The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 10-07-11

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From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Bosnia Marks 15th Anniversary of Srebrenica Massacre

Tens of thousands of Bosnian Muslims gathered in Srebrenica on Sunday to mark the 15th anniversary of the atrocity in the Bosnian town and burry the remains of 755 newly identified victims from mass graves, who were killed during the civil war in Yiougoslavia 15 years ago. Army troops under Bosnian Serb wartime general Ratco Mladic easily seized Srebrenica, in July, 11,1995, as UN forces had withdrawn, and killed over 8.000 muslims in the worst atrocity in Europe since War World II.

The coffins of the newly identified victims were covered with green flags. Mourners whispered prayers, bent among hundreds of white grave stones.

"I have nothing else to lose", said Hatitza Mehmetovits, 58, who was burying her husband and two sons who were 18 and 21 when killed.

The memorial anniversary was attended by alternate Foreign Minsiter Dimitris Droutsas, who laid a wreath on behalf of Greece's government. Also present were Serbian President Boris Tandic, Turkish Prime-minister Tayip Erdogan, EU President Herman Van Rompuy, Turkish and French Foreign Ministers - main speakers in the ceremony- and Bosnia's political leadership.

At the end of the ceremony, Mr. Droutsas said "we are here to honour the memory of the victims, what occurred here should never happen again". He also stressed Greece supports the democratization of Bosnia and reconciliation of the two ethnic groups living there". Concluding he said the future of the countries in the region is within the European family.

Sources: ÁNA-ĚPA News item: 38357

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