Schmidt: Discussions on my successor to continue in the coming days, general consensus on OHR’s importance in BiH

The High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Christian Schmidt, announced that discussions regarding his successor will continue in the coming days, expressing confidence that a new high representative will be appointed by the end of June. Schmidt conveyed this through a video message on the Office of the High Representative's (OHR) YouTube channel, calling for the continuation of talks to finalize the appointment before the June 30 deadline.

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I have called on them to continue discussions on the election of my successor by the end of June, and that by June 30, the handover of duties will be carried out.

Schmidt highlighted a broad consensus among stakeholders about the significance of the OHR's ongoing work in BiH. He indicated that consultations for selecting his successor are ongoing and expressed hope for a consensus-based decision among the PIC Steering Board members. The chosen candidate, Schmidt noted, will be tasked with supporting the implementation of the Dayton Agreement and assisting BiH authorities in crucial reforms, particularly those related to the '5+2 agenda'.

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There is a general consensus on the importance of the OHR's work in BiH.

This was Schmidt's final Steering Board meeting as High Representative, and he thanked the council for their support during his five-year mandate. The two-day meeting in Sarajevo also addressed the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement and preparations for the upcoming general elections in October. Reforms aimed at enhancing the functionality of state-level institutions were also discussed.

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The selected candidate will support the implementation of the Dayton Agreement and assist the authorities in BiH in the important work of implementing reforms, especially the 5+2 agenda.

Despite the discussions, the PIC Steering Board did not reach a consensus on a successor during the meeting. Reports suggest that two candidates were debated: Italian diplomat Antonio Zanardi Landi, proposed by Italy with U.S. backing, and French diplomat René Trokazi, supported by France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Notably, Russia has not participated in the PIC Steering Board since suspending its activities and funding for the OHR in 2022, due to its opposition to Schmidt's appointment, which was not confirmed by the UN Security Council.

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During the two-day session of the PIC Steering Board in Sarajevo, the situation regarding the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement in BiH was also considered, and special attention was paid to preparations for the general elections, which will be held in that country in October.