Berton for Patria: Politicians in BiH have committed to respecting war crimes verdicts

SARAJevo, (Patria) - Head of the OSCE Mission in BiH Bruce G. Berton told the Patria agency that "the OSCE Mission in BiH strongly condemns the inflammatory statements of public officials who deny confirmed crimes, including genocide."

"All victims who suffered in the war must be recognized, and they must achieve justice. Denying any crime committed during the war stands in the way of adequately confronting the past. Unfortunately, inflammatory statements are too frequent in BiH, and when they are made by those who have political or social influence, the negative resonance and impact on the entire society is even greater," says Berton. 

The OSCE Mission in BiH reminds all leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina of the 2018 Declaration on War Crimes, signed at the Western Balkans Summit in London, within the framework of the Berlin Process.

"With this Declaration, BiH commits to recognizing and respecting the verdicts of international and domestic courts regarding war crimes and other most serious international crimes, and commits to suppressing hate speech and glorifying war criminals."

Reconciliation in BiH requires full commitment and a sincere desire from all leaders in BiH to accept what has happened and turn towards a more positive future. Politicians should focus on the future of BiH, on promoting mutual understanding, tolerance and dialogue, and refrain from interpreting and manipulating the past in the name of their political goals, Berton concluded.