Belgrade Residents Reject 'Genocidal' Label Amid Srebrenica Resolution Debate

United Nations General Assembly prepares to vote on a resolution commemorating the 1995 Srebrenica massacre as a genocide, residents of Belgrade are voicing their opposition to what they see as Western attempts to label Serbs a 'genocidal nation.' Thedraft resolution, initiated by Germany and Rwanda, would establish July 11 as an international day of remembrance for the over 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys killed by Bosnian Serb forces in Srebrenica, the worst mass killing in Europe since World War II.

Why this matters: The debate over the Srebrenica genocide resolution has significant implications for reconciliation and justice in the Balkans, and could set a precedent for how similar atrocities are acknowledged and commemorated globally. The outcome of the resolution could also impact the already fragile political dynamics in Bosnia and Herzegovina, potentially affecting the country's efforts to join the European Union.

The massacre has been deemed genocide by various verdicts of both the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ). More than 50 individuals have been sentenced to some 700 years in prison for their roles in the Srebrenica genocide. However, leaders of Bosnia's Serb entity Republika Srpska and Serbia have expressed angry opposition to the UN resolution.

Milorad Dodik, Republika Srpska's Russia-friendly leader, has repeatedly threatened that if the resolution is adopted, the entity will withdraw from the decision-making process in Bosnia. "The actions of the Republika Srpska Army in Srebrenica in 1995 were a mistake that left the crime, but I deny it was genocide," Dodik stated. Russia's envoy to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, dismissed the resolution as "one-sided and politically charged," arguing that it "would not promote reconciliation among the peoples of Bosnia Herzegovina."

The resolution has also sparked controversy within the diplomatic community. Israeli Ambassador to Serbia, Yahel Vilan, sparked outrage by stating that the Srebrenica massacre was not a genocide. "Calling the mass execution committed by Bosnian Serb troops in the town of Srebrenica a genocide diminishes the importance of that term, which in my opinion should only be used for genocides," Vilan said. His comments were condemned by Bosnian officials and Jewish community leaders, who argued that denying the Srebrenica genocide could open the door for Holocaust deniers.

Bosnian Foreign Minister Elmedin Konaković called Vilan's statement "shameful" and "insulting to the victims and survivors of the genocide in Srebrenica." Emir Suljagic, director of the Srebrenica Genocide Memorial and a massacre survivor, said Vilan's comments were "intellectually dishonest" and "morally questionable." Senior Bosnian Jewish leaders Jakob Finci and Vladimir Andrle also criticized the Israeli ambassador, warning that his stance could rebound on Israel and fuel tensions.

The final draft of the Srebrenica genocide resolution, co-sponsored by the United States, France, Bosnia, and other countries, is expected to be put to a vote in the UN General Assembly in early May. If adopted, it would be observed starting next year, the 30th anniversary of the genocide. With the vote approaching, the debate over the characterization of the Srebrenica massacre and the implications of the resolution for Serbs continues to divide opinions in Belgrade and beyond.

The controversy takes place against a backdrop of ongoing political tensions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which remains ethnically divided nearly three decades after the war. The country's internal divisions have hampered its efforts to join the European Union. Meanwhile, Serbia's new government, which includes two politicians who have been on the U.S. sanctions list, has been overwhelmingly approved by parliament, drawing disappointment from the U.S. Department of State.

The Srebrenica genocide resolution has become a flashpoint in the ongoing struggle over historical memory and national identity in the Balkans. For many in Belgrade, the resolution is seen as an attempt to collectively blame Serbs for the atrocities committed during the war. However, supporters argue that acknowledging and commemorating the Srebrenica genocide is essential for reconciliation and

Key Takeaways

• UN to vote on resolution commemorating 1995 Srebrenica massacre as genocide.
• Resolution faces opposition from Serbia and Republika Srpska leaders.
• Over 50 individuals sentenced to 700 years in prison for Srebrenica genocide.
• Israeli Ambassador sparks outrage by denying Srebrenica genocide.
• Resolution's adoption could impact Bosnia's EU membership and regional dynamics.