The Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council has once again failed to reach an agreement on appointing the new High Representative to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Thereby, the acting High Representative, Louis J. Crishock, will remain in office until further notice, and a new attempt at an agreement is expected next week. The OHR confirms the readiness to appoint a new candidate as soon as possible. For now, reaching an agreement does not seem optimistic.
The third time was not a charm. The duel of the world powers, cards on the table – and a draw seems likely. Until further notice, Louis Crishock stays at 1 Emerika Bluma Street. He will retain all powers, uncertain that he will soon be succeeded.
Bosnia and Herzegovina Cannot Be Put on Hold
The President of the Atlantic Council in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dijana Gupta, states that the process cannot be without a solution.
“We cannot be a country put on hold. Our citizens want to feel secure, and the Bosnian and Herzegovinian politicians should start implementing the “5+2” Agenda. When opinions and interests are in question, the solution is always met halfway. I am convinced that an optimal solution for Bosnia and Herzegovina will be reached, as we are aware that Bosnia and Herzegovina can hardly function on its own within the framework of our political relations,” Gupta said.
The two names are still officially in the game – an Italian Diplomat, and the US favorite, Antonio Zanardi Landi, and the French Rene Troccaz, the EU’s favorite. In the meantime, they also discussed completely new diplomats, without confirmation, they have reached an official candidacy.
Week after week, another attempt while blowing past set deadlines. The matter is far too important for either side to back down.
The European Union Wants Its Candidate
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, said that the European Union wants a European Diplomat as the head of the OHR.
“We are firm in our decision to have a European candidate who will help the country to progress and to draw closer to the European Union, and in the end, the success of the European representative will be measured on the day when he is no longer needed,” Kallas said.
“Wishes are one thing, reality is another. They may not have a successor, but America, it seems, remains in the lead. Although he is an acting official, they still have their top High Representative, a career diplomat with full executive capacity who also serves as the Supervisor for Brčko.
Therefore, he has direct control and can use the Bonn Powers for other matters. For example, the state property. What Bosnian and Herzegovinian politicians keep sweeping under the rug is of crucial energy interest to the US. Or, in other words, the Southern Interconnection.
“It is important to point out that I have full powers of the High Representative, which includes the use of Bonn Powers if there is a serious threat to the Dayton Peace Agreement, peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Crishock said.
Political Pressures around the OHR
A list of actions we have been witnessing for years from the head of the SNSD, who openly opposes the OHR. Although he was previously isolated, he is now backed by the long-term political partner, Dragan Čović. They are directly seeking the annulment of all past OHR decisions. Therefore, there will be a lot of work to do – if and when an agreement is finally reached.
The political analyst Tanja Topić considers that it is about a new political alliance.
“A kind of partnership pact is created, especially between Dragan Čović and Milorad Dodik, who are moving in the direction that would signify a sort of political relief and political freedoms for Donald Trump, seeking something that is, in my opinion, one big illusion. Everyone else is silent; they don’t want to cross the Trump administration,” Topić said.
Agreement without a Set Deadline
The editor of the portal Politički.ba, Sead Numanović warns that the current situation benefits no one in the long term.
“If we are being serious, this is in no one’s interest because everyone is losing credibility. And the High Representative, whoever he is, will step on such a political minefield and will find it very difficult to do anything within this disrupted constellation of relations. In the long run, this benefits no one, especially Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Numanović said.
It is risky to make any predictions as these are turbulent times – not only in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but globally, where everyone is advocating for their own interests. Another deadline for an agreement, and if it fails, that too is an answer.
