Russia’s influence in Republika Srpska is growing, but the Sarajevo government says Moscow will not intervene significantly in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
ADVERTISEMENTThe President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, announced that he would not allow Bosnia to join NATO. His remarks caused a scandal, particularly because Russia recently opened a diplomatic office in Banja Luka, and the Serbian entity has strengthened its cross-border cooperation with Belgrade.
“I am sure that we could reach agreements based on a mutual understanding that we have national interests to protect, on a high level of autonomy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the basis of our Dayton peace agreement and our constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina.” explains Darko Matijašević, former Minister of the Interior of the Republika Srpska.
Despite strong anti-Western rhetoric in the region, membership of the European Union enjoys majority support in the country.
Russia’s influence in Republika Srpska is growing, but the Sarajevo government says Moscow will not intervene significantly in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Russia has so many problems of its own that it has no time to play with some of the problems of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a sovereign country and Russia knows it, everybody knows it. Republika Srpska cannot block the affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina at all and nobody asks them for anything, and I think the best thing would be for them to deal with their own economic problems.” says Ramo Isak, Minister of the Interior of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Many Serbs in Republika Srpska still hold grudges against the West over NATO bombings in the 1990s and seem to feel better understood by the East, including Russia. These feelings shape current politics and relations in the country and the region.
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