GOUILLON: DECREASE IN NUMBER OF SERBS IN FBiH - CONSEQUENCE OF DISCRIMINATION

BELGRADE, SEPTEMBER 22 /SRNA/ – Statistics best illustrate the attitude of the authorities in the Federation of BiH /FBiH/ toward the Serb people and their rights, as the number of Serbs in 2013 was 56,550, while by the end of 2022 it was 36,320 – a consequence of discrimination, said Arnaud Gouillon, Director of the Office for Public and Cultural Diplomacy of Serbia.

"This is the result of discrimination and violations of rights that are, in theory, guaranteed by the constitution, but in practice often are not. This is also confirmed by the recent case of desecration of the Orthodox cemetery in Zenica, where more than 60 crosses and tombstones were destroyed," Gouillon said. He emphasized that in his previous work he had advocated respect for the rights of Serbs in FBiH and pointed to the nature of this problem. "I was able to see on the ground, visiting municipalities in FBiH with majority Serb populations, how much Serbia has done for the remaining Serb population over the past 10 years. What means the most to them is when they see that their homeland, Serbia, has not and will not forget them," Gouillon told Politika. Gouillon noted that the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija are in the worst situation since the 2004 pogrom, and that the exclusive responsibility lies with the policy of the self-proclaimed Kosovo Prime Minister Ajlbin Kurti. He added that he does not expect serious negotiations between Belgrade and Priština, since Priština is taking an "all or nothing" approach and is receiving factual support from many in the West for such behavior. "As long as the West does not change its position toward the separatists in Priština, the negotiations will remain at a deadlock," Gouillon assessed. According to him, recent developments show that such changes are possible, citing the recent decision of the United States to suspend the strategic dialogue with the provisional institutions in Priština, which represents a serious political blow to Kurti. Gouillon said that he continues to fight for the truth about the Serbian people in the world, but that, unfortunately, anti-Serbian propaganda is still present, and that it must be fought not only with truth but also with creativity. "I am not saying that we have succeeded in washing away the mud that CNN and similar media outlets poured on Serbia for decades, but we have certainly attracted new and valuable friends of Serbia, and we will continue to do so," Gouillon stressed.