Serbian politics has reached its regional peak with the “political coup” in Montenegro, and the formation of a new government run by Prime Minister, Mr Zdravko Krivokapić, is a sign for all strategists of Greater Serbia politics that things are returning to “normal”, Ms Sonja Biserko, the President of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia, tells in an interview with Al Jazeera.
Key moments from Al Jazeera’s interview with Ms Biserko
Al Jazeera: What do you think about the events in Montenegro, as it’s clear now that, beside the Serbian Orthodox Church, SPC, the official policy of Belgrade is interfering in them? Is the following scenario going to happen: Montenegrins as the minority in the census, withdrawal of a recognition of Kosovo’s independence, the country will leave NATO and finally, Montenegro to lose its sovereignty?
Biserko: Everything is like you said and there is nothing wrong with it. In fact, Serbia is now engaged in wrapping up the so-called Serbian world, which represents a replacement for Greater Serbia and the united Serbian countries. It includes Republika Srpska, Montenegro and northern Kosovo, and as for Macedonia and parts of Croatia – it depends on circumstances. As Serbian strategists now think, Serbia has affirmed or won an international position with its cooperation with China, the EU, the U.S. and Russia, and they believe that they have enough space to complete the idea of the Serbian world. They believe that the international context is very fluid, which will be good for her at a later stage.
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With its attitude of balancing on all sides, Serbia believes that it can wait for its opportunity to realize the plan about the Serbian world, and it relies heavily on Russia and China. They used the fact that the Trump administration was insufficiently interested in the Balkans, and in a way, Mr Trump approved of the authoritarian leaders in the region. And everyone was disappointed with his defeat. Serbia has not yet decided where it belongs.
Al Jazeera: What’s your opinion on the long-term and sustained media presentation of Montenegro as a “taken Serbian country”, especially in the aftermath of the adoption of the Law on Freedom of Religion?
Biserko: Belgrade has never accepted an independent Montenegro. Montenegro is considered a territory or another Serbian country, it’s perceived as an internal issue of Serbia. And that’s why it’s amazing how much Montenegro is under the radar of the international community, but they don’t understand what is happening behind the scenes. Mr Milo Đukanović and his decades-long rule is one thing, while who’s replacing him and with what policy and strategy completely another. The West does not understand this enough, because it believes that the changeability of the government, which is fine, is the first principle that needs to be met.
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Al Jazeera: Is it appropriate that Mr Aleksandar Vučić, so obviously and continuously, skips all B&H officials and strengthen relations with only one man – Mr Milorad Dodik?
Biserko: Well, Belgrade has realized that in the last 12 years, that is, since 2008, the West has been too disengaged in the Balkans due to the economic and migrant crisis, which gave Mr Dodik room to dissolve Bosnia and bring it to the point of break-up. However, Mr Biden’s victory and his promise and efforts to renew the alliance with the EU and NATO disturbed many people. It won’t look like it used to, but signals a new relationship with Bosnia, Montenegro and Kosovo. Germany, which is certainly the most present in the region and the EU, will probably get the main role in the entire story.
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Al Jazeera: Do closest Vučić’s associates consider the break-up of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the abolition of Montenegro’s sovereignty, and, hypothetically, uniting of all those countries into one state attached to Serbia?
Biserko: It should be perceived in phases, it’s a scenario developing through phases, and it will depend on the international circumstances that they constantly wish for. I think it’s a wrong assessment, and at this moment the world scene looks chaotic.
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Al Jazeera: The break-up of Bosnia and Herzegovina and abolition of Montenegro?
Biserko: They think that it will fall apart on its own, because Mr Dodik brought Bosnia to the point that they have nothing in common, and that was a systematic plan he has been realizing for the last 12 years. Especially after the declaration of Kosovo’s independence, as Mr Dodik considered that Republika Srpska had the right to self-determination and did everything to realize that plan.
