Schmidt's Report Proves Only One Thing: Division of BiH is Imminent, Who Can Prevent It!?

By: Rasim Belko @rasimbelko

The situation in BiH is urgent and requires immediate attention. Any further progress depends on the willingness of political leaders to commit to a common goal - a stable, prosperous, and European-integrated Bosnia and Herzegovina. Time is not a luxury for BiH, and further delays can jeopardize its future.

This is how the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Christian Schmidt, concludes his regular report on Bosnia and Herzegovina, who has long been repeating the same mantras and phrases on the international stage, without taking even the smallest step to resolve the problems he himself calls a threat to the survival of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Although in a significant part of his report the High Representative has quite clearly and precisely identified the problems that threaten the peace agreement and the fate of Bosnia and Herzegovina, he still asks in his concluding remarks for "political leaders in BiH to commit to a common goal." From everything Schmidt has stated previously, it is clear that political leaders in our country not only do not have a common goal, but are absolutely in conflict in their actions. That is, the policies that follow the war aims of Belgrade and Zagreb continue to try to break up the state, but Schmidt dares not say this because both Zagreb and Belgrade are his partners. He often socializes with their leaders there, instead of using his authority and power to resolve issues within Bosnia.

Even before Schmidt's report, we knew that the statehood of Bosnia and Herzegovina was threatened, it is only a matter of time before, in addition to stating such a situation to the UN Security Council, the question of stopping the collapse of Bosnia and Herzegovina, responsibility for this collapse, and the removal of dangerous elements is raised.

And as a dangerous political element, Schmidt correctly identified Milorad Dodik and actions from the RS entity through the report. In one sentence, Schmidt states: "If these actions continue, they could lead to the de facto, if not de jure, dissolution of the state of BiH".

Therefore, when Schmidt presents his report tomorrow at the highest level of international relations, what we have been writing for months on the pages of Patria will be confirmed - the dissolution of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina is more certain than its progress.

Dodik and his bosses Putin and Vučić are very responsible. But they are not the only ones. Čović and his boss Plenković bear responsibility for such a situation. However, the most responsible for bringing Bosnia and Herzegovina to the brink of collapse is none other than Christian Schmidt, and jointly responsible are the Peace Implementation Council and the international coalition from the West, which has given all these destroyers of the peace agreement space and opportunities to destroy Bosnia and Herzegovina without consequences and punishment.

Therefore, I will once again express my doubt that the West is more likely to work on the division of Bosnia and Herzegovina than on its strengthening and integration into Euro-Atlantic organizations. This Schmidt report is also proof of that. Attacks on returnees are continuously noted, but even more continuously, nothing is done to make people who have returned to their homes after wartime suffering feel safe. From the perspective of these returnees, whom Schmidt sees exclusively as a note in his report, the war has never ended, because they go to bed and wake up with fear.

Undoubtedly, this Schmidt report will not change that situation, just as it will not change the relations regarding all other crisis points in BiH. Schmidt knows that the ECtHR judgments must be implemented, but he still emphasizes what his friends Čović and Plenković need - changes to the Election Law. In Schmidt's report, on this issue either, the interest of Bosnia, and especially of Bosniaks, is not mentioned.

However, despite the problems that threaten peace and the survival of the internationally recognized state, it mentions those who have long been absent from the political scene and those who have been convicted. And those convicted, like Fadil Novalić, are mentioned because they were convicted precisely because they obstructed the plans of Schmidt's principals, so they must serve as a warning to anyone who would dare to act similarly.

The future of Bosnia and Herzegovina is dark, because its institutions and statehood are being sacrificed for the sake of preserving a false peace agreement, which translates to the West's primary goal being to preserve peace and avoid creating a new hotspot in Europe. Even if it means dividing an internationally recognized state. In this context, this Schmidt report should be viewed, as well as the engagement and increased presence of EUFOR forces.

It should be clear that even after this Schmidt report, there should be no illusion that things will be better in Bosnia and Herzegovina tomorrow. The fact that 30 years after the peace agreement, the possibility of dividing a defended and internationally recognized state is being discussed at the highest level clearly indicates that all patriots must be cautious and prepared.

Because, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a diplomatic stepping stone for Schmidt, a problem for the international community, and for us, our only home and the only guarantee of survival. Therefore, the only lesson we must draw from this Schmidt report is to start organizing ourselves. Primarily politically, and consequently in every other field.

Because Dodik and Čović have been replicating the aggressor policies condemned for genocide and the UZP for too long. Schmidt and the Peace Implementation Council have been noting all this for too long and not reacting.

There is no doubt that the defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina rests on our shoulders. We just need to overcome our egos to strengthen the front for the preservation of what we have defended. And when we can do that, when we draw strength from that unity, neither Schmidt, nor the Security Council, nor the West as a whole will have the courage, through reports and diplomatic activities, to instruct Dodik and Čović that they are close to achieving their war aims - the division of Bosnia and Herzegovina!