Still no consensus on Srebrenica resolution

MPs are continuing work on a resolution on Srebrenica, but the conditions for calling a parliamentary session have yet to be met. In order for a meeting to be called, the initiative must be supported by 84 MPs, Parliamentary Speaker Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic explained. Still no consensus on Srebrenica resolution She said that the MP groups are working on the resolution actively, and that, even though there was no initiative coming from 84 MPS, the document would probably reach the parliament by early March. Consultations will be held on this week between parliamentary parties regarding the resolution, while opinions still vary greatly from party to party. Djukic-Dejanovic, of the ruling SPS, told Belgrade daily Blic that the terminology "was not the problem", and that she expects that the resolution will be adopted in the next 20 days. The opposition Serb Progressives (SNS) stated that the party would give its decision on whether it will support the resolution once it sees the draft. SNS deputy leader Aleksandar Vucic, who took part in a B92 TV talk show on Sunday, would not make it clear whether SNS would support the resolution if the crimes in Srebrenica were deemed genocide in the declaration. He also declined to clarify whether SNS would support a separate resolution condemning crimes committed against Serbs. “We will not say anything until we see the draft. We said that we are open to talks, and that crimes against our people, especially in operations Storm and Flash, Klecak and many other places, must be condemned as well, but we are ready to talk because we believe that it is important to reach a widespread agreement between the parties,” Vucic said. Opposition Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) official Andreja Mladenovic said that the party submitted its Srebrenica resolution to parliament back in 2005. “DSS and New Serbia submitted a declaration to parliament for condemning war crimes committed on the territory of the former Yugoslavia. But, today in Serbia, we are in a situation that this is being measured in accordance with European integration, because the mantra today, which was once brotherhood and unity, is to measure who supports EU integration in relation to whether they will back a resolution on Srebrenica,” he said. Opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) official Nenad Prokic, who took part in the same program,.said that the resolution will be supported by his party only if the crimes are deemed genocide. “We are the first country that is entering the EU with genocide in our suitcase, limited territorial genocide. That is a very serious think in a union based on peace. They will also us to solve this, but that is not what is most important. It is most important for use to recommend to our society and enter it into out schooling, so that it will never be able to happen again and so no one will ever do that in our name again,” Prokic said. To this Mladenovic retorted: “What Mr. Prokic is saying, that Serbia has some sort of suitcase where she keeps genocide, without which she cannot join the EU, that's horrible. So, we have to put this in our school curiculums, like LDP has said, which will probably be supported by the NGOs, that stamp and stigma on the Serb people? The stamp that it is a genocidal people and that it is responsible for a genocide that reportedly occurred?” Prokic reacted to this by saying that, “Something cannot have not happened if it did happen.”

Still no consensus on Srebrenica resolution

She said that the MP groups are working on the resolution actively, and that, even though there was no initiative coming from 84 MPS, the document would probably reach the parliament by early March.

Consultations will be held on this week between parliamentary parties regarding the resolution, while opinions still vary greatly from party to party.

Đukić-Dejanović, of the ruling SPS, told Belgrade daily Blic that the terminology "was not the problem", and that she expects that the resolution will be adopted in the next 20 days.

The opposition Serb Progressives (SNS) stated that the party would give its decision on whether it will support the resolution once it sees the draft.

SNS deputy leader Aleksandar Vučić, who took part in a B92 TV talk show on Sunday, would not make it clear whether SNS would support the resolution if the crimes in Srebrenica were deemed genocide in the declaration.

He also declined to clarify whether SNS would support a separate resolution condemning crimes committed against Serbs.

“We will not say anything until we see the draft. We said that we are open to talks, and that crimes against our people, especially in operations Storm and Flash, Klečak and many other places, must be condemned as well, but we are ready to talk because we believe that it is important to reach a widespread agreement between the parties,” Vučić said.

Opposition Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) official Andreja Mladenović said that the party submitted its Srebrenica resolution to parliament back in 2005.

“DSS and New Serbia submitted a declaration to parliament for condemning war crimes committed on the territory of the former Yugoslavia. But, today in Serbia, we are in a situation that this is being measured in accordance with European integration, because the mantra today, which was once brotherhood and unity, is to measure who supports EU integration in relation to whether they will back a resolution on Srebrenica,” he said.

Opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) official Nenad Prokić, who took part in the same program,.said that the resolution will be supported by his party only if the crimes are deemed genocide.

“We are the first country that is entering the EU with genocide in our suitcase, limited territorial genocide. That is a very serious think in a union based on peace. They will also us to solve this, but that is not what is most important. It is most important for use to recommend to our society and enter it into out schooling, so that it will never be able to happen again and so no one will ever do that in our name again,” Prokić said.

To this Mladenović retorted: “What Mr. Prokić is saying, that Serbia has some sort of suitcase where she keeps genocide, without which she cannot join the EU, that's horrible. So, we have to put this in our school curiculums, like LDP has said, which will probably be supported by the NGOs, that stamp and stigma on the Serb people? The stamp that it is a genocidal people and that it is responsible for a genocide that reportedly occurred?”

Prokić reacted to this by saying that, “Something cannot have not happened if it did happen.”