Čović's New Pupil: Stanivuković as a 'Moderate Face' of the Old Policy of Dividing BiH!

By: A. Čorbo-Zećo

While Republika Srpska prepares for early elections, and the public analyzes candidates, especially the opposition's Branko Blanuša, one meeting in Mostar has become significant.

Because the meeting between Dragan Čović and Draško Stanivuković was not just a courteous political dialogue about the "European path of BiH" and the "unblocking of institutions," as it sounds in the PDP statement.

Behind carefully chosen words and emphasized constructiveness lies a new phase of an old plan – coordinated action by Zagreb and Belgrade in an attempt to redesign Bosnia and Herzegovina according to their interests. HDZ BiH had the opportunity to unblock processes at a time when the Trojka (Three) with the opposition from RS were planning to oust SNSD from the BiH Council of Ministers. They did not do so; Borjana Krišto does not even allow the appointment of the Minister of Security. That is why the story with Stanivuković about some unblocking of state institutions is just an attempt to deceive the public anew.

Čović, who for years under the guise of "legitimate representation of Croats" has advocated a model that effectively leads to the ethnic division of the country, is now clearly looking for new partners outside of Milorad Dodik.

Stanivuković, politically ambitious and ideologically unstable (but always on Belgrade's side), has proven to be a willing pupil, someone who can offer a "fresh face" and a "more moderate tone," while essentially continuing a policy that benefits the disintegration of BiH.

Messages about "cooperation, dialogue, and the European path" are just new rhetoric for old goals. When Stanivuković talks about supporting changes to the Election Law in line with Čović's demands, he is actually entering into a political arrangement that has long been mapped out in the triangle Zagreb–Mostar–Belgrade.

It is also interesting that this new axis is being formed at a time when Milorad Dodik is under international pressure, but it seems he is being left room to "consolidate."

Because he can remain the president of SNSD, and thus remain in political life.

While Dodik maintains destabilizing pressure on the state, Čović and Stanivuković are building an image of "moderate dialogue," which should obscure the real essence of the process.

Bosnia and Herzegovina, for who knows what time, is facing an attempt at political repackaging, some are threatening secession, others are presenting themselves as reformers, and all together are working towards the same goal of weakening state sovereignty, of course with the full assistance of Zagreb and Belgrade.