Schmidt: My position is not threatened, Dodik needs to 'get down to earth'

(Patria) - High Representative for BiH Christian Schmidt stated that he is in favor of dialogue between various actors in the Federation of BiH, but also that he prefers useful assistance from all neighboring countries in resolving the crisis in BiH, and that his talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić are very useful in that regard.

"This is of great help, and it is good that I do not have to introduce myself to President Vučić or other political leaders from Serbia, as I have been here before. Belgrade and Sarajevo are close by air, and if necessary, we will talk depending on the situation. We will see. I like coming to Belgrade," said the High Representative.

Christian Schmidt told the Tanjug agency, when asked if the crisis in BiH can be resolved through dialogue or if the solution relies on pressure on Republika Srpska and Milorad Dodik, that dialogue within BiH, and also within Republika Srpska, would be desirable.

Schmidt sees this dialogue primarily with, as he says, politicians who disagree with Dodik, and there are many such people in that entity.

"The problem is not in the dialogue between the international community and him (Dodik); many people talk to him, and I have invited him, and many important people have invited him to talk to me. We must talk for the sake of the good development of the country, and I do not reject proposals just because they come from Republika Srpska. I have to be neutral," said Schmidt.

He called on Dodik to, as he says, 'get down to earth'.

As he said, the actors want to talk, but the international community cannot offer him to talk only to him, because, he says, there are many other politicians in Republika Srpska, and they do not all agree with the Serb member of the Presidency of BiH.

When asked if he sees himself, given the challenges to his legitimacy, as someone who can resolve the current crisis in BiH, Schmidt says that he can contribute to the solution in the best possible way.

"This should not be personalized. I have been here for 100 days, I have a lot of political experience, and I am politically committed to solving problems. I am convinced that I should contribute to this as much as I can, but it will not be effective without the help of others. The problem is that politicians talk to politicians, while people should talk to people," said Schmidt.

Commenting on the statement by the commander of the EUFOR military mission in BiH, Austrian General Alexander Placer, that he sees "no classic military threat" in the statements of the Serb member of the Presidency Milorad Dodik, and that the international community can hardly prevent a return to multiple armies, and that the question is what is problematic about Republika Srpska wanting to regain that jurisdiction, Schmidt says that he appreciates Placer's opinion, but that it should be discussed.

"I appreciate General Placer's opinion, and I would agree with him that there is no real military threat, but if you look at the legislative acts, the transfer agreements that are in Dayton and that imply a single military structure, from which you cannot unilaterally withdraw, and that is the issue Placer mentioned, it needs to be discussed. Our stance is 'one state, one army'; we do not want to have multiple armies because it is not a good idea, for many reasons, considering the last 30 years, and I know Placer has the same stance," said Schmidt.

Speaking about comparing the situation in BiH with Kosovo and Metohija, Schmidt says that these two situations are not comparable because BiH has a different structure and different challenges.

"I know that both countries are in Serbia's focus due to the Serb population, however, the challenges in Kosovo are different. BiH is on the path to European integration. It is more about fulfilling promises; it does not have border situations like Kosovo," said Schmidt for Tanjug.

Christian Schmidt said that the fact that he did not personally present the report on BiH at the UN Security Council session and that a resolution was adopted at that session which does not mention the OHR and the High Representative does not affect his position in the international community in any way.

Schmidt thus answered the question of whether his legitimacy as the High Representative in BiH has been called into question, after he was not allowed to personally read the report and after a resolution was passed extending the mandate of Eufor and which does not mention the OHR and the High Representative.

"What is important is that I submitted my report. By doing so, I received more recognition and observations for the report than if I had presented it live. But that's okay and it doesn't affect my position in the international community in any way. The things I felt needed to be said, I said and wrote," said Schmidt.

When asked why the media are commenting on the outcome of the UN Security Council decision in categories of 'winner' and 'loser' on one hand, and on the other hand see it as a compromise of dissenters, Schmidt says there are no winners and losers and that the situation is very clear.

"It is very important to say that there are no winners and losers; it is just a very clear description of the situation as it is. Many people in the region are very committed to preventing the escalation of the situation. Allow me to name them. These are Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and other responsible people who have to deal with many things. I would perhaps say that there are more winners. There should be no further escalation or references to past times," assessed Schmidt.

Commenting on remarks from Republika Srpska that his report looks like it was written by SDA leader Bakir Izetbegović, Schmidt says he doesn't know what Izetbegović writes or thinks, but that the report is his and that he focused on issues in the Federation where there are the most challenges.

"The cooperation of people is by no means a conspiracy. I have individually singled out Mr. Dodik. We are not part of a political game, although politicians like to play games, but I would like to say that it is too serious for people to continue. I know Izetbegović, but I assure you that neither he nor Mr. Dodik contributed to my report," said Schmidt.