Hoyer Statement on the 20th Anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide

WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today marking the twentieth anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide:

“This week we mark the twentieth anniversary of the genocidal murder of more than 8,000 innocent Bosnian Muslims – including children – by Bosnian Serb military and paramilitary forces in Srebrenica, a heinous act that shocked the conscience of the world.  Srebrenica serves as a continual reminder that ethnic hatred can easily beget violence and crimes against humanity, which is why all who inhabit this Earth must resolve to live together in peace and to respect the equal dignity of every individual and community. 

“As Co-Chair of the Commission for Security and Cooperation in Europe in the early 1990’s, I called for those who had been perpetrating war crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina to be held accountable for their actions.  When the Srebrenica genocide occurred, the nations of the world could no longer ignore their responsibility to intervene in order to prevent further bloodshed, and NATO used military force to end the war and begin the process of seeking justice for victims and their families. 

“As we observe this anniversary, let us resolve to construct the bridges of understanding and tolerance that prevent ethnic hatred and violence, and let us never forget the horrors of Srebrenica and never rest until every perpetrator has been brought to justice.”