Srebrenica Apologies: "Sorry" Doesn't Cut It

by Michelle . · 2010-04-01 10:28:00 UTC
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Apparently it's the week to supplicate: Serbia apologized for the massacre of 8,000 Bosnian Muslims at Srebrenica in 1995, but stopped short of acknowledging the event as an act of genocide. U.S. General John Sheehan apologized to the Dutch for telling Congress that the Dutch military's gay-friendly policies caused the UN peacekeeping force not to protect the citizens in Srebrenica as they were charged. (He did not, as far as I know, apologize to the gay community.)

Does any of it matter? Well, if you want to know how it feels for your persecution to remain unrecognized, just ask the Armenians.

The more cynical observers say the Serbian apology is a purely political gesture aimed at polishing the country's EU membership application, while others say the move is a big step. The truth is likely somewhere in between, as suspicions of state support for alleged war crimes charges continue to mount and many believe that key fugitives could be apprehended if the government was willing. Life and politics are usually not that easy, though — and a more likely scenario is that a battle is waging behind the scenes in the Serbian government between stalwarts of the old order and those intent on progress and reform.

All in all, an apology is important as an official recognition of wrongs done, but it by no means closes the book on the matter.

As for General Sheehan ... at least we can appreciate a bit of schadenfreude in his very international and public humiliation?

Photo credit: amigeress

Michelle . has been involved in various activist endeavors, including the Teach Against Genocide pilot campaigns.
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