High Representative Valentin Inzko calls on responsible authorities to ensure that recent violent attacks in return areas in both entities do not take on an ethnic dimension that could lead to rising tensions on the ground and within these communities.
Deploring the very serious acts of violence, the High Representative expressed his satisfaction that the competent law enforcement agencies reacted quickly and identified the likely perpetrators of the attacks in Kozluk and Ratanj. “I am confident that the legal institutions in the country will bring to justice all perpetrators of such attacks and treat this problem with the seriousness it deserves. Authorities at all levels and in both entities must ensure that all citizens can live in safety, without risk of harassment, intimidation, persecution or discrimination. I also count on the citizens of this country, who have shown on many occasions that they can promote tolerance and maintain good neighbourly relations”, Inzko said.
Now that there is more clarity over these acts of violence, the High Representative expects political representatives to react constructively by condemning any attacks against returnees or minority communities, regardless of their ethnicity, and to refrain from actions and statements that may raise tensions.