BLAGOJEVICH: I WILL DO EVERYTHING TO REBUILD SERBS - AMERICANS RELATIONS

BANJA LUKA, JUNE 25 /SRNA/ - Former governor of the US state of Illinois Rod Blagojevich told SRNA that he will do everything he can to rebuild the friendship between the Serb and American peoples, noting that they were allies in both World Wars, and that he felt a strong connection with the Serb people during his stay in Republika Srpska.

"I am very determined to do what I can and as much as I can, and to take advantage of the moment. I will do everything to rebuild the relations between the American and Serbian peoples, as well as between the American government and the Government of Republika Srpska," said Blagojevich, who is also a close associate of U.S. President Donald Trump.

In the SRNA podcast, he pointed out that Serbs and Americans had cooperated in the past, such as during World War II, when the Yugoslav Army in the Homeland, headed by General Dragoljub Mihailović, rescued Allied pilots in Operation Halyard.

"I was thinking of that experience and how Serbs and Americans were allies in both World Wars. My father fought in World War II, and my grandfather was killed in World War I. Americans and Serbs should once again be friends and allies," Blagojevich said.

He described what Democrats under Bill Clinton and Joseph Biden did to the Serbs as a betrayal.

"Those are the kinds of things that make you despise politics and realize how dishonorable some decision-makers are. I believe President Trump will act differently, and I think this is a new chapter," Blagojevich emphasized.

He believes that Serbs in the Balkans should serve as guardians of Judeo-Christian values, just as Israel "preserves the tradition of Judeo-Christianity in the Middle East."

"That should also be in America's interest. It is in the interest of Western civilization," said Blagojevich.

He noted that Americans are not fully informed about historical events and that more efforts must be made in education so people know who their friends and enemies are.

"My friend /Halyard Foundation board member/ Ranko Ristić is doing a lot to raise awareness of this. That is an important step, but more must be done," said Blagojevich.

He added that he appears in American media and tries to speak about Serbs and the NATO bombing in 1999, which occurred without UN authorization.

"Like Ranko, I feel the need to speak out about these things. That's what we're doing," Blagojević stated.