CDU MP in the German Bundestag, Michael Brand, gave an interview to the German newspaper “Tageszeitung” in which, when asked: how does he assess the situation in the Balkans, which is again in the spotlight with the war in Ukraine, he said that “Bosnia and Herzegovina months in focus because of the danger of a new war and before Putin’s fierce attack on Ukraine, “Deutsche Welle reports.
“The axis that goes from Republika Srpska through Serbia to Russia is an axis capable of war. Croatian nationalists in BiH should be added to that,” says Brand and adds:
“Finally, we must stop lying so that peace can be ensured with extremists. One should be determined in dealing with extremists even before it is too late.”
“Germany and the EU have contributed to falling out of the game due to wrong analyzes and engagements. Dodik’s insults should simply be ignored. The announcement of the strengthening of EUFOR troops has no effect because the mandate expires in a few months, and its extension in the UN Security Council will not pass due to Russia’s veto. This week, the NATO Secretary General explicitly mentioned the protection of BiH. If we want to effectively prevent the next war in Europe, then peace must be secured militarily by NATO, especially in Brcko (strategically the most important place in Bosnia and Herzegovina, TAZ),” Brand said in an interview with TAZ, Avaz writes.
Croatia must set boundaries for its own extremists
On April 8, Croatian President Zoran Milanovic awarded war veterans in Mostar whose commanders were convicted of war crimes in The Hague. There is no criticism of this nationalist course of Croatia in Berlin, said Erich Rathfelder, a TAZ journalist who spoke with Brand.
Brand responds to this statement:
“The Croatian president is an extremist politician, who went from a former communist to an ultranationalist. He doesn’t have that much power. More important is Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, who has so far acted pro-European. He is now under pressure from extreme nationalists. The existence of borders is unquestionable in international law and in Europe. Croatia must no longer actively threaten the constitution and statehood of the neighboring country, either externally or internally, but must set boundaries for its own extremists.
German Foreign Minister Annaelna Baerbock said in the Bundestag recently that deeper analyzes and strategies are lacking in Berlin. What did she mean by that?
“Ms. Burbock publicly leaves the impression that she consistently follows constitutional-legal and European policies in the Balkans, which she does not really do. Apparently, the German Foreign Minister does not have her own concepts and relies on the machinery of the Ministry. Burbock must finally take matters into his own hands and work closely with those who put the European solution for BiH on the table. Because only with actors from civil society do we find a way out of the Bosnian dilemma and achieve stability, peace and the rule of law,” said Brand.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Russia does not recognize Schmidt
After the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Christian Schmidt, repealed a planned real estate law, Russia no longer wants to recognize it.
The Russian embassy in Sarajevo assessed Schmidt’s decision as illegal, Bayerische Rundfunk writes, and reports that a statement from the Russian embassy also states that if Schmidt’s decision is not annulled, the Balkan country is threatened with possible destabilization. The “sole representative of the international community” is responsible for this.
“Political tensions in Bosnia have been rising for months. Russia-backed Dodik has repeatedly threatened to separate Republika Srpska from the central Bosnian state. However, recently the Bosnian Serb leader himself stopped these efforts,” Bayerische Rundfunk writes.
