Attempts to undermine the principles of the Dayton Peace Agreement could have catastrophic consequences for both BiH and the entire Balkan region, warned Yulia Zhdanova, head of the Russian delegation to the Vienna talks on military security and arms control.
Speaking at the 25th meeting of the commission established under the Dayton Peace Agreement, Zhdanova called on the United Nations Security Council to prevent further developments that she believes could destabilize the region.
“We insist that the UN Security Council prevent events from unfolding in this manner,” Zhdanova stated.
According to the Russian diplomat, Western countries are seeking to dismantle the constitutional and institutional structure of BiH established by the Dayton Peace Agreement.
She emphasized that Russia considers the Dayton Agreement the only viable foundation for resolving political disputes in the region.
Russia warns of emerging anti-Serb military alliances in the Balkans
Zhdanova also expressed concern over what she described as the formation of anti-Serb military structures directed against Serbia and Republika Srpska.
“Created under the guise of defensive alliances, the Zagreb–Tirana–Pristina alignment and the Zagreb–Ljubljana military bloc represent additional factors of instability in the region,” she said.
“We are witnessing the formation of anti-Serb structures and attempts to place Serbia and Republika Srpska within BiH under increasing NATO pressure,” Zhdanova added.
She dismissed claims about alleged threats posed by Serbs in the Balkans, describing them as a pretext for strengthening the military capabilities of these alliances.
According to Sputnik, Zhdanova argued that NATO’s activities are contributing to the continued militarization of the Balkan region.
Zhdanova accuses Brussels of seeking to change regional balance of power
The Russian diplomat claimed that Brussels is attempting to alter the regional balance of power in order to draw the Balkans further into the Euro-Atlantic sphere of influence.
She argued that such efforts run contrary to the wishes of a significant portion of the region’s population.
Zhdanova also criticized what she described as external pressure on Western Balkan countries to participate in supplying weapons to Ukraine.
According to her, these efforts involve the use of regional military stockpiles and defense industry production capacities, including through what she called questionable arrangements designed to circumvent decisions made by national authorities.
She described such practices as unacceptable.
Warning against turning the Balkans into an arena of geopolitical confrontation
Zhdanova warned Western countries against transforming the Balkans into a new arena of geopolitical confrontation.
She further alleged that the European Union and NATO are attempting to push Russia and China out of the region while preventing Balkan countries from developing closer cooperation with Moscow and Beijing.
The Russian diplomat reiterated that Moscow views the Dayton Peace Agreement as the essential framework for maintaining stability in BiH and the wider Balkans, warning that attempts to change its fundamental principles could have serious regional consequences.
Source: RTRS
