Serbs warn Bosnian Muslim bid at UN court revives old wounds

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, center, speaks during a press conference after a meeting with Serbian member of Bosnia's tripartite Presidency Mladen Ivanic, left, President of the Republic of Srpska Milorad Dodik, right, and Serbia's Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, not seen, in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017. Top Serbian and Bosnian Serb leaders have warned that a decision by Bosnia's Muslim leader to revive a wartime genocide lawsuit against Serbia at the United Nations' top court has fueled past divisions. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) (The Associated Press)

Serbian member of Bosnia's tripartite Presidency Mladen Ivanic, left, Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, second left, President of the Republic of Srpska Milorad Dodik, second from right, and Serbia's Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic attend a press conference after a meeting in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017. Top Serbian and Bosnian Serb leaders have warned that a decision by Bosnia's Muslim leader to revive a wartime genocide lawsuit against Serbia at the United Nations' top court has rekindled divisions. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) (The Associated Press)

BELGRADE, Serbia – Top Serbian and Bosnian Serb leaders have warned that a decision by Bosnia's Muslim leader to revive a wartime genocide lawsuit against Serbia at the United Nations' top court has rekindled divisions.

The officials said Wednesday in Belgrade, the Serbian capital, that the bid to appeal a 2007 ruling by the International Court of Justice that cleared Serbia of genocide in Bosnia during the 1992-95 war, dealt a major blow to postwar reconciliation.

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic warns "our relations have been pushed backward 25 or 22 years."

Bakir Izetbegovic, the Muslim Bosniak member of Bosnia's tripartite presidency, has initiated the appeal despite a lack of consent from his Croat and Serb counterparts in the presidency. Bosnia first sued Serbia in 1993, during the war.