Russian newspaper "Zavtra" website published an article titled "Russia's old friend requests its protection at a critical moment" on October 3, authored by Dmitriy Bavilin.

The article states that the president of the Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik, is standing firm in the Balkans to resist NATO. He came to Moscow to request Russia's help when Russia and the United States reach an agreement on Europe's "red line." Moreover, Dodik now needs help: our common enemy is preparing to eliminate him, which may trigger a new war.

On October 2, Russian President Putin (right) met with the president of Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik, in Sochi. (AP)

After meeting with Russian President Putin during the Valdai Club conference, this Bosnian Serb leader said: "I just asked President Putin not to miss the opportunity... when laying the foundation for peace and agreements at the international level, do not let us be manipulated by those second-rate bureaucrats in Brussels, who are still suffocating us and preventing us from living normally."

Although the wording is vague, the meaning of this request is obvious.

The article states that Dodik believes the restoration of Russian-American relations will end with some agreement, which will not only determine the fate of Ukraine but also define the spheres of influence of the superpowers. At that time, Moscow may be required to abandon its allies in the Balkans and any intervention in the region's affairs. Afterward, the Balkans will be completely incorporated into the NATO system, and Bosnia, Serbia, and the Kosovo region will be brought into the NATO alliance. For this reason, Brussels may implement regime change in Belgrade and Banja Luka (and possibly more than once).

The Serbian leader believes that Russia can protect his and the Serbs' interests. Dodik said, "I think two years from now we will see European leaders lining up to go to the Kremlin, even I myself won't be able to get through this line."

The article believes that Moscow will definitely help the Bosnian Serbs. For the past 25 years, they have been the most steadfast allies of Russia in the Balkans. However, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is known for her iron-fisted approach, without concern for elegance or legitimacy. Her goal in the region has always been clear - to remove Russian influence from the Balkans, which means removing Dodik.

The position of the United States on this issue may be surprising: after Trump took office, Washington's policies in the Balkans often differed from those of Brussels, and were clearly more moderate. But the Americans will at best withdraw from the conflict, and even during Trump's administration, it is hard to imagine them standing on the side of the Serbs.

For Russia, the Serbian world is like an island in the sea of NATO. The article writes that in the face of further attempts by European officials to eliminate the autonomy and sovereignty of the Serbs (referring to Belgrade), only they themselves can stop this. If this divided nation does not follow the formula they know well in conflicts, then Moscow's intervention will become meaningless, and could even cause great harm to Russia itself. Only unity can save the Serbian world.

Source | Reference News

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7557276777422127657/

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