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BANJA LUKA, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — Thousands of Bosnian Serbs rallied connected Thursday denying that genocide was committed successful Srebrenica successful 1995 contempt rulings to nan contrary by 2 United Nations courts.
More than 8,000 Bosniak Muslim men and boys were executed by Bosnian Serb troops successful nan eastbound Bosnian enclave successful July 1995. The victims' remains were dumped successful wide graves and later reburied to hide grounds of atrocities.
US WARNS BOSNIAN SERBS AGAINST CELEBRATION OF CONTROVERSIAL SELF-PROCLAIMED HOLIDAY
International courts successful The Hague, Netherlands, person branded nan crime successful Srebrenica a genocide, Europe's first since World War II. Bosnian Serb apical service officers and governmental leaders besides person been convicted of genocide by U.N. judges.
Supporters of Bosnian Serb governmental leader Milorad Dodik activity Serbian flags during a protestation against what he claims is Western aggression against Republika Srpska entity successful nan Bosnian municipality of Banja Luka, 240 kms northwest of Sarajevo, Thursday, April 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Radivoje Pavicic)
Srebrenica was a "mistake" and a "huge crime," Bosnian Serb separatist leader Milorad Dodik told nan crowd astatine nan rally successful nan northwestern municipality of Banja Luka that is nan Bosnian Serb main administrative center. "But it wasn't genocide."
The rally was organized successful protestation of a draught U.N. solution commemorating nan genocide successful Srebrenica that is supported by nan Bosniak politicians successful Bosnia on pinch a number of European countries and nan United States.
The solution is yet to beryllium passed successful nan U.N. but nan Bosnian Serbs and neighboring Serbia person been powerfully opposed, saying it would marque nan Serbs arsenic a "genocidal nation." The Serbs are supported by Russia and China.
Genocide denial is punishable by Bosnia's ain laws. Bosnian Serb parliament, however, earlier connected Thursday approved a study denying nan Srebrenica genocide.
Dodik reiterated his threats that Bosnian Serbs, who power astir a half of Bosnia, would divided from nan remainder of nan state if nan Srebrenica solution is passed successful nan U.N General Assembly.
The different half of Bosnia is tally by nan country's Bosniaks, who are mostly Muslim, and Croats.
"We do not want to unrecorded successful nan aforesaid authorities pinch you (Bosniaks) and we will not unrecorded successful nan aforesaid authorities pinch you," said Dodik. "We will do it (split) erstwhile nan conditions are right."
Serbia's parliament speaker and outgoing Prime curate Ana Brnabic besides attended nan gathering successful Banja Luka.
Dodik is staunchly pro-Russian and has faced U.S. and British sanctions for his separatism. He has traveled to Russia and met pinch Russia's President Vladimir Putin contempt nan penetration of Ukraine and successful defiance of nan West.
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In his speech, Dodik said he hoped a imaginable triumph astatine nan upcoming U.S. predetermination by erstwhile President Donald Trump would create "different conditions successful which we will play." He did not elaborate. Dodik ended his reside by exclaiming "Long unrecorded Russia!"
Bosnia remains ethnically divided and politically tense agelong aft nan extremity of nan 1992-95 war. The troubled Balkan federation is seeking European Union rank but soul divisions person hampered nan effort amid fears of instability arsenic nan warfare rages successful Ukraine.
