SARAJEVO, July 9 - Republika Srpska is the result of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, mass rapes and systematic extermination and murder of 8,500 civilians of Srebrenica, Francis Boyle, law professor from the University of Chicago and former representative of BiH Republic Government in the genocide charges against former Yugoslavia, said on Saturday in Sarajevo.
Boyle, who will be attending the July 11-15 International Scientific Conference on genocide against Bosniaks of Srebrenica, said: THE TERMINATION OF THE RS IS THE ONLY POSSIBLE JUSTICE AND THE ONLY CONSOLATION FOR THE SURVIVORS AND VICTIMS.
The goal of the conference, which will gather around 120 foreign and domestic experts, is to determine, document and present the scientific truth of the July 1995 events in Srebrenica.
Boyle said that, ten years ago, the great powers, USA and Europe, decided to divide BiH on the account of Srebrenica, Zepa and Gorazde, which was "pursuant to the agreement Richard Holbrook reached with Slobodan Milosevic, Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic." "Three UN protected zones were an obstacle, and so they decided to sacrifice these three cities and their people. Gorazde was saved because massacres were committed in Srebrenica. Otherwise, they would have let Gorazde fall as well," Boyle said, adding that the international community owes it to the people of BiH to abolish the RS, and establish a single state of BiH for all people of good will, be they Moslem, Christian or Jewish.
Professor Boyle said the sacrifice of Srebrenica, Zepa and Gorazde is one of the reasons why the international community has not arrested the most wanted war criminals.
According to Boyle, the agreement reached between those four was in force until Carla del Ponte took up the duty of ICTY Chief Prosecutor.
Boyle reiterated that three representatives of the "Mothers of Srebrenica and Podrinje" Association and himself demanded from del Ponte to indict Milosevic for what happened in BiH, including genocide, which she promised, as should would not adhere to any previous agreements.
"We invited her to visit BiH and meet with as many survivors as possible. We invited her to Vogosca, but the UN bureaucracy sabotaged the visit, which is why we met at the UN building in Sarajevo. We were in session for two and a half hours and she listened to every woman who had something to say. Afterwards, she said 'I agree with you, genocide was committed here," Boyle said.
The Chief Prosecutor then indicted Milosevic for all war crimes, including genocide, Boyle said, adding that it is disgraceful that this process was incepted by the Association and not the BiH authorities.
"We would like to thank Carla for helping when nobody else would. She will not be visiting Potocari on Monday, protesting against the fact that Karadzic and Mladic are still at large. On behalf of 'Mothers of Srebrenica and Podrinje, ' we thank her for not wanting to partake in this hypocrisy," Boyle said, adding that the RS, even though it is the result of war and genocide, can be abolished without another war.
"The RS was created under the Dayton agreement, which was created by Holbrook. The division of BiH was the idea of Holbrook and the US State Department. If there is political will, this agreement can be changed and a single state of BiH established," Boyle said, adding that this depends on the will of the USA and European Union.
The conference on "Genocide against Bosniaks of the UN safe zone of Srebrenica in July 1995 - Message for future generations" will be organized by the Institute for investigation of crimes against humanity and Charlotte University of North Carolina, USA. It will open in Potocari and will be continued at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Sarajevo.
-DATE: July 13, 2005
|