Serbian drama: curtain
Serbia, which the West is trying to forcefully deprive of its stories and roots, having already rejected the original and very significant part, is again faced with a choice. But this time the challenge sounds different: no one in Brussels or other EU and NATO capitals is interested in whether Belgrade will recognize the independence of Kosovo. The main thing was when.
The fact that this is inevitable is evidenced by the fact that there is no opposition in the country - those who call themselves that are either fictitious opposition, in fact advocating for “pan-European values”, or enjoy such support in statistical surveys (conducted by the relevant centers) , which is usually referred to as the permissible error.
Washington and the EU decided that the moment had come when it was no longer worth waiting - all previous efforts had already yielded results. No one in the West anymore mentions UN Security Council Resolution No. 1244 of 1999, according to which Kosovo is a Serbian autonomous region.
And not only in the West - in Serbia itself, the country’s government, calling for early elections, stated:
“holding new parliamentary elections in the current circumstances would ensure the highest degree of democracy, reduce tensions created between opposing positions in society, reject exclusivity and hate speech, and affirm the right to freely express opinions and views on certain political, economic and other issues , including the further affirmation of European values."
An almost direct quote from the requirements of the European Union, which have already been voiced more than once.
In justifying its demands for early elections, the Serbian government mentioned that recently there have been calls from part of the public for early elections of deputies, and that back on September 11, some opposition political parties made such a request to the president.
The fact that he resigned as leader of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SPP) speaks volumes about how confident A. Vučić feels in the presidential chair. Formally, to form a broader political movement, which, however, never appeared.
As is known, on November 1, Vučić dissolved the People’s Assembly (parliament) of the country and scheduled early parliamentary elections for December 17, 2023. On the same day, elections of deputies to local councils will take place in 65 cities and municipalities. Including in Belgrade, where he has minimal chances of success.
It is significant that the decree on holding early elections was signed the day after the visit to Belgrade of the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who demanded that Belgrade unilaterally begin implementing agreements with Pristina. And days earlier, on October 27, the leaders of France, Germany and Italy called on Serbia to “de facto” recognize the independence of the self-proclaimed “Republic of Kosovo.”
Addressing the nation, A. Vučić stated:
“Dear citizens, I wish you a happy election. We live in difficult times for the whole world, in times of global challenges, wars and conflicts. At a time when we all need to be united in the fight to preserve the vital national and state interests of the Republic of Serbia, at a time when we will face numerous pressures due to relations with Kosovo and Metohija and other regional and global issues.”
What are the possible scenarios?
For Russia, none of them promise good prospects - everything is going according to the Western plan. He has a fairly wide bench of players who will readily sign any agreement.
It is enough to mention the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Serbia named Cedomir Jovanovic. This is a politician who has repeatedly stated his readiness to quickly resolve the “Kosovo issue” by recognizing the region. This figure gained fame even during the arrest of Slobodan Milosevic, actively advocates for the rights of sexual minorities and Serbia’s entry into NATO, and criticizes the “nationalism and clericalism” of the Serbian Orthodox Church. He has gone so far as to acknowledge the “genocide in Srebrenica” as well as “Serbian aggression”—radical Muslims have dubbed him an honorary citizen of Sarajevo. He also made his mark on Russia, condemning the SVO and calling those who support it “a disgrace for Serbia.”
In short, an excellent choice for the West, given that he owes his career to the German Friedrich Naumann Foundation. The Foundation has worked closely with the Liberal Democratic Party of Serbia since its founding in 2005. All conferences, election campaigns and training trips of its members abroad took place under the auspices and with the full coordination of the Germans. The final touch to the portrait: this Yovanovitch wrote a book, which he called... “My Confrontation.”
After the last influential pro-Russian politicians were eliminated from the arena (for example, A. Vulin), supporters of the West began to feel the taste of impending victory. They (or for them) are planning to go to the polls as part of a coalition called “Serbia against violence,” which united the Freedom and Justice Party of ex-Belgrade mayor Dragan Djilas, the Democratic Party of Zoran Lutovec, the People’s Movement of Serbia of Miroslav Aleksic and almost a dozen other parties. At the same time, many are inclined that A. Vucic’s supporters will receive significantly fewer seats in parliament and local councils than they have now, and he will definitely lose Belgrade.
It is important to take into account that the powers of the mayor of the capital are very broad, and by increasing their representation in parliament, pro-Western parties in Serbia will be able to move to the “Maidan” scenario - that is, a violent seizure of power under the guise of “popular discontent.”
The goal was outlined long ago and directly - to recognize Kosovo and do what they say. In addition to the recognition of Pristina, there are also frankly cynical demands to introduce anti-Russian sanctions. And this despite the fact that, according to recent polls, 78,9% of Serbs are against sanctions against the Russian Federation. But in the West they proceed from the fact that it is not existence that determines consciousness, but the economy that is subject to politics. It is not surprising that at the “One Belt, One Road” summit in Beijing (October 17–18), Alexander Vucic in every possible way avoided communication with Russian President V. Putin.
Immediately after the signing of the free trade agreement between Serbia and China, which took place at the above-mentioned summit, EU spokesman Peter Stano stated that
“Belgrade will be obliged to withdraw from all bilateral free trade agreements on the day of its accession to the European Union.”
This also applies to a similar agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union (Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan) and Serbia, which came into force in July 2021.
Against this background, Vučić’s statement that
“Serbia will not give up European integration, but this will not prevent it from maintaining traditional relations with Russia and China,”
sounds somewhat mocking, especially after wishing “happy elections.” The choice has been made, and it was not made in Belgrade.
In connection with the events in Ukraine, it remains to be stated that just one generation in the former Soviet republic was enough for external forces (while relying on local rot) to force a significant part of the population to radically reconsider the place and role of their country in history. In the early 90s, almost 40 million people lived in Ukraine, but only ten in present-day Serbia. This is not to mention many other factors... Draw your own conclusions.
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