The Netherlands apologized for the first time that its soldiers did not protect the victims of Srebrenica from the Serb forces.
The massacre in Srebrenica 27 years ago has been remembered in Bosnia. Serb forces murdered eight thousand Bosniaks in the final stages of the Bosnian civil war. The victims were men and young people.
For the first time in two years, thousands of people gathered at the commemoration, because the event was organized on a small scale during the corona lockdown.
In Potočari, 50 identified victims were buried in Islamic fashion, and a procession was organized in Zenica. In addition, flowers were thrown into the river from the bridge in Mostar, which was destroyed in the Bosnian war and then repaired.
The Srebrenica massacre is the biggest tragedy in Europe since the Second World War. It was now compared to the war caused by the Russian invasion, and its victims.
Holland expressed deep regret
Dutch Minister of Defense Kajsa Ollongren first apologized to the families of the victims in Srebrenica for the failure of Dutch peacekeepers to prevent the massacre in 1995.
The question is disputed and also painful in the Netherlands, even though the chances of the small and lightly armed Dutch UN force to intervene in the course of events were practically minimal.
Ollongren, who visited Bosnia-Herzegovina, recalled Russia’s attack on Ukraine:
– Again, we see how innocent people become victims because of a decision made by one leader. History repeats itself, he said.
Also the head of the EU’s external relations Josep Borrell said on the anniversary of Srebrenica that peace is still not guaranteed:
– Europe failed in Srebrenica, and will have to bear its shame, reminded Borrell.