Kalabić: There is nothing of the RS Army, a turbulent period begins after the PIC decision

(Patria) - Drago Kalabić, former vice-president of the SNSD, appearing on the FTV show Rezime, says it is a million-dollar question what Gabriel Escobar is doing in BiH and what we will find out tomorrow after the PIC session.

"It wouldn't be Escobar if we all knew what he was doing. It is obvious that there are too many strong players in and around BiH, led by Escobar, probably the strongest recently, and all these dilemmas that have followed us in recent months are heading towards some kind of resolution. My assumption is that there will be some activities that would be a response to all the events in BiH in the past period, so after years of calm, a more turbulent time is clearly coming, and I think the time for decisions is also coming. I think it is heading towards certain decisions and it will be interesting in the coming days."

He explains that too many dilemmas and too many things have been swept under the rug.

"Anyone who is objective must know that BiH was made the way it was made with a strong international presence, and it is still there. No matter how much someone wants to admit or ignore it, they are here, they have a share of responsibility. They are too strong players, gathered in a small space, and what they have, in a way, taken over with the Dayton Agreement and as the guarantor of the Dayton Agreement itself, they have the responsibility and power to resolve this situation. I disagree with those who think that domestic authorities can resolve this. If only it were so. These are too big dilemmas, they have lasted too long, and I think they have come before a kind of truth and resolution."

We have problems much bigger than any individual

He believes that individual sanctions are not important.

"I don't think that is the solution. There have been them in the past, and personally, I think they have yielded no results. Here we have problems that are much bigger than any individual and sanctions against an individual. In the end, it becomes a private matter for that person. We have too many dilemmas here, this has lasted too long, this bad, unresolved situation, and I think they owe us certain answers in the coming period because we have noticed certain dilemmas even within the international community. What bound us most in BiH was that European path, and if we had agreement on anything, it was on that. And we were all convinced that Europe was waiting for us with one voice, that it was waiting for us in good faith and without dilemmas. Now suddenly we have received five voices from Europe, we have received many dilemmas. One thing is told to us by Milanović, another by Orbán, another by Germany. All are EU members, NATO members, and we are very small to synchronize those voices or to ask them. So they owe us that kind of answer, and I expect that in the coming period, the one who decides the most and is the most powerful will have to sort things out. This cannot last long. There are too many strong players and too many strong topics on the table. This simply will not be resolved, but I think there will be some resolution."

Kalabić states that the international community has been implementing judicial reform here.

"It took matters into its own hands, and I will never understand that for years they strongly financed the BiH judiciary, for which there is one hundred percent agreement in BiH that it does not do its job. They worked under the patronage of the US Embassy. I would remind Escobar and all those who, by taking away the judiciary from the entities, said it would now be better. What is it about now, why is it not better? I completely question that it has failed, that this country is full of corruption and crime, but domestic authorities are not solely responsible, I state that with certainty."

Dodik's relations with Russia are obviously very good

Regarding Milorad Dodik's departure to Russia, he says he knows what the media reported.

"Those relations between Dodik and Russia are obviously very good, but I would say that Mr. Escobar has the opportunity to ask the Russians about that at the PIC. I don't think what he is saying is even close to accurate. I think it has some other goal. Dodik does not hide that he went for political support before the resolution of this situation. Russia is a powerful country, a PIC member, an important international player. Dodik went to confirm its support, and what we have from the media is that this support is unquestionable. To what extent for which moves, I could not tell you. If they are honest towards BiH, they will have the opportunity to say so at the PIC, both Escobar and the Russians and everyone else. I think the time has come, if nothing else, for everyone to be honest towards BiH."

Regarding the announced session of the NSRS, Kalabić says he does not expect anything spectacular.

"I think this is a kind of tactical session by Dodik. He doesn't intend anything special or serious there, and it's simply buying time. Elections are coming, and to keep those hot topics on the agenda, because the creation of those mechanisms is a distant prospect, and I don't think anything special will come of it."

Dodik is a master, a pragmatist of daily politics

He believes that Dodik will not continue with the talk about forming an RS army.

"Dodik is a master, a pragmatist of daily politics. He does not choose the method or means to achieve certain political points and throws in such heavy topics, but I am personally convinced that he will do nothing on that matter. I think Dodik is taking a position before the resolution of this whole situation, trying to position himself as best as possible ahead of the key negotiations that are coming in the following days and months."

He emphasizes that the credibility of the BiH Prosecutor's Office and judiciary is severely damaged and that those now making moves must take care not to damage it completely and not to use it for political score-settling to the lowest possible extent.

"If BiH institutions had done their job, this would not have happened. You cannot make political moves in the judiciary, then choose who you want and who you don't."

Asked whether Dodik has lost the support of Aleksandar Vučić, Kalabić replies: "Whoever knows the answer to that question will know the resolution of the entire political situation, primarily in the RS, and then in BiH. That is the question we are waiting for an answer to. I think Mr. Vučić is in certain problems when it comes to actions from the RS and that in the coming days or months, whether he wants to or not, he will have to take a position on that."

It is no secret that the situation in the SNSD is bad

Regarding the opposition in the RS, he says they are on the rise.

"I think they are making progress and have a real chance to win the next elections. I think the opposition is dealing with the RS at this moment and is excluded from some important events at the BiH level. In this situation, which is not ideal, everyone has the right to meet with everyone. One possible outcome is that some new forces come in. It cannot get worse. If changes occur, they can only be for the better because I don't think it can get worse than this. I think this is currently the worst state since Dayton and that we must find a way out of this at any cost."

"It is no secret that the situation in the SNSD is bad. People there in Banja Luka are currently doing a lot of harm to Dodik. They are looking for an exit strategy, some of them think they will lose the elections, and a good part are working behind his back. That is no secret. I think he does everything he does alone and with a completely different group of people," concluded Kalabić.

(federalna.ba)