Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan marked the 29th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide with a video message to the commemoration ceremony in Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 11, 2024. In his address, Erdoğan emphasized Turkey’s commitment to remembering the tragedy and preventing its recurrence, stating, “We will not forget and will not let the Srebrenica genocide be forgotten. We will not let it happen again”.Erdoğan drew a stark parallel between the Srebrenica massacre and the ongoing conflict in Gaza, criticizing the international community’s response. He stated, “The same barbarism that happened in Srebrenica is happening in Gaza today”, noting that “40,000 innocent people, including 16,000 children, have been killed, and international organizations are watching like they did 29 years ago”.The Turkish President called for accountability, asserting that “Those responsible for the barbarism in Gaza will also be held accountable before international law”. He emphasized the importance of justice and accountability for both the Srebrenica genocide and the current situation in Gaza.Erdoğan also addressed the need for reconciliation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, urging people to “leave behind all forms of hatred and to work towards peace, tolerance, and reconciliation”. He reiterated Turkey’s support for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s territorial integrity, political unity, and sovereignty.Meanwhile, thousands gathered in Srebrenica to commemorate the 1995 genocide, where over 8,000 Bosniak Muslims were killed. The commemoration comes after the UN General Assembly designated July 11 as an international day of reflection and commemoration of the genocide. However, Serb leaders continue to deny that the massacre constitutes genocide, referring to it as a ‘terrible crime’ instead, which continues to fuel ethnic tensions in the region.
Key points
- President Erdoğan emphasized Turkey’s commitment to remembering the Srebrenica genocide and preventing its recurrence.
- Erdoğan drew parallels between the Srebrenica massacre and the current situation in Gaza, criticizing international inaction.
- The Turkish President called for accountability for both the Srebrenica genocide and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
- Erdoğan urged for reconciliation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and reiterated Turkey’s support for the country’s integrity and sovereignty.
Contradictions👾While Erdoğan and many international bodies recognize the Srebrenica massacre as genocide, Serb leaders insist it was a ‘terrible crime’ but not genocide, continuing to fuel ethnic tensions.
