Mr Schwarz-Schilling can impose laws and dismiss politicians

Christian Schwarz-Schilling replaced British politician Lord Ashdown, who spent nearly four years overseeing the peace process and political reforms.

The former German government minister said Bosnia "has to become a normal European state".

He said promoting Bosnia's bid to join Nato was also on his agenda.

Sweeping powers

"I hope that I can really do the best to continue this country's road to the European Union," he said at a short handover ceremony in Sarajevo.

Building on Ashdown's legacy

He resigned from the German government in 1992 in protest at Europe's inability to halt the war in the former Yugoslavia.

As he took up his new post on Tuesday he said he wanted to hand back more responsibility to Bosnian politicians and reduce the wide-ranging powers that his post commands.

Lord Ashdown was not shy to use such powers as he forced through major political, economic and security reforms and helped build up Bosnia's state institutions.

But one issue he was unable to resolve and one which his successor will face is the continued freedom of the two former Bosnian Serb leaders, Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, who have been indicted for war crimes.

They continue to elude the international community nearly 10 years after they went on the run.

"If there are gangs of criminals or politicians and they are doing illegal things to violate the order of peace in this country, then I will take full use of those powers," Mr Schwarz-Schilling said.

"But it is only in that way, not to change political views or to think that some people are criminals without having real proof of that."