In a recent statement for the Financial Times in which Aleksandar Vucic said he talked out SNSD President Milorad Dodik to form an entity army, the Serbian President once again tried to create a false image that he had made a concession to the West.
Namely, in this way, he tried to present himself as a factor of stability at a time when the pressure of the European Union (EU) to clearly define the position towards Russia is growing.
“I told Dodik not to form an army. And he accepted that. Peace and stability are the most important in the region,” Vucic explained a few days after Dodik “postponed” the formation of the Republika Srpska (RS) army for 6 months, Klix.ba writes.
At a time when he is under enormous pressure and the announcement that the European Parliament will adopt a Resolution asking Serbia to specifically condemn and sanction Russia, Vucic played on the card of “calming” Dodik, who is due to new geopolitical circumstances in the world, and not the goodwill of the President of Serbia, postponed his intentions.
Vucic‘s statement is nothing but “selling fog” to the West, that is, an attempt to play a card that is not in his hands at all. If earlier there was a possibility for the authorities of the RS to embark on the adventure of forming an entity army, it definitely disappeared due to Russia’s failure to carry out a coup d’etat and defeat Ukraine in the first days of the invasion.
Undoubtedly, for almost two months now, Serbia has been facing the biggest political challenge in the last few decades. It must clearly define its political path, the West or Russia.
The room for maneuver is narrowing, as evidenced by the fact that the European Parliament EP is preparing a Resolution expressing regret over the fact that Serbia has not complied with the EU sanctions.
Belgrade’s efforts to soften Brussels and persuade Western leaders to agree to the continuation of Serbia’s policy in the sense of “sitting on two chairs” were manifested both through Vulin’s unconvincing threat and through Vucic‘s false concession to calm down the stumbled Dodik.
E.Dz.
