Christian Schmidt, the German diplomat recognized as the high representative in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina but perceived as a mere tourist in Republika Srpska, addressed the public today after a prolonged period of silence.
Schmidt’s “silence” has persisted since Donald Trump assumed office as U.S. president. He also refrained from reacting when Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik accused him of taking money from USAID for “underground operations.”
In today’s address, Schmidt, as expected, once again focused on Republika Srpska. He reiterated, yet again, that Republika Srpska is not a state but one of the two multiethnic entities within the sovereign state of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“As such, it does not have statehood,” Schmidt stated while commenting on the celebration of Sretenje as Republika Srpska’s Statehood Day.
He acknowledged that the historical events related to Serbs in the 19th century remain undeniable. However, he added that they cannot be misused in today’s context.
“Our unity lies in European integration. The Dayton Peace Agreement is clear: entities legally exist only based on the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina and do not possess ‘sovereignty’ or ‘statehood.’ Republika Srpska, as an integral part of the sovereign state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is subject to its sovereignty. Furthermore, Republika Srpska is not an entity of the Serb people but a multiethnic entity in which three constituent peoples (and Others) are equal, and entity authorities do not represent only the Serb people,” Schmidt emphasized.
He urged all political actors to respect the principles of the mentioned agreement, as they form the legal and constitutional foundation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This, he added, is established by the Dayton Peace Agreement.
“I call on political leaders and public officials to promote stability, dialogue, and reconciliation through their statements, rather than divisions. I remain fully committed to upholding peace, stability, and progress based on the Dayton Peace Agreement, in the interest of all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Schmidt concluded.
Source: Glas Srpske
