Serbia’s diplomatic battle: Resolution on Srebrenica at the UN, this is all you need to know

The resolution was heard for the first time at the beginning of April, and since then diplomatic efforts have been ongoing by Belgrade to remove it from the agenda, on the one hand, and by the West to gather as much support as possible for the vote, on the other hand.

Serbia’s argument, as warned by the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, is that the resolution it violates existing agreements and opens a Pandora’s box of arbitrary and selective determination of rights and truth.

Vučić clearly pointed out that Serbia will fight with all its strength against the adoption of the resolution.

– It is a German idea, supported by NATO and everyone else. They also found Rwanda, they also found New Zealand and Chile. They also found several countries that have always been sponsors of such projects, such as Malaysia and Jordan. North Macedonia is also added to themso there is no great philosophy – said Vučić.

Voting by simple majority

The introduction to the adoption of the resolution has already been made, a discussion was held at the UN on April 19 with the representatives of BiH, and informal consultations are also being held at the UN headquarters.

The next step is voting. As there is no right of veto in the General Assembly, the resolution can be voted by a simple majority. In order for it to pass later in the Security Council, it must receive two-thirds support.

Lagumdžija: The vote will be postponed

The vote was originally scheduled for April 27, then it was postponed to May 2, and as BiH Ambassador to the UN Zlatko Lagumdžija stated last night, the vote will be postponed again. The new date is not yet known.

– At this moment, we know that the session will not take place on May 2, because today we are sending the text of the resolution for revision, if the UN member states have any other proposals on the text. The General Assembly will certainly be after May 6, depending on the schedule of sessions, which we will know on Tuesday. And the mission of BiH to the UN participated in this decision, so that those who need time or those who are ready for a better understanding of the text of the resolution, that as a group of friends and sponsors of the resolution, they are open for further consultations – said Lagumdžija.

Vučić: The applicants used a trick

Vučić recently said that the submitters of the draft resolution on Srebrenica devised a trick to make the vote a simple majority, which, he said, reduces Serbia’s chances.

– They knew that the Russians and the Chinese would veto and that is why they are now going to the UN General Assembly, because they expect a secure majority and want to deal a blow to the Serbs and Serbia. They want to humiliate Serbia in the Council of Europe – said Vucic.

Serbia formed a legal team, and the former head of diplomacy Vuk Jeremić, as a special envoy, submitted a letter to the UN in which Serbia warns of violation of all procedures, because it is the obligation of the Security Council – not the Security Council – to deal with this issue in accordance with the UN Charter.

Serbia held a series of meetings where it requested the withdrawal of the resolution, and at the last one, the member states of the United Nations from the Asia-Pacific Group presented Serbia’s positions regarding this document.

Zuroff: Consequences of possible misuse

Efraim Zuroff, director of the “Simon Wiesenthal” Center, warned of the possible negative consequences of voting for the resolution.

– Such a precedent risks the term “genocide” becoming a political tool, potentially leading to its misuse in international arenas against Israel and others. The term must remain strictly defined and used with the utmost caution – said Zuroff.

Vučić also warned of the consequences in New York.

– Not only will this resolution not lead to peace and it will not heal the wounds of the past; it will deepen the gap between nations and lead to new tensions in the Western Balkans. That is why we ask that this resolution be withdrawn, and if it is not, we call on the members to vote against it – said Vucic.

What next?

If the resolution passes, Vučić announced that Serbia will take concrete diplomatic actions.

– If they vote, then on the same day, since two countries applied for a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, we will apply at the same second and we will convincingly defeat both NATO countries that applied. – said Vucic.

Already tried a similar resolution

Great Britain proposed a similar resolution in 2015, but Russia, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, vetoed it.

The draft Resolution on Genocide, which is now being discussed, among other things:

• It establishes that July 11 is marked every year as “International Day of Remembrance of the Genocide Committed in Srebrenica in 1995”.
• It condemns the denial of genocide, as well as the glorification of war criminals, while UN member states are encouraged to preserve judicially established facts through educational systems, in order to prevent revisionism and repetition of genocide.
• It emphasizes the importance of completing the process of finding and identifying the remaining victims of the genocide and calls for the continuation of the criminal prosecution of the perpetrators of the genocide in Srebrenica.
• UN member states are required to comply with their obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.