MPs adopt Srebrenica declaration

I wonder if Sarajevo is going to apologize for there crimes committed by Naser Oric and his men committed against Serbs in there Srebrenica area???

Once the Balkan region adopt the Srebrenica Resolution in its original terminology substantiated with the proper word GENOCIDE and making July 11 a public holiday, a day of remembrance,... than Serbia too is forced to comply with reality.
(PRN, 31 March 2010 15:58)

You mean like Croatia, who celebrates Operation Storm as a national holday, which was REAL genocide against the Krajina Serbs?
I don't see the German EU 'humanitarians' [pressuring Croatia to change this holiday, or to admit to the Jasenovac genocide, or forcing them to aplogize to Serbia and pay reparations, or pressuring the fake Kosovo assembly to apologize for their SS Skanderbeg Divisions in WWII, or the Bosnian muslim SS Handjar Divisions, or declaring Nasir Oric's murder of Serbian civilians around Srebrenica as genocide, or sending to the Hague Wesley Clark and his gang of 'humanitarian bombers'...
Serbia is not an aggressor nation, and we never have been, despite some imperialists trying to rewrite history and portray us that way. Serbia, as a nation, owes nobody an apology. Why should Serbia apologize for being attacked from all directions throughout their history?

I don't see the word "genocide" anywhere, so I think it's good that Serbia condemned this crime as a crime, rather than bowing to those who who kept screaming "GENOCIDE, GENOCIDE".

Good job, Belgrade.

What a slap in the face to the muslims of BiH because this document doesn't implicate us, doesn't satisfy them and barely has the support of our own govt.

It is a slap indeed in the face of humanity; once more the Serbian public opinion expressed widely its reluctance over a resolution that was an attempt to restoring Serbian conscience. Instead of naming it as it disserves - genocide and unseen massacre over the children, youth and elderly, Serbian Assembly gentlemen experienced a tremendous bad time trying to soften as much as possible crime that has terrified entire world in the recent history. To be honest I was prone to think that we all (Balkans People) are fed up with the nationalism, chauvinisms and crimes committed to each other; but reading some comments in here makes me think of carefulness being neighbor with. May God “reward” those who don’t feel sorry about victims. Eventually, here is an advice as a therapy against cold-blooded neighbors; when you watch the Srebrenica’s images on TV,
Imagine your child in the crowd waiting to be given a chocolate by (guess) who?

It took Serbian parliament 13 hours of dabate to adopted the declaration condemning the 1995 Srebrenica crime.!!!"How sad" in other words , the Serb's are saying to the World,Look we are condemning this so called crime, not because we want to but.... ,Miloshevic is dead but his idea of destroying everything non Serb lives on

In the same way, Serbia's parliament softened the words regarding the Srebrenica genocide, the ICJ, which already confirmed that it was not a crime but genocide, will find a proper answer to soften Serbia's stance in other fields. What goes around comes around.
(John, 31 March 2010 11:33)

John,

You are right in that the ICJ states there was Genocide in Srebrenica. However, you have left out the fact that the ICJ also voted by 13 - 2 that Serbia has not committed Genocide.
It did however vote (14-1) that Serbia failed to prevent a Genocide taking place.
So legally Serbia is not responsible for any Genocide having taken place. We could argue that NATO (Dutch) be given the same ruling for failing to prevent Genocide.

The full rulings which cleared the Serbian State can be found here - http://www.icj-cij.org/presscom/files/9/14119.pdf

pages 18-24

Incompetence of ruling Democratic Party and their Parliament speaker Ms. Kolundzija is gross.
Lets mention the consequences of last eve vote:

- "resolution" literally forced upon Parliament and Nation producing nothing but bitter divisions
- "resolution" will in no way satisfied "mujahedin" extreme expectations of Bosnian Muslim "leadership" and it will be used by them for exactly opposite political purposes helping in no way reconciliations
- Croats and other "neighbours" will care no less and will also use it only to imply on Serbia's "guilt" for 90-s civil war in ex-Yu
- US, EU will be sure that they can continue with their endless line of conditions which are fundamentally intruding in our national agenda
- and very much ultimately, with this "resolution" addressing one single crime or massacre, Democratic Party and Ms. Kolundzija clearly spitted in the face of families, relatives, friends of more then 60 000 Serbian victims of that civil war and desecrated the memory of them!

Consequence's for Democratic Party and their satellites (Socialist Party...):

- they will never ever be reconsidered, not even for the time distance of nano-second, to be voted for in any of forecoming elections due to their treason of Serbia's national being
- they will be subjected to the Parliament unhumiliation when with the next election Parliament dismisses and voted out this so called "resolution".

This "resolution" resoluted absolutely nothing apart of Nations and Diaspora aim and resolution to dismiss DS from power.

I don't see the word "genocide" anywhere, so I think it's good that Serbia condemned this crime as a crime, rather than bowing to those who who kept screaming "GENOCIDE, GENOCIDE".

Good job, Belgrade.
(Peter Sudyka, 31 March 2010 12:51)

Yes, “good job” hiding the GENOCIDE!

"Why should Serbia apologize for being attacked from all directions throughout their history?"

Because the aggressor-victor & their local clients writes the history, that´s why.

But one must give the orthodox Serbs credit for so stand-fast and stubbornly resist whatever hell the current super power has poured over them.

Bosnian American

sorry I want to know honestly did you ever apologized to any Serb for the WW2
SS Handzar Division crimes, or for the crimes commited by Naser Oric in this war?

NO you didn´t.

What gives you the right to ask for some
and to talk about forgiveness?

Don´t get me wrong I have many friends from BiH and I am ready to apologize for all crimes commited in my name but what is with you?

I was personally ashamed with executions in Srebrenica,when I saw it on the TV, but I also went mad when I saw the killed Serbs by your hero Oric before that.
They had no mercy even for the kids.

Don´t you think that you have to apologize too
for the crimes your people commited against Serbs and other non muslims?

That is the problem.

Have a nice day.

Hopefully, this resolution is going to be the last thing the ruling coalition has done for this country.
I truly believe that resolution represent nothing but their political suicide and luckily they will soon be history.
Can’t wait for new elections.

This resolution is an insult for every honest Serb who had nothing to with the war,
It is an insult for me because I did not murder anyone and do not feel like murderer.
They created a burden to entire nation and which is the worst they identified guilty individuals with the entire nation. Of course that is what the EU and USA wanted all along in order to diminish chances for Republika Srpska’s secession.

I do condemn the crime in Srebrenica but I do not feel guilt. I feel sorry for the victims but I also feel sorry for Serbian victims more. Pretending that crimes against the Serbs did not happen won’t help anyone but will create huge anger amongst the Serbs.

What is the purpose of the resolution is beyond me. If the purpose was to enlighten us what really did happen , well the point is missed because we know what happened and why did it happen at first place.
Is this resolution going to prevent future war crimes? No, it won’t. The resolution itself created only deeper animosity becuase no one seems to be satisfied.

Expressing the hope that the other ex YU countries will adopt similar resolution which will condemn the crimes against the Serbs make ruling coalition either stupid or naïve.

We all know that no resolution will be considered in those countries, let alone adopted.
Since I know that our leaders are not that stupid nor naïve I wonder what was the purpose of the resolution?

Time will certainly tell and I hope we will soon find out what was all about.

Radicals and all others who did not vote pro to the resolution, ''Shame on You''.
I think its about time everyone understands the claims that Serbia is the leader in stability of the region, with all these criminals in the parliament who inspite the terrible things they have done, they do not regret nor find the force to say sorry.

In the same way, Serbia's parliament softened the words regarding the Srebrenica genocide, the ICJ, which already confirmed that it was not a crime but genocide, will find a proper answer to soften Serbia's stance in other fields. What goes around comes around.

Once the Balkan region adopt the Srebrenica Resolution in its original terminology substantiated with the proper word GENOCIDE and making July 11 a public holiday, a day of remembrance,... than Serbia too is forced to comply with reality.

Macedonia, Bosnia, Croatia and Slovenia have adopted this, MNG has not adopted thus far.

I don't see the word "genocide" anywhere, so I think it's good that Serbia condemned this crime as a crime, rather than bowing to those who who kept screaming "GENOCIDE, GENOCIDE".

Good job, Belgrade.
(Peter Sudyka, 31 March 2010 12:51)

+1. Serbia has apologised now the ball is in the Croatian, KLA and Bosniak court.

I agree with Biljana 100%. Tadic - you have shamed your people enough!

on BBC "Sonja Biserko from the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights believes the government was constrained by the nationalists in how far it could go.

"This was the maximum that could be delivered right now," she says.

"But I worry that the government was motivated more by pressure from the EU than by a genuine feeling of remorse."

Peter Suduka
Hiding Genocide is nothing clever. Next step is accepting Genocide.

Consequences of "resolution" pushed and imposed to Serbian nation by obviously intellectually insufficient Democratic Party and their Parliament leader Mz.Kolundzija are starting swiftly and brutally already on the day 1 after its "approval" : BBC Serbian reports that Dutch Utrecht Professor of International Law Hert van Knops claims and considers that "Serbia's apology for not doing enough to prevent Srebrenica massacre" represent enough of the legal base for victims families to file the reparation claims to the Serbian Courts!!!

Serbian Nation does not need enemies: with past and present Serbia's leaders we are dead and buried!!!

The resolution is not worth the paper it’s written for three reasons.
Firstly, it barely has the support of Parliament i.e. it was only passed by one vote. Remember that this resolution to have an affect requires bipartisan support and if it had 240 out 250 votes then it would have meaning.
Secondly, the term “Genocide” is not even hinted, but what’s most curious is that it calls for all other countries to condemn crimes committed during the war – I believe that the original declaration did not have this text. Thirdly, another resolution will condemn all crimes committed against Serbs.
Let me repeat that the Srebrenica resolution only satisfies the west – they have ticked this off as done. Now Tadic and Co will receive more medals and cheques in the mail.
My call for an independent investigation into Srebrenica have only shown that the Bosnaiks and their supporters are crying crocodile tears because the silence in response of this call is deafening.

Once the Balkan region adopt the Srebrenica Resolution in its original terminology substantiated with the proper word GENOCIDE and making July 11 a public holiday, a day of remembrance,... than Serbia too is forced to comply with reality.

Macedonia, Bosnia, Croatia and Slovenia have adopted this, MNG has not adopted thus far.
(PRN, 31 March 2010 15:58)

You are kidding, aren’t you? A public holiday – keep on dreaming.

Biljana,

You may not feel personally guilty because you weren't there pulling the trigger or driving the earth mover that buried the bodies, but you're part of the nation that swept Sloba and all his pals to power in the 1980s.

Hey Laki, and other genocide screamers. I know you hate Serbs, and anything Serbian, but there were no children or women killed in Srebrenica - remember, they were bused away. Only the men were imprisoned. Genocide would be the attempted eradication of an entire ethnicity, not just its males. The crime were horrific, indeed, but let's call it what it was, a war crime. Also, why would anyone hold the entire Serbian population accountable for the actions of a few Bosnian military? Bravo for Belgrade to address this issue, unlike the Bosniaks, Croats, or Albanians. They all have blood on their hands, and no courage to admit it.

Hi svojgazda, I don’t remember if we made an acquaintance before, however I must say that you are making a huge mistake by qualifying me as a man who hates Serbs. Nevertheless, I don’t want to argue in that respect any further. But I have a question for you; can you tell me the difference between crimes and war crimes? I don’t see the difference. I’ve been taught (by history, of course) that wars are a means to achieve or resolve a dispute when running off rational options, usually carried out by stubborn and mainly madmen. By same madmen war is classified as a skill and science which has it rules of procedure. Another question; would you prefer to be “bussed” away off you family only because you belong to another nationality? I don’t believe so, even though it is for you so normal!!!
So here you are an advice again – imagine your child being given a chocolate by war criminal Ratko Mladic while you were being “bussed” away accompanied with you 14 years old son….

svojgazda,

Would you feel differently if it were "only" all the women that were killed?

Killing an entire gender of a specific group results in the elimination of that group (in this case "in part").

That's the definition of genocide.

but there were no children or women killed in Srebrenica. Only the men were imprisoned.(svojgazda, 31 March 2010 18:29) Read the history of the Srebrenica Genocide. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Srebrenica_massacre

Awwww good old Serbia looking after their own behind once again, what do Serbia Serbs have to do with Bosnian Serbs?
Well, when it suits Serbia they are one, such as this case.
Publicity stunt trying to get brownie points from EU/US.
Bosnian Serbs had no choice but to defend the Serbs in the Srebrenica area, they may have overdone it but that's war.
If there was a majority of Bosnian muslim and if there were better prepared this case would of happened the other way around.
It's just that their Genocides weren't on a large scale.
Serbia stop meddling in Republikas Srpska affairs when it suits you!
I think the only real Serbs are in Republika Srpska, Krajina and Kosovo, Serbia's Serbs only look after their behind and I'm a Serb from Vojvodina, Shameful!

The Serb people have forever brought the stain of genocide on themselves by killing thousands of innocent and defenseless Bosnian civilians. A small fraction of Serbs participated directly in the murders, tortures, and rapes but a sizable portion of the population was unfortunately swept up by the Milosevic propaganda machine and turned to fascism and murder as a means of forming a "Greater Serbian" genocidal state. I am glad to see that there are many liberal Serbians who will openly say "not in my name" and that is encouraging. Until Serbia fully condemns the crimes committed in the name of the Serbian people, arrests the war criminals who killed civilians including women and children in the name of the Serbian people, and defeats the fascist ideology that turned ordinary men into bloodthirsty monsters the country will not be able to move forward into the brighter future that its citizens deserve. As the saying goes "the truth will set you free" let's hope that the Serbian people and the politicians they elect into office keep that in mind.

Serbia has not apologized to the Bosnian people. One can not accept an apology that is not sincere. If the Serbian government had been sincere in its apology it would have called the crime by its proper name - genocide. This "apology" is nothing but a PR campaign aimed at pleasing the EU and not seriously addressing the crimes committed in the name of the Serbs. It is an important step forward but the current resolution is not acceptable to the Bosnian people and until the word genocide is introduced into it (by amendment perhaps) it will not be accepted and will not contribute to improving relations between Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Olf

Why should they accept some genocide that they didn't perpetrate.

I would have liked that one Democratically Elected Honourable Member of the Serbian Parliament debated if Gavrilo Princip was a Secret Janissary.

The process of distancing continues- if one moves far enough from the crime then one assumes innocence of being associated with the crime; change the faces, rhetoric, declare humanitarian empathy, demand equal treatment with the victim for suffering loss and one can say ‘it wasn’t us- why blame us?’ Serbia thereby was an innocent bystander dragged in through ethnic association. It was random paramilitary ‘gangs’ that by coincidence appeared at various locations and by chance coordinated their activities with a miraculously somehow well coordinated and resourced attack on multiple fronts whilst sympathisers were prescient enough to evacuate from targeted sites.

Hey remember we are talking of BiH 1990’s the poor second cousin in the Yugoslav federation yet somehow one of its civilian sections becomes armed to the teeth and logistically enabled to mount a large scale multiple theatred operation and within six weeks to control all essential routes, resources and strategic locations. For a moment imagine it on your own soil that your neighbours rise up in unison with the sophistication of a military unit and within a month strategically control the country- have none of you planned a holiday? Do you know what this means in real terms? Visit the RDC (Research and Documentation Centre) site examine the numbers and status of dead and injured, cross reference this with the timeline of events, ask yourself is there a pattern or is it mere spontaneous random acts of outrage.

It is a difficult thing to demand of one’s leaders to disclose information that is incriminating- but until Serbs demand of their leaders just this, then the spectre of complicity and collusion will erode their credibility forever and a day. Everything else is a distraction.

Ratko Mladic is a far worse kind of man than Naser Oric. Naser Oric never ordered the mass slaughter of 8,000 civillian, unarmed, Bosnains as Maldic did in Srebrenica.

Serb nationalists are disgusting because they consider everyone which is of non-Orthodox origin to be inferior to their race. That’s why thery’re friendly to Greeks, Russians, Macedonians and Montenegrins and hate Croatians, Albanians, Bosnians and Kosovars… and Anglo-Americans. And Western European peoples in general.

A lot have been said here about weather or not Srebrenica was a GENOCIDE.
One should first look at the definition of genocide.
It's important issue as many believe that it's been overused and somewhat devalued by that, loosing its intended meaning.

I've even read about some black leaders in the USA calling slavery "genocide" when in fact, it was it was a system to exploit, rather than to exterminate them, etc.

So, what is genocide?

The 1948 Geneva Convention defines genocide as "acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group".

In the rulling of ICJ (World Court) in Bosnia vs. Serbia lawsuit, ICJ found that in Bosnia genocide did not happen, except in Srebrenica. They did not examine Srebrenica closely, but they've based their rulling on existing ruling of another court - International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (Tribunal) who rulled in the case of Bosnian Serb military leader Radislav Krstic. Tribunal ruled Srebrenica was genocide as Krstic was found guilty of "aiding and abbetting the genocide."

Explanation was given in the text of the Genocide Convention.
"...intent to destroy, in WHOLE or in PART, a national..."
While women and children were bused out, it was argued, Krstic and his troops inteded to DESTROY (male) part of national group...etc.
From the beginning decision was contraversial in legal community.
"In part" was more referring to cases where perpertrator did not have access to whole, but intended to destroy ALL members of that group that had access to.
For example gasing of Kurds in Iraq 1987 - 1989 was rulled genocide.
Sadam Hussein did not try to destroy Kurds as a whole (most of them live in Turkey), he only tried to destroy Kurds living in Iraq (part). Nevertheless, he tried to destoy indisreminatelly, ALL the members of that "national, ethnical, racial or religious group" (Kurds) he had access to, not only males.
While there is no question that Srebrenica was a hidious crime, debate is open as to what is genocide today, as it is obvious that destruction of that part of Muslim population cannot apply, given that women and children, groups that will assure continuity of this ethnic group, were allowed to leave.

Some accept the rulling of Tribunal, while other legal experts consider it a war crime.

I guess, many of the commentators here disagree on this, too.

Mr. David J. Jones is right to say that Serbia legally is not responsible for any Genocide having taken place. It's been cleared by World Court by 13 - 2 vote of the judges.

However, 1948 UN Genocide Convention also imposes a general duty on states that are signatories to "prevent and to punish" genocide in "Prevention Act" that is a part of the Convention.
It's is well known that Milosevic refused to arrest and sent anyone to the Tribunal for a trial including those with known whereabouts. How could have he, given that he was one of the indicted by the Tribunal?

"Prevention Act" of the Convention required Serbia to "arrest and punish" those responsable for genocide, and as some of the idnictees where indicted for genocide (like Mladic, etc.) Serbia was found guilty under provisions of "Prevention Act". It did not do everything to prevent and "PUNISH" ....etc.
But

Just to clarify some of the "legalities" here.

no problem for keywords genocide because of America adopts a few months as the Turkish genocide against the kurds genocide is not approved because it is bad stain that is punished as Nazism

It took Serbian parliament 13 hours of dabate to adopted the declaration condemning the 1995 Srebrenica crime.!!!"How sad" in other words , the Serb's are saying to the World,Look we are condemning this so called crime, not because we want to but.... ,Miloshevic is dead but his idea of destroying everything non Serb lives on

I don't see the word "genocide" anywhere, so I think it's good that Serbia condemned this crime as a crime, rather than bowing to those who who kept screaming "GENOCIDE, GENOCIDE".

Good job, Belgrade.
(Peter Sudyka, 31 March 2010 12:51)

Yes, “good job” hiding the GENOCIDE!

In the same way, Serbia's parliament softened the words regarding the Srebrenica genocide, the ICJ, which already confirmed that it was not a crime but genocide, will find a proper answer to soften Serbia's stance in other fields. What goes around comes around.

Radicals and all others who did not vote pro to the resolution, ''Shame on You''.
I think its about time everyone understands the claims that Serbia is the leader in stability of the region, with all these criminals in the parliament who inspite the terrible things they have done, they do not regret nor find the force to say sorry.

Once the Balkan region adopt the Srebrenica Resolution in its original terminology substantiated with the proper word GENOCIDE and making July 11 a public holiday, a day of remembrance,... than Serbia too is forced to comply with reality.

Macedonia, Bosnia, Croatia and Slovenia have adopted this, MNG has not adopted thus far.

Incompetence of ruling Democratic Party and their Parliament speaker Ms. Kolundzija is gross.
Lets mention the consequences of last eve vote:

- "resolution" literally forced upon Parliament and Nation producing nothing but bitter divisions
- "resolution" will in no way satisfied "mujahedin" extreme expectations of Bosnian Muslim "leadership" and it will be used by them for exactly opposite political purposes helping in no way reconciliations
- Croats and other "neighbours" will care no less and will also use it only to imply on Serbia's "guilt" for 90-s civil war in ex-Yu
- US, EU will be sure that they can continue with their endless line of conditions which are fundamentally intruding in our national agenda
- and very much ultimately, with this "resolution" addressing one single crime or massacre, Democratic Party and Ms. Kolundzija clearly spitted in the face of families, relatives, friends of more then 60 000 Serbian victims of that civil war and desecrated the memory of them!

Consequence's for Democratic Party and their satellites (Socialist Party...):

- they will never ever be reconsidered, not even for the time distance of nano-second, to be voted for in any of forecoming elections due to their treason of Serbia's national being
- they will be subjected to the Parliament unhumiliation when with the next election Parliament dismisses and voted out this so called "resolution".

This "resolution" resoluted absolutely nothing apart of Nations and Diaspora aim and resolution to dismiss DS from power.

It is a slap indeed in the face of humanity; once more the Serbian public opinion expressed widely its reluctance over a resolution that was an attempt to restoring Serbian conscience. Instead of naming it as it disserves - genocide and unseen massacre over the children, youth and elderly, Serbian Assembly gentlemen experienced a tremendous bad time trying to soften as much as possible crime that has terrified entire world in the recent history. To be honest I was prone to think that we all (Balkans People) are fed up with the nationalism, chauvinisms and crimes committed to each other; but reading some comments in here makes me think of carefulness being neighbor with. May God “reward” those who don’t feel sorry about victims. Eventually, here is an advice as a therapy against cold-blooded neighbors; when you watch the Srebrenica’s images on TV,
Imagine your child in the crowd waiting to be given a chocolate by (guess) who?

Peter Suduka
Hiding Genocide is nothing clever. Next step is accepting Genocide.

I don't see the word "genocide" anywhere, so I think it's good that Serbia condemned this crime as a crime, rather than bowing to those who who kept screaming "GENOCIDE, GENOCIDE".

Good job, Belgrade.

on BBC "Sonja Biserko from the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights believes the government was constrained by the nationalists in how far it could go.

"This was the maximum that could be delivered right now," she says.

"But I worry that the government was motivated more by pressure from the EU than by a genuine feeling of remorse."

I agree with Biljana 100%. Tadic - you have shamed your people enough!

What a slap in the face to the muslims of BiH because this document doesn't implicate us, doesn't satisfy them and barely has the support of our own govt.

Serbia has not apologized to the Bosnian people. One can not accept an apology that is not sincere. If the Serbian government had been sincere in its apology it would have called the crime by its proper name - genocide. This "apology" is nothing but a PR campaign aimed at pleasing the EU and not seriously addressing the crimes committed in the name of the Serbs. It is an important step forward but the current resolution is not acceptable to the Bosnian people and until the word genocide is introduced into it (by amendment perhaps) it will not be accepted and will not contribute to improving relations between Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

I wonder if Sarajevo is going to apologize for there crimes committed by Naser Oric and his men committed against Serbs in there Srebrenica area???

Hopefully, this resolution is going to be the last thing the ruling coalition has done for this country.
I truly believe that resolution represent nothing but their political suicide and luckily they will soon be history.
Can’t wait for new elections.

This resolution is an insult for every honest Serb who had nothing to with the war,
It is an insult for me because I did not murder anyone and do not feel like murderer.
They created a burden to entire nation and which is the worst they identified guilty individuals with the entire nation. Of course that is what the EU and USA wanted all along in order to diminish chances for Republika Srpska’s secession.

I do condemn the crime in Srebrenica but I do not feel guilt. I feel sorry for the victims but I also feel sorry for Serbian victims more. Pretending that crimes against the Serbs did not happen won’t help anyone but will create huge anger amongst the Serbs.

What is the purpose of the resolution is beyond me. If the purpose was to enlighten us what really did happen , well the point is missed because we know what happened and why did it happen at first place.
Is this resolution going to prevent future war crimes? No, it won’t. The resolution itself created only deeper animosity becuase no one seems to be satisfied.

Expressing the hope that the other ex YU countries will adopt similar resolution which will condemn the crimes against the Serbs make ruling coalition either stupid or naïve.

We all know that no resolution will be considered in those countries, let alone adopted.
Since I know that our leaders are not that stupid nor naïve I wonder what was the purpose of the resolution?

Time will certainly tell and I hope we will soon find out what was all about.

Biljana,

You may not feel personally guilty because you weren't there pulling the trigger or driving the earth mover that buried the bodies, but you're part of the nation that swept Sloba and all his pals to power in the 1980s.

Once the Balkan region adopt the Srebrenica Resolution in its original terminology substantiated with the proper word GENOCIDE and making July 11 a public holiday, a day of remembrance,... than Serbia too is forced to comply with reality.
(PRN, 31 March 2010 15:58)

You mean like Croatia, who celebrates Operation Storm as a national holday, which was REAL genocide against the Krajina Serbs?
I don't see the German EU 'humanitarians' [pressuring Croatia to change this holiday, or to admit to the Jasenovac genocide, or forcing them to aplogize to Serbia and pay reparations, or pressuring the fake Kosovo assembly to apologize for their SS Skanderbeg Divisions in WWII, or the Bosnian muslim SS Handjar Divisions, or declaring Nasir Oric's murder of Serbian civilians around Srebrenica as genocide, or sending to the Hague Wesley Clark and his gang of 'humanitarian bombers'...
Serbia is not an aggressor nation, and we never have been, despite some imperialists trying to rewrite history and portray us that way. Serbia, as a nation, owes nobody an apology. Why should Serbia apologize for being attacked from all directions throughout their history?

Awwww good old Serbia looking after their own behind once again, what do Serbia Serbs have to do with Bosnian Serbs?
Well, when it suits Serbia they are one, such as this case.
Publicity stunt trying to get brownie points from EU/US.
Bosnian Serbs had no choice but to defend the Serbs in the Srebrenica area, they may have overdone it but that's war.
If there was a majority of Bosnian muslim and if there were better prepared this case would of happened the other way around.
It's just that their Genocides weren't on a large scale.
Serbia stop meddling in Republikas Srpska affairs when it suits you!
I think the only real Serbs are in Republika Srpska, Krajina and Kosovo, Serbia's Serbs only look after their behind and I'm a Serb from Vojvodina, Shameful!

A lot have been said here about weather or not Srebrenica was a GENOCIDE.
One should first look at the definition of genocide.
It's important issue as many believe that it's been overused and somewhat devalued by that, loosing its intended meaning.

I've even read about some black leaders in the USA calling slavery "genocide" when in fact, it was it was a system to exploit, rather than to exterminate them, etc.

So, what is genocide?

The 1948 Geneva Convention defines genocide as "acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group".

In the rulling of ICJ (World Court) in Bosnia vs. Serbia lawsuit, ICJ found that in Bosnia genocide did not happen, except in Srebrenica. They did not examine Srebrenica closely, but they've based their rulling on existing ruling of another court - International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (Tribunal) who rulled in the case of Bosnian Serb military leader Radislav Krstic. Tribunal ruled Srebrenica was genocide as Krstic was found guilty of "aiding and abbetting the genocide."

Explanation was given in the text of the Genocide Convention.
"...intent to destroy, in WHOLE or in PART, a national..."
While women and children were bused out, it was argued, Krstic and his troops inteded to DESTROY (male) part of national group...etc.
From the beginning decision was contraversial in legal community.
"In part" was more referring to cases where perpertrator did not have access to whole, but intended to destroy ALL members of that group that had access to.
For example gasing of Kurds in Iraq 1987 - 1989 was rulled genocide.
Sadam Hussein did not try to destroy Kurds as a whole (most of them live in Turkey), he only tried to destroy Kurds living in Iraq (part). Nevertheless, he tried to destoy indisreminatelly, ALL the members of that "national, ethnical, racial or religious group" (Kurds) he had access to, not only males.
While there is no question that Srebrenica was a hidious crime, debate is open as to what is genocide today, as it is obvious that destruction of that part of Muslim population cannot apply, given that women and children, groups that will assure continuity of this ethnic group, were allowed to leave.

Some accept the rulling of Tribunal, while other legal experts consider it a war crime.

I guess, many of the commentators here disagree on this, too.

Mr. David J. Jones is right to say that Serbia legally is not responsible for any Genocide having taken place. It's been cleared by World Court by 13 - 2 vote of the judges.

However, 1948 UN Genocide Convention also imposes a general duty on states that are signatories to "prevent and to punish" genocide in "Prevention Act" that is a part of the Convention.
It's is well known that Milosevic refused to arrest and sent anyone to the Tribunal for a trial including those with known whereabouts. How could have he, given that he was one of the indicted by the Tribunal?

"Prevention Act" of the Convention required Serbia to "arrest and punish" those responsable for genocide, and as some of the idnictees where indicted for genocide (like Mladic, etc.) Serbia was found guilty under provisions of "Prevention Act". It did not do everything to prevent and "PUNISH" ....etc.
But

Just to clarify some of the "legalities" here.

Hey Laki, and other genocide screamers. I know you hate Serbs, and anything Serbian, but there were no children or women killed in Srebrenica - remember, they were bused away. Only the men were imprisoned. Genocide would be the attempted eradication of an entire ethnicity, not just its males. The crime were horrific, indeed, but let's call it what it was, a war crime. Also, why would anyone hold the entire Serbian population accountable for the actions of a few Bosnian military? Bravo for Belgrade to address this issue, unlike the Bosniaks, Croats, or Albanians. They all have blood on their hands, and no courage to admit it.

Consequences of "resolution" pushed and imposed to Serbian nation by obviously intellectually insufficient Democratic Party and their Parliament leader Mz.Kolundzija are starting swiftly and brutally already on the day 1 after its "approval" : BBC Serbian reports that Dutch Utrecht Professor of International Law Hert van Knops claims and considers that "Serbia's apology for not doing enough to prevent Srebrenica massacre" represent enough of the legal base for victims families to file the reparation claims to the Serbian Courts!!!

Serbian Nation does not need enemies: with past and present Serbia's leaders we are dead and buried!!!

Bosnian American

sorry I want to know honestly did you ever apologized to any Serb for the WW2
SS Handzar Division crimes, or for the crimes commited by Naser Oric in this war?

NO you didn´t.

What gives you the right to ask for some
and to talk about forgiveness?

Don´t get me wrong I have many friends from BiH and I am ready to apologize for all crimes commited in my name but what is with you?

I was personally ashamed with executions in Srebrenica,when I saw it on the TV, but I also went mad when I saw the killed Serbs by your hero Oric before that.
They had no mercy even for the kids.

Don´t you think that you have to apologize too
for the crimes your people commited against Serbs and other non muslims?

That is the problem.

Have a nice day.

Ratko Mladic is a far worse kind of man than Naser Oric. Naser Oric never ordered the mass slaughter of 8,000 civillian, unarmed, Bosnains as Maldic did in Srebrenica.

Serb nationalists are disgusting because they consider everyone which is of non-Orthodox origin to be inferior to their race. That’s why thery’re friendly to Greeks, Russians, Macedonians and Montenegrins and hate Croatians, Albanians, Bosnians and Kosovars… and Anglo-Americans. And Western European peoples in general.

In the same way, Serbia's parliament softened the words regarding the Srebrenica genocide, the ICJ, which already confirmed that it was not a crime but genocide, will find a proper answer to soften Serbia's stance in other fields. What goes around comes around.
(John, 31 March 2010 11:33)

John,

You are right in that the ICJ states there was Genocide in Srebrenica. However, you have left out the fact that the ICJ also voted by 13 - 2 that Serbia has not committed Genocide.
It did however vote (14-1) that Serbia failed to prevent a Genocide taking place.
So legally Serbia is not responsible for any Genocide having taken place. We could argue that NATO (Dutch) be given the same ruling for failing to prevent Genocide.

The full rulings which cleared the Serbian State can be found here - http://www.icj-cij.org/presscom/files/9/14119.pdf

pages 18-24

I don't see the word "genocide" anywhere, so I think it's good that Serbia condemned this crime as a crime, rather than bowing to those who who kept screaming "GENOCIDE, GENOCIDE".

Good job, Belgrade.
(Peter Sudyka, 31 March 2010 12:51)

+1. Serbia has apologised now the ball is in the Croatian, KLA and Bosniak court.

The Serb people have forever brought the stain of genocide on themselves by killing thousands of innocent and defenseless Bosnian civilians. A small fraction of Serbs participated directly in the murders, tortures, and rapes but a sizable portion of the population was unfortunately swept up by the Milosevic propaganda machine and turned to fascism and murder as a means of forming a "Greater Serbian" genocidal state. I am glad to see that there are many liberal Serbians who will openly say "not in my name" and that is encouraging. Until Serbia fully condemns the crimes committed in the name of the Serbian people, arrests the war criminals who killed civilians including women and children in the name of the Serbian people, and defeats the fascist ideology that turned ordinary men into bloodthirsty monsters the country will not be able to move forward into the brighter future that its citizens deserve. As the saying goes "the truth will set you free" let's hope that the Serbian people and the politicians they elect into office keep that in mind.

svojgazda,

Would you feel differently if it were "only" all the women that were killed?

Killing an entire gender of a specific group results in the elimination of that group (in this case "in part").

That's the definition of genocide.

The process of distancing continues- if one moves far enough from the crime then one assumes innocence of being associated with the crime; change the faces, rhetoric, declare humanitarian empathy, demand equal treatment with the victim for suffering loss and one can say ‘it wasn’t us- why blame us?’ Serbia thereby was an innocent bystander dragged in through ethnic association. It was random paramilitary ‘gangs’ that by coincidence appeared at various locations and by chance coordinated their activities with a miraculously somehow well coordinated and resourced attack on multiple fronts whilst sympathisers were prescient enough to evacuate from targeted sites.

Hey remember we are talking of BiH 1990’s the poor second cousin in the Yugoslav federation yet somehow one of its civilian sections becomes armed to the teeth and logistically enabled to mount a large scale multiple theatred operation and within six weeks to control all essential routes, resources and strategic locations. For a moment imagine it on your own soil that your neighbours rise up in unison with the sophistication of a military unit and within a month strategically control the country- have none of you planned a holiday? Do you know what this means in real terms? Visit the RDC (Research and Documentation Centre) site examine the numbers and status of dead and injured, cross reference this with the timeline of events, ask yourself is there a pattern or is it mere spontaneous random acts of outrage.

It is a difficult thing to demand of one’s leaders to disclose information that is incriminating- but until Serbs demand of their leaders just this, then the spectre of complicity and collusion will erode their credibility forever and a day. Everything else is a distraction.

but there were no children or women killed in Srebrenica. Only the men were imprisoned.(svojgazda, 31 March 2010 18:29) Read the history of the Srebrenica Genocide. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Srebrenica_massacre

"Why should Serbia apologize for being attacked from all directions throughout their history?"

Because the aggressor-victor & their local clients writes the history, that´s why.

But one must give the orthodox Serbs credit for so stand-fast and stubbornly resist whatever hell the current super power has poured over them.

I would have liked that one Democratically Elected Honourable Member of the Serbian Parliament debated if Gavrilo Princip was a Secret Janissary.

The resolution is not worth the paper it’s written for three reasons.
Firstly, it barely has the support of Parliament i.e. it was only passed by one vote. Remember that this resolution to have an affect requires bipartisan support and if it had 240 out 250 votes then it would have meaning.
Secondly, the term “Genocide” is not even hinted, but what’s most curious is that it calls for all other countries to condemn crimes committed during the war – I believe that the original declaration did not have this text. Thirdly, another resolution will condemn all crimes committed against Serbs.
Let me repeat that the Srebrenica resolution only satisfies the west – they have ticked this off as done. Now Tadic and Co will receive more medals and cheques in the mail.
My call for an independent investigation into Srebrenica have only shown that the Bosnaiks and their supporters are crying crocodile tears because the silence in response of this call is deafening.

Once the Balkan region adopt the Srebrenica Resolution in its original terminology substantiated with the proper word GENOCIDE and making July 11 a public holiday, a day of remembrance,... than Serbia too is forced to comply with reality.

Macedonia, Bosnia, Croatia and Slovenia have adopted this, MNG has not adopted thus far.
(PRN, 31 March 2010 15:58)

You are kidding, aren’t you? A public holiday – keep on dreaming.

Hi svojgazda, I don’t remember if we made an acquaintance before, however I must say that you are making a huge mistake by qualifying me as a man who hates Serbs. Nevertheless, I don’t want to argue in that respect any further. But I have a question for you; can you tell me the difference between crimes and war crimes? I don’t see the difference. I’ve been taught (by history, of course) that wars are a means to achieve or resolve a dispute when running off rational options, usually carried out by stubborn and mainly madmen. By same madmen war is classified as a skill and science which has it rules of procedure. Another question; would you prefer to be “bussed” away off you family only because you belong to another nationality? I don’t believe so, even though it is for you so normal!!!
So here you are an advice again – imagine your child being given a chocolate by war criminal Ratko Mladic while you were being “bussed” away accompanied with you 14 years old son….

Olf

Why should they accept some genocide that they didn't perpetrate.

no problem for keywords genocide because of America adopts a few months as the Turkish genocide against the kurds genocide is not approved because it is bad stain that is punished as Nazism