Srebrenica, the mark of genocide for Milosevicism!

2024-05-27 19:10:00, Opinione CNA

As is well known, on May 23, 2024, the UN General Assembly declared July 11 the International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Srebrenica Genocide. Certainly a very late act, but one that honors the "institution of memory" as well as the values ??of civilization around the globe.

In short, July 11 will be known worldwide as the date of the genocide committed in the town of Srebrenica (with about 30,000 inhabitants in the 90s), where more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslims were killed, mostly women, elders, boys and girls. aged 12 to 77 years. The massacre was carried out on July 11-18, 1995 by the Serbian Army under the leadership of the infamous General Ratko Mladic, Serbian UK paramilitary, hundreds of Russian volunteers, etc! Much earlier than the UN, the Hague Tribunal had declared this massacre a genocide.

The resolution not only declares the genocide in Srebrenica, but also appeals/demands to the member countries: "to condemn without reservation any denial or actions that glorify those convicted of war crimes, as well as to include in educational programs proven judicial facts about the genocide in Srebenica ".

Of course, Germany deserves gratitude for the initiative, as well as the 84 democratic countries that voted for this noble act/institution of "not forgetting" to the 8,000 massacred in Srebrenica, as well as for the messages they sent to the civilized world "never again". for peace and the Euro-Atlantic future of the citizens not only of the Western Balkans: "the truth delays but never forgets". Proposed by Germany (I would like RSh to be a co-proposer as well...), which has suffered the consequences for Hitler's inhumane crimes, gives a lot of value and gives additional honor to the leadership of Official Berlin.

On the other hand, the list of 19 countries, such as Russia, Belarus, Cuba, Mali, surprisingly Hungary (the only NATO/EU country!), that rejected the resolution, as well as against the rusty minds not only in Belgrade, Banja, deserves geopolitical labeling. Luka, who did not read it as an opportunity to save the Euro-Atlantic future of the Balkans from the oscillations of Milosevic's inhumane crimes as well as the interests of Russia - Putinist.

In a special way, I find the distinction Mr. Vu?i? that the Serbian flag at the UN spread on the shoulders/interests of His (over) power, but actually humiliated the nation by unifying/wasting it as a bloody rag from a criminal massacre of Milosevic and the tyrants around him!

As for the map of the 68 abstaining countries (Greece, Slovakia, Cyprus, i.e. 2 NATO and 3 EU countries), the disappointment would not be enough to describe the barrenness of intuition and geopolitical responsibilities for the morality and dignity of the respective states in interest. of life, peace and values ??of civilization?!

In addition, in the "capacity of the Expert of National Security, the Region and NATO, I appreciate that at the right time, beyond the Bolshevik brawl not only in Belgrade - Moscow - Banja Luka, he will bring a summary on the circumstances and dimensions of the Srebrenica massacre ; the map of positions for and against as well as strategic lessons/messages conveyed by this inhumane massacre for the Balkans and the entire humanity:

In 1991, the USSR peacefully disintegrated (in December 1991, the Supreme Soviet granted independence to 15 republics, including Ukraine). Meanwhile, in July 1991, the Warsaw Treaty was also declared "officially dead"!

Whereas the former Federation of Yugoslavia, which for 40 years had benefited in all aspects from Tito's pragmatic neutrality: "neither east nor west". In the 90s, they found FY with a more moderate regime in relation to property, human rights, religious faith as well as economically, completely different, for example with the PSRSh exhausted and brought to its knees by the 45-year regime of Enver Hoxha .

But despite the optimistic expectations for geopolitical opportunities from the one-party status, the first pluralist elections in 1990, Milosevic's extremists won. In the middle of 1991, Slovenia, Croatia and Macedonia declared independence, while in the fall of 1991, the Serbian army leveled Vukovar and barbarically bombed the ancient city of Dubrovnik!

The ethnic and religious conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina remains the bloodiest. Despite the fact that the independence of BiH was internationally recognized in April 1992, the army of the infamous General Karadzic did not recognize it and kept Sarajevo surrounded for 1425 days (April 5, 1992 - February 29, 1996). The war crimes culminated in the Srebrenica massacre (July 11-22, 1995), where, as mentioned above, 8,000 Muslim men, women and children were barbarically killed. This massacre not only branded Milosevic and over 100 of his followers as a criminal forever, but also raised strong questions of frustration about the impotence of the UN (Blue helmets), the EU, etc.

After NATO's intervention, the Dayton Agreement (December 14, 1995) ended the 4-year war. Bosnia and Herzegovina was recognized as a state of three peoples and two entities, BiH and Republika Srpska. But some strategists/colleagues of the time emphasized that: "this was not a 100% fair peace, but it was certainly fairer than the continuation of the war"! Unfortunately, time proved you very right. 30 years after Dayton - the Vucic/Dodiks, inspired by Putin, threaten the geopolitical status quo of BiH and the entire region.

Kosovo remained the last battlefield of the Milosevic massacre (1998 – June 1999), with over 15,000 killed, 5,000 missing and about 1 million Albanians barbarically expelled from their lands and properties. However, it would be unfair not to repeat the national gratitude since: "without the intervention of the military power of the USA/NATO/UK, a massacre against the Albanians would have exceeded the proportions of Srebrenica, while the liberation of Kosovo itself was an impossible mission".

After the war (1999), there was more than a "honey decade" of peace, where the Balkan countries (with bloody histories) instead of war were involved in the race to join NATO and the EU sooner. Thanks to the support of the USA, of course also national aspiration and efforts: "Croatia, Slovenia, are members of NATO/EU. Albania, Montenegro, MV in NATO", together with Serbia (which will drink from 4 mothers = Moscow, Brussels, Washington, Beijing), are waiting at the door to meet the EU membership standards"! Kosovo & BH continue desperate efforts towards NATO & EU.

Geopolitical reading of the map for and against the Srebrenica genocide:

Fortunately, before and after the resolution we have positions, support and strong messages from Washington, Brussels, Berlin, London, etc.: "the resolution does not identify any member state and does not in any way charge any group of people with collective responsibility (certainly not even the Serbian people), while we all have an obligation to accept the facts, to learn the truth, to honor the victims and to support the efforts to find and identify the victims and to pursue and punish the perpetrators".

As for the peace and stability of the Western Balkans, the Euro-Atlantic Alliance (USA/NATO/EU) has warned that: "attempts for the dissolution of Bosnia and Herzegovina will not be tolerated and remain determined to protect the Dayton agreement and not allow a another war in the Region".

For more clarity, the US Ambassador to the UN, Mr. Robert Wood, following the approval of the Srebrenica genocide, emphasized: "The resolution will certainly contribute to ensuring that the genocide committed by Serbian forces in Srebrenica in July 1995 will never be repeated, while we welcome the decision of the High Representative for BiH to prohibit the participation in elections of persons who have committed genocide".

On the other hand, these positions will remain a message to appease the cynicism of Russia/Lavrov, who described the resolution in question as: "blackmail to invite the Serbs to join the actions against Russia", and threatened that: " this will cause consequences for the stability and peace of the Balkans"!?

Of course, the campaign against the UN resolution is led by Serbian President Vu?i?. The former Minister of Milosevic did (but lost) everything to prevent the approval: "the resolution on Srebrenica means the opening of Pandora's box for the peace of the Western Balkans". Even the Serbian politicians in BiH present the resolution as a symbol of "shame, fear and sadness for every Serb"? This is because Srebrenica is misused to spread fear on the Serbian people, if they don't follow political leaders like Dodik and Vu?i??!

While Bosnian politicians refer to the decisions of the Hague Court, by which dozens of politicians and soldiers of Republika Srpska were convicted for the genocide in Srebrenica. The President of the Democratic Action Party, Izetbegovi?, warned the UN that those convicted of genocide in Srebrenica are glorified as "Serb heroes" by politicians and public opinion in the RS, while in the collective consciousness efforts to establish individual guilt are "perceived as calls for guilt collective of Serbs in BiH and Serbia".

However, I believe that the return of rusty minds and Belgrade's state investment in the sources of bloody war may satisfy extremists, organized crime, oligarchs and the army of corrupt rulers, but without any doubt it is a stab in the back of peace. measures of mutual trust and the Euro-Atlantic integration agenda of the 5 countries of the region. Despite this, the resolution on Srebrenica is: "a new opportunity to face the truth as well as a new chance to sow the spirit of good faith and peaceful coexistence between the peoples and countries of the Western Balkans".

Five lessons and 5 strategic messages we can draw from the Srebrenica genocide:

First, the howling lesson: "if we forget, evil repeats itself even more cruelly." Neo-Nazis of Russia - Putinists; Kim-Jongs of Asia and States or Organizations, Terrorists; the soldiers/followers of Milosevic's oscillations in Belgrade or the Dodiks, drugged by Moscow's interests and corruption, are not only threatening the territorial sovereignty of the martyred Ukraine; peace in the Middle East, security and the integration agenda of the 5 countries of the Western Balkans, but they are seriously challenging the fundamental values, the global order, the power of the Euro-Atlantic alliance (USA/NATO/UK/EU) and the democratic stability of human society.

Secondly, the resolution on Srebrenica will serve not only as a cure for centuries-old hatred but also as an opportunity to face the truth, while the responsibility for the genocide remains with the criminal machinery of Milosevic and never with the entire Serbian people

Thirdly, the Srebrenica genocide still remains as a wake-up call for the 32 NATO countries, therefore also for our country: "not only to support Ukraine, NATO, the USA with diplomatic statements, but in this battle "for life and death" with the common evil, to take the responsibilities, to fundamentally improve the Institution of not forgetting, the system and security capacities in the face of the new Neo-Nazis and the crazy rulers who are threatening more than ever since the Second World War World, human lives, global order, democratic values ??as Euro-Atlantic interests.

Fourth, surely Srebrenica deserves to be engraved as genocide for the current and eternal messages for all humanity: "for freedom, peace, security, democratic stability and basic values, we will have to never forget. Moreover, vigilance and solidarity are worth and needed every day, so we must work/fight hard every day, with responsibility and sacrifices"!

Fifth/finally, "Forget but not forgive" that remains as an "EPITAF" not only for massacred BH, martyred Kosovo, but also for MV, Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia, Albania, as well as Serbia, which paid very dearly for Milosevic's stupidity, but also as a well-deserved gratitude to the USA, NATO/GE/EU, which contributed (and continue to carry critical weight) so much to the peace of the region, unfortunately still stuck by the oscillations of hatred and centuries of bloodshed.

Author, General ® Piro Ahmetaj:

Expert for SK, the Region and NATO,

Vice President of the Atlantic Council, & former:

Advisor for National Security in DP,

Advisor to the President, Deputy Minister of Finance,

National representative of RS in SHAPE/NATO.