In addition to the Pope, he doesn't know any high office without a regular end of service, says Christian Schmidt about his new role as “High Representative of the International Community” in Bosnia-Hercegovina, which the CSU politician and former Federal Minister of Agriculture will take up on August 1st.

Niklas Zimmermann

Editor in politics.

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The almost absolutist abundance of power that the international representative holds in the western Balkan state with its complicated ethnic and political structure, at least in theory, also reminds of the Holy Father.

He can dismiss elected politicians, annul laws and issue decrees.

The office was created by the United Nations to oversee the Dayton Peace Agreement after the end of the Bosnian War, in which around 100,000 people were killed between 1992 and 1995.

"Area shifts are not a way"

During his visit to the FAZ editorial staff, Schmidt himself spoke of the “very extensive competencies” of his new position, based in Sarajevo: “I go there with the clear expectation that the development process that has stalled will be set in motion.” That means that he would address the critical points in a dedicated manner. First of all, there is the territorial integrity of Bosnia-Herzegovina. “Moving areas is no way,” the future High Representative makes clear. He announces that he will resolutely oppose all historical narratives that put one's own ethnic group above the rest of the citizens. In addition, young people need a perspective in their own country. More than 70 percent of young people currently wanted to leave the country.

“I am an idea from Angela Merkel,” says the long-time member of the Bundestag from Middle Franconia about how he got his new position. Before Schmidt was appointed by the international Peace Implementation Council (PIC) on May 27, however, he had to contend with fierce opposition from Russia. Washington, on the other hand, is more involved again under Biden. “I benefit from the fact that the Americans are back on board,” says Schmidt.

Christian Schmidt takes up his new office with the aim of abolishing it himself in the long run. Until the time comes and Bosnia-Herzegovina receives realistic prospects for EU accession, there is still a long way to go. When it comes to the EU, Schmidt thinks pragmatically and says: “We have to think about intermediate steps.” He can imagine a south-east European economic area. An EU economic strategy is particularly important for the region because China, with its massive economic commitment, is taking a far more strategic approach than Moscow.