Genocide survivors, diplomats and community leaders gathered for a national commemoration of the 29th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide. The commemoration was held in the Locarno Suite at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London. The event commemorated those killed in the worst atrocity on European soil since the Second World War.
The newly elected Labour Minister of State for Europe, Stephen Doughty MP, hosted a national commemoration at the Foreign Office, with the keynote speaker being the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, President Denis Bećirović.
Bećirović expressed his gratitude to the Government and Parliament of Great Britain for affirming the truth about the genocide committed against Bosniaks in Srebrenica. He extended special gratitude to the chairman of the “Remembering Srebrenica” foundation, Dr. Waqar Azmi, and friends from this foundation.
“The citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina greatly appreciate the engagement of Great Britain, which in 2015 proposed a Resolution on Srebrenica to the United Nations (UN) Security Council. Unfortunately, the adoption of the text of the resolution was stopped by the Russian Federation. However, they did not stop us in the fight for justice. The resolution was adopted in May this year by the UN General Assembly. Thank you to Great Britain and numerous other countries that voted for this Resolution. The adoption of the Resolution on the International Day of Remembrance and Commemoration of the Srebrenica Genocide represents a highly moral and civilized act by the UN General Assembly,” Bećirović emphasized.
He emphasized that Europe and the world must learn lessons from Srebrenica and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Any evil that we do not stop at the beginning becomes bigger and more dangerous later. Together, let’s stop the new evil in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The aggression against Ukraine should be a warning of what happens when dangerous policies are ignored. In Europe and the world, we need to build a culture of remembrance of the Srebrenica genocide. With a culture of remembrance, we fight for democracy and human rights. With remembrance, we fight for a secure future for new generations. Thank you Great Britain for preserving the truth about the Srebrenica genocide. Thank you Great Britain for all the help to Bosnia and Herzegovina. We are a country that remembers and values its friends and allies,” he concluded.
The UK is the only country outside Bosnia and Herzegovina to commemorate the Srebrenica genocide on a national level. The event was one of over a thousand events and activities taking place across the UK this week. Various communities across the UK are holding memorial events and activities in schools, town halls, community centres and places of worship to honour the more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys killed in just a few days in July 1995.
The Chair of Srebrenica Remembrance UK, Dr Waqar Azmi OBE, said: “It is a huge privilege to be joined by the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, President Denis Bećirović, at this year’s Srebrenica Remembrance Day in the United Kingdom.
Bećirović.
I am grateful to the newly elected Labour government for supporting this important occasion. This year’s theme for Srebrenica Remembrance Day in the UK, ‘I am because you are’, serves as a reminder that the common bonds we have as human beings are far more important than what divides us. It has never been more important for us to learn from Srebrenica. We must not only learn, we must act to remove the roots of Srebrenica genocide denial, hatred and fear: by bringing communities together, facilitating open and honest dialogue and transforming our narrative from one of division to one of unity.”
Musical performances were given by Elvir Solak and Lejla Jusić. Sara Hukić, a survivor, shared her story. On this occasion, the Rt Hon Baroness Warsi, former Senior Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs; Sir Matthew Rycroft CBE, Permanent Under-Secretary, Home Office; Peter Osborne, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Srebrenica Remembrance Committee; and other leaders paid tribute to the more than 8,000 Muslims who perished in Srebrenica.
At the end of the ceremony, the names of the victims buried on July 11, 2024 were read from the stage by Sedin Sahman, the chief imam of the Bosniak Community in Great Britain. A special prayer for the martyrs was also offered by Bosnian children Amar Zulić and Ajla Vukalić.
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