
[Congressional Record: July 24, 2009 (Extensions)]
[Page E2004-E2005]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr24jy09-254]
JULY 25, 1995 MASSACRE IN ZEPA, BOSNIA
______
HON. ANDRE CARSON
of indiana
in the house of representatives
Friday, July 24, 2009
Mr. CARSON. Madam Speaker, tomorrow, the international community will
remember a tragic day in the genocide that ravaged Bosnia and
Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995. For over three years, the town of
Zepa, Bosnia remained under siege by the Republika Srpska, despite
being named a safe haven for
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Bosnians by the United Nations Security Council.
Over this period, innocent Zepa residents lived under constant
threat, both of the near constant artillery fire and from the rampant
starvation and disease that arose from squalid living conditions.
Thousands lost their lives and countless others were injured during the
three year siege until finally, on July 25, 1995, the town fell to
paramilitary forces and the remaining residents were killed or
forcefully expelled from their homes.
On this heartbreaking anniversary, it is clear that atrocities and
genocide should never be permitted to continue unfettered. In
remembering the innocent victims of Zepa, I believe that the United
States, together with the United Nations and our allies around the
world, must reaffirm its commitment to ceaselessly pursue the
perpetrators of these terrible war crimes. The international community
must come together to not only remember the innocent victims of this
massacre, but to also redouble its pursuit of lasting peace and
security in some of the world’s most volatile regions.

[Congressional Record: July 29, 2009 (Extensions)]
[Page E2060]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr29jy09-17]
THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE FALL OF ZEPA
______
HON. RUSS CARNAHAN
of missouri
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Mr. CARNAHAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the
anniversary of the fall of Zepa during the war in Bosnia in 1995. Just
a few weeks ago, I attended the Srebrenica genocide remembrance
ceremony in Bosnia and Herzegovina to commemorate the thousands of
innocent lives lost during the war. It is important to remember these
innocent people who lost their lives as Bosnians move forward.
This siege on Srebrenica, however, was not an isolated event. On July
25, 1995, Zepa, another U.N.-declared safe haven, also fell to the same
forces that took Srebrenica just weeks earlier. The thousands of
inhabitants and refugees in Zepa were forced to suffer, and die through
a constant downpour of shellfire.
In addition to the vast numbers who perished due to the barrage of
fire and starvation, an unknown number were taken away never to be seen
again, including the Colonel of the Bosnia and Herzegovina army, Avdo
Palic, who negotiated the evacuation of approximately 5,000 civilians.
Today, a little more than 14 years after the fall of Zepa, I urge us
all to remember not only the fall of Zepa, but also the destruction of
the other towns of Srebrenica, Zepa, Sarajevo, Gorazde, Bihac, Tuzla,
Prijedor, Bjeljina, Visegrad, Foca, and Kozarac, and many others, all
of which experienced significant loss. We must remind ourselves of the
innocent lives that were lost, and honor their memory.
Madam Speaker, while we cannot erase the pain of these losses, let us
support the efforts of the families of the missing to learn the fate of
their loved ones, and let us support the justice that is necessary for
the building of a stable, prosperous, and unified Bosnia and
Herzegovina.

[Congressional Record: July 27, 2009 (Extensions)]
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From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr27jy09-37]
REMEMBERING THE FALL OF ZEPA
______
HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH
of new jersey
in the house of representatives
Monday, July 27, 2009
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, on Saturday July 25 Bosnians
commemorated the fourteenth anniversary of the tragic fall of Zepa. The
town of Zepa was one of the six United Nations-declared safe havens in
Bosnia during the war of aggression from 1992 to 1995. In May 1993, a
United Nations Security Council resolution held out to this town in
eastern Bosnia the promise of protection from the forces of Republika
Srpska. In Zepa the local residents, people from the surrounding area,
and refugees from other cities and towns gathered to be shielded from
Serbian aggression.
But, Madam Speaker, the men, women, and children seeking refuge in
Zepa were not shielded. The forces of Republika Srpska, who had laid
siege to Zepa in the summer of 1992, were not impressed by UN safe
havens, and neither the UN nor anyone else was committed to defending
the safe havens. On July 25, 1995, the forces of Republika Srpska
overpowered Zepa’s defenders and began to occupy the town.
In July Avdo Palic, colonel of the Bosnian government force defending
Zepa, performed a hero’s work in evacuating as many civilians as he
could, despite operating under constant shelling and the threat of
starvation from the forces of Republika Srpska. Palic participated in
negotiations which resulted in the safe evacuation of approximately
5,000 Bosnian civilians. On July 27 Palic traveled to the UN Protection
Force Compound, in order to secure the evacuation of Zepa’s remaining
inhabitants: he has not been seen since and his fate is still unknown.
Madam Speaker, looking back on the tragedy of Zepa, we remember the
loss of countless innocent lives. Our government cannot give back to
the survivors the precious lives of the family members and friends of
the people of Zepa, Srebrenica, Sarajevo, Bihac, Gorazde, and Tuzla,
but it can support their pursuit of justice. Our government must do
everything it can to discover the fate of Avdo
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Palic and the other men and women who went missing in the genocide
committed against the Bosnian people. To be sure, we must continue to
look for Ratko Mladic and other criminals and genocideurs, but we must
not forget their victims and their need for closure.
Never Forget!

Colonel Avdo Palic