High Representative Christian Schmidt has rejected allegations that Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic influenced the decisions whereby he unblocked the functioning of Bosnia and Herzegovina's Federation entity, stating that leading politicians in Croatia have different views on the matter as well.

“Unlike Dodik, he (Plenkovic) talks to me. That's correct. The decisions I make, I make exclusively on my own,” Schmidt said in an interview with Bosnia and Herzegovina Radio and Television (BHRT).

Schmidt made the statement when asked if he had intervened in election regulations and procedures for the appointment of the government under the influence of the Croatian prime minister, as insinuated by the Bosniak Party of Democratic Action (SDA). He added that the decisions he made are commented on in different ways also in Croatia. “This discussion is multi-layered. Look at what the president of state and others are saying in Croatia,” he added.

The German politician at the helm of the international administration in Bosnia and Herzegovina has intervened on two occasions in the Constitution of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the BiH Election Law. He first did it in the night after general elections on October 2, 2022 and then last week, after which the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was unblocked and a new entity government was elected. Because of these decisions, some Bosniak politicians and a part of the public have accused him of making decisions in favour of the Croats, and several protest rallies were organised.

The High Representative also commented on Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik's refusal to meet him, which is why he did not come to the opening ceremony of the Economy Fair in Mostar. He pointed out that in BiH there are far more people who want to cooperate with him and work in the interest of all peoples, citizens and the whole of BiH than those who do not.

On Thursday, Schmidt commented for the Sarajevo-based Oslobodjenje daily on Dodik's statements about secession and emphasised that this is not something that Dodik can do.

Dodik must respect the Dayton Agreement, not interpret it. And I can only recommend that he look at what Serbia says about it, Schmidt said, adding that he had not heard Belgrade question BiH's territorial integrity in any way. This is just a reminder that it's not going to happen, he said.

Asked if he was worried about the radicalisation of Bosniaks, after the latest decisions that he imposed to enable the formation of the government of the BiH Federation entity without the SDA, Schmidt said that he was “really worried”.

I am aware that the Bosniaks in Bosnia and Herzegovina have suffered a lot. It's all right for me that certain questions are being asked easily. But that's exactly why we here, as well as all those who back the Dayton Agreement, have to say that there is nothing secret in that agreement, he stressed.

According to him, there can be different opinions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the basic goal should always prevail – to enable people to live normally and in peace.