Rehn: 2009 to be year of Balkans

Croatian media quoted parts of an interview Rehn gave to the France Presse news agency where he said that Croatia was among “the Balkans’ most developed countries,” and the possible 28th EU member-state.
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And a big congratulations in advance to the EU for accepting this 28th member after having committed genocide by practically cleansing and murdering all of the minority population out of their homeland. It is interesting to note that the condition to return these people has been conveniently dropped.

What a great achievement to have an ethnically pure state join the ranks of the EU. The Germans will be proud of this great achievement after having failed during WWII.

ZK UK

Almost every country in Europe has been responsible for ethnic cleansing in the past 100 years, Serbia included. No one should be pointing fingers at an entire country because of some incident some time ago.

rocky

Well if Romania and Slovakia are useless for the EU, imagine how double useless Albania and Kosovo would be for the EU:

Romania

GDP - $264.0 billion
Per Capita - $12,285

Slovakia

GDP - $107.6 billion
Per Capita - $20,075

Compare these with:

Albania

GDP - $19.76 billion
Per Capita - $5,700

Kosovo

GDP - $4 billion
Per Capita - $1,800

Now you see why Romania and Slovakia are in the EU and why Albania and Kosovo aren't. Why are they even bothering trying when even third world countries are richer than them?

Don't criticize countries that are more significant than your own are!

What a great achievement to have an ethnically pure state join the ranks of the EU. The Germans will be proud of this great achievement after having failed during WWII.
(ZK UK, 21 October 2008 11:53)

So far every attempt to properly define what is "Croatian" (versus "Bosnian", "Serb", "Montenegrin") ethnic element failed miserably.

We can of course accept the

Croat = catholic
Bosnian = muslim
Serb = pravoslav
Montenegrin = "follower of Montenegrin church"

definition.

There is some problem with that. We live in 21st Century, not 12th Century. And how about buddhists?

Secondly, EU already has some ethnic headaches like Basque, Irish, Hungarian problems, don't forget Russians in Estonia + Latvia and Roma everywhere.

While not much reported, Estonia and Latvia is particularly a nasty case where a disproportionally large population is denied Estonian and Latvian citizenship based on ethnic origin. Both Estonia and Latvia got a mild slap on the wrist, but it seems to me, defending Hungarian or Russian ethnic element is not somewhat of a great importance in EU. Croatia won't add much to the chaos already existing.

2009 is The Year of the Ox in the Chinese calendar.
I feel we should work like oxen in 2009 to establish a totally unbiased 'TRUTH COMMISSION' for the Balkans.

As it stands,so much 'stuff' has been swept under the carpet in the Balkans that life will become even more unbearable for everyone if a level playing field is not found soon.
The main instigators of the crises in the Balkans must come clean; carry out an inventory of their wrongdoings and begin to make amends.
As the list of many instigators would include the US,UK,Germany, the Vatican, the EU Comission,I believe the board of such a TRUTH COMMISSION could comprise representatives of non-aligned impartial UN countries.
I also think we should forget about the Lisbon 'Constitution' Treaty and EU enlargement until the EU rediscovers itself as an intergovernmental economic forum and inters the supranational monster it has become.

Micheal Breathnach
Ireland

I wonder why Romania and Slovakia is in EU, when they don't produce nothing for Europe.

I wonder why Romania and Slovakia is in EU, when they don't produce nothing for Europe.
(rocky, 22 October 2008 02:56)

You know, the only reason I did not buy Dacia Logan wagon is because it is not offered in automatic (I can drive automatic only) and compared with similar cars on the US market it is underpowered for the money they ask. We used to somewhat different driving style in the States and a model made in Asia or Europe but for American market did suit us better than a similar one made for European market.

If not that fact, I would go for Dacia Logan probably.

http://www.dacialogan.org

Unfortunately for Romanians, we sided with a car company which manufactures in Slovakia. My car isn't made in Slovakia, but it could be.

And of course you can visit Slovakian or Romanian grocery stores full of local produce. Or buy these in Hungary.

Croatian media quoted parts of an interview Rehn gave to the France Presse news agency where he said that Croatia was among “the Balkans’ most developed countries,” and the possible 28th EU member-state.
--
And a big congratulations in advance to the EU for accepting this 28th member after having committed genocide by practically cleansing and murdering all of the minority population out of their homeland. It is interesting to note that the condition to return these people has been conveniently dropped.

What a great achievement to have an ethnically pure state join the ranks of the EU. The Germans will be proud of this great achievement after having failed during WWII.

ZK UK

Almost every country in Europe has been responsible for ethnic cleansing in the past 100 years, Serbia included. No one should be pointing fingers at an entire country because of some incident some time ago.

What a great achievement to have an ethnically pure state join the ranks of the EU. The Germans will be proud of this great achievement after having failed during WWII.
(ZK UK, 21 October 2008 11:53)

So far every attempt to properly define what is "Croatian" (versus "Bosnian", "Serb", "Montenegrin") ethnic element failed miserably.

We can of course accept the

Croat = catholic
Bosnian = muslim
Serb = pravoslav
Montenegrin = "follower of Montenegrin church"

definition.

There is some problem with that. We live in 21st Century, not 12th Century. And how about buddhists?

Secondly, EU already has some ethnic headaches like Basque, Irish, Hungarian problems, don't forget Russians in Estonia + Latvia and Roma everywhere.

While not much reported, Estonia and Latvia is particularly a nasty case where a disproportionally large population is denied Estonian and Latvian citizenship based on ethnic origin. Both Estonia and Latvia got a mild slap on the wrist, but it seems to me, defending Hungarian or Russian ethnic element is not somewhat of a great importance in EU. Croatia won't add much to the chaos already existing.

I wonder why Romania and Slovakia is in EU, when they don't produce nothing for Europe.

2009 is The Year of the Ox in the Chinese calendar.
I feel we should work like oxen in 2009 to establish a totally unbiased 'TRUTH COMMISSION' for the Balkans.

As it stands,so much 'stuff' has been swept under the carpet in the Balkans that life will become even more unbearable for everyone if a level playing field is not found soon.
The main instigators of the crises in the Balkans must come clean; carry out an inventory of their wrongdoings and begin to make amends.
As the list of many instigators would include the US,UK,Germany, the Vatican, the EU Comission,I believe the board of such a TRUTH COMMISSION could comprise representatives of non-aligned impartial UN countries.
I also think we should forget about the Lisbon 'Constitution' Treaty and EU enlargement until the EU rediscovers itself as an intergovernmental economic forum and inters the supranational monster it has become.

Micheal Breathnach
Ireland

I wonder why Romania and Slovakia is in EU, when they don't produce nothing for Europe.
(rocky, 22 October 2008 02:56)

You know, the only reason I did not buy Dacia Logan wagon is because it is not offered in automatic (I can drive automatic only) and compared with similar cars on the US market it is underpowered for the money they ask. We used to somewhat different driving style in the States and a model made in Asia or Europe but for American market did suit us better than a similar one made for European market.

If not that fact, I would go for Dacia Logan probably.

http://www.dacialogan.org

Unfortunately for Romanians, we sided with a car company which manufactures in Slovakia. My car isn't made in Slovakia, but it could be.

And of course you can visit Slovakian or Romanian grocery stores full of local produce. Or buy these in Hungary.

rocky

Well if Romania and Slovakia are useless for the EU, imagine how double useless Albania and Kosovo would be for the EU:

Romania

GDP - $264.0 billion
Per Capita - $12,285

Slovakia

GDP - $107.6 billion
Per Capita - $20,075

Compare these with:

Albania

GDP - $19.76 billion
Per Capita - $5,700

Kosovo

GDP - $4 billion
Per Capita - $1,800

Now you see why Romania and Slovakia are in the EU and why Albania and Kosovo aren't. Why are they even bothering trying when even third world countries are richer than them?

Don't criticize countries that are more significant than your own are!