"Serbia not making full use of Russian opportunities"

Although there are realists in the Serbian government, a large share of the gov't is controlled by Russo-Philes.

For some odd reason, they are scared of a country that shares our ethnic background and religion and yet are opening up to people who bombed us and openly support amputation of our territory.

Insanity to say the least. I'm no anti-Western ultra nationalist, however Bugarin is right. Serbia needs to explore all avenues. There has not even been a public debate on whether EU integration would even be good for us. It is just instilled in our minds that it will automatically bring Euros out of the sky for our citizens.

If Ukraine joins the customs union with Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan it should really be a wake up call to Serbia.

Serbia should see how that customs union plays out since we have enough time before the EU would even allow us to join it's great organization. If the customs union doesn't become some Russian dominated undemocratic institution then it should be something to consider.

For the time being, Serbia should keep working towards the EU, and improving our social conditions to EU standards. At the same time, prepare another plan incase the EU doesn't work out, Serbia must also remember that Russia, Belarus and Ukraine are still European. Joining this organization would also strengthen Serbia's case for Kosovo as it would be sending the EU a clear message.

Hard decision for Serbia. To go with the strong who produce (or buy others who produce) everything (EU) and just play the role of the borrower consumer, or go with the eastern slavic nations and start producing exporting there?
On the other hand there is a great manufacturing/industrial past in the east as well.
Only God knows, however, i somehow think that Russians are easier to trust than albright, holbrook and solana...

Knocking at the closed Brussel’s door Serbia pays too little attention to the open one in Moscow. You don’t need Putin’s recommendations to work here. The legislation is friendly enough and Russian businessmen are utmost loyal to the Serbs. I think you are welcomed here more than anywhere else so the ball is on your side.

serbia should join and lets all join nobody needs America america needs the world.

Knocking at the closed Brussel’s door Serbia pays too little attention to the open one in Moscow. You don’t need Putin’s recommendations to work here. The legislation is friendly enough and Russian businessmen are utmost loyal to the Serbs. I think you are welcomed here more than anywhere else so the ball is on your side.
(Rote, 23 February 2010 16:06)


That’s right, but Serbia is currently governed by anti Serb politicians fully paid by the EU/US and they would rather sit on Brussels’ doorsteps and beg for crumbs than take full advantage any trade agreements that would be of advantage to the Serbian nation.

Serbia is a small country and it would only need say two major countries such as Russia and China to trade with but we see this Serbian Government crowing over a EU free trade agreement which is not even permanent. The sooner Tadic and company is thrown out the better, but Serbia don’t wait too long otherwise they will send you into such a level of debt that it would take generations to repay.

Would be interesting to know, is it (at least in theory) possible for JAT or ZS to offer Russian/Ukrainian/Kazakh domestic flights/services?

Neither is currently in the situation to do it short term - for instance there is not a single car (except maybe "plavi voz"?) in ZS fleet which features proper boogies for gauge change and JAT just does not have enough airplanes. But with some organization and paying attention to some little details both could be a good success.

Joe, Russia has not been able to pressure Belarus or Kazakhstan into doing much, or even anything. With that in mind, I really feel that it is a misinformed statement to say that Russia is dominating those in the customs union. I believe that your view is a relic/remnant of eastern european nationalistic anti-russian paranoia. You should seriously look at the case of Belarus... life there is considerably better than in EU nations such as Bulgaria or Romania. You really should not disregard them as if they are nothing. A lot of good things are being done there, but you seem to be ignore anything that deviates even slightly from the dominant ideology.

Nikola,

I am not a fan of the EU. It is lead by the German/French duo and the little countries have little to say. In a union with Russia the economic weight and domination of that country would be even greater. The case of Ukraine will not be enviable. They are such an economic basket case that they will have to accept all Russian conditions and requests to gain live support. They will become a complete Russian satellite. They have no choice because the EU can not support them by billions of euros (they could if Ukraine would be only a country of 6-8 million inhabitants).

Nikola,

I am not a fan of the EU. It is lead by the German/French duo and the little countries have little to say. In a union with Russia the economic weight and domination of that country would be even greater. The case of Ukraine will not be enviable. They are such an economic basket case that they will have to accept all Russian conditions and requests to gain live support. They will become a complete Russian satellite. They have no choice because the EU can not support them by billions of euros (they could if Ukraine would be only a country of 6-8 million inhabitants).

Hard decision for Serbia. To go with the strong who produce (or buy others who produce) everything (EU) and just play the role of the borrower consumer, or go with the eastern slavic nations and start producing exporting there?
On the other hand there is a great manufacturing/industrial past in the east as well.
Only God knows, however, i somehow think that Russians are easier to trust than albright, holbrook and solana...

Although there are realists in the Serbian government, a large share of the gov't is controlled by Russo-Philes.

For some odd reason, they are scared of a country that shares our ethnic background and religion and yet are opening up to people who bombed us and openly support amputation of our territory.

Insanity to say the least. I'm no anti-Western ultra nationalist, however Bugarin is right. Serbia needs to explore all avenues. There has not even been a public debate on whether EU integration would even be good for us. It is just instilled in our minds that it will automatically bring Euros out of the sky for our citizens.

If Ukraine joins the customs union with Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan it should really be a wake up call to Serbia.

Serbia should see how that customs union plays out since we have enough time before the EU would even allow us to join it's great organization. If the customs union doesn't become some Russian dominated undemocratic institution then it should be something to consider.

For the time being, Serbia should keep working towards the EU, and improving our social conditions to EU standards. At the same time, prepare another plan incase the EU doesn't work out, Serbia must also remember that Russia, Belarus and Ukraine are still European. Joining this organization would also strengthen Serbia's case for Kosovo as it would be sending the EU a clear message.

serbia should join and lets all join nobody needs America america needs the world.

Knocking at the closed Brussel’s door Serbia pays too little attention to the open one in Moscow. You don’t need Putin’s recommendations to work here. The legislation is friendly enough and Russian businessmen are utmost loyal to the Serbs. I think you are welcomed here more than anywhere else so the ball is on your side.

Would be interesting to know, is it (at least in theory) possible for JAT or ZS to offer Russian/Ukrainian/Kazakh domestic flights/services?

Neither is currently in the situation to do it short term - for instance there is not a single car (except maybe "plavi voz"?) in ZS fleet which features proper boogies for gauge change and JAT just does not have enough airplanes. But with some organization and paying attention to some little details both could be a good success.

Joe, Russia has not been able to pressure Belarus or Kazakhstan into doing much, or even anything. With that in mind, I really feel that it is a misinformed statement to say that Russia is dominating those in the customs union. I believe that your view is a relic/remnant of eastern european nationalistic anti-russian paranoia. You should seriously look at the case of Belarus... life there is considerably better than in EU nations such as Bulgaria or Romania. You really should not disregard them as if they are nothing. A lot of good things are being done there, but you seem to be ignore anything that deviates even slightly from the dominant ideology.

Knocking at the closed Brussel’s door Serbia pays too little attention to the open one in Moscow. You don’t need Putin’s recommendations to work here. The legislation is friendly enough and Russian businessmen are utmost loyal to the Serbs. I think you are welcomed here more than anywhere else so the ball is on your side.
(Rote, 23 February 2010 16:06)


That’s right, but Serbia is currently governed by anti Serb politicians fully paid by the EU/US and they would rather sit on Brussels’ doorsteps and beg for crumbs than take full advantage any trade agreements that would be of advantage to the Serbian nation.

Serbia is a small country and it would only need say two major countries such as Russia and China to trade with but we see this Serbian Government crowing over a EU free trade agreement which is not even permanent. The sooner Tadic and company is thrown out the better, but Serbia don’t wait too long otherwise they will send you into such a level of debt that it would take generations to repay.