High Representative issues decision registering Foundation for the Potocari/Srebrenica Memorial and Cemetery

The High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, today issued a Decision which registers the Foundation for the Potocari Memorial and Cemetery. The Statute covered by this Decision puts in place the management structure for the planned memorial site for the victims of the Srebrenica massacre – the worst in Europe since World War Two.

The Statute establishes an Advisory Working Group for the Foundation. After consultation with the families of the victims, the Advisory Working Group of the Foundation will comprise three representatives from the Family Associations of Srebrenica — Sadik Selimovic, Hasan Nuhanovic and Ibran Mustafic; a representative from the Municipality of Srebrenica — appointed by Mayor Hafizovic; an architect/engineer — yet to be appointed; and a representative of the Reis-Ul-Ulema in Tuzla — Mufti Husein Kavazovic.

The High Representative earlier convened a broad-based meeting of potential donors and supporters of the effort. From that group, he will appoint the members of the Executive Board of the Foundation, which he will chair. These include the Reis-Ul-Ulema, Mustafa Efendia Ceric; Depustafa Efendia Ceric; Deputy Minister Dr. Kadrija Sabic-Haracic, BiH Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees; General Michael Dodson, COMSFOR; Jacques Paul Klein, Special Representative of the U.N. Secretary General, and Thomas Miller, American Ambassador.

The High Representative noted that the establishment of a memorial and cemetery is now well underway with the creation and formal registration of the Foundation and the marking of the boundaries around the site at Potocari. The British government has already made a major donation; others are expected now that the Foundation has been registered.

The High Representative emphasized that the Foundation will work closely with the families of the victims to ensure a memorial, which will mark with dignity, the tragedy, which occurred in July 1995.