The High Representative and EU Special Representative, Miroslav Lajčák, today joined mourners at a commemoration ceremony to mark the 12th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide.

“Today I am here as an individual, like many thousands of others, to pay my respects to the dead”, Ambassador Lajčák said. “Only when you come here and see this field of graves, and meet the families can you start to understand the scale of the crime — genocide — that took place here twelve years ago.”

Ambassador Lajčák recalled that the 11th July was above all a day for the families of the victims, hundreds of whom will finally be able to lay the remains of their husbands, fathers, brothers to rest. Thousands of others are yet to do that.

“Justice must be served and we are aware of our responsibility and will continue to the end”, the High Representative and EU Special Representative vowed.