Christian Schmidt, the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), told reporters in an open interview that there were no indications that there would be a war in BiH, regardless of the events in Ukraine.
He also referred to the session of the Presidency of BiH and Milorad Dodik’s request that BiH should be neutral on the issue of Ukraine, although our country has already taken a clear position regarding Russian aggression.
”What to say about Mr. Dodik? It seems to me that he is a little confused at the moment. You see, in a situation where children ask their mothers what the war in Kyiv or Kharkiv is, it is no longer possible to be neutral. And I think that Mr. Dodik somehow fell into the trap of his own words. In such cases, it would be good, and it is certainly difficult for him, to sometimes maybe for a few days be quiet and think,” Schmidt expressed.
Asked whether, given that even Serbia voted in favor of the resolution at the United Nation (UN) General Assembly session, a different approach could be expected from Mr. Dodik, Schmidt replied:
”I see that it was very difficult for Serbia and I had the opportunity to talk about it with President Vucic there. I certainly advised him and encouraged him not to be neutral. He did it in the end. That is, for sure, something very important. Maybe it would be an offer for everyone to treat it in the same way, precisely on the question of whether now, in these times and in this situation in our region, it is actually good to remain neutral and be neutral or we will simply stop all those who want to carry out violence and prevent them from doing so.”
”One must be against the war and that is the most common thing I have done in the previous years I spent in BiH. I was there then and we wanted people to be able to live in peace. Then you can see that the European Union (EU) and NATO, when it is needed, are still there. Every war must be prevented and that is the task. But one must be with those who are then, I must say, in a very difficult situation,” Schmidt added.
Reporters also asked him to comment on the fact that the citizens of BiH, given the events in Ukraine, are scared because they think that there is a possibility of war conflicts here as well.
”I understand that. However, this is a country where the previous generation experienced war and everyone knows what that means, you just have to go through Sarajevo to feel what can happen. If war and violence are there, then we must not only take care of the people but we must also send a message. My message is clear. We, thank God, so far have no indications that there are any tensions in the Western Balkans and BiH that people should be afraid of war or violence,” said the High Representative.
Nothing new
When it comes to changes to the Election Law of BiH and the elections that await us this year, he reiterated the position that they must be held according to the old or new law.
”I did not tell any news. I was just talking about the law as it is now and the date set for the elections. We have a number of things in the Election Law that are not well resolved. It is, for example, transparency, voters must be sure that their vote will be really counted and given to the one to whom they gave it,” he pointed out.
Ready to repeal the law
Speaking about the law on genocide denial imposed by his predecessor Valentin Inzko, Schmidt said that he was ready to withdraw it, but that…
”The laws do not know different races, skin colors, or different origins, this is not a law for someone or against someone, and in that sense those who are victims, they must all be found in that law, and in this country, unfortunately, there is no one who did not have victims.
E.Dz.
Source: Avaz
