BiH marks 23rd anniversary of Srebrenica massacre

SARAJEVO - The 23rd anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre was marked on Wednesday in Srebrenica, a city some 130 kilometers northeast of Bosnia and Herzegovina's (BiH) capital Sarajevo, with a solemn ceremony and a funeral for 35 newly-identified victims.

Addressing the present officials at the commemoration, Chairman of BiH Presidency Bakir Izetbegovic, emphasized the truth is indispensable in order for the process of reconciliation to be completed.

He added that 23 years later, BiH citizens are still searching for some 1,000 more people missing in Srebrenica area.

The High Representative for BiH Valentin Inzko said that ability of BiH citizens to live together regardless of their differences still exists and gets stronger. He sent a message that people all together need to take their efforts to jointly build a new BiH and new world, adding that the international community in BiH will continue to work for peace and justice here.

Several thousand of mourners arrived at Potocari Memorial Center near Srebrenica on Tuesday evening after having trekked across the country on a three-day peace march.

Srebrenica, located in eastern BiH, was a UN-protected Muslim enclave when it was overrun in July, 1995 by Bosnian Serb forces. Some 7,000 Muslim men and boys were killed there.

So far, 6,575 victims were buried at the Memorial Center in Potocari. After Wednesday's collective funeral, there will be a total of 6,610 identified and buried victims.