Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts: UNGA resolution not contributing to reconciliation

BELGRADE - The Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts said on Monday it believed the recently adopted UN General Assembly resolution on Srebrenica was not contributing to resolution of any existing outstanding issue, including the proclaimed goal of reconciliation in the Balkans.

In a statement, the Academy's Executive Board noted its concern over a "growing complexity of the situation in the region as well as the multiply negative consequences and new tragic divisions to which ill-thought-out political moves and unilateral initiatives may lead to."

"The Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts rejects with determination and condemns in the strongest terms any explicit or implicit interpretations of the resolution or instrumentalisation thereof as to mean collective responsibility of the Serbs, the Republic of Serbia and Republika Srpska for genocide.

The Academy wholeheartedly supports any sincere efforts towards achieving lasting peace in this part of the world and maintaining political and economic stability, much needed by everyone. We, the peoples of the region, need to work on this by ourselves the most and cooperate closely for the sake of a better future together," the statement said.