Petritsch: An unstable BiH suits both the US and Russia, they need a High Representative to do their dirty work

(Patria) - Former High Representative in BiH Wolfgang Petritsch spoke tonight on FTV about the resignation and pressure on Christian Schmidt, BiH's European path, the Southern Interconnection project, Milorad Dodik, and the election of a new High Representative.

Petritsch said that Schmidt's resignation surprised him and warned that Bosnia and Herzegovina is entering a sensitive period before the elections.

- I was surprised, although I heard there was pressure for him to sign his resignation and withdraw. I am still very concerned, because Bosnia and Herzegovina is now in a situation where it needs the stability of the Office of the High Representative (OHR).

The elections are coming in October, and you need someone who knows the situation, who has been working here for more than four years. Because of Schmidt's resignation, everything is now left hanging, and that's what worries me, Petritsch said.

Speaking about possible reasons for Schmidt's departure, he assessed that it is a broader political problem in which the issue of state property, Russian influence, and American interests intertwine.

- For years, Russia has been obstructing everything the international community has been trying to do to bring BiH closer to the EU, with the help of Dodik, who has long been an agent of Moscow, and now also acts as an agent in the US against a European BiH. That's why you need a strong European stance and a clear strategy for what comes next, Petritsch emphasizes.

He believes that an assessment should be made of everything that has been done in BiH in the past 30 years, and the unresolved issues should be transferred to the European integration process.

- It is necessary to determine what has been achieved and what remains unresolved, such as state property, judicial and administrative reforms. These issues should be included in the negotiations with the EU through the relevant chapters. This would speed up the European path of Bosnia and Herzegovina and reduce space for Russian interference, Petritsch believes.

He notes that the knowledge and experience of the OHR should be preserved and integrated into the European process.

- We should not just close the OHR. This office has accumulated enormous experience, expertise, and practice over 30 years. The people working there should be involved in the European integration process and help BiH in negotiations with Brussels, says Petritsch.

Speaking about Milorad Dodik, he said that he has known him since the beginning of his political career and that he used to cooperate with the international community.

- The only successful constitutional reform was carried out with Dodik's help in 2002. At that time, the entity constitutions were reformed, vice-presidents from non-Serb peoples were introduced in RS, and greater participation of non-Serbs in institutions was enabled. However, he later decided to turn against Europe and the international community, Petritsch points out.

He reminds that Dodik has been investing money in lobbying in Washington for years.

- We know that millions of euros have been invested in Washington to have his sanctions lifted. We also know who is behind it, and all of this was paid for by the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was not paid out of his pocket, and that is precisely the big scandal, Petritsch's words.

He particularly criticized the way the Southern Interconnection project is being conducted, claiming that American business interests, which are not aligned with European rules, are behind it.

- Americans want to do business in Bosnia and Herzegovina today, and that is legitimate, but every business must comply with European Union rules. There is no transparency in this project.

We are talking about a company registered a few months ago in Wyoming that has no experience in building pipelines, and it is getting a huge job. That is against all logic, Petritsch said.

He adds that the citizens of BiH will ultimately pay the price for such projects.

- Bosnia and Herzegovina will eventually have to pay the bill. The country already has problems with the European Union, and now it is entering projects that further distance it from the European path. I wonder how the FBiH Government can do something that is against the interests of BiH, Petritsch states.

Speaking about the relations between the European Union and the US, he assessed that Washington no longer acts as Europe's ally.

- Since Donald Trump came to power, the European Union has become Washington's enemy. The United States is trying to weaken the EU, and one of the opportunities for this is Bosnia and Herzegovina, as one of the weakest countries in the European space, Petritsch believes.

He also emphasized that much broader political interests are hidden behind economic projects.

- We are talking about investments worth one and a half billion euros, but no one knows how it will be financed. I have spoken with former US ambassadors and experts, and they are all surprised.

The question arises as to what kind of corruption is being prepared here and what is being cooked up in the name of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and against the interests of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Petritsch underscores.

When asked who benefits from an unstable Bosnia and Herzegovina, he replied that such a situation currently benefits both Moscow and Washington.

- An unstable Bosnia and Herzegovina is in Russia's interest, but unfortunately, also in the US's interest now. They want to control the processes through the OHR and find a new High Representative who will do their dirty work. Europeans must prevent this at all costs, warns Petritsch.

He also believes that the next High Representative must have a clear European mandate.

- The new High Representative must have the task of transferring responsibility for the European future of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Brussels. This is a process that should have started more than 20 years ago, and now it is time for Europe to finally take the lead, Petritsch states.

He also touched upon the election of a new High Representative, assessing that it is almost impossible to find a person who would be acceptable to Russia, the US, and the European Union simultaneously.

- This is practically an impossible mission. It is already evident that something serious is happening behind the scenes and that there is a US strategy to find a person who will be acceptable to RS, the Russians, and the Americans. The problem is that all of this is happening on European soil, in European Bosnia and Herzegovina, Petritsch said.

He believes that the decision on the new High Representative should not be made before the elections in BiH and that Europe must take a leading role in this process.

He also warned that the European Union currently has many crises, and BiH is therefore being left aside.

- The European Union is facing the war in Ukraine, the crisis in the Middle East, problems in Africa, the migrant crisis, and strained relations with the US. In all of this, Bosnia and Herzegovina is, unfortunately, a small problem for Brussels, says the former High Representative.

He also says that Europe must approach BiH and its European path more seriously.

- Bosnia and Herzegovina must be put back on the right track. This is the task of Europe and European countries that are friends of BiH. It is necessary to insist on solutions that will bring the country closer to the European Union, not distance it from it, he concluded.

Speaking about international lobbying, Petritsch said that Dodik currently has serious connections in Washington and is using the business interests of the US administration.

- Trump's administration primarily looks at business interests, and Dodik is trying to find space for himself there. But BiH cannot be a piggy bank that everyone uses for their own interests. It is a country that must become a full member of the EU, Petritsch concluded.