The legitimacy of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s current High Representative (HR), Christian Schmidt, has been called into question by the country’s presidency chairman, Zeljka Cvijanovic. In response to her concerns, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres clarified that the UN Security Council does not appoint the HR and is not directly responsible for Bosnia-Herzegovina’s international overseer.
Guterres asserted in a public letter addressed to Cvijanovic that the UN is not a signatory to the Dayton Peace Agreement, which ended the civil war in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1995. Furthermore, he highlighted that the UN is not a member of the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board, the body responsible for appointing the HR. Annex 10 of the Dayton Peace Agreement states that the HR should be appointed in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Cvijanovic had initially written to Guterres seeking clarification on the legitimacy of Schmidt’s appointment. She pointed out that the UN database only showed the resolution on Schmidt’s appointment receiving two votes in favor and 13 abstentions, making it unsuccessful. In response to Guterres’ letter, Cvijanovic criticized his claims, calling them “unworthy of the world body and international law.” She argued that since the UN Security Council has previously voted to approve every HR and regularly receives their reports, it is disingenuous for Guterres to deny their involvement now.
The controversy surrounding Schmidt’s appointment extends beyond the dispute between Cvijanovic and Guterres. Schmidt is not recognized by the Bosnian Serbs, Russia, or China. However, Western countries maintain his legitimacy as the HR, granting him the power to enforce laws and dismiss elected officials. This ongoing disagreement has highlighted the complex dynamics surrounding Bosnia-Herzegovina’s governance and the role of international overseers.
In order to clarify the UN’s role, it is important to note that while the UN is not on the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board, it is a member of the Peace Implementation Council. The Office of the High Representative (OHR) explains that the Steering Board serves as an executive and advisory council to the HR, rather than acting as a superior authority.
The publication of Guterres’ letter has also caused a diplomatic scandal. Although it was dated July 14 and addressed to Cvijanovic, it never reached her. Instead, someone in Bosnia’s diplomatic service leaked the letter to an Al Jazeera journalist, who shared it on Twitter. The leak raises suspicions about the intention behind its release and adds to the controversy surrounding Schmidt’s appointment.
The conflict over Schmidt’s legitimacy and the UN’s involvement underscores the complexity of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s post-war governance structure. The presence of international overseers and their roles in enforcing peace agreements and managing power dynamics among different ethnic groups can be contentious. As the debate continues, it is clear that a resolution is necessary to address the concerns raised by Cvijanovic and promote stability in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
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