NIKOLIĆ: ISRAEL HIGHLY APPRECIATES REPUBLIKA SRPSKA'S FRIENDSHIP

BELGRADE, JUNE 24 /SRNA/ - Republika Srpska is a factor in BiH that has been the most constructive toward Israel, which this country highly values and respects, Honorary Consul of Serbia in Israel Aleksandar Nikolić told SRNA.

"Israel respects the constitutional order of BiH and has, for many years, invested efforts to build relations in the most constructive possible way. Unfortunately, the unbalanced, emotional, and one-sided policy of many actors in BiH toward Israel in its most difficult moment has led to a very clear perception in Israel of who its friends are," Nikolić said.

He stated that, particularly since the traumatic October 7, 2023, when the most severe “bestially pathological attacks by militant Hamas” against Israeli civilians took place in the devastated kibbutzism along the border with the Gaza Strip, there has been a clear positioning during the past three wartime cycles.

"All actors of the Serbian national corpus, including those from Republika Srpska, expressed above all great empathy for innocent civilian victims on all sides, and this was one of the moments when a sense of living collective memory of shared suffering during the Second World War and the Holocaust, that is, the genocide against the Serbian and Roma people in the Independent State of Croatia, was revived," Nikolić said.

He emphasized that Republika Srpska has consistently shown understanding for the unique and globally difficult existential and strategic position of the Jewish state in the Middle East, which Israel clearly values.

"All of this was happening amid a resurgence of antisemitism around the world, which began taking on horrific forms reminiscent of other times," Nikolić said.

He says that both the ruling structure and the opposition in Israel maintain a positive attitude toward the Serbian people. He added that Israeli society is divided along many parameters, but that there is complete consensus on the security and survival of the country.

"Both the governing structure, led by Likud and headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as opposition blocs led by Naftali Bennett, former Prime Minister of Israel, then Gadi Eisenkot, former Chief of the General Staff who in the past three years lost his son, a fallen soldier, and two nephews, as well as the well-known friend of the Serbian people Avigdor Lieberman, very much know how to recognize friends in the most difficult times," Nikolić said.

He stressed that it is now important to further develop and concretize these relations into measurable parameters, such as economic cooperation and scientific-technological advancement, including the exchange of experience and knowledge, where much can be learned from a startup nation like Israel.

"The most important thing is the networking of innovation ecosystems with Israel, bearing in mind not only Israeli databases and accelerators, but also innovation and programming factors in all major software companies and sectors. This is truly a window to the world, which is important for startup companies on one side, and it also implies boosting exports and overall trade exchange between the countries, and ultimately Israel’s investment cycle," Nikolić said.

He stated that Israeli investments in Serbia, apart from the real estate sector, are also clearly visible in renewable energy sources and industrial facilities, with investors including some of the leading Israeli companies such as "Bet Shemesh Engines" and "King."

Nikolić pointed out that the past year was a record one in terms of total goods trade between Serbia and Israel, exceeding 270 million dollars, while Israel became Serbia’s third-largest export market outside Europe.

"The current level of investment in Serbia by Israeli companies and companies owned by Israelis has exceeded three billion dollars, and of particular importance are not only the strategic dialogue but also the initiated negotiations on a free trade agreement," Nikolić emphasized.

According to him, the number of Israeli tourists visiting Serbia has also significantly increased, with more than 108,000 overnight stays recorded last year, which is a 50 percent increase compared to the previous year. Direct flights between Tel Aviv and Belgrade have also been restored, and currently Israeli airlines "Arkia" and "Sandor" operate on that route five times a week.

"The main mission is to redirect tourists beyond Belgrade as well, especially to tourist destinations of outstanding natural beauty and national parks, such as those in the southwestern part of Serbia, rich in water and greenery, which are particularly attractive to visitors from the Middle East. This can also be incorporated into joint cross-border projects with Republika Srpska, that is, BiH, and Montenegro," Nikolić concluded.