The High Representative for the United Nations (UN) Alliance of Civilizations, Miguel Angel Moratinos, commented on the increasingly frequent public statements of Milorad Dodik, leader of SNSD, emphasizing that this is rhetoric that seriously damages the foundations of interreligious and interethnic dialogue in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).
In an official statement, Moratinos expresses “deep concern” over Dodik’s remarks, which, as he notes, cross the boundaries of acceptable political discourse and take the form of open hate speech directed at Bosniaks. “Such derogatory rhetoric against Bosniaks is incompatible with the principles and values of the UN. It is contrary to the core mission of UNAOC, which is dedicated to advancing mutual respect, constructive dialogue, and peaceful coexistence among communities of different cultural and religious identities,” the statement said.
Warning about the dangerous consequences of political messages
Moratinos emphasized that inflammatory statements are especially dangerous in societies such as BiH, where historical wounds have not yet fully healed. According to him, politicians bear a special responsibility for the preservation of public peace, because their words have the potential to “ignite tensions and disrupt fragile social cohesion.” “When spoken in a context marked by historical sensitivities, such statements can undermine the hard-won progress achieved in the peace and reconciliation process,” Moratinos said.
Global trend of rising hate speech
The High Representative recalled that there is a rise in hate speech, xenophobia, and identity-based divisions around the world, which represents an additional challenge for multiethnic and post-conflict societies. In such circumstances, he said, the highest level of responsibility and restraint is expected from political leaders. “Commitment to responsible public communication – based on respect for human dignity, international law and the values contained in the Charter of the UN- is more important than ever.”
UNAOC: We continue to work on promoting dialogue and combating hatred
At the end of the statement, Moratinos confirmed that UNAOC remains committed to strengthening mutual trust and cooperation among communities, and that it will continue to work with relevant partners in combating hate speech in all its forms. “Our goal is to encourage peace, understanding, and unity – and rhetoric that divides and degrades has no place in that,” the statement concluded.
