Moscow's political liturgy: What will Covic promise to Russians in return for the election law

By: Rasim Belko

The chairman of the House of Peoples of the state Parliament, the leader of the HDZ BiH and a non-governmental organization HNS, Dragan Covic, is travelling to Russia.

Like the old saying goes... 'If the mountain will not come to Muhammad, then Muhammad must go to the mountain', Covic will oblige the Russians by going to them (instead of the other way around) because he is lacking Russian influence in Bosnia and Herzegovina – particularly in the Federation.

This is not the first time that a Croat politician from BiH or its neighborhood goes to Moscow... to pray that the Russian politics becomes involved in the internal processes of BiH.

As Covic has lost his spokes(wo)man of the 'ustasha' vision for the country, Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic, he is forced to go on his own and pray. What does the 'bearer of the European values' have to do in the country that the EU does not share any values with?!

Perhaps some commissioner of some European organization asked Covic to go and see if there any chances for Russia to begin the accession process? However, why would that EU someone task Covic – the follower of criminal juntas and advocate of democracy based on ethnic cleansing.

Well then, it has to do with legitimacy and legality. Let's just remember Zeljko Komsic and sad faces in the capital of Bosnian Croats. Let's remember Covic's face when he had to leave the Presidency BiH.

Although he was promoting the story about the endangered Croat people in BiH for some time, since that night Covic has decided – all or nothing. Until today, mainly thanks to the international community and few sober-minded BH politicians, Covic has got nothing. However, this master of life in the west of Herzegovina is aware that without the ELECTION LAW he will remain a mere political dead man and an NGO activists with the prefix JCE.

That's why Covic needs Russians and their antiBosnian politics.

Being fully aware that he has lost support in most of the western embassies, that Bakir will cut him no slack because of Komsic, Covic is to begin walking in Dodik's footsteps.

Turning Covic towards East is seen before. He learned that from the former president of his back up homeland.

The HDZ BiH leader is now a bigger Russian player in BiH than Milorad Dodik, which makes him a bigger threat to this country than is the entire RS politics.

That same Covic advocated forming of the Council of Ministers regardless if any document would be submitted to the NATO HQ. And Covic used to be a 'great advocate' of the NATO, swearing by Bosnian accession to the alliance.

Today, the NATO is no longer his priority. Fighting for a bit of political oxygen, Dragan Covic is prepared to make a deal with the devil himself.

His statement that 'FBiH particularly lacks the Russian influence' isn't the most dangerous message taken out of the interview he gave to the 'Russian Gazette'. The fact that Covic is calling for enhanced parliamentary cooperation between BiH and Russia is far more dangerous.

Covic seems to imitate the president of Serbia who is exhausted from trying to balance between east and west. However, the key difference between those two is that Covic surely doesn't have the consent of BiH Parliament to nurture relations with the Russians.

Having said that, cooperation between parliaments is not the only thing on Covic's mind. He has been a longtime advocate for Russian financial interests in BiH. His party soldiers have even tried to 'infiltrate' Russians into Aluminij.

However, most interesting fact about Covic's expensive trip to Moscow is his scheduled meeting with the chairwoman of the Federation Council, Valentina Matviyenko.

'We think that BiH should let the entities decide on the judiciary reform', stated Matviyenko during her visit with BiH, explaining in the middle of Sarajevo that what happened in BiH was a 'civil war'.

That happened on 23 April... a day later Matviyenko said in her meeting with Dodik that Russia stands against Bosnian accession to the NATO. As if that wasn't enough, she also condemned Montenegro's relations with the NATO.

Covic's trip to Russia is extremely dangerous for Bosnia and Herzegovina, its security and future.

We can predict with certainty that the Russian politicians who are to meet Covic, will readily support everything he asks them to support. It was guaranteed before his departure for Russia.

What remains unknown and hence more dangerous is the PRICE that Covic is ready to pay to get the Croat third entity which would secure him (and his circle of friends) the ultimate power for the rest of their lives. It's not that Covic has been much of a fighter for BiH till now, but it is now perfectly clear that after the Moscow political liturgy, he will be prepared for much worse.