Arbutina: The Srebrenica Resolution Has Not Changed the Opinion of the Scientific and Expert Public

Acting Director of the Museum of Genocide Victims in Belgrade, Bojan Arbutina, assessed that official Sarajevo will use the Srebrenica Resolution at the commemoration on July 11 in Potocari, but that this document has not managed to change the opinion of the scientific and expert public about the nature of the crime.

"As for historical truths and historical facts, they cannot be changed by political resolutions. And this is very clear to everyone who deals with history and other humanities. What has changed is that the Bosniak side received confirmation of how they view history and the historical events of July 1995. However, we have seen and commented that this resolution was adopted with 84 votes and does not even have the support of the majority of the members of the United Nations General Assembly," Arbutina says.

There is no doubt that political Sarajevo will use the fact that the UN General Assembly has adopted the Resolution on the Genocide in Srebrenica this year.

"Certainly, political Sarajevo will use this fact. We have seen that they are seriously preparing for the commemoration on July 11. Across Bosnia and Herzegovina, these processions, which they call peace marches, have begun," Arbutina explains.

When asked whether the resolution has managed to change the opinion about the nature of the events of July 1995, Arbutina emphasizes that the document adopted at the UN has not done so.

"Those who view the crime that occurred in Srebrenica in July 1995 as a war crime have maintained that stance. Other countries, other nations that view the crime in Srebrenica as a so-called genocide, held those positions even before the resolution was adopted. And we can see this in how July 11 was commemorated around the world. For example, Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, sent a telegram of condolences to all the victims from Srebrenica. For the eighth consecutive year in Windsor, Canada, a memorial service is held for the victims. We read in Bosnian media that similar ceremonies will be held in Vienna and New York. There are even announcements that a Srebrenica flower will be placed in front of the UN General Assembly building, so these starting points are very clearly defined. The Western Hemisphere, which includes all the countries that voted for the resolution, views that crime as a genocidal crime. Countries that did not vote do not view that crime as a genocidal crime. So, the position of each country is very clear," Arbutina concludes.