The US Embassy strongly condemned the “inflammatory comments” the leader of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA), Bakir Izetbegovic, made on Tuesday, but also the “irresponsible response” from BiH Presidency member Milorad Dodik, saying that Bosnia’s citizens “deserve better”.

“We are shocked and appalled by the inflammatory comments yesterday by Bakir Izetbegovic, which predictably invited an irresponsible response from Milorad Dodik. Thirty years ago, the citizens of this country suffered through a brutal war,” the US Embassy posted on Twitter.

We are shocked and appalled by the inflammatory comments yesterday by Bakir Izetbegovic, which predictably invited an irresponsible response from Milorad Dodik. Thirty years ago, the citizens of this country suffered through a brutal war.

— US Embassy Sarajevo (@USEmbassySJJ) July 27, 2022

“In 2022 they deserve better than leaders who appeal to ethnic divisions and foment ethnic tensions. BiH citizens deserve leaders who will work toward the common good and make the difficult decisions necessary for BiH to secure its place in the Euro-Atlantic community of nations. A genuine commitment to cooperation and compromise – not an implied threat to resort to violence – are required to resolve this country’s problems, which are getting worse,” the Embassy said.

The US Embassy was reacting to statements Izetbegovic made on Tuesday.

“We reviewed our numbers – and how many hunters we have, and how many young people, and how many drone instructors we have, and so on. I won't go any further, but just so you know”, Izetbegovic said, adding that he was talking about the possibility of “the worst case scenario” in the country.

Dodik responded on Twitter.

“No one will be reviewing the numbers of us Serbs, not even Muslims, but they should know that there is enough of us,” he wrote on Twitter.