"Kosovo won't affect Serbian-Croatian relations"

Is that just wishing thinking Mr Mesic?

The fact is the Economies of Croatia, Slovenia and the Serbian province of Kosovo are high dependent on Serbia. If this link is cut they can expect hardship for some time to come.

But of course I don't expect any to recognise Kosovo, at least anytime soon.

This is taken from the BBC about Kosovo's economy

"The economy will remain reliant on two sources: EU aid - more than 1.6bn euros (£1.2bn) to date - and trade with, ironically, Serbia."

Check http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7222227.stm

Stjepan Mesić has no idea of what he is talking about, perhaps he should have a chat with his finance minister and discover that nearly 17% of all of Croatian exports go to Serbia which makes Serbia their number TWO trade partner, second to only Germany. If he thinks the loss of Serbian trade will not hurt his country than Croatia is in for HARD times. Serbia could afford not to trade with Croatia because they have developed a much broader trade agreement with Russia recently, but the Croatians don't have this benefit.

Serbia will punish those who support Kosovo, not the EU to any great extent but it will be ruthless with the Former Republics of Yugoslavia, these countries except for maybe Slovenia cannot afford to lose Serbian trade, it will Hurt them very much. I expect Serbia will also eject their ambassadors from Belgrade too!

You have to wonder if all this is worth supporting Kosovo? These countries should put the interests of their own countries before the interests of the US.

What relations?

If Croatia recognizes Kosovo independence Serbia should as a symbolic act recognize the independence of Serbian Republic of Krajina the very same day.

If the relationship is so good between Serbia and Croatia maybe some military cooperation would be fine as well MR Mesic? Maybe you could advise us if a similar operation storm could be applied to Kosovo? Your military has the experience of dealing with a people that wants independece...

Canadian,

it is obvious you dont understnad how an economy works. If 17% of croatian imports are to serbia then a fair amount of imports in serbia are from croatia.

now if the economy to croatia is cut, the income of the croatian companies will be cut...but thats it. Serbian companies importing from croatia will need to find a country to fill its gap. Yes Russia, but importing from russia is hell of a lot more expensive than importing from Croatia. Whats the result? people will either stop buying these goods leading to company failures or inflation. neither good for serbia.

Serbia cant have a high trade defecit and by economics, imports are paid by exports and if there are sanctions imposed by serbia, who will it export to? Russia?yes but to russian company it will not import something from serbia which it can get from neighbouring country at half the price.

Then in future when kosovo is resolved one way or another, serbia will find itself not being able to find a market for its exports.

Remember 90's when serbia was isolated? rampant inflation, low incomes, high unemployment. Noone will buy goods from serbia just because its serbia, they have to be economically viable and prices competative. no person will buy something that is 3 times as expensive as the shop down the road.

Is that just wishing thinking Mr Mesic?

The fact is the Economies of Croatia, Slovenia and the Serbian province of Kosovo are high dependent on Serbia. If this link is cut they can expect hardship for some time to come.

But of course I don't expect any to recognise Kosovo, at least anytime soon.

This is taken from the BBC about Kosovo's economy

"The economy will remain reliant on two sources: EU aid - more than 1.6bn euros (£1.2bn) to date - and trade with, ironically, Serbia."

Check http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7222227.stm

Canadian,

it is obvious you dont understnad how an economy works. If 17% of croatian imports are to serbia then a fair amount of imports in serbia are from croatia.

now if the economy to croatia is cut, the income of the croatian companies will be cut...but thats it. Serbian companies importing from croatia will need to find a country to fill its gap. Yes Russia, but importing from russia is hell of a lot more expensive than importing from Croatia. Whats the result? people will either stop buying these goods leading to company failures or inflation. neither good for serbia.

Serbia cant have a high trade defecit and by economics, imports are paid by exports and if there are sanctions imposed by serbia, who will it export to? Russia?yes but to russian company it will not import something from serbia which it can get from neighbouring country at half the price.

Then in future when kosovo is resolved one way or another, serbia will find itself not being able to find a market for its exports.

Remember 90's when serbia was isolated? rampant inflation, low incomes, high unemployment. Noone will buy goods from serbia just because its serbia, they have to be economically viable and prices competative. no person will buy something that is 3 times as expensive as the shop down the road.

What relations?

Stjepan Mesić has no idea of what he is talking about, perhaps he should have a chat with his finance minister and discover that nearly 17% of all of Croatian exports go to Serbia which makes Serbia their number TWO trade partner, second to only Germany. If he thinks the loss of Serbian trade will not hurt his country than Croatia is in for HARD times. Serbia could afford not to trade with Croatia because they have developed a much broader trade agreement with Russia recently, but the Croatians don't have this benefit.

Serbia will punish those who support Kosovo, not the EU to any great extent but it will be ruthless with the Former Republics of Yugoslavia, these countries except for maybe Slovenia cannot afford to lose Serbian trade, it will Hurt them very much. I expect Serbia will also eject their ambassadors from Belgrade too!

You have to wonder if all this is worth supporting Kosovo? These countries should put the interests of their own countries before the interests of the US.

If Croatia recognizes Kosovo independence Serbia should as a symbolic act recognize the independence of Serbian Republic of Krajina the very same day.

If the relationship is so good between Serbia and Croatia maybe some military cooperation would be fine as well MR Mesic? Maybe you could advise us if a similar operation storm could be applied to Kosovo? Your military has the experience of dealing with a people that wants independece...