Smith: Serbia is preparing a `Russian recipe` for Kosovo Serbs

Serbia is preparing the “Russian recipe”, where the Serb minority living in Kosovo wants to be portrayed as an “endangered population”, just as Russia claims it is doing with the Russian-speaking population in eastern Ukraine.

This is what British analyst Daniel Smith points out, adding that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is constantly serving Russia’s interests in the Balkans.

“In relation to Kosovo, we are increasingly seeing a Serbian narrative adapted to the ‘Russian recipe’, where the Serb minority living in Kosovo is presented as an ‘endangered population’ or reiterating the need for ‘protection’. Russia claims to be doing the same with the Russian-speaking population in eastern Ukraine, Smith told Al Jazeera.

According to him, Vucic’s so-called neutral policy is more pro-Russian than anything else.

“With his pro-Russian policy, Vucic has consistently served Russia’s interests in the Balkans. In many cases, he has served the interests of Russia more than the Serbian people. His so-called neutral policy is more pro-Russian than anything else. How else can we call the president of an EU candidate country, Vucic, but a ‘useful idiot’ who allows himself to be exploited by a dictator and war criminal like Vladimir Putin? Or do they both have a lot in common? he asked.

Smith says the obstruction of the arrival of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Serbia by neighboring countries has preserved the dignity of the Serbian people and has not been preserved by their own state. He adds that the cancellation of this visit is a good signal for the region.

“The cancellation of Lavrov’s visit is a good signal for the region, primarily because the war crimes denier in Ukraine, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo has been prevented from further escalating tensions by visiting Belgrade. Secondly “The blockade of airspace for Lavrov’s flight proves the importance of the membership of all Western Balkan countries in NATO for their security and that of the region in general,” Smith said.

“The readiness of Serbian leaders to receive Lavrov at a time when European and world leaders are welcoming Ukrainian leaders is further proof that Serbia is actively supporting Russia and that it is time for the EU to seriously consider Serbia’s candidate status. “In this case, the neighboring countries have preserved the dignity of the citizens of Serbia, which unfortunately has not been preserved by their own state,” he added.

The British expert claims that through propaganda and the Orthodox Church, the Kremlin is trying to increase inter-ethnic tensions in the region.

“By spreading pro-Russian propaganda and narrative, the Kremlin is trying to increase inter-ethnic tensions in the Balkans, and especially in Bosnia and Herzegovina. By doing so, Russia is benefiting from the rise of Serbian nationalism and support from the Serbian Orthodox Church. “Media and institutes in the Balkans have shown cases of Russian intelligence interference in violating the national security of the Balkan countries,” he said.

Finally, Smith says that the speech of the Russian ambassador to the Assembly of the Republika Srpska was a bad message for the security of the Balkans and that Igor Kalabuhov should be declared a non-grata person and expelled from the country.

“The speech of the Russian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Igor Kalabuhov, in the Assembly of the Republika Srpska, was a bad message for the security and stability of the country but also of the Balkans, both symbolically and in terms of content. An ambassador who openly threatens Bosnia and Herzegovina that, ‘continuing its European path poses a threat to national security’, should at least be declared ‘non grata’ and expelled from the country,” Smith concludes. /KP

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