ZAGREB, April 20, 2018 – The United States Embassy to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday voiced concern about war-mongering statements made this week by the Bosniak member of the country’s Presidency.
Calls for armament or threats with weapons are dangerous and should not be part of public discourse. We call on political leaders to refrain from making such harmful statements, the US Embassy told local media. It was hard to establish peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Considering the recent turbulent past of Bosnia and Herzegovina, any references or allusions to war are unacceptable, the embassy said.
It also expressed concern about the ongoing rhetoric of divisions which disturbs the public across the country.
Recently speaking at a ceremony marking a massacre of 116 Bosniak civilians and soldiers by Croat HVO forces in the village of Ahmići in April 1993, Presidency member Bakir Izetbegović said that the Bosniaks would arm themselves and be ready so that similar atrocities did not happen to them again.
The lower house of parliament will hold a special session on Friday to discuss Izetbegović’s statements in which he alluded or referred to war.
