UN General Assembly adopts Srebrenica resolution: 84 in favour, 19 against, 68 abstentions

The United Nations General Assembly on May 23 adopted a resolution designating July 11 as the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica. It passed with 84 votes in favour, 19 against and 68 abstentions, meaning fewer than half of the UN's 193 members backed the text.

The resolution condemns genocide denial and the glorification of convicted war criminals and asks the Secretary-General to establish a commemoration programme. At Montenegro's proposal, a provision was added stating that criminal responsibility for the crime of genocide is individual and cannot be attributed to any ethnic, religious or other group or community as a whole.

Divided reactions

Serbia's delegation, backed by Republika Srpska, argued that the resolution was politicised, deepened divisions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and was adopted without the consent of all three constituent peoples. Bosniak representatives and the sponsors stressed that the text accuses no nation but preserves the memory of the victims.