Diplomatist Magazine Diplomatist Oct-Nov 2018 | Page 15

INSIDE EUROPE BOSNIAN SERB PRESIDENT PLAYING WITH FIRE BY INDRANI TALUKDAR* B ANALYSING BOSIAN PRESIDENT’S BALANCING ACT BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE US osnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik won the 2018 general election in the Serb Republic as a part of the Bosnia-Herzegovina's three-person presidency. Russia was once again accused of meddling in the Bosnian election, which the country denied. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, during his visit to Bosnia in September, just before the elections, had said that Russia would respect the outcome of the 7 October election and would not back any party. Many analysts argued that President Dodik would win his community’s seat in the election because of Russia’s infl uence on it. President Dodik is well-known for his leanings towards Russia. Just before the election, President Dodik, on 30 September, met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi, raising speculation of the Kremlin’s infl uence on the Bosnian election. During their meeting at Sochi, President Putin praised his country’s relations with Bosnia as “good and successful”. The two leaders took a stock of their countries’ bilateral cooperation and were satisfi ed with the result that 75 per cent of the total foreign trade of the Republika Srpska (RS or Serb Republic) is with Russia. The main areas of economic cooperation between the two countries are in industries and oil refi ning. Apart from the economic aspect, the two countries are becoming closer in political and social aspects too. President Dodik has been vocal in defending Russia. In a January report by the US Congress, Russia was accused of ‘asymmetric arsenal in Serbia (which) is multifaceted and very eff ective at maintaining public support for a strong relationship with Moscow’. Bosnia’s membership to the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), is yet to be formalized. One of the reasons for which Bosnia is not able to join NATO is because of non-registration of its military facilities as state property. Another reason is the refusal of the RS to join the alliance. Regarding EU membership too, the RS needs to undergo the accession process – which they have not been able to because of internal problems as well Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 6 • Issue 10 • Oct-Nov 2018, Noida • 15