Investigation: American diplomats asked Schmidt to resign, he refused and stated that Germany stood firmly behind him

US diplomats have asked Christian Schmidt to resign as High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).

But he refused, stating that Germany, which had nominated him for the position of High Representative, firmly stands behind him and that only Berlin can decide on his dismissal, the Sarajevo-based portal Istraga (Istraga.ba) reported, citing several unnamed diplomatic sources.

The text states that this has been happening for the past two months, after Washington reached an agreement with the former president of Republika Srpska (RS) and leader of the ruling Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), Milorad Dodik, and Serb member of the BiH Presidency, Željka Cvijanović, according to which the result of that agreement was to include the removal of Schmidt from the position of High Representative.

The Sarajevo portal writes that the US Embassy in BiH has been late this year with payments of tranches for financing the Office of the High Representative (OHR) and that, after the European Union (EU), it allocates the most funds for its financing.

It is further assessed that since May of this year, the OHR has lost importance in American diplomacy.

According to the Investigation, the survival of the OHR is not in question, but the Americans insist that the OHR no longer uses "Bonn powers" and demand that Schmidt be removed from the position of High Representative in accordance with the agreement between Washington and Banja Luka.

It is added that, unlike the Americans, the Germans are trying to strengthen Schmidt's position.

Thus, "Berlin decided to withdraw its long-time diplomat Christian Helbach from retirement and send him to the OHR as an advisor to Christian Schmidt. Helbach was the German ambassador to BiH ten years ago and has extensive experience in diplomacy," the Istraga portal stated.