Serbian parliament on Srebrenica resolution

The Serbian parliament is expected to today in Belgrade vote on the draft declaration condemning the Srebrenica crime. The draft is supported by 114 MPs of the ruling coaling from the DS-led group, and G17 Plus, PUPS and the Socialist Party of Serbia. Serbian parliament on Srebrenica resolution The opposition SRS, SNS, DSS, NS, and LDP parties are not content with the proposed draft and announced that they would not support it, along with ruling party United Serbia (JS). Another ruling party, the Social-Democrats, stated that they would try to fix the text at the plenary meeting. Bosniak List MPs, who are also a part of the majority, stated that they would call for the European Parliament’s Srebrenica resolution to be adopted, and called on the state to proclaim July 11 a day for remembering the Srebrenica victims. In the Srebrenica resolution draft, the parliament strongly condemns the crimes committed against the Bosniak (Muslim) residents of Srebrenica in July 1995, in the way it which it was confirmed by the International Court of Justice’s verdict, and also calls of other countries of the former Yugoslavia to condemn in the same way crimes committed against Serbs during the war. The resolution offers “condolences and apologies” to the families of the victims because not enough was done to stop the tragedy from occurring. It adds that the parliament supports the work of all state institutions responsible for processing war criminals and for the successful completion of cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, which includes the arrest and extradition of fugitive Ratko Mladic. The Serbian parliament (Beta) The debate The parliamentary session debating the Srebrenica resolution has continued today after a break was called for further consultations. Chief of the ruling DS-led "For a European Serbia" MP group Nada Kolundzija said that once the resolution is adopted, a tragic chapter in recent history will be closed and a new perspective will be opened for the new generations, adding that Serbia will have its international credibility and image restored. “Condemning the crime against the Bosniaks of Srebrenica, while paying respect to the innocent victims and offering condolences to their families, will left the burden off future generations which certain individuals have placed on us,” Kolundzija said, adding that she expects that the rest of the MPs will “show that they possess the characteristics of the nation that they represent”. Ruling United Serbia (JS) leader Dragan Markovic said that his party members would support the resolution. Markovic said that the debate on the second resolution for condemning crimes committed against Serbs, in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, would be discussed on Thursday, and reminded that the adoption of this resolution will be the condition that his party will ask for in order to give their support to the Srebrenica resolution. MP Esad Dzudzevic, of the Bosniak List for a European Sandzak, said that the Serbian parliament should adopt the resolution for condemning the Srebrenica crimes that was adopted by the European Parliament. He said that his party would make a final decision on whether it would support the resolution at the end of the parliamentary debate. Meanwhile, opposition New Serbia (NS) leader Velimir Ilic called on the parliament to pull the resolution from procedures and to pass another, that would condemn all crimes committed during the war on the territory of the former Yugoslavia. Ilic said that the proposed resolution ignites hatred in Serbia, irritates the families whose relatives died in the conflicts, and “puts a brand on future generations that they will never be able to free themselves of”. Opposition Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) MP Jovan Palalic said that the proposed resolution puts branded Serbia, not on those who committed the crimes in 1995, and that it would be ruinous for Serbia. Palalic added that the document divides victims of a civil war in the former Yugoslavia, puts nations into dispute and “does not condemn crimes against the Serbian people that suffered most”.

Serbian parliament on Srebrenica resolution

The opposition SRS, SNS, DSS, NS, and LDP parties are not content with the proposed draft and announced that they would not support it, along with ruling party United Serbia (JS).

Another ruling party, the Social-Democrats, stated that they would try to fix the text at the plenary meeting.

Bosniak List MPs, who are also a part of the majority, stated that they would call for the European Parliament’s Srebrenica resolution to be adopted, and called on the state to proclaim July 11 a day for remembering the Srebrenica victims.

In the Srebrenica resolution draft, the parliament strongly condemns the crimes committed against the Bosniak (Muslim) residents of Srebrenica in July 1995, in the way it which it was confirmed by the International Court of Justice’s verdict, and also calls of other countries of the former Yugoslavia to condemn in the same way crimes committed against Serbs during the war.

The resolution offers “condolences and apologies” to the families of the victims because not enough was done to stop the tragedy from occurring.

It adds that the parliament supports the work of all state institutions responsible for processing war criminals and for the successful completion of cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, which includes the arrest and extradition of fugitive Ratko Mladić.

The debate

The parliamentary session debating the Srebrenica resolution has continued today after a break was called for further consultations.

Chief of the ruling DS-led "For a European Serbia" MP group Nada Kolundžija said that once the resolution is adopted, a tragic chapter in recent history will be closed and a new perspective will be opened for the new generations, adding that Serbia will have its international credibility and image restored.

“Condemning the crime against the Bosniaks of Srebrenica, while paying respect to the innocent victims and offering condolences to their families, will left the burden off future generations which certain individuals have placed on us,” Kolundžija said, adding that she expects that the rest of the MPs will “show that they possess the characteristics of the nation that they represent”.

Ruling United Serbia (JS) leader Dragan Marković said that his party members would support the resolution.

Marković said that the debate on the second resolution for condemning crimes committed against Serbs, in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, would be discussed on Thursday, and reminded that the adoption of this resolution will be the condition that his party will ask for in order to give their support to the Srebrenica resolution.

MP Esad Džudžević, of the Bosniak List for a European Sandžak, said that the Serbian parliament should adopt the resolution for condemning the Srebrenica crimes that was adopted by the European Parliament.

He said that his party would make a final decision on whether it would support the resolution at the end of the parliamentary debate.

Meanwhile, opposition New Serbia (NS) leader Velimir Ilić called on the parliament to pull the resolution from procedures and to pass another, that would condemn all crimes committed during the war on the territory of the former Yugoslavia.

Ilić said that the proposed resolution ignites hatred in Serbia, irritates the families whose relatives died in the conflicts, and “puts a brand on future generations that they will never be able to free themselves of”.

Opposition Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) MP Jovan Palalić said that the proposed resolution puts branded Serbia, not on those who committed the crimes in 1995, and that it would be ruinous for Serbia.

Palalić added that the document divides victims of a civil war in the former Yugoslavia, puts nations into dispute and “does not condemn crimes against the Serbian people that suffered most”.