Bosnia’s serious internal political crisis casts a shadow over the country’s future, including its long-term aspiration to join the European Union. But alongside Bosnia’s political and constitutional uncertainty, the infringements that result from its counter-terrorism policies are largely unnoticed.

The ruling today by the European Court of Human Rights, that the exclusion of Jews and Roma from Bosnia's highest state offices is unlawful discrimination, is a major step toward ending racial and religious exclusion in Europe. Bosnia, along with the US and European states that continue to play a critical role in the country, should move swiftly to remove all discriminatory provisions from the country's constitution.

Radovan Karadzic was a founding member of the Serbian Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was the president of Republika Srpska, the Bosnian Serb entity, during the war in Bosnia, from 1992 to 1995. Karadzic was indicted for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. His trial before The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) is due to start on October 26, 2009.

We are writing to you to express serious concern regarding the impending expiration of the mandates of international judges and prosecutors in the War Crimes Chamber (WCC) of the State Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This submission highlights Human Rights Watch’s concerns in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). These include obstacles to fair and effective war crimes trials before cantonal and district courts; inadequate safeguards in national security expulsions; the treatment of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs); threats and violence against sexual minorities; and ethnic and religious discrimination in the political system

The US vice president should not ignore the plight of foreigners who came to fight alongside the Bosnian Army in the 1991-1993 civil war, who are facing detention and deportation. As U.S. Vice President, Joe Biden, and EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, visit Sarajevo this week, they will usher in a new chapter in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s relations with the West.

Justice for the worst crimes under international law—namely genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes—is vital for victims of the crimes wherever they occur and for building peaceful societies based on the rule of law.

Justice for the worst crimes under international law—namely genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes—should be a priority for the administration under President Barack Obama.