Montenegro should designate a Day of Remembrance for the Srebrenica Genocide and confront the truth surrounding this atrocity. This is a crucial test of our shared humanity and dignity. It is vital to marginalize those who deny genocide in the region for the sake of the victims and future generations in Montenegro and beyond. As noted at the memorial forum “Srebrenica: Responsible Remembrance vs. Targeted Denial,” organized by the Center for Civic Education (CCE), the Bosniak Council in Montenegro, and Human Rights Action (HRA) as part of the 30th anniversary commemoration of the Srebrenica genocide.

This information was conveyed by the Center for Civic Education.

According to reports, Muamer Džananović, director of the Institute for Crime Research (BiH), highlighted the ideological motivations behind the extensive campaign of crimes in BiH, particularly in eastern Bosnia, where Srebrenica was a key target. He asserted that to understand the genocide in and around Srebrenica, the entire timeframe from early 1992 to July 1995 must be examined.

“The denial of genocide began during its execution and continues intermittently. The revelation of mass executions and graves after Srebrenica fell triggered efforts to conceal the crime, leading to body relocations, evidence manipulation, and a distorted portrayal of reality. This process is ongoing and has only become more refined,” he explained.

Džananović stressed that the genocide in BiH was premeditated, systematic, and orchestrated from the political elite.

“Denial is an extension of that agenda—an attempt to erase the traces of these crimes, diminish the victims, and obstruct the acknowledgment of truth and the pursuit of peace. Authorities in Serbia and the Republika Srpska entity are leading this effort in a coordinated manner,” he added.

“Montenegro backed the Srebrenica Resolution, yet implementation remains insufficient. This emphasizes the significant work that lies ahead of us, especially given that voices in Montenegrin society persist in downplaying or denying the genocide, conveying dangerous and misleading messages,” concluded Džananović.

In the statement, Suljo Mustafić, president of the Bosniak Council in Montenegro, emphasized that commemorating the victims is not only a duty to the past but also a cornerstone for future coexistence and mutual respect.

“The adoption of the Resolution by the UN General Assembly last year provided some civilizational solace to the mothers of Srebrenica. Montenegro’s support for that Resolution indicates it is no longer on the wrong side of history, as it was until the mid-90s, including during the Srebrenica events. By this, it also committed to observing the International Day of Remembrance,” he stated.

Mustafić reminded that the Montenegrin Parliament has previously adopted two significant acts—the 2009 Declaration and the 2021 Resolution condemning the Srebrenica genocide.

“Montenegro has pledged to denounce any denial of the Srebrenica genocide. We expect the topic of genocide to be included in the educational curriculum and for the judiciary to firmly address those who glorify convicted war criminals. Montenegrin state institutions must actively counter the ideologies that incited genocide, rather than support or remain silent in the face of the ideologies that promoted criminal policies and grand designs,” Mustafić stated.

Daliborka Uljarević, Executive Director of CCE, remarked that responsible remembrance is a collective duty, especially for institutions.

“The Srebrenica genocide is not just a dark chapter in history but a measure of our humanity and our willingness to confront the truth, particularly crucial in light of the resurgence of ideologies that led to that atrocity. We face two realities: the truth, validated by high court rulings, and denial, which seeks to trivialize, relativize, or rationalize the unimaginable. Responsible remembrance transcends mere commemoration; it entails confronting and resisting denial, ensuring that the names and lives of the 8,372 murdered men and boys are not mere statistics but reminders of the horrors that must never recur,” she noted.

She highlighted the importance of politics, education, and media.

“Thus, we urge that politics stop exploiting the truth, the education system not obscure facts, and the media not serve as a platform for deniers. One initiative we initiated is the revocation of the award from war criminal Radovan Karadzic,” Uljarević elaborated, emphasizing this as a moral minimum toward victims and a society that seeks justice.

“If we want Montenegro to embody its highest values—particularly principles of humanity and heroism—we must demonstrate our capacity to remember, acknowledge, and condemn crimes without calculations, fear, or deception,” Uljarević concluded.

According to the CCE, HRA Executive Director Tea Gorjanc Prelević asserted that genocide denial equates to denying international justice and justice for the victims.

“The Hague Tribunal based its judgments, which confirmed responsibility for genocide and war crimes in Srebrenica, on testimonies from approximately 1,500 witnesses and 28,000 pieces of evidence, with 46 judges from 34 countries participating in the trials. Over 50 individuals were convicted of genocide and other crimes. Victims’ remains were identified in more than 80 graves, only eight of which were primary sites, clearly depicting a significant effort to conceal the crime,” she stated.

She furthermore indicated that the first Commission investigating the Srebrenica events, established by the Government of the Republika Srpska entity in 2004, found that over 20,000 individuals took part in the genocide.

“To assert that all of this is a fabrication is both absurd and brazen, representing the final stage of genocide,” stressed Tea Gorjanc Prelević.

She pointed out that the citizens of Montenegro predominantly view Srebrenica as the greatest crime of the 90s, despite some politicians denying it.

“I concur with Dubravka Stojanović that this denial stems from a political need for monopoly over victim status, which purportedly legitimizes further actions. This is why, following the UN resolution on Srebrenica, there has been pressure in Montenegro to adopt a resolution regarding Jasenovac,” she clarified.

Mirsad Rastoder, a publicist who moderated the panels, recalled Montenegro’s final verdicts concerning crimes committed during the 90s and highlighted the necessity for consistent prosecution of crimes and educating younger generations.

He assessed that for decades Montenegro has been caught between a genuine confrontation with the past and focused denial, failing to implement decisions and international obligations consistently.

“It is high time for society to move away from the ideologies that triggered crimes, to confront its own role in the war, and to raise a generation that echoes—sorry, Srebrenica. This represents the best safeguard against allowing a veiled past to shape the future of this country and region,” Rastoder concluded, urging that educational materials include the truth about the genocide in Srebrenica and other atrocities.

The CCE statement reiterated calls for the responsible institutions in Montenegro to acknowledge their moral and legal obligations by establishing a Day of Remembrance for Srebrenica Genocide victims within the official calendar and ceasing tolerance of denial and glorification of war criminals.

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