The separatist project of Serbian nationalist leader Milorad Dodik, backed by Croatia, Serbia, Russia, China and Hungary, threatens to reignite a powder keg in the blazing Western Balkans.
This is what was highlighted by the French newspaper “Le Monde” in its editorial, warning that the fire of Bosnia and Herzegovina is igniting again, noting that the causes of the political crisis have been known for 30 years, that is, since the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia in 1992.
Le Monde pointed out that this country fell prey to two powerful neighbors, Serbia and Croatia, which did not abandon the division of its territory in the name of ethnic homogeneity.
She explained that if Bosnia was made up of only Serbs and Croat nationalists, the issue would have been resolved – perhaps – a long time ago, but this country also has a large nationalism of Bosnian Muslims, as well as a number of other citizens from all societies, as is the case in Sarajevo, and these are what They still believe in a multi-ethnic state, according to the newspaper.
As for the Serbian project behind the current crisis, it appears, according to the newspaper, a terrible repetition of what Bosnia experienced 3 decades ago. The Bosnian-Croat Federation obtained approval from the parliament of its entity on the tenth of last December for decisions that would lead to the exit of the Bosnian institutions within 6 months, i.e. on the tenth of next June, which threatens to re-establish private parallel institutions Bosnian Serbs, including an independent army.
The newspaper highlighted that Milorad Dodik, with the support of Serbia, enjoys the support of Croatia, which sees in his plans an opportunity to put an end to the other “entity” of the country, the Bosnian Croat Federation, and then with Bosnia and Herzegovina as a state.
It also enjoys strong support from Russia and China, and within the European Union it enjoys the support of nationalist leaders such as those of Hungary, Poland and Slovenia.
The newspaper raised the alarm, warning that there were only five months left to avoid a new conflict.
Le Monde downplayed the steps taken so far to dissuade Serbian nationalists from carrying out their plans, saying that the United States, the sponsor of the 1995 peace treaty known as “Dayton”, had adopted sanctions against Dodik, but he had not considered it.
The European Union, the other responsible for monitoring the peace agreement, is strangely absent for the time being.
Neither Brussels nor Paris – which holds the presidency of the European Union until the end of next June – seem to be doing anything to influence the crisis, except for what they talked about relying on Belgrade and Zagreb to secure “stability”, which is useless. According to the newspaper.
However, Le Monde adds that the countdown has begun, and in Bosnia there is a real fear that any violent incident at any moment will ignite a fire that does not remain or stifle.