Officials from Serbia and Republika Srpska have raised objections to a UN Security Council resolution, currently being drafted by the UK, commemorate the 20th anniversary of war crimes committed in Srebrenica in 1995. According to the Serbian government, the resolution, which is being drafted without consultations with the states affected by the Balkan wars, is evidence of bias against Serbs.
Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic told media on Tuesday that although he wasn’t against memorial days for any crime, including the one in Srebrenica, “we expect that the world will pay homage to the Serbian victims and crimes against them [as well as against Bosniaks during the 1992-95 war]”.
Dacic also called on Britain, which initiated the resolution, to consult Serbia about its wording, and complained that “there were no consultations about this at the UN and the Security Council”.
Milorad Dodik, the president of Republika Srpska, said that the resolution was biased against Serbs.
“This behaviour towards Bosnia and Herzegovina is typical of the Brits. Two months ago, I asked the UK ambassador in Sarajevo what kind of text they are preparing, and he pretend to be naïve. And this means that they treat us [Republika Srpska] as a less important and unnecessary nation in Bosnia,” Dodik told Belgrade-based newspaper Novosti.
Mladen Ivanic, Chair of the BiH Presidency, warned that the resolution could mark a major step backward for BiH.
“In my opinion, this should not have been dealt with now because Bosnia and Herzegovina has just entered some kind of a positive period. I’m afraid that this will bring us back,” warned Ivanic.
The biggest responsibility lies on Great Britain, which has, by deciding to propose the resolution, assumed also the political responsibility on the use, that is abuse of the document, he said.
“If the resolution divides us again, then the responsibility lies on those who took it upon themselves to do it. They won’t be able to find any excuse for their negative role,” said Ivanic.
