From OHR to Patria: It is still unknown whether Schmidt will address the UN Security Council

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The OHR could not confirm to Patria whether the High Representative in BiH Christian Schmidt or his deputy and supervisor for Brčko Michael Scanlan will address the UN Security Council session. 

"The regular report of the High Representative to the United Nations has been submitted and distributed to the members of the UN Security Council. It will be published on the OHR website after it is published in the UN Official Document System. It is the prerogative of the UN Security Council to determine the date and format of the Council meeting at which the situation in BiH will be discussed," was the response from the OHR to Patria's inquiry. 

The UN Security Council session has been postponed until tomorrow, and in addition to discussing the situation in BiH, the Council is expected to extend the mandate of the EUFOR mission. 

Media have published parts of Schmidt's first report on BiH for the six-month period (April-October), which contains warning observations about the political situation in BiH that could escalate, even into armed conflict. 

Member states of the UN Security Council are discussing behind closed doors the format of the session in which BiH does not participate. There is also discussion about the text of the resolution, which, unlike previously adopted resolutions, mentions the Office of the High Representative under the Dayton Peace Agreement only in one place, but not the function of the High Representative. In the initial draft of the resolution, Russia crossed out any mention of the High Representative, whom it does not recognize. China also supports this, and it is objected that Schmidt was not elected by a vote in the UN Security Council, but that members were only informed of his appointment by the members of the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council.