Russian-style gas interconnection of hell

 

"The road you are taking Bosnia and Herzegovina on is the same highway of hell and suffering that Ukraine took... Don't think that you will not lead Bosnia and Herzegovina to the ice age, and the Muslim people may freeze, because the Muslim people cannot warm themselves if there is a war here," said, I'm paraphrasing, the Russian ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday, after the representatives in the Lower House of the Parliament of the entity Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina accepted the "suggestion" of the American ambassador in Sarajevo that the Law on Southern Gas Interconnection is in the procedure by the New Year.

Okay, Ambassador Igor Kalabuhov did not in these very words send an open threat to the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, its peace, integrity and sovereignty, author's freedom allowed me to make a few changes ("Ukraine" instead of "Slovenia and Croatia"; "ice age" instead of " into disappearance"; "Ugrije" instead of "defense"), but still - the message from the Russian embassy in Sarajevo is an undisguised act of interference in the internal relations of a country and a brutal "lesson from classical neocolonialism". What is the quote from the same message, except that it is "attached" to the other side, the American side, a "proven friend", who "planted a bomb under the integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina".

 

In the footsteps and words of a convicted war criminal

"The road you are taking Bosnia and Herzegovina on is the same highway of hell and suffering that Slovenia and Croatia took. Don't think that you won't lead Bosnia and Herzegovina to hell, and the Muslim people to extinction, because the Muslim people cannot defend themselves if there is a war here," war criminal Radovan Karadžić ominously said on October 17, 1991, in the Assembly of the Republic of Bosnia. and Herzegovina. And, we know that well, he fulfilled much of what he promised: Bosnia and Herzegovina was in the hell of three and a half years of aggression, Muslims (but also other peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina) were victims of terrible terror, but they did not disappear. Nor will it... even if the threats came from powerful Russia.

Now, is it appropriate, correct, diplomatic (a little irony doesn't hurt in such difficult circumstances) to put on the same level, play with words and put in a similar context the statements of a diplomatic mission and the life imprisonment of a convicted war criminal, convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity and violation of the laws and customs of war? Perhaps it is, because a threat is not the same as committing a crime, but considering from whom and at what time it comes, only the naive and gullible will think that it is only one of, for now, verbal blows and an open announcement that "we will remember this day ".

And it's not that we haven't remembered such days, months, years, decades... that we still live today and we can't store them in the memory box and turn to what's to come. Well, this suffering, ruined, destroyed country from all (external and internal) sides cannot come to an agreement with itself and

realize another inflow of natural gas without it becoming the subject of political and interest spheres of all those who would decide on behalf of the other. And at the same time openly, brazenly, recklessly and menacingly thunder that this should not be done if they are not asked, that the consequences will be fierce and, deaf and distant, bloody.

 

Destabilization with songs about 'Russian malignant influence'

What can Russia do dramatically if federal lawmakers pass the Southern Interconnection Act by the end of this month? A lot of things, the big and the upside down can always be expected to achieve benefits through the small and poor in the interplay and conflicts of the powerful. "Turning" the valve and stopping the supply of Russian gas to Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the possible moves, and that at the beginning of winter, but it is unlikely to happen, primarily because of "Russian-Bosnian cooperation in the energy sphere". Insisting on the settlement of the debt (just over 50 million euros, without interest) incurred from 1992 to 1996 can also be one of the ultimatums to prolong the Southern Interconnection project, but when the issue has not been resolved in 28 years, it is unlikely now.

What remains is nothing new and it is, as it is read from the message of the Russian embassy in Sarajevo, "about a concrete plan to destabilize Bosnia and Herzegovina, along with songs about 'Russian malignant influence'". The comparison with the "special military operation" in Ukraine (which is a classic and merciless aggression against a neighboring country) is neither accidental nor formal. Plus care and empathy for Bosnia and Herzegovina. the Republika Srpska entity - the Americans "with a policy of pressure and sanctions are forcing the RS to take steps to protect its status, which is guaranteed by the Dayton Peace Agreement" - and immense solidarity with the Croatian people, which "with their shameless attitude they are forcing... to return to considering the fundamental provisions of their coexistence with Bosniaks within the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina..."

It is not surprising that the message of the Russian diplomatic mission was published only a few hours after US Ambassador Michael Murphy and Deputy Assistant US Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia Alexander Kasanoff agreed with federal parliamentarians in Sarajevo that they would enable the legal prerequisites for the construction of the Southern Interconnection as soon as possible. The fact that representatives of the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina ("representatives of the leading party of the constituent Croatian people") did not attend the meeting is a crucial reason for Russian diplomats that "the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina was trampled by the rough boot of a 'proven friend'". However, this "little thing" will not determine whether the new gas pipeline will one day (in seven-eight years, according to experts) "kick out" the Russian monopoly, not only in the supply of natural gas, but also in many other segments.

 

Are tensions falling on the route Mostar - Zagreb - Washington?

Much (but definitely not all) is now "in the hands" of HDZ BiH and its leader Dragan Čović, a pragmatic politician who will make the final decision at the moment when he feels that he has nothing to lose and that he will avoid the worst that could happen to him. could happen if the official Washington gets too angry, but also as suggested by the current government in Croatia. This is supported by the statement of the vice-president of the HDZ BiH, Darijana Filipović, that they are ready for talks with the US administration on the construction of a gas pipeline that would connect Bosnia and Herzegovina to Croatia, despite the fact that the "headquarters Croatian party" was not invited to the meeting in the federal to the Parliament organized by American diplomats.

"This is the key interest of the Croatian people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and therefore of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and we are ready to work on its solutions. In this process, we are open to talks with the American administration, as well as with all interested parties who want to help us in this", said Darijana Filipović and to some extent "dropped the ball" and the tensions on the route Mostar - Zagreb - Washington. Which could "dull" the serious threat that came from the Russian embassy, but it certainly won't silence the "songs about 'Russian malignant influence'".