Experts offer opposing views on Srebrenica

A TV debate between Republic of Srpska President Milorad Dodik and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader Cedomir Jovanovic has turned into a debate on the RS. In the Wednesday’s debate Dodik and Jovanovic discussed whether the RS was a genocidal creation or not. Experts offer opposing views on Srebrenica Helsinki Committee for Human Rights President Sonja Biserko has said that the televised debate was significant for Serbia in the moment when almost every different opinion is under attack, especially when it comes to the celebration of the RS’ anniversary. Political analyst Slobodan Antonic agrees that the debate is important but he does not agree that freedom of opinion is being suppressed at the moment. “The public only critically reacted to a recent justification of blowing up the Borik sports hall. I am not sure I understand the significance of the issue, bearing in mind that it is a political event to have two positions confront each other before the public and I would agree with Biserko there, that it is good that it was held so the public would see both positions,” he explained. Commenting on the discussion whether the RS was a genocidal creation or not, Biserko said: “I think this is about denial of Srebrenica. The fact that four proceedings that have to do with the genocide in Srebrenica are underway is being discarded so it could be said that genocide happened in the RS. As far as the fact that the RS’ 20th anniversary was celebrated is concerned, it is a smokescreen. The proclamation of the RS was an announcement for what was going to happen in the coming years. The RS was created on crimes and genocide”. Antonic has accused her of delegitimizing the entire people with such statements. “You are reducing the state structure to a single crime. You have reduced one massacre to genocide. You have reduced the RS to a genocidal creation. You will even morally disqualify their representatives. This is a dangerous reduction. You are carrying out a moral delegitimization of an entire people… The RS is being reduced to a genocidal creation and a crime on the other side is being denied. Is Croatia a genocidal creation? What happened in 1945?,” he wondered. Sonja Biserko and Slobodan Antonic B92

Experts offer opposing views on Srebrenica

Helsinki Committee for Human Rights President Sonja Biserko has said that the televised debate was significant for Serbia in the moment when almost every different opinion is under attack, especially when it comes to the celebration of the RS’ anniversary.

Political analyst Slobodan Antonić agrees that the debate is important but he does not agree that freedom of opinion is being suppressed at the moment.

“The public only critically reacted to a recent justification of blowing up the Borik sports hall. I am not sure I understand the significance of the issue, bearing in mind that it is a political event to have two positions confront each other before the public and I would agree with Biserko there, that it is good that it was held so the public would see both positions,” he explained.

Commenting on the discussion whether the RS was a genocidal creation or not, Biserko said:

“I think this is about denial of Srebrenica. The fact that four proceedings that have to do with the genocide in Srebrenica are underway is being discarded so it could be said that genocide happened in the RS. As far as the fact that the RS’ 20th anniversary was celebrated is concerned, it is a smokescreen. The proclamation of the RS was an announcement for what was going to happen in the coming years. The RS was created on crimes and genocide”.

Antonić has accused her of delegitimizing the entire people with such statements.

“You are reducing the state structure to a single crime. You have reduced one massacre to genocide. You have reduced the RS to a genocidal creation. You will even morally disqualify their representatives. This is a dangerous reduction. You are carrying out a moral delegitimization of an entire people… The RS is being reduced to a genocidal creation and a crime on the other side is being denied. Is Croatia a genocidal creation? What happened in 1945?,” he wondered.