Today, Bijelo Polje hosted a solemn event to mark three decades since the Srebrenica genocide, featuring wreath-laying by local municipal delegations at the “Hour of Life” monument.

In attendance were Assembly President Selma Omerović, Municipality Mayor Petar Smolović, alongside representatives from political parties, NGOs, and the citizens of this northern region.

Remembering Srebrenica: Call to Withdraw Radovan Karadzic’s “Risto Ratković” Award

Omerović stated that this day marks 30 years since one of modern Europe’s gravest tragedies—the genocide of innocent Bosniaks in Srebrenica—and the ongoing quest for justice that has accompanied this pain.

She emphasized that our compassion for the victims and their families reflects our respect for those who perished, along with our moral duty as laid out in International Conventions and the 2021 Resolution on the Srebrenica genocide passed by the Parliament of Montenegro.

“Our gathering today is an act of unity, to honor every human life. Bijelo Polje represents a legacy of coexistence, diversity, and mutual respect for many years. In an era when division arises from words, hatred, and ignorance, it is our responsibility to counteract this with dialogue, empathy, and truth. Srebrenica compels us into action—it demands we refuse to stay silent against injustice and to remember the past while nurturing future generations with human values,” she added.

Initiative to Revoke Karadzic’s “Risto Ratković” Award Presented to the Municipal Assembly

Omerović noted that the Municipal Assembly has recently received a proposal from the Bosniak Party’s Municipal Board in Bijelo Polje, along with support from NGOs and civic activists, calling for the repeal of the “Risto Ratković” award given in 1993 to Radovan Karadžić, a war criminal convicted of genocide and war crimes.

“The existence of this award continues to mar our city’s reputation, known for its harmonious coexistence, multiculturalism, and religious tolerance. This initiative will be discussed in the upcoming Bijelo Polje Municipal Assembly. Given the current council members, I am confident that a fair and civilized decision will prevail for the benefit of society,” Omerović stated.

Today, the 30th anniversary of the genocide against Bosniaks, perpetrated by Serbian forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina in July 1995, is also being observed at the Srebrenica – Potočari Memorial Center.

Today in Potočari, the remains of seven additional Srebrenica victims, discovered in various locations, will be interred. The youngest among them are two 19-year-old men.

Numerous national leaders have announced their presence at Potočari, and reports from Sarajevo suggest that up to 150,000 people may attend the memorial.

Last May, the United Nations General Assembly ratified a resolution designating July 11th as the International Day of Remembrance for the Srebrenica Genocide, condemning both denial of the genocide and the glorification of war criminals.

Upon entering Srebrenica, then designated a United Nations safe zone, forces led by Ratko Mladić executed over 8,000 individuals, predominantly men and boys, between July 8-12, 1995.

Statistics from the Srebrenica – Potočari Memorial Center indicate at least 8,372 individuals, including women, girls, and the elderly, were killed in and around Srebrenica.

The Srebrenica genocide has been confirmed through judgments by the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (The Hague Tribunal), and the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

To date, 781 individuals have been sentenced to a total of 54 years in prison for genocide, crimes against humanity, and related offenses committed in Srebrenica in July 1995.

Among those sentenced to life imprisonment are former Republika Srpska President Radovan Karadžić, wartime Army commander Ratko Mladić, and three other high-ranking officers from the Army of Republika Srpska.

In 2007, the International Court of Justice determined that genocide had indeed occurred in Srebrenica and held Serbia accountable for its failure to prevent the genocide.

Despite the judicial findings, political elites in both Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia have shown little inclination to confront the past and acknowledge the genocide in Srebrenica.

On this 30th anniversary, the Srebrenica – Potočari Memorial Center has highlighted that institutional discrimination against Bosniaks, denial of genocide, and the glorification of war criminals continue to persist in the Republika Srpska.

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