On the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica atrocities, various leaders, both current and former, and officials from various European countries, have commented on the event, often giving a lessons to Serbia. Numerous countries have condemned Serbia for its role in the Srebrenica massacre!
It’s important to clarify that while the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) found that the Srebrenica massacre constituted genocide, the ICJ also concluded that Serbia was neither directly responsible for the Srebrenica atrocities, nor that it was complicit in it.
President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, issued a statement acknowledging the EU’s responsibility for failing to prevent the genocide and rejecting any denial or glorification of war criminals. Von der Leyen stated that “some events in history cast a shadow that stretches across generations. The genocide in Srebrenica is one of them”.
I agree with her, some events in history cast a shadow that stretches across generations. Historical European empires and countries engaged in actions against indigenous populations that are considered genocidal by many historians. Historical empires and regimes, due to their vast power and reach, have been responsible for some of the most devastating genocides and mass atrocities in history, leading to the deaths of millions.
It’s important to note that these are estimates, and the exact number of civilian deaths caused by these European regimes and empires may never be known with certainty. It’s crucial to remember that these events represent some of the most devastating examples of violence and mass killings in history.
Studying them should help leaders, both current and former, and officials from various European countries, understand the importance of human rights.
Don’t give a lesson to Serbia. Don’t give someone a lesson for something they haven’t done.
Leave a Reply