JOINT STATEMENT Schmidt and Hofreiter: We will consider sanctions if blockade of BiH continues

SARAJevo, (Patria) - High Representative Christian Schmidt informed members of the German Bundestag's Committee on European Affairs about the current situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Following today's discussion in Berlin, the High Representative and the Committee Chairman Anton Hofreiter issued the following statement: "The situation in BiH is worrying, as the blockade of institutions and the political unwillingness for constructive cooperation are drastically worsening the lives of people in BiH and jeopardizing the country's perspective.".

"One thing must be clear to everyone on the ground: if things do not move forward, the international community and the High Representative will continue to act. We agree that conditioning financial resources in the future must become the rule. The tactics of some politicians in the country of simply remaining silent in the hope that we will lose interest will not succeed. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and, in consultation with the international community, consider whether steps need to be taken and what those steps are. All parliamentary groups in the Bundestag agree on this," said Schmidt and Hofreiter.