Dizdarević: Public is being prepared for recognition of Kosovo, Dodik raises tensions

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The relocation of the BiH embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which Milorad Dodik announced after the meeting of Aleksandar Vučić, Avdullah Hoti and Donald Trump, is not a topic at all in any serious situation. As Zlatko Dizdarević, former diplomat and journalist, said - it is a provoked topic with which Dodik raises tensions - which is his political task.

"That is a matter regulated by international rules. What America did - that is another story. In our real circumstances, the rules of how the Presidency functions, that is something that cannot pass," Dizdarević said for N1.

The European Commission earlier stated that Brussels' position must be respected. Dizdarević added that everything can be on the agenda, but:

"We live in a schizophrenic situation where everything is possible. It is irrelevant what world rules, order and resolutions dictate. Jerusalem is not a private matter, it has a regulated historical status. It is important to America because it shows force and stands behind Israel. That is a long-standing desire of Israel. It is important to America because of the elections, for Dodik to ingratiate himself with America because he is on the blacklist. In serious diplomacy, this is not a topic. As far as we are concerned, it is a permanent provocation of tensions," Dizdarević said.

Milorad Dodik also wants to show support for Aleksandar Vučić.

"Anyone who has read the agreement sees that Vučić interprets it differently than Hoti. In serious politics, this provokes ridicule. Dodik congratulated Vučić and Trump on the bilateral agreement, and that has nothing to do with a bilateral agreement. These interpretations that are washing over us are part of particular interests," stated the N1 guest.

All these topics, Dizdarević claims, are imposed because they are important for Trump, primarily due to the presidential elections - to say that he achieved a historic agreement between Palestine and Israel.

"Here, people read what suits them, how it suits them, not what is written. America has an interest in continuing the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo, and a decision cannot be made overnight, the ground must be prepared. If you read the agreement - everything is in the interest of the USA. It is pulling the handbrake on Serbia regarding energy ties with Russia, in relation to Huawei and 5G with China, and for opening the American economy. 5G is not the problem, the problem is China, the USA wants to push back China, which has achieved dominance with Huawei," explained Dizdarević.

The arrival of Matthew Palmer, the US Special Representative for the Balkans, according to Dizdarević's interpretation, will certainly have topics such as the 5G network, the internal situation in BiH, but also the reform of Dayton on the agenda of meetings.

"The visit is related to the internal situation in BiH. The Americans had announced this earlier, but the coronavirus stopped that story. I do not think Palmer is coming because of the Serbia-Kosovo agreement. Dayton reform will probably be there, 5G and stopping Chinese influence. Reforms are a dramatic question for the survival of any somewhat normal BiH compared to Dayton, and even compared to reality," stated the guest of the Day Live show.

Dizdarević said it is logical that the USA is creating a period of psychological-factual preparations for resolving the dispute between Serbia and Kosovo.

"It is difficult to talk about that. The time has not come to resolve it. For mutual recognition, another year or two is needed, where the agreement will enter into practice. Passports will be legalized, border relations, the atmosphere will be lowered. The public is being prepared. Diplomatic relations cannot be established by states with non-states. Kosovo is gaining the status of a state, it has been agreed not to raise questions between Kosovo and Israel, but it is tacitly known that recognition will be the result," he said, adding:

"Whoever signs that document enters history as Vuk Branković."

Dizdarević also said that the USA is present in the Balkans as much as it is interested.

"We are obsessed with ourselves and think we are big players. However, it is rarely mentioned that America has a geostrategic interest due to the military base in Kosovo. They are watching that," he said.

He also commented on the elections in Montenegro, saying that the picture is much different now than in the first days after the elections.

"There was optimism because Đukanović fell. But after three or four days, when the first rally of these winners took place, when it was noted that there was not a single Montenegrin flag, only those of Serbia and the Serbian Orthodox Church. The question arises, what is this about? At a rally two days ago, one speaker said the essence - that if they had seen a Montenegrin flag at even one rally, one could talk. We saw the birth of Chetnik ideology, aggressiveness in rhetoric and behavior," Dizdarević said.

He noted that what is done is much more important than what is declared. He explained that he was surprised after the announcement of the election results in Montenegro, but that he is now not convinced that this is a good direction in which that country is moving.