[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 104 (Wednesday, July 14, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1316-E1317]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     COMMEMORATING THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SREBRENICA GENOCIDE

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                           HON. RUSS CARNAHAN

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 14, 2010

  Mr. CARNAHAN. Madam Speaker, on Sunday, July 11, 2010 the world 
paused to solemnly commemorate the 15th Anniversary of the Srebrenica 
Genocide. This unconscionable act of cruelty and disregard for human 
life--Europe's worst massacre since World War II--has left a deep scar 
upon humanity.
  An estimated 8,000 Muslim men and teenage boys were brutally 
slaughtered and approximately 30,000 refugees were forced from their 
homes.
  United Nations peacekeepers protecting the Srebrenica ``safe zone'' 
were outmanned and outgunned with little ability to stop the 
atrocities. This, unfortunately, highlights the collective failure of 
nations to take sufficient, decisive, and timely action to prevent this 
horrific mass murder and ethnic cleansing. We must never forget the 
important lessons learned from this terrible chapter of Bosnian 
history, in particular that hatred must never be allowed to take root.
  I represent one of the largest populations of Bosnians and Bosnian-
Americans. Approximately 35,000 Bosnian-Americans reside in the St. 
Louis, Missouri, region, and of these, upwards of 5,000 are survivors 
of the Srebrenica massacre. This is an issue for which I feel strongly, 
as I have seen how profoundly it has affected individuals, families, 
and the community.
  Last year, I met with several of these Missourians while attending 
the 14th anniversary remembrance ceremony in Srebrenica. I witnessed 
the mass burial of the remains of over 500 victims recovered from the 
mass gravesites. It is important for us to remember those who were 
lost, and honor their memory as we move forward.
  Fifteen years later there are still mass grave sites that remain 
undiscovered, families that have yet to be reunited, and remains of 
loved ones that have yet to be positively identified. The International 
Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) has been doing remarkable forensic 
work in Bosnia, and training and employing local Bosnians, to help 
identify remains. Most of the families of survivors in my district have 
contributed DNA samples in the effort to help identify their missing 
family members. While they still face serious difficulties, to date 
they have positively identified two-thirds of the missing persons in 
Bosnia.
  Fortunately, there have been significant efforts, overall, at 
apprehending war criminals and ensuring that they face justice. The 
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) has 
indicted a total of twenty-one individuals for crimes committed in 
Srebrenica, including seven senior officials who were convicted in June 
2010, and former President Radovan Karadzic who is currently on trial.
  It is imperative that war criminals be found and brought to justice. 
I strongly urge the United States, along with the international 
community, to continue its commitment to help find and bring to justice 
Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladic, who is still at large, for his 
central role in orchestrating the atrocities of the genocide.
  These trials are critical to the social healing and reconciliation 
process that must take place in order to advance to goal of a lasting 
peace, prosperity, rule of law, and an effective unity government in 
Bosnia and Herzegovina. And it is critical to provide some closure to 
the families of the victims of the Srebrenica Genocide, so that their 
personal healing can also take place.
  Additionally, in March, 2010, the Serbian Parliamentary official of 
Bosnia issued a formal apology for the 1995 massacre of Bosnian Muslim 
men and boys. This narrow majority vote cannot replace the losses 
suffered by the Bosnian people as a result of the genocide, but this 
signal of acknowledgement by the Serbian community was a necessary and 
hopefully meaningful step forward.
  Bosnia and Herzegovina has taken great strides toward becoming a more 
stable nation and an international partner, yet increased stability in 
the region and stronger national institutions are still key priorities 
moving forward.
  The United States can best honor the innocent lives lost by taking a 
moment of pause, today, to reflect upon the Srebrenica Genocide and 
recommit ourselves to the defense of human rights and freedoms wherever 
they are imperiled. We in Congress must also persist in ensuring that 
justice is served and freedom and democracy endure through our 
continued show of support for Bosnia and Herzegovina with respect to 
its constitutional reform, improvement of democratic institutions, 
strengthening of the rule of law, and increased political and economic 
stability.
  Let us commemorate the tragedy of Srebrenica by delivering on the 
promise of peace.

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