A hot chair awaits Serbia in the OSCE (Vecernje Novosti)
From 1 January, when Serbia starts presiding over the OSCE, a hot chair will await our representatives, unless the tensions about reheated cold war calm down. Assigning the role of first among equals in this society is considered a confirmation of the reputation and represents the signal that we are reliable, but the timing for presiding brings with it significant challenges for Belgrade, in the midst of conflict of EU and America on one side and Russia on the other.
If the Ukrainian crisis continues in 2015, our country will be "at the mercy", said Vladislav Jovanovic, former Foreign Minister: “There will be a series of resolutions that will represent Ukraine as a victim and Serbia will be difficult to oppose them, although it is obvious that the case is undermining Russia and Putin. The hidden game of pressures on our country is not to consent to the sanctions on Moscow and such harm the Russians, but harm Serbia itself. In such a way we would cut off from our historic ally and become completely helpless towards the West, and the door for Kosovo, in the UN, would be open.
Possible candidacy and receiving the position of the UN Secretary General for Serbia would be similar ordeal as chairing the OSCE. Milovan Bozinovic, former Ambassador in Vienna said that though UN Secretary-General is not an official of his state, still he is subject to intense lobbying and pressure, and must be the coordinator and mediator. Vladislav Jovanovic stated that all those who were in this position, except Boutros Boutros-Ghali, acted according to America’s orders.