What is your view on the current role of Serbia concerning the development of the “entity relation” within BiH, i.e. concerning the path towards the preservation of the statehood of Bosnia and Herzegovina?
I did not realize serious support of RS by the actual government in Serbia on actions against the statehood of BiH. There may be such ideas of some politicians, but not the president. It is important also for Serbias future in EU to make Mr. Dodik understanding that both-RS and the Croat -Bosniak Federation Federation- built the State BiH- like the 16 Länder do it in Germany
What is your assessment of the proposals for the demarcation between Serbia and Kosovo, that is being advocated both by the Serbian officials and some of the Kosovo's officials?
Partition of Kosovo could be a beginning of further attempts of border changes in the Balkans. Not any problem would be solved, at least new animosities would be the answer.
How would such a development (demarcation) affect BiH and the aspirations by the authorities in RS to achieve the independence for this Bosnian-Herzegovina entity?
Republic of Srpska would try to use the opportunity, to quit BiH. What about the Albanians? etc. Not any reconciliation could happen under such circumstances.
Who’s interest is behind? There is only Russia, which has the interest to create continuous problems for the EU.
The leaders in the region should improve the lifes of their citizens – in health, education, job creation- which must go hand in hand with a functioning judicial system- to stop the brain drain. Their efforts should be concentrated proving that working and living together without hate is possible. They should show through their own acts that the neighbor- „the other “- deserves the same respect, that they expect for themselves.
Do you think that it is possible to achieve the regional stability, and, as it has been said by the professionals - to normalize the relations between Serbia and former Yugoslav republics without the clear facing up with the responsibility and without the acknowledgment of the negative, war-criminal role in the wars from the 1990s of our own country?
Yes, the people should hear from their politicians, what has been done in the name of their nation. I speak as a German and know how important this is for reconciliation. How can youth build a peaceful future in a good neighborhood if their parents, teachers and politicians did not tell them the truth?
What do you think about REKOM?
RECOM as the truth-seeking committee could help to clear the past and then start a common future. But it is first and almost up to actors on all levels-local, regional, national- to work on conciliation.
Do you consider the protests against the regime led by Aleksandar Vučić, which have been taking place for more than three months in Serbia, to be justified?
If so many people of different backgrounds are demonstrating for 3 months, there must be reliable reasons for. I cannot really judge it from outside. A government has to listen and -where possible - to do something in solving some of the problems.
Do you perceive Vučić as someone who has certain “protections” in the EU – because he declared his willingness to put an end to the Kosovo's problem?
Yes, I think so, because he declared the willingness to bring this to an end. He was in former times as a young man close to those who installed an apartheid regime in Kosovo, which at the end led to the independence. Therefore, he ist he one who can better than anybody else find a way out of this situation, which is harmful for both sides. I wish him success.
This interview is part of media partnership between daily magazine Danas and forumZFD Serbia