A German diplomat has taken office as the top international official in Bosnia.

The top international overseer of Bosnia's 1995 peace agreement says Western powers should adopt a new approach to promoting reconciliation to prevent nativist leaders from turning the politically fragmented Balkan country into a deserted wasteland.

Bosnian Serb political leaders have pledged to block decision-making in the country's institutions to protest a recent move by the top international envoy in Bosnia to outlaw genocide denial.

The top international official in Bosnia has outlawed denial of genocide in the Balkan country.

The U.N. Security Council has rejected a resolution put forward by Russia and China that would have immediately stripped the powers of the international high representative overseeing implementation of the 1995 peace agreement that ended the devastating war in Bosnia.

A German diplomat has been chosen to head a powerful international body in Bosnia that oversees implementation of a 1995 peace agreement that ended a devastating war in the Balkan country.