Schmidt: PIC reached broad consensus on importance of OHR for Bosnia

“There is a broad consensus on the importance of the Office of the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina. These consultations will continue, and all participants hope that a candidate for this position will be selected by consensus in the coming days, with the aim of completing the handover of duties by the end of June,” Schmidt said.

He added that the selected candidate would support the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement and assist the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the important task of carrying out reforms, particularly with regard to fulfilling the “5+2” agenda.

“Allow me to say that while the PIC continues to address this issue, and while we expect the nomination and appointment of my successor in the foreseeable future, this was the last PIC session that I chaired. Let me thank the Steering Board members for their strong support throughout my five-year mandate,” Schmidt stated.

He emphasized that the PIC would continue working on the matter and expressed hope that the transition period would proceed smoothly in the coming weeks.

Schmidt also noted that particular attention during the discussions had been devoted to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s preparations for the General Elections in October, as well as to domestically led reforms aimed at strengthening the functionality of state-level institutions, where participants remain deeply concerned by the lack of progress.