"Slovenia could retaliate for humiliation"

London magazine the Economist writes that Slovenia could have its “revenge” on Serbia. This, since Belgrade decided not to attend the informal regional conference held in Slovenia last Saturday. "Slovenia could retaliate for humiliation" According to this, the "revenge" would come with Slovenia opting to "slow down Serbia's EU integration process". “In the end (Serbian President Boris) Tadic decided that domestic needs trumped statesmanship, and stayed at home. (President of the European Council Herman) Van Rompuy and (Spanish FM Miguel Angel) Moratinos then pulled out themselves, fatally undermining the meeting," says the article, and adds: "By wrecking the Brdo summit, Tadic won a battle, but he cannot win the war. Smarting from its humiliation, Slovenia’s government may choose to take revenge by slowing the EU’s integration process with Serbia." “Later this year, a major EU-Balkans summit is planned in Sarajevo, and the EU is increasing pressure on the states of the region to improve their mutual relations. If Serbia stays away again, the consequences could be grave,” the magazine adds. “Many powerful voices in the EU, including Germany’s ruling Christian Democrats, want to see a long pause in enlargement for 'digestion' once the EU takes in Iceland and Croatia, possibly in 2012. They won't mind a bit if Tadic insists on putting Kosovo before Europe. If that happens, Serbia, which long ago lost Kosovo, may lose the EU,” the Economist believes. Regarding the weekend conference, European Parliament Rapporteur for Serbia Jelko Kacin said that the “real loser” after conference was the Spanish EU presidency. He said that it was not good for Moratinos not to attend, especially since Spain plans on organizing its own Balkan conference. “Instead of Moratinos being there now, to create a real atmosphere in order to achieve the conference in Sarajevo more easily, he showed that he is not up to the task, and that Spain will have problems with this,” Kacin told Deutsche Welle. Kacin added that Van Rompuy’s decision not to come was a non-issue, because he “comes when all countries agree”. “With the Spanish officials, as EU presidency, not showing up, a link was created that does not work to the advantage of Spain or Serbia or the entire region,” Kacin was quoted as saying. Serbia's condition for participating in the Slovenia event was that the Kosovo Albanian delegation be represented as Kosovo/UNMIK.

"Slovenia could retaliate for humiliation"

According to this, the "revenge" would come with Slovenia opting to "slow down Serbia's EU integration process".

“In the end (Serbian President Boris) Tadić decided that domestic needs trumped statesmanship, and stayed at home. (President of the European Council Herman) Van Rompuy and (Spanish FM Miguel Angel) Moratinos then pulled out themselves, fatally undermining the meeting," says the article, and adds:

"By wrecking the Brdo summit, Tadić won a battle, but he cannot win the war. Smarting from its humiliation, Slovenia’s government may choose to take revenge by slowing the EU’s integration process with Serbia."

“Later this year, a major EU-Balkans summit is planned in Sarajevo, and the EU is increasing pressure on the states of the region to improve their mutual relations. If Serbia stays away again, the consequences could be grave,” the magazine adds.

“Many powerful voices in the EU, including Germany’s ruling Christian Democrats, want to see a long pause in enlargement for 'digestion' once the EU takes in Iceland and Croatia, possibly in 2012. They won't mind a bit if Tadić insists on putting Kosovo before Europe. If that happens, Serbia, which long ago lost Kosovo, may lose the EU,” the Economist believes.

Regarding the weekend conference, European Parliament Rapporteur for Serbia Jelko Kacin said that the “real loser” after conference was the Spanish EU presidency.

He said that it was not good for Moratinos not to attend, especially since Spain plans on organizing its own Balkan conference.

“Instead of Moratinos being there now, to create a real atmosphere in order to achieve the conference in Sarajevo more easily, he showed that he is not up to the task, and that Spain will have problems with this,” Kacin told Deutsche Welle.

Kacin added that Van Rompuy’s decision not to come was a non-issue, because he “comes when all countries agree”.

“With the Spanish officials, as EU presidency, not showing up, a link was created that does not work to the advantage of Spain or Serbia or the entire region,” Kacin was quoted as saying.

Serbia's condition for participating in the Slovenia event was that the Kosovo Albanian delegation be represented as Kosovo/UNMIK.