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Election of international representative in Bosnia/ US and Europe discuss in Sarajevo

2026-06-03 20:33:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Election of international representative in Bosnia/ US and Europe discuss in

The Peace Implementation Council (PIC) began its meeting in Sarajevo on June 3, where it is expected to discuss the election of the new High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the determination of his future mandate.

The High Representative, who is appointed by the PIC, has a mandate to oversee the civilian implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement, which ended the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995. He also has so-called Bonn powers, which include the ability to impose decisions and laws, as well as dismiss officials in Bosnia.

In diplomatic and political circles, the names of several possible candidates from Europe are being mentioned, from where all eight heads of the Office of the High Representative (OHR) have been chosen so far.

Among them is Italian diplomat Antonio Zanardi Landi, who is said to also enjoy the support of the United States.

Several European countries have their own candidates, including France's current special envoy for the Western Balkans, Rene Troccaz, as well as Karen Pierce and Stuart Peach, the current and former British envoys for the Western Balkans.

The United States has also announced that it has its own candidate, if European countries cannot reach agreement on a common name.

If no agreement is reached, the current High Representative, Christian Schmidt, will remain in office until further notice, as he himself had warned when he announced his resignation.

The members of the Peace Implementation Council, in addition to their role in electing the High Representative, are also charged with providing "political guidance" for his work and with financing the OHR.

The PIC meeting is being attended by ambassadors from more than 15 member countries of this international body.

Before the meeting, the French Minister for Europe, Benjamin Haddad, and the German Minister for Europe, Gunther Krichbaum, as well as the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, Daniel Lawton, arrived in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They met with the highest officials in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Although the final decision does not necessarily have to be unanimous, broad political support is required among states and key international organizations participating in the work of the PIC.

Among them are the US, the European Union, the UK, Germany, France, Japan and Canada, as well as Turkey, which represents the countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, alongside several other European countries.

Russia has suspended its participation in the PIC in 2022 and is calling for the closure of the Office of the High Representative. This position is also supported by China, political representatives from the Republika Srpska entity, and to some extent by some political actors from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In the last two discussions on Bosnia and Herzegovina in the UN Security Council, the United States has called for a redefinition of the role of the Office of the High Representative, including a gradual reduction of its powers.

Major European countries, including Britain, Germany and France, have spoken out against this. /REL