PIC to Elect New High Representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina

Sarajevo (BETAPHOTO/HINA/Marija Sestan)

On June 3 and 4 in Sarajevo, the international Peace Implementation Council (PIC) will be convening to elect a new high representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina in the wake of Christian Schmidt’s recent resignation.

Although candidates for the position have not officially been announced, local media claim that the PIC’s steering board will be considering at least four nominees.

One of these is Italian diplomat Antonio Zanardi Landi, who is supported by his own country as well as the United States of America.

The U.S. also has its own nominee, William Ruger, while France has proposed Rene Troccaz, with the backing of the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, on June 3, the Bar Association of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina announced it supports the nomination of Roman Zavrsek, the president of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), as do several other regional bar associations.

According to the statement, after the Bar Association of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Bar Association of Republika Srpska issued a joint memorandum to the PIC steering board and the embassies of its members in support of Zavrsek’s candidacy, its fellow bar associations from Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia and Montenegro voiced their support as well.

The PIC makes or delays decisions on candidates based on the opinions of each of its members, with the assessment and deliberation process repeated until a consensus is reached regarding a single nominee. It is possible that this will not be achieved during the June 3-4 sitting and that the board will request additional time for its members to negotiate.

While the PIC comprises dozens of member countries, participant organizations and observers, its steering board is composed of representatives from the U.S., Italy, France, Germany, the U.K, Canada, Japan, the Organization of Islamic Conference – represented by Turkey, and the European Union. Russia has not participated in the board since 2022, when it “suspended” its involvement with and financing of the Office of the High Representative due to its objection over the election of Christian Schmidt, whose appointment was also not ratified by the United Nation’s Security Council.