Statement by Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bruce G. Berton, on conviction of Radovan Karadzic

“Today’s verdict in the case of Radovan Karadzic is another crucial step toward holding accountable those individuals most responsible for genocide and other atrocities committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

First and foremost, our thoughts are with the families of the victims, for whom the pursuit of justice has been long and painful. It is a complex and painful process, but a critically important one.

Holding individuals accountable for their criminal actions, even these many years after the war, is essential to building lasting peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, upholding the rule of law and strengthening international jurisprudence.

In tandem with the work of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), the judicial institutions in BiH continue to strive towards these goals, with hundreds of perpetrators of war crimes prosecuted to date in domestic courts. However, these institutions require support to continue their work on war crimes cases in an independent and impartial manner, free from political attacks or attempts at undue influence.

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to support the judiciary of BiH in its efforts to bring to justice those responsible for atrocity crimes. We strongly urge all citizens in the country and beyond - in particular, political and party leaders, media, local government officials, religious leaders and community activists—to respect today’s verdict and avoid inflammatory, divisive rhetoric.

It is only through the joint investment of all in the process of reconciliation that stability and security in Bosnia and Herzegovina can be achieved.”