DODIK: SCHMIDT COULD SOON LEAVE

MOSCOW, SEPTEMBER 10 /SRNA/ - President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik stated that everything must be done to close the Office of the High Representative /OHR/, emphasizing that Christian Schmidt could soon leave BiH and be replaced by someone ready for consensus.

Commenting on Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remark that Schmidt is a stranger, Dodik underlined that Russia recognized the problem of his appointment and had its own proposals when Schmidt was brought before the UN Security Council. "They suggested appointing him - even Schmidt at that time - but with a two-year mandate, without Bonn Powers, and then closing the OHR. After 30 years, that would have been appropriate," Dodik said in an interview published on SRNA's YouTube channel. According to Dodik, the arrogance of the Biden administration and Europe went so far that they informally, without a Security Council decision, supported Schmidt, seeking to impose by force what they call "the final completion of unfinished business". He pointed out that Russia and China had long maintained their opposition to such actions even three decades later. "At one of the meetings, I heard someone admit it was a mistake, because they couldn't believe that someone without authority would go so far. That is why they are now getting involved in resolving this issue," Dodik said. He added that, according to available information, Schmidt could soon depart, and someone acceptable to all sides might arrive, bringing the process to an end without Bonn Powers. "In essence, third-rate diplomats have run BiH and driven it into an almost impossible situation. It has all been, essentially, a lie about the European path," Dodik concluded.