但与此同时，多年来，我的书面报告着重强调，抵赖罪行和美化既决战犯的现象在前南斯拉夫无处不见，而且局势继续恶化。这种氛围对国家惩治战争罪产生负面影响，当族群日益疏远而非关系更加密切时，就不可能谈论有意义的和解。要理解这个问题，只消要看看一些政客的所作所为。他们不会通过承诺和解或搭建与其它族群沟通的桥梁拉选票。相反，政客们认为，他们通过否认暴行和颂扬其责任人赢得选举。一些人宣扬修正主义历史，而另一些人则试图通过纪念而不是谴责战犯来赢得选票。
Yet at the same time, for a number of years my written reports have underscored that the denial of crimes and the glorification of convicted war criminals are pervasive throughout the former Yugoslavia, and the situation continues to get worse. Such a climate has a negative impact on national justice for war crimes, and it is impossible to speak about meaningful reconciliation when communities are growing further apart, not closer together. To understand the problem, one need only look at the actions of some politicians. They do not seek votes by promising reconciliation or by building bridges to other communities. Instead, politicians believe that they win elections by denying atrocities and glorifying those responsible. Some promote revisionist histories, while others try to gain votes by commemorating, rather than condemning, war criminals.