"Obama not ignoring Balkans”

American history professor Charles Ingrao said that he expects the new U.S. administration's Balkans policy to differ from that of George Bush. U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has already gathered a group of advisers who have great experience with the Balkans, Ingrao told Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti. "Obama not ignoring Balkans” He also said that Obama is "a lot more capable of analyzing complex issues" and that he would use his term to build relations with European partners and would not ignore the Balkans. However, Ingrao said that there is little chance that Serbia will join the EU soon. “Even though Serbia will continue down the European path, the speed of its integration will be measured in millimeters. The current economic crisis and the constant incapability of Serbia and Bosnia to make several important steps suggest that an entire decade could pass without Serbia becoming a member of the EU,” Ingrao said. He added that Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina will "probably” be the last countries in the region to join the EU. Ingrao said that a group of 300 American scientists, historians, sociologists and lawyers will submit a special report on U.S. policies for the Balkans over the last two decades in late January. “The U.S. government lied to its citizens regarding its resolve to arrest war crimes suspects, including Radovan Karadzic, to whom Richard Holbrooke promised that he would not be arrested if he withdrew from political and public life, and Ratko Mladic as well,” Ingrao said. He continued to tell the newspaper that it would be best for both Serbia and Croatia to withdraw their genocide lawsuits against one another, because these "postpone good neighborly relations and economic cooperation” between Serbia and Croatia. Ingrao concluded that there is "no threat of Vojvodina seceding from Serbia", adding that "the demands for more autonomy will not lead to secession but could decrease tensions in the province".

"Obama not ignoring Balkans”

He also said that Obama is "a lot more capable of analyzing complex issues" and that he would use his term to build relations with European partners and would not ignore the Balkans.

However, Ingrao said that there is little chance that Serbia will join the EU soon.

“Even though Serbia will continue down the European path, the speed of its integration will be measured in millimeters. The current economic crisis and the constant incapability of Serbia and Bosnia to make several important steps suggest that an entire decade could pass without Serbia becoming a member of the EU,” Ingrao said.

He added that Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina will "probably” be the last countries in the region to join the EU.

Ingrao said that a group of 300 American scientists, historians, sociologists and lawyers will submit a special report on U.S. policies for the Balkans over the last two decades in late January.

“The U.S. government lied to its citizens regarding its resolve to arrest war crimes suspects, including Radovan Karadžić, to whom Richard Holbrooke promised that he would not be arrested if he withdrew from political and public life, and Ratko Mladić as well,” Ingrao said.

He continued to tell the newspaper that it would be best for both Serbia and Croatia to withdraw their genocide lawsuits against one another, because these "postpone good neighborly relations and economic cooperation” between Serbia and Croatia.

Ingrao concluded that there is "no threat of Vojvodina seceding from Serbia", adding that "the demands for more autonomy will not lead to secession but could decrease tensions in the province".