UN Security Council Divided Over Srebrenica Massacre Resolution

Strategic Insights -

The United Nations Security Council is poised to face a contentious debate over a resolution commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre in Bosnia, with Western nations and Russia at odds over whether to label it a genocide. The dispute stems from a draft resolution circulated by Britain, which "condemns in the strongest terms the genocide in Srebrenica," while a rival Russian draft does not mention either Srebrenica or genocide. The Western-backed resolution, which recalls the Yugoslav war crimes tribunal's 2004 and the International Court of Justice's 2007 determinations that the killings were acts of genocide, has been met with protests in Serbia. Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, while willing to attend memorial ceremonies, has refused to call the Srebrenica killings a genocide, instead referring to it as a "big horrific crime."

Key Takeaways:

  • The UN Security Council is scheduled to discuss a resolution commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre on July 7.
  • The Western-backed British draft resolution "condemns in the strongest terms the genocide in Srebrenica," while the Russian rival draft does not mention either Srebrenica or genocide.
  • The British draft recalls the 2004 Yugoslav war crimes tribunal and 2007 International Court of Justice determinations that the killings were acts of genocide.
  • Bosnian Serb leaders have been charged with ordering the mass killings of Muslim men and boys in July 1995.
  • Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic has refused to call the Srebrenica killings a genocide, instead referring to it as a "big horrific crime."
  • Russia, with close religious ties to Serbia, has circulated a rival draft resolution that is more general and reconciling in tone.

Statistics:

  • Eight thousand Bosnian Muslims were killed in the July 1995 mass killings in Srebrenica.
  • The Yugoslav war crimes tribunal determined in 2004 that the killings were acts of genocide.
  • The International Court of Justice confirmed the determination in 2007.

Sources:

  • The Associated Press
  • Britain's U.N. Ambassador Matthew Rycroft
  • Russia's deputy U.N. ambassador Petr Iliichev