CONDEMNATION OF THE REVITALIZATION OF NDH IDEOLOGY AND DENIAL OF GENOCIDE AGAINST SERBS

BANJA LUKA, MARCH 17 /SRNA/ - A resolution proposed by the parliamentary majority, currently under consideration by the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, condemns and deems unacceptable any ideological relativization and revitalization of the ideology of the Independent State of Croatia /NDH/, as well as the denial and minimization of genocide against Serbs.

The draft resolution condemns the glorification and celebration of criminal ideas from the context of World War II, including the genocide against Serbs in the NDH, the Holocaust, and the Porajmos. It expresses concern and condemnation over the recent public reappearance in the region of Republika Srpska of NDH-related ideology, symbols, and greetings, such as the NDH flag with the first white field, the Ustasha symbol "U," the salute "Za dom spremni!" and references to the Handschar Division. The resolution strongly condemns increasingly frequent manifestations of Serbophobia and hostility toward Serbs, as well as antisemitism and other extreme forms of group prejudice and intolerance. Such forms of spreading ideas based on racial or ethnic superiority are classified as phenomena that states, in accordance with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, are obliged to condemn, prohibit, and sanction. The draft notes that the suffering of the Serbian people during the wars of the 1990s was largely a consequence of the revival of ideologies and practices rooted in genocidal policies previously carried out against Serbs in the NDH. It condemns and prohibits all forms of glorification and promotion of NDH ideology and symbols, as well as Ustasha, Nazi, and fascist ideologies, organizations, authorities, and prominent figures, including but not limited to erecting monuments or memorials, naming streets or public institutions after such figures, organizing public events that glorify them, and using associated symbols, insignia, or greetings. The resolution calls on competent institutions to take appropriate measures, in line with existing legislation and international obligations, to prevent the financing of organizations and movements promoting such ideologies, to sanction public incitement to racial, ethnic, or religious hatred, and to prevent public gatherings where such ideologies are glorified. All religious organizations, democratic political actors, and public institutions are urged to clearly and unequivocally condemn any ideology based on racial superiority, ethnic or religious hatred, or historical revisionism, and to refrain from any cooperation with individuals or groups promoting such ideas. The resolution highlights the importance of educating young people about the dangers of ideologies based on racial, religious, and ethnic hatred. It also strongly condemns the spread of Ustasha propaganda and other forms of ideological or religious extremism via the internet and digital platforms, particularly affecting children and youth, and calls on institutions to initiate procedures to remove such content. Representatives from Republika Srpska in the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH are tasked with proposing and supporting this resolution in the same form. Additionally, the Government of Republika Srpska is tasked with preparing legal amendments that would clearly criminalize the promotion and glorification of NDH, Ustasha, Nazi, and fascist ideologies and symbols, and provide appropriate sanctions. Finally, institutions are called upon to establish a legal framework for the removal of all existing NDH, Ustasha, Nazi, and fascist symbols within Republika Srpska.