U.S. Embassy: Čović's presence at war criminal Ćorić's book promotion is shameful

(Patria) - The U.S. Embassy directly criticized the president of HDZ, Dragan Čović, for attending the promotion of war criminal Valentin Ćorić's book.

"Two days ago, Dragan Čović proudly boasted about his commitment to 'building a European BiH for all'. Last night, at a book promotion in Mostar, Čović decided to publicly pay tribute to convicted war criminal Valentin Ćorić, one of the infamous 'Herceg-Bosnia Six' convicted by an international court for war crimes and crimes against humanity," they stated.

They add that Čović's public expression of support for a convicted war criminal is anathema to the European values he allegedly represents and claims to support.

"There is certainly no place for public support and glorification of convicted war criminals in a 'European BiH for all'. Čović's proud participation in an event honoring someone responsible for so many terrible crimes is shameful. The fact that the event was held in one of the supposedly shared cultural institutions of the City of Mostar is an additional insult to the victims. Leaders who profess commitment to European values should lead by example, not by honoring war criminals and reopening old wounds," they concluded.