Djilas for Politico: West should support values or say nothing

The opposition has been protesting for several weeks following the alleged election fraud committed at elections for the Serbian parliament, Vojvodina provincial assembly, Belgrade City Assembly and local administrations in a number of places.

“If Western democratic governments find it too difficult to live up to the values they espouse and call for repeat elections, then maybe it would be better if they just said nothing at all,” Djilas wrote. He said that Western supported for democratic changes in Serbia under the Milosevic regime “seems to have disappeared and recalled that Prime Minister Ana Brnabic thanked Russian security services for warning Belgrade about the protests which she claimed were orchestrated by “some Western services”, that Vucic briefed Russia’s ambassador in Belgrade about the protest and that US Ambassador Christopher Hill condemned what he called the violence and vandalism against state institutions at the protests.

“It would thus appear that the views of the Russian and the U.S. envoys are aligned, with both seemingly more concerned about the stability of the Serbian government than electoral fraud,” Djilas wrote.
According to Djilas, the official reactions from the European Union and US “have been muted at best”.

“Sadly, we have come to expect such behavior from our Western partners. With wars and violence raging in Europe’s neighborhood and the Middle East, they don’t seem to have the bandwidth to devote to Serbia, and thus pursue a nakedly transactional relationship with Vucic instead,” he said.

Djilas said that Vucic is playing to a populist audience at home, decrying the West for disregarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia while upholding that of Ukraine and refusing to impose sanctions on Russia while fueling belligerent sentiments toward Kosovo and accusing everyone who disagrees with him as a traitor. “Abroad, however, Vucic delivers what the West wants to hear,” he added.

“We are witnessing a steady and relentless deterioration of political rights and civil liberties …. Meanwhile, abroad, Serbia is seen as a pariah — a country that has sided with Russia and has no understanding or empathy for the horrors Ukraine is enduring,” he added.

Djilas said that the West needs to understand Serbia’s institutions and reputation will be left in tatters if they continue turning a blind eye.