Bosnia’s international peace oversight body failed on Thursday to reach agreement on a successor to Germany’s Christian Schmidt, who unexpectedly stepped down last month, claiming he had come under pressure from the United States.
Talks on the appointment will continue, according to Schmidt, who resigned in May from the Office of the High Representative (OHR), the institution responsible for overseeing implementation of the U.S.-brokered Dayton Peace Agreement that brought an end to the Bosnian conflict in 1995.
“These consultations will continue,” Schmidt said in a video message in his capacity as chair of the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC), the body responsible for nominating the High Representative. “All participants are looking forward to agreeing on a consensus candidate in the coming days, with the aim of completing the transition by the end of June.”
The PIC Steering Board comprises representatives from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union. Russia has suspended its participation in the group.
The U.S. State Department, which has recently stated that the “U.S.-led nation-building era has passed” and has argued for a more limited mandate for the position, has backed veteran Italian diplomat Antonio Zanardi Landi for the role.
Speaking before Congress on Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed Washington’s support for Landi, describing him as “an Italian gentleman” capable of providing stability to the office.
However, despite reports that Landi travelled to Sarajevo on Thursday to attend the meeting, member states failed to reach a consensus on his appointment.
Many diplomats and political analysts maintain that the Office of the High Representative should remain in place while Bosnian Serb and Croat separatist forces continue to obstruct the functioning of state institutions, posing a threat to the country’s territorial integrity, stability and economic development.
Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan are drawing up a new programme aimed at boosting bilateral trade to $1 billion by 2030, as the two countries move to deep...
Australia on Thursday condemned Israel’s decision to close its criminal investigation into the deaths of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom ...
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to res...
The collective-defence agreement between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signals that regional powers no longer want to rely solely on external security guarantees. Whether it becomes a stabilising deterrent or another axis of rivalry remains unresolved.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most shipowners away. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from nine the day before and below the 10-day daily average of 11.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 19th of August, covering the latest developments.
Australia on Thursday condemned Israel’s decision to close its criminal investigation into the deaths of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six World Central Kitchen colleagues killed in Gaza in April 2024.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
North Korea has fired more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles after U.S. President Donald Trump reduced American participation in joint military exercises with South Korea in an effort to revive dialogue with Pyongyang.
Georgia’s foreign trade data for January-July 2026 shows Kyrgyzstan, China and Russia as its top three export markets, highlighting its Middle Corridor ambitions and complex economic ties with Moscow.
Kazakhstan will vote on 23 August in its first parliamentary election under the new Constitution, choosing 145 members of the new Kurultai under a fundamentally changed electoral system based entirely on party lists.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment