The High Representative of the international community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Christian Schmidt, assesses today that Bosnia and Herzegovina has a historic opportunity after the October elections and the progress that is visible in the formation of institutions and authorities is encouraging.
Speaking to journalists after the two-day session of the political directors of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC), he emphasized that BiH has a chance to make progress on the road to the European Union, which is why he expressed the expectation that the government will be formed soon.
”Candidate status could be the first step in that direction, but it is not over yet and it is a decision that the European Council will decide on next week, but there is an expectation that the BiH institutions do their part and adopt the necessary laws and form the government,” said Schmidt.
After BiH receives candidate status, real work would follow, says Schmidt, which does not mean that BiH will automatically become a member of the EU because nothing significant can happen without effort.
The PIC agreed that it would continue to support BiH on its way to remain a multi-ethnic and democratic society, Schmidt added, and they also recognized that after many years of stagnation, things have started to change.
Schmidt called on that momentum and dynamism to be used because it has been waiting for BiH to take decisive steps towards a stable and prosperous future for a long time. Now there is an opportunity for politicians to work in the service of citizens and improve their daily lives.
He announced that he will do everything with the representatives of the international community in Bosnia and Herzegovina to contribute to the dialogue that should be continued because he expects the formation of institutions to be completed very soon. He says that the time for unconvincing political maneuvers is over and BiH must show that it is able to function politically and economically and that it is capable of implementing reforms.
He emphasized that it is necessary to show that the interests of political parties and the interests of citizens and the state must be separated, and he called on young people to contribute and ensure a better situation in all areas, including the rule of justice.
”I am sure that there are people who want to contribute to that because now is not the time for politicians to warm up to the electoral body and voters. We are following the comments that have appeared in the past weeks, I would tell everyone to take advantage of the opportunity and time given to the Western Balkans to work on reforms,” he added.
