Yesterday, High Representative Christian Schmidt said that he canceled his trip to Banja Luka because of the allegedly erected barricades in the Republika Srpska (RS). This is a questionable excuse when we know that immediately after the war, in much more difficult conditions, international representatives risked their lives to implement reforms.
Thus, in February 1996, Croatian nationalists attacked the then European Union (EU) administrator in Mostar, Hans Koschnick, and his delegation because, in February of that year, he offered a “Transitional Statute of the City” which foresees the integration of Mostar through six city municipalities and the establishment of the Central Zone.
The government at that time, led by HDZ mayor Mijo Brajkovic, cut off all contact with the administration of the EU, and a larger group of extremists attacked Koschnick.
EU representatives were shot at and the car they were in was demolished. Then, 13 Western EU police cars and six EU cars were damaged in the western part of Mostar.
As the “Center for Peace” pointed out on the occasion of Koschnick’s death in 2016, he survived assassination on two occasions but remained upright and consistent with the goals of his mission.
More than twenty years later, at a moment far less dramatic than in 1996, the High Representative was not prepared to take the slightest risk. If he had gone to Banja Luka, even if the road was blocked, he would have turned out to be a hero in the eyes of the citizens. Besides, whatever he did would have returned the focus to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and the support of Western countries could only be greater, not less.
Milorad Dodik, no matter how radical he is, would never even think of threatening the High Representative in any way.
On the other hand, the question is already legitimately asked whether it is possible that the EUFOR forces could not protect the High Representative Christian Schmidt and ensure his smooth arrival and stay in Banja Luka, because then what is the purpose of the international forces?, Klix.ba reports.
E.Dz.
