We hold those who have directed this action personally responsible for the safe return to their families of every one of these men. We acknowledge that these events take place in a war in which all parties have at times committed atrocities. But the perpetrators of these recent events are condemned by their own words and actions which reveal that their intentions are to destroy another people. The United Nations War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague has now charged a number of perpetrators with crimes against humanity which include the destruction of the Muslim population of Bosnia Herzegovina, its citizens, their culture and their religion. This is genocide.
Nothing can legitimize policies that seek to destroy a people.
We call upon the leaders of all parties in the conflict to place the protection of human life before all other considerations. We call upon the governments of our countries and the United Nations to take urgent and decisive action to protect the lives, communities and territories of all those in the former Yugoslavia who are threatened. And we call upon individuals and organisations to speak out and help in any way they can.