Emergency session of the UN Security Council: "Resolution on Srebrenica prepared in complete secrecy"

Marko Djurić's address

The representative of Serbia at the United Nations session, Marko Djurić, said that all victims deserve the same justice and equal treatment.

- My country supports the territorial integrity of BiH, but also the jurisdiction of the Republika Srpska.

"I want to speak on behalf of future generations, who do not deserve to spend their lives in the historical trenches dug by other generations... I think everyone should bow their heads before the victims. I want to ask now all those who proposed this draft of BiH. The fact that this resolution was initiated without consensus in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is reason enough to revisit this document," said Djurić.

He stated that the level of ethnic tensions is growing again.

"There was a division... On an issue on which everyone should be unanimous. The resolution on Srebrenica was prepared in complete secrecy without consulting the entities and elected representatives and without trying to take into account the thousands of other victims. It was prepared despite what it requires the support of other nations," Djurić said.

He also mentioned that it is about the rules of the Security Council.

"Serbia consistently condemns all crimes, especially the massacre in Srebrenica. Senior officials of Serbia, including the two presidents, paid tribute to the victims in Potočari. However, I would like to ask a question to those who initiated the resolution. What will you say to Duška and Svetlana  Stanić, who are present here? At the age of eight, they were abused in the camp just because they were Serbs, also Rajko Konjević, who found his family members slaughtered... Are all those victims less worthy of memory?" asked Djurić.

He mentioned that all victims should have equal rights to have their pain heard.

"There should be equal justice for all the victims of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina", said Djurić, and added that the real reason for this Resolution was revealed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Elmedin Konaković, who said a few days ago that "Such a Serbia deserves nothing but to be despised".

With that, he indicated that (Konaković) does not want good neighborly relations, explained Djurić, and added that there is an exodus to Bosnia and Herzegovina and asked how it will remain if old wounds are constantly being opened.

"I don't want our region to turn to hatred, by remembering what happened... Do they want to live in resentment or build the future," said Djurić.

Cvijanović again asked to speak 

Željka Cvijanović pointed out during her re-address that Schmidt was not recognized because he did not fulfill the requirements of Annex 10. She also pointed out that she was speaking on her own behalf, not the Presidency as a whole.

- In order to express such a position, we have to have consultations, so there is no need to emphasize it. I would like to thank Lagumdžija for reading my letters to the fact that he does not forward them to the right place, unlike Bećirović's letters.

It's good that Lagumdžija also mentioned the Armed Forces, because the Presidency is in charge of defense and it's strange that no one responded to what was said, accordingly, that I quoted Isak and Helez, who openly threaten war - said Cvijanović, adding that she was sorry which Schmidt did not comment on.

Cvijanović mentioned that when Macron spoke about jihad, it required more attention than what the representatives of the RS said, but people did not want to talk about it, she clarified.

Then the representative of the USA spoke, who said that Schmidt did not come to address the UNSC in his personal name, but as the High Representative.

First address by Željka Cvijanović

At the beginning, Cvijanović said that the other two members of the BiH Presidency were elected in the FBiH and that this clearly shows that BiH is not a single electoral unit.

"Such a principle of equality was applied to maintain peace. I would like to point out the critical issues that burden BiH, but first of all I should say that BiH's positions are often presented in a tendentious manner. The Republika Srpska does not violate Dayton, but strives for respect, which each of the three constitutive nations ensures equal rights. We stand for the implementation of the procedures it prescribes, and oppose the violation of them, such as the resolution on Srebrenica," said Cvijanović.

Cvijanović added that the challenges that Bosnia and Herzegovina has been facing in recent years threaten to disrupt peace in the entire region and prevent reconciliation among nations.

"Most of the challenges are used in various manipulations, used by various actors who want to rewrite the Dayton Constitution. Interference in internal democratic processes, threats of force, disrespect for the rule of law and international law, and interference in elections... At the center of every dispute is that which according to Dayton BiH can function by consensus. Unfortunately, while Serbian and Croatian representatives are fighting for respect for Dayton, Bosniaks are fighting for centralization," Cvijanović said, adding that they are often supported by the West.

Cvijanović said that the high representatives are mainly on the side of the Bosniaks and that they are violating the Dayton Agreement.

"Individual foreign diplomats in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Schmidt, who poses as some kind of hybrid, continuously interfere in the internal democratic processes. It raised a political consensus that encouraged the progress of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the EU... It is of essential importance for maintaining peace in our country," she said.

Cvijanović pointed out that the same goes into internal issues, and that is how OHR helps in their actions.

"Even the resolution is an example of how the interference of a foreign factor undermines stability."

Cvijanović added that Lagumdžija supports the disrespect of the BiH Presidency. The draft was deliberately hidden from the public and the Presidium did not even vote on it - said Cvijanović, adding that the unrest behind it is anything but benign. Cvijanović noted that Zukan Helez and Ramo Isak regularly make inflammatory statements in which they openly mention military conflicts and call for violence.

"It should be said that these open threats are rarely condemned by Schmidt and foreign ambassadors. Just two weeks ago, police forces in Zenica arrested two people who are suspected of belonging to the Islamist community in FBiH. Also, the use of training grounds in BiH is enabled for persons who are connected with the Wahhabi movement," Cvijanović reminded.

Cvijanović pointed out that Bosnia and Herzegovina had the most inhabitants among European countries who left to lead jihadist movements in Iraq.

"The rule of law is at the seat of EU integration, and its representatives emphasize the importance of its respect, and Schmidt receives only a mild reprimand for violating it. Namely, he does not answer to any institution, government or court. It is unclear how this can fit into any concept of the rule of law," she said.

She also mentioned the court proceedings against Milorad Dodik and Lukić. She also added sanctions by the US and the UK, which are used for intimidation.

"Anyone who refuses to obey Schmidt inevitably becomes a target for sanctions."

Cvijanović pointed out that this is a violation of rights and that there is no doubt that it is a threat to peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"In addition to all of the above, efforts are still being made in order to deny voters in BiH their rights. Although announced as a technical change, it is actually a political decision and brings the entire election process to BiH. Schmidt has violated the Dayton Agreement this time as well," Cvijanović added.

The CEC can now bypass the court since Schmidt gave it the right to punish any violation of his Electoral Law, explained Cvijanović.

"When the National Assembly and the elected representatives took steps, Schmidt and his accomplices threatened forced removal. By depriving officials and their powers, the voters were stripped of their rights. Every time Schmidt imposes a decision, it destabilizes Bosnia and Herzegovina," Cvijanović said.

She added that Schmidt's actions should be condemned and ended as soon as possible. At the beginning of the session, there was talk about the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the nineties, more specifically about the war that resulted in the establishment of the Dayton Agreement.

Serbian member of the BiH Presidency, Željka Cvijanović, officially requested an address at the UN Security Council session via video link.

Cvijanović will explain in New York how Bosniaks violate the Constitution and laws of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the resolution on Srebrenica, RTRS reported earlier.

Also, the United States of America sent a request to the Security Council that Christian Schmidt address the session.

Russian representative Vasiliy Nebenzya responded

As he said, Russia demanded this session because there are events that undermine stability. The political structure is also unusual, because the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina consists of three rotating members, and Cvijanović's appeal is to prevent the negative influence of the council.

Nebenzya added that Srebrenica is not the only bloody episode of the war in BiH. He said that 29 years ago, Dayton was signed and the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina came to an end.

"Incidents like this happen every day. Bosnia and Herzegovina has lost the status of a sovereign state today, and it is difficult to understand that in the 21st century the final word on all events rests with the citizen of Germany, who presents himself as a high representative. He functions in front of a small group and represents their interests and benefits Bonn powers," Nebenzya said.

In recent years, he managed to divide the country and it should be noted and it should be said that the self-appointed representative of the USA and the UK cannot address the UN.

"The Constitutional Court of BiH has judges elected by foreigners, and the charter of the Constitutional Court has been revised, and at least one of the judges was one from each constitutive nation. So, there are no Serbs, but foreigners and only one Croat," Nebenzya reminded.

Nebenzya added that everyone should just imagine that this was happening in their country and what they would do.

"The situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina is on the verge of conflict and can get out of control due to the behavior of the UN ambassador. The sponsors supported the Resolution on Srebrenica," he said and added:

"It was proposed without the consent of the members of the Presidium and it is contrary to the Constitution of the country."

"One cannot even imagine the consequences of this, and one cannot rule out the possibility that the crisis will spill over and cause instability throughout the Balkans," he said and added that the cover-up is cynical as one of the initiators of the whole story is Germany.

The resolution is a one-party colored political document, explained Nebenzya and added that individuals want to direct political trends in all interests.

"It can cause a chain reaction in the world, let's remember how many mutes have skeletons in their closets and how many wounds are still open," Nebenzya said.

We can submit criticism, but we hope that rhetoric and empty words will not mislead anyone, and we call on the sovereign states to remember that NATO members bombed Serbia twice, which is directly related to what we are talking about today, and for that, so far, no one didn't answer.

"The West spares no effort to avoid the debate on this issue. This was evident in March when colleagues from the West blocked the initiative on aggression against Yugoslavia," said Nebenzya.

"The Western media, like wolves in sheep's clothing, follow political intentions, and there are efforts to discredit certain parties", adds Nebenzya and mentions that it is necessary to ensure an equal dialogue without imposing solutions from outside and to stop the process in which Bosnia and Herzegovina is sliding towards escalation.

"The fate of Bosnia and Herzegovina should rest exclusively in the hands of its people," added Nebenzya.

Christian Schmidt addressed the session

Christian Schmidt, a high representative who is not recognized by Republika Srpska, pointed out that he is the guarantor of peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Schmidt said that his task is to prevent instability in BiH and he blamed Republika Srpska for the escalation of the situation in BiH.

"Threats to Bosnia and Herzegovina exist because the representatives of the RS continuously talk about secession, separating the entity from the state. Dodik recently stated that Bosniaks can have 25 percent of the territory. Some understood this as a space for ethnic incidents. There are threats to territorial integrity. This is just one example that Cvijanović accepted calls to block the administrative line between the two entities, which implies a violation of the Dayton Peace Agreement. offers a path to integration. I believe that the crisis was caused by the leadership of the RS," said Schmidt.

Lagumdžija's address

The representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina stated that this session was unnecessary. Ambassador BiH pointed out that the Russian Federation is talking about the concerns of only one side.

Zlatko Lagumdžija shamefully stated that the hearing of one party and one people is an injury to other constitutive peoples.

- According to the Constitution, there is no such thing as a common state of BiH. We heard that you received a letter from a member of the BiH Presidency, which was used to hold this meeting, and that speaks of your bias - Lagumdžija said.

As he said, the entities do not have legitimacy, but the distribution of competences. He also mentioned that there is ignorance of the Constitution on the part of Russia.

Lagumdžija made a series of shameful accusations against the Republika Srpska and its leadership, and that they are bringing unrest to BiH and want secession.

Address of representatives of UN Security Council members

China and Ecuador called on both sides to cooperate.

The representative of Algeria reminded that Dayton laid the foundations for democracy and coexistence, and that that country is always in favor of a solution brought by the state itself, and that it is important that Dayton be implemented by all involved parties. He added that Algeria is concerned about the situation.

The representative of Switzerland stated that they are concerned about the behavior of Republika Srpska, which is allegedly undermining stability in BiH by its actions.

The US representative blamed Russia and called this session a "shameful attempt to take advantage of this Council". He also shamefully accused Dodik that his denial of the genocide in Srebrenica is undermining the crisis.

The representative of Guyana pointed out that that country supports the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that it is necessary to work on general reconciliation, and they called on all parties to work on finding a solution.

The representative of Mozambique said that it is not possible to build a country without political commitment. The painful history of Bosnia and Herzegovina created a fertile ground for extremism, which took root, he explained.

During his address to the UN Security Council, the representative of Slovenia said that Slovenia is a sincere friend of BiH and added that Dayton is a pillar of peace. In addition, they emphasized that they fully support Schmidt, and that they trust EUFOR's assessment that the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina is safe.

Korea is of the opinion that the SC regularly listens to reports on Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that this emergency session may not have been necessary.

The representative of China stated that the application of the Bonn powers led to tensions, and that the Bonn powers were not intended to be a permanent thing and that problems should be solved within the state. The divisive rhetoric will not help calm tensions. The draft Resolution concerning the genocide and all the controversy that is happening, was not proposed in order to maintain peace.

China is ready to actively engage in the discussion.

The representative of Great Britain said in his address that the current situation does not justify an emergency session. As he said, the situation in BiH is still stable. As he said, they support Christian Schmidt to interfere in the internal affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

They are concerned about "the denial of genocide and the celebration of criminals".

He tried again to justify the proposed resolution, and pointed out that this was allegedly not an attack on the entire Serbian people.

France is also of the opinion that this meeting is unnecessary and that it does not agree with Russia. And they also blamed the RS and its officials for everything, stating that their behavior undermines the security and stability of the region.

The representative of Sierra Leone said that they welcome the steps that have been taken to obtain EU member status. They called on all actors to refrain from acts that would undermine functionality. He also stated that he supports EUFOR and the work of the commissioners and the Board of Directors.

The representative of Malta called on the leadership of Bosnia and Herzegovina to refrain from rhetoric that undermines the division. Malta appeals to all parties in BiH to respect Dayton. She mentioned that she hopes this meeting will contribute to reducing tensions. It added that there will soon be another meeting on the BiH issue. Malta supports EUFOR's efforts and the decision to open negotiations for EU accession. Malta expressed concern about items that could make EU accession difficult and stressed that the commitment of all parties to reconciliation is urgently needed.

Address of the representative of Croatia

The representative of Croatia pointed out that the international community "has a positive role in BiH".

As "Novosti" wrote, Serbian victims of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina will sit in the audience for the first time at this session.