The political deadlock in the country, as well as fears that possible independence for Kosovo may prompt a Serb secession movement, led the West to postpone the closure of the OHR office for a year and appoint Lajcak to take over the position.
Politički ćorsokak u zemlji, kao i strah da bi eventualna nezavisnost Kosova mogla da izazove otcepljenje Srba u BiH, navela je Zapad da odloži zatvaranje kancelarije visokog predstavnika na godinu dana i postavi Lajčaka na to mesto.