STRENGTHENING OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH MOSCOW AND WASHINGTON CRUCIAL FOR SRPSKA

BELGRADE, MARCH 23 /SRNA/ - Historian Miloš Ković says that Serbia, Kosovo and Metohija are being defended in Republika Srpska today, and that the strengthening of Banja Luka's diplomatic ties with Moscow and Washington, Serbia’s support as a guarantor of the Dayton Peace Agreement, as well as Viktor Orban's Hungary, which is close to the new US administration, is crucial for the further future of Srpska.

Ković has said it is obvious even to the laymen that the pressures the leadership and citizens of Republika Srpska suffer are a violation of procedures and laws.

"There is no dilemma. It is clear that Christian Schmidt really disrupted some legal life, the rule of law on the soil of the entire BiH, especially in Republika Srpska," Ković told SRNA.

He has pointed out that there is no sign of any Sarajevo’s readiness for now to discuss the situation in BiH, and that such reluctance is probably based on external support.

"Where does that support for Sarajevo come from, that's another question. As for the Croat people community, it's obvious that it's being weighed. On the one hand, we have certain support from Zagreb, on the other hand, a very hostile attitude towards Banja Luka when it comes to Kosovo and Metohija. I'm referring, of course, to this military agreement with Albania and the so-called Kosovo. There, as far as Croatia is concerned, we need to be very careful," notes Ković.

He believes that the situation in Republika Srpska, i.e. BiH, will be resolved by the big powers, and he sees the solution in strengthening Banja Luka's diplomatic ties with Moscow and Washington.

"Moscow is, of course, crucial. In these negotiations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, all we need is for Putin to include this issue in the topics list being discussed. Of course, we can't do much there, when the big powers are negotiating, the small ones just stay on the sidelines, but it's up to Banja Luka to work on it in every way," he said.

Ković has added that, in the media sense, one must try to reach that part of the media community in the USA that supports Trump.

"Simply, Trump's coming to power is a great chance for the Serb people. It is the renewal of national politics, the renewal of the national discourse in the USA. All that the Serb people want in Republika Srpska is the right to exist, which is the defence of the national rights of a people on its own. So, the politics of the great powers is crucial for Srpska," Ković emphasized.

According to Ković, Hungary with Prime Minister Viktor Orban, is very important for the position of Republika Srpska.

"It is obvious that it is very close to the Trump administration; on the other hand, as far as I can see from Belgrade, Banjaluka has built good relations with Budapest. So now many things will depend on Hungary. The messages of /US Secretary of State/ Marco Rubio are not encouraging, but we should not lose the hope yet and we need to work on that," he said.

Ković stated that Rubio's recent statements caused the triumphalism of political Sarajevo, but that Republika Srpska should work in Washington. He repeated that Moscow is the key in everything and the extent to which Russia is ready to stand behind Republika Srpska.

"That is the measure of success and, let's say, survival and maybe even victory of Republika Srpska in the future. That is the question of all questions," Ković pointed out.

When it comes to Serbia, Ković states that Serbia is only asking to provide support to Republika Srpska and its right to exist.

"It seems the public opinion of Serbia has no enough awareness of what is happening in Republika Srpska and that the question now is - to be or not to be. The reason for this is the internal conflicts in Serbia. This is not something that is in our favour and I see that Sarajevo is building its policy on that. It is not by chance that these relations with Srpska have become so strained at a time of political crisis in Serbia," he said.

According to him, Serbia is required to be loyal and to respect the letter of the Dayton Peace Agreement, which obliges Serbia to cooperate with and support Republika Srpska.

"On the other hand, Serbia is also required to be aware of its national calling, of its key role in relation to the Serb people in, as they say today, the region. A lot will depend on that," Ković said. /end/vos