ARCHIVE – Christian Schmidt (CSU), the High Representative of the International Community in Bosnia-Herzegovina, speaks at the statement. Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa
Keystone
After announcing his resignation, the United Nations High Representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina has admitted that pressure from the USA played a role in his decision. When asked by the Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper whether US President Trump had pressured him to do so, the German Christian Schmidt replied: “I don’t know what the American president meant. I can only say that there was enormous and surprising pressure from the USA.”
He had wanted to avoid the institution of the High Representative being “damaged by this discussion, the background to which is not entirely clear to me”, said the CSU politician. That is why he is now leaving a little earlier than he had imagined.
Schmidt announced his resignation from the position almost two weeks ago and spoke of a personal decision. The media had previously reported pressure from the USA.
Increasing support from the USA for Dodik
The government of US President Donald Trump is increasingly supporting the Bosnian Serb politician Milorad Dodik, who is pushing for the secession of the Serbian part of RS from the Bosnian state.
Since the war (1992 to 1995), in which more than 100,000 people were killed, Bosnia-Herzegovina has consisted of two parts: the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina (FBiH), which is mainly inhabited by Bosniaks and Croats, and the Republika Srpska (RS), which is mainly inhabited by Serbs. These parts of the country enjoy extensive autonomy.
Schmidt had used his powers to annul numerous laws of the RS that were intended to initiate secession. Washington’s change of course could also be linked to Dodik’s support for pipeline and gas power plant projects, which businessmen from Trump’s circle are promoting.
Schmidt: Was never against pipeline project
With this in mind, Schmidt now said: “The issue has played a role – but I was never against this project. On the contrary.” The pipeline from Croatia to Bosnia was initiated by the EU to make Bosnia-Herzegovina less dependent on Russian oil and gas, he said. “I am all the more surprised that the same EU has not managed to build this pipeline with European funds, but that Bosnia now needs the Americans, some of whom have their own ideas.”