TADIĆ: CRISHOCK'S APPOINTMENT SHOULD BE A STEP TOWARD CLOSING THE OHR

SARAJEVO, JULY 1 /SRNA/ – Republika Srpska wants to see Acting High Representative Louis Crishock serve as a transitional phase leading to the closure of the Office of the High Representative /OHR/, legal expert Ognjen Tadić told SRNA.

"The most important news is that attempts by German national Christian Schmidt to usurp the office of the High Representative in BiH have finally come to an end and that, after a long and unofficial stay, he is going home," Tadić said.

He reminded that Republika Srpska has a clear position that BiH no longer needs any high representative.

"Louis Crishock's role will obviously be administrative in nature, which, presumably, means that he does not have the so-called Bonn powers. In light of the fact that Schmidt has finally departed, we want to see Crishock's role as a transitional phase leading to the closure of the OHR," Tadić emphasized.

According to him, the fact that the Americans and Europeans failed to reach an agreement on appointing a new high representative is, in itself, sufficient proof that the era of international governance in BiH has passed, although some are finding it difficult to accept that reality.

"Ultimately, even if we set political games aside, isn't it embarrassing for anyone with even a shred of dignity, whether foreign or domestic, that, 30 years after the end of the war, there are still discussions and decisions about which foreigner will govern our lives? That is why Republika Srpska's position is fully justified," Tadić concluded.

The EU member states and the United States again failed to reach agreement on the appointment of a new High Representative at yesterday's session of the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council /PIC/, while Louis Crishock was formally appointed Acting High Representative pending the appointment of a permanent successor.

Crishock is due to assume office today, and the PIC Steering Board has committed to reaching agreement on the appointment of a new High Representative as soon as possible, with the process to be completed no later than July 14.

At a UN Security Council session on May 12, Schmidt announced that he would leave BiH in June.