THE MOST UNCOMFORTABLE RUSSIAN QUESTION AT THE SECURITY COUNCIL - WHO IS SCHMIDT AND WHOM DOES HE REPRESENT?

BELGRADE, SEPTEMBER 10 /SRNA/ - Political analyst Stevica Deđanski told SRNA that the outcome of the meeting between Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow was more than positive, and that the most uncomfortable question Russia is expected to raise at the UN Security Council session on BiH on October 31 could be - who is Christian Schmidt and whom does he represent?

"The most uncomfortable question Russia could ask is also the simplest - who is Schmidt and whom does he represent? And then we come to opening Pandora's box - how was he appointed there? In that way, anyone could be appointed, even you, me, or anyone in the world could proclaim themselves to be something," Deđanski emphasized. He said that Russia will raise specific questions - why a man who has no authority, was not officially appointed by the UN Security Council, nor received support from Russia or China, is allowed to "ignite fire in the Balkans". "Whose goal is this? Do Berlin and Brussels want to recreate a state of war? There are a million questions Russia could ask, but it will likely focus on the blatant violation of international law, which is evident and flagrant," Deđanski said. He noted that he also has in mind the staged court case against Dodik, adding that Schmidt is at the center of it all. Deđanski emphasized that there are many uncomfortable questions, and it is very important that they be raised in a place where they will be heard, and this is the UN Security Council. "It doesn't matter whether Western countries hear them, as they don't really care and often violate international law themselves, but it is important for other countries that are friendly, and which were once against the Serb people because they believed the Serb people were breaking the rules," Deđanski said. According to him, it is important to speak out in every place, at every moment, including where the friends of the Serbs, Russia, and China are, as they influence many other countries in the world. He said that Dodik's announcement that the diplomatic offensive will continue demonstrates several things, the first being that Republika Srpska and its president are ready to fight, which has a very positive effect on the Serb people. "So, there is no giving up, despite all the pressures, lies, and violations of international law. Simply put, we continue forward. The fact is that the Serb people now have many more friends in the world than ever before, and we must make use of this," Deđanski emphasized. He said that everyone can now see that it is neither Serbia, nor Republika Srpska, nor the Serb people who are violating international law, but other actors, especially the Western ones. "The second positive thing is that we have received support from our friends. We have no greater friend in the world than Russia, and it is good to have such a friend, who, unlike others with whom we maintain good relations, is willing to defend us concretely, in specific positions, as it has done many times before," he said. Deđanski stated that Russia's chairmanship of the UN Security Council and the announced session on BiH on October 31 comes at the right moment, right after the referendum in Republika Srpska, scheduled for October 25. He stated that he expects the Serb people at that referendum to give plebiscitary support to Dodik in the fight against Schmidt, and added that both the Republika Srpska Government, Dodik, and everyone else should work to ensure that the people turn out in the largest numbers possible, so that the strength of the Serb people is evident. "Then Russia, along with all the questions it has to raise with the international community, will use this as an argument to show the opinion of the Serb people. All in all, the most important thing is to maintain good relations with Russia, which Dodik has been doing for a long time, not ad hoc when needed, but always showing respect and developing cooperation as much as possible given the circumstances," Deđanski said.