When I look at the diplomacy that President Milorad Dodik is pursuing with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia, and with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, it truly represents the restoration and return to the natural alliance of the Serbian people with the United States and Russia that existed during both world wars, Rod Blagojevich, former Governor of Illinois and an associate of Donald Trump, said during an appearance on our program Pečat.
“This is the genius of the diplomacy being pursued by Milorad Dodik and his people. It is an extraordinary diplomatic achievement, especially when you consider how small Srpska is compared with the countries Dodik has reached out to. You have the United States, the most powerful country in the world. You have Russia, which, together with China, is among the most powerful countries in the world. And then you have Israel, which has an exceptionally strong and powerful alliance with the United States. That relationship was disrupted because of the misguided and poorly conceived policies of President Clinton’s administration, followed by the Bush, Obama and Biden administrations,” Blagojevich said.
He also described as highly significant the recent visit by Serb member of the Presidency Željka Cvijanović, who met with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
“I think this is a very important step toward continuing the progress that has already been made between Republika Srpska, under the leadership of President Dodik and through the work of Željka Cvijanović, and the Trump administration in developing a new relationship between the United States and Republika Srpska. This is a new day. When I say a new day, never in my lifetime have I seen the United States actually developing strong and good relations with the Serbian people in BiH,” he said.
Blagojevich referred to what he described as continuity among the Biden, Obama, Bush and Clinton administrations, which, in his view, acted against the interests of the Serbian people in BiH and across the Balkans.
“And that is why this is truly unprecedented. Let me say this about Željka Cvijanović’s visit to Washington and her meeting with Susie Wiles. A meeting with Susie Wiles is the most important meeting she could have in the United States, with one exception, and that is President Trump himself. That meeting is more important than a meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio or anyone at the State Department because she is right there, at the front door, at the gate to President Trump. That is why this represents enormous progress for Republika Srpska, for the Serbian people in the Balkans and for the Serbian people in BiH. Let us hope it continues. I truly believe that if these efforts continue and relations between Srpska and the United States continue to improve, it will not only be good for America, but very, very good for the Serbian people in Republika Srpska – for the protection of its autonomy, its freedom and its right to freely practice the Serbian Orthodox Christian faith, all of which are today threatened by the central authorities in Sarajevo and the European Union,” Blagojevich said.
He views these meetings as evidence that Washington’s approach toward Republika Srpska has definitely changed.
“And what is wonderful about everything that has happened is that it has all taken place in just a year and a half. So much has happened so quickly. And the promise of continued progress over the coming months and years, as long as President Trump is president, gives great hope. Under Biden, it was night. It was dark, it was night and there was no hope. Now, under President Trump, because of Milorad Dodik’s ability to navigate the labyrinth of the U.S. government and the American political situation, it is not only a new day, but the future is very bright and full of hope. My hope is that the leadership of Srpska, Dodik’s team, will continue this progress because things will only get better, not only for the Serbian people, but historically for the Serbian people in Srpska, in BiH and in Serbia itself,” Blagojevich added.
He emphasized that it is important for Republika Srpska to have American political figures and voices that understand its position and are willing to communicate directly with its representatives.
“That is crucial. It is almost a miracle that a group of people, the Serbian people, who were so demonized in the United States by previous administrations, beginning with Bill Clinton, followed by the Bush, Obama and Biden administrations, which demonized the Serbian people and treated the Serbian people in BiH and Srpska so unfairly, supporting unelected high representatives such as Christian Schmidt and supporting the European Union – and then President Trump became president, while Milorad Dodik had the foresight to recognize that President Trump would be a completely different American leader and that President Trump would be interested not only in developing better relations, but perhaps even a strategic partnership involving geopolitical security agreements, as well as enormous business opportunities and investment from the United States into Srpska in order to increase prosperity,” Blagojevich said.
It is not only about peace, he added, but about peace and prosperity.
“That is what this new relationship can bring to the Serbian people in Srpska. And that is why we hope it will continue. What I hear in Washington tells me that this is only the beginning. And the fact that Željka Cvijanović was received and welcomed by the President’s Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles, on September 21, less than two weeks ago, is an indication that the future holds great promise,” Blagojevich concluded.
Source: RTRS
