Sarajevo: Bosnia and Herzegovina announced on Monday that it will recall embassy staff and suspend bilateral meetings with Serbia in response to the glorification of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic.

According to Anadolu Agency, Foreign Minister Elmedin Konakovic announced the measures at a news conference, as stated by the Foreign Ministry. He indicated that all staff at Bosnia and Herzegovina's Embassy in Belgrade whom the ministry has the authority to recall will be withdrawn. Consular services will be shifted to the country's embassies in Zagreb, Croatia, and Podgorica, Montenegro, as well as its Consulate General in Novi Pazar, Serbia.

Konakovic further declared the suspension of bilateral meetings, emphasizing that communication with Serbia will be reduced to the 'lowest possible level'. He noted that Bosnia and Herzegovina will strengthen diplomatic engagement with the EU and its member states, as well as the US, UK, and members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Mladic, known as the "Butcher of Bosnia," was convicted by a UN tribunal of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, including his involvement in the 1995 Srebrenica genocide. He died on August 27 while serving a life sentence in prison in The Hague.