Representative in the German Parliament and SPD rapporteur in the Foreign Policy Committee, Adis Ahmetovic, called on the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Christian Schmidt, not to use the Bonn powers to amend the BiH Election Law and the Constitution of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH).
“All German think-tanks, most academics and many international experts have expressed opposition to some of the proposed changes. I call on the United States (U.S.), the United Kingdom (UK), as well as the Office of the High Representative (OHR), to listen to those voices and allow them to influence the decisions. Now it’s time about the historical moment to show strength and pave the way for a better BiH,” explained Ahmetovic.
He stated that Schmidt should not have done this before the elections and “behind closed doors”, and that such a thing would not pass in Germany.
“Don’t solve people’s destinies behind closed doors. What is happening in BiH now, we – speaking from the perspective of a German representative – would never allow in our country. We must adhere to those standards when it comes to the fates of other people,” he said.
He pointed out that real changes must come from the joint effort of democratically elected representatives in BiH institutions.
“I am convinced of the strength of democracy, the strength of the European Union (EU) and the strength of justice. That is why I am doing everything in my power to make sure that there will be no development of the situation that would further deepen the ethnic divisions in BiH,” it was said in the statement from Ahmetovic‘s office.