Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Addressing a large number of guests, fellow veterans and citizens, Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željko Komšić spoke about the days preceding the beginning of the aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina, the readiness of the citizens of Stari Grad to organize resistance, as well as the importance of preserving the culture of remembrance and passing these experiences on to new generations.

Mr. President of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, distinguished Secretary-General of the UN, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen!

On this occasion, he laid a wreath at the memorial and addressed a large gathering of guests, saying that events such as this evoke two feelings in him: a sense of pride on the one hand, and, on the other, a sense of sorrow for all those who lost their lives, their health, and years of their lives.

Following the laying of flowers at Alija Izetbegović Square, Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željko Komšić addressed the citizens of Ključ, families of fallen soldiers and martyrs, as well as numerous guests.

During his address, Dr Bećirović said that this is the first fair of its kind in our country and that it represents an opportunity to demonstrate how the defence and defence manufacturing industry constitutes an important part of our security, economic and technological future.

"The genocide in Srebrenica is one of the deepest wounds on the soul of Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the soul of Bosniaks, on the soul of the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and on the conscience of all decent people in our country.

Your Grace, your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, today as we mark the thirty-first anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica, we come together first and foremost to remember.

Esteemed representatives of the Parliament and His Majesty's Government, ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, at the beginning of my address, I wish to express my gratitude, on behalf of the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to the Government, Parliament, and citizens of the United Kingdom for continuously observing the United Kingdom's National Srebrenica Genocide Memorial Day.

Honoured families of the genocide victims, respected Mothers of Srebrenica, Excellencies, Eminences, ladies and gentlemen, today, with profound reverence, we bid a final farewell to the mortal remains of ten more innocent victims of the genocide committed against the Bosniaks.

Excellencies, Eminences, dear Mothers of Srebrenica, distinguished representatives of victims' associations, in the hall of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, numerous decisions have been adopted that have shaped the history of modern humanity.