“Balkans won’t be isolated after Croatia joins EU”

“We consider Bosnia-Herzegovina maybe our most important neighbor. We have numerous trade and cultural ties."

This is a ice-cold shower for Serbia. Hopeful Serbia will understand that there is no friendship more in the future from Croatia. Serbia should now look with reality where are his friends and where not. To run after a "divorced partner" is shameful and useless. The statement of the Croation president is very political, not mentioning Slovenia and Serbia. He should find friendship with the "Bosniaks" with the "cultural ties" between Catholics and hard-core Muslims, and the Serbs should develop their relations with the RS.

Of course not! The world isn't the EU and in addition to doing business with individual states, there's a wider world out there starting with BRIC, Turkey, the Middle East, and North and South America. Croatia may think all roads lead to Berlin (old habits are hard to break), but joining a sinking ship is not something Serbia needs :)

Zoran, Serbia has no friends. Russia milks it of all its natural resources under the false pretense of 'brotherly love'

frankly, I do not see what the Balkans have got to offer the EU. the only possible thing i can think of, is that if Serbia, Kosova, Bosnia and hell maybe even Albania & Montenegro & Macedonia join, it will reduce the chances of conflict in this part of the world. truth is, there exist big disparities between EU states and it will always be this way. some are purely and simply richer, just a fact of life. given that in the Balkans we're still dealing with what can only be termed recent nationalism, where borders still form part of people mental thinking, i'd say that we're so far away from Europe that it may as well be a different continent

" the only possible thing i can think of, is that if Serbia, Kosova, Bosnia and hell maybe even Albania & Montenegro & Macedonia join, it will reduce the chances of conflict in this part of the world. "

You don't think this is enough? Simply preventing wars is not a bad economic policy. As for the difference in wealth, Europe simply had more favorable geography, especially Germany, with its networks of rivers. These allowed relatively cheap transportation in the days when roads were prohibitively expensive to build and travel over. Europe has had centuries to build up its economy and forms of governance - you have to expect it's going to take the Balkans a while to catch up.

Serbs should develop their relations with the RS.
(Zoran, 21 March 2013 13:07) It is a interesting relationship where the imaginary Srpska entity in Bosnia. Milks Serbia to the tune of 100's of millions burrowed euros. That Serbia gets on the international market at high interest rates every year. So imaginary Srpska can be Serbia's imaginary friend. The minority Serbs of Bosnia know how to play Serbia well. Until Serbia grows up and becomes a mature nation before it goes totally broke belly up. Lets see if Serbia is semi smart I have my doubts or just the usual ignoramus patsy.

It's no wonder Dacic keeps saying he "needs Vucic's support"

No country has friends, only interests...so a good government is looking for countries with full or partial parallel interests. Normally you will find these interests with neigbours or countries of your size and with similar problems. The Russians are global player and real tough capitalists. There is no emotion among the Russians towards Serbia. There is nothing of real interest and the permanent 1000% pro-EU is not bringing confidence or sympathy. The main task for the Serbs is Serbia and not other countries. How the Serbs would like to see her country in 50 years? This is the question, and the key for the answer is only within Serbia. The permanent behave like a colony towards Turkey, Austria or Germany willlead to un-realistic illusions. The same people who aresaying Russia is not the right partner are looking with hot views to the US. Serbs, look on yourselves. Start with the children to educate them, give the young generation jobs and let the people make what they have as ideas. The normal people are the only treasure, not a Nikolic or Dacic, who cannot speak correctly and short about a topic.

“We consider Bosnia-Herzegovina maybe our most important neighbor. We have numerous trade and cultural ties."

This is a ice-cold shower for Serbia. Hopeful Serbia will understand that there is no friendship more in the future from Croatia. Serbia should now look with reality where are his friends and where not. To run after a "divorced partner" is shameful and useless. The statement of the Croation president is very political, not mentioning Slovenia and Serbia. He should find friendship with the "Bosniaks" with the "cultural ties" between Catholics and hard-core Muslims, and the Serbs should develop their relations with the RS.

frankly, I do not see what the Balkans have got to offer the EU. the only possible thing i can think of, is that if Serbia, Kosova, Bosnia and hell maybe even Albania & Montenegro & Macedonia join, it will reduce the chances of conflict in this part of the world. truth is, there exist big disparities between EU states and it will always be this way. some are purely and simply richer, just a fact of life. given that in the Balkans we're still dealing with what can only be termed recent nationalism, where borders still form part of people mental thinking, i'd say that we're so far away from Europe that it may as well be a different continent

Zoran, Serbia has no friends. Russia milks it of all its natural resources under the false pretense of 'brotherly love'

Serbs should develop their relations with the RS.
(Zoran, 21 March 2013 13:07) It is a interesting relationship where the imaginary Srpska entity in Bosnia. Milks Serbia to the tune of 100's of millions burrowed euros. That Serbia gets on the international market at high interest rates every year. So imaginary Srpska can be Serbia's imaginary friend. The minority Serbs of Bosnia know how to play Serbia well. Until Serbia grows up and becomes a mature nation before it goes totally broke belly up. Lets see if Serbia is semi smart I have my doubts or just the usual ignoramus patsy.

Of course not! The world isn't the EU and in addition to doing business with individual states, there's a wider world out there starting with BRIC, Turkey, the Middle East, and North and South America. Croatia may think all roads lead to Berlin (old habits are hard to break), but joining a sinking ship is not something Serbia needs :)

" the only possible thing i can think of, is that if Serbia, Kosova, Bosnia and hell maybe even Albania & Montenegro & Macedonia join, it will reduce the chances of conflict in this part of the world. "

You don't think this is enough? Simply preventing wars is not a bad economic policy. As for the difference in wealth, Europe simply had more favorable geography, especially Germany, with its networks of rivers. These allowed relatively cheap transportation in the days when roads were prohibitively expensive to build and travel over. Europe has had centuries to build up its economy and forms of governance - you have to expect it's going to take the Balkans a while to catch up.

It's no wonder Dacic keeps saying he "needs Vucic's support"

No country has friends, only interests...so a good government is looking for countries with full or partial parallel interests. Normally you will find these interests with neigbours or countries of your size and with similar problems. The Russians are global player and real tough capitalists. There is no emotion among the Russians towards Serbia. There is nothing of real interest and the permanent 1000% pro-EU is not bringing confidence or sympathy. The main task for the Serbs is Serbia and not other countries. How the Serbs would like to see her country in 50 years? This is the question, and the key for the answer is only within Serbia. The permanent behave like a colony towards Turkey, Austria or Germany willlead to un-realistic illusions. The same people who aresaying Russia is not the right partner are looking with hot views to the US. Serbs, look on yourselves. Start with the children to educate them, give the young generation jobs and let the people make what they have as ideas. The normal people are the only treasure, not a Nikolic or Dacic, who cannot speak correctly and short about a topic.