In an interview with Austrian Standard, High Representative Valentin Inzko spoke about a United Nations video conference attended by SNSD and HDZ parties presidents Milorad Dodik and Dragan Covic.
“Russia, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has called for this informal virtual meeting, wanting to give Dodik and Covic the opportunity to present their opposing views on my November 5 report,” Inzko said, explaining that the SDA president Bakir Izetbegovic refused to attend the meeting, criticizing the invitation of representatives of the three largest parties rather than members of the presidency, adding that he was not initially expected to attend the conference but did so at the request of European Security Council member states, Vijesti.ba writes.
Asked by a Standard reporter to comment on Dodik’s attack on him, Inzko said: “Dodik spoke for 30 minutes, maybe longer. He called me and former High Representative Lord Paddy Ashdown criminals. All members of the Security Council criticized the glorification of war criminals, such as the memorial plaque to war criminal Radovan Karadzic in Pale. Dodik suggested that we remove it together. The relevant law or regulation must first be changed and then the board removed or replaced. That should be done by the person who ordered, placed and solemnly unveiled the plaque, and that was Milorad Dodik.
“When asked what the consequences of this informal gathering were, Inzko answered that he had never experienced in the last 11 years that countries had shown such solidarity with him, especially the USA and Germany. The Belgian delegation encouraged the adoption of a law that would sanction the denial of war crimes such as genocide. Inzko pointed out that the members of the Security Council at the UN conference were clearly informed about what was happening on the ground in BiH.
“Local politicians have been given the opportunity to review the Law on Genocide Denial, and then the next steps will follow. The same is true if the plaque in
