UN Srebrenica Resolution Vetoed by Russia (Lending Helping Hand to Those in Need)

Dmitry BABICH | 01.08.2015 | 00:00

The Republika Srpska (RS), populated by Orthodox Christians, has recently come under growing pressure from the United States and the European Union frowning on the decision taken by the country’s President Milorad Dodik to hold a referendum on the authority of Bosnia's national court over ethnic Serbs in September. Now it looks like Dodik has started to look for a middle of the road solution. He said in Belgrade that Republika Srpska is willing to talk about the referendum on the Court and Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina if the reasons for holding it disappear. Despite the President’s readiness to make concessions, the United States, the European Union and servile European politicians have no intention to forgive him or seek common ground. Western media openly call for Dodik’s resignation. The UN draft resolution describing the Bosnia war in 1995 as «genocide» was put forward by the United Kingdom. Under the circumstances, it would make the Republika Srpska an illegitimate entity to greatly weaken the position of President Dodik. If the Republic emerged in 1995 as a result of genocide, then there is no reason to treat its President and government with due respect. If the people of the Republic were involved in the massacre of Muslim men and boys during the 1995 war, they do not deserve a fair treatment.  In case the referendum is held, the West will have to take into consideration the views of Dodik and other citizens who believe that Muslim judges, who lived in Sarajevo and its outskirts to witness the inter-confessional conflict of 1992-1995, should not be allowed to preside over cases in the RS. The referendum will exclude their participation. Nevertheless, there are many people who strongly oppose the idea of plebiscite. They would have welcomed the adoption of the genocide resolution. Taking it all into consideration, Russia has taken the right decision to veto the Srebrenica resolution which mentions the word «genocide» 35 times describing the actions of Bosnian Serbs in 1992-1995 while the word 'reconciliation' is used only three times in the text. It makes one come to conclusion that the goal was not to reconcile the sides and punish the culprits but weaken the position of President Dodik who has fallen out of favor with the West. There's more to it than meets the eye – other peaceful and civilized European nations could share the fate of Bosnia. The RS is not the only target for the EU attempts to topple an «inconvenient» government. The governments of Greece and Hungary are threatened as well. In the heat of political debates on debt problem European Parliament President Martin Schulz said his faith in the Greek government had reached «rock bottom,» and that he hopes it resigns after the referendum. According to him, «New elections would be necessary, if the Greek population votes for the reform program and remaining in the euro zone and Mr. Tsipras duly resigns. But the time until the election would have to be bridged with a technocratic government, which we could keep negotiating with. If this temporary government can come to a reasonable agreement with the creditors, Syriza’s time would be over. Then Greece would have another chance.» https://global.handelsblatt.com/edition/211/ressort/politics/article/alexis-tsipras-is-misleading-people Nobody in the West makes Schulz remember that Greece and Hungary are sovereign nations and members of the European Union. It’s up to them to decide what kind of government – technocratic or not – they want. Even less intrusive remarks on the part of Russia would have provoked protests on the part of EU which would inevitably point at «Russian imperialism». The European Union and the United States get off scot free with whatever they do. Gregor Gysi, an MP and a key politician of the political party The Left (Die Linke), a party which emerged in parts from the old East German communist party, the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED), is the only prominent German politician to consistently express his indignation at Germany’s interference into the internal affairs of Greece. Gregor Gysi accused the German government of pursuing regime change in Athens. «You want to get rid of the leftist government in Greece, that is your goal», he said. So the Republika Srpska was not the only one Russia lent a helping hand to by demonstrating its opposition to the use of term «genocide» in relation to the activities of what they call «Serbian soldiery» committed in 1992-1995. Moscow came to the rescue of some Central and South European states the European Union imposes its will on. Actually, by vetoing the resolution Russia helped them to remain sovereign nations. These countries are potential Russian allies. Hungary is a good example. Its Prime Minister Victor Orban is painted as a xenophobe and admirer of the Hungarian fascist regime of the 1940s. A smear campaign is launched to denigrate him. European leaders don’t shy away from outright blackmail. In October 2014 US Chargés d'affaires Andre Goodfriend said in a statement issued by the embassy that the US canceled the visas for some people who belonged to Orban’s inner circle on the basis of «credible information that those persons are either engaging in or benefiting from corruption.» Orban has so far resisted the pressure. As one can see, the attitude of the United States and the European Union is in many respects similar when it comes to the above mentioned countries. They both use the same methods and rhetoric, they both scorn the law and tramp on human rights. Greece and Hungary aside, they have recently made an attempt to topple the government of Macedonia. The action was thinly veiled as «people’s protests». Americans brazenly intruded into the affairs of Hungary, Greece, Macedonia and the part of Bosnia and Herzegovina populated by Serbs acting with cruelty and disrespect for law. Russia spares no effort to make its stance known and understood. Its policy has nothing to do with the attempts to oppress East European countries or draw them into the Russian «sphere of influence» against their will. Quite to the contrary, Russia helps them to defend their independence. Serbia and the Serbian part of Bosnia and Herzegovina are good examples. Russia responded to their requests and protected them by vetoing the UN resolution. Moscow invites Macedonia and Hungary to take part in the implementation of Turkish Stream project and thus get access to cheap energy sources. This is a good alternative to what the United States can offer.

Tags: UN Balkans Bosnia and Herzegovina Republika Srpska Russia Serbia Source: http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2015/08/01/un-srebrenica-resolution-vetoed-by-russia-lending-helping-hand-to-those-in-need.htm