The United States has criticised attempts by the Republika Srpska Government to annul a report that acknowledged that Bosnian Serb troops were responsible for the massacre of thousands of Muslims in Srebrenica in 1995.

“International courts have concluded that genocide occurred in Srebrenica in 1995,” said a US State department statement. “The August 14 session of the Republika Srpska National Assembly is a step in the wrong direction. Attempts to reject or amend the report on Srebrenica are part of wider efforts to revise the facts of the past war, to deny history, and to politicize tragedy.”

The US statement comes after the Republika Srpska’s National Assembly voted to annul the report this week, with Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik stating that the 2004 report contained “false data”.

The statement went on to add that “it is in the interest of the citizens of Republika Srpska to reverse the trend of revering convicted war criminals as heroes, and to ensure their crimes continue to be publicly rejected”.

“The United States remains fully committed to assisting authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, at the state, entity, and cantonal levels, to investigate and prosecute individuals responsible for crimes against all ethnic groups.”

“The denial of established facts of prior wars will in no way advance these objectives or assist the country’s citizens. The horrific war of the 1990s reminds us that we must strive for a stable and prosperous future for the benefit of all citizens, regardless of ethnicity or religion.”

See the full text of the statement here.