Bosnia's RS entity sends report to UN SC, slams Schmidt and his decisions

Republika Srpska Government made serious accusations against High Representative Schmidt, calling him “illegal” and a “destabilising factor” in the country.

The ruling majority in the entity does not recognise Schmidt as the High Representative, claiming that his appointment was not confirmed by the UN Security Council. These allegations were dismissed by UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres, who said that the only relevant body to appoint a high representative in BiH, the official who oversees the implementation of the peace process after the 1992-95 war, is the Peace Implementation Council – which did confirm Schmidt's appointment.

However, the authorities in this part of BiH have continued to call Schmidt illegal and send reports to the UN Security Council – presenting their own view on the situation in the country.

Also, for years, the RS leadership has been advocating the closing down of the Office of the High Representative, and objecting decisions made by high representatives – who have power to change laws and dismiss officials in BiH, as prescribed by the Dayton Peace Agreement, the deal which ended the war and established the country's constitutional order.

The latest report says among other things that “Republika Srpska supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of BiH.” Contrary to what its pro-Russia president Milorad Dodik has been suggesting for months, the report denied the secession plans and insisted on “return of the competencies” which, it emphasised, belong to the entity under the Constitution of BiH.”

The RS government also said it is committed to peace, rejecting any use of violence and expressing its readiness to cooperate with international partners, including the EUFOR Altea mission, whose presence in BiH it supports in terms of increasing the number of its members.

But, the report conveyed strong accusations against former and current high representatives, claiming that, with the support of Bosniak parties, they “led a campaign to destroy the Dayton compromise” and create a unitary state.

It labeled current envoy Schmidt as a “retired German bureaucrat,” who is “illegally usurping power.”

Schmidt's actions were assessed as "dangerous, provocative and destabilising", while his attempt to bring Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik to justice was called an "unprecedented scandal.”

“The crowning glory of his arbitrary actions is the attempt to overthrow and arrest the democratically elected President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik,” the report said, referring to Schmidt's decisions regarding Dodik, including the latest one on halting the financing for Dodik's ruling SNSD party.

Dodik's trial presented as politically rigged

The report also mentioned the trial of Milorad Dodik before the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina for not respecting the foreign envoy's decisions, saying that it was "based on a fictitious law," imposed by Schmidt in July 2023, which provides for penalties for officials who do not comply with his decisions.

"Dodik is not accused of violating a democratically adopted criminal code, but of disrespecting the arbitrariness of some German bureaucrat,” said the document send to the UN Security Council.

As for the attempts to arrest Dodik under the national warrant, the report said that any such move would be “dangerous” and would further deepen the crisis.