Elmedin Konaković, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, commenting on media reports that High Representative Christian Schmidt could leave Bosnia and Herzegovina after the upcoming general elections, said that the Office of the High Representative will not and cannot be closed.
He emphasized that although Schmidt will eventually leave office, the institution of the Office of the High Representative remains a key guarantor for protection of the constitutional Order of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“What is important for us is that, even if the High Representative leaves office, people who understand the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina will come in. We will defend the Office of the High Representative just as we defend the Constitutional Court. Christian Schmidt, as an individual, will leave; that is certain,” Konaković said.
He spoke positively about the work of the current High Representative, although, as he said, he did not agree with some of Schmidt’s decisions.
“I am not at all satisfied with all his decisions; I have even publicly addressed some of them. However, he is someone who has repeatedly protected the Constitutional System of Bosnia and Herzegovina. His main role is to unblock the system when bad politicians block the institutions,” Konaković said.
He also added that, due to political blockades, Schmidt has had more work than other High Representatives, which is why, according to him, Schmidt has become a frequent target of political attacks.
“I find it shocking that there is a campaign against him even from Sarajevo, led by political parties that, for the sake of a small share of power, are ready to undermine the Office of the High Representative and the position of the High Representative,” he said.
Speaking about the pressure on the Office of the High Representative, Konaković said that the calls to close the Office are the official political goal of the President of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), Milorad Dodik.
“Secession and the departure of the High Representative are among his highest priorities. Closing the Office of the High Representative would be the first step toward achieving those goals,” Konaković stated.
When asked who would benefit most from closing the Office of the High Representative and whether, after Schmidt, there would be no new High Representative, Konaković answered Milorad Dodik, citing what he called secessionist intentions.
“If there were no Constitutional Court and no Office of the High Representative, Dodik would attempt secession and lead the country into a new conflict. He did not appoint the judges of the Constitutional Court from the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, and he has been repeatedly attacking the Office of the High Representative,” Konaković concluded.
