Serbia Far From Ready For EU Membership

My name is Suzana Vukic. I am a writer and board member of the Institute for Research of Genocide Canada (IGC). On behalf of the IGC, I would like to respond to your most recent articles on Serbia’s anticipated accession to EU membership, as well as Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic’s recent call for elections in his country.

For over six years, I have written much about the Bosnian war and genocide. I am not of Bosnian background. But during the early nineties, I observed the ravages of the war - from the safety and comfort of my home on Canadian soil. This has ignited in me a lifelong desire to pay tribute to the war’s victims and to work towards helping Bosnia build a peaceful and prosperous future.

And for nearly six years, I have been a member of the Institute for Research of Genocide Canada. The IGC uses research and academic methods in its studies on genocide, and has also acted as a voice for victims and those who have witnessed the aggression against the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and her citizens, especially Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims).

In 2012, I travelled to Bosnia. I was present in Srebrenica-Potocari on July 11th, for the burial of 520 Bosniak men and boys, who were among the 8372 killed during the genocide that took place in this “UN-protected” enclave in July of 1995. Prior to that day, I participated in the annual Srebrenica Peace March - a journey that commemorates the path taken by a group of Bosniak men desperately attempting to flee death at the hands of Bosnian Serb forces, led by General Ratko Mladic (now on trial for war crimes at The Hague).

While in Bosnia, I had the opportunity to visit a number of different concentration camps and rape camps, as well as sites where atrocities occurred during the war. I met individuals who were survivors of wartime rape and sexual violence, through the Bosnian organization Women Victims of War, led by Bakira Hasecic, who, along with members of her family, was raped during the war.

I have also become acquainted with concentration camp survivors and others who have survived the worst savageries of the war.

Serbia’s desire for EU membership is well known. Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic has recently called for a quick and early election, purportedly to solidify his country’s chances of EU entry. But many of us are sceptical of Serbia’s preparedness for EU membership.

In IGC’s view, the beginning of the process for Serbia’s entry into the EU must be preceded by these conditions:

- the Serbian government must clearly recognize the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina;

- Serbia must recognize the truth about the genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially in Srebrenica. This genocide has been recognized by both international courts at The Hague;

- the Serbian government must have a clear stance with regards to the question of their engagement on the issue of rights for victims of war crimes;

- Serbia must condemn all forms of discrimination against Bosniaks, Bosnian Croats and other non-Serbs in the Serb Republic entity of Bosnia;

- Serbia must respect the final decisions of the international courts with regards to the genocide in Srebrenica and Bosnia;

- Serbia is currently in the process of arming itself by rapidly purchasing weapons from Russia. This may endanger peace and security in the region. Serbia must suspend this practice immediately.

As far as the IGC is concerned, Serbia has not met these conditions and is far from ready to join the EU.

Last summer, on July 11, 2015, I joined Toronto’s Bosniak community for their commemoration of the Srebrenica Genocide. It was impossible for me to contain my emotion on that day. This came about after I met a Srebrenica survivor who could not be compelled to speak with the press;154 members of her immediate and extended family were killed in July of 1995.

Later, I received word that Prime Minister Vucic had gone to Srebrenica that very same day to pay his respects, and that he was pelted with stones on site. To the world, this may seem unthinkable. I do not condone this act of violence. However, one must be aware of all of the facts.

Prime Minister Vucic has made some seemingly sincere attempts to reach out to Bosnia and make amends for Serbia’s wartime transgressions against this country. Yet during the war, Vucic supported the war and genocide against Bosnia. Since the end of the war, he continues to support war criminals and the expansionist dream of a Greater Serbia. And there are also allegations that during the war, Vucic participated in the siege of Sarajevo.

On that day last summer when Vucic went to Srebrenica, there were actually a group of survivors - the Mothers of Srebrenica - who welcomed him graciously. In a noble and stoic attempt to work towards a better future, these women welcomed a man who has historically supported the murder of their sons and husbands.

It would be inconceivable to expect Holocaust survivors to welcome a Nazi war criminal into their circle. Yet this is the sort of thing that Bosniaks are expected to do every single day.

When former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic was arrested on war crimes charges and brought to The Hague, it seemed to signal the end of impunity for heads of state. However, it appears that Serbia cannot rid itself of leaders with histories of war crimes. Nor does it seem to want to do so.

On the contrary, in 2016, Serbia continues to be a nation that fosters a culture of genocide denial. It refuses to accept the scale and horror of the wartime atrocities for which it is responsible, but ironically continues to glorify war criminals and their supporters.

Serbia is far from ready for membership in the European Union.

The author wishes to thank Professor Emir Ramic, Chairman of the Institute for Research of Genocide Canada, for his invaluable input in the writing of this piece.

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Suzana Vukic

Columnist

The Hudson/St.Lazare Gazette

www.hudsongazette.com