High Representative Christian Schmidt visited Washington DC on 22-23 November 2021 to discuss current political developments and the overall status of peace implementation in Bosnia and Herzegovina with United States officials.
During his meetings with high-ranking State Department and National Security Council officials, including National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, State Department Counselor Derek Chollet, and State Department Under Secretary Victoria Nuland, the High Representative outlined the challenges stemming from the current blockade of political and institutional processes at the state-level as well as from irresponsible adventurist initiatives coming from the Republika Srpska leadership.
“Full adherence to the Dayton Peace Agreement, and constitutional and legal framework of BiH, maintaining institutional functionality, as well as the strengthening of institutional capacities are the main focus of the international community in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Preventing the rollback of achievements of the last 26 years is the top priority. A successful response to current challenges will provide Bosnia and Herzegovina with the opportunity to advance on its EU path, which includes fulfilling the objectives and conditions to graduate from international supervision,” said the High Representative Schmidt.
During his visit to Washington DC, the High Representative also met with Alina Iancu, the IMF Mission Chief for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and attended the roundtable discussion “Bosnia and Herzegovina and Stability in the Western Balkans” organized by the Hudson Institute and Hanns-Seidel Foundation.