The Office of the High Representative (OHR) issued a strong statement on Wednesday, addressing the content regarding Alija Izetbegović in a history textbook for ninth-grade students in Republika Srpska (RS). The specific chapter in question, titled "Topic 11: Republika Srpska and the Defensive-Fatherland War," has drawn criticism for its portrayal of the former President of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“The criticism of the High Representative regarding the inclusion of such text in school textbooks is absolutely valid,” the OHR said. The statement further emphasised: “Ratko Mladić is a convicted war criminal and bears the greatest responsibility for the genocide committed in Srebrenica.”

They continued, “Alija Izetbegović was the first President of the Presidency of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (RBiH) and a key figure in achieving peace and the Dayton Peace Agreement. He saved lives.”

The OHR rejected claims that the High Representative was intentionally equating Izetbegovic with Mladic, stating: “All malicious and incorrect assertions suggesting that the High Representative is deliberately equating the first President of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Alija Izetbegovic, with convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic are completely unfounded.”

The statement clarified that such claims contradict the High Representative's objective, which is to work with institutions and individuals to address biased school textbooks and prevent the implementation of contentious parts of RS government regulations. The OHR cited the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s decision in case U-20/24 from 11 October, noting that these regulations could cause “serious and irreparable harm by fostering further segregation and division among students of different ethnic communities.”

The OHR’s reaction underscores its commitment to promoting inclusive and balanced education in Bosnia and Herzegovina.