The Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Igor Kalabukhov, stated to Srna that Russia has no fear of competition with the United States in various fields, including the gas energy sector, but emphasized that this competition must be fair.
Kalabukhov pointed out that monopolies cannot be allowed.
- If some parties want the “Southern Interconnection” and receive permission to build it, then Republika Srpska must also be granted permission for the Eastern Interconnection, as such a network would benefit everyone in Bosnia and Herzegovina – said the Russian ambassador.
Commenting on accusations and threats from the U.S. Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina against the Russian Embassy regarding the “Southern Interconnection” gas pipeline, Kalabukhov highlighted that this has become a trend in Washington’s approach, relying heavily on brute force diplomacy.
- Everything stems from their general, strategic, and even existential belief that they are the sole monopolists in the world when it comes to politics and economics and that everyone must act according to their prescriptions, which sometimes resemble piracy. The “trademark” of American diplomacy is reliance on brute force – said Kalabukhov.
He added that the U.S. acts in a predatory manner, and their behavior with other states, including Serbia, has shown a tendency to “twist arms” and impose solutions “by force” to achieve their goals.
Regarding accusations of “Russian malign influence,” Kalabukhov questioned whether the U.S. influence could be considered positive and pointed out that the U.S. operates through coercion to serve its own interests while eliminating competitors in the economic sphere.
- When I spoke with some of our objective, even Western partners, they mentioned that Bosnia and Herzegovina’s advantage is its potential to be an energy hub, utilizing its good relations with Russia regarding gas pipelines, which could benefit Bosnia and Herzegovina – Kalabukhov stated.
He emphasized that natural gas will remain a foundation for industrial development and ecological sustainability, adding that creatively combining various initiatives in this domain would benefit everyone in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as gas represents a form of clean energy.
Kalabukhov expressed hope that these disagreements will be resolved, highlighting that Russia has always been a reliable supplier of gas and that reason will prevail in this matter.
Source: RTRS
