Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 10 OctOber 2018

Russian influence rising in Balkans, Baltics, Central Europe

By DUSAN STOJANOVIC some EU officials now fear
Associated Press that Balkans could plunge
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — A into renewed conflict un-
week before a crucial elec- less it's quickly embraced
tion, Bosnian Serb leader by the 28-nation bloc.
Milorad Dodik traveled to "If such a complex Euro-
Russia for a Formula One pean region gets an im-
race — not because he's a pression that we are not
big fan but for yet another serious with the European
meeting with Russian Presi- perspective, we will expe-
dent Vladimir Putin. rience, sooner rather than
Footage from the race in later, what we saw in the
Sochi showed Putin wishing Balkans during the 1990s,"
Dodik "great success" in the European Commission Pres-
Bosnian election and the ident Jean-Claude Juncker
Serb presenting Putin with recently said. Those fears
a Republika Srpska pin, the are not groundless. Ten-
Serb-controlled autono- sions between Serbia and
mous region in Bosnia. its former province of Koso-
The video was a blatant vo, which declared inde-
display of Russia influence pendence in 2008, have
in one of Europe's most sen- been on the rise despite
sitive regions — the fragile efforts by the EU to ham-
Balkans — where the West mer out a lasting solution
has sought to encourage In this Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016 file photo, a woman passes by graffiti depicting the Russian President between the two former
reconciliation and reform Vladimir Putin in a suburb of Belgrade, Serbia. war foes. Belgrade raised
after a brutal ethnic war in Associated Press the combat readiness of its
the 1990s. troops two weeks ago over
The brief photo opportunity Austria and the Czech Re- Russia staunchly opposes report. Kosovo special police pres-
with Putin helped Dodik win public. any more Balkan countries "In Russian eyes, the EU's ence in its Serb-populated
the race to fill the Serb seat Pro-Russia forces also did joining NATO. Western of- approach toward the north. In Macedonia, U.S.
in Bosnia's three-member well in another corner of ficials have expressed fear Western Balkans is neither and EU hopes for swift pas-
presidency on Sunday, Europe. In Latvia, an oppo- that Russia has used its his- serious nor systematic, and sage of a deal between
deepening the ethnic divi- sition party favored by the toric Slavic and Orthodox so offers Moscow opportu- Macedonia and Greece
sions that have held Bosnia country's large ethnic Rus- Christian ties in the region nities to create leverage," to change Macedonia's
back since its devastating sian minority got the most to undermine Western poli- the report added. name to North Macedonia
1992-1995 war. votes Saturday in the Bal- cies of integration. Russian allies in the Balkans so it can join NATO suffered
Dodik openly advocates tic nation's parliamentary Sarajevo-based political have been actively sowing a blow when a Sept. 30 ref-
having Serbs separate from election, although the par- analyst Adan Huskic said mistrust in Western democ- erendum on the name saw
the rest of Bosnia and has ty is expected to run into Moscow's influence was racies, presenting Washing- low turnout. The vote result
been sanctioned by the difficulties in trying to form also growing in the parts ton and Brussels as enemies raised fears of instability in
U.S. for his policies. But he a coalition government. of Europe that don't have who want to strip nations of the country that was on the
has proven to be a key ally Latvia's Russian minority is those identity links. their identity and national brink of a civil war in 2001.
in Moscow's efforts to un- a major domestic politi- What these countries have pride by pushing for EU in- U.S. Defense Secretary
dermine the Western poli- cal force, accounting for in common are "high levels tegration. James Mattis saw Russian
cies of Balkan integration. about 25 percent of its of nepotism, corruption" so Dodik is a perfect example. influence behind some
While Russian influence is nearly 2 million people, a bonding more closely with For him, the West and NATO Macedonia and Greek
the most obvious in the Bal- legacy of nearly 50 years Western democracies is are enemies while Russia is protests against the move.
kans, an upsurge of popu- of Soviet occupation that "by nature, very difficult for a friend full of respect for "We do not want to see Rus-
lism in Central Europe has ended in 1991. them," he said. the Slavic "brethren." sia doing (in Macedonia)
also played into Moscow's Dodik's victory in Bosnia Russia's strategic aim is not Absorbed in own problems what they have tried to do
hands, providing sympa- further strengthened Mos- to assert authority over the — the euro debt crisis, immi- in so many other countries,"
thetic political parties and cow's foothold in the West- Balkans but to "harness and gration or Britain's impend- he said last month.
politicians across the conti- ern Balkans, since he can magnify existing tensions," ing Brexit departure — the Russia has denied med-
nent, including in European how block any strategic the European Council on EU for years has neglect- dling in any Balkan or Baltic
Union nations like Hungary, decision — if Putin says so. Foreign Relations said in a ed the Balkans. Alarmed, country. q