The Croat National Council (HNV BiH) NGO strongly condemned the behaviour of parties that recently supported the conclusion of Serb representatives in Bosnia’s House of Peoples which seeks the annulment of the law banning war crimes denial and glorification of war criminals, imposed by former High Representative Valentin Inzko earlier this year.

The statement comes after the Croat Democratic Union (HDZ BiH), led by Dragan Covic, expressed support for the initiative of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), whose leader Milorad Dodik is one of BiH’s three Presidency members.

“Support for such conclusions is an insult to all victims in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also an anti-European and anti-civilization act,” the HNV said.

It argued that while it is clear that the parties that proposed the stated conclusion will support the same because their policy on the issue is clear, it is disappointing that the HDZ BiH, “which swears by European values and which, in political terms, should also stand up for Croats in the Republika Srpska,” supported it.

“We call on the HDZ BiH not to side with those who deny the existing final verdicts against war criminals and glorify them,” the organisation said.

“We call on political actors not to hide behind the interests of the peoples, especially when it comes to the horrors of war, manipulating the emotions of ordinary people and abusing them all for pre-election purposes,” it said.