PIC fails again to agree on a new High Representative, Crishock remains head of OHR

The meeting, held at the Office of the High Representative (OHR) in Sarajevo, ended without consensus on a candidate to succeed Christian Schmidt. As a result, Louis J. Crishock will continue serving as Acting High Representative.

It is not yet known when consultations on the appointment will resume, nor whether today's discussions brought the Steering Board members any closer to reaching a common position.

The OHR had not officially announced the conclusions of the meeting by the time this report was published.

Today's meeting followed an earlier unsuccessful attempt on June 30, when PIC members also failed to reach consensus on a new High Representative. At that time, Italian diplomat Antonio Zanardi Landi and French diplomat René Troccaz were mentioned as candidates, but neither secured the required support.

Following that meeting, the PIC appointed then-Principal Deputy High Representative Louis J. Crishock as Acting High Representative, setting July 14 as the target date for reaching agreement on a permanent appointment.

The OHR previously told FENA that the appointment of a new High Representative falls exclusively within the authority of the PIC Steering Board and that it does not comment on consultations or potential candidates.

The OHR also stressed that, in his capacity as Acting High Representative, Crishock exercises all the powers of the High Representative and ensures the continuity of the implementation of the civilian aspects of the Dayton Peace Agreement and the functioning of the OHR. He continues to be officially listed by the OHR as Acting High Representative.

This means that the failure to reach agreement today does not create a legal or institutional vacuum. Crishock will remain at the head of the OHR with full powers until the appointment process for a new High Representative is completed.

The Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina previously told FENA that Crishock's appointment was intended as a temporary solution and should not become a permanent arrangement. The EU Delegation expressed the expectation that a European candidate acceptable to all PIC Steering Board members would eventually be agreed upon.