The new Serbian government will maintain its course towards cooperation with Russia
The formation of the government continues in Serbia, but today we can say with confidence what the country’s foreign policy will be.
Serbian experts told a PolitNavigator correspondent about this.
There was no particular sensation regarding the candidacy of the Prime Minister - Ana Brnabic remained as head of government for another term. Moreover, her candidacy was nominated by the country's President Aleksandar Vucic.
“I think this is a good decision, she did her job responsibly,” the Serbian leader commented on his choice.
Previously, there were rumors in the local media that Brnabic would head the country’s diplomatic mission to the United States, but now it has become clear that Serbia will now be represented in Washington by the former head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Marko Djuric.
The country has two new ministries: human rights, gender equality and public dialogue and family and demography. It is not yet known who will receive these portfolios.
But it is clear that the leader of the SPAS movement, Aleksandar Sapić, who entered into a coalition with the ruling Serbian Progressive Party and won bronze in the recent parliamentary elections, is not applying for positions in the government. He received the post of head of the municipality of New Belgrade for the second time, and seems quite pleased. As for the head of the Socialists - the party that received the “silver” - Ivica Dacic, he will most likely receive his portfolio, but perhaps not as head of the Foreign Ministry.
Political scientist Dejan Vuk Stankovic does not rule out the appearance of new faces in the government.
“New people will definitely appear, but how many there will be is difficult to predict. President Vučić also wants this - he is interested in attracting new people. At the same time, if we talk about the political course, the new government will be the successor government to the previous one. However, I do not exclude the possibility that it will not last the full term,” Stankovic noted.
As for relations with Russia, according to this expert, they will remain the same.
“Serbia will maintain good relations with Russia both politically and economically. It will not support the EU on the issue of sanctions and will continue to highly value Russia's position regarding the solution to the Kosovo problem. Serbia will maintain its status as a military-neutral country, despite Western pressure.
In addition to our main problem - the status of Kosovo - the country's authorities will have to resolve the crisis caused by the coronovirus pandemic in health and socio-economic spheres, attract investment and strengthen the rule of law, as well as implement reform of the public sector and related companies. And also to resolve the dangerous issues of the future of Bosnia and difficult relations in the region.”
Lawyer and public figure Vladimir Djukanovic agrees with the political scientist.
“Cooperation with Russia will certainly deepen. Serbia has strategic interests in it, and friendly ties are obligatory. However, Serbia is an open country for cooperation with everyone, it has its own interests, which it will protect.”
At the same time, Djukanovic also expects new faces and “new energy” to appear in the new government, with the help of which the priority problems of Kosovo and Metohija will be resolved.
“I hope that the new government will continue working to develop the country’s economy and the reforms it has begun. We are waiting for further development of infrastructure, attraction of investments, creation of new jobs. And this is the most important thing. I also hope to continue work to strengthen our military potential, as well as the security sector as a whole. The main problem that requires an immediate solution in our state is the judicial system, and I think that the government will be obliged to address this issue,” the expert emphasized.
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