The High Representative to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Christian Schmidt, gave a statement to Croatian TV RTL Channel regarding the details of his resignation.
When asked whether the United States administration sought his resignation over the state property issue, Schmidt said they failed to understand his position in this context.
“If we have to address the state property issue, I believe my approach is a positive one: you want to help resolve the issues without creating new ones. Therefore, I would say that some people are intensely considering what to do and how to do it, but they probably did not fully understand my position, which is constructive,” Schmidt told RTL.
The High Representative to Bosnia and Herzegovina also said that Washington was putting intense pressure on him to resign, and that SNSD President Milorad Dodik invested millions of dollars for this purpose.
“I do not want people like Dodik to try to gain political benefit from the elections, because they should not, as the entire legal framework remains in force. What we should focus on is the Southern Interconnection, a Croatian and Bosnian project. This is well known. I would suggest that the European Union provide financial support. I had a good conversation with (Croatian Prime Minister Andrej) Plenković about it, and I would support those who want this project to succeed, whether it is an American or a European initiative. However, it is important to ensure energy security in the region,” Schmidt said.
He emphasized that more details about his resignation and his term in Bosnia and Herzegovina will be revealed in the memoirs he will publish when he retires.
“Therefore, I spoke about many things, but many people are expecting my memoirs. They will be detailed and will reveal a bit more about how things really unfolded,” Christian Schmidt said.
His successor as High Representative should be elected at the session of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC), to be held on June 3 and 4.
