The Minister of State for European Affairs, Noel Treacy, will fly to Bosnia tonight to join political leaders and representatives from around the world for ceremonies to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the massacre in Srebrenica.
Mr Treacy will represent the Government at ceremonies tomorrow to remember the 8,000 men and boys who were killed and buried in mass graves following the fall of Srebrenica on July 11th, 1995.
Speaking before his flight to Sarajevo, Mr Treacy said it was important that Ireland was represented at the commemoration of one of the most terrible atrocities committed in Europe since the end of the Second World War.
Mr Treacy is joining political leaders from all the western Balkan countries and international representatives for tomorrow's memorial to those killed in the genocide. During his visit to Bosnia, Mr Treacy will also meet members of the Defence Forces who are serving with the EU peacekeeping force in the country, and gardai serving with the EU Police Mission.
"The people of Ireland responded strongly to the suffering of the Bosnian people during the war in the 1990s, and members of the Defence Forces and the garda continue to play their part in the EU-led missions to consolidate peace and security in the country," the minister said.
"It is essential that we remember the victims of the conflict and, in particular, that the international community maintains its determination to bring to justice the political and military leaders directly responsible for the Srebrenica massacre."
Mr Treacy said he welcomed the courageous decision of the leaders of Serbia and Montenegro to attend the ceremonies, and said he hoped their presence would help reconciliation in region.
He said the European Union was founded on the principles of reconciliation and justice and promised the Bosnian people the EU would continue to support reform of Balkan societies following the end of the conflict.
"The EU remains firm in its long term commitment to a peaceful and prosperous European future for the people of the Western Balkans," Mr Treacy said.