Human Rights Action (HRA), Centre for Civic Education (CCE), Association of Lawyers of Montenegro, ADAMAS, ANIMA – Center for Women’s and Peace Education, Women’s Rights Center, Montenegrin Committee of Lawyers for the Protection of Human Rights, European Association for Law and Finance, Politikon Network, NGO PRIMA and Committee of Young Lawyers welcome the decision of the Parliament of Montenegro to adopt a resolution strongly condemning the genocide in Srebrenica. We also welcome the decision of the Parliament to dismiss Vladimir Leposavić as Minister of Justice and Human and Minority Rights in the Government of Montenegro due to the relativisation of that genocide.
We have reason to be proud – Montenegro is the only country in the region that dismissed its minister for relativising genocide and adopted even two parliamentary acts on genocide in Srebrenica (declaration and resolution), thus contributing to reconciliation in the region that can serve as a role model.
The MPs’ vote reflected the views of the citizens, because public opinion polls showed that the majority of the population in Montenegro recognizes and condemns the genocide in Srebrenica, as well as that the majority of citizens do not agree with the position of Leposavić.
In addition, research indicates that the majority of citizens continuously want to join the European Union, and that means rejecting and condemning any denial, relativisation or misinterpretation of the genocide in Srebrenica.
We regret that the Resolution did not establish of 11 July as the Day of Remembrance of the Srebrenica Genocide, in accordance with the European Parliament resolution, but only “emphasized the importance and need to establish that day of remembrance“, which deviated from the original proposal. Nevertheless, we hope that at least those who voted for the Resolution will make additional efforts to establish this day of remembrance.
We emphasize that yesterday’s decisions of the Parliament remain the light of reason and humanity and illuminate the path to a future in which there will be no more suffering in wars and crimes. While there will always be those who refuse to accept unpleasant facts, the progress of our society requires that the truth be looked in the eye and our organizations will accordingly continue to contribute to dealing with the past.
ADAMAS, Anđela Gogić, President
Human Rights Action (HRA), Tea Gorjanc Prelević, Executive director
ANIMA – Center for Women’s and Peace Education, Ervina Dabižinović, Coordinator
Centre for Civic Education (CCE), Daliborka Uljarević, Executive director
Women’s Rights Center, Maja Raičević, Executive director
Montenegrin Committee of Lawyers for the Protection of Human Rights, Velija Murić, Executive director
European Association for Law and Finance (EALF), Katarina Bošković, President
Committee of Young Lawyers, Ivan Medenica, President
Politikon Network, Jovana Marović, Executive director
PRIMA, Aida Perović, Executive director
Association of Lawyers of Montenegro, Branislav Radulović, President