The UÇK Veterans’ Association has issued a statement regarding the recognition of certain Serbian military units, characterizing the act as one that effectively institutionalizes the denial of war crimes and shields perpetrators from accountability. In their statement, the association asserted that the act of honoring Serbian units is premature and inappropriate given the ongoing lack of transparency regarding historical records. The UÇK Veterans’ Association maintained that until the Serbian state, military, and police archives are fully opened and the whereabouts of disappeared persons are definitively established, such commemorations cannot be viewed as mere remembrance.
Instead, the association argued that these actions constitute an institutionalization of denial. According to the group, the continued secrecy surrounding crucial state archives and the failure to account for missing individuals undermine any notion of proper commemoration. They stated, “Honoring Serbian military units, while Serbian state archives remain closed and evidence of war crimes is erased, is not a reminder.
It is institutional.”
The statement suggests that by proceeding with the recognition of these units without addressing outstanding issues of accountability and historical documentation, the action risks perpetuating a culture of impunity. The association’s critique focuses on the necessity of full transparency and justice before any public acknowledgement of military groups can be deemed appropriate or meaningful.
Topics: #serbian #honoring #units
