HIGH REPRESENTATIVE

Schmidt: Representatives of the RS should return to the institutions

He believed that he would speak in a more positive light, but everyone is aware of the situation in which B&H now has found itself

Christian Schmidt. Fena

H. J. I. / Fena

Bosnia and Herzegovina is now in a situation where certain elected representatives paralyze the work of the state institutions, which is not in line with the oath taken, and politicians who do not focus on real challenges, in the long run, will not have support, said today in his address to the MPs in the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina the High Representative of the International Community in B&H Christian Schmidt.

He said he intended to address lawmakers after 100 days of his term, which began on August 1 and is now about that time. He believed that he would speak in a more positive light, but everyone is aware of the situation in which B&H now has found itself.

The work of the state institutions is still blocked since the political representatives of the B&H entity of Republic of Srpska who were elected to state institutions refuse to participate in the work of institutions and do not attend today's session.

- Not all representatives are there, but I hope that they will attend and use the opportunity to discuss because the parliament is a place for dialogue - Schmidt underlined, recalling that even after arriving in B&H, he invited his critics to talk, not to comment on each other through the media.

He mentioned that he has met with numerous leaders in B&H, but also in the region because he is of the opinion that they can contribute to a better environment, as well as with officials from several countries. He did all this in order to keep BiH in the focus and announced that he would soon address the United Nations Security Council.

- I assure you that the international community is involved in all this, but today I will not speculate on any decisions - said Schmidt, adding that there was no constructive dialogue in the parliament during this term, and the number of the passed laws has been minimal.

B&H is now in a situation where institutions are paralyzed, says Schmidt, too much is questionable, although we know exactly what problems need to be solved for future generations, to move closer to the European Union and ensure a better future.

He says that the representatives from the entity of Republic of Srpska are bothered by the imposed amendment to the Criminal Code, which prohibits the denial of genocide and glorification of war criminals, but it applies to all victims, and at the same time they refuse to work in the institutions where laws are passed.

He, therefore, called on them to return to the institutions because that is the way responsible politicians behave, and in that way B&H's path to the European Union would continue, saying that giving up the reforms achieved in the last 26 years is "playing politics over the interests of the citizens".

He condemned the fact that the National Assembly of Republic of Srpska adopted a law establishing an entity medicines agency, asking them what kind of policy is that to dismantle an agency that works on protecting people's health.

- I do not underestimate the situation, I monitor it very carefully. I call on everyone to think about whether they want safe pharmacology and to give up trying to dismantle state institutions that, among other things, have brought the citizens of B&H a visa-free regime and many other benefits - Schmidt added.

This unilateral regression, he reiterated, will jeopardize the country's European path, but also economic progress, and he asked who was willing to go in that direction, adding that the international community will not look at it idly standing by, and the citizens certainly do not want that.

Schmidt requested an address at the House of Representatives session to discuss the current political situation and growing political tensions and to present his views and priorities for the future.

The ambassadors of the member states of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) Steering Board officially appointed Schmidt as High Representative on May 27, after he was nominated for the position by Germany. He officially took office on August 1.