President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, awarded Srdja Trifković with the Njegoš Order, First Class. Dodik noted that Trifković dedicated his life to academic and political observations of the Serbian people’s position, which he has illuminated brilliantly. For Trifković, the award is encouragement to continue his work for Republika Srpska and the Serbian people.
The award was presented today, symbolically, on Armistice Day. According to Dodik, Trifković is one of the most prominent names in Serbian academia. Dodik highlighted that Trifković sacrificed personal comfort to remain consistent with his views and make his perspectives on domestic issues and their correlation with centers of power, especially in the U.S., visible to the public.
“He has contributed to raising awareness here, across the region, and in the U.S. while working at various universities, yet he never abandoned his roots,” said Dodik.
Trifković expressed that receiving this award is a great honor, made even more significant by Dodik presenting it on this date, a day of victory and a pinnacle of achievement for the Serbian state.
“This will give me additional motivation to persevere in my efforts to do whatever I can for Republika Srpska and the Serbian people. After last Tuesday, Serbs will breathe easier,” Trifković said.
Supporting this sentiment was a phone call between newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. Vučić was among the first fifteen world leaders, and the first regional leader, with whom Trump spoke following his election victory. Vučić remarked that this gesture is a great honor and success for Serbia, contributing positively to Serbian-American relations.
“This is a great honor for our small country, a significant achievement for Serbia. I didn’t do it for personal success; it’s a success for our country. I hope this will bring benefits to Serbia. We work for Serbia, to improve relations with the U.S. and advance economically,” Vučić emphasized.
The timing of this conversation was also symbolic, as it occurred on the eve of Armistice Day. As Dodik noted, Serbs, as the greatest sufferers, welcomed victory on the winning side, not among the oppressors. To honor their contribution in the fight against the powers, the Serbian flag once flew over the White House. In this context, Dodik views Vučić’s conversation with Trump, where he congratulated Trump on behalf of Serbia and the Serbian people, as significant.
“The conversation Vučić had was beneficial. It is a considerable matter not only for Serbia but for the entire region. We do not hide our intention to solidify our position, just as Murphy’s and the Democratic Party’s position was solidified. We merely want to restore what we have lost. If the Muslims are not ready within six months for a new agreement on Bosnia, then they will have no Bosnia,” Dodik stressed.
It also seems there will be no Growth Plan, primarily due to the SDA blocking it in the three cantons under its control. The politicians there, Dodik noted, must urgently change their approach, as they have so far gone strongly against Republika Srpska, focusing only on him personally. The recent meeting in Sarajevo showed no agreement, which means the Growth Plan will not proceed in the Council of Ministers.
“How can it, when three cantons have not given consent? Do you think Republika Srpska should now yield to the SDA for this to pass? We won’t comply; there is no reason now to stick to what we agreed on earlier. We won’t even do that. It’s not out of caprice. We wanted compromise, but there was none,” Dodik clarified.
It’s clear whose influence in the European Union is growing – Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Dodik plans a meeting with Orbán soon and will meet with Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó tomorrow in Jahorina.
“I am proud that Orbán endured and stood against all of Europe, ignored for five months with no willingness to hold a meeting in Budapest. When Trump won, they held two meetings in two days,” Dodik remarked.
The meeting with Szijjártó will not be the only one. Dodik also plans to meet with other ambassadors to discuss, among other things, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European path. Dodik questioned how EU representatives expect credibility after three years of ongoing objections and silence regarding actions by Christian Schmidt and Michael Murphy.
Source: RTRS
