the architects of the genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina and to put them on trial.”

Canada has a chance to fix its mistake and recognize Genocide in Srebrenica like many other on the international scene 

 In 2009, Brian Masse, a member of the Canadian parliament (New Democratic Party of Canada) became the parliamentary sponsor of the Srebrenica genocide resolution.  At the end of August, 2009, Brian Masse held a press conference in downtown Windsor.  At that time, Mr. Masse stated: “Genocide occurred fourteen years ago, and Canada has not paid enough attention to that genocide nor identified the scars and aftermath of that genocide.  Today, Canada has a chance to fix this mistake and recognize what many in the international community have already recognized.  Victims of this genocide deserve support and help.  Everyone needs to learn the lesson from this event because anyone could find themselves in a situation where our voice is not strong enough to prevent such disastrous losses of human life.  Furthermore, those who want to prevent such massacres from happening must work on strengthening the lobbying actions against genocide while improving the quality of life of all victims so they can live a normal life.  This is not just the case of Bosniaks and Muslims, nor is this just my resolution, a positive result is important.  An individual must be able to identify the need to prevent genocide wherever it may be happening.  This is why I am proud of the Bosniak community in Canada, they share their openness and progressive nature to work with others to create better standards of live for all people.  This guarantees that the job will be well done.  Srebrenica is genocide, and there is no debate about it.  Since Canada has accepted thousands of Bosniaks, it is the responsibility of this country to protect other nations’ traditions as well as help ease the scars that have been created in their home countries.  By passing this resolution, Canada would join other countries on the international scene.”

 Resolution M-416 states that Canada, as a member of the international community, has the responsibility to support the decisions of the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia, respect all countries that passed individual resolutions on the Srebrenica genocide, respect international law, and accept information regarding the Srebrenica genocide which has already been declared genocide in international courts. With this resolution we ask that July 11th is declared as a remembrance day for more than 8,000 innocent Bosniak victims of genocide in Srebrenica and that the week of July 11^th is declared Bosnia and Hercegovina Tribute week.  Through a well organized campaign, the Bosniak community in Canada successfully received support from more than two thirds of the parliament and from three political parties.

Rob Oliphant, a member of the Canadian parliament (Liberal Party of Canada) heard about the initiative from the Congress of North American Bosniaks and the Institute for Research of Genocide Canada and became a sponsor of a private member’s bill for Srebrenica Remembrance Day.  By having a remembrance day through a private member’s bill, Canada would become the only country in the world to do that. At a conference in the Canadian parliament, Rob Oliphant stated: “It is an honour to present a bill that will establish a Canadian national day of remembrance for the genocide in Srebrenica that would be marked on July 11th. In July of 1995, over 8,000 Bosniaks were massacred in the Srebrenica Region in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a UN safe area, by the Bosnian Serbs. This was the biggest mass killing in Europe since World War II.  The International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia and the International Court of Justice in the Haag concluded that the massacre in Srebrenica is genocide”.

Bosniaks in Canada will never accept a resolution that does not contain the term genocide

Therefore, resolutions that accept this genocide have been voted on in the European and American parliament as well as in the American Senate. Recognizing the devastation caused by the genocide in Srebrenica in July of 1995, this bill would give an opportunity to all Canadians to stand together with the members of the Bosniak-Canadian community to pay respect to the victims who were massacred. Since the fifteenth anniversary of this genocide is fast approaching, I hope that this bill will serve as a step in the right direction which will ultimately provide some comfort for the survivors of this genocide that live here in Canada. May we never allow the memories of those killed in this genocide fade.”

The Conservative party of Canada, along with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, rejected the original resolution proposed by the Bosniak community and proposed a new version. Instead of using the correct term: Bosniak, the party and its leader changed it to “genocide committed on Bosnian peoples”. By using the term “Bosnian people”, the Conservatives were suggesting that victims of this genocide were all the nations who live in Bosnia and Hercegovina. As a result, the number of victims of the Srebrenica genocide was significantly reduced and the term genocide was changed to “mass killings”.  Bosniak victims of genocide strongly protested against Conservatives’ altered version of the resolution. As for Harper, he accepted the term Bosniak and the actual number of victims of the genocide in Srebrenica but strongly opposed the use of the term genocide. Bosniaks from Canada believe there is no negotiation when it comes to genocide which was also confirmed by both international courts and in various other documents.

More than twenty countries adopted resolutions in their parliament that declare July 11th as a remembrance day for all victims of genocide in Srebrenica. This once again demonstrates that the Conservative party of Canada is under the influence of Serbian and Russian Canadians. In fact, Serbian Canadians had their own campaign opposing Srebrenica Remembrance Day and, in the parliament, handouts were given against this resolution. In return, the Congress of North American Bosniaks and the Institute for Research of Genocide Canada, along with many Bosniak Canadian citizens, organized the strongest lobby to date to support the original M-416 resolution. Canadian Bosniaks sent a clear message to the Canadian government and to the Canadian parliament: Bosniaks in Canada will never accept a resolution that does not contain the term genocide. Leaving out the word genocide is not just an insult to Bosniak Canadians and all victims of genocide, it is also an insult to human rights.  Canadian Bosniaks will not negotiate the term genocide. No one has a right to negotiate in the name of thousands of innocent victims who gave their lives in defence of Bosniaks and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Most prominent individuals from the international law and various human rights organizations support the endeavour of the Bosniak community in Canada so that the truth about the genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina and justice for the crime is recognized by the Canadian parliament.

Canadian Bosniaks protected their rights, justice and home land by continuously fighting for the Srebrenica genocide resolution

 The adoption of this resolution in Canada will pay respect to the victims of Genocide in Srebrenica and in Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the same time, adopting this resolution shows the regret Canada feels for not preventing this genocide from happening. This resolution also implies that all human rights abuses must be punished and victims of genocide cannot be forgotten. Survivors of aggression in Bosnia and Herzegovina are aware that the past cannot be changed however it is easier to mourn for the killed ones when there are allies.

Declaring July 11th as Srebrenica Remembrance Day by the Canadian parliament sends a message to past war criminals, current and future war criminals that their crimes will be punished. With this resolution the goal is for every Canadian to know that “what occurred in Srebrenica and Bosnia and Herzegovina is a sin and a crime against humanity.” For that reason, Canada must confront its past actions in Bosnia through this resolution. Canadian Bosniaks have no fear of truth and justice regarding the aggression in Bosnia and Herzegovina or seeking justice for those victims. Through their lobbying actions for this resolution, they fought for human dignity, rights, truth and justice.

The adoption of the resolution is just the beginning of more serious work on informing the Canadian public and Canadian authorities with the dimensions of the aggression on Bosnia and Herzegovina and genocide against Bosniaks. Opportunity for this is already provided in the lobbying for the adoption of Bill, C – 533 an Act respecting a Srebrenica Remembrance Day in Canada.

The Srebrenica genocide resolution has now officially adopted by Canadian parliament. This is the moment that all dedication and hard work of Bosniak – Canadian community has been proven worthwhile.  On behave of Bosniak – Canadian community we thank the Canadian government and parliament for finally doing the right thing. Canadian Bosniaks will once again feel proud to be Canadians.  We thank to all Canadian Bosniaks who participated in this struggle. Thanks  to all friends of truth and justice that us supported these five years, especially in moments when we are exposed to attacks by those who try to deny the genocide. Thanks to the media, who regularly publish results of all our struggles.

Professor, Emir Ramic

Director Institute for Research of Genocide Canada

President of the Governing Board of the Congress of North American Bosniaks, Canadian Branch

http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/

emir.ramic@instituteforgenocide.ca

The final language of the Motion, M – 416, passed the House of Commons of the Canadian Parliament  with unanimous consent

 ”That, in the opinion of the House, the day of July 11 should be recognized as Srebrenica Remembrance Day in memorial of the Srebrenica Massacre of July of 1995, in which more than 7,000 Bosniak men and boys were executed, declared an act of genocide by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the International Court of Justice, and 25,000 others were forcibly removed from their homes by Bosnian Serb forces.”

 Statements

With pleasure we received the news that the Canadian Parliament adopted a Resolution on the genocide in Srebrenica. This is a great victory of Bosniaks and their organizations in this country, as it were, in this regard, great resistance and destruction. In this way, another of the major world countries, where lives a large number of Bosnians, a planetary admitted the crime, the largest in Europe after the Second World War – genocide in the Srebrenica safe zone, the United Nations, July 1995. At the same time, these are conditions that eliminate relativism and minimizing the crime, which was in Canada. In these and similar actions will always have our support, where you once again congratulations on your perseverance and tenacity., Prof. Dr. Smail Cekic, Director, Institute for Research of Crimes against Humanity and International Law, University of Sarajevo

Adoption of the Srebrenica genocide Resolution which declares the eleventh day of July of Canada to commemorate the victims of genocide in Srerbenici was a big win of Canadian Bosniaks. Canada joins other countries in solidarity with the victims of crimes of genocide against Bosniaks and showed its reputation as a country that stands for peace, truth and justice and protect human rights and freedoms. Canadian reputation on the international scene with this resolution will be more respected. Adoption of Resolution Canada is sending a clear message to all those who abuse power, human rights and freedoms, will always support peace through justice and truth. Adoption of the Srebrenica Genocide Resolution Canada will become a model and mentor to other countries to accept the resolution on remembrance of the victims of genocide in Srebrenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Serbs from both Bosnia and Serbia — supported by the Serbian government — killed approximately 250,000 Muslims; raped more than 50,000 Muslim girls and women; imprisoned thousands in concentration camps; maimed and wounded tens of thousands more. The full list of atrocities and their morbid statistics is too long to recount here. In the now-infamous Bosnian town of Srebrenica — which was supposed to be an internationally recognized safe-zone — Serbs slaughtered an estimated 8,000 men and boys for the sole “crime” of being Muslim. All of this unspeakable brutality, this horrendous and obscene waste of humanity, took place right before the eyes of the so-called “civilized” world. What was done to innocent Bosnians by Serb forces meets the definition of genocide as stated in Article 2 of the Convention of the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, which was established in Paris on December 9, 1948 and came into force on January 12, 1951. Traumatic memories of intentionally committed atrocities on Bosniaks are still very much alive in the minds and hearts of those who survived. Even though these massacres happened more than a decade ago, it is not too late for the world to collectively denounce the evil inflicted on innocent people in Bosnia. Both the House and Senate of the U.S. Congress have passed resolutions and the European Parliament did so earlier this year. The Srebrenica genocide resolution is giving Canada the opportunity to stand up and join other countries in solidarity against the heinous crime of genocide and regain our national reputation a true peace-broker in the world. Adopting the resolution by Parliament Canada benefits in many ways: a) Canada’s international image will be respected as it was in the past; b) Canada will send a clear message to all abusers of power that we will always stand for peace through justice; c) Canada will serve as the model and mentor to other countries to follow its path in acknowledging the genocide of innocent Bosnians; and d) Canada will give hope to those whose hope was taken from them. Adopting the Srebrenica genocide resolution by Canadian parliament justice has brought to bear on behalf of all who were so brutally massacred. Dr. Zijad Delic, National Director of the Islamic Congress of Canada

To go forward, Canada must remember Srebrenica. What happened in Srebrenica is a crime, is genocide, is a grave sin for human life and human honor. I do not call for hatred, but invite you to not forget Srebrenica. I do not call for vengeance or punishment, because God will punish all his justice. I call this evil remember to take a lesson from it. No one has the right  to required of Bosniaks to remain silent. Srebrenica victims are not just numbers. These are evidence of the disappearance of Bosniak man, Bosniak families, Bosniak generations. Everything can be the subject of compromise, but the Bosniak genocide victims – never. Why? Because without memories of the genocide victims has no Bosniak people. This is the limit which must be established in each Bosniak head. West has been built by the currency, “never again genocide “ from the Second World War, which did not prevent the events in Srebrenica. Srebrenica Holocaust violated the right of existence of the West, and therefore Canada to go forward, Canada must remember Srebrenica. The aim of the action Bosniak-Canadian community for the adoption of the resolution on the genocide in the Canadian Parliament was that Canadians know about the fall of Srebrenica and the negation of Canadian values that these events carry. This includes Canada to undertake initiatives to support this task, to react in a unique way of rehabilitation and the Democratic Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the revision of the Dayton Agreement. The resolution should encourage all participants in the Canadian public life who have social or educational accountability (teachers, researchers, journalists, cultural societies or associations) to achieve that massive and Canadians were interested in the Srebrenica tragedy, and so to convince the world about the dimension of this issue. For Canadian Bosniaks resolution should start work on a strategic vision to develop a culture of memory in the Bosniak being. The resolution should scan the aloofness of the Bosniak victims, because the Bosnian victims of genocide are not subject to oblivion. He who controls the past controls the future. Bosniak victims are the key that locks the Bosniak right to the future. Bosniak’s memory must override the tears, strengthen morale, and solidify the ambition to become an absolute compass in behavior and doing everything to a Bosniak’s way. In each of the Bosniak victims written in our life. The experience of victims to be disseminated through time, space, generation. Today, the victims of genocide, won after a five-year struggle for truth and justice in Canada. Because this is a great day for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Great day for the Bosniaks. Great day for all friends of truth and justice in the world. After five years of great political struggle, the truth about the genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a politically and legally formulated in the Parliament, one of the most developed Western democracies. This resolution is proof that truth and justice worth fighting for. It symbolizes the recognition of Canada that genocide against Bosniaks before the passive eyes of the world. It symbolizes the recognition of Canada, together with other countries is not done all it could to be the greatest human tragedy in Europe since the Second World War prevented. Thank you to all Canadian Bosniaks who participated in this struggle. Thank you to all friends of truth and justice that we all supported these five years, especially in moments when we are exposed to attacks by those who try to deny the genocide. Thanks to the media, who regularly publish results of all our struggles. Emir Ramic, Director Institute for Research of Genocide Canada, President of the Governing Board of the Congress of North American Bosniaks, Canadian Branch

I welcome the decision by the Canadian government to honor of the victims of genocide and aggression which occurred in Srebrenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is extremely important that we continue to remember the victims and talk about the horrible events that made this the worst atrocity in Europe since World War II and the Holocaust. The genocide occurred after the fall of Srebrenica on July 11, 1995 to the Bosnian Serb forces supported Serbian paramilitary forces.  Horrific atrocities that occurred afterwards would remain forever on a collective consciousness of the entire world.  The Bosnian Serb forces systematically murdered more than 8,000 innocent Bosniak civilians, including new born children, with the intent of eradicating the Bosniak population from Srebrenica and the surrounding villages.  Further 30,000 civilians were expelled from their homes, while women were raped, and the entire town set ablaze by terrorizing forces. This event has been classified as genocide by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the International Court of Justice. Both the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives passed resolutions in 2005 acknowledging the genocide that the Serbian forces perpetrated in Srebrenica and all of Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1992-1995.  By remembering the victims, we will ensure that we honor them by spreading awareness of genocide cases throughout the world so that what happened in Srebrenica will never happen again, anywhere in the world. But we must not forget other cities and towns in Bosnia which witnessed similar destruction and aggression, places like: Brcko, Doboj, Zepa, Prijedor, Gacko, Trebinje, Foca, Zvornik, Visegrad, Bijeljina, and many others.  We must always remember the entire country of Bosnia and Herzegovina whose vote for freedom and democracy was met by brute force, aggression, and hatred. Many war criminals, including Ratko Mladic, general who led attacks on Srebrenica, are still at large.  For true peace and reconciliation all war criminals must be brought to justice. It is therefore imperative that we continue to show support for Bosnia so that it will continue strongly on its path to peace, stability, democracy and freedom for all of its citizens. Haris Alibasic, President of the Governing Board of the Congress of North American Bosniaks

I commend the decision of the House of Commons to recognize 11th of July as Srebrenica Remembrance Day. By adopting the modified version of the Resolution, Canada joined the long list of the countries which had stood behind the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia much earlier, soon after it declared execution of more than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys an act of genocide., Tajib ef. Pasanbegovic, Head Imam of the Bosniak Community in Canada

 Recognize Genocide. Canada is legally bound to recognize genocide against Bosniaks in the time scale of 1992-1995 in general and the genocide in Srebrenica, perpetrated in July of 1995, in particular. At all material times Canada was legally bound, as it is today, by the 1948 Geneva Genocide Convention which stipulates in its first article that member nations are to  prevent and punish the crime of genocide. At all material times Canada had its military on the ground in Bosnia and Herzegovina. At all material times Canada had, and availed itself of, the ability to gain information of all of plans and movements of all of the opposing forces on the ground in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is incumbent upon Canada to finally and formally recognize, by way of a parliamentary debate and vote, that genocide was indeed perpetrated against Bosniaks. A formal recognition of that, by a body representative of all, is necessary in order to provide for catharsis on the part of the perpetrators on the one hand, and forgiveness on the part of the victims, their relatives and members of community on the other. Zeljko Milicevic, President of the Justice for Bosnia Task Force

Canada has always been internationally respected for its resolve in the fight for justice and human rights. It has a longstanding history of extending a warmhearted welcome to many who have knocked on her doors in times of desperation. One very recent example of such grace is Canada’s embrace of Bosnian emigrants. Since our arrival to Canada, the Bosnian community has worked very hard to rebuild their lives and integrate themselves into the Canadian social fabric. One very important product of this effort is the founding of the Bosnian Canadian Relief Association (BCRA). The BCRA is a charitable organization focused on humanitarian efforts in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). Formed in the summer of 1992 in response to the humanitarian disaster that followed a genocidal aggression against the civilian population of B&H, the BCRA has since incessantly worked to alleviate the consequences of injustice in the country. Over the last 14 years the BCRA has also meticulously worked on many ongoing and side projects. More importantly, in an effort to contribute to Canada’s truly amazing multicultural mesh, the BCRA actively seeks to educate and share with Canadians the beauty of Bosnian culture and the bloody history which accompanies it. As the official humanitarian organization for the Congress of North American Bosniaks, the BCRA has organized numerous lecture series, panel discussions, and various other gala events. In turn, our humanitarian efforts have been recognized by organizations and dignitaries from Bosnia and the Canadian community alike. In other words, the BCRA actively works on enriching Canadian society by raising awareness for the Bosnian cause. It is in this light that we, the members of the BCRA, appeal to the members of the Canadian Parliament. Help us continue raising awareness and fighting injustice by passing the resolution on the genocide in Srebrenica. Help us make a difference!  Today, those Bosnians who once fled their homes and families to start a safer and peaceful life in Canada, compose a unique and very important part of the greater multicultural social fabric that characterizes Canadian society and we as Bosnians are very proud of this integration. Nevertheless, as grateful as we are that Canada has given us the opportunity to contribute to its growth as a nation, we as Bosnians, as a people who have suffered so much injustice at the hands of those who have no respect for human life or dignity are once again knocking on Canada’s door to do the honorable thing and pass the resolution on the genocide of Srebrenica in the Canadian parliament.  Members of the Bosnian Canadian Relief Association

Adoption of the resolution in the Canadian parliament is a historical event which won justice, and spoke the truth. With this act, the victims of the Srebrenica genocide will never be forgotten. The world is one step closer to knowing that genocide never forgives the perpetrators and will always be condemned, and the hand of justice, though slow, will always be attainable.Senad Pasalic, Secretary of the Institute for Research of Genocide Canada

Adoption of the resolution means a lot as a man and a Bosnian – Bosniak, because here in Canada where our enemies are very powerful, we were able to sustain and convince the Canadian Parliament and the Canadian government to accept the truth. I hope this will help us in our future work as a Canadian ‘ethnic communities and especially the Institute for Research of Genocide Canada and the Congress of North America., Mirsad Smajic, Member of the Governing Board of the Congress of North American Bosniaks, Canadian Branch

As a young Canadian Bosniak I cannot explain the pride and joy I feel for having July 11^th as an official Srebrenica Genocide Remembrance Day. I have been dreaming about the day when this date has an official meaning in Canada for many years. Before I go on, I have to thank all the MP’s and lobbyists that believed in this resolution and all those who supported this cause. You are all an inspiration. Many might think this is just a piece of paper with a few signatures from politicians. For Canadian Bosniaks throughout this country this resolution means so much more. Injustice has been done and genocide committed in my native land and all of us are carrying those scars today. By having an official remembrance day, it demonstrates that the Canadian government acknowledges that genocide was committed by Bosnian Serbs and Serbia proper in Srebrenica.  Furthermore Canada is finally stating to the world that its government and people do not tolerate genocide. For the last 15 years we have been mourning for the victims of the Srebrenica genocide and the rest of Bosnia and Herzegovina but the lack of support from the government left us feeling alone and isolated as a community.  With an official day of remembrance we will educate Canadians about this genocide and unite with other communities to fight against injustice, war crimes and human rights abuses. We want to send a clear message to all those who commit, are committing and committed genocide that such people will not and are not tolerated in this world. Canada, by giving this day to the Bosniak community, you have gained 50,000 human rights activists who will fight to keep the promise of “Never again” never again. Our goal is to shed light on the events that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina and to demonstrate to victims of genocide and other communities, it is important to talk about the past because that is the only way we will keep the memory of the victims alive. As citizens of a democratic country it is our duty to speak about these issues and fight for truth and justice. I will end by saying Denial is the last step of Genocide. Canada, thank you for accepting the Srebrenica genocide.  Aldina Muslija, Member of the Governing Board of the Congress of North American Bosniaks, Canadian Branch, Member of the Institute for Research of Genocide Canada

Just as among different individuals, so as among different political parties and activist groups, resolution of conflicts and problems is best done through negotiations in order to reach certain preferred goals. If we want to see certain changes in the world, we, ourselves, have to be ready to change, thus we have to be ready to work hard. The very beginning of that hard work is based on the will to negotiate i look for solutions which will lead to improvement of the quality of our life (and lives of others), however, we need a lot of patience there. The same case we have here in terms of lobbying for the motion M-416 (Srebrenica Genocide), which was recently passed by Canadian Government. Even though there is only one truth about this sad event, many are freely taking the true facts (testimonies, numbers, perpetrators) and manipulate them to the point that they negate the event ever took place, or they re-victimize those affected by the very same genocide. In order to fight for the truth, Bosniak Community of Canada took an advocacy approach, and in the long process of presenting the facts realized the “conviction” which confirmed the events in and around Srebrenica in July of 1995 to be ones that constitute GENOCIDE. It also clearly states the names of perpetrators, victims, numbers and finally proclaims the Day of Srebrenica Remembrance. This proclamation will b a stepping stone towards even stronger resolution that will follow. In this way Bosniak Community of Canada became a relevant power in lobbying for the “Bosnian matter” and will continue its fight to prevent genocide not only in Bosnia, but also anywhere else in the World.  Senad Alicehajic, Bosniak Community Windsor

In Prosecutor v. Krstic, a landmark ruling that put to rest any doubts about the legal character of the massacre, the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia unanimously ruled that it was an act of genocide. The Jewish Holocaust survivor, honorable judge Theodor Meron, presided over the Krstic appeal when the Court established the following facts:“By seeking to eliminate a part of the Bosnian Muslims, the Bosnian Serb forces committed genocide. They targeted for extinction the forty thousand [40,000] Bosnian Muslims living in Srebrenica, a group which was emblematic of the Bosnian Muslims in general. They stripped all the male Muslim prisoners, military and civilian, elderly and young, of their personal belongings and identification, and deliberately and methodically killed them solely on the basis of their identity.The Bosnian Serb forces were aware, when they embarked on this genocidal venture, that the harm they caused w ould continue to plague the Bosnian Muslims. The Appeals Chamber states unequivocally that the law condemns, in appropriate terms, the deep and lasting injury inflicted, and calls the massacre at Srebrenica by its proper name: genocide. Those responsible will bear this stigma, and it will serve as a warning to those who may in future contemplate the commission of such a heinous act.” Daniel Toljaga, Institute for the Research of Genocide, Canada

CHRONOLOGY OF THE CAMPAIGN OF THE BOSNIAK – CANADIAN COMMUNITY FOR ADOPTION SREBRENICA GENOCIDE RESOLUTION IN THE CANADIAN PARLIAMENT

CONGRESS OF NORTH AMERICAN BOSNIAKS, CANADIAN BRANCH {CNABC} AND INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH OF GENOCIDE CANADA {IRGC} LAUNCHED CAMPAIGN FOR ADOPTION SREBRENICA GENOCIDE RESOLUTION IN THE CANADIAN PARLIAMENT

CNAB and IRGC call on the Canadian Parliament and Government to pass Motion, M – 416 and Bill, C – 533

BEGINNING CAMPAIGN FOR ADOPTION OF THE MOTION M – 416

Beginning in July 2005, The Congress of North American Bosniaks, Canadian Branch{CNABC}which represents interests of more than 50.000 Canadians, Bosniak origin launched the Canadian national campaign for adoption of Srebrenica Genocide Resolution. On the tenth anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide, July 11, 2005.

The Hon. Jean Augustine, MP made the statement in the House of Commons of the Canadian Parliament to ensure that the Resolution of the Srebrenica Genocide is on the table in the Canadian Parliament – 38th Parliament, 1^st Session, Edited Hansard, Number 124, Contents, Tuesday, June 28, 2005

More: http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/statement-from-the-hon-jean-augustine-mp/

More: http://openparliament.ca/politicians/3355/

In the same year The Hon. Pierre Pettigrew, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada has issued a statement regarding the 10th anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide.

More: http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/statement-by-pierre-pettigrew-minister-of-foreign-affairs/

More: http://www.patrides.com/july05/ensebrenitsa

LAUNCHING CAMPAIGN FOR ADOPTION OF THE MOTION M – 416

On August 29, 2009, Brian Masse M.P. along with Prof. Emir Ramic, President of the Congress of North American Bosniaks – Canadian Branch and Director of the Institute for Research of genocide Canada , Imam Dr. Zijad Delic, National Director of the Islamic Congress of Canada, the Canadian Bosniak community and many supporters launched the campaign for a Srebrenica Remembrance Day in Canada with the public presentation of a motion M – 416 to be introduced in the House of Commons.

More: http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/srebrenica-remembrance-day-campaign/#more-140

Brian Masse to lunch Srebrenica Remembrance Day Campaign and Motion

More: http://www.brianmasse.ca/node/1060

INTRODUCTION OF THE MOTION M – 416 IN THE CANADIAN PARLIAMENT

Motion – M – 416 — September 10, 2009 — Mr. Masse (Windsor West) — That, in the opinion of the House, the government should declare the day of July 11 as Srebrenica Remembrance Day and the week of July 11 as Bosnia and Herzegovina Tribute Week in memorial of the Srebrenica Massacre of July 1995, in which more than 8,000 Bosniak civilians were executed under the policy of ethnic cleansing, the worst act of genocide in Europe since the Second World War, and 30,000 others were expelled from their homes by Serbian forces.

More: Order Paper and Notice Paper No. 80

MOTION M – 416 SECONDED

M 416 Mr. Masse (Windsor West) — Srebrenica massacre — Notice — September 10, 2009 Pursuant to Standing Order 86(3), jointly seconded by: Mr. Siksay (Burnaby—Douglas) and Ms. Charlton (Hamilton Mountain) Chris — October 6, 2009

More: Order Paper and Notice Paper No. 80

WORLD INTELLECTUALS URGE CANADIAN PARLIAMENT TO ADOPT MOTION M – 416

Members of the International Team of Experts of the Institute for the Research of Genocide Canada express support for Motion M – 416 on Genocide in Srebrenica. The Motion has support from: the Liberal Party of Canada, New Democratic Party of Canada, Blok Quebecois, Green Party of Canada, the Islamic and Jewish Congress of Canada, the Institute for Research of Genocide Canada, the Congress of North American Bosniaks, many organizations for the protection of human rights and freedom in Canada and in the world. World Intellectuals Urge Canadian Parliament to Adopt Srebrenica Genocide Motion (M-416). With Motion-M – 416 , the Canadian Parliament and Government are observing the 15th anniversary of the genocide committed in the Bosnian city of Srebrenica in July 1995, and expressing support for the designation of “Srebrenica Remembrance Day” in Canada. Affirmation of the Canadian Record on the Srebrenica Genocide Resolution calls upon the Canadian Parliament and Government to ensure that Canadian foreign policy reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the Canada record relating to the Srebrenica Genocide.

More: http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/world-intellectuals-urge-canadian-parliament-to-adopt-srebrenica-genocide-motion-m-416/

SUPPORTERS OF THE MOTION M – 416 IN THE CANADIAN PARLIAMENT

The Motion has support from: the Liberal Party of Canada, New Democratic Party of Canada, Blok Quebecois.

More: http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/supporters-of-motion-m-416-in-the-parliament-of-canada/

Letter from Prof. Smail Cekic to Canadian Parliament

More: http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/letter-from-prof-smail-cekic-to-canadian-parliament/#more-1086

Letter from Prof. David Pettigrew to Canadian Parliament

More: http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/letter-of-prof-david-pettigrew-for-canadian-parliament/#more-1046

Letter from Prof. Francis A. Boyle to Canadian Parliament

More: http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/letter-from-prof-francis-a-boyle-to-the-government-of-canada-re-resolution-m-416/#more-994

CANADIAN BOSNIAK COMMUNITY DO NOT ACCEPT MOTION M – 416 WITHOUT THE INCLUSION OF THE TERM “GENOCIDE”

Canadian Bosniaks do not accept Motion M – 416 without the inclusion of the term “genocide”.

Motion M 416 is about the crime of genocide against Bosniaks at Srebrenica.

More: http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/canadian-bosniaks-do-not-accept-motion-m-%E2%80%93-416-without-the-inclusion-of-the-term-%E2%80%9Cgenocide%E2%80%9D/

Letter to Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada

More: http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/letter-to-stephen-harper-prime-minister-of-canada/#more-1546

Press release – Bosnian Community in Canada

More: http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/press-release-%E2%80%93-bosnian-community-in-canada/#more-1536

Final negotiated version of the Motion- M – 416

More: http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/research/motion%E2%80%94m-416/page/2/

CNABC AND IRGC DISAPPOINTED WITH PRIME MINISTER HARPER’S SHAMEFUL VETO OF THE MOTION M – 416

CNABC and IRGC disappointed with Prime Minister Harper’s shameful veto of the motion to remember the Srebrenica Genocide

More: http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/cnab-disappointed-with-prime-minister-harper’s-shameful-veto-of-the-motion-to-remember-the-srebrenica-genocide

Statements by prominent experts in international law, humanists and statesmen regarding the Conservative Party of Canada refusal to allow an all-party Motion M – 416 on the Srebrenica genocide in Canadian Parliament

More: http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/statements-by-prominent-experts-in-international-law-humanist-and-statesman-regarding-to-the-conservative-party-of-canada-refuses-to-allow-an-all-party-motion-m-416-on-the-srebrenica-genocide-in-ca/#more-1604

Members of the Canadian Parliament demand Harper recognize The Srebrenica Genocide

More: http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/mps-demand-harper-recognize-the-srebrenica-genocide-2/

Members of the Canadian Parliament demand Harper recognize the Srebrenica Genocide

More: http://www.brianmasse.ca/node/1141

INTRODUCING THE BILL C – 533 AN ANCT RESPECTING SREBRENICA GENOCIDE

Honourable Rob Oliphant, Member of the Canadian Parliament and Member of the Liberal Party of Canada on June 10th introduced Bill C – 533, an Act respecting a Srebrenica Remembrance Day

More: http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/bill-c-%E2%80%93-533-an-act-respecting-a-srebrenica-remembrance-day/#more-1517

Introducing the Bill C-533, Third Session, Fortieth Parliament, 59 Elizabeth II, 2010, , House of Commons of Canada, An Act respecting a Srebrenica Remembrance Day, first reading, June 10, 2010

An Act respecting a Srebrenica Remembrance Day, introduced by Mr Oliphant on June 10^th:

More: http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Docid=4610579&file=4

More: http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=40&Ses=3&DocId=4613107

More: http://openparliament.ca/hansards/2279/9/

Comments by Mr Oliphant on June 10th in the House of Commons:

More: http://www.xtra.ca/blog/ottawa/post/2010/06/10/Rob-Oliphant-talks-about-recognising-the-Srebrenica-genocide.aspx

Rob Oliphant holds a press conference introducing his bill, Bill C-533, – Rob Oliphant MP Introduces Bill C-533 – Rob Oliphant holds a press conference introducing his bill, Bill C-533,, An Act Respecting a Srebrenica Remembrance Day.

More: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzaHwfSrxl8

Robert Oliphant, MP Press Release – Presents Bill Calling for Srebrenica Remembrance Day, Blasts Government for their Inaction

More: http://www.roboliphantmp.ca/Press-Release-2010-06-10.php

Bill C – 533 seconding by Hon the hon. Libby Davies, member For Vancouver East

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased this morning to introduce a bill that seeks to establish a national Srebrenica remembrance day to be held every July 11. I thank my colleague the hon. Libby Davies, member For Vancouver East for seconding the bill.

CANADIANS REMEMBERING SREBRENICA GENOCIDE PROMOTING EDUCATION, REMEMBRANCE AND RESEARCH OF THE SREBRENICA GENOCIDE

July 11th 2010 marked the 15th anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide. In commemoration of this tragedy Toronto’s Bosnian community hosted a series of well organized and well received events: a photo exhibit at the Gladstone Hotel, a silent march in downtown Toronto, and a commemoration ceremony in Etobicoke. Events were organized in partnership with the Congress of North American Bosniaks and the Institute for the Research of Genocide-Canada. The Bosnian Community of Toronto hosted a number of events to Commemorate the 15th Anniversary of the Srebrenica, Bosnia & Hercegovinia Genocide. We were honoured to be a part of it, to capture moments of remembrance for a time in history that must never be forgotten and never again repeated anywhere to anyone. In partnership with the Congress of North American Bosniaks and the Institute for the Research of Genocide-Canada, the Southern Ontario Bosniak community hosted a series of well organized and well received events: a photo exhibit at the Gladstone Hotel, a silent march in downtown Toronto as well as a commemoration ceremony in Etobicoke this past weekend on the 15th year anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide. All information is available at srebrenica.ca.

More: http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/toronto-canada-15th-commemoration-of-srebrenica-genocide/

Statements by the Members of the Canadian Parliament at the Srebrenica Genocide Commemoration in Toronto: The 15th Anniversary

More: http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/statements-by-the-members-of-the-canadian-parliament-at-the-srebrenica-genocide-commemoration-in-toronto-the-15th-anniversary

Statement by Borys Wrzesnewskyj

More: http://www.srebrenica.ca/web/index.php/component/content/article/52-mp-borys-wrzesnewskyj-commemorates-srebrenica-genocide-at-bosnian-islamic-centre-in-etobicoke

STATEMENT OF CNABC AND IRGC REGARDING STATEMENT OF THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF CANADA

Canada Commemorates 15th Anniversary of Srebrenica Genocide – (No. 217 – July 10, 2010 – 12:30 p.m. ET) The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement commemorating the 15th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre:

More: http://www.international.gc.ca/media/aff/news-communiques/2010/217.aspx?

More: http://www.international.gc.ca/media/aff/news-communiques/2010/217.aspx?lang=eng

More: http://www.international.gc.ca/media/aff/news-communiques/2010/217.aspx?lang=fra

Statement of the Congress of North American Bosniaks, Canadian Branch and the Institute for Research of Genocide Canada regarding Statement of the Foreign Minister of Canada Lawrence Cannon

More: http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/statement-of-the-congress-of-north-american-bosniaks-canadian-branch-and-the-institute-for-research-of-genocide-canada-regarding-statement-of-the-foreign-minister-of-canada-lawrence-cannon-2/#more-1690

Canada condemns the atrocities committed in Srebrenica in July 1995, as well as all other forms of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide

CANADA CONDEMNS THE ATROCITIES COMMITED IN SREBRENICA IN JULY 1995, AS WELL AS ALL OTHER FORMS OF WAR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY AND GENOCIDE

More: http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/research/motion%E2%80%94m-416/

Response from Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Congress  of North American Bosniaks Canadian Branch and Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina

More: http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/response-from-the-minister-of-foreign-affairs/

CURRENT STATUS

Upon its introduction it was referred to the House of Commons of Canada, Motion M – 416 was sent back for a full house vote sometimes after September 20, 2010.

After its first reading in the House of Commons of Canada Bill C – 533 is awaiting its second reading in the House.

Please join CNABC and IRGC in our campaign to encourage Canadian Parliament and Government to take a firm stand against the unspeakable horrors of Srebrenica Genocide.

CNAB AND IRGC CINTINUE TO CAMPAIGN FO THE ADOPTION OF MOTION AND BILL

CNABC and IRGC on behalf of the Bosniak-Canadian community continue to campaign for the adoption of the motion M- 416 and the Bill C – 533 in the Canadian Parliament

More: http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/cnabc-and-irgc-on-behalf-of-the-bosniak-canadian-community-continue-to-campaign-for-the-adoption-of-the-motion-m-416-and-the-bill-c-%E2%80%93-533-in-the-canadian-parliament/

Canadian Bosniaks do not accept Motion M – 416 without the inclusion of the term “genocide”

More: http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/canadian-bosniaks-do-not-accept-motion-m-%E2%80%93-416-without-the-inclusion-of-the-term-%E2%80%9Cgenocide%E2%80%9D-2/

The Genocide Prevention Group Solemnly Commemorates Srebrenica Remembrance Day

More: http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/the-genocide-prevention-group-solemnly-commemorates-srebrenica-remembrance-day/

The Letter of the Canadian-Bosniak Community to the Members of the House of Commons and Senate of the Canadian Parliament

More: http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/the-letter-of-the-canadian-bosniak-community-to-the-members-of-the-house-of-commons-and-senate-of-the-canadian-parliament/

The Letter of CNABC and IRGC to the Right Honourable Prime Minister Stephen Harper

More: http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/the-letter-of-cnabc-and-irgc-to-the-right-honourable-prime-minister-stephen-harper/

The Letter of CNABC and IRGC to the Honourable Lawrence Cannon

More: http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/the-letter-of-cnabc-and-irgc-to-the-honourable-lawrence-cannon/

The Government of Canada would support a parliamentary resolution recognizing and commemorating the Srebrenica Genocide

More:  http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/the-government-of-canada-would-support-a-parliamentary-resolution-recognizing-and-commemorating-the-srebrenica-genocide/

Bosniak – Canadian Community accepts the proposed resolution that was submitted for our consideration by Conservative Government of Canada

http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/bosniak-canadian-community-received-a-new-proposal-of-the-resolution-on-the-genocide-in-srebrenica-m-%E2%80%93-416-by-the-government-of-canada/

 City of Grand Rapids, Michigan adopted the proclamation proclaiming July 11, 2010, as Srebrenica Remembrance Day and the week of July 11, 2010, as Bosnia and Herzegovina Tribute Week in the City of Grand Rapids. Since 2005, City of Grand Rapids’ Mayor George Heartwell issued supported Srebrenica Remembrance Day and Bosnia and Herzegovina Tribute proclamation.

Grand Rapids is home to a large number of Bosnian Americans. Congress of North American Bosniaks is thankful to the City’s elected and administrative officials support for Bosnian Americans. Honorable George K. Heartwell has honored Bosniak organizations in Grand Rapids at a special reading of the proclamation at City of Grand Rapids government meeting. Honorable Heartwell read the proclamation and stated how important Bosniak American community in Grand Rapids is, “with over 5,000 in the metropolitan Grand Rapids area” who contribute to the economy and well being of the community. The following representatives from various Bosniak American organizations were present at the even where Mayor handed copies of the resolution to each present:

Ahmet Kadic, Vice President of the Michigan chapter of the Congress of North American Bosniaks; imam dr. Muaz Redzic, from Bosnian Cultural Center (BCC), Sanel Fazlic, pas president of the BCC; Jasminko Hodzic, president of the Board of the Islamic Cultural Center (ICC) Behar; and imam Edip Makic from ICC Behar. 
Haris Alibasic, president of the Congress of North American Bosniaks spoke on behalf of Bosniak organizations and thanked the City for continuous support to Bosnian Americans and for welcome to the new resident and citizens of this community.

City of Kentwood, Michigan adopted the proclamation proclaiming July 11, 2010, as Srebrenica Remembrance Day and the week of July 11, 2010, as Bosnia and Herzegovina Tribute Week in the City of Kentwood (see in PDF format). This is the third year that Mayor Richard Root and the City Council supported and adopted similar proclamation. Kentwood has a large Bosnian American population.

Earlier this month on July 1, 2010, State of Michigan House of Representatives adopted House resolution No. 311 proclaiming July 11, 2010, as Srebrenica Remembrance Day and the week of July 11, 2010, as Bosnia and Herzegovina Tribute Week in the state of Michigan. Representatives from all parties represented in the House unanimously voted to adopt the Resolution. Congress of North American Bosniaks is thankful to Michigan legislators for their support to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bosnian Americans and to the City elected and administrative officials support. CNAB thanks

From 1992-1995, Serbs from heavily militarized villages around Srebrenica had terrorized Bosniak civilians and constantly attacked neighboring Bosniak villages. In July 1995 the Bosnian Serbs took control of Srebrenica and committed genocide. In the course of the Srebrenica genocide, approximately 30,000 Bosniaks had been expelled from their home and 8,372 Bosniaks had been summarily executed.

Congress of North American Bosniaks, Michigan Chapter

Proglasd Kentwood 2010 1

Proglas Grand Rapids 2010

On July 9th, 2010, the second floor of the Gladstone hotel was host to the official start of a set of ceremonial activities organised by a dedicated group of volunteers.
Three separate rooms housed three very distinct but connected experiences for the approximately 200 reception-goers, featuring Roger LeMoyne’s exhibit “Srebrenica: The Absence”. This gripping photo series, which began in 1995, conveys the sense of loss, an unwavering need for justice and the importance of preserving history. In the main foyer on the second floor, a bright, eclectic, and mostly young crowd mingled as the Jusuf Dzilic (aka Genocide) video “Srebrenica” played on an iMac. Petition forms and informational pamphlets were available at the information desk, to gain support from the Canadian public on passing the genocide resolution and bill currently in front of Parliament. Owing perhaps to the event’s timing, a large number of street-traffic was welcomed by an always abundant and receptive host group. Windsor-West MP Brian Masse continued to show his support for the Bosniak community and this important issue by personally attending the event.

In the south-facing rooms, traditional Bosnian music, Sevdalinka, and traditional religious songs, Ilahija, were played as visitors viewed images that were both disturbing and impactful. In the north-facing room, pictures of the bereaved, the dead, and the still missing gave the impression of some end, but no closure, to the viewer. An equally heavy melody and visuals by Alma Ferovic played on a video screen, and this song combined with the images brought many visitors to tears.

2. Saturday July 10, 2010 – Silent March

Over three hundred people, all wearing a distinctive bright yellow tee with the words “Never forget / Srebrenica Genocide / July 11, 1995″, gathered in front of the Royal Ontario Museum at noon on Saturday, July 10, 2010. Comprised mostly of young Canadian Bosniaks, but with a healthy contingent of supporters from other communities, the group began a silent march through the streets of downtown Toronto. The lead group walked silently in a file of two, each member carrying a single letter that spelled out “SREBRENICA GENOCIDE” along the left, and flags of Canada and Bosnia on the right. The procession walked on the right-hand sides and north sides of the street so that the placards could be seen by all, informing onlookers of the cause. Continuously handing out informational pamphlets and flyers to a very receptive Toronto public, the group made several stops at major Toronto media outlets such as CTV, CP24, and CBC, as well as major landmarks such as Yonge and Dundas Square, and Nathan Phillips Square. Canadians, Canadian-Bosnians and Canadian-Bosniaks on this day showed the civility, pride, and solidarity of a nation that continues to struggle for justice against those perpetrators of genocide in Srebrenica, elsewhere in Bosnia, and the world.

3. Sunday July 11, 2010- Ceremony

The 2-hour program on the 15-year anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide began at 7PM on July 11, 2010 at the Bosnian Islamic Association. The hall was decorated with the photos of Roger Lemoyne, various books on the Srebrenica genocide, related poetry, informative quotes and yellow lilies. Yellow lilies being a symbol of Bosnia and the Bosniak people. Near the entrance to the hall stood six large tables on top of which was listed the names of the 8, 372 men killed in Srebrenica 15 years ago. The tables were symbolically draped in green, as the tradition among Bosniaks is to drape the coffins of their deceased in green cloth.

An informative and heart-wrenching 30-minute documentary outlining the circumstances of the fall of Srebrenica and individual stories of the massacre was played to a crowd of 300 that included Parliamentarians Hon. Brian Masse, Hon. Boris Wrzesnewskyj, Hon. Rob Oliphant, as well as distinguished guests.

The Srebrenica Memorial Film was followed by a short video by Tarik Samarah as a preamble to the riveting account of a now 35-year old man who is an Omarska concentration camp survivor (he was held for 202 days). Fadil Kulasic, an experienced speaker, tailored his typically 3 hour talk, to 30 minutes, focusing on 6 of his most vivid and defining memories. Fadil’s stories left the audience speechless and tearful. He showed bravery and strength in sharing these difficult, heartfelt stories with the audience. A common thread amongst the six stories was one of strength and perseverance. Fadil mentioned that throughout his experiences he often heard other victims like himself proclaim “Ne daj se, Bosno!” (Don’t give up Bosna), and he shared this with the audience reiterating that the we should never give up on Bosna and we should never forget the atrocities that occurred there. The reason Fadil believes he is alive today is that he would always look his captors in the eyes and he wouldn’t turn his back to them when they asked him to, no matter what. He believed that if there was any ounce of humanity in his captors, that they wouldn’t be able to hurt him if he looked them in the eye. The final message he gave the audience was that he wanted to remind us to never turn our backs to Srebrenica.

The final half of the program was filled by a rousing set of speeches from the MPs. Hon. Brian Masse’s passionate show of support and the message that Canada must recognize the genocide for the good of its citizens and for the sake of its reputation in the world was received with a standing ovation. Hon. Boris Wrzesnewsky talked about loss and memory and Hon. Rob Oliphant discussed the need for truth and reconciliation and both these messages were warmly received with standing ovations as well. The Bosniak community and their supporters were honoured to have these three distinguished MPs attend the event and show their support for having Srebrenica recognized as a genocide in Canada and having July 11th recognized as Srebrenica Remembrance Day. The evening closed with a moving commemoration ceremony that involved the laying down of yellow lilies, by each attendee, on the tables containing the names of 8, 372 men that were killed. A traditional ilahija, “Don’t Grieve with Tears”, sung by Mensura Bajraktarevic played throughout the hall.

Mayor Jerry Abramson also proclaimed the week of July 11 – 17 as Bosnia and Herzegovina Tribute Week and urged all citizens to observe this special recognition.

The following are digital copies of both proclamations honoring 8,372 who died and 30,000 Bosniaks that were expelled during the first genocide since the Holocaust.

July 11 Srebrenica Remembrance Day Proclamation Louisville

July 11-17 Bosnia and Herzegovina Tribute Week Proclamation – City of Louisville

House Resolution No. 311

A resolution to declare July 11, 2010, as Srebrenica Remembrance Day and the week of July 11, 2010, as Bosnia and Herzegovina Tribute Week in the state of Michigan.

Whereas, The United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives passed resolutions in 2005 acknowledging the genocide that the Serbian forces perpetrated in Srebrenica, and all of Bosnia from 1992 to 1995; and

Whereas, July 11, 2010, will commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre in which at least 8,372 innocent Bosniak civilians were executed and 30,000 were expelled from their homes in the worst atrocity in Europe since the Holocaust; and Whereas, This anniversary raises awareness of the tragic suffering of the Bosnian people and honors and remembers those who died as a result of the policies of ethnic cleansing and aggression; and

Whereas, The Congress of North American Bosniaks (CNAB) is the umbrella organization representing Bosniaks in the United States and Canada; and

Whereas, The state of Michigan recognizes the importance of this event to bring closure for the Bosnian people through justice and truth; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare July 11, 2010, as Srebrenica Remembrance Day and the week of July 11, 2010, as Bosnia and Herzegovina Tribute Week in the state of Michigan; and be it further Resolved, That we call upon all citizens to work toward ending the cycle of violence and promoting peaceful coexistence among all.

Michigan Srebrenica Resolution

WHEREAS, North Carolina his home to more than 10,000 Bosniak Americans including thousands in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, who have successfully integrated into the Charlotte community and are working towards a better future; and

WHEREAS, the Congress of North American Bosniaks (CNAB) is an umbrella organization representing Bosniaks in the United States and Canada; and

WHEREAS, July 11, 2010 is commemorated as the 15th Anniversary of the Srebrenica Massacre, in which at least 8,372 innocent Bosniak civilians were summarily executed and 30,000 were expelled from their homes in the worst atrocity in Europe since the Holocaust; and

WHEREAS, July 11, 2010 will be known as Srebrenica Remembrance Day; and

WHEREAS, the anniversary raises awareness of the tragic suffering of the Bosnian people and honors and remembers those who died as a result of the policies of ethnic cleansing and aggression; and

WHEREAS, both, the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives passed resolutions in 2005 acknowledging the genocid ethat the Serbian forces perpetrated in Srebrenica, and all of Bosnia from 1992 to 1995:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Anthony R. Foxx, Mayor of Charlotte, do hereby proclaim the week of July 11, 2010 as

“BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA TRIBUTE WEEK”

in Charlotte and commend its observance to all citizens.

WITNESS MY HAND and the official Seal of the City of Charlotte

SEAL MAYOR’s Signature

City of Charlotte (NC) Srebrenica Genocide Proclamation

Honourable Rob Oliphant, Member of the Canadian Parliament and Member of the Liberal Party of Canada on June 10th introduced Bill C – 533, an Act respecting a Srebrenica Remembrance Day

The 3rd Session, 40th Parliament
59 Elizabeth II, 2010
HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA

Bill C-533

An Act respecting a Srebrenica Remembrance Day:

Whereas the Srebrenica Massacre, also known as the Srebrenica Genocide, was the killing in July of 1995 of an estimated 8,000 Bosniak men and boys in the region of Srebrenica in Bosnia and Herzegovina by Bosnian Serb forces;

Whereas the Srebrenica Massacre is the largest mass murder in Europe since World War II and the largest massacre carried out by Serb forces during the Bosnian war;

Whereas the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, located in The Hague, unanimously decided in the case of Prosecutor v. Krstić that the Srebrenica Massacre was genocide;

Whereas the International Court of Justice ruled in February of 2007 that the Srebrenica Massacre was genocide with the specific intent to destroy Bosnian Muslims who were living in the area;

Whereas resolutions condemning the Srebrenica Massacre were adopted by the European Parliament on January 15, 2009, and by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in 2005;

Whereas on March 31, 2010, the Government of Serbia, led by President BorisTadic, issued a full state apology for the Srebrenica Massacre, providing tacit recognition of the genocidal nature of the crime and endorsing the February 2007 ruling of the International Court of Justice;

And whereas the list of people missing or killed in Srebrenica, as compiled by the Federal Commission of Missing Persons of the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, includes 8,373 names to date;

Now, therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

SHORT TITLE

1.This Act may be cited as the Srebrenica Remembrance Day Act. SREBRENICA REMEMBRANCE DAY

2.Throughout Canada, in each and every year, the eleventh day of July shall be known as “Srebrenica Remembrance Day”.

3.For greater certainty, Srebrenica Remembrance Day is not a legal holiday or a nonjuridical day.

Mr. Robert Oliphant’s comments in the House of Commons:

Moved for leave to introduce Bill C-533, An Act respecting a Srebrenica Remembrance Day.

He said: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased this morning to introduce a bill that seeks to establish a national Srebrenica remembrance day to be held every July 11. I thank my colleague the hon. member for Vancouver East for seconding the bill.

In July 1995, an estimated 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were massacred in the Srebrenica region of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a UN declared safe area by Bosnian Serb forces. This was the largest mass murder in Europe since World War II.

Both the appeals chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the International Court of Justice ruled that the Srebrenica massacre was genocide.
In addition, resolutions condemning the massacre have been passed by the European Parliament and the American House of Representatives and Senate.

This past March, the president of Serbia issued a full state apology and endorsed the ruling of the International Court of Justice.

Recognizing the devastating effects of the July 1995 Srebrenica genocide, this bill would provide the opportunity for all Canadians to stand with those in the Bosnian Canadian community to share in their pain and honour the memory of those men and boys massacred.

As we approach the 15th anniversary of this massacre, I hope this bill will serve as a step in the right direction which will ultimately provide some semblance of comfort to the survivors of this genocide and to the Bosnian community here in Canada.

May the memory of those lost never be forgotten.

In parliamentary procedure is still Motion M – 416 introduced on August 29, 2009, by Honourable Brian Masse, Member of the Canadian Parliament and Member of the NDP, jointly seconded by: Mr. Siksay Douglas and Ms. Charlton Chris, on October 6, 2009.

Motion M – 416

That, in the opinion of the House, the day of July 11 should be recognized as Srebrenica Remembrance Day in memorial of the Srebrenica Massacre of July of 1995, in which more than 8,000 Bosniak civilians were executed under the policy of ethnic cleansing, declared an act of genocide by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, and 30,000 others were expelled from their homes by Serbian forces.

Difference between Motion and Bill

A motion is a proposal moved by a Member for the House to do something, to order something to be done or to express an opinion with regard to some matter. A motion might be passed in the House of Commons but that doesn`t always mean any type of action has to follow. A bill is stronger. It is a proposed law submitted to Parliament for consideration and approval. It may originate either with the government, with a private Member, or from a committee, and may relate either to public or private interests.

By: Daniel Toljaga

Pravica’s claim that the 1995 Srebrenica massacre was somehow justified as an act of Serb retaliation flies in the face of the historical record. Nor is it true, as he alleges, that “Islamic mujahedeen volunteers, led by Nasir Oric” participated in the defence of Srebrenica and “attacks on Serb villages.” There were no “mujahedeen” in or around Srebrenica, but there were holy warriors from Christian countries, notably Russian and Greek volunteers fighting with the Serb forces.

In the lead-up to the Srebrenica genocide, Serb forces led by Gen. Ratko Mladic destroyed hundreds of Bosnian Muslim villages around Srebrenica and committed horrendous massacres against the Bosniak civilians.

All these crimes occurred three years before the Srebrenica genocide as part of a strategy of “ethnic cleansing” against the Bosnian Muslim population, which has been documented in court.

Surviving civilians took shelter in the Srebrenica enclave because they had nowhere else to go. Serb forces around Srebrenica never honoured their part of the UN-brokered demilitarization agreement and they constantly attacked Bosniak refugees within the “safe area.” The 1995 Srebrenica genocide was thus a continuation and culmination of earlier massacres that Serb forces had committed against the largely unarmed Bosniak civilians in the area.

It is regrettable that some Serb civilians did die in the clashes between the Bosniak defenders and Serb attackers on the enclave, but Oric committed no massacres of Serb civilians. Unlike Mladic, however, who remains at large even to this day, Oric stood trial at The Hague and was ultimately found not guilty on all counts by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

Edmonton Journal, 16 April 2010.

HOUSE RESOLUTION 712
[ download in pdf ]

WHEREAS, The United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives passed resolutions in 2005 acknowledging the genocide that Serbian forces perpetrated in all of Bosnia from 1992 to 1995 and in Srebrenica; and

WHEREAS, July 11, 2010 is commemorated as the 15th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre, in which at least 8,372 innocent Bosniak civilians were summarily executed and 30,000 were expelled from their homes in the worst atrocity in Europe since the Holocaust; and

WHEREAS, This anniversary raises awareness of the tragic suffering of the Bosnian and Herzegovinian people and honors and remembers those who died as a result of the policies of ethnic cleansing and aggression; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois recognizes the importance of this event, which seeks to bring closure for the Bosnian and Herzegovinian people through justice and truth; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we designate July 11, 2010 as Srebrenica Remembrance Day in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we designate the week of July 11, 2010 as Bosnia and Herzegovina Tribute Week in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we call upon all the citizens of the State of Illinois to work toward ending the cycle of violence and to promote peaceful coexistence among all people on Earth.

The  State of Illinois General Assembly unanimously adopted Resolution HR712, which declared July 11th as Srebrenica Remembrance Day and the week of July 11th as Bosnia and Herzegovina  Tribute Week in the State of Illinois.

As stated, the resolution also called upon all citizens of the State of Illinois to jointly advocate to stop the cycle of violence and promote peaceful coexistence among all people on Earth.

State representatives Greg Harris and Harry Osterman jointly sponsored the Resolution.

The passing of the resolution by the state authorities was made possible by efforts of following Bosnian Americans:

• Sanja Drnovsek-Seferovic – Director of the Bosnian-American Institute for Genocide

• Ferid Sefer – member of the   Board of Directors of the Bosnian-American Institute for Genocide and education who also serves as the Secretary of the Congress of North American Bosniaks and the creator of the web magazine “Chicagoraja”.

• Ivica Jurišić, President of the BiH Club

• Samija Hajdarevic Diab, who was forced to leave Bosnia with two her two young sons,

• Emin Drnovsek-Seferovic – an 8th grade student of the “Taft” school

Below is the speech given by Sanja Seferovic Drnovsek to the Illinois Legislature on February 3, 2010.

Honorable Members of the State Government Administrative Committee,

A Resolution has been placed before you to set aside July 11 as the annual day to remember the Srebrenica Genocide and the week of July 11 as the Bosnian and Herzegovinian Tribute week in State of Illinois .

Be it further, we call upon all the citizens of the State of Illinois to work toward ending the cycle of violence and to promote peaceful coexistence among all people on earth.

This is an historical moment and I am honored to have an opportunity to speak for Bosnian American citizens  in Illinois that have signed the petition for this Resolution in April last year which is the month that is dedicated to the prevention of genocide that has taken place, and still occurs, in whole world.

This Resolution is in compliance with; the U.S. House Resolution 134 (in 2005) and the U.S. Senate Resolution 199 (in 2005), as well as the International Criminal Court Tribunal established for the former Yugoslavia, the European Parliament Resolution from 2009, and similar Resolutions in the States of Michigan and Missouri. All these Resolutions and their court decisions state that the Srebrenica massacre in which 8, 372 Bosniaks, who were innocent civilians representing three generations of men, were executed by Bosnian Serb forces, as the worst single war crime committed in Europe since World War II.

During the aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina , which democratically become its own independent state in April 1992 with the endorsement of the U.S. , 200, 000 persons were killed, 40% of 4,600,000 Bosnians were displaced, and one quarter of the total population were forced to leave. Many of the heavily wounded, victims of concentration camps and of rape camps, arrived in the U.S.  Among them are my friends, Mrs. Samija Hajdarevic Diab who came with two sons, and Mr. Ferid Sefer, who came with his family. Both are with us in this room.

Illinois is the most welcoming state to our community where more than 50, 000 Bosnians (over 35, 000 in the city of Chicago ) found their new home. Illinois opened its hospitals, Illinois open its schools, and Illinois opened its businesses and community centers for them. Today Bosnians are everywhere in Illinois ; they are factory workers, construction workers, teacher, doctors, lawyers and scientists. They are successful and loyal citizens of the State of Illinois . The state made a difference to thousands and represented hope for a new world view for millions.

I would like to thank you, Mr. Greg Harris and Mr. Harry Osterman, and all of you for your participation in this Resolution that will continue the selfless voice for fairness and justice.  I would like to thank you on behalf of my friend, Zuhra Osmanovic, a survivor of Srebrenica genocide. Her husband was killed and her son was taken from her hands that day, on July 11 1995. She has never seen her son since. He was my son’s age. My son is with us today in this room. She will never forget that moment, but she told me that this Resolution will give her hope that justice and truth will prevail and will prevent future genocide, here or there, or everywhere in the world.

I personally believe that possibility for greater understanding in Bosnia and Herzegovina and throughout the world depends upon our realization that truth and justice are the first steps toward reconciliation. It is also a warning to future generation that this crime should never happen again to any group of people, anywhere or anytime.

Thank you again.

Sanja Seferovic Drnovsek
Director of the Bosnian-American Genocide Institute and Education Center

Today, the United States extradited Nedjo Ikonic to Bosnia. 

A spokesman for the state prosecutor’s office, Boris Grubesic, said 45-year-old Nedjo Ikonic had been arrested in the United States on an international arrest warrant. He said Ikonic was a commander of a special police brigade operating within the Serb Republic interior ministry during the Bosnian 1992-95 war that claimed 100,000 lives. Ikonic is a former Serb policeman suspected of taking part in the 1995 Srebrenica Genocide - Europe’s worst massacre since World War Two.

“In 1995 Ikonic commanded the unit which together with the Bosnian Serb army controlled the roads to and out of the eastern town of Srebrenica,” Grubesic told state radio.

Bosnian Serb forces, commanded by Gen. Ratko Mladic, killed about 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys after the eastern town, which was a United Nations-protected safe zone, fell into their hands in 1995. Most were killed while trying to escape through the woods, and were either shot or arrested and taken to places of execution before burial in mass graves.

The U.N. war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague has sentenced seven Bosnian Serbs for the Srebrenica massacre. Nine more are on trial. Mladic is still on the run, 14 years after he was indicted.

Bosnian Serb wartime leader Radovan Karadzic, whose trial before the Hague-based court is adjourned until March, denies all 11 counts of war crimes relating to the Bosnian war, including the genocide at Srebrenica.

The Bosnian war crimes court, set up in 2005 to relieve the burden on the Hague-based tribunal, has put dozens of Bosnian Serbs on trial over Srebrenica. Twelve have been jailed, seven acquitted and seven are still being tried.

we recognize July 11, 2009 as a day of remembrance of the destruction of the City of Srebrenica and the brutal murder of thousands of innocent men, women and children; and 

Whereas, the survivors, families and friends of those who were lost commemorate this solemn occasion every year in order to remind the world of the horrors of the war that devastated the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina; and

Whereas, the people of Bosnia have made St. Louis their new home and have been welcomed as our friends and neighbors; and

Whereas, we weep with our Bosnian friends and neighbors for the atrocities that occurred in the City of Srebrenica, but we celebrate the flourishing community of the Bosnian people here in St. Louis; and

Whereas, we recognize the anniversary of the tragedy of the Srebrenica genocide every year in the month of July in order to honor those who lost their lives, those who survived, and their families and friends.

Now, Therefore, I, Francis G. Slay, Mayor of the City of St. Louis, do hereby proclaim July 11, 2009 as:

“SREBRENICA REMEMBRANCE DAY”
IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the seal of the City of Saint Louis, this 11th day of July, A.D. 2009.

Signature
Francis G. Slay,
Mayor of the City of Saint Louis

* Document courtesy of: The Association of Survivors of the Srebrenica Genocide in Saint Louis, Missouri. Official web site www.Srebrenica95.com.

Judge Flügge made headlines when he questioned the Srebrenica genocide in an interview given to the German weekly magazine “Der Spiegel”. According to the article, Judge Flügge stated that “the term genocide to define these crimes is unnecessary” instead preferring to refer to it as “mass murder”. He claimed that there was no reason to differentiate between “a group that is murdered for their nationality, religion, ethnicity, or race, as is regulated by the Hague Statute” and a group that “happens to be gathered at a specific location”.

Judge Flügge was unable to show impartiality to the case and was in a clear violation of The Hague’s Rule 15(A). His statement also directly violated previous ICTY rulings which confirmed that the atrocities committed against Bosniaks in Srebrenica constitute genocide, in accordance with the definition from the Geneva Convention of 1949.

For these reasons, CNAB had requested that the Court remove Judge Flügge from his role in the proceedings against Radovan Karadžić, or in any case dealing specifically with charges of genocide. CNAB is pleased with ICTY’s decision to comply with our request, but we still demand an official apology be issued to the victims who have been hurt by Judge Flügge’s statement.

Let us conclude with the words of honorable Theodor Meron, former presiding judge of the ICTY from his speech deliver in Potočari on 11 July 2005 at the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide:

“By seeking to eliminate a part of the Bosnian Muslims [Bosniaks], the Bosnian Serb forces committed genocide. They targeted for extinction the 40,000 Bosnian Muslims living in Srebrenica, a group which was emblematic of the Bosnian Muslims in general.

They stripped all the male Muslim prisoners, military and civilian, elderly and young, of their personal belongings and identification, and deliberately and methodically killed them solely on the basis of their identity. The Bosnian Serb forces were aware, when they embarked on this genocidal venture, that the harm they caused would continue to plague the Bosnian Muslims.

The Appeals Chamber states unequivocally that the law condemns, in appropriate terms, the deep and lasting injury inflicted, and calls the massacre at Srebrenica by its proper name: genocide. Those responsible will bear this stigma, and it will serve as a warning to those who may in future contemplate the commission of such a heinous act.”

Que, de l’avis de la Chambre, le gouvernement devrait faire de la journée du 11 juillet la Journée commémorative du massacre de Srebrenica et de la semaine du 11 juillet la Semaine d’hommage à la Bosnie-Herzégovine afin de perpétuer le souvenir du massacre auquel les forces serbes se sont livrées à Srebrenica en juillet 1995 et au cours duquel elles ont exécuté plus de 8 000 civils bosniaques en application de la politique de nettoyage ethnique – le pire acte génocide commis en Europe depuis la Deuxième Guerre mondiale – et en ont forcé 30 000 autres à abandonner leurs foyers.

Da, po mišljenju Parlamenta, Vlada treba da proglasi dan 11. Jula kao Dan sjećanja na Srebrenicu i narednu sedmicu odavanje počasti Bosni i Hercegovini, kao spomen na masakr u Srebrenici 11 jula 1995, u
kojem je ubijeno više od 8,000 bošnjačkih civila u okviru politike etničkog čisćenja, kao najgori akt genocida u Evropi od Drugog svjestkog rata, i u kojem je protjerano iz svojih domova više od 30,000 od strane srpskih snaga.

Windsor, ON – Today Brian Masse M.P., NDP Industry, Automotive, and Border Critic along with Imam Dr. Zijad Delic, Emir Ramic, President of the Congress of North American Bosniaks-Canada, the Canadian Bosniak community and many supporters launched the campaign for a Srebrenica Remembrance Day in Canada with the public presentation of a motion to be introduced in the House of Commons this upcoming fall session.

“The time is long past due for Canada to declare July 11 Srebrenica Remembrance Day. This anniversary raises awareness of the tragic suffering of the people of Bosnia and honours and remembers those who were killed as a result of the policies of genocide, ethnic cleansing, and war crimes carried out in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1992 to 1995,” Masse stated. “With this declaration, Canada acknowledges the importance of this event in helping to bring closure for the Bosnian people through truth and justice. The institutionalization of Srebrenica Remembrance Day every July 11 will help to inform future generations and assist all of us to work towards peaceful coexistence.”

After the fall of Srebrenica on July 11th 1995, Bosnian Serb forces, commanded by General Ratko Mladic (an indicted war criminal), and paramilitary units rapidly executed more than 8,000 Bosniak (Muslim) men, boys, and elderly, who had sought safety in the area. Moreover, approximately 30,000 people were forcibly deported in an UN-assisted ethnic cleansing. The European Parliament resolution referred to the Srebrenica Massacre as “the biggest war crime in Europe since the end of WWII.”

This atrocity has been declared an act of genocide by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. Both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate in 2005 have passed resolutions on the Srebrenica Genocide and all the atrocities that occurred during the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995. The European parliament passed its resolution on January 15, 2009 institutionalizing July 11 as the day of Remembrance for the Srebrenica Genocide.

Senad Alicehajic, President of the Bosnian Club of Windsor, stated “We are also here today to recognize the fact that individuals committed these terrible acts, but it is the ideology of ethnic cleansing, fascism, racial and cultural discriminations, Nazism, and hatred that allowed them to carryout these atrocities. While the perpetrators of these crimes need to be brought to justice it is equally important that these false ideologies be condemned. The Srebrenica Remembrance Day will provide just such an opportunity.”

“The US Congress, both the House and Senate have passed resolutions. The European Parliament has done the same earlier this year. The House of Commons needs to act. With this motion the opportunity presents itself for Canada to join other countries in doing something that should have been done long ago,” Masse stated.

Historical overview of events leading to this moment:

Good Afternoon, My name is Senad Alicehajic, member of the Bosnian Community Windsor, President of the Bosnian Club Windsor and social worker at a local mental health agency.

On behalf of the Congress of North American Bosniaks-Canadian Branch, on behalf of the Institute for the research of Genocide-Bosnian and Canadian branch, on behalf of the Bosnian Community Windsor and most importantly on behalf of the victims of Genocide and their families, I welcome you and thank you for being here. Some of you traveled a geographical distance and some of you had to travel an emotional distance to be here, but you made it and I am humbled and honored to be among you.

Let us remind ourselves:

It is Canada who came to Bosnia before Bosnia came to Canada. It is Canadian battalion that served in Bosnia for over 3 years and it is Canada who lost 9 soldiers serving these two great countries. Our past is jointed in many ways as we continue to strive for the justice, peace, respect and honor.

These values are universal and transcend the boundaries created by humans.

Today we are here to reiterate our commitment to the promise of Never Again Genocide, Never Again Concentration Camps and Never Again Mass Graves. We are here today to show that maintenance of this commitment is very important because these strong messages can actually save lives of those living in regions impacted by raging wars.

Today we firmly stand here to confirm that we as human beings share the universal truth about the good and the wrong. We all know that when we do a good deed we feel great about it for a while and then the feeling goes away, but when we do a bad deed, the wrong feeling stays with us for much longer period of time, sometimes our whole life. This tells us that doing good deeds is natural and doing wrong deeds works against our body and soul; because, in essence, we are all created as good people and our body always tells the truth.

The truth that we want to say today, loud and clear, has been confirmed by many living and unfortunately many dead people. Experts from many renowned organizations, International courts and tribunals, survivors, witnesses, and exhumed remains from the mass graves all tell the same truth.

THAT IN THE PERIOD BETWEEN THE 10TH AND 14TH OF JULY 1995 IN THE REGION OF A SMALL TOWN IN EASTERN BOSNIA CALLED SREBRENICA, AT LEAST 8353 MEN AND BOYS WERE GRUSOMLY EXECUTED BY SERB FORCES, UNDER THE COMMAND OF GENERAL RATKO MLADIC, WAR CRIMINAL, STILL AT LARGE.

LET US REMIND OURSELVES THAT SREBRENICA AT THAT TIME WAS A SAFE HAVEN PROCLAIMED BY THE UNITED NATIONS.

Bodies of these innocent people were then buried in multiple mass graves, which were subsequently, by using heavy machinery, moved again and buried in secondary mass graves in order to bury the truth too.

Some bodies were dismantled in this process and the body parts of one person in some cases ended up in two, three or more different mass graves.

We are not here today, 14 year later, to prove anything to anyone or to point fingers at anyone. It is well know to the world what happened in Bosnia between ’92 and ’95. It has been confirmed by the International Tribunal in Hague, By the Senate of the USA, by the European Union Parliament, and by other counties, states and cities including the state of Michigan, city of Grand Rapids and the countries such as Croatia and Monte Negro.

The question is: What is Canada waiting for?

They all passed a resolution or a proclamation confirming the fact that an act of Genocide, the worst one Europe has seen after the WWII, has happened in the town of Srebrenica.

Again, the reasons for these resolutions are not one sided. They are based on the universal belief of the democratic world that we need to recognize countries in trouble and to help in a timely manner, to prevent genocide and intervene before it is too late. It is for the victims of Genocide that we are doing this as they have no voice to do it for themselves.

We are also here today to recognize the fact that yes, it must have been individuals who committed these terrible acts, but it is the ideology of ethnic cleansing, ideology of fascism, racial and cultural discriminations, Nazism, and hatred that need to be trialed in the courts, and condemned in our hearts. We have to condemn such ideologies and fight for the justice, truth, equality and democracy.

And this is where this story starts: During and after the war in Bosnia, as many as 50 000 Bosnians came to Canada as immigrants and refugees and found their new home here. As the new diaspora we worked hard to become a piece of the Canadian Multicultural Mosaic and to be productive members of this democratic society. We also learned how the system works and how we need to organize to preserve our culture and heritage.

However, this most important piece is not completed yet.

Our open wound still hurts as we watch every year, on July 11th, the day of genocide anniversary, hundreds of coffins placed in the ground for the last time.

So far, experts have been able to exhume and identify, by using the DNA technology, over 3500 bodies, and their families were able to give them a proper burial in the Commemorative centre POTOCARI near Srebrenica.

Over 5000 others are still waiting to be found in mass graves and to be identified and buried.

Each Year, Over 40 000 people come in person to this place to say their final good byes to their brothers, fathers, sons, grandsons, uncles, grandfathers, while millions are closely watching on their TV’s and computers. Among those who visited POTOCARI are President Bill Clinton, current vice president Joe Biden, Carla del Ponte, prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) in August 1999 and others.

Today, only 14 years later, you are standing here and asking yourselves what went wrong. That is a complex question and we will not be able to answer it today, but what is maybe even more important question is what we can do to make it better for future generations.

This kind of approach is the driving force behind the Congress of North American Bosniaks, an organization established in North America that represents the interests of over 350 000 North American Bosniaks. This organization is committed to creating better future for Bosniaks and all
other people in Bosnia, Canada and USA.

This organization has been looking for support of Canadian MP-s, for the past 4 years, to help us on the road of recovery, to bring some closure to our past and to help us in our effort to have our voice heard in Ottawa.

It is only recently that we finally got the opportunity to do something like this. Thanks to Brian Masse, we are here today, all humbled and privileged to be able to help raise awareness on these sad, but true subjects.

Brian Masse agreed to work with Canadian Bosniaks towards, not only passing of a motion or a resolution or a bill, but also towards creating a prosperous Bosnia and Herzegovina in its effort to integrate in European Union.

Senad Alicehajic

—

By Sonja Puzic, The Windsor StarAugust 31, 2009 — Windsor West MP Brian Masse has launched a campaign for a nationally recognized Srebrenica Remembrance Day to mark the horrific 1995 massacre in Bosnia.

At a news conference in Windsor Saturday, Masse said he will present a motion in Parliament this fall to designate July 11 Srebrenica Remembrance Day. Masse was accompanied by members of Windsor’s Bosnian community.

In July 1995, Bosnian Serb forces led by General Ratko Mladic, an indicted war criminal still in hiding, executed more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica.

The massacre has been referred to as the biggest war crime in Europe since the Second World War and declared a genocide by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. It is regarded as the worst atrocity of the war in Bosnia between 1992 and 1995.

The European Parliament passed a resolution early this year to mark July 11 Srebrenica Remembrance Day. The United States House of Representatives and the Senate have also passed similar resolutions.

Public Event and News Conference:
Declaring Canada’s SREBRENICA REMEMBRANCE DAY – Campaign Kick-off

WINDSOR, ONTARIO

Event: News conference and media availability:
Brian Masse, MP (Windsor West), to announce his
SREBRENICA REMEMBRANCE DAY Motion
submitted to the House of Commons

When: Saturday, August 29, 2009.

Time: 12:00 NOON

Where: Charles Clark Square, City of Windsor
215 Chatam St. E.

Located between Chatham St. and University E;
midway between Goyeau and McDougall streets

In case of rain:
Union Hall, 1855 Turner Rd., Windsor, ON

Congress of North American Bosniaks (CNAB) – Canada Branch, Institute for the Research of Genocide Canada, and Bosnian and Herzegovinian Community of Windsor are pleased to inform the public that they have, together with the Bosnia and Herzegovina Diaspora in Canada, intensified activities for the adoption in the Canadian Parliament of the “July 11 – Srebrenica Remembrance Day” commemorating genocide in Srebrenica (which 15th anniversary is next year) and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Honourable Brian Masse, Member of Parliament for Windsor West, responding to Bosnian and Herzegovinian Community of Windsor, has gratefully accepted to submit his SREBRENICA REMEMBRANCE DAY Motion into the House of Commons procedure and will publicly announce it at a news conference in Windsor on Saturday, August 29, 2009.

Given:
- the early support we received from the individual MPs,
- the assurance received on July 23, 2009 from The Honourable Lawrence Cannon,

Minister of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Government, of this being considered when

Parliament resumes in the fall,

- that then Liberal MP The Honourable Jean Augustine was one who in June 2005 first

raised on the floor of the House this initiative for the “Srebrenica Remembrance Day”,
we call upon all Parties and all Members of Parliament to extend their support for this Motion and work together toward its adoption.

We invite all Canadians of Bosnian and Herzegovinian origin, and all people of good faith who support the truth, justice, and a sovereign, democratic, prosperous Bosnia and Herzegovina to be actively involved in this process and to focus their efforts in campaigning for passing of this resolution in the Canadian Parliament.

BACKGROUNDER

The Srebrenica Massacre of July of 1995 is also a symbol of many horrible atrocities committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina from April 1992 to November 1995 under the policies and acts of aggression and genocide as implemented by Serbian forces and among which the Srebrenica Massacre was the worst. More than 8,000 innocent Bosniak civilian men and boys from the United Nations-designated `safe area’ of Srebrenica in Bosnia and Herzegovina, i.e. under the protection of the international community, were summarily executed and 30,000 others were expelled from their homes by Serbian forces in the worst act of genocide in Europe since the Second World War and recognized as such by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and UN permanent International Court of Justice, while The European Court of Human Rights upheld (74613/01) genocide judgement for 1992 atrocities elsewhere.

There are many most serious aspects directly implicating, involving, and connecting Canada to the events and issues leading to, and in the aftermath of, Srebrenica and many other atrocities in the war aggression and genocide on the sovereign state and UN Member the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (RBiH) and its People. In asking Canada to consider adopting a measure to recognize a Srebrenica Remembrance Day, let us stress one aspect which is less known to Canada’s public, and that is international responsibility and privilege from Canada being a member of the UN Security Council’s Chapter VII Executive Governing Body of Bosnia and Herzegovina – the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council (SB PIC), sitting together with its closest allies and international partners, US and European Union, which have already adopted similar resolutions (European Parliament resolution of 15 January 2009 on Srebrenica; US S. RES. 134 and H.Res. 199).

We request Parliament of Canada and Canadian government to recognize that genocide took place in Srebrenica and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Canadian recognition could have bestowed much deserved honour upon the victims and survivors of the genocide. It will assure the Canadian-Bosniak community (who still face overt and subtle threats and intimidation here in Canada without protection of the local authorities) and all communities that aggression, ethnic cleansing, genocide and all such evils will not be repeated and that Canada and Canadians stand ready to uphold democratic principles and the rule of law. It would significantly raise awareness of genocide and the understanding of what can happen when people are judged solely on their ethnicity, their religion, and their beliefs. Furthermore, it would stand as a reminder to re-uphold our commitment to “NEVER AGAIN” after it failed in the case of Srebrenica and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

CANADIAN ISLAMIC CONGRESS – MEDIA COMMUNIQUE

 August 26, 2009

 ISLAMIC CONGRESS SUPPORTS MP BRIAN MASSE FOR PLAN TO SPONSOR PARLIAMENTARY RESOLUTION ON BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA GENOCIDE

 The Canadian Islamic Congress today declared its full support for MP Brian

Masse (NDP – Windsor West), who plans to sponsor a resolution in Parliament condemning the genocide of thousands of Bosnians between 1992 and 1995 in war-torn Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 Mr. Masse will publicly announce his resolution at a press conference scheduled for Saturday, August 29, 2009 at 12 noon at Charles Clark Square,  City of Windsor, ON.  

“What was done to innocent Bosnians by Serb forces meets the definition of genocide as stated in Article 2 of the Convention of the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, which was established in Paris on December 9, 1948 and came into force on January 12, 1951,” noted CIC National President, Mrs. Wahida Valiante. “Traumatic memories of intentionally committed atrocities on Bosniaks are still very much alive in the minds and hearts of those who survived.”

 ”What happened in Bosnia and Herzegovina was so terrible, I would never wish it on any human being,” added Imam Dr. Zijad Delic, CIC’s Bosnian-born National Executive Director who will also attend and speak at the press conference.

 ”Serbs from both Bosnia and Serbia – supported by the Serbian government – killed approximately 250,000 Muslims; raped more than 50,000 Muslim girls and women; imprisoned thousands in concentration camps; maimed and wounded tens of thousands more. The full list of atrocities is too long to recount here. In the now-infamous Bosnian town of Srebrenica – which was supposed to be an internationally recognized safe-zone – Serbs slaughtered an estimated 8,000 Muslim men and boys,” Imam Dr. Delic added.

 The CIC thanks Mr. Masse for recognizing that Bosnia and Herzegovina underwent the worst case of atrocities and genocide committed against civilians since the Second World War and that innocent Bosnian men, women, children, the sick and the elderly, took the brunt of intentional aggression by Serb forces. 

The CIC calls upon all Canadians of conscience to support this courageous initiative to sponsor parliamentary resolution on Bosnia-Herzegovina genocide so that justice can be brought to bear on behalf of all who were so brutally massacred.

 Imam Dr. Delic concluded: “Thank you, MP Brian Masse, for caring about justice and daring to stand up for truth in these troubled times! All Canadians – but especially those whose roots of origin are in Bosnia and Herzegovina – are proud of Canadian politicians like yourself, who value honesty and integrity.” 

MP Brian Masse’s personal website: www.brianmasse.ndp.ca Brian Masse’s Parliamentary e-mail: Masse.B@parl.gc.ca 

CONTACT:

Mrs. Wahida Valiante,

National President, Canadian Islamic Congress (647) 802-8024

Imam Dr. Zijad Delic,

National Executive Director, Canadian Islamic Congress (613) 698-8469

HON. RUSS CARNAHAN

of Missouri

in the House of Representatives

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Mr. CARNAHAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the anniversary of the fall of Zepa during the war in Bosnia in 1995. Just a few weeks ago, I attended the Srebrenica genocide remembrance ceremony in Bosnia and Herzegovina to commemorate the thousands of innocent lives lost during the war. It is important to remember these innocent people who lost their lives as Bosnians move forward.

This siege on Srebrenica, however, was not an isolated event. On July 25, 1995, Zepa, another U.N.-declared safe haven, also fell to the same forces that took Srebrenica just weeks earlier. The thousands of inhabitants and refugees in Zepa were forced to suffer, and die through a constant downpour of shellfire.

In addition to the vast numbers who perished due to the barrage of fire and starvation, an unknown number were taken away never to be seen again, including the Colonel of the Bosnia and Herzegovina army, Avdo Palic, who negotiated the evacuation of approximately 5,000 civilians.

Today, a little more than 14 years after the fall of Zepa, I urge us all to remember not only the fall of Zepa, but also the destruction of the other towns of Srebrenica, Zepa, Sarajevo, Gorazde, Bihac, Tuzla, Prijedor, Bjeljina, Visegrad, Foca, and Kozarac, and many others, all of which experienced significant loss. We must remind ourselves of the innocent lives that were lost, and honor their memory.

Madam Speaker, while we cannot erase the pain of these losses, let us support the efforts of the families of the missing to learn the fate of their loved ones, and let us support the justice that is necessary for the building of a stable, prosperous, and unified Bosnia and Herzegovina.

[Congressional Record: July 27, 2009 (Extensions)]
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HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

of New Jersey

in the House of Representatives

Monday, July 27, 2009

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, on Saturday July 25 Bosnians commemorated the fourteenth anniversary of the tragic fall of Zepa. The town of Zepa was one of the six United Nations-declared safe havens in Bosnia during the war of aggression from 1992 to 1995. In May 1993, a United Nations Security Council resolution held out to this town in eastern Bosnia the promise of protection from the forces of Republika Srpska. In Zepa the local residents, people from the surrounding area, and refugees from other cities and towns gathered to be shielded from Serbian aggression.

But, Madam Speaker, the men, women, and children seeking refuge in Zepa were not shielded. The forces of Republika Srpska, who had laid siege to Zepa in the summer of 1992, were not impressed by UN safe havens, and neither the UN nor anyone else was committed to defending the safe havens. On July 25, 1995, the forces of Republika Srpska overpowered Zepa’s defenders and began to occupy the town.

In July Avdo Palic, colonel of the Bosnian government force defending Zepa, performed a hero’s work in evacuating as many civilians as he could, despite operating under constant shelling and the threat of starvation from the forces of Republika Srpska. Palic participated in negotiations which resulted in the safe evacuation of approximately 5,000 Bosnian civilians. On July 27 Palic traveled to the UN Protection Force Compound, in order to secure the evacuation of Zepa’s remaining inhabitants: he has not been seen since and his fate is still unknown.

Madam Speaker, looking back on the tragedy of Zepa, we remember the loss of countless innocent lives. Our government cannot give back to the survivors the precious lives of the family members and friends of
the people of Zepa, Srebrenica, Sarajevo, Bihac, Gorazde, and Tuzla, but it can support their pursuit of justice. Our government must do everything it can to discover the fate of Avdo

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Palic and the other men and women who went missing in the genocide committed against the Bosnian people. To be sure, we must continue to look for Ratko Mladic and other criminals and genocideurs, but we must not forget their victims and their need for closure.

HON. ANDRE CARSON

of Indiana

in the House of Representatives

Friday, July 24, 2009

Mr. CARSON. Madam Speaker, tomorrow, the international community will remember a tragic day in the genocide that ravaged Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995. For over three years, the town of Zepa, Bosnia remained under siege by the Republika Srpska, despite being named a safe haven for

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Bosnians by the United Nations Security Council. Over this period, innocent Zepa residents lived under constant threat, both of the near constant artillery fire and from the rampant starvation and disease that arose from squalid living conditions.

Thousands lost their lives and countless others were injured during the three year siege until finally, on July 25, 1995, the town fell to paramilitary forces and the remaining residents were killed or forcefully expelled from their homes.

On this heartbreaking anniversary, it is clear that atrocities and genocide should never be permitted to continue unfettered. In remembering the innocent victims of Zepa, I believe that the United States, together with the United Nations and our allies around the world, must reaffirm its commitment to ceaselessly pursue the perpetrators of these terrible war crimes. The international community must come together to not only remember the innocent victims of this massacre, but to also redouble its pursuit of lasting peace and security in some of the world’s most volatile regions.

[Congressional Record: July 29, 2009 (Extensions)]
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Since 2005, City of Grand Rapids’ Mayor George Heartwell supported Srebrenica Rememberance Day and Bosnia and Herzegovina Tribute proclamation. Grand Rapids is home to a large number of Bosnian Americans. Congress of North American Bosniaks is thankful to the City’s elected and
administrative officials support for Bosnian Americans.

From 1992-1995, Serbs from heavily militarized villages around Srebrenica had terrorized Bosniak civilians and constantly attacked neighbouring Bosniak villages. In July 1995 the Bosnian Serbs took control of Srebrenica and committed genocide. In the course of the Srebrenica genocide, approximately 30,000 Bosniaks had been expelled from their home and 8,372 Bosniaks had been summarily executed.