The High Representative and EU Special Representative, Christian Schwarz-Schilling, is today in Moscow for a series of high-level meetings on the structure of the international presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina after 30 June.

As I speak, he is meeting with Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko, political director of the Russian Foreign Ministry. Later, he will be meeting with Vladimir Titov, Deputy Foreign Minister.

This one-day visit to Russia is part of a series of visits to key capitals ahead of the next meeting of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) scheduled for 26 and 27 February. The goal of these visits is to develop a consolidated position in advance of that meeting, at which a final decision will be taken on the future of the Office of the High Representative.

As in other capitals, Mr Schwarz-Schilling will be focusing on the current political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina; impediments to the signing of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union, that is police restructuring and PBS reform in particular; economic reforms; and government formation.

The High Representative and EU Special Representative started his consultations with PIC members in advance of the February PIC in Berlin. He has since held meetings in Paris, Brussels, Washington and London.

The High Representative and EU Special Representative is preparing his own assessment and a recommendation for the OHR’s future that he will send to PIC members in mid-February.