prijava
SREBRENICA, February 21 (FENA) - The Srebrenica-Potočari Memorial Center and Cemetery for the Victims of the 1995 Genocide announced today that High Representative Christian Schmidt accepted the Center's initiative and, through amendments to the law, secured access to six million KM for the sustainability of the Memorial Center.
High Representative Christian Schmidt amended the Law on the Center for the Srebrenica-Potočari Memorial and Cemetery for the Victims of the 1995 Genocide, thereby adjusting a previous High Representative’s decision to facilitate the work of the Memorial Center. The adjustment will allow for unspent funds originally assigned for burials to be used for other purposes with the prior consent of the donors.
The High Representative took note of the limitations imposed by the previous decision on the allocation of donor funds, as well as the estimate of the Memorial Center’s Governing Board that less than half of the currently deposited funds would be sufficient for burials and headstones. This technical amendment, therefore, allows the Memorial Center, in consultations with the donors, to reallocate the remaining funds for other purposes, such as construction and maintenance, as well as for cooperation with other commemoration centers, foundations, and associations worldwide.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Memorial Center, Ševket Hafizović, points out that this is an important step forward and represents a confirmation of transparent and responsible work over the past three years, which ensured the trust of a wider circle of donors, international and domestic public.
"The Office of the High Representative responded positively to this request and made an official decision on the adopted amendments to the law. It should be emphasized that the representatives of the donor countries, that is, the embassies of the United States of America, Great Britain and the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bosnia and Herzegovina, were contacted by the Office of the High Representative before the decision was made. Their positive responses are an important verification of the responsible and dedicated work of the people gathered around the institution of the Memorial Center," says Hafizović.
Donor funds that were used in the Memorial Center's account for the costs of burials, erecting headstones for victims of genocide and other activities planned in the cemetery project will continue to be protected to the extent that ensures a sufficient amount of funds to cover future costs related to burials and erecting niches for the remaining 1,651 victims of the genocide in Srebrenica.
"The development of the Memorial Center institution and the directing of part of the funds for reconstruction and conservation, as well as the development of new museum contents and research projects, is an irreversible step towards the long-term sustainability of the Memorial Center. The goal is to develop a strong institution and leave it as a legacy for future generations who will talk about the genocide and crimes committed against the Bosniak population in this part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We have proven ourselves as an institution that carries inter-ethnic and inter-religious dialogue, as a research center, and as people ready to open up to the world. The victims of the genocide in Srebrenica are today an example of ambassadors of peace, truth and justice throughout the world. We continue our work, we can only fulfill the mission before us together," concluded the director of the Memorial Center, Emir Suljagić.
(FENA) A. B.
