Schmidt: Dodik has no support for forming RS Army, nor can he back down without losing face

(Patria) - Christian Schmidt, High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, believes there is no significant diplomatic engagement from the US and the European Union to end the crisis caused by the blockade of work of state institutions orchestrated by parties from the BiH entity of Republika Srpska.

The German diplomat stated this for the reputable British newspaper The Guardian, emphasizing that regional leaders have convinced the BiH Presidency member and SNSD leader Milorad Dodik to abandon his plans to withdraw Serb forces from the Armed Forces and re-establish the RS Army.

- We see that after many discussions, including those in the neighborhood, he received the message that no one will accept a path leading to an increased potential for political and - hopefully not - military conflict. I don't actually see a danger of war - Schmidt added, saying that there is less heavy weaponry in the country compared to 1992, when the war in BiH broke out.

Schmidt determined that Dodik's secessionist rhetoric and his promises to transfer competencies from the state to the entity level are leading the country towards a severe crisis.

- This tactic has reached a point where Dodik can no longer back down without losing face. I have the impression that we are very close to this point, and a very clear response from the international community is needed for this. I would say that the challenge of such a disintegration of Bosnia and Herzegovina would be that it could not be limited to BiH alone - Schmidt said.