International envoy's decision to impose law changes that prohibit the genocide denial in Bosnia and Herzegovina has sparked mostly positive reactions among the officials and politicians in Bosnia's Bosniak-Croat shared Federation (FBiH) entity, who assessed the High Representative's ban as the “right decision” and the day when it was made a “great day” for BiH, Europe and rest of the world.

Sefik Dzaferovic, the Bosniak member of Bosnia’s tripartite Presidency, who is elected in the FBiH, said that genocide denial in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been tolerated for years and the only result of that was “more and more toxic environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the victims’ families could simply not live in peace.”

“The High Representative made the right decision,” he added.

Zeljko Komsic, the Croat Presidency member also elected by voters in the FBiH, said it was about time to prohibit the genocide denial.

“Also, this is a clear message to all those policies that build their narrative on the glorification of genocide and spreading of inter-ethnic hatred among the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, that such activities are not acceptable and will not go without adequately being punished,” he underlined.

A few days before he leaves the office and hands over the duty to German envoy Christian Schmidt, Inzko imposed amendments to the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which among other things stipulate the prison of up to five years for genocide denial.

Bakir Izetebegovic, the Speaker of Bosnia’s House of Peoples, noted that this decision “took off the burden of genocide from an honourable part of the Serb people,” adding that Inzko is finalising his term in Bosnia and Herzegovina in a dignified manner.

MP Denis Zvizdic also welcomed the High Representative’s decision, adding that this will “calm the tensions down in the years ahead and build the foundations for the future.”

He believes that negative reactions will not last for too long and that the law will contribute to the change of overall situation in the country.

Inzko would have passed the law changes a long ago, but he needed a “green light” of the world and European states, according to MP Sasa Magazinovic.

“This is something that will make this society at least a little bit better,” he added.

Elmedin Konakovic, the leader of the People and Justice party, assessed the decision as a “chance for the Serb people to give up on individuals and groups who ordered and committed genocide and other crimes.”

“This is a great day for Bosnia and Herzegovina, a great day for Europe, a great day for the whole world,” he added.