Professor of Constitutional Law Radomir Lukić said in the program Drugi ugao that a political struggle will take place between Europe and the United States over the selection of the next High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- There will be a battle between the Europeans and the United States over the name of the new High Representative. However, Europe has repeatedly demonstrated that it is unable to resolve a range of problems, including those in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Discussions will focus not only on the identity of the new High Representative, but also on his position. Therefore, there are two issues: powers and the person who will hold the office – Lukić stated.
Lukić recalled the composition of the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC):
- France, Italy, Japan, Canada, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, the Presidency of the European Union, the European Commission, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, represented in this body by Turkey. When you look at those members, it becomes important to assess who holds greater influence and who holds less.
He added that, in his view, recent developments illustrate the significance of American influence.
- We should not forget that Schmidt had to comply with the request of the United States to step down. Therefore, this will be more than a diplomatic contest. It is not easy to predict the outcome. Will Europe prevail in its desire for the High Representative to remain a European, or will the preference of the United States for its own candidate prevail? It is also possible that no agreement will be reached and that a decision could be postponed for some time, perhaps even for a month – Lukić concluded.
The professor emphasized that future discussions are likely to focus on two key questions: the identity of the next High Representative and the scope of the office’s authority within Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Source: RTRS
