The latest report by Christian Schmidt on Bosnia and Herzegovina was presented before the UN Security Council. The power play of major forces unfolded at the round table in New York. Is Schmidt’s resignation a sign of a US-Russian spring? Will they write us off or take stock of the assets? Two reports, one truth, and great uncertainty facing Bosnia and Herzegovina. Zlatko Lagumdžija and Emir Suljagić were guests on the show Plenum.
Lagumdžija: Americans Suspended Projects Related to New Divisions in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Zlatko Lagumdžija, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United Nations, speaking about the circumstances preceding Schmidt’s resignation, said he was familiar with the process and the intensive diplomatic discussions held in recent days.
“I am aware of the entire process and was familiar with the events of the past few months. In the last ten days, everything intensified further through communication with Security Council members, ambassadors, and people actively involved in the process. I had multiple meetings with Schmidt, as well as with domestic representatives and international partners,” Lagumdžija said.
He added that there were differing opinions regarding the date of Schmidt’s resignation, and that the goal was to ensure the stability and continuity of the Office of the High Representative.
The dilemma centered on whether Schmidt should leave immediately to allow a fresh start for the new high representative, or wait until after the elections. Those who supported immediate resignation believed it was important to strengthen the conditions for the privatization of peace and to suspend projects that Dodik, with support from Moscow, attempted to implement. At the same time, Schmidt’s departure with a positive assessment of his tenure would open the door for a new person to continue the work without the burden of ongoing attacks and without Dodik and others as a central topic, he said.
Lagumdžija believes it is especially important that the Security Council confirmed the legitimacy of the Office of the High Representative and all of Schmidt’s decisions.
“It has been clearly stated that the Office of the High Representative is not in question. The issue is the policies that are destroying Bosnia and Herzegovina and promoting secession. It has been confirmed that the Office of the High Representative will remain, that a new High Representative will be appointed, and that all of Schmidt’s decisions will remain in force,” he emphasized.
He reflected on the reactions from the domestic political scene following Schmidt’s resignation.
“I was surprised to see that members of the so-called pro-Bosnian political establishment, who are now dramatizing Schmidt’s departure, are the same people who previously said the worst things about him. These are the same people who attacked him, claimed he was not good, and now suddenly they are lamenting: ‘Oh no, the man is leaving, what are we going to do?’ So, what are we going to do? The Office of the High Representative remains, his decisions remain, and a new High Representative is coming. This shows me that part of the political scene clearly does not know how to act in the state’s interest, but only acts when fighting for power,” Lagumdžija said.
He added that the international community in the Security Council clearly recalled events from the previous period.
“The Americans clearly recalled that secession was taking place, the project was suspended, the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina showed strength, and Dodik was convicted and removed from certain positions. All this remains in force after Schmidt’s departure,” he said.
Speaking about state property, Lagumdžija said that domestic institutions have a plan and the matter will remain a priority for the new High Representative.
“State property must be what its name says – state property. This will continue to be an important issue, and the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina must do everything in their power to ensure that this property serves the development of the state,” he said.
He also reflected on the issue of the Southern Interconnection, stating that this project demonstrated how political blockages can be overcome.
“Southern Interconnection showed that, where there is a will, there is a way. All those who tried to turn gas into a Bosniak, Serbian, or Croatian project were ultimately defeated by the fact that the Americans came with a serious investment that promotes development, not new divisions,” Lagumdžija concluded.
Suljagić: Bosnia and Herzegovina Is Not on the Table as a Topic, but as a State
Emir Suljagić, Director of the Srebrenica-Potočari Memorial Center, said that the public is unnecessarily worried about international political procedures, stating that Bosnia and Herzegovina remains a stable and sovereign state regardless of political circumstances or individual international actors.
“Bosnia and Herzegovina existed long before the Dayton Peace Agreement, the Office of the High Representative, and Christian Schmidt, and it will continue to exist after him. This country is here and it is not going anywhere,” Suljagić said.
He emphasized that he is speaking solely on his own behalf. “Tonight I am not speaking in an official capacity or on behalf of the Memorial Center, but as a citizen and a public intellectual exercising his right to comment on what he sees,” he said.
Speaking about the session of the UN Security Council, he said there is no reason for fear. “I notice unnecessary existential concern among part of the public. There is not a single reason for panic or fear,” he said.
He emphasized that Bosnia and Herzegovina was represented through its institutions. “Bosnia and Herzegovina was represented by the Chair of the Presidency and the Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Those are state institutions articulating its stance,” he said.
Commenting on the role of the High Representative, Christian Schmidt, he said that he does not see a problem there. “The High Representative presented his report, which is part of his mandate,” Suljagić said.
He added that Bosnia and Herzegovina today is not treated as a subject of international negotiations. “I do not think that we were on the table as a topic, but as a state,” he said.
Speaking about the relationship between the international community and Bosnia and Herzegovina, he recalled a previous period marked by decreased engagement.
“The international community has not acted in an interventionist manner for a long time. That engagement has been reduced for years,” he pointed out.
He also mentioned the “local ownership” concept.
“We have already seen all of this before the start of the 2000s, when the international community’s strategy was to transfer responsibility to domestic institutions,” he said.
Discussing political projects in the region, Suljagić was very direct. “If there is panic today, it is present in the Serbian and Croatian nationalist projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” he said.
He assessed that these projects are losing momentum. “These projects do not have internal, mobilizing, or demographic strength. They still survive mostly on a demographic level.”
He added that he believes they are trying to use their final chance for political influence. “They believe this is the last moment to try to cause permanent damage to Bosnia and Herzegovina,” he said.
He emphasized that the country has the capacity to defend itself. “While there are people attacking this country, there will be people whose job is to defend it,” Suljagić said.
Speaking about the role of citizens, he said that responsibility cannot be transferred to the international community. “If we do not protect and defend our country, nobody else will do it for us,” he said.
He added that he believes in the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina. “I believe in an independent, sovereign, European, civic, and multicultural Bosnia and Herzegovina,” he said.
Commenting on claims about the alleged connection of Bosniaks with radicalism, he was firm. “That is Radovan Karadžić’s vocabulary. I know very well what I am talking about because I studied almost every one of his speeches and appearances from that period,” Suljagić said.
He stated that this is an attempt at international stigmatization of Bosniaks. “Such rhetoric is intended for audiences who share Islamophobic, racist, and dehumanizing attitudes toward Muslims,” he said.
He added that such narratives must be constantly exposed. “They should be continually exposed and discredited, because this is dangerous genocidal rhetoric,” he said.
Speaking about requests for Ratko Mladić’s release for treatment, Suljagić said he does not expect any changes. “There are clear procedures, and victims are always consulted in such cases,” he said.
He recalled previous cases. “Radislav Krstić was not released due to opposition from the victims and the Memorial Center,” he said.
He was categorical regarding Mladić. “He will die in prison and will not die a free man,” Suljagić said.
In the end, he also addressed the criminal complaint filed against Milorad Dodik for glorifying war criminals. “The Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina has a legal obligation to act on the complaint and conduct the procedure,” he said.
He added that he had fulfilled his part of the responsibility. “My civic duty and my mission to protect Srebrenica was to file this criminal complaint,” Suljagić said.
