The Embassy of the Russian Federation in Bosnia and Herzegovina explained in a statement why they did not attend the two-day meeting of political directors of the PIC Steering Board member states, reiterating their non-recognition of Christian Schmidt as High Representative of the international community in B&H, appointed without the consent of the United Nations Security Council.

As the Embassy stated, they intend to draw attention to the fact that the Office of the High Representative (OHR) itself confirms the correctness of their arguments because the conclusions regarding the independent annual audit report approved by the PIC on November 26 directly state that "PIC proposes a candidate for the position of the High Representative. The UN Security Council, which approved the Dayton Peace Agreement and the deployment of an international military contingent in Bosnia and Herzegovina, approves the candidacy. "

They believe that the reason for the internal political crisis in B&H is "the subjective decisions of former High Representative Valentin Inzko and the refusal of PIC partners to follow the procedure for appointing a new High Representative."

They believe that the proposed communiqué contains a distortion of "the letter of the Dayton Peace Agreement", which is why they believe they are forced to remind that "B&H, according to the Dayton PA, does not include but is consisted of the two entities."

"We start from the fact that all problems in B&H should be solved exclusively through dialogue between the parties in B&H on the basis of mutually acceptable compromises.

This also applies to B&H's foreign policy priorities, including Euro-Atlantic integration, on which there is no consensus in the country. We insist that the mandate of the PIC within the Dayton PA does not imply securing B&H's membership in NATO."

The Russian Federation, as one of the witnesses of the Dayton PA, stands for the territorial integrity and real sovereignty of B&H, the Embassy said, adding that in order to achieve this goal, it is necessary to close the OHR as soon as possible, as it has become a blocking stone on the path of democratic development of B&H.

It is also necessary to transfer all responsibility for the situation in the country to its citizens, stated the Russian Embassy in B&H.