Russia vetoes UN resolution calling Srebrenica a genocide

[webfact]

Russia vetoes UN resolution calling Srebrenica a genocide
EDITH M. LEDERER, Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Russia vetoed a U.N. resolution Wednesday that would have condemned the 1995 massacre of Muslims at Srebrenica during the Bosnian war as a "crime of genocide," saying that singling out the Bosnian Serbs for a war crime would create greater division in the Balkans.

Two international courts have called the slaughter by Bosnian Serbs of some 8,000 Muslim men and boys who had sought refuge at what was supposed to be a U.N.-protected site genocide.

But Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin objected to focusing only on Srebrenica, calling the resolution "confrontational and politically motivated" and stressing that Bosnian Serbs and Croats had also suffered during the 1992-95 war that killed at least 100,000 people.

Britain drafted the resolution to mark the 20th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre on Tuesday, but the vote was delayed to address Russian concerns.

The defeated resolution states that acceptance of "the tragic events at Srebrenica as genocide is a prerequisite for reconciliation" and "condemns denial of this genocide as hindering efforts towards reconciliation."

Britain's U.N. deputy ambassador Peter Wilson stressed that the resolution "did not point fingers of blame, score political points nor seek to reopen political divisions." It also didn't link the crimes at Srebrenica to the Serb people and recognized there were victims on all sides, he said.

The vote was 10 countries in favor, Russia casting a veto, and four abstentions — China, Nigeria, Angola and Venezuela.

Leaders of the Bosnian Serbs and Serbia, who have close religious and cultural ties to Russia, have lobbied President Vladimir Putin to vote "no.'

Serbia's pro-Russian President Tomislav Nikolic said Russia's veto "not only prevented the throwing of guilt against the whole Serbian nation, trying to show it as genocidal, but it also proved that Russia is a real and sincere friend."

Wilson said Britain was "outraged" by Russia's veto.

"Russia's actions tarnish the memory of all those who died in the Srebrenica genocide," he said. "Russia will have to justify its behavior to the families of over 8,000 people murdered in the worst atrocity in Europe since the Second World War."

Bosnians reacted bitterly to the veto.

"This is a defeat of justice," said Camil Durakovic, the mayor of Srebrenica. "The world has lost. The world — and especially Serbia — will have to face the truth sooner or later," he said.

Fadila Efendic, a Srebrenica woman who lost her son and husband in the Srebrenica massacre, called the veto "another humiliation of the victims."

"Today's vote mattered," said U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power, who was a 24-year-old journalist in Bosnia at the time of the Srebrenica massacre. "It mattered hugely to the families of the victims of the Srebrenica genocide. Russia's veto is heartbreaking for those families, and it is a further stain on this council's record."

Russia's Churkin began his speech before the vote asking for a minute of silence in memory of the victims of Srebrenica and everyone in the Security Council stood, many bowing their heads.

Instead of Srebrenica, he said the council should commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 1995 peace agreement signed in Dayton, Ohio that ended the Bosnian war later this year, and make every effort to implement it and normalize relations in the Balkans.

"Our vote against ... will, however, not mean that we are deaf to the suffering of victims of Srebrenica and other areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina," Churkin said.
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Associated Press writers Aida Cerkez in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Dusan Stojanovic in Belgrade contributed to this report.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-07-09

[Andaman Al]

How to save millions and millions in wasted money paid to ruthless lawyers.

British UN Ambassador to Russian UN Ambassador "Hey if we start a resolution to declare the massacre at Srebrenica a genocide will you veto it in a few years after we have spent millions arriving at the conclusion"

Russian UN Ambassador "yes"

British UN Ambassador "thought, so, ok we won't bother then".

It's time that the permanent members of the UN security council lost their right to a veto. Otherwise what is the point on voting on anything.

[samuibeachcomber]

The west is as much to blame for what happened as are the bosnian serbs,the west turned their backs to the plight of the bosnian muslims.

There is no honor in war,just lies,deceit and expediency.

[Andaman Al]

The west is as much to blame for what happened as are the bosnian serbs,the west turned their backs to the plight of the bosnian muslims.

There is no honor in war,just lies,deceit and expediency.

The multinational arms companies have replaced the word 'expediency' with 'expenditure'.

[stevenl]

How to save millions and millions in wasted money paid to ruthless lawyers.

British UN Ambassador to Russian UN Ambassador "Hey if we start a resolution to declare the massacre at Srebrenica a genocide will you veto it in a few years after we have spent millions arriving at the conclusion"

Russian UN Ambassador "yes"

British UN Ambassador "thought, so, ok we won't bother then".

It's time that the permanent members of the UN security council lost their right to a veto. Otherwise what is the point on voting on anything.

The permanent members will veto that

[AYJAYDEE]

How to save millions and millions in wasted money paid to ruthless lawyers.

British UN Ambassador to Russian UN Ambassador "Hey if we start a resolution to declare the massacre at Srebrenica a genocide will you veto it in a few years after we have spent millions arriving at the conclusion"

Russian UN Ambassador "yes"

British UN Ambassador "thought, so, ok we won't bother then".

It's time that the permanent members of the UN security council lost their right to a veto. Otherwise what is the point on voting on anything.

how would they lose their veto?

[Seastallion]

It's time that the permanent members of the UN security council lost their right to a veto. Otherwise what is the point on voting on anything.

Absolutely.

It's way past time for the UN to grow some balls and teeth, and the UNSC veto is a major hurdle to that.

Countless millions of innocents will continue to die, a few rich men will continue to get richer, all because of politicking that is enabled by the veto.

Of course, representatives of rogue nations that should be censured, love the veto and will continue to lobby the permanent members with gifts and deals.

It's unconscionable the way the permanent members act. I don't know how they can sleep at night.

Edited July 9, 2015 by Seastallion

[oneday]

Russia...back to their evil ways pre-Mikhail Gorbachev...how incredibly sad this is for the world.

[Emster23]

It was a warm up for current state of conflicts. Instead of ISIS, we had Catholic and Christian militias slaughtering Muslims, in "God's name"..... remember ethnic cleansing? Cleanliness is next to Godliness.... With friends like Russian, who needs enemies?

[samuibeachcomber]

The west is as much to blame for what happened as are the bosnian serbs,the west turned their backs to the plight of the bosnian muslims.

There is no honor in war,just lies,deceit and expediency.

The multinational arms companies have replaced the word 'expediency' with 'expenditure'.

When you produce something it needs to be tested,hence the continual need for conflict.You carry 500,000 army it needs exercise,the symmetry is beautiful(sic).

[geriatrickid]

The west is as much to blame for what happened as are the bosnian serbs,the west turned their backs to the plight of the bosnian muslims.

There is no honor in war,just lies,deceit and expediency.

Whoa. In case you forgot, Russia threatened to go to war if the west intervened. That's why there was a delay. The fact of the matter, is that it was Europe which dragged its heels and was opposed to the US demands that something be done. Many of the world's "left" leaning political parties accused the US of meddling where it didn't belong.

[ABCer]

Not siding with East or West on this issue.

Would like to ask if there is "Peace" or "Love" or "Understanding"

between Muslims and Christians now? Just a "yes" or "no" answer, please.

In Bosnia?

In Croatia?

In Serbia?

In Srebrenica?

In Kosovo?

Maybe in Europe?

Thank you.

Was your answer connected to "Veto" voting rights at the UN?

Thank you.

[Seastallion]

Not siding with East or West on this issue.

Would like to ask if there is "Peace" or "Love" or "Understanding"

between Muslims and Christians now? Just a "yes" or "no" answer, please.

In Bosnia?

In Croatia?

In Serbia?

In Srebrenica?

In Kosovo?

Maybe in Europe?

Thank you.

Was your answer connected to "Veto" voting rights at the UN?

Thank you.

Of course it's connected to the veto. If it were not for the veto, a hundred conflicts around the world would have been nipped in the bud before things got out of hand.

[ABCer]

Seastallion,

My point was and remains - there are no love, peace or understanding between Islam and the rest of the World.

No matter where. No matter when.

As to "nipping the bud" - who had ever stopped you? Nobody will Veto such a move!

Let me assure you no drones, no bombings in the past, present or future will ever reach the goal.

I notice you have failed to name a place where the lion grazes next to the lamb. No matter who's the lion...

N.B. Remembering your posts here on TV I expect in your reply: - "There are no lambs, no lions, just one Beast!"

Edited July 12, 2015 by ABCer