The Russian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Igor Kalabuhov, said in a guest appearance on the BHT1 Uživo show that the statement on the events in the parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the issue of the Southern Interconnection had been misinterpreted.
“If I said that I love Bosnia and Herzegovina, they would say that I am threatening BiH with a fierce kiss,”Kalabuhov said at the beginning of the interview.
“The issue of the Southern Interconnection and the stories about it could end earlier, if there were a compromise on both interconnections. We have nothing against the diversification of energy resources in BiH and we support it, assuming that it is fair,” he said.
He emphasized that what the US government did in the Parliament of the FBiH is what they do in other countries.
“It is not negative that they are doing this, but the way they are doing it negates compromise and agreement in the Federation of the FBiH and in all of BiH regarding these sources.”
He also said that Russia is not exerting any pressure on Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“This is a misinterpretation, this is not pressure because we have had long-standing cooperation with BiH and there has never been anything negative. We support true freedom and open competition,” he stressed.
It is also a paradox that the US buys cheap Russian gas in India and sells three times more to Europe, Kalabuhov pointed out.
“The price depends on several factors, it is a matter of commercial structures, and it is important that currently the gas for BiH goes at the lowest price.”
When it comes to US-Russian relations, he said that President Putin has communication with the new/old President Trump, but the relationship in BiH is something else.
“As for our relations in BiH, we must have constructive cooperation because we are members of the PIC and we have our own responsibility. What the US is doing to defend its interests is completely egotistical, and what the US embassy is saying and doing is a threat to stabilization in BiH.”