World Intellectuals Urge Canadian Parliament to Adopt Srebrenica Genocide Motion (M-416)

We, Members of the International Team of Experts of the Institute for the Research of Genocide Canada express support for Motion M - 416 on Genocide in Srebrenica. On August 29, 2009, MP Brian Masse introduced the Motion that was sponsored by Mr. Brian Masse, MP, and seconded by Mr. Bill Siksay, MP, and Ms. Chris Charlton, MP. The Motion has support from the Conservative Party of Canada, the Liberal Party of Canada, New Democratic Party of Canada, Blok Quebecois, Green Party of Canada, the Islamic and Jewish Congress of Canada, the Institute for Research of Genocide Canada, the Congress of North American Bosniaks and many organizations for the protection of human rights and freedom in Canada and in the world.

With Motion-146, the Canadian Parliament and Government are observing the 15th anniversary of the genocide committed in the Bosnian city of Srebrenica in July 1995, and expressing support for the designation of "Srebrenica Remembrance Day" in Canada.

In addition, the undersigned:

1. Solemnly observe the 15th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide,
2. Support the designation of "Srebrenica Remembrance Day" in Canada,
3. Commend the official bodies that have recognized the Srebrenica genocide, including the European Parliament, and the American Congress and Senate, which declared a Srebrenica Remembrance Day in the European Union and America,
4. Honor the memory of the thousands of innocent people who died at Srebrenica in Bosnia and Herzegovina in July 1995, along with all individuals who were killed during the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1992 to 1995,
5. Extend condolences to the families and friends of those who died at Srebrenica in July 1995, and during the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1992 to 1995;
6. Reaffirm support for the independence and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, peace and stability in southeastern Europe as a whole, and the right of all people living in the region, regardless of national, racial, ethnic or religious background, to return to their homes and enjoy the benefits of democratic institutions, the rule of law, and economic opportunity, as well as to know the fate of missing relatives and friends.

We ask that the Canadian Government pass (proclaim) motion M-416 as originally introduced by Mr. Brian Masse. We ask that it be passed in the latest negotiated version and that Srebrenica Remembrance Day be proclaimed as soon as possible.

It is our hope that Canada will stand proud of its long history of peacekeeping and its tolerance oriented national mentality.

We are anxiously awaiting your response.

International Team of Experts of the Institute for Research of Genocide Canada:

Professor Elie Wiesel, political activist, Nobel Laureate and Holocaust survivor
M. Cherif Bassiouni, Distinguished Research Professor of Law Emeritus, President Emeritus International Human Rights Law Institute, DePaul University, Chicago Illinois USA; President, International Institute of Higher Studies in Criminal Sciences, Siracusa, Italy.
Prof. Dr. Christian Schwarz-Schilling, former High Representative for the B&H
Professor Linda Melvern, investigative journalist and author
Mark Hanis, President of the Genocide Intervention Network
Francis Anthony Boyle, PhD, Professor of international law at the University of Illinois.
Tilman Zülch, Society for Threatened Peoples International , President, Göttingen, Germany
Greg Stanton, Chair, International Campaign to End Genocide
Carole Hodge, MA, LLM, PhD, Post Genocide Education Foundation
Payam Akhavan, PhD, - Professor of International Law at McGill University in Montreal, a former UN war crimes prosecutor at The Hague and co-founder of the Iran Human Rights Documentation Centre.
Daniel Kofman, PhD, - Professor, Department of Philosophy, University of Ottawa
Safia Soliman, PhD Professor, Gloucester, UK.
Florence Hartmann, French journalist and author
Esad Durakovic, PhD, Professor, University of Sarajevo and Member Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Department of humanities.
David Pettigrew, PhD, Professor of Philosophy, Southern Connecticut State University, USA.
Bakhtyar Aljaf, Director of the International Institute for Middle-East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES) in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Zijad Becirovic, M.Sc., Director of the International Institute for Middle-East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES) in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Dennis Gratz, Dr. Phil .Lecturer on "Genocide and Genocidal Atrocities in Theory and International Law" at the Center for Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Studies of the University of Sarajevo (CIPS) - ERMA program.
Maja Kasa, Professor, Osijek, Croatia.
Patrick McCarthy, Advisor to the current exhibit on genocide in Prijedor and co-authored a book about the Srebrenica genocide.
Marko Attila Hoare, PhD, Kingston University, London - a world renowned British historian of the Former Yugoslavia, UK.
Daniel Toljaga, Board of Directors at the Congress of North American Bosniaks, Vancouver, Canada.
Amir Ahmic, Bosniak liaison officer at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia at the Hague, Netherlands.
Sakib Softic, PhD, Professor of Law, University of Sarajevo, former B&H agent in the dispute (Bosnia v Serbia) before the ICJ.
Nader Hashemi, Professor of Middle East and Islamic Politics Josef Korbel School of International Studies; University of Denver CO, USA.
Sahza Hatibovic Kofman, D.D.S., M.D.Sc., PhD., FRCD(C) Associate Professor & Chair, University of Western Ontario, Canada.
Mirza Trokic, PhD, Department of Economics McGill University, Montreal QC Canada; University of Denver CO, USA.
Smail Cekic, PhD, Professor of History at the University Sarajevo and head of the Institute for the Research of Crimes Against Humanity and International Law.
Emir Zlatar, Mr, Director of Television Sarajevo.
Zijad Delic, PhD, head of the Islamic Congress Canada.
Senadin Lavic, PhD Professor, University, Sarajevo
Suad Arnautovic, PhD, Professor, University, Sarajevo
Ibrakovic Dzelal, PhD, Proffesor, University, Sarajevo
Dzemaludin Latic, PhD, Professor, University Sarajevo, B&H.
Sacir Filandra, PhD, Professor, University Sarajevo, B&H.
Lejla Panjeta, PhD, Professor, University of Sarajevo, B&H.
Alija Suljic, PhD, Professor, University of Tuzla, B&H.
Ferid Muhic, Professor, University "Sts.Cyril and Methodius" in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
Sefket Krcic, PhD., Professor, International University in Novi Pazar (Sanjak), President of Matica Bosniaks of Sanjak
Fatmir Alispahic, Mr. Sci., Tuzla, B&H.
Ante Milinovic, Mr. Sci. Zagreb, Croatia.
Goran Kapetanovic, Toronto, Canada.
Aldina Muslija, University of Toronto, Canada.
Zeljko Milicevic, President and Chairman, Justice for Bosnia Task Force, Ottawa
Eno Causevic, Hamilton, Canada.
Emina Gadzo, University of Toronto, Department of Political Science.
Mersiha Gadzo, University of Toronto, Department of Political Science.
Sanja Seferovic Drnovsek, Director of the Bosnian-American Genocide Institute and Education Center
Emir Ramic, Director of the Institute for Research of Genocide Canada