Speech | 11-07-2024
On Thursday, July 11, 2024, State Secretary Tuinman (Protection) gave a speech on behalf of the cupboard on the Nationwide Commemoration of the Srebrenica Genocide in The Hague.
Pricey attendees, family, Ambassador Almir Šahović, Excellencies,
Right this moment, right here on the Lange Voorhout in The Hague, I give my first speech as State Secretary of Protection. I discover it an honor to take action with you, throughout this twenty ninth Nationwide Commemoration of the Srebrenica Genocide.
Firstly, as a result of I feel you will need to be right here on behalf of the brand new cupboard, and in addition on behalf of this authorities to straight emphasise our involvement in Srebrenica and the Bosnian group within the Netherlands. The Netherlands and Bosnia and Herzegovina have a shared historical past and are due to this fact ceaselessly related. This cupboard additionally stands with you in your reminiscence, in your mourning and in your quest for recognition.
Secondly, I contemplate it an honour to present my first speech to you, as a result of the horrors in Srebrenica have formed me as an individual and as a soldier. On 11 July 1995, I used to be 15 years previous. I discovered in regards to the battle within the former Yugoslavia by letters that the daughter of a household good friend wrote to her mom. It was 1992 and he or she was a part of UNPROFOR. Even then, tensions have been operating excessive. It affected me that support convoys have been stopped, even taken hostage, and I used to be sitting on the sofa within the Netherlands and will do nothing.
I can let you know: ‘Srebrenica’ has influenced my profession alternative. For 30 years I’ve been pushed by preventing injustice. As a soldier, however actually now as a state secretary. I’ve a brand new position, however the identical mission.
Girls and gents,
We have to be alert. Tensions within the Balkans are rising once more, as is ethnic rhetoric and genocide denial. The United Nations just lately declared July 11 as an official day of remembrance for the genocide in Srebrenica. I’m happy that the Netherlands was capable of assist this initiative by Germany and Rwanda as a co-sponsor of the decision. Today is now internationally acknowledged, and that’s extremely essential.
The Netherlands stands for the sovereignty and independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina. With 150 Dutch marines we’re at the moment collaborating within the EUFOR mission Althea and we contribute to the political and social stability. As a result of phrases alone are usually not sufficient.
The Netherlands is concerned in some ways, together with as host of the Yugoslavia Tribunal. Justice has taken its course. The principle individual accountable for the genocide in Srebrenica, Ratko Mladic, is spending his days within the Scheveningen jail. You simply walked previous it with the Peace March for Srebrenica. You will not change historical past with it. You will not get your family members again with it. However it’s important that battle criminals don’t escape their punishment.
Within the meantime, you and your youngsters have constructed a brand new life within the Netherlands. That requires braveness and perseverance, and you’ll be happy with that.
Right this moment my ideas are with the greater than 8,000 fathers, sons, brothers, cousins and buddies who’re not with us. We commemorate, keep in mind and mirror.
It’s our obligation to study from the previous, to behave and stop the violence from flaring up once more. Let this twenty ninth Commemoration of the Srebrenica Genocide even be an encouragement for everybody to work for justice and to guard what we maintain pricey.
Thanks.
