Russian ambassador: EU not only option

What's the alternative? Should Serbia be Russia's colony surrounded by EU member states?

Russia is starting to send out the right signals but it still has to do a lot more. The more friendly nations is loses (to the EU and NATO), the more potential enemies it gains. China is in the same boat and I'm happy to see some effort to restore balance in the world.

The economic crisis has mainly hit the EU, US and countries that have aligned economies. South America and most of Asia are still doing relatively well. Greece has cracked the economic backbone of the EU and it will take another country (Italy? Spain? Portugal? Ireland?) to break it.

Momentum is in favour of Russia and China but these are still early days.

what guys like "Luigi" do not comprehend..: if the surrounding countries are EU-members and Serbia is not, that is an advantage - for Serbia.

actually, its intersting to see how many kids in here really believe the legend of " EU-membership is without alternative " being spread by the vassal himself, Mr.Tadic.

soon enough he will be ( bad ) history, along with those other puppets from the SNS...

"Speaking about the risks, Konuzin pointed to the countries experiencing financial crisis and social-political unrests in the last few months."

Which is not limited to EU countries, and not connected to being an EU member or not. Does someone seriously think that Greece, for example, would have had less problems without the EU? Greece as a country has been bankrupt several times before, and before the EU even existed.

What some people commenting here don't realise is that the facts correlate with Konuzin's statement. Serbia has an open trade agreement with Russia and is having the major Russian South Stream pipeline being built through it. The EU isn't the only option and rather complicates issues because if Serbia also had an open market with the EU then this would complicate matters with Russia, and like it or not, the open trade agreement with Russia is very beneficial to Serbia. I hope more people wake up to this reality, and that the EU as an option could infact turn out to be a disaster.

Not a colony, wth, but a partner. As for being surrounded by EU countries, so what? The EU has to stop somewhere, let it stop with Serbia. BTW, stop being so cynical with your comments, we can discuss issues here without sarcastic. It makes for a better day for all of us.

If Albanians are saying Serbia should join EU, I am strongly against hopping on the sinking ship.

Like others have stated, Serbia's economic ties with Russia are more important than those with the EU.

Does someone seriously think that Greece, for example, would have had less problems without the EU? Greece as a country has been bankrupt several times before, and before the EU even existed.
(Comm. Parrisson, 14 March 2012 11:58)

Greece has defaulted on its external sovereign debt obligations four times during its wars against the Ottoman Turks (1826, 1843, 1860, 1894) and in 1932with the great depression.When a small country is fighting a war of liberation against an empire for 100 years its obvious that in order to finance those wars needs finance and in the case of Greece it was through loans.

If you look at the Greek debt in 1981 pre-EU period it stood at just $ 22 billion which was easily serviced.It was the illussion of free trade and low cost loans to buy German and French products and military hardware which brought Greece to its present predicament.There is no such a thing as a free lunch for the French or the Germans.

Would be interesting if someone had asked Mr.Ambassador if Russia will eventually take Serbia inside THE Federazia...this is the only other choice for Belgrade practically as we know all the other Balkan countries are willing to enter EU and this is the only option...

If you look at the Greek debt in 1981 pre-EU period it stood at just $ 22 billion which was easily serviced.
(Leonidas, 14 March 2012 15:34)
--
Hey Mircea, what was Romania's debt pre-EU and what is it now? Sounds like the EU is an expensive club to join. Serbia has more than doubled its debt since this "no alternative to EU" government took the reins and has nothing to show for it.

Zoran,

For Serbia there is no alternative to the EU.

Forget about Russia and China.

@WTH

You clearly know very little. What Serbia has to lose from losing Russia as a trade partener is a country that imports a decent amount of Serbian goods, with the EU I can imagine that the same thing would happen to Serbia what is happening to Greece, in which they end up importing far much more than they export, and this would put Serbia in the same disastrous position as Greece. Lets not forget that the South Stream pipeline in Serbia will provide gas at relatively cheap prices because of the direct link, importing gas from anywhere else would be much more expensive.

As for the 'rights' that you talk about. Are you honestly telling us that the EU is really a protector of rights? The EU is an institution which deprives its member states of rights, most importantly the crucial rights to sovereignty and that of domestic law and order, only to be ruled over by the ECHR which has no regard for the customs of law of member states, rather persuing the mental idea of political correctness which often protects criminals, this has been the case in many countries, especially the UK.

Have a good think about these points before you comment again in such an arrogant and sarcastic attitude.

Is there a sane reason why those countries should give something for free? Of course they try to sell their products. I don't see anything wrong by doing this. It is Greece which should assess if it is capable of affording those toys. The military budget (nominal) of Greece is even higher the one of the highly militarized Nortkorea. I also don't recall that Greece changed anything regarding those expenditures, emphasizing the stupidity that there is no money for schools and hospitals in Greece any more, but still enough for toys like the latest tanks and submarines. Each responsible government would start cutting those costs, but I don't see any attempt, nor I do see people in the streets protesting regarding that.
John

I agree that each country should cut military expenditure provided its neighbours have the mentality of the Swiss,Danish,Swedish etc.But if your neighbour has the mentality and the expansionist designs of muslim Turks, who never miss the opportunity to question the sovereignty of your country, then you arm yourself to the teeth.It suffices to say that only last November former Turkish prime minister Yilmaz admitted in an interview that during his premiership Turkish security services were responsible for countless forest fires on Greek islands.It was,as he put it,an economic war against Greece as it is today with the free flow of muslim immigrants from Turkey into Greece.

Not a colony, wth, but a partner. As for being surrounded by EU countries, so what? The EU has to stop somewhere, let it stop with Serbia.
(PapaJohn, 14 March 2012 15:06)

In the best case Serbia can hope to fill the role of Russia's Mini-Me. A partner has certain rights. What rights do you think Russia would grant you?

And what would Serbia lose by not having free access to the common market and the EU's financial aid? A lot!

But what do I know?

There is no such a thing as a free lunch for the French or the Germans.
(Leonidas, 14 March 2012 15:34)

Is there a sane reason why those countries should give something for free? Of course they try to sell their products. I don't see anything wrong by doing this. It is Greece which should assess if it is capable of affording those toys. The military budget (nominal) of Greece is even higher the one of the highly militarized Nortkorea. I also don't recall that Greece changed anything regarding those expenditures, emphasizing the stupidity that there is no money for schools and hospitals in Greece any more, but still enough for toys like the latest tanks and submarines. Each responsible government would start cutting those costs, but I don't see any attempt, nor I do see people in the streets protesting regarding that.

@ Topic

Of course the Russian ambassador would not like to see Serbia in the EU. He would lose a colony at the Balkans. Serbia however has a much higher proportion in foreign trade with the EU and the near neighborhood. Russia is far away and Southstream (if it is ever going to happen) would/will be built through many EU countries, already. Bulgaria, Hungary, just to mention 2. Funnily, this does not hamper the project, right Mr. Konuzin?

Furthermore, the worldwide economic struggle (actually it is not that bad as perpetrated in the media) is not a criteria which comes and goes with EU membership, but depends on the economic potential of each country. We saw in Iceland that a non EU country failed so dramatically and now practically begs for membership, while Nordic EU countries perform extraordinary.

So spare us with your right wing statements. Everybody who can read and count knows that you just make politic statements with zero content.

Like others have stated, Serbia's economic ties with Russia are more important than those with the EU.
(Steve B., 14 March 2012 15:09)

Well, better check some facts about economy, imports and exports of Serbia, and then come back, please. Some hint: More than 50% of exports and imports go to/come from EU countries. Russia is not even in the top 5 of the countries Serbia exports to, but is #1 for the imports. So it's primarily Russia who benefits from these 'ties'.

Is there a sane reason why those countries should give something for free? John
They do to Pristina, John. The Albanians in KiM would not last a week without EU/USA handouts. And that has been going on for how long now? So spare us the pseudo brainiac lip service, all nations do whatever is in their country's best interest, including Russia. They have the right to speak their mind.

"You clearly know very little. What Serbia has to lose from losing Russia as a trade partener is a country that imports a decent amount of Serbian goods, with the EU I can imagine that the same thing would happen to Serbia what is happening to Greece, in which they end up importing far much more than they export, and this would put Serbia in the same disastrous position as Greece.
(SCP UK, 14 March 2012 18:06)

How funny. You mention Russia as a 'trade partner', mention that Greece imported much more than exported. Did you ever check the numbers for Russia? Obviously not!

The trade deficit between Russia and Serbia is biggest for all trade partners. Furthermore, the biggest trade partner (total sum of exports and imports) of Serbia is NOT Russia, but Germany. Russia is only the country Serbia imports from most. Serbia exports most to Italy, Bosnia, Germany. Serbia even exports mor to Romania than to Russia.

Check yourself: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Serbia

Konuzin is not the Russian ambassador, but the Russian embarrassment. Everybody who can read and understand the basics of economy can extract the data from Serbian foreign trade. Serbia has by far the highest trade deficit with Russia, despite - or better said - because of the free trade agreement with Russia. Serbia virtually sells nothing to Russia but a lot to EU countries and his neighbors. Here in the EU, Serbia needs a (real) free trade agreement. That would decrease the deficit considerably and simultaneously increase revenue. Of course Konuzin fears that. And the NIS scrapping for 400 Mio bucks for a company which was worth 2 billions we are not mentioning, yet.

That are the facts. No politics, no religion, no nothing, but clear numbers.

They have the right to speak their mind.
(winston, 14 March 2012 21:12)

Nobody questioned that, wins. In fact, some even proved it with numbers. Russia benefits very much from Serbia's agonizing state. It actually makes perfectly sense that Konuzin issues that statements, just as it makes sense that those statements aim to preserve the current state and not to improve Serbia's stance. And no, don't worry, I'm not crying tears of crocodiles. That a simple facts which are confirmed by numbers already mentioned on that page. No hard feelings or love, only numbers.

You can shoot in your foot and head as much as you like, just don't claim that it benefits you. Anyway, I doubt that you in your cushy chair in the "evil" West will have any advantages at all.

@Mr.Jovan
My point is only one and it's very simple now in Europe there are only 2 alternatives EU or Russia...Al least for the moment this is the situation so every country that is out and not part of this 2 blocks is heading in one of this 2 directions...as i stated many times here if i were a Serb i would take very seriously the Russian connection instead of the Brussels soviet but there is a problem...For the moment i have never listen a Russian diplomat or minister say clearly " Dear Serbs come with us we will take on board in the Federazia "...WHY ??? At least in Brussels they have made some sailmen promises about a possible inclusion but Moscow ?? Why in this occasion Mr.Ambassador hasn't stated "Dear brothers come with us the doors are open ??

So many Albanians here demonstrate their deepest concern over Serbia's future well-being, which they see in EU membership, but what they are really interested in is that in order to become EU-member Serbia will have to fulfill EU demands and supress NKosovo Serbs...

The Russian governor of Serbia has spoken again.

Seriously, is there any other country or any other ambassador world wide which gets so much coverage in the media as Konuzin does in Serbia? I know no place on Earth where ambassadors meddles so obviously in politics in his host country and gets away with it.

I have no objections against having good ties with Russia, but this is pathetic and spineless.

Not a colony, wth, but a partner. As for being surrounded by EU countries, so what? The EU has to stop somewhere, let it stop with Serbia. BTW, stop being so cynical with your comments, we can discuss issues here without sarcastic. It makes for a better day for all of us.
(PapaJohn, 14 March 2012 15:06)

FYI : Russia Serbia

GDP $1.48 TRILL $38.4 BILL

POP 142 Million 7.2 Million

Size 17.1 km2 80,000 Km2

Debt 71% of GDP 77.8% of GDP

Armed
Forces 1,027,000 37,000

Budget $52.7 Billion Eur675 mill

Nuclear
weapons YES NO

Which of the above do you think the Russians consider to be equal?

"Does someone seriously think that Greece, for example, would have had less problems without the EU? Greece as a country has been bankrupt several times before, and before the EU even existed.
(Comm. Parrisson, 14 March 2012 11:58)

Greece has defaulted on its external sovereign debt obligations four times during its wars against the Ottoman Turks (1826, 1843, 1860, 1894) and in 1932with the great depression.When a small country is fighting a war of liberation against an empire for 100 years its obvious that in order to finance those wars needs finance and in the case of Greece it was through loans.

If you look at the Greek debt in 1981 pre-EU period it stood at just $ 22 billion which was easily serviced.It was the illussion of free trade and low cost loans to buy German and French products and military hardware which brought Greece to its present predicament.There is no such a thing as a free lunch for the French or the Germans.
Leonidas"

Here you go blaming the West again!
How do you supposse a country will progress if it's citizens don't pay taxes?
Where does the money come from to pay public employees, maintain roads, schools, hospitals, ect?

Where does the money come from again?
If id doesn't come from tax payers then in the case of Greece it comes from French and German banks.

FYI Leonidas: If you borrow money you have a moral and financial obligation to pay it back.
It wasn't your money to begin with. It belonged to someone else. You asked to borrow it and in return you would pay it back with intersted.
They held their end of the bargain. Your country didn't.

Is it that difficult for you to understand such a simple concept?

" Here in the EU, Serbia needs a (real) free trade agreement. That would decrease the deficit considerably and simultaneously increase revenue. Of course Konuzin fears that."
(Berk., 14 March 2012 20:07)

In case you don't know: As an EU canditate, Serbia already has a FTA with the EU, as part of the Stabilization and Association Agreement. There are only a few groups of product that have a limited contingent for custom free exports into the EU, all other products are generally custom free.

The economic crisis has mainly hit the EU, US and countries that have aligned economies. South America and most of Asia are still doing relatively well. Greece has cracked the economic backbone of the EU and it will take another country (Italy? Spain? Portugal? Ireland?) to break it.

Momentum is in favour of Russia and China but these are still early days.
(Zoran, 14 March 2012 13:22)

what are you smoking dear ? South America being well by living in poverty ? reading these forums it sounds like the key for economic success and well being is to be aligned with Serbia LOL

Seriously, is there any other country or any other ambassador world wide which gets so much coverage in the media as Konuzin does in Serbia? I know no place on Earth where ambassadors meddles so obviously in politics in his host country and gets away with it.

I have no objections against having good ties with Russia, but this is pathetic and spineless.
(Commentator, 15 March 2012 00:20)
===========================

At least they haven't built him a statue in town square. When that happens come back and whinge. Until then keep quiet as it has nothing to do with you.

(Athens is Burning, 15 March 2012 17:56)

Our Greek friend also forgot to mention the fact that Greece was expelled from the Latin Monetary Union for cheating (surprise!): "Greece also caused problems. According to the BBC, "its chronically weak economy meant successive Greek governments responded by decreasing the amount of gold in their coins, thereby debasing their currency in relation to those of other nations in the union and in violation of the original agreement". Greece was formally expelled from the Latin Monetary Union in 1908."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_Monetary_Union

The Russian governor of Serbia has spoken again.
(ben, 14 March 2012 23:29)

Yes,and then I heard he took out his Albanian girlfriend to an undisclosed place for dinner.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBT8DXxsPIc&feature=related

Zoran,

For Serbia there is no alternative to the EU.

Forget about Russia and China.

What's the alternative? Should Serbia be Russia's colony surrounded by EU member states?

"Speaking about the risks, Konuzin pointed to the countries experiencing financial crisis and social-political unrests in the last few months."

Which is not limited to EU countries, and not connected to being an EU member or not. Does someone seriously think that Greece, for example, would have had less problems without the EU? Greece as a country has been bankrupt several times before, and before the EU even existed.

Would be interesting if someone had asked Mr.Ambassador if Russia will eventually take Serbia inside THE Federazia...this is the only other choice for Belgrade practically as we know all the other Balkan countries are willing to enter EU and this is the only option...

Russia is starting to send out the right signals but it still has to do a lot more. The more friendly nations is loses (to the EU and NATO), the more potential enemies it gains. China is in the same boat and I'm happy to see some effort to restore balance in the world.

The economic crisis has mainly hit the EU, US and countries that have aligned economies. South America and most of Asia are still doing relatively well. Greece has cracked the economic backbone of the EU and it will take another country (Italy? Spain? Portugal? Ireland?) to break it.

Momentum is in favour of Russia and China but these are still early days.

what guys like "Luigi" do not comprehend..: if the surrounding countries are EU-members and Serbia is not, that is an advantage - for Serbia.

actually, its intersting to see how many kids in here really believe the legend of " EU-membership is without alternative " being spread by the vassal himself, Mr.Tadic.

soon enough he will be ( bad ) history, along with those other puppets from the SNS...

@Mr.Jovan
My point is only one and it's very simple now in Europe there are only 2 alternatives EU or Russia...Al least for the moment this is the situation so every country that is out and not part of this 2 blocks is heading in one of this 2 directions...as i stated many times here if i were a Serb i would take very seriously the Russian connection instead of the Brussels soviet but there is a problem...For the moment i have never listen a Russian diplomat or minister say clearly " Dear Serbs come with us we will take on board in the Federazia "...WHY ??? At least in Brussels they have made some sailmen promises about a possible inclusion but Moscow ?? Why in this occasion Mr.Ambassador hasn't stated "Dear brothers come with us the doors are open ??

Not a colony, wth, but a partner. As for being surrounded by EU countries, so what? The EU has to stop somewhere, let it stop with Serbia.
(PapaJohn, 14 March 2012 15:06)

In the best case Serbia can hope to fill the role of Russia's Mini-Me. A partner has certain rights. What rights do you think Russia would grant you?

And what would Serbia lose by not having free access to the common market and the EU's financial aid? A lot!

But what do I know?

@WTH

You clearly know very little. What Serbia has to lose from losing Russia as a trade partener is a country that imports a decent amount of Serbian goods, with the EU I can imagine that the same thing would happen to Serbia what is happening to Greece, in which they end up importing far much more than they export, and this would put Serbia in the same disastrous position as Greece. Lets not forget that the South Stream pipeline in Serbia will provide gas at relatively cheap prices because of the direct link, importing gas from anywhere else would be much more expensive.

As for the 'rights' that you talk about. Are you honestly telling us that the EU is really a protector of rights? The EU is an institution which deprives its member states of rights, most importantly the crucial rights to sovereignty and that of domestic law and order, only to be ruled over by the ECHR which has no regard for the customs of law of member states, rather persuing the mental idea of political correctness which often protects criminals, this has been the case in many countries, especially the UK.

Have a good think about these points before you comment again in such an arrogant and sarcastic attitude.

Konuzin is not the Russian ambassador, but the Russian embarrassment. Everybody who can read and understand the basics of economy can extract the data from Serbian foreign trade. Serbia has by far the highest trade deficit with Russia, despite - or better said - because of the free trade agreement with Russia. Serbia virtually sells nothing to Russia but a lot to EU countries and his neighbors. Here in the EU, Serbia needs a (real) free trade agreement. That would decrease the deficit considerably and simultaneously increase revenue. Of course Konuzin fears that. And the NIS scrapping for 400 Mio bucks for a company which was worth 2 billions we are not mentioning, yet.

That are the facts. No politics, no religion, no nothing, but clear numbers.

If Albanians are saying Serbia should join EU, I am strongly against hopping on the sinking ship.

Like others have stated, Serbia's economic ties with Russia are more important than those with the EU.

Does someone seriously think that Greece, for example, would have had less problems without the EU? Greece as a country has been bankrupt several times before, and before the EU even existed.
(Comm. Parrisson, 14 March 2012 11:58)

Greece has defaulted on its external sovereign debt obligations four times during its wars against the Ottoman Turks (1826, 1843, 1860, 1894) and in 1932with the great depression.When a small country is fighting a war of liberation against an empire for 100 years its obvious that in order to finance those wars needs finance and in the case of Greece it was through loans.

If you look at the Greek debt in 1981 pre-EU period it stood at just $ 22 billion which was easily serviced.It was the illussion of free trade and low cost loans to buy German and French products and military hardware which brought Greece to its present predicament.There is no such a thing as a free lunch for the French or the Germans.

So many Albanians here demonstrate their deepest concern over Serbia's future well-being, which they see in EU membership, but what they are really interested in is that in order to become EU-member Serbia will have to fulfill EU demands and supress NKosovo Serbs...

What some people commenting here don't realise is that the facts correlate with Konuzin's statement. Serbia has an open trade agreement with Russia and is having the major Russian South Stream pipeline being built through it. The EU isn't the only option and rather complicates issues because if Serbia also had an open market with the EU then this would complicate matters with Russia, and like it or not, the open trade agreement with Russia is very beneficial to Serbia. I hope more people wake up to this reality, and that the EU as an option could infact turn out to be a disaster.

Not a colony, wth, but a partner. As for being surrounded by EU countries, so what? The EU has to stop somewhere, let it stop with Serbia. BTW, stop being so cynical with your comments, we can discuss issues here without sarcastic. It makes for a better day for all of us.

Is there a sane reason why those countries should give something for free? John
They do to Pristina, John. The Albanians in KiM would not last a week without EU/USA handouts. And that has been going on for how long now? So spare us the pseudo brainiac lip service, all nations do whatever is in their country's best interest, including Russia. They have the right to speak their mind.

If you look at the Greek debt in 1981 pre-EU period it stood at just $ 22 billion which was easily serviced.
(Leonidas, 14 March 2012 15:34)
--
Hey Mircea, what was Romania's debt pre-EU and what is it now? Sounds like the EU is an expensive club to join. Serbia has more than doubled its debt since this "no alternative to EU" government took the reins and has nothing to show for it.

Is there a sane reason why those countries should give something for free? Of course they try to sell their products. I don't see anything wrong by doing this. It is Greece which should assess if it is capable of affording those toys. The military budget (nominal) of Greece is even higher the one of the highly militarized Nortkorea. I also don't recall that Greece changed anything regarding those expenditures, emphasizing the stupidity that there is no money for schools and hospitals in Greece any more, but still enough for toys like the latest tanks and submarines. Each responsible government would start cutting those costs, but I don't see any attempt, nor I do see people in the streets protesting regarding that.
John

I agree that each country should cut military expenditure provided its neighbours have the mentality of the Swiss,Danish,Swedish etc.But if your neighbour has the mentality and the expansionist designs of muslim Turks, who never miss the opportunity to question the sovereignty of your country, then you arm yourself to the teeth.It suffices to say that only last November former Turkish prime minister Yilmaz admitted in an interview that during his premiership Turkish security services were responsible for countless forest fires on Greek islands.It was,as he put it,an economic war against Greece as it is today with the free flow of muslim immigrants from Turkey into Greece.

They have the right to speak their mind.
(winston, 14 March 2012 21:12)

Nobody questioned that, wins. In fact, some even proved it with numbers. Russia benefits very much from Serbia's agonizing state. It actually makes perfectly sense that Konuzin issues that statements, just as it makes sense that those statements aim to preserve the current state and not to improve Serbia's stance. And no, don't worry, I'm not crying tears of crocodiles. That a simple facts which are confirmed by numbers already mentioned on that page. No hard feelings or love, only numbers.

You can shoot in your foot and head as much as you like, just don't claim that it benefits you. Anyway, I doubt that you in your cushy chair in the "evil" West will have any advantages at all.

The Russian governor of Serbia has spoken again.

There is no such a thing as a free lunch for the French or the Germans.
(Leonidas, 14 March 2012 15:34)

Is there a sane reason why those countries should give something for free? Of course they try to sell their products. I don't see anything wrong by doing this. It is Greece which should assess if it is capable of affording those toys. The military budget (nominal) of Greece is even higher the one of the highly militarized Nortkorea. I also don't recall that Greece changed anything regarding those expenditures, emphasizing the stupidity that there is no money for schools and hospitals in Greece any more, but still enough for toys like the latest tanks and submarines. Each responsible government would start cutting those costs, but I don't see any attempt, nor I do see people in the streets protesting regarding that.

@ Topic

Of course the Russian ambassador would not like to see Serbia in the EU. He would lose a colony at the Balkans. Serbia however has a much higher proportion in foreign trade with the EU and the near neighborhood. Russia is far away and Southstream (if it is ever going to happen) would/will be built through many EU countries, already. Bulgaria, Hungary, just to mention 2. Funnily, this does not hamper the project, right Mr. Konuzin?

Furthermore, the worldwide economic struggle (actually it is not that bad as perpetrated in the media) is not a criteria which comes and goes with EU membership, but depends on the economic potential of each country. We saw in Iceland that a non EU country failed so dramatically and now practically begs for membership, while Nordic EU countries perform extraordinary.

So spare us with your right wing statements. Everybody who can read and count knows that you just make politic statements with zero content.

Like others have stated, Serbia's economic ties with Russia are more important than those with the EU.
(Steve B., 14 March 2012 15:09)

Well, better check some facts about economy, imports and exports of Serbia, and then come back, please. Some hint: More than 50% of exports and imports go to/come from EU countries. Russia is not even in the top 5 of the countries Serbia exports to, but is #1 for the imports. So it's primarily Russia who benefits from these 'ties'.

The Russian governor of Serbia has spoken again.
(ben, 14 March 2012 23:29)

Yes,and then I heard he took out his Albanian girlfriend to an undisclosed place for dinner.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBT8DXxsPIc&feature=related

The economic crisis has mainly hit the EU, US and countries that have aligned economies. South America and most of Asia are still doing relatively well. Greece has cracked the economic backbone of the EU and it will take another country (Italy? Spain? Portugal? Ireland?) to break it.

Momentum is in favour of Russia and China but these are still early days.
(Zoran, 14 March 2012 13:22)

what are you smoking dear ? South America being well by living in poverty ? reading these forums it sounds like the key for economic success and well being is to be aligned with Serbia LOL

Seriously, is there any other country or any other ambassador world wide which gets so much coverage in the media as Konuzin does in Serbia? I know no place on Earth where ambassadors meddles so obviously in politics in his host country and gets away with it.

I have no objections against having good ties with Russia, but this is pathetic and spineless.
(Commentator, 15 March 2012 00:20)
===========================

At least they haven't built him a statue in town square. When that happens come back and whinge. Until then keep quiet as it has nothing to do with you.

Seriously, is there any other country or any other ambassador world wide which gets so much coverage in the media as Konuzin does in Serbia? I know no place on Earth where ambassadors meddles so obviously in politics in his host country and gets away with it.

I have no objections against having good ties with Russia, but this is pathetic and spineless.

"You clearly know very little. What Serbia has to lose from losing Russia as a trade partener is a country that imports a decent amount of Serbian goods, with the EU I can imagine that the same thing would happen to Serbia what is happening to Greece, in which they end up importing far much more than they export, and this would put Serbia in the same disastrous position as Greece.
(SCP UK, 14 March 2012 18:06)

How funny. You mention Russia as a 'trade partner', mention that Greece imported much more than exported. Did you ever check the numbers for Russia? Obviously not!

The trade deficit between Russia and Serbia is biggest for all trade partners. Furthermore, the biggest trade partner (total sum of exports and imports) of Serbia is NOT Russia, but Germany. Russia is only the country Serbia imports from most. Serbia exports most to Italy, Bosnia, Germany. Serbia even exports mor to Romania than to Russia.

Check yourself: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Serbia

Not a colony, wth, but a partner. As for being surrounded by EU countries, so what? The EU has to stop somewhere, let it stop with Serbia. BTW, stop being so cynical with your comments, we can discuss issues here without sarcastic. It makes for a better day for all of us.
(PapaJohn, 14 March 2012 15:06)

FYI : Russia Serbia

GDP $1.48 TRILL $38.4 BILL

POP 142 Million 7.2 Million

Size 17.1 km2 80,000 Km2

Debt 71% of GDP 77.8% of GDP

Armed
Forces 1,027,000 37,000

Budget $52.7 Billion Eur675 mill

Nuclear
weapons YES NO

Which of the above do you think the Russians consider to be equal?

" Here in the EU, Serbia needs a (real) free trade agreement. That would decrease the deficit considerably and simultaneously increase revenue. Of course Konuzin fears that."
(Berk., 14 March 2012 20:07)

In case you don't know: As an EU canditate, Serbia already has a FTA with the EU, as part of the Stabilization and Association Agreement. There are only a few groups of product that have a limited contingent for custom free exports into the EU, all other products are generally custom free.

"Does someone seriously think that Greece, for example, would have had less problems without the EU? Greece as a country has been bankrupt several times before, and before the EU even existed.
(Comm. Parrisson, 14 March 2012 11:58)

Greece has defaulted on its external sovereign debt obligations four times during its wars against the Ottoman Turks (1826, 1843, 1860, 1894) and in 1932with the great depression.When a small country is fighting a war of liberation against an empire for 100 years its obvious that in order to finance those wars needs finance and in the case of Greece it was through loans.

If you look at the Greek debt in 1981 pre-EU period it stood at just $ 22 billion which was easily serviced.It was the illussion of free trade and low cost loans to buy German and French products and military hardware which brought Greece to its present predicament.There is no such a thing as a free lunch for the French or the Germans.
Leonidas"

Here you go blaming the West again!
How do you supposse a country will progress if it's citizens don't pay taxes?
Where does the money come from to pay public employees, maintain roads, schools, hospitals, ect?

Where does the money come from again?
If id doesn't come from tax payers then in the case of Greece it comes from French and German banks.

FYI Leonidas: If you borrow money you have a moral and financial obligation to pay it back.
It wasn't your money to begin with. It belonged to someone else. You asked to borrow it and in return you would pay it back with intersted.
They held their end of the bargain. Your country didn't.

Is it that difficult for you to understand such a simple concept?

(Athens is Burning, 15 March 2012 17:56)

Our Greek friend also forgot to mention the fact that Greece was expelled from the Latin Monetary Union for cheating (surprise!): "Greece also caused problems. According to the BBC, "its chronically weak economy meant successive Greek governments responded by decreasing the amount of gold in their coins, thereby debasing their currency in relation to those of other nations in the union and in violation of the original agreement". Greece was formally expelled from the Latin Monetary Union in 1908."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_Monetary_Union