SAJIĆ: THE OHR'S TIME IS RUNNING OUT

BANJA LUKA, MAY 11 /SRNA/ - The time of the OHR is running out, as indicated by all signals coming from abroad, international relations expert Nina Sajić told SRNA.

Sajić expressed the expectation that an attempt will probably be made to find some transitional solution regarding the decisions imposed by Christian Schmidt. "We will see what agreement the major powers reach, not only globally, and to what extent that will affect BiH. This is a very clear signal that the time of the OHR is coming to an end. All the signals we are receiving from abroad point to everyone turning toward an exit strategy for the Office of the High Representative," Sajić stressed. She assessed that the decision on Schmidt's departure from BiH was agreed upon by key foreign policy stakeholders with influence in the country, but that it was also the result of the Republika Srpska representatives’ activities abroad, especially over the past year. Sajić emphasized that Schmidt's decision to leave BiH was not personal, as he claims, because if it had depended on him, he would have remained in the country. She pointed out that Schmidt's activities in BiH had negative consequences for the democratic process and the rule of law, and that it would take a long time for everyone in the country to return to normal and attempt, through dialogue, to reach solutions concerning the future of BiH and the position of Republika Srpska in all future processes. She recalled Schmidt's first public appearances, which were distasteful and threatening, and added that had he remained, he would have granted himself even more powers that did not belong to him in any way. Asked what to expect now from offiicial Sarajevo, which for years enjoyed biased support from the OHR, Sajić said that they have in recent months been trying to adapt to developments both globally and within BiH. "Of course, because of the upcoming elections, the stakes are being raised even higher than before when it comes to the very existence of Republika Srpska, the constituent status of peoples, and the rights of both Serbs and Croats within BiH," Sajić noted. She added that official Sarajevo is expected to try to justify the situation and look for excuses. "They will try to lobby for certain solutions, especially in countries where they still have some influence, primarily the United Kingdom," Sajić said. According to her, many believe that the Agenda 5+2 originated from "the British kitchen," and that lobbying continues there for the preservation of the OHR and the appointment of a new High Representative who had previous ties to BiH and still views the country through the lens of the 1990s and a period of strong interventionism.