Russia's Blackmail at Play: EUFOR to Stay, Escobar Arrives in BiH

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - High Representative in BiH Christian Schmidt will not present the report on BiH before the UN Security Council due to Russia's blockade, which conditioned the extension of the EUFOR mission in BiH if Schmidt is allowed to address the council.

In this case, UN Security Council member states had to agree to a rotten compromise with Russia, supported by China, regarding the non-recognition of the High Representative in BiH. This is the first time in the history of the High Representative's office that an address to the UN Security Council members has not been permitted.

Also, as Istraga.ba reports, the resolution to be adopted by the UN Security Council makes no mention of the OHR.

The report on BiH covers the period from April to mid-October and lists all problems and events that threaten escalation and possible conflict. Journalist Erol Avdović confirmed that this is a "Solomonic solution" in this case.

"What bothered the Russians the most and was the trigger was the High Representative's statement in the report that the announcement of the formation of an entity army in Republika Srpska, as announced by Milorad Dodik, is actually secession without the act of secession itself," said journalist Avdović.

Former High Representative Christian Schwarz-Schilling, who was also not appointed to the UN Security Council, said today in Sarajevo that Schmidt must address the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) due to being denied the opportunity to speak at the UN Security Council.

"Democratic principles must apply in the PIC, not a veto aimed against the High Representative so that he does not tell the truth. The EU must be clear that such a situation is not in accordance with human rights, nor with the UN Charter on Human Rights. It should be insisted from the PIC, from the assembly of all members, that they vote on this Report and submit it to the Security Council after it is voted on, and that the Security Council invites the High Representative to explain his Report," he said.

He is sure that EU member states will vote for his Report.

"When that is done, then the UN Security Council should decide to give the High Representative a new date for a session at which he will present the Report. If that does not happen, then we can say that the world democratic order is being destroyed, it is an attack on the world democratic order, and it is something that must be defended, and the High Representative has other options to react," he emphasized.

The former High Representative said that the international community is trying to preserve peace through its silence, but that they have been gravely mistaken and have opened the door to a dictator, namely Milorad Dodik.

Just three days after the UN Security Council session, US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar will arrive in BiH. He is expected to hold meetings with members of the BiH Presidency and political leaders on Monday.

Escobar had a hearing before a Subcommittee in the US Congress last week, where he also spoke about the situation in BiH.

Speaking about possible sanctions, he emphasized that they can be directed against individuals, but that there is still room for dialogue. He stressed that entities in BiH do not have the constitutional authority to unilaterally withdraw from state institutions.