Admir Lisica, regional political relations researcher, Bosnia and Herzegovina on the panel “The Rise of Far-Right Nationalism” at the Conference “Defending democracy and human rights”, December 12, 2024 Skopje.
“In the past period, in Europe, you see that far-right movement have a big support from people. And I often wonder what happened in Germany, in The Netherlands, in Italy, and in other states who give support for the nationalism and for far-right movements. This situation in Europe, is very dangerous for Bosnia-Herzegovina and other places in the Western Balkans.
For example, if you remember ex-Prime Minister of Great Britain, Mr. Cameron said that Serbian is the Russian proxy in the Balkan, if you remember. This is a problem for Bosnia-Herzegovina. We have the rise of nationalism, the rise of the rigid and malicious politics in Bosnia-Herzegovina from the Serbian side. And relevant research told us that Russia supports the rise of far-right, that support rigid projects in Bosnia-Herzegovina and West Balkan, and these politics have a support across the Europe.
For me, the symbol of the far-right in Europe is the Prime Minister of Hungary, Mr. Orbán. And after Trump’s win in last month, in the US President election, we had a big event in Banja Luka. People went to the street, the Serbian people go to street and celebrate to Trump’s win. And Milorad Dodik, first name and hand behind the Republika Srpska, and one of the most problematic politicians in Bosnia-Herzegovina and other Balkan, said that he has a good relationship with Orbán, that he has connection in Slovakia, and he say, okay, I have good connection with Orbán, he has good connection with Trump, and that’s the point, that’s the big chance for Republika Srpska and for Russia to have influence in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
I think because the big nationalism, because of the past, because of genocide, we have a problem in relationship in Bosnia-Herzegovina. You know, more than 800 people were killed in Srebrenica genocide. Thanks to the German people and German government to support resolution of Srebrenica in last period. These resolution of Srebrenica in last period, and we emphasis the growth of the right movement in Europe, that growing, and I think in next period, will grow around Europe.
I think Bosnia-Herzegovina have problem with Russia. Not like Belarus, but if you read in the Bosnian media and media in region, the ambassador of Russia in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Mr. Kalabuhov, last week said that a bomb was planted under Bosnia. A bomb was planted under Bosnia, because Bosnian political support sought interconnection in the federal parliament of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
And we don’t have support from European Union in this critical, I think, critical period. And we need the strong decision from EU to say, okay, Bosnia-Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo, want to join us, want to join to European family, and we will support them. The policy of enlargement of European Union is our priority, but I think the far right and this situation in Europe and the USA can be threat for us.
Also, I think the far right politics played with emotion of people. Far right politics in Balkans and Europe give us simple solution for big problems. And I think that’s a big problem for us in Bosnia-Herzegovina. For me, and for people in Bosnia-Herzegovina, NATO part, EU part, the EU part is the more important in foreign policy. And I think this is a good place to see that we have a problem with Russian influence, and we need support from EU and NATO.”
D. Tahiri
Camera: Atanas Petrovski/ Igor Chadinovski
Editing: Arian Mehmeti
Photo: Robert Atanasovski
CONFERENCE, FULL VIDEO, Streamed live on December 12, 2024:
https://youtube.com/live/1f2Eo1ZXEQ0
PHOTO ARCHIVES: #DefendingDemocracy, Panel 1: Democracy under Siege
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.994398716055531&type=3
#DefendingDemocracy, Panel 2: The Rise of Far-Right Nationalism
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.995019619326774&type=3
#DefendingDemocrcy Panel 3: Countering Authoritarianism
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.995771969251539&type=3
#DefendingDemocracy conference, Panel 4: Commitment to democracy
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.996548069173929&type=3
#DefendingDemocracy Conference (overall)
https://www.facebook.com/media/set?set=a.993726732789396&type=3
#DefendingDemocracy – workshop and meeting with the press
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#DefendingDemocracy PRESS CONFERENCE
For more information on the Conference, please visit the special website DefendingDemocracy
