Dutch reject ´link´ between Srebrenica and gays

˝It is astonishing that a man of his stature can utter such complete nonsense,˝ defence ministry spokesman Roger van de Wetering told AFP.

THE HAGUE, March 18, 2010 (AFP) - The Dutch government rejected a retired US general's claim Thursday that Dutch UN troops failed to prevent the 1995 Srebrenica genocide because their ranks included openly gay soldiers.

"It is astonishing that a man of his stature can utter such complete nonsense," defence ministry spokesman Roger van de Wetering told AFP.

John Sheehan, a former NATO commander and senior Marine officer, made the remarks at a Senate hearing where he argued against plans by President Barack Obama to end a ban on allowing gays to serve openly in the US military.

"The case in point that I'm referring to is when the Dutch were required to defend Srebrenica against the Serbs," he said, referring to the UN peacekeeping force deployed to protect Bosnian Muslim civilians.

"The Srebrenica massacre and the involvement of UN soldiers was extensively investigated by the Netherlands, international organisations and the United Nations. Never was there in any way concluded that the sexual orientation of soldiers played a role," said Van de Wetering.

Sheehan claimed that Dutch leaders, including the former chief of staff of the Dutch army, had told him that the presence of gay soldiers had contributed to the fall of Srebrenica.

"I have never heard of a single statement by a Dutch political or military leader that drew a link between the fall of the enclave and the fact that there were Dutch homosexual soldiers," responded Van de Wetering.

The Dutch ambassador to the US, Renee Jones-Bos, added in a statement on the embassy's website that she "couldn't disagree more" with Sheehan's claims.

"I take pride in the fact that lesbians and gays have served openly and with distinction in the Dutch military forces for decades, such as in Afghanistan at the moment," she said.