SRPSKA STRENGTHENING ITS POSITION THROUGH DODIK'S USA AND RUSSIA VISITS

BELGRADE, MAY 8 /SRNA/ – Republika Srpska's delegation visit to Russia, as well as Milorad Dodik's recent stay in the United States, confirm Republika Srpska's international capacity and strengthening position, political analyst Stevica Deđanski told SRNA.

Deđanski stated that all this demonstrates that Republika Srpska is pursuing a balanced politics in the interest of the Serb people, something only opponents of Srpska could object to. He said the current visit to Moscow by the Republika Srpska delegation, which includes Republika Srpska President Siniša Karan, National Assembly Speaker Nenad Stevandić and Dodik, is extremely important, as they will attend the Victory Day celebrations and hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Deđanski noted that it should not be forgotten that Dodik had previously held numerous meetings with Putin, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He added that Dodik's recent visit to the USA, where he received an award from Judson University, represents a major success and symbolizes his return to the American political scene. "It is a major success considering the situation in which some politicians in Republika Srpska had been unfairly sanctioned by the previous US administration, and now Dodik is going there and receiving an American award. This symbolizes a return to the American scene and greater US understanding for the issues concerning Serbs in Republika Srpska," Deđanski assessed. ONLY THE SERBIAN PEOPLE IN THE REGION PRESERVE THE ANTI-FASCIST TRADITION Speaking about the significance of Republika Srpska's delegation attending tomorrow's Victory Day Parade in Moscow, in the context of Srpska's fight against historical revisionism and for preserving anti-fascist traditions, Deđanski stressed that only the Serbian people in the region continue to uphold those values. "We alone were anti-fascists, while others have nothing to celebrate. They even changed the name of the holiday and call it Europe Day instead of Victory Day. For them, it is a `day of defeat,` but they cannot openly say that. This is Victory Day over fascism, which is resurfacing in various places, and that is why it is good for us to stand on the righteous side of history," Deđanski said. He added that the righteous side of history prevailed once and will prevail again, and that this is part of the Serbian people's heritage. Deđanski reminded that Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić had previously attended the Victory Day Parade in Moscow, while this year Republika Srpska's delegation will attend, once again demonstrating that the Serbian people stand on the right side of history regardless of current global circumstances. He emphasized that participation in the Moscow parade represents a form of recognition for Republika Srpska and the Serb people. "Special honor and respect are being shown to Dodik, Republika Srpska and the Serb people. I do not know what more we could expect in the current international circumstances, which are definitely changing in our favor," Deđanski said. DODIK'S VISITS TO THE USA AND RUSSIA WILL FURTHER STRENGTHEN SRPSKA'S POSITION Regarding Republika Srpska's position in the region, Deđanski assessed that these visits to the USA and Russia will strengthen both Republika Srpska's and Serbia's positions in their struggle for respect for international law. He stated that all this could also bring economic benefits capable of transforming the region, which he said had been the idea of Donald Trump's administration during his first term, when it sought to encourage economic development in the Balkans. He reminded that there had previously been discussions about the possibility of the US Development Finance Corporation investing in the region, so that people could begin talking about development instead of extremism, which, according to him, is now being used by Zagreb, Sarajevo and at times Podgorica. "That has to change, and this is the right path, a good path. I know it bothers them that Dodik is changing things, but no one except a Serb can change them, and that is the most important factor," Deđanski stressed. He pointed out that certain political elites in the region view the Serb factor as an "enemy" because they have nothing else to offer their citizens except hostility toward Serbia and Republika Srpska.