lines, i think the 2nd unfinished business would be the failure of whiteside african, not all the many to actually take the hand that was offered the by symbolically nelson mandela that also to, to ah, attribute, orient around the world for african anti apartheid here i, archbishop desmond tutu nobel p. sorry, a died in cape town on boxing day at the age of 92 to has been described as the countries moral conscience. i always remind people that you know, my dad was a grown man by the time the world knew of him. and man with, with grandchildren. so that when i look at the young people of south africa today,

i have great hope for the kind of leadership that our country needs. i see that our country actually has the un says it's horrified by reports of a mass killing in men. ma, the child remains of 38 people were found in high estate witnesses. the military rounded up civilians including children and shot them dead. attack is thought to the retribution of military patrols came under attack from armed ethnic groups. cool, in other stories were following the bodies of 16 people who drown, trying to cross the english channel have been laid to rest in northern iraq. relatives of the kurdish migrants gather or bel airport to receive their remains for they were taken for the burial. total of $27.00 migrants died in the accident and the chan last month. they were trying to reach the u. k. this is the worst such disaster on record in that narrow crossing. let me as right present as the bodies

of 27, margaret's including a baby and 2 women of washed ashore. 3 people have been rescued in such f. it's rhonda wife, all the survivors. the agency says that been several recent shipwrecks of libya, around $1500.00 migrants of ground, numerous boat accidents and central mediterranean route. this yeah, and of course have been covering the flight cancellations, more than 7000 flights. have been council around the world since friday because of the only chrome varies of the corona virus ally and say they just don't have enough stuff to get planes off the ground. around 2 and a half 1000 flights have been grounded so far boxing day with hundreds more cancelled for next week. the u. s. is particularly badly affected. talk to al jazeera. is the program coming up next? ah

ah, this is how the balkans region looked in the early 19 nineties, interlinked conflicts, war of independence, and insurgency is known as the yugoslav wars resulted in crimes against humanity and genocides being committed. europe's worse conflict since world war 2 started in croatia in 1991 and had spilled over into bosnia and herzegovina by 1992 earlier that year of bosnia declared independence from yugoslavia at the time it was estimated the newly formed nation had the multi ethnic population of 4400000 people. the 3 main groups were a bosnian muslims, sir,

orthodox and croats. catholics, but ethnic serbs opposed the breakup from yugoslavia with the military. so quarts of war criminals slobbered on milosevic serb forces systematically attack the other ethnic communities, imprisoning many and carrying gouts, mass, murder and rape. over a period of more than 3 years, about 100000 people were massacred. 80 per cent war, bosnian muslims, the bloodshed ended in 1995 after a natal campaign, forced bosnian serbs to the negotiating table where the dayton accords were eventually signed. parts of the agreement was the establishment of the office of the high representative to work with the countries, people and institutions and the international community to ensure the piece was consolidated, another outcome of their chords. an extremely complex system of governance. the country is comprised of the federation of bosnia and herzegovina,

with predominantly bosun yaks and croats and republic, a serv. scott, with mostly serves and bridge co, a district divided between the 2 entities. bosnia herzegovina is led by a presidency consisting of 3 parts, each representing the main ethnic groups. but how effectively is the nation being governed and with a general election coming up next year, what are the challenges ahead? these are some of the questions we perform to the top diplomats of the back of what has been described by the united nations as the worst political crisis since the war. the high representative for bosnia and herzegovina, kristian schmidt talks to al jazeera mr. kristen smith for the international hi representative to bosnia and herzegovina . thank you very much for talking to al jazeera. my pleasure. i'd like to start by asking you, sir about the current political situation in the country. it has been described by

many senior officials, both in the international community, the united nations, as well as actually regional figures as the most dangerous or the deepest crisis that the country has witnessed since the war ended in 1995. what is your assessments of the situation in bosnia right now? yeah, thank you. in detail, situation, bosnia, herzegovina, them the ears and the bet shape of these days. i have reported this some head to the secret a channel of united nations until the united nations security council, in my re port where i referred especially to him about the increase of his functionality and the state and inflammatory rhetoric, which it probably could go beyond a chest rhetoric, and that is the concern i have that, that reports that you mentioned earlier,

mr. schmidt, which was presented to the united nations security council and early november you had requested to address the security council, but ah, that's was blocked or that request was rejected by russia and china, strong allies of serbia and obviously of republic. a serb scott, that's one of the break away enclave, let's say. or at least part of his politicians who wants to break away from us. now . why did they reject your requests to address the united nations security council? i would suggest that you ask themselves the, if the intention would have been just to bring not my report to public consciousness. obviously this attempt has failed. i never, ever have seen that such a report or got such a lot of international ah interest. as i had with mine,

do you think that the rejection or the or obstruction to your presentation is further sign of just how dangerous the situation is that you have these wall powers that a possibly are maneuvering for something that is taking away or dragging us away from a political discourse to something else. if you accept and as i am, i am not a and a competence just to comment on the intentions of the russian federation or other countries. i would not see that this has so 1st and foremost them and the linkage to bosnia, herzegovina or the situation the i in the entities, especially the republic us up sca a. but this has to be in, in the context of the proto international crisis and issues which have to be

talked about. so to be, to say, i was very happy that i have seen an exchange between the chinese some present g and a president biden. or in chester talking about in as 100 crisis, i would encourage all including a president, putin a, to contribute to a crisis management. i am not aware of we should all be aware that if we are doing not a low kell and reach an low crisis could occur. ok, you, you've identified 2 major concerns. one the disrupt, this functionality of the state as you described it. and the other is the dangerous rhetoric i want to start with the latter, which is the dangerous rhetoric we are have heard from the leader of republic, a sub scott, a start by georgia enclave. e or entity that makes up parts of bosnia herzegovina,

threatened to withdraw from the army, threatened even to set up his own power. military are essentially militia, are from there. how much do you believe that those are actual realistic threats? or are they merely electioneering tactics by this populace leader ahead of us next year's elections in the country? yeah, thank you. i would agree or what you're referring to tactics. i do not sequence to edit g, but tactics can just switch to an irritable development which could lead to a kind of dissolution. and there are so they saying of missed the door. dick requiring a peaceful dissolution which would as its own, would be against an anti dayton agreement. but there are some

mom i had so for irresponsible people around in other countries in the region. they are just noting that in their understanding there is no peaceful dissolution. but there is the, the danger of getting an increase in conflict. i would not talk any how about war? i do not see that. anybody and i included miller, gar, day care to a name the the leader of the the sir populace term. arguably gossips car approach is anyhow it to work of for, for full war in. but this, these signs his setting her wrong and could be misunderstood. so i am, think we should all brooke, and probably sorry, sorry to interrupt you here. i think some, i don't think there is room for it's not could be misunderstood. some of these

statements that he has made are very black and white when he talks about, or bosnia is muslim community in or there, but in a community in dog or 2 ways as converts when he talks about withdrawing from the army. when he says he will not allow for the states national army to even be present in land belonging to the country. there is no room for ambiguity there. these are very clear secessionist remarks, and for us, the a yes sir. i share this bed. i wanted to underline that i do not see the danger of voy, actually. it's on us to prevent any further development that as somebody coming out of a well kept a middle european education. i'm shocked about the kind of fur using insulting people and political groups, including

a part of the citizens of bosnia herzegovina. this is her from to the bus near people about their, their, their, their, their religion. no, we do not talk about a better over us. we talking about a people, they have denominations, different domination, they are catholic, they are all the docs or their muslim. but this is not any way or the place to, to argue against them or with them. so i'm a, i'm very strict and there are some competencies on my side or to make clear that there will be no way of this kind of dissolution, especially on this a path you have described. so one of the threats here and, and one of the topics that has allowed for inciting language as you put it there

obviously has been the threat of death, disillusion, or cessation. another one has been the topic of the genocide law. there was the a law that was introduced by your predecessor, which made it illegal to deny the genocide that are taking place in bosnia herzegovina, particularly obviously ensure bernita. but generally speaking, this is something that i am merely mila. dick and his supporters have rejected the 3rd member of the presidential council. the croats member of the or bosnia herzegovina, gra presidential council, walked out of an interview because the serv journalists refused to acknowledge this . as a genocide, how much of a sticking point is this? and why is it that it's taking longer than 20 years for bosnia to come to terms with it's passed, particularly when much of it is so widely documented. for benito, the massacres that replace the genocide is very clear for people to see why is this

even a talking point? i would not like to say a good question. i have to say a bad question, but unfortunately a right question on this impressive me as well. how can it be that after 26 years after script when it sir, that we have to discuss about a morning, the victims. ah, i vote underline that. we have to be prudent and are to integrate the morning in all victims to all victims of all is nick groups and the mayor of soccer. and i could assist memorial with the names engraved of most serbian people killed by some part of so called

soldiers. i say it's so called because of the bus and the b b. s. show army. these are things we have to discuss and to talk. what concerns me. it's not that we couldn't find the content about condemning war criminals. but the discussion about shows that there has been done no rook of just booking about it and reflecting that. so this brings sometimes situation here to just looking on the past and for getting the future for getting the show and future. this is why i will contribute di roland coverage and they have done this already in a speech and the b edge parliament just to make our legacy nation on its own. and there is responsibility of all of be it to the

representing the service. they could be others, the person. yeah. or the court just to sit and say okay, what has happened? we've the don't make it never happen again. and this is what is lacking so far. i see. and i see another stand my, my shop to contribute to not only understanding but to work on the future. absolutely. i'm somewhat disappointed about the way pass test cert. been discussed and is discussed. and as somebody coming from a country, germany, or who has some, should i say a lot of fun. fortunately, a lot of experience with walker, my notes and war crimes and reconciliation with the neighbors. i know about what i'm speaking and you can get a look to the future together. this is not yet the case in bosnia herzegovina,

and this is more complain that as some rejection of the in scholar sir, my predecessor, a has a called it are you make, you make a good comparison there with germany. and obviously it's history with regards to war crimes. how much of the failure was not husk of enough in dealing with its past and acknowledging that it's dark past. how much of the that failure is also the responsibility or due to the failure of european countries and partners, particularly when you're looking at, for example, the netherlands and the role that it's peacekeepers played in shrub renewed, saw the failure by other countries within the european union to underline and the highlights, the genocide that has happened, they are maybe for fear of it looking back and reflecting badly on them. i do think this is some are not the case. indeed, the netherlands, there has been

a long process of discussion and self reflection by the let on to a commitment to contribute to a to a better development. basically conciliation reconciliation or work for the future can be has to be done by the people themselves. there can't be assistance. i would just like to refer to south africa. bishop desmond tutu home, i had the honor to neat years ago, he was out with this commission. the truth commissions try trying to get, ah find out not only did thruth but to confront everybody with the past. and then on this working on that better development, i and i, i think there could be done a lot more in this country and has to be in,

in responsibility for the younger generation. there, there are powers that your office a has are, which are extremely significant, right? the, what they're described as the bond power as after the, a talks that took place in germany or in the later part of the ninety's amongst those. and i want to read them out to our audience. obviously these were power was given to the office of the high representative. because a couple of years after the peace agreements, what became very clear was that there were still petitions within bonaza covina who were trying to work against the piece. so those powers include an, i'm gonna quote your accordingly is for your office to be able to adopt the binding decisions when local parties, i. e, local politicians seem either unable or unwilling to act. and i believe we saw that come into fruition many times the most recent, or one of the most recent was actually with your predecessors decision to push for

the binding decision with regards to genocide, denial in the country. however, the next significant power is to remove from office public officials who violates legal commitments or in general or in general the dayton peace agreement. why has middle roddic not been removed from office in thank you. first of all, about the like, just to say clear that this was of this, this powers are to the high representative personally, not to the office. and it is, it's a me, a to a half and to make this decisions are you have, describe what is possible. all this possibilities are lying in a laying of the door in laying in the drawer. and they will be, i know where the key is. i have it and the day to day.

yeah, there should be a nevada nurse that every solution which brings it internally in the democratic republic of bosnia herzegovina, in the state of bosnia herzegovina, her situation's off. it's better than drawing out the competencies out of the drawer, but i have to say are that so me personally to make decisions and nobody should think here that i have forgotten how i can open this drawer. finally, i'd like to ask you about the future. obviously, we're focus now on the immediate, which is the threats taking place, the current in stability and finding a way out of it. but the reality is, and we've seen this in other countries. for example, there is often a comparison made between lebanon and bosnia,

in the sense that the sectarian divisions that exist, they are in the sense that the political system that was established there was established as a consequence of a civil war. and despite it being able to end the war again, it is not the most functioning political system. there are the governments change often. in fact, sometimes it takes years to foreign governments and so forth. with regard to bosnia herzegovina, i would like you to try and be as honest as possible here. when you speak to people in bosnia and i was there and i've spoken to people there. the idea of having this separate entities within the states and different presidents and so forth may appease those who wants separation and keep them on the table. but in reality, it is dysfunctional. and is it is unnatural. what people usually look to in terms of modern states is multiethnic states where you have one person, one volts regardless of religion, regardless of race,

regardless of ethnicity and so forth. why is this not being pursued? what are the obstacles to pursuing this? and do you think that it is time for the international community to be honest with itself, and actually realize that trying to maintain the status quo isn't actually going to advance the country if anything, will keep the threats of war constantly, you know, to be honest, as quiet and i'm very open to those i'm meeting hours is valid initially community. i think there is starting this one distinction between lebanon and bus and how to go the number, the only one, the most important, does that bus now to go been has offer and a promise to peek. probably in due time partner member, if you're a pin union, where these issues as you refer to,

will not vanish, but they go be embedded in a broader understanding of civic society. and we have just learned this in europe. it's not that easy us value have in europe in personal situations, and i know about, but i'm speaking because 12 years i have served in the federal government in germany and had a lot of hours sitting and breathless as minister councils. that's not that you see, this is not about this functionality, but it's on a way to find a solution. so this can be done. and we do not need to change the structure of the state as a whole, but we have to adapt it. so this adoption would need a look on your opinion, declaration and stepping back of those

assumptions. since narratives of some people in boston had sick of enough that they would be better than others. so looking had this is one state 2 entities, 3 people and the others. but it, one state is the most important. i think we can do this. we need more than the international community, which is required very easily here and this country, their own work. and i think there isn't of a to, to do if you ask, who should do this? i don't know whether we all old grey head men those doing this, but the yes generator can they, they, they up putting themself in a choice. the one choices that they say as saying i am leaving towards

europe because the conditions of live life are better, there are or the other is the contribution and prepared to contribute to a kind of change. this country will not have the same structures fully as 20 years ago in 40 years, so 30 years or 20 years, the next generation. so i'm optimistic that not the international community will prescribe what should be done as a remedy, but the younger generation does it on its own. and we should have a little bit more respect to the younger generation. i'm sometimes upset that such a lot of put the politicians in boston. how to go been, are they talking from the morning to evening up and down about what is, why are they not respected or better respected and the other i have

a few talking about the co nomic situation of the by the way, vows killed young generation and the standards of living this, this data floor. this is what we have to talk about. this is a kind of a political dis, functionality of which you can not just change what the constitution all with any orders of the high representative. this has to be done by the people themselves and i am counting honestly on the younger generation. well, hopefully it will be a brighter future for the country. mister christine schmidt, the international communities hi, representative to bosnia herzegovina. thank you very much for talking to al jazeera . thank you. ah

and a from the al jazeera london broadcast into 2 people in thoughtful conversation with no host and no limitations this decade is the most consequential decade in the msc doff for too many companies that are doing bad things in the front. in part 2 of human rights activists, q, me 90 and environmental. if we known and the teeth, the systems are not working. but the longer that you fight them, the more that things changed studio be unscripted on out his era, african stories by african filmmakers. turbo le let go to dr. are with us at all. we're the low.

yeah. but of modular, no real short documentary from her keener fossil and synagogue, if you will. and if you haven't released and berea comedy, my, he feared recycling, give columbia medical, the man who plants vow bombs and arrest mysteries, africa directly on al jazeera. ah, hello, i'm mary. i'm no mossey in london. our main story across the world tributes have been flowing for anti apartheid hero. archbishop desmond tutu who has died at the age of 90 nobel peace laureate, died in cape town on boxing day. he rose to prominence. the 1980s is a vocal. opponents of racial segregation was appointed. the 1st black archbishop of cape town, more senior clerical position in the country too too has often been described as the country's most conscience to remove the fort south and kate. well, the significance of the building by.