Christian Schmidt, the outgoing High Representative, was a guest on the podcast Live with Vildan Selimbegović and talked about the pressures, the OHR and BiH
Bosnia and Herzegovina needs an Office of the High Representative until the domestic institutions are able to fulfill the obligations arising from the Dayton Peace Agreement on their own, Christian Schmidt said on our podcast.
There is no secession.
- You may be surprised that the international community is more united than it seems: the Americans, the Japanese, the Canadians, the European Union, all have a unified position that BiH, as confirmed in Dayton, remains preserved as an independent state, therefore - there is no secession and no separation.
Speaking of his decision to step down as head of the OHR, Schmidt stressed that it was a personal one, but acknowledged U.S. demands that he step down during the first half of this year.
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There was pressure, but it's important to me that the OHR as an institution stays and survives, and today I can say that I've accomplished a lot, and I wanted to be the last high representative and finish the job by implementing the 5+2 agenda, but that didn't work, and something will be left to my successor, Schmidt said.
According to him, the biggest problem in BiH is the political blockades that slow down the country's European path and prevent the normal functioning of the institutions.
- It is intolerable that the House of Peoples cannot meet regularly due to lack of quorum. MPs are elected to make decisions, not to not attend the sessions. Those who do not attend cannot even expect to be funded by the state.
Speaking about Dodik's attempts at international lobbying, the High Representative estimates that in the long term they cannot produce a result.
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"The very idea that someone will pay lobbyists to remove certain people from the discussion or change the facts simply doesn't work. European countries, the United States and all those who are soberly watching the situation have much longer political breath", Schmidt said.
But he specifically cautioned against the content of lobbying contracts.
In these documents, there are not only demands to remove Schmidt or annul certain judgments, but also dangerous ideas related to the independence of the RS, which is directly against the Dayton Agreement, Schmidt stressed, adding that in the days of Paddy Ashdown, Dodik would already be in prison for this.
Asked about the change in US policy towards the country's territorial integrity, he replied: "I don't have that impression. On the contrary, I believe that all processes will be followed very closely and that there will be clearly set boundaries when it comes to respecting the Dayton Agreement and the rule of law".
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State property is one of the key issues in the coming period.
- If we finally get a state law to regulate the issue of state property, that would be a huge step. I am ready to support any solution based on the rule of law and European standards. You can't keep saying that something will be solved after the elections. In BiH everything is postponed for some next elections, Schmidt said, adding that they forget to say after which elections.
He also addressed the failure of constitutional reforms, including the implementation of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights and the issue of legitimate representation.
- Ideally, the results of the Neum negotiations should be incorporated into both the Constitution and the Electoral Act. However, before that, the issue of Sejdić-Finci must be resolved. If the issue of discrimination is not resolved at the constitutional level, it will remain a serious obstacle to European integration. I would be very happy to have remained in this position after the elections, not because I do not want to go from here or do not want to stop working, but because we have achieved a lot of things precisely when it comes to the integrity of the election results and the elections themselves. I would like to see everything go smoothly, but I have confidence in the OSCE, in the EU, in the US and I have confidence in my successor that it will be so, Schmidt is honest.
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It is important that the process be completed quickly and without additional complications, the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina stressed in our podcast, confident that we will get his successor on June 30.
- The PIC session was quite constructive. I hope that in a few years there will be no need for OHR, because I will finally start with European integration. Yes, we had two candidates. I know both of them and I wish them a lot of success. They will have my support. Because things are complicated and I think I have to explain some things and tell my successor. OHR must be preserved. That's why in my decision to withdraw I mentioned the need to appoint as soon as possible ou…
Read the full article at Oslobođenje →📄Source document: Christian Schmidt's interview with Direktno sa Vildanom Selimbegović
4 reports
OslobođenjeIndependentCenter6 days agoChristian Schmidt, former High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, discussed the importance of maintaining the country's unity as defined by the Dayton Agreement. He emphasized that international actors, including the US, EU, Japan, and Canada, agree on preserving Bosnia and Herzegovina as an independent state without secession or separation. Schmidt mentioned that he faced pressure regarding his decision to step down from leading the Office of the High Representative (OHR), but stressed the need for the institution to continue functioning. He noted that political blockages hinder the E
Bias read (Center): The article presents statements from Christian Schmidt, a high-ranking official, discussing the role of the Office of the High Representative (OHR) and the international consensus on Bosnia and Herzegovina's sovereignty. The content is neutral in tone, focusing on factual statements and positions of
Official sources cited
- press release Christian Schmidt's interview with Direktno sa Vildanom Selimbegović
OslobođenjeIndependentLeft6 days ago There was American pressure to resign.Christian Schmidt, former High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), has announced his decision to step down from his position at the end of this month. The article discusses his tenure, highlighting his efforts to reform institutions in BiH, including addressing issues with the Drina River, saving the state from bankruptcy related to the Viaduct project, and ensuring the Memorial Center Potočari Srebrenica operates without interference.
Bias read (Left): The article presents Schmidt's actions in a critical light, emphasizing the financial burdens he imposed on BiH through large sums sent overseas, while portraying his reforms as efforts to 'humiliate' the National Assembly of the Republika Srpska and enforce compliance with international standards.
N1 Bosna i HercegovinaIndependentCenter8 days agoThe article discusses Christian Schmidt's announcement of his resignation as High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and questions whether Berlin (Germany) left Schmidt in a difficult position. It references Petritsch, who suggests that Germany could have stopped the Southern Interconnection project.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual summary of Schmidt's resignation and mentions Petritsch's opinion without editorializing or using biased language. It does not favor one side over another and remains neutral in tone.
Klix.baIndependentLeft11 days agoThe article discusses the potential resignation of High Representative Christian Schmidt and highlights concerns over transparency and international coordination within Bosnia and Herzegovina's current government. It claims that Milorad Dodik had prior knowledge of Schmidt's possible departure through agreements with certain international circles and the Trump administration, while current officials like Denis Bećirović, Elmedin Konaković, and Zlatko Lagumdžija were reportedly unaware of these developments despite claiming strong international contacts. The article criticizes the current state
Bias read (Left): The article frames the situation as a failure of the current government's transparency and international coordination, implying criticism toward the ruling authorities. It emphasizes Dodik's prior knowledge compared to the current leadership, suggesting a critique of the existing power structure.
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