MINIĆ TO TASS: THE FUTURE OF BiH SHOULD BE DETERMINED BY ITS PEOPLES

MOSCOW, SEPTEMBER 30 /SRNA/ - The future of BiH should be determined by the legitimate representatives of its peoples, rather than foreigners, Republika Srpska Prime Minister Savo Minić told TASS.

"We in Republika Srpska have long stressed that any agreement reached within the country is better than an imposed decision and that the future of BiH should be determined by its peoples and their legitimately elected representatives, rather than foreigners," Minić said. TASS recalls that German national Christian Schmidt has presented himself as the High Representative in BiH since 2021 without approval of his appointment to the post by the UN Security Council, and that Republika Srpska, Russia and China have not recognized Schmidt's legitimacy. On May 10, Schmidt announced that he was resigning, while his duties are being performed by former US Consul General in Vladivostok Louis Crishock, pending the appointment of a new High Representative. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova previously said there were no legal grounds for Western attempts to present Crishock as acting High Representative in BiH. The United States supports former Italian Ambassador to Russia Antonio Zanardi Landi, while Paris and Berlin support French diplomat René Troccaz. At a meeting held on July 14, members of the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board failed to reach a compromise on a candidate for the post of High Representative. The US Embassy in Sarajevo said that Washington continues to insist on the appointment of Landi and is not considering other candidates for the post, TASS added.