CHIEF PROSECUTOR MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ASSOCIATION OF SREBRENICA VICTIMS. ASSOCIATIONS OF VICTIMS SUPPORTED THE PROSECUTION OF CASES AND COOPERATION WITH THE OFFICE OF THE WAR CRIMES PROSECUTOR OF SERBIA.

Representatives of victims’ association have expressed their confidence in the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH and supported the activities carried out in the past few months on the signing of the protocol and cooperation with the Office of the War Crimes Prosecutor of Serbia, in order to prosecute persons responsible for war crimes who are located outside the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Representatives of the association emphasized that they believe the process of exhumations and searching for the missing should be expedited, as well as that the regional team no. 6 in the Special Department for War Crimes handling war crimes committed in Srebrenica, which was weakened by the departure of international prosecutors and staff late last year, should be strengthened.

Chief Prosecutor Salihović emphasized that from the very beginning of his mandate he insisted on meetings and talks with the victims as he believes that bringing justice to victims is of one of the most important segments of the prosecution of war crimes.

Chief Prosecutor also informed the families of the victims about the last month activities related to two genocide indictments for Srebrenica and that he had asked the international institutions to assist the BiH judiciary with satellite imagery aiming to improve the search for mass grave sites and the remains of victims throughout BiH.

Expressing confidence in the judiciary of Serbia, the representatives of the Association have given their consent for the processing of two cases in the Office of the War Crimes Prosecutor of Serbia, which is considered an essential step towards establishing the rule of law and prevention of impunity for war crimes in the region.

"The Prosecutor’s Office of BiH understands the importance of prosecuting war crimes. Therefore, we sought and were granted a certain increase in the number of prosecutors to work on war crimes cases aiming to improve the results. We invite other institutions that are involved in this process to show more understanding and to help strengthen the capacity of prosecutor’s offices and resources available for work on war crimes cases. "- stated the Chief Prosecutor Salihović.

In order to strengthen the cooperation, trust and good relations with the associations of victims, the Chief Prosecutor plans to hold monthly meetings with representatives of associations of war crimes victims from different parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina and of all ethnicities in order to obtain first hand information about the cooperation and expectations that the families of war crime victims have concerning the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH and the Special Department for War Crimes.