US disappointed by divisions in the PIC, new High Representative expected by end of June

After no agreement was reached on the appointment of a new High Representative during the meeting of the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council, held on June 3–4 in Sarajevo, it was announced that consultations would continue and that a new session should be held by the end of June.

In a statement for FENA, the U.S. Department of State said there had been public expectations that a new High Representative would be selected at the PIC meeting in early June to ensure the stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

''The U.S. delegation sought to achieve consensus around a shared vision and an Italian candidate with the appropriate qualifications. The United States noted the failure of European partners to reach consensus on a European candidate and is disappointed that these divisions prevented the PIC from fulfilling its task—the selection of a new High Representative,'' the statement said.

Commenting on Schmidt's work, the State Department said the United States recognizes his years of dedicated service as the second-longest-serving High Representative since the establishment of the position, as well as his work in strengthening the institutions of a sovereign Bosnia and Herzegovina.

''As stated in his address to the United Nations Security Council, we expect Schmidt to leave the office of High Representative in June. We also expect the new High Representative to take office by the end of June,'' the State Department said.

The statement concluded by reaffirming that the United States continues to support the Dayton Peace Agreement and the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The incumbent High Representative, Christian Schmidt, was appointed on May 27, 2021, and assumed office on August 2 of the same year. His mandate, one of the longest in the history of the position, has been marked by intensive use of the powers of the Office of the High Representative.

Schmidt announced in May this year that he would step down and requested that the PIC initiate the procedure for selecting his successor, noting that he would remain in office until the process is completed.