Schwarz-Schilling: I wanted to remove Dodik

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Former High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina Christian Schwarz-Schilling said on Saturday evening that during his mandate he intended to act regarding the position of Milorad Dodik, but that the Americans were not in favor of it at that moment.

“In 2007, Dodik gave a very ugly election speech, in which he emphasized that he would hold a referendum. The Americans told me that I should act immediately. I decided to call him and tell him that this must not happen again, because I told him that I would react if he was not correct. He was fair until the elections themselves. When after the campaign he continued with what he had started, I said I would do something about it. The Russians protested. The Americans were waiting for a green light from Washington, then the others said they would wait too, because the Americans were also waiting. After a few days, the American said he had not received a green light from his side. And that changed because the ‘front in Kosovo’ had already been opened, so that the issue of Bosnia and Herzegovina would not be involved as well. But if that is used as an argument and if no action is taken now, then this train has passed us by,” said Schwarz-Schilling for Face TV.

He added that he told Dodik everything at the time, but the decision to remove Dodik was ultimately not made.

“As High Representative, I wanted to remove him, but the Americans did not allow it. Precisely because of that, my mandate was not extended, because they knew I would do something, that I would not listen to them. That is why they wanted to get rid of me,” concluded Schwarz-Schilling, speaking about the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik.

Asked whether Bosnia and Herzegovina is again threatened by war and whether he is concerned about the situation in BiH, Schwarz-Schilling said: “I have always told the truth, which is why I wished to raise questions of war in politics.”

“I once wrote that there are stories about a principle of not changing borders based on ethnic lines, which is exactly what is being discussed in Serbia and Kosovo, then I heard about it in the European Union. Mr. Vučić was involved. Then in Brussels they said it was fine if they could agree, which was confirmed by Mogherini. If we have forgotten what the rest meant, people are afraid to remain in some part. The international community becomes the one that agreed to it. I was told that there is talk that Trump and Putin might have an agreement, like I will take over the Serbs a bit, and you can extend towards Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that would supposedly be a solution. I thought that the Americans no longer know how to manage,” he concluded.

“I think Angela Merkel now has enough experience to see that the Balkans must not be neglected. Every day we talk about the Europeanization of certain parts of Europe. We conducted negotiations on what it means to be a member of the European Union. Yet when she started, she did not worry much about such things. I asked for her support, as the German candidate for High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina. She supported me then, and such a swift move was necessary. So, she encouraged me,” said Schwarz-Schilling, speaking about stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Asked how much Angela Merkel can influence relations in the Balkans and stability itself, he added: “Merkel promised me that.”

“She sees that things are changing, that Croatia's position plays a major role in this. Croatia's right-wing politics is heavily supported, so they try to make proposals for all neighboring countries. They often talk about a third entity, and that is something supported by the Croatian government. It is a cooperation between Croatia and the HDZ. If no one takes any action here in Bosnia and Herzegovina, if everyone falls asleep, war can certainly happen. No one here has yet taught anyone how democracy works,” said Schwarz-Schilling on the Face to Face show.