State Department’s Deputy Undersecretary for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, said in an interview with Voice of America, that Washington fully supports the recent decision of High Representative Christiana Schmidt to amend the Election Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He said that Washington would not allow armed violence to break out in the region ever again.
Asked to comment on the dissatisfaction in BiH, especially among Bosniaks, with the decision of the High Representative regarding the Election Law, he said that the High Representative is an important part of the Dayton Agreement and that the US supports him.
We also support the use of Bonn powers where appropriate, and in this case, it was the appropriate move. The High Representative wanted to make the formation of the Federation (FBiH) entity government more likely, a government that will be able to fill the vacant seats in the Constitutional Court, and also to ensure that the elections are held in an atmosphere of credibility, trust… We have not yet reached full credibility, because there were a lot of irregularities during the election, but thanks in part to his decision and election transparency, we discovered most of the mentioned irregularities. I believe that all the moves that Schmidt made in the last six months led to a functional government, both of the Federation and the state,” Escobar said.
Voice of America asked whether the US would support this decision if the Constitutional Court of BiH declares it unconstitutional in December?
“I really don't see why the Court would declare the decision invalid or unconstitutional. However, we will see what the Court will say, in order to decide whether we will continue the support it or not. I must repeat, I believe that the decision of the High Representative is good for the whole of BiH,” the Deputy Undersecretary said.
To Voice of America’s insistence to clarify his position arguing that Bosniaks will have fewer votes per capita Escobar said:
“I don't see why this should happen… the representatives are elected by cantons, and in any case, I firmly believe that this opens additional doors for new fresh faces, new voices that will be part of the FBiH institutions, and this is simply a positive, not a negative change.”
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