Lendo: Schmidt's comparison is historical revisionism, the lack of reaction from the host is also offensive

(Patria) - The High Representative of the international community for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Christian Schmidt, during his guest appearance on a Sarajevo television program, made an offensive comparison with elements of historical revisionism by equating the late first president Alija Izetbegović with a convicted war criminal and the architect of the Srebrenica genocide, Ratko Mladić, states the Vice President of the FBiH and General of the Army of RBiH, Refik Lendo, in his reaction.

"I strongly condemn the High Representative's comparison and consider it inappropriate for the position he holds, the institution he represents, and the obligation assigned to him by Annex 10 of the Dayton Peace Agreement.

Alija Izetbegović was a respected intellectual and author, a statesman who was respected and valued, a man who made an immeasurable contribution to the restoration of Bosnia and Herzegovina's statehood and its defense against aggression. In the words of High Representative Paddy Ashdown from the speech he delivered at the funeral of the late first president: '...a person who did more than anyone else to ensure the survival of the modern state of Bosnia and Herzegovina.'

As a general of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, I testify that in the most difficult circumstances of the aggression, the late Alija Izetbegović, in his capacity as Supreme Commander of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, proudly emphasized its multi-ethnic character and demanded that the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, by example of its honorable fight in accordance with international humanitarian law, protect and promote the social values we defended and create the preconditions for building a modern democratic society in Bosnia and Herzegovina," said Lendo.

He also commented on the lack of any reaction from the host Senad Hadžifejzović after Schmidt made such a comparison.

"The High Representative's comparison is as offensive and unacceptable as the lack of reaction to the comparison with a convicted war criminal from those whose program featured the late first president Alija Izetbegović making his last statement. A statement in which he called for all of us to be Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats, but above all, to be a little more Bosnian.

Historical revisionism as a means of achieving political goals represents a real and immediate danger. From this arises the obligation to contribute to strengthening the culture of remembrance, one that is based on established historical and legal facts, and to incorporate such facts into textbooks from which future generations will gain knowledge about, among other things, the honorable fight of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its Supreme Commander," concluded Lendo.