The United Nations Security Council convened today for its regular biannual debate on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Addressing the Council first was High Representative Christian Schmidt, who, in his report on the state of affairs in BiH, highlighted both positive and negative trends that have marked the recent period.
“This is the third year that I am addressing the Security Council in this capacity, since my appointment on May 27, 2021. I have submitted six reports on the implementation of the peace agreement to the Secretary-General and the Security Council,” Schmidt said at the outset of his address.
“International support is crucial for BiH to continue on the path of sustainable peace and progress and to avoid entering a phase of instability and economic difficulties. The state must rely on effective institutions, democratic principles of action, and adhere to the Constitution as outlined in Annex 4 of the Peace Agreement,” he added.
Fulfilled and unfulfilled promises
Schmidt emphasized a positive step regarding the opening of accession negotiations with the EU.
“There are still many unfulfilled promises in BiH, but let's start with the good news. I would like to congratulate Becirovic on behalf of the citizens of BiH on the important step of opening negotiations with the EU. The decision of the European Council is politically justified. Citizens fear war; they want to live in peace and stability.
“I call on everyone to take steps and act together for common progress. Building trust requires considerable effort. Moreover, this can be a good start, and it is not yet a finished job,” Schmidt said.
“The decline in birth rates is a significant challenge because BiH can lose younger generations. BiH must accelerate reforms and implement the Peace Agreement. That is the foundation on which we work.
“This is a good opportunity to step by step create a positive atmosphere and continue to strengthen trust and stability. All of this needs to be respected; the opening of negotiations with the EU is an important moment that is at risk due to threats from Republika Srpska, as well as others undermining BiH's authorities as envisaged by the Dayton Agreement,” he added in his address.
“Politically Motivated Attacks”
“Politically motivated attacks are being carried out on the Court of BiH, attempts are made to render the Court dysfunctional, so a solution needs to be found, and it is possible if relevant political actors from both entities are involved.
“I want to use the announcement from the FBiH that a new judge will be appointed to the Constitutional Court who is from the HDZ, and that could be a good step in that direction. I call on the Parliament and FBiH to approve that,” he said.
“The authorities of Republika Srpska are seriously violating the Dayton Agreement. This anti-Dayton behavior poses a threat of secession from Republika Srpska, which could have serious consequences for BiH and the region. We in the international community must monitor what is happening and act together. The security situation cannot be considered unstable; I call on civil and religious leaders not to react to provocations,” Schmidt emphasized.
“Everyone should accept that no one should destroy the foundations of the house that others want to build. The Office of the High Representative should be retained to continue its mandate because it can still submit a proposal and a positive assessment to the PIC members, and therefore, the office cannot be closed. The role of the High Representative will focus more on banning discrimination than it was before,” he added in his address.
ALTEA military mission
“It should be extended and contribute to the stability of the state. We should view EUFOR and ALTEA as a positive step. Therefore, I support the extension of the mission,” Schmidt said.
“I call on the authorities to strengthen electoral integrity. We still do not see the results, so I signed the Law on the Entry into Force of Amendments to the Law in light of preparations for the elections,” Schmidt emphasized.
“I have decided that convicted war crimes before domestic and international courts can participate in elections,” he stated.
Glorification of war criminals and denial of genocide
The High Representative in BiH recounted a case, which he says he received information about but did not personally verify.
“Yesterday, some of the highest officials of the Ministry of Defense, deputy commanders, and others from the top, who come from Republika Srpska, caused a scandal because they caused an incident, as we heard, in front of the monument to Ratko Mladic. That is Ratko Mladic's hometown; photographs can be seen, and those were individuals in uniform. I have to verify that, if it happened, then it is a serious violation of BiH criminal law and cannot be accepted because it glorifies war criminals, which is unacceptable,” Schmidt said.
“Denying the genocide in Srebrenica and glorifying war criminals is unacceptable. Certain political structures cannot reconcile with the past,” the High Representative added.
“We must teach children that there should never be war again, and much remains to be done,” he said near the end of his report.
The reporting period from October 16 to April 15 was marked by Bosnia and Herzegovina's (BiH) progress towards integration into the European Union (EU), but also unprecedented attacks on the General Framework Agreement for Peace, said the High Representative in BiH, Christian Schmidt.
He emphasized that on March 21 and 22, 2024, the European Council decided to open accession negotiations with BiH. The Council called on the European Commission to prepare a negotiating framework, which will be adopted after all relevant steps from the Commission's recommendation of October 12, 2022, are completed. The decision of the European Council represents a turning point in terms of the opportunities opening up for BiH, Schmidt emphasized.
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