Schmidt nominated high representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina

This position, since 2009, has been held by Valentin Inzko, who resigned on Thursday, May 27th.

Schmidt will take over on August 1st.

The high representative's post, with the status of the diplomatic mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, has been formed in accordance with the framework of the peace agreement in Bosnia and Herzegovina, known as the Dayton Agreement, which has been reached on November 21st, 1995, at the military base in Dayton, United States. The same was signed on December 14, 1995, in Paris, France.

Conditions and purposes have been provided to undo this mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2008. Among them is the distribution of property among the state and other levels of governance, a solution to military property, implementation of the final decision on the Brcko Circle, the fiscal sustainability of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the solution to rule of law.

These include the adoption of the National Strategy for War Crimes, adoption of the Law on Foreigners and asylum, as well as the approval of the national strategy for judicial reform.

The Supreme Representative's Steering Board thanked Germany and said it hopes that Schmidt will accelerate the fulfillment of the “5+2” conditions and will contribute to the stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ensuring the implementation of the civilian aspects of the Peace Agreement.

The high representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina has the authority for “the final interpretation” of the Agreement to implement the civilian aspects of the Dayton Agreement.

Since July 2020, the Office of the High Representative has employed 13 foreign citizens, four of whom are diplomats appointed by their governments and 76 staff members, who are local.

The seven former top representatives in Bosnia and Herzegovina were European diplomats, and all the first 12 were American diplomats.