David Pettigrew, an American professor specialising in philosophy, Holocaust, and genocide studies, has criticised the statement by Gordan Jandrokovic, Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, that Bosnia and Herzegovina’s constitutionality depends on its three constituent peoples. Pettigrew described the remark as inconsistent with democratic values.

Speaking at a press conference before the session of the intellectual association “Circle 99,” which discussed the topic “The Failure of the OHR to Prevent Undermining of Bosnia’s Statehood and Democratic Future,” Pettigrew argued that the High Representative in BiH is steering the country towards a permanent division. He compared the approach to the 1993 Vance-Owen Peace Plan, which sought to partition Bosnia based on ethnic lines.

“The category of ‘three constituent peoples’ translates into ‘three constituent nations’ under the Dayton Agreement. However, the hope for a democratic culture in Bosnia lies in respecting all individuals and their human rights. This would diminish the relevance of the three constituent peoples, as highlighted by European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rulings,” Pettigrew said, stressing the importance of transitional justice without compromise.

He accused the High Representative of enabling ethnonationalists, whose agendas threaten to reignite conflict in Bosnia. According to Pettigrew, urgent actions are required, including implementing ECHR rulings, removing the mural in Kalinovik dedicated to war criminal Ratko Mladic, and banning the celebration of Republika Srpska Day.

Pettigrew also emphasised the need for prosecuting individuals who deny the genocide in Srebrenica. He criticised the High Representative for failing to support memorialisation efforts for victims in Pilica, Kalinovik, and Prijedor, as well as neglecting to advocate for democratic constitutional reforms.

He further highlighted the High Representative’s controversial involvement in the Kovacevic case, where the lower court determined that the applicant could not freely elect members of the BiH Presidency or influence the selection of state-level parliamentary delegates.

Pettigrew noted that this ruling aligns with the ECHR’s Sejdic and Finci decision, which mandates greater inclusivity in the electoral system.
“The High Representative is not utilising the Bonn Powers to advance democracy or human rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The failure to implement ECHR rulings empowers ethnonationalists and their territorial ambitions, increasing the risk of renewed conflict,” Pettigrew warned, concluding that the inaction of the Office of the High Representative further exacerbates these threats.