Statement by Commissioner Rehn on 10th anniversary of Srebrenica massacre

"I am in Srebrenica today, because we have a duty to remember what happened 10 years ago. So that we shall see no more Srebrenicas. So that ethnic hatred and destructive nationalism will be buried - in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the Balkans, in the whole of Europe", said Olli Rehn, European Commissioner responsible for enlargement.

"For the sake of justice and reconciliation we must continue to support the important work carried out by the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia, ICTY. Those bearing the main responsibility for the atrocities at Srebrenica, Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, are still at large. This is unacceptable. Their place is not in the region - it is in The Hague. Bosnia and Herzegovina has the prospect of joining the European Union. First the country needs a Stabilisation and Association agreement with the European Union. The EU is ready to start such negotiations as soon as BiH delivers on the two outstanding issues - on police reform and on a new law for public broadcasting. It is in the hands of the political leadership in this country. To work for a better future for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans in the EU is the best way to commemorate the victims of the Srebrenica massacre", concluded Commissioner Rehn.

| Top |

• GAERC Conclusions on Western Balkans (18/7/2005)
• EUHR Solana on Commemoration of Srebrenica Massacre (11/7/2005)
• EU Parliament resolution on Srebrenica - 10 Years on (7/7/2005)
• Speech by Commissioner Rehn - Commission Declaration on the Balkans 10 years after Srebrenica (6/7/2005)