Christian Schmidt Assumes Duties of Bosnian High Representative

Christian Schmidt (BetaPhoto/European Council/Aron Urb)

Christian Schmidt, the new high representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, officially assumed his duties on Aug. 1 and held meetings in Sarajevo on his first day in office.

Schmidt first sat down with Sarajevo Mayor Banjamina Karic, who wished him welcome and success in his mission in Bosnia. Schmidt also spoke with U.S. Ambassador to Bosnia Eric Nelson. Ahead of his arrival, Schmidt said Bosnia's bid to join the European Union and its transformation into a democratic country required there being no ethnic orientation. He also pointed out that violations of territorial integrity in the Balkans were unsustainable.

Commenting on his predecessor Valentin Inzko's decision to impose legislation banning the denial of genocide, Schmidt said that if he had read the EU's guidelines correctly, the EU required just such a law, which he described as ethnically neutral.

Schmidt elaborated that the issue was not whether it was a Croat or a Serb, but if someone had acted in such a way that causes guilt. He went on to say that this question would open the way to the EU, explaining that it could not be removed from the agenda.