President of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska Nenad Stevandić has stated that the most significant outcome of the latest United Nations Security Council session on BiH was what he described as a clear message from the United States, Russia and China that the Office of the High Representative (OHR) has outlived its purpose and should be closed.
Speaking to the SRNA news agency, Stevandić emphasized the importance of the positions expressed by the three major world powers during the Security Council debate.
“The most important thing is that the three greatest powers — the United States, Russia and China — have said at the UN Security Council that the OHR’s time has expired and that it should be closed,” Stevandić stated.
He argued that these positions carry greater significance than the views of those who continue to support the OHR’s involvement in BiH.
“This is far more important than the position of those who believe that abusing the OHR and its reports will change something in the UN Security Council. It will not. Everyone will be against the OHR,” Stevandić told SRNA.
Stevandić criticizes continued existence of OHR
Stevandić strongly criticized the continued operation of the Office of the High Representative, claiming that its existence is maintained primarily through institutional interests.
He alleged that OHR officials benefit from high salaries and use various forms of manipulation to preserve their positions.
Stevandić also addressed perceptions of the OHR among the Bosniak public.
“There is a narrative among the Bosniak public that the OHR protects them. I believe it only protects them from reaching agreements with Serbs. They will probably also become aware that the OHR is merely an obstacle, rather than a protector of BiH,” he stated.
Russian support for Republika Srpska is understandable
Commenting on the position of Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya, Stevandić said he considered the diplomat’s support for Republika Srpska entirely understandable.
He argued that other international representatives also support particular political positions in BiH, but that Nebenzya expresses his views openly.
EUFOR mandate extension demonstrates importance of consensus
Stevandić also commented on the UN Security Council’s decision to extend the mandate of the European Union Force’s Operation Althea (EUFOR) in BiH for another year.
He described the decision as an example of how BiH can function when there is agreement among all relevant parties.
According to Stevandić, the extension demonstrates that cooperation and consensus remain essential for maintaining stability.
US and Russian representatives address future of international supervision
During the Security Council session, US Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Tammy Bruce called on Acting High Representative Louis Crishock to encourage authorities at the BiH level to assume full responsibility for domestic affairs.
Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya, meanwhile, sharply criticized the role of the OHR.
Nebenzya argued that the institution was being used as an instrument of interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign country.
He also accused the OHR of exercising control over BiH’s legislative institutions, judiciary, law enforcement agencies and electoral bodies.
Stevandić interpreted the statements made during the Security Council debate as an indication of growing international support for transferring political responsibility to domestic institutions and ending the OHR’s supervisory role.
Source: RTRS
