Milorad Dodik

Berlin has given no indication that Schmidt's appointment signifies any meaningful increase in its commitments to Bosnia; a fact which is readily apparent given that Chancellor Angela Merkel is herself preparing to step down later this year.

Christian Schmidt of Germany will take over from Valentin Inzko as head of the international community's Office of High representative, OHR, to Bosnia from August 1, the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council, PIC, which groups countries overseeing the peace in Bosnia, confimed on Thursday.

He pointed out to the numerous dangers and important meetings regarding Kosovo and Metohija.

On May 8 and 9, Serbia celebrated Victory Day in World War II with a series of events around Belgrade including wreath-laying ceremonies, concerts, film screenings, fireworks and the livestreaming of a military parade in Moscow.

As well as the victory over fascism, Serbian officials celebrated their alliance with Russia, the co-organiser of the festivities.

Brdo pri Kranju – President Borut Pahor will host a summit of the Brdo-Brijuni Process in Brdo pri Kranju on Monday featuring his counterparts from Croatia, Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia and the presiding trio of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The meeting, marking the 10th anniversary of the initiative, is to reaffirm committent to EU enlargement.

Behind a Bosnian Serb call for talks on the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina lurks the latest threat of secession by the country's Republika Srpska entity, but analysts question whether Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik is playing to anyone but his domestic voters.

The president of Bosnia's Serb-dominated Republika Srpska entity, Zeljka Cvijanovic, presented controversial Austrian author Peter Handke with the Order of Republika Srpska on Friday in Banja Luka for "exceptional work and contribution in the field of cultural and spiritual development".

Taking advantage of the tensions caused by a controversial document predicting the dissolution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnian Serb political leaders said on Tuesday that they want to formally discuss the future of the country with Croat and Bosniak politicians.

A shrine has reappeared in Banja Luka's central Krajina Square - candles, flowers and a wooden carving of a clenched fist next to photographs of a 21 year-old student who died three years ago this month in this northern Bosnian town.

Bosnia and Herzegovina and Turkey signed the agreement to build the Bosnian stretch of a highway to link Sarajevo and Belgrade on Tuesday in Ankara in the presence of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the three members of the tripartite Bosnian presidency.