Why Serbia expects devastating consequences from the new recognition of genocide in the Balkans

Serbian politicians, led by President Aleksandar Vucic, are ringing the alarm bell together with Russian propagandists, warning of the catastrophe looming over the Serbian world. And it's not just about the anticipated (and inevitable) admission of partially recognised Kosovo to the Council of Europe. Another "attack" on the Serbs and "Serbianhood," according to Belgrade, will begin on 27 April when a resolution on the events in Srebrenica in 1995 will be adopted in the UN General Assembly.

Read more about what the UN actually plans to adopt and why it has so alarmed the Serbian government in the article by Natalia Ishchenko, the Balkan Observer editor - Serbia scared of genocide: why Belgrade fears the UN resolution on Srebrenica. "It is clear what will happen next," Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on 29 March, commenting on the draft resolution in his address to the public. Although Serbia's President acknowledges that the UN General Assembly's decision does not have legal bindings, the "next day" will bring an initiative that "political entities that arose on the basis of genocide cannot exist."

"It is about the Republic of Srpska," he added. The Republic of Srpska is a state formation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Moreover, Serbia will demand "military indemnity" on the basis of a non-binding legal decision.

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic mentions even more devastating predictions. In an interview with the Belgrade outlet Kurir, published on 2 April, he said: right after the positive vote at the UN General Assembly, the Dayton Agreement, as well as the "existence of the Republic of Srpska" could be questioned. And "military indemnity" for committing war crimes will be paid by all citizens of Serbia.

Russian propagandists are adding even more panic and hysteria. Here's an example of a headline from a propaganda media outlet in Moscow: "The West decided to destroy the Serbs." No "indemnity" or "dissolution" of the Republic of Srpska directly stem from the document published by the Serbs themselves.

But where did this demonisation of the UN General Assembly's decision come from? If we analyse the available data on the future resolution on Srebrenica, we can conclude that the main task of the UN decision is primarily an informational, humanitarian, and ideological task - to convey to the world information about the genocide in Srebrenica and to consolidate this fact in the minds of the populations of UN member states. At the same time, if not beyond the law, then definitely beyond the norms of morality and conscience, denials of genocide and justifications, and even more so, glorification of war criminals who committed it, will be countered.

This means that the propaganda campaign aimed at diminishing or, even more so, justifying the war crime in Srebrenica, constantly conducted by both the Republic of Srpska and Serbia, must stop. It is obvious though that neither in Banja Luka nor in Belgrade do they want to agree with this. Now, when the UN recognises the inadmissibility of such views, the leaders of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska may turn into immoral apologists for a terrible crime in the eyes of the world community.

So, what relatives of the victims of Srebrenica previously thought of them has a chance to become a universal worldview. This may not be a catastrophe for the President of the Republic of Srpska, Milorad Dodik, but for Vucic, the leader of a country joining the EU, it will be. So we hear all these statements about "difficult days" awaiting Serbia.

But in reality, difficult days await Vucic himself and his policies.

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