Dear Prime Minister,
Please find attached the urgent appeal letter by the Institute for Research of Genocide Canada (IGC) regarding the current political crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Institute for Research of Genocide Canada (IGC) appeals to you and the Government of Canada to swiftly and firmly join our NATO allies to condemn and take measures against Mr. Milorad Dodik’s (the Serbian member of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s three-member presidency) calls for secession, violation of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Dayton Peace Agreement), and attacks on the broader rule of law in the country.
Canada must collaborate with NATO allies, and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s government authorities to ensure the preservation and stability of the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
The IGC is calling upon the Government of Canada to join the Governments of the United Kingdom, the United States, and Germany, to:
1. Firmly condemn the actions of the Bosnian Serb member of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Presidency, Mr. Milorad Dodik
2. Collaborate with NATO allies to deescalate and strengthen security and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina
3. Prioritize atrocity prevention in Bosnia and Herzegovina in Canada’s foreign policy
As a NATO member, and a leader in international peace and humanitarian efforts, Canada’s strong condemnation of the Serb Member of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Presidency, Mr. Dodik, is urgently needed. From its peacekeeping force to its membership in the Steering Board of the Dayton Agreement Peace Implementation Council, Canada has historically played an instrumental role in upholding human rights and peace in the Balkans. Indeed, Canada’s exceptional and exemplary commitment to peace and security the world over has been at the forefront of its foreign policy – an approach immediately needed in Bosnia and Herzegovina today to prevent another wave of violence and ethnic cleansing, and ensure that “never again” would any people face the horror of genocide.
We hope this letter will trigger prompt action on this matter and that the Government of Canada will contribute to the prevention of another ethnic cleansing threatening this country.
We look forward to hearing from you.
The Institute for Research of Genocide Canda
Director
Dr. Emir Ramic