US Embassy condemns erection of Alagić monument on Vlašić, Begić asks why 'Herceg-Bosna' is not an issue

(Patria) - The US Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina has called the erection of a monument to a suspect in war crimes against Croats in central Bosnia, the late General of the Bosniak Army of BiH Mehmed Alagić, an insult to the victims.

"This is an insult to the victims and their families," the US Embassy in Sarajevo stated in response to Radio Television Herceg Bosne from Mostar.

They added that "the citizens of this country deserve better than to honor a person accused of war crimes by erecting a grandiose monument on the Vlašić mountain."

On Sunday, a monument to the Bosniak general was unveiled on this mountain in central Bosnia, attended by the Croatian member of the Presidency of BiH, Željko Komšić.

Alagić was accused of war crimes against Croats in central Bosnia while he was commander of the 3rd Corps of the Army of BiH in 1993. He died of a heart attack in 2003.

The US Embassy called on all authorities in BiH to promote "mutual respect and an environment in which every citizen feels at home."

For RTV Herceg Bosne, the mission of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) called on everyone in Bosnia and Herzegovina to avoid actions and rhetoric that "undermine inter-ethnic trust and reconciliation."

Incidentally, the monument reads "Monument to the fighters of the Army of RBiH General Mehmed Alagić - Ljiljan Ljuta greda".

Komšić also spoke at Vlašić, saying that they all know Alagić's heart broke from sadness. He asked those present if they ever thought of Atif Dudaković, or those accused in the Dobrovoljačka case, or if they were waiting for their hearts to break too.

State representative Zlatan Begić (DF) reacted to this stance of the US Embassy.

"We are not all the same, and international courts have established that! The citizens of this country deserve better than an ambassador who has crossed all boundaries of good taste, who does not respect the citizens of this country and their electoral will. An ambassador to whom, for example, the name of the media outlet to which he gave this statement does not bother at all.

Nismo svi isti i to su utvrdili i međunarodni sudovi! Građani ove zemlje zaslužuju bolje od ambasadora koji je prešao sve granice dobrog ukusa, koji ne poštuje građane ove zemlje i njihovu izbornu volju. Ambasadora kojem npr. nimalo ne smeta naziv medija kojem dade ovu izjavu. pic.twitter.com/fN7f9pLKhc

— Zlatan Begić (@ZlatanBegi3) August 8, 2024