JOVANOVIĆ: SCHMIDT DISSATISFIED WITH DAMAGE HE HAS INFLICTED SO FAR

BELGRADE, DECEMBER 5 /SRNA/ - The president of the Belgrade Forum for the World of Equals, Živadin Jovanović, said that Christian Schmidt is once again raising the issue of "state property" because he is not satisfied with the damage he has inflicted on BiH so far, particularly on Republika Srpska.

Jovanović emphasized that Schmidt is dissatisfied because some major powers are calling for his removal and because he attempted to play the role of High Representative, but he went too far from the start in pursuing Germany’s hegemonic and expansionist interests. "Even his closest friends do not approve of it. Things are unfolding against him, and the best he can do for himself and for Germany is to step down from the office," Jovanović, former Foreign Minister of the FR Yugoslavia, told SRNA. He believes that Schmidt’s explanations for once again raising the issue of “state property” are the result of his delusion that he possesses God-given authority in BiH, which is particularly aimed at causing damage to Republika Srpska. "What he is trying to assess is not within his authority, as this falls under the jurisdiction of elected institutions, such as the assemblies at all levels," Jovanović said. He pointed out that from the very beginning, Schmidt positioned himself incorrectly as an authority without whose intervention and impositions nothing in BiH could be resolved. "Schmidt fails to see that the problems, primarily in the other entity - the Federation of BiH /FBiH/ - arise from many other causes, particularly the dysfunction of constitutional institutions. Instead of suggesting ways to make these institutions work, he uses their inertia and incompetence as a reason to question the entire Dayton system," Jovanović said. He emphasized that the functioning of institutions cannot be blocked, that constitutional powers cannot be endlessly taken away, and then used as an excuse for the resulting problems. "In BiH, it is Schmidt who creates problems, just as previous lawful, appointed High Representatives have done. And since he is not lawful, it seems he increasingly assumes usurped powers to the point of taking over the prerogatives of constitutional and elected institutions," Jovanović said. He believes that the best thing Schmidt can do is to step down from his usurped position. After a two-day session of the Peace Implementation Council /PIC/ in Sarajevo, Schmidt said that the issue of "state property" is hindering the development of BiH and blocking investments.