Srebrenica Genocide Memorial
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The Srebrenica Genocide Memorial, officially known as the Srebrenica-Potočari Memorial and Cemetery to Genocide Victims, is the $5.8 million memorial-cemetery complex in Srebrenica set up to honour the victims of the Srebrenica genocide, paid for with donations from by private groups and governments. The United States provided $1 million toward the project.[1] As of 2006, more than 2,000 DNA identified Bosniak victims are buried there.
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[edit] Opening
The memorial was opened by the United States President, Bill Clinton, on September 20, 2003, when he told thousands of relatives of the Srebrenica massacre genocide victims:
"Bad people who lusted for power killed these good people simply because of who they were. They sought power through genocide. But Srebrenica was the beginning of the end of genocide in Europe.... We remember this terrible crime because we dare not forget, because we must pay tribute to the innocent lives, many of them children, snuffed out in what must be called genocidal madness.... I hope the very mention of the name “Srebrenica” will remind every child in the world that pride in our own religious and ethnic heritage does not require or permit us to dehumanize or kill those who are different. I hope and pray that Srebrenica will be for all the world a sober reminder of our common humanity.... May God bless the men and boys of Srebrenica and this sacred land their remains grace." [2]
Bill Clinton was the President of the United States during much of the Bosnian war and presided over the Dayton peace agreement.
[edit] Terrorist plot
On July 6, 2005, Bosnian Serb police found two powerful bombs at the memorial site, just days ahead of a ceremony to mark the massacre's 10th anniversary, when 580 identified victims were to be buried during the ceremony, and more than 50,000 people, including international politicians and diplomats, were expected to attend.
The bombs would have caused widespread loss of life and injury had they exploded, and were probably aimed at plunging the region into further bloodshed.[3]
