US ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina Eric Nelson discussed on Tuesday with Bosnian Presidency Chairman Milorad Dodik the appointment of German envoy Christian Schmidt as the new High Representative in the country.

The ambassador stressed the US support for the appointment and the vital role that the Office of the High Representative has in “facilitating the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement” – the deal that ended the 1992-95 Bosnian war.

“We urge political leaders to focus on the reforms needed to further BiH's European path, improve the economy, and lead to BiH's graduation from international supervision. Divisive rhetoric only serves to slow down progress that will benefit all BiH citizens,” the embassy said following the meeting.

The Peace Implementation Council formally appointed Schmidt on May 27 and he will assume his duties as the head of the Office of the High Representative (OHR) as of August 1 this year. Schmidt will replace Austrian diplomat Valentin Inzko.

Dodik, who openly advocates the closure of the OHR, said earlier that the PIC did not have the power to appoint the official and that it was done in a “suspicious” way.

“The person they supposedly appointed as their High Representative will not be acceptable and Republika Srpska (Bosnia's Serb-dominated semi-autonomous entity) will not accept him or any of his competencies,” Dodik said, urging the public to reject Schmidt's appointment as well.