Genocide and war crimes denial is not only offensive to the victims and their loved ones, but can also "indicate signs of preparation of future crimes," said the High Representative of the international community in Bosnia, Christian Schmidt, and UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Alice Wairimu Nderitu.

Schmidt, who is the international official overseeing the civilian implementation of the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement, met with the UN Special Adviser on the margins of the Munich Security Conference.

They discussed “the importance of addressing and countering genocide and war crimes denial as an imperative to advance trust-building and strengthen social cohesion in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” the Office of the High Representative (OHR) said.

“Denying genocide and war crimes committed in the past and adjudicated by courts of justice constitutes not only an affront to victims, their relatives and friends, but can also indicate signs of preparation of future crimes, stated the High Representative and the Special Adviser,” it said.