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Statement by President von der Leyen marking 30 years since the Srebrenica genocide

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Some events in history cast a shadow that stretches across generations. The genocide in Srebrenica is one of them. It stands among the darkest chapters in Europe's collective memory.

Thirty years have passed since these atrocities. Today, I want to pay tribute to the more than 8,300  Bosniak boys and men who were killed and those who are still missing. As some of the last victims of Srebrenica are buried in dignity, I also honour the mothers, wives, and daughters who continue to grieve, carrying the weight of loss through three decades.

It is our duty to remember and to preserve the truth, so that future generations know exactly what happened.

They must know that in the summer of 1995, victims were systematically executed and buried in mass graves within the UN-designated 'safe area' of Srebrenica. A town they believed would protect them in the brutal war that was ravaging Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The European Union will never forget what happened in this town.

We acknowledge our past and recognise our responsibility for failing to prevent and stop the genocide.

We will also never allow history to be rewritten.

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We firmly reject and condemn any denial, distortion, or minimisation of the Srebrenica genocide, as well as the glorification of war criminals.

Political leaders have a great responsibility in that regard, in particular in Bosnia and Herzegovina and across the Western Balkans.

They must lead by example in acknowledging the established facts and genuinely honouring the victims.

And they must actively work towards reconciliation by confronting the roots of hatred that led to these atrocities. This is the only way towards a brighter and prosperous future for the next generation.

Finally, I want to send a message to the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina: the European Union stands with you. We remain fully committed to supporting your country on its path toward EU membership. Your political leaders should do their part so your country can find its place at the heart of our Union, where it belongs.

Presidency

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