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United Nations

UN Security Council Fails to Adopt Resolution on Srebrenica Massacre

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The UN Security Council was unable to adopt a resolution on the Srebrenica massacre due to a vote of 10 in favor, one against, and four abstentions. The resolution aimed to acknowledge the acceptance of the tragic events at Srebrenica as genocide, a prerequisite for reconciliation. However, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin expressed concerns over the draft resolution, stating that it contained distortions and placed blame on one people. The Srebrenica massacre, which occurred in 1995, resulted in the deaths of over 8,000 people, mostly men and boys, in Bosnia. The UN Peacekeepers had designated the town of Srebrenica as a "safe area" before the massacre occurred, weighing heavily on the UN's conscience.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UN Security Council failed to adopt a resolution on the Srebrenica massacre due to a vote of 10 in favor, one against, and four abstentions on July 8, 2015.
  • The draft resolution proposed acknowledging the acceptance of the tragic events at Srebrenica as genocide, a prerequisite for reconciliation, but Russia voted against it.
  • Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin expressed concerns over the draft resolution, stating that it contained distortions and placed blame on one people.
  • The Srebrenica massacre resulted in the deaths of over 8,000 people, mostly men and boys, in Bosnia, and is considered the worst crime committed on European soil since the end of World War II.
  • The UN Peacekeepers had designated the town of Srebrenica as a "safe area" before the massacre occurred, weighing heavily on the UN's conscience.
  • China's permanent representative to the UN, Liu Jieyi, suggested refraining from hasty actions and continuing the exchange of views on the matter.
  • The Balkans region and Bosnia and Herzegovina have seen grave concerns over the draft resolution, hindering the adoption of the resolution.
  • The resolution was postponed twice on Tuesday, with the final vote taking place on Wednesday.

Statistics:

  • Over 8,000 people, mostly men and boys, were killed in the Srebrenica massacre in 1995.
  • The UN Security Council voted 10 in favor, one against, and four abstentions on the resolution.
  • The resolution was postponed twice on Tuesday before the final vote on Wednesday.

Sources:

  • XINHUA NEWS AGENCY, July 08, 2015, "UN Security Council fails to adopt resolution on Srebrenica massacre"
  • (Xinhua via COMTEX), "UN Security Council Fails to Adopt Resolution on Srebrenica Massacre"

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