Dutch reject US claims that gay military caused fall of Srebrenica

Dutch government and military personnel officials Friday reacted strongly in rejecting a claim by a former US army general linking the fall of the Muslim enclave Srebenica in 1995 to the presence of gays in the Dutch army, DPA reported.

Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen said he was perplexed about the remarks by former general John Sheehan to the US Senate Armed Services Committee amid the debate about openly permitting gays in America's military.

Writing on Twitter, Verhagen said the former generals' remarks had "more to do with the US debate on homosexuality in the army."

Chairman Wim van den Burg of the Dutch military union AFMP FNV said "it is ridiculous to think there is a relationship between the soldiers' sexual orientation and the fall of Srebrenica."

His counterpart from the Christian military union CNV ACOM Jan Kleian called Sheehan's remarks "complete nonsense" and added he was "pleased the Defence Ministry and our politicians want the army to reflect Dutch society. I am proud homosexuals also have a place in the army."