Facing the Past Is the Only Path to Lasting Peace and Reconciliation

3 July 2026

Truth, justice and remembrance are essential for lasting peace and reconciliation, and confronting the past remains the only path towards building societies where atrocities such as the Srebrenica genocide are never repeated. This was the central message of the event marking the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica, jointly organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro and the United Nations.

The event at the UN Eco House in Podgorica opened with a minute of silence in honour of the victims of the genocide.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ervin Ibrahimović stressed that, more than three decades after the genocide, Srebrenica remains a lasting warning to humanity and a reminder of the responsibility to preserve truth, ensure justice and foster a culture of remembrance.

“I am convinced that lasting peace in the region is possible only through confronting the painful past, establishing the truth and ensuring justice. This is a prerequisite for building resilient societies that are resistant to all forms of human rights violations,” Ibrahimović said.

He underlined that the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2024, reaffirms Montenegro's commitment to peace, human dignity, international law and accountability. He also emphasized that preserving the culture of remembrance is the strongest response to historical revisionism, genocide denial, the glorification of war criminals and hate speech.

United Nations Resident Coordinator in Montenegro Caroline Tissot recalled that both the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the International Court of Justice have established that genocide was committed in Srebrenica. She stressed that truth and justice are indispensable for the victims and their families, as well as for societies striving to build a peaceful future.

“Today, we remember the past not only to honour the victims, but also to reaffirm our shared responsibility to build a present and future grounded in dignity, respect for human rights and the determination that such atrocities must never happen again, anywhere,” Tissot said.

Participants also heard a video message from Emir Suljagić, Director of the Srebrenica Memorial Center, who underscored that "while the victims can no longer speak, it is the responsibility of present and future generations to preserve their memory and uphold the truth."

The event continued with a panel discussion featuring the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Montenegro Branimir Jukić, the Ambassador of Germany to Montenegro Peter Felten, Montenegro's Ombudsperson Siniša Bjeković and Tea Gorjanc Prelević, Executive Director of Human Rights Action. 

Panelists emphasized that remembering the victims remains a shared responsibility and that truth, justice, dialogue and respect for human rights are indispensable foundations for building peaceful, inclusive and resilient societies. They stressed that confronting the past is essential for achieving genuine reconciliation and preventing future atrocities.

The panel discussion was moderated by Anjet Lanting of OHCHR, Human Rights Advisor at the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator.