Russia fails to convene UNSC meeting on BiH? Informal consultations to follow

Instead, diplomatic sources from New York and Washington confirmed to N1 that closed informal consultations will take place on March 6, marking a shift from the formal session originally requested by representatives of Republika Srpska.

According to available information, Russia had pushed for an official UNSC debate following the conviction of Milorad Dodik, but the final decision was to hold a closed-door consultation. This means that representatives from Bosnia and Herzegovina or neighboring countries, including Serbia, will not have an opportunity to present their positions openly.

Nature of the closed consultations

Closed consultations within the UN framework involve all 15 UNSC member states in a private discussion setting. These meetings are not recorded in publicly available transcripts, and non-member states cannot take part. The information presented at the meeting is delivered exclusively by UN Secretariat officials or designated representatives.

As a result, Zeljka Cvijanovic will not have a direct opportunity to address the Security Council members. Instead, UN officials handling Bosnia-related issues will provide the key information.

Implications of the decision

Diplomatic sources suggest that the closed consultation format allows for direct bilateral talks and informal exchanges between Bosnia and Herzegovina's diplomatic mission and UNSC representatives. The meeting is expected to focus on the country’s political landscape, including recent legal and institutional developments.

The decision to hold informal consultations instead of a formal session could have long-term implications for how international bodies address Bosnia and Herzegovina-related matters. Its significance will depend on future developments and the stance of the international community.