The exhibition "The Srebrenica Genocide: 11 Lessons for the Future" by Hikmet Krcic was opened today in the European Parliament (EP) in the presence of the President of the legislative body Roberta Metsola. The opening was also attended by numerous MEPs, representatives of international organisations and civil society, as well as genocide survivors, the Sarajevo Times reported.

On behalf of the host, Helmut Brandstätter addressed the attendees, followed by Metsola, who opened the exhibition. Short speeches were made by Ondrej Kolář (EPP), Matjaž Nemec (SD) and Tineke Strik (Greens), as well as Ivo Davor Štir (EPP).

The author of the exhibition, Hikmet Karcic, said the idea was conceived in 2015 after Russia vetoed the Srebrenica genocide resolution in the UN Security Council. In his speech, he called on Parliament to act more decisively in the fight against genocide denial.

Almir Salihovic, a survivor of the genocide who managed to escape from Srebrenica through the forest as a 10-year-old and who now lives in the town, said that Srebrenica needs a special economic status.

"We need programmes for employment, education and a future for young people. Because without life there is no memory," Salihovic said.

As the Srebrenica Memorial Centre pointed out, the exhibition calls for learning from the past, but also points to the contemporary challenges faced by Srebrenica survivors and returnees. | BGNES