Statement by Ghana at UN General Assembly 82nd plenary meeting 78th session

Nana Akua Barnor
UN General Assembly
United Nations, New York
May 23 2024

AT THE 82^ND PLENARY MEETING OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO CONSIDER DRAFT RESOLUTION A/78/L.67 ON THE “INTERNATIONAL DAY OF REFLECTION AND COMMEMORATION OF THE 1995 GENOCIDE IN SREBRENICA”

Mr. President,

Ghana regrets that as a result of the absence of national and regional consensus on the presentation of the draft resolution contained in document A/78/L.67 it had to abstain on the vote on the intention to declare 11 July of each year as the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica.

Our regrets are two-fold. First, the acts of genocide committed in and around Srebrenica in 1995 stands as one of the worst atrocities committed in the former Yugoslavia during the wars of the 1990s and should serve as the rallying point for the multi-ethnic society of Bosnia and Herzegovina to heal the wounds of the past and forge a national reconciliation for the future of the country. Secondly, the absence of national and regional consensus for this important initiative, has undermined its credibility as a reference point for a genuine reflection and commemoration that can serve the cause of peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Indeed, Ghana is of the belief that the collective remembrance of historical events such as the Srebrenica Genocide should hinge upon a broad national and regional acceptance and solidarity and should reinforce the nation-building and conciliatory efforts that have been ongoing in Bosnia and Herzegovina since the Dayton Accords.

As we continue to honour the victims and survivors of Srebrenica, we are reminded of the words of former Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who said: “their grief cannot be assuaged, and must not be forgotten.” For Ghana, therefore, our longstanding commitment and support for the principles of international law and international humanitarian law remain unbroken and our unequivocal condemnation of the heinous crimes that occurred against the 8,000 young men and boys in July 1995, in Srebrenica, continues to hold.

Their stories cannot be relegated to the annals of history, nor their sufferings and pain obscured by national and regional discord. Instead, what they have gone through should serve as a unifying factor through which all Bosnians can come together in defiance of ethnic and religious divides to build a future based on social cohesion and mutual respect.

To conclude, Ghana remains supportive of all attempts in Bosnia and Herzegovina to promote inter-religious and inter-ethnic reconciliation. It is crucial that all relevant actors in the country work towards fostering an atmosphere of national unity, peace and security. We, once again, stand in solidarity with the victims and survivors of the Srebrenica genocide and reiterate the need for international co-operation to ensure that present and future generations are liberated from the scourge of genocide.

I thank you.