CROWN - Croatian World Network - http://www.croatia.org/crown
Congressman Chris Smith, history of sincere support for victims & BiH
http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9139/1/Congressman-Chris-Smith-history-of-sincere-support-for-victims--BiH.html
By Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey
Published on 07/13/2007
 
 Congressman Chris Smith (left) has been consistent in his efforts on behalf of justice and a genuine peace and multi ethnic society in Bosnia & Herzegovina.


Congressman is recognized for helping victims
Well deserved Recognition & A lesson Learned to Recognize True Friends and Champions:
 
 
 Congressman Chris Smith
Congressman Chris Smith has been consistent in his efforts on behalf of justice and a genuine peace and multi ethnic society in Bosnia & Herzegovina. He is a most deserving honoree to be recognized by Srebrenica and all of Bosnia & Herzegovina.
 
Well before supporting resolutions in the US Congress identifying Srebrenica as a victim of genocide and accepting to lead the new Congressional caucus in support of true partnership between BiH and the US, Congressman Smith was a clear voice and champion to confront the victimization before more victims were created. From 1992 and through the end of the war I and other representatives of Bosnia & Herzegovina and NGOs, were received by Chris and the Congressional committees in which he received. He worked with advocates beyond his own political affiliations, from libertarians, such as Bianca Jaegger to neocons, keeping also consistent his core message of respect for life. Most importantly, he truly listened and we heard him.
 
Too many others now have parachuted into Srebrenica to promote their own agenda or hide their own accountability behind fluffy speeches that pointed fingers always except at themselves. Congressman Smith has no need to point at himself. He tried to counter and cure the environment that facilitated genocide and the betrayal of the victims.He was also there for the victims when many who now show up in Srebrenica tried to obstruct initial efforts at investigation, including the UN report, and at countering the consequences of genocide. Those who urged to forget, now would use these very commemorations, that they initially undermined, to preach.
 
Hopefully, from the responsible action of the organizers of these commemorations, all Bosnia & Herzegovina will learn the legacy of its true friends, secure its own historical record and allow no more exploiters to come and usurp memories of victims for their own self self-serving purposes.Of course, they should be welcome in the future but to offer their apology to the victims and families first.
 
Amor Masovic is long deserving of this honor as well. Initially he worked so that we and the international community would remember those still alive but held prisoner or unaccounted for. He also had many naysayers within and outside. He was pressed to forget about our live and dead while others had already shown themselves not entirely capable or willing of securing full releases or accounting. I was witness to and sometimes assistant to his efforts.   
 
Amor's work is now much sadder and longer. For years to come, he will search for the victims no longer with us who deserve the respect and recognition from the global community and whose families deserve closure. It is also indicative of a maturing state identity that we honor our own.
 
With respect,
Muhamed Sacirbey,  aconvenientgenocide.com   

Formatted for CROWN by
  Marko Puljić
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