The State of Michigan Senators and Representatives adopted the Senate Resolution SR 161 of 2012 and HR 295 of 2012 respectively, proclaiming July 11, 2012, as Srebrenica Remembrance Day and the week of July 11, 2012, as Bosnia and Herzegovina Tribute Week in the state of Michigan. State Senators and Representatives unanimously voted to adopt the Resolution. In a letter to Senators and House Representatives, the Congress of North American Bosniaks (CNAB) thanked Michigan legislators for their support to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bosniak Americans in Michigan. In writing on behalf of Bosniak families who live in Michigan and the Congress of North American Bosniaks (CNAB), an umbrella organization representing the interests of American and Canadian Bosniaks welcomed the news of the passing of the Senate and House Resolutions.

Mr. Haris Alibašić, president of the Board of the CNAB and co-founder of the Michigan Chapter of CNAB stated that “Honoring the victims of the genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina in states and cities is very important to Bosniak American community in Michigan and in other states. It reminds and teaches us of the tragedy and the worst war crimes committed anywhere in Europe since the World War II. This is especially important in times when Serb authorities in the smaller entity in Bosnia and Hezregovina and Serbia deny genocide and don’t allow Bosniaks to place memorial We hope that recently arrested war criminal, general Ratko Mladić and his political leader Radovan Karadžić will be swiftly prosecuted and convicted so that justice will be served and truth preserved regarding the aggression on Bosnia and Herzegovina and the genocide against the Bosniak people. We also hope to see fast Bosnia and Herzegovina transition into Euro-Atlantic integration”

Last year, the State of Michigan Senate adopted the Senate resolution and in prior years the House of Representatives adopted similar resolutions proclaiming July 11 as Srebrenica Remembrance Day and the week of July 11, as Bosnia and Herzegovina Tribute Week in the state of Michigan.

CNAB Department for Public Affairs

Transcript of the Senate Resolution SR 161 of 2012

SR-161, As Adopted by Senate, June 13, 2012

Sponsors David Hildenbrand – (primary)Steven Bieda, Darwin Booher, Jack Brandenburg, Michael Green, Goeffrey Hansen, Hoon-Yung Hopgood , Mark Jansen, Michael Kowall, James Marleau, Mike Nofs, John Proos Senator Hildenbrand offered the following resolution: Senate Resolution No. 161. A resolution proclaiming July 11, 2012, as Srebrenica Remembrance Day in the state of Michigan and the week of July 11, 2012, as Bosnia and Herzegovina Tribute Week.

Whereas, Both the United States Senate and House of Representatives passed resolutions in 2005 acknowledging the genocide that the Serbian forces perpetrated in Srebrenica and all of Bosnia from 1992-1995; and

Whereas, July 11, 2012, is commemorated as the 17th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide in which at least 8,372 innocent Bosniak civilians were summarily executed and 30,000 were expelled from their homes in the worst atrocity in Europe since the Holocaust; and

Whereas, This anniversary, together with this year’s 20th anniversary since the beginning of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, raises awareness of the tragic suffering of the Bosnian people and honors and remembers over 100,000 civilians who died as a result of the policies of ethnic cleansing and aggression in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the period of 1992-1995; and

Whereas, The Congress of North American Bosniaks (CNAB), the umbrella organization representing Bosniaks in the United States and Canada, requested this resolution; and

Whereas, The state of Michigan recognizes the importance of this event to bring closure for the Bosnian people through justice and truth; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate, That we hereby proclaim July 11, 2012, as Srebrenica Remembrance Day and the week of July 11, 2012, as Bosnia and Herzegovina Tribute Week in the state of Michigan; and be it further

Resolved, That we call upon all citizens to work toward ending the cycle of violence and promoting peaceful coexistence among all.

Transcript of the House Resolution HR 295 of 2012

Sponsors Roy Schmidt – (primary)Phil Cavanagh, Bob Constan, Kurt Heise, Lesia Liss, Jon Switalski

Reps. Roy Schmidt, Cavanagh, Constan, Heise, Liss and Switalski offered the following resolution:

House Resolution No. 295.

A resolution to declare July 11, 2012, as Srebrenica Remembrance Day and July 11-18, 2012, as Bosnia and Herzegovina Tribute Week in the state of Michigan.

Whereas, Both the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives passed resolutions in 2005 acknowledging the genocide that Serbian forces perpetrated in Srebrenica and all of Bosnia from 1992-1995; and

Whereas, July 11, 2012, is the 17th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide in which at least 8,372 innocent Bosniak civilians were summarily executed and 30,000 were expelled from their homes in the worst atrocity in Europe since the Holocaust; and

Whereas, The commemoration of this anniversary, together with this year’s 20th anniversary of the beginning of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, raises awareness of the tragic suffering of the Bosnian people and honors and remembers over 100,000 civilians who died as a result of the policies of ethnic cleansing and aggression in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the period of 1992-1995; and

Whereas, The Congress of North American Bosniaks (CNAB), the umbrella organization representing Bosniaks in the United States and Canada, requested this resolution; and

Whereas, The state of Michigan recognizes the importance of this event to bring closure for the Bosnian people through justice and truth; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare July 11, 2012, as Srebrenica Remembrance Day and July 11-18, 2012, as Bosnia and Herzegovina Tribute Week in the state of Michigan; and be it further

Resolved, That we call upon all citizens to reject violence and hate and to promote peaceful coexistence among all.

Adopted on June 13, 2012