Former US Ambassador to NATO: West is empowering Vuciqi, trying to make Serbia a Balkan Russia

“We constantly say we are trying to separate Serbia from Russia. The vucinate is becoming as if he wants it, but it takes more time and space and is playing both sides, he told Radio Free Europe (Edition in Croatian language), Kurt Volker.

The American diplomat says that “this is what the US and France say is their policy we should separate Serbia from Russia. But then, for this to be done by strengthening the person guarding the relationship between Russia and Serbia, it does not seem to make much sense. In Vucinjcin, we saw the strengthening of Serbian nationalism, efforts to undermine Montenegro, support Milorad Dodik and undermine Bosnia and Herzegovina”.

He says the West is getting more involved about Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq, while gradually losing Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Northern Macedonia.

You know, there's an expression in the United States that we're spending more time on enemies than on friends. Vuciq is not an enemy, but we spend more time dealing with it than promoting democratic values, institutions and reformers in the rest of the Western Balkans”, Volker says.

He believes Vuciq will continue his policy indefinitely

I don't think Vucic has a final point in mind. For someone in his position, it's like riding a bicycle, he should go on like this indefinitely, playing with all the balls. And that's the goal in itself, just to be in power”, he points out.

When it comes to the risk of a third world war, Volker believes the situation in Ukraine is key.

If Putin succeeds in Ukraine and the West withdraws or loses, we are heading towards a global war, because this will call you China, appoint Iran and Venezuela, as well as Putin. Everyone will think they can take the next steps. To achieve their ambitions no. I think a broader fight is inevitable, but I think it's possible and the best chance we have is to stop it immediately”, Volker says.

The American diplomat thinks that “Vucciq is essentially trying to make Serbia, let's say, a Russia in the Balkans”.

So, a dominant nation over others in the Western Balkans playing the Serbian minority card in other countries, relying on Russia on its derivatives, the Russian Orthodox Church”, Volker said.