Any form of violence, discrimination, or intimidation against any community within Bosnia and Herzegovina is unacceptable, High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina Christian Schmidt said on Wednesday after the meeting with the war victim associations in the eastern Bosnia.

The meeting comes after two incidents targeting Bosniak returnees in that area and the unconstitutional marking of a holiday in Republika Srpska entity, which covers major part of the eastern region.

Incidents involving other ethnic groups were recorded in other parts of the country, including the attack on the Serb returnee's house in the southern city of Mostar.

“Today, High Representative Schmidt met with representatives of Mothers of Srebrenica and Žepa Enclaves. They discussed the tensions raised over the unconstitutional celebrations of RS Day on January 9, especially safety concerns raised by returnee communities,” said a press statement issued by the Office of the High Representative, an international envoy that monitors the peace implementation in the county.

Following the meeting, the High Representative called upon all responsible authorities to take “swift and decisive action to ensure the security and protection of all citizens.”

The Office of the High Representative also issued a statement, saying that “every person has the fundamental right to live freely and without fear of discrimination or harm in every corner of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

“Disturbing incidents targeting and intimidating returnees in various parts of BiH that occurred over the last few days stand in stark contrast to the progress achieved over the past three decades of post-war recovery in BiH,” the OHR said.

It also stressed that these “regrettable incidents re fueled by increased nationalistic discourse, including surrounding the unconstitutional commemoration of January 9.”

“Such actions not only jeopardise the safety and well-being of returnees, but also pose a serious threat to investments, the EU integration process, and the overall prosperity of the entire country,” the statement added.

It further noted that Republika Srpska entity should have a day but that “it cannot be marked in a way that discriminates against some citizens or otherwise promotes division.”

“Political leaders of this country must always be aware that their words have power. They can easily translate into actions that affect the lives of individuals. Thus, they should refrain from divisive rhetoric and actions that can cause tensions and instead prioritize the well-being of all citizens,” said Schmidt's office.

The OHR reiterated that the Republika Srpska as a party to Annex 7 to the General Framework Agreement for Peace “committed to create in its territory the political, economic, and social conditions conducive to the harmonious reintegration of returnees without risk of harassment, intimidation, persecution, or discrimination, particularly on account of their ethnic origin, religious belief, or political opinion.”

“The RS authorities must take all necessary steps to combat any form of violence, discrimination, or intimidation against any community within their jurisdiction. The OHR calls upon all responsible authorities to take swift and decisive action to ensure the security and protection of all citizens,” it underlined.

In the end it noted that some leaders have “demonstrated restraint and kept their focus on crucial reforms needed for BiH to officially launch membership negotiations with the EU this spring.”

The OHR assessed this as a “just approach,” stressing that it is “imperative for everyone in BiH to demonstrate a commitment to democracy, human rights, and shared future prosperity in the country.”