The President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska, Dr. Nenad Stevandic, attended today in Bratunac the commemoration of 33 years since the crime against 3 267 Serbs from central Podrinje and Birc, committed during the Patriotic War.
In addition to President Stevandic, the President of the Republic of Srpska Milorad Dodik, Prime Minister Radovan Viskovic, Serbian member and chairperson of the BiH Presidency, Zeljka Cvijanovic, His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Porfirije attended the commemoration.
The President of the Assembly of Serbia, Ana Brnabic, Advisor to the President, Milos Vucic, Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Serbia, Andrijana Mesarovic, ministers in the governments of the Republic of Srpska and Serbia, as well as representatives of Srpska in joint institutions, were also present.
Members of the Third Infantry Republic of Srpska Regiment of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, representatives of the embassies of Serbia and Russia in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as organizations and associations resulting from the Patriotic War, mayors of municipalities from central Podrinje and Birc and a large number of believers were also present.
His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Porfirije served the holy liturgy and commemoration for the martyred Serbs, after which he led the procession from the Assumption Church to the cemetery in Bratunac, where a memorial service was held for 3,267 Serbs from central Podrinje and Birce. During the commemoration at the Bratunac cemetery, many citizens carried photographs of the martyred Serbs.
The wreath was laid on behalf of the institutions of the Republic Srpska by the President of the Republic Srpska Milorad Dodik, accompanied by the Serbian member and chairman of the Presidency Zeljka Cvijanovic, the Prime Minister of the Srpska Radovan Viskovic and the President of the National Assembly Nenad Stevandic, who each laid a rose.
On behalf of Serbia, the President of the National Assembly of Serbia, Ana Brnabić, laid a wreath, while the members of the country's delegation laid flowers.
Ambassador of Russia Igor Kalabuhov also paid respect to the murdered Serbs.
Flowers were laid by delegations of deputies in the National Assembly of Srpska, Serbian representatives in joint bodies, family members of those who died from the region of Srednje Podrinje and Birce, delegations of the Veterans' Organization of the Republic of Srpska and other non-governmental organizations arising from the Defense-Patriotic War, and NOR.
Delegations of the Third Infantry Republic of Srpska Regiment, public institutions of Srpska, cities and municipalities of Srednji Podrinje and Birce, delegations of cities and municipalities of Srpska and Serbia also laid flowers on the Memorial Cross.
The President of the Serbian Parliament, Ana Brnabic, said that Serbia will not allow oblivion to turn into a lie, that some crimes are acknowledged, while others remain silent and deny.
"We have gathered in a place of deep sadness and memory, a place of truth and strong pride. We stand here as always and forever one nation, which does not forget and which has spoken and decided not to be silent anymore. We stand as a nation which is ready to say what many do not want to hear, that a monstrous crime was committed against the Serbs in central Podrinje and Birc and that no one was held accountable for that crime," said Brnabic in her address to the audience.
Pointing out that the international public did not recognize the suffering of Serbian civilians, Brnabic emphasized that pain must not have a nationality, and justice must have a double standard.
The President of the Republic of Srpska, Milorad Dodik, said that the victims must not be forgotten and that their deaths will only occur when they stop being talked about.
Dodik said that this will not and must never happen.
Recalling the many killing grounds of Serbs, he stated that they were all connected by the mass suffering of Serbs that happened at different times, but the criminals were the same.
Dodik said that the families of more than 3,000 killed in the Bratunac area have been waiting for justice for decades, pointing out that among the victims were innocent children and civilians, most often found in their homes on the most important Serbian holidays.
"They killed with enthusiasm and always where it hurts the most," said Dodik.
