(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUL 23 - The High Representative of the international community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Valentin Inzko, has imposed changes to the criminal code of the Balkan country, introducing strong penalties against genocide denial and the glorification of war criminals.

The decision of Inzko, which will enter into force a day after it is published in the Official Gazette, punishes with prison terms up to three years "whoever publicly incites to violence or hatred directed against a group of persons or a member of such a group defined by reference to race, colour, religion, descent or national or ethnic origin" or glorify conviced war criminals, the Office of the High Representative informed. Whoever "publicly condones, denies, grossly trivializes or tries to justify a crime of genocide, crimes against humanity or a war crime" will be punished with a sentence up to five years. Inzko is leaving the office at the end of July.

The long-awaited law against genocide deniers has provoked tensions in Bosnia for years and it is strongly opposed by the Bosnian Serb leadership. (ANSA).