Bosnian Serbs have admired the contentious 2019 Nobel Literature Prize winner Peter Handke, Who’s known for his apologist perspectives over Serb war crimes throughout the 1990s’ wars in the Balkans

BANJA LUKA, Bosnia-Herzegovina — Bosnian Serbs on Friday admired the contentious 2019 Nobel Literature Prize winner Peter Handke, who’s famous for his apologist perspectives over Serb war crimes throughout the 1990s’ wars in the Balkans.

The novelist and screenwriter was welcomed by Bosnian Serb officials since he came from the northern city of Banja Luka, the most important town in the Serb-run portion of Bosnia. From that point, Handke led to the southern town of Visegrad where he had been received the literary award.

While Handke is loved by Serbs because of his support of the nationalist policies, he’s considered persona non grata from the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo, which will be dominated by largely Muslim Bosniaks.

“I’m pleased to be here,” Handke stated in Banja Luka, based on Bosnian Serb TV. “That is a significant moment for me personally.”

This runs counter to many rulings by international courts, that have hailed that the carnage in the eastern Bosnian enclave that a genocide.

The Serb mini-state Republika Srpska on Friday honored Handke for”excellent work and participation in the sphere of spiritual and cultural advancement, and also for outstanding contribution in strengthening and developing overall connections with Republika Srpska.”

President Zeljka Cvijanovic thanked Handke for its”perception you’ve shown by reflecting the only Serbian interests”

Republika Srpska was shaped at a U.S.-brokered peace agreement that ended Bosnia’s war in 1995 after roughly 100,000 people died. The nation’s two federations, one headed by Bosnian Serbs and another by Bosniaks and Croats, are tied together by joint Bosnian associations.