COPENHAGEN, 20 August 2018 – In response to a decision by the Republika Srpska National Assembly (RSNA) requesting the annulment of the 2004 Report of the Commission for Investigation of the Events in and around Srebrenica in July 1995 which acknowledged the mass killing of Bosniaks by Serb forces, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's Special Representative on South East Europe, Mark Pritchard (United Kingdom), today issued the following statement:

"The decision to annul the Srebrenica report is a regrettable and short-sighted move that will only serve to deepen divisions and derail the reconciliation process. The facts established in the 2004 report are not in dispute, having been confirmed by international and domestic criminal courts. The wounds of the Srebrenica tragedy should not be reopened for short-term political gains and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s leaders must avoid divisive, nationalistic rhetoric ahead of the general elections in October.

"I urge parliamentarians to reconsider this decision for the sake of reconciliation and to focus on issues of importance for BiH’s citizens, namely economic opportunities and prosperity, education, health care and the fight against corruption."

The decision to reject the 2004 report was taken on 14 August by the RSNA. On 18 August, the RS Government, which published the original Report, decided to annul it in a special session.

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