Serbia has received ultimatum on Kosovo - media reports

Well they can ultimate all they like but all Serbia has to say it was signed off in the Brussels Agreement and we have implemented all from our side its time for you to do something. Then call for a referendum on whether to join the EU.

Watch the panic then Brussels and Nikola Tesla airport is not big enough to accommodate all the jets arriving from Brussels to talk to the Serbian government.

Its a rouse; a try on. Serbia is far too important to let go and they will in the end implement all that the Albos signed off on.

Who actually owns Srbija, is it the Serbian people or the USA, England France and Germany ???

So the Roman Catholic Empire first destroy Jugoslavija and then Murder Srbija ! What incentive for Serbian people too keep loosing their homes and land and lives ? How many Serbian people raped, robbed of all earthly possessions, tortured and murdered since the early 1990's in the Balkans ? Ethnic Cleansing of the Serbian people in the Balkans at the evil and wicked hands of USA, England and Germany ! I only see WAR very soon in the Balkans, Serbian people no where else to go and up against the wall so we will fight to the death !!!

Kosovo was, is and will be Serbia.

Serbia should not accept being blackmailed like this. EU wants Serbia and Serbia should put demands on the EU, not the other way around. Just tell the EU shitplomats that they accept Serbia's terms or else Serbia will team up with Russia and flush EU down the toilet.

The west is losing support for an independent "Kosova"*** and there is even less of an appetite for greater Albania. An attempt to push it through will create even more divisions within the west. LOL! Until the west recognises its failure, there will be no progress. Serbia has tried to be very flexible. Unfortunately the case is not the same from the other side.

think is fair offer.
Recognition in exchange of ZSO.
Serbia should take it because the next offer will be worse.
(Teodor Muzaka 1389, 22 March

How worse )) Serbia has already been bombed 78 days around the clock.
It's like mafia style)) I find your wet and take all the money inside and then return it empty and ask for a reward Lol.
The Western countries do not understand the Serbian fighting spirit and history against all odds ))They will learn the hard way.

If Serbia were to agree to anything like this, it really doesn't deserve to exist as a country anymore. So Albanians, please take Belgrade too if Serbia's government cares more about what aggressors think Serbia should do in regards to its southern province.

"Go one step further in capitulation, and we'll force the separatists to implement what was already agreed to 5 years ago". Pathetic! Serbia gave the phone code, and this was something that ONLY Serbia could grant separatists. Meanwhile the Community of Serb Municipalities has not been formed. What is there left to negotiate?

The only logical conclusion is that the Western powers have compromising material on those within the Serb gov't and are using it against them with regards to Kosovo-Metohija. Those people need to step aside and not put their own lust for power ahead of national interests.

Serbia has no card left in its hand. If it blocks Kosovo UN membership further, the big Western powers might eventually give consent to the unification of Albania and Kosovo. That would be the end of the story. But there are several other ways to put pressure on Serbia e.g. re-introducing visa regimes to EU.

Serbia has no card left in its hand. If it blocks Kosovo UN membership further, the big Western powers might eventually give consent to the unification of Albania and Kosovo. That would be the end of the story. But there are several other ways to put pressure on Serbia e.g. re-introducing visa regimes to EU.
(Contractor, 22 March 2018 10:33)

First they will never allow a unification of Kosovo with Albania - never. Secondly I wish they did reintroduce visa regimes, but they will not. There are too many players in the game for Serbia, especially China. This is not the 1990s.

Let me predict. Serbia will not even entertain the idea of a UN anything for Kosovo and the accession talks will continue otherwise its bye, bye EU.

(Contractor, 22 March 2018 11:41)

The EU cannot afford to lose Serbia. This is not because of a great love for Serbs but it’s for practical reasons. Serbia is located at the cross roads from east to west and vice versa. Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Croatia or Kosovo are irrelevant. Istanbul to Berlin visa Serbia 3 days; Istanbul to Berlin around Serbia, 7 days.

China is a huge problem for the EU because its cosying up to Belgrade. The reason the EU membership is delayed is because Brussels does not have the money to keep up its part of the bargain.

In a lot of ways Serbia has a greater hold over the EU than the other way around.

Belgrade is a basket case and a failed state that depends on EU handouts and trade -- simple as that! If Brussels wants to pressure Vucic all they have to do is close the purse.


Is that why the French got the Belgrade airport concession? Pass the weed, mon!

Tiny Kosovo embargoed Belgrade in 2011 (?) and boy oh boy was Belgrade ready to cooperate; just think the cobsequences from the powerhouse (EU) doing the same.

(L*O*G*I*C, 22 March 2018 13:07)

I don't recall that happening. I do recall Kosovo undercutting what legitimate economy it had by more than half because they were insistent products are labelled "Republic of Kosovo". Goods remained on your side of the "border" until an agreement was made to relabel the products simply from "Kosovo".

Good thing you actual economy of scrap metal, drugs, and remittances from relatives abroad kept you all from starving to death in the meantime :)

If it blocks Kosovo UN membership further, the big Western powers might eventually give consent to the unification of Albania and Kosovo. That would be the end of the story.
(Contractor, 22 March 2018 10:33)

That story is fiction outside the comment sections of English-language Balkan news portals. No one supports Kosovo's merge with Albania.

No one supports Kosovo's merge with Albania.
(Navi, 22 March 2018 15:33)

I, for one, support it... So, what you wrote above is clearly a lie.
(icj1, 23 March 2018 00:39)
=====================
I'm sure he means, no one who matters.

I think is fair offer.
Recognition in exchange of ZSO.
Serbia should take it because the next offer will be worse.

Well this will be interesting.For over ten years Serbia knew that it would come to this.
It was talked about it,but everybody in Serbia denied it. Whether you agree or not Milosevic was also put in a similar position (different topics), he did not back down and he paid the price.
Now again same scenario, different leader,topic somewhat different.

Hmmmmm

I think is fair offer.
Recognition in exchange of ZSO.
Serbia should take it because the next offer will be worse.
(Teodor Muzaka 1389, 22 March 2018 12:03)
==========================
What's the point of having any agreement when Albanians are encouraged not to honour it.
You can't strike a deal with someone who will not honour their part of it and keep changing the demands.

Serbs rely on their fairy tales than their history.
The only reason Serbia became more developed than Albania was that many Serbs were educated in Austria, and even Belgrade was part of Austria for some time and not thanks to Dear Mother Russia who has been always an always will be a backward country.

In 1918 the small irrelevant Serbia became Yugoslavia thanks to US, UK, and France not thanks to Dear Mother Russia. It was them who gave you Kosovo, Vojvodina and the rest of Yugoslavia.

In WWII if it wasn`t for USA military supplies to Dear Mother Russia, Serbia an Dear Mother Russia would be speaking German today. Ofc Russia fought harsh against Nazis but that was AFTER Germany attacked Russia, while USA came to your aid without being attacked or provoked by Nazis.

In 1948 if it wasn`t for USA and UK Yugoslavia would become a Stalinist state and would be as poor as Albania.

In 1987-1999 you betrayed West, denied all the political and economical aid they gave you and embraced Dear Mother Russia and that ended up pretty well.

In 1999- an still counting and Serbia is still waiting for Tzar Putain to come and "liberate Holy Serbian Land of Kosovo from the Islamic Terrorist Goatherd Donkeyriders Albanians".

Oh, yes China will invest in Serbia and you will live happily ever after. Just like they did with your Dear Sister Greece.

What's the point of having any agreement when Albanians are encouraged not to honour it.
You can't strike a deal with someone who will not honour their part of it and keep changing the demands.
(Peggy, 22 March 2018 13:55)


Peggy dear, can't you see that Serbia is being served a little of her own medicine.

. But there are several other ways to put pressure on Serbia e.g. re-introducing visa regimes to EU.
(Contractor, 22 March 2018 10:33)
@ contractoraj - pressure? Pressure for what? For Srbija to recognize and approve the theft of over 15% of her land?
What self respecting government would do that?
As far as “Kosova” being annexed by Albania, that will never happen ... not only would that be rejected by BG, but by your masters also... it would mean they can’t say or do anything about Crimea anymore... and they couldn’t live that down... trading “Kosova” for Crimea!
Not happening, even in your wildest dreams!

Serbia has received an ultimatum - "to recognize Kosovo in exchange for the Community of Serb Municipalities (ZSO)."

I can tell you all. This is nothing but pure bull sh**.
I would state the opposite actually. Serbia is gaining more and more support in the global arena.
Look who will get the post as US National security advisor. John Bolton, who has an extreme resistance on Kosovo as an narco and extremist fictious state.
No, as I told before, Kosovo as an own state is long long gone.

https://www.google.se/amp/s/www.rt.com/news/john-bolton-kosovos-independence-a-danger-to-balkan-stability/amp/

https://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics.php?yyyy=2007&mm=09&dd=11&nav_id=43679

@Ha,

I live in Brussels. I know people at the institutions. Some believe what they say, others don't. Plenty of them are hypocrites, contrary and illogical. Just like everyone else, they are prone to being first emotional, then maybe logical.

You are applying a level of collective intelligence to the 'EU' that just doesn't exist and 'the plan' that is the usual Brussels compromise.

As for them creating isolationism & discontent in Serbia, this is 2018, not 1990, 1995, 1999 or even 2008. The UK for example no longer has any input on EU decisions, the EU is split and it joint statement are about papering over the cracks. Russia has friends in the EU. It's lowest common denominator stuff.

Undermining Serbia politically and economically is a return to the past and war. Been there, done that. Destabilizing Serbia means destabilizing the Balkans. The EU certainly doesn't want that. They've already done the worst to Serbia and it is still there, economy growing and attracting investment (Hello Belgrade Nikola Tesla airport)!

The only fly in the ointment is the stupidity of the Serbs (particularly the political class) themselves. But, they have long since stopped believing every word coming out of Brussels, Berlin or Washington. There is no trust. Promises are meaningless. They might still fold, but it is by no means certain.

Brussels does not fund Serbian political parties, but it does fund NGOs.

Isolation is not possible or even wanted by the West.

The Western countries do not understand the Serbian fighting spirit and history against all odds ))They will learn the hard way.
(Sasa from near Jagodina, 22 March 2018 12:30)


Yep you right, we saw your spirit in srebrenica, the rapes in Bosnia and Kosova, and the mass graves of unarmed civilians. That’s the serbian spirit, you got me THERE

I can’t believe how many people are still living in a bubble, Vucic included.

You all know what has to happen but can’t admit it.

Maybe if you hear it in Serbian you might open your eyes to the reality that Serbia lost Kosovo long ago.

https://youtu.be/QNhjcvBWLBs

If it's an ultimatum, what's the threat? I highly doubt that all Nato countries would even comply like last time.

I think it shows a lack of confidence that we don’t throw this out immediately.
Serbia, for all its problems, will be a big asset to the EU in so many areas. We are far from being desperate. They seem to think we are.
We only have to look at croatia to see the EU isn’t all they make it out to be.
Listen, I would like Serbia to join and for us to contribute to it, but not at any cost.
I realise we are going to lose a lot in Kosovo whatever happens, but I won’t accept losing everything, no matter what they do,
We’ve already seen that movie before so we will know what to do.

Two things are particularly problematic when it comes to Serbian political logic. First, they think that just because 5 EU countries don’t recognize Kosovo, the EU can’t force Serbia into concessions. How many times do they need to hear that it only takes 1 country (usually Germany) to block Serbia’s path towards the EU and/or isolate Serbia in the region? Second, as a landlocked country surrounded by EU members and unfriendly countries, do you think isolation won’t deter and/or undermine any Russian or Chinese investments you may get?

I think is fair offer.
Recognition in exchange of ZSO.
Serbia should take it because the next offer will be worse.
(Teodor Muzaka 1389, 22 March 2018 12:03)

@teodoraj- lol, yeah.... we’ll take that offer, lol
Lol, are you 10 years old? Lol

Belgrade is a basket case and a failed state that depends on EU handouts and trade -- simple as that! If Brussels wants to pressure Vucic all they have to do is close the purse.

Tiny Kosovo embargoed Belgrade in 2011 (?) and boy oh boy was Belgrade ready to cooperate; just think the cobsequences from the powerhouse (EU) doing the same.


Sincerely,

Is it a real ultimatum or just a media interpretation ? Are there no real and trusting sources like EU Council or Parliament internet sites, confirming this subject ?
(Darmon, 22 March 2018 10:32)

There are none because this ultimatum doesn't exist. If you read what this media outlet is saying, it's less an ultimatum over Kosovo than it is a false praise of Vucic preventing such a scenario.

Nowhere in the history of the EU's (mis)guided policy towards Kosovo has there ever been such a blunt and brazen display of diplomatic pressure, and nowhere in any previous agreement associated with ZSO has there ever come the requirement of recognition as attached strings to its formation. The Brussels Agreement of which ZSO forms a large part of it, explicitly calls for the "normalization" of relations between Serbia, a sovereign state, and Kosovo, a legally disputed and partially-sovereign territory.

Whatever official statements the EU has made regarding ZSO, it is the pressure placed on Pristina to ratify the agreement and see to its establishment, just like they ratified the border demarcation with Montenegro.

Forcing Serbia to recognize Kosovo in exchange for ZSO is not only blackmail, it's sloppy foreign policy that will most assuredly backfire. The EU doesn't want this, so these so-called "ultimatums" being reported nowhere else but certain Serbian media outlets makes it obvious it little more than sensationalism.

" Serbia has received ultimatum on Kosovo - media reports"
Is it a real ultimatum or just a media interpretation ? Are there no real and trusting sources like EU Council or Parliament internet sites, confirming this subject ? Besides Serbian NGO could send to the same an open question demanding what exactly they want Serbia to do, and then, Serbia could decide weather she should continue "negotiations" or not with Albanians. It seems according to what was said that there is no use to go on, of course if it is confirmed.

First, they think that just because 5 EU countries don’t recognize Kosovo, the EU can’t force Serbia into concessions.
-

Surely the problem is entirely with your logic?

Serbia is not obliged by any law, international or otherwise to join the EU.

The EU is a voluntary organization, like a golf club.

They have rules and conditions. They sometimes change the rules depending on who they want to let in.

If Serbia does not want to join, it has no need to follow their rules & conditions.

Even then, Serbia does not have to agree to made up rules & conditions that are discriminatory (and having 5 EU member stated openly not agreeing with them is not 'no-thing'), which some of Brussels conditions clearly are.

Diplomatic pressure applied directly by Berlin rather than just from Brussels shows that it is in fact a form of coercion and Brussels threats are too weak to achieve their purpose.

Plan B. Now what kind of club is it (that depends on candidates voluntarily accepting its rules & conditions) of whom some members make open threats and leave horse's heads in Serbia's bed?

It's not a club, it's a mafia, Deutschland style. More so that the UK has shot both its feet off.

According to the media, the Serbian president "received such an offer" from diplomats in Berlin, Paris, London, and Washington....SAY WHAT?...This can't happen because we all know how many Serbs live there (wink-wink).

No one supports Kosovo's merge with Albania.
(Navi, 22 March 2018 15:33)

I, for one, support it... So, what you wrote above is clearly a lie.

"accession talks will continue otherwise its bye, bye EU."
(sj, 22 March 2018 11:12)

Nobody want any new member states to join the EU. I think in the next 30 years no new country can join the EU. New generation of politicians are coming after Merkel and they are going to be less enthusiastic about any expansion. By 2025 no current prime ministers will be in power in the EU. The EU citizens do not want expansion either.

Serbia will be isolated from the world if doesn’t take this ultimatum siriosely. And will regret it later on. This is lost chance for Serbia to make it better for them self time is running out fast.

France's Vinci signs Belgrade airport concession deal
https://seenews.com/news/frances-vinci-signs-belgrade-airport-concession-deal-606142

Vinci Airports will pay 417 million euro ($513.2 million) to the Serbian government and 84 million euro to the retail shareholders of airport operator Nikola Tesla [BEL:AERO] for the concession plus an annual concession fee of between 4.4 million euro and 15.1 million euro, the government said in a statement.

Moreover, the French company will invest in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Belgrade airport's main runway, the construction of auxiliary runways and quick exits, the government said.

The French company committed to making investments worth 732 million euro during the 25-year term of the concession, the government said back in January.
~~~~

The joke is on the French then.

Serbia's policy of pretending to drag this issue on forever is being challenged. It is just a repetition of what they were told long ago "you cannot seat on two chairs".
(Reader, 22 March 2018 18:31)

Assuming this actually is an "ultimatum", which would be a huge departure from previous diplomatic agreements, the issue is not on Serbia's future but the future of ZSO. In so many words, Serbia is now told if it wants international pressure on Pristina to form ZSO, it must recognize Kosovo.

This hardly seems like a checkmate for Serbia since the formation of ZSO is part of Kosovo's so-called EU-integration obligations, so it's Kosovo's EU future to throw away. Additionally, it is known that certain states want Serbia to recognize Kosovo but they can't force it to. If the alleged consequences actually do amount to "isolation", that doesn't prevent Serbia from engaging in a number of bi-lateral relations with Russia, China, India, Turkey, Italy, Spain, and others outside EU membership.

The paradox is that the West can claim its desire to incorporate the "Western Balkans" in the EU in the same breath it frets and worries Serbia and the Balkans at large are increasingly falling under the influence of Russia, Turkey, and China.

I wonder why that is? I'll give you a hint. It's not because Serbs have some latent illiberal political culture. Ultimatums like this, if they are real, will not work.

@EU Dude,

It’s not that difficult for the West to force a regime change in tiny little Serbia, let’s not be naive. It can easily be isolated and neutralized at the same time, especially now in this new context where it’s surrounded by either EU or its allies. And let’s not just confine Western activity to just the EU. The US is always behind the scenes instilling changes that eventually make a difference. That’s what Serb politicians are flirting with, that’s why it’s so mind boggling for outsiders to see. Perhaps they just want to make a fast buck from Eastern investments before Western order is installed.
(Ha, 23 March 2018 12:24)

Ha, in the 90's maybe! This is was a time when Russia possibly had the worst leadership in it's history. It's a different landscape now with the rise of Russia on a global stage with strong leadership; and, for good measure, we can throw in China into the mix for good measure. Two Pro-Serb countries with strong leadership with recent issues with the US.

"The EU cannot afford to lose Serbia" you must think that the EU has suffered by not having Serbia as a member. Serbia has not been a part of the European Community since a European Community was initiated and every single EU member state that I can think enjoys a higher economy, higher living standard than Serbia. but hey, if you want to to Istanbul, you should go via Serbia, apparently and that's why Serbia is so important!

The EU doesn't want this, so these so-called "ultimatums" being reported nowhere else but certain Serbian media outlets makes it obvious it little more than sensationalism.
(Balkan Anthropologist, 22 March 2018 15:01)

If you read the article again, there are Serbian officials quoted.

Drecun: "Asked "what could happen if Serbia did not accept the ultimatum of the West," Drecun did not rule out the possibility of "isolation."

Jadranka Joksimovic: "Aleksandar Vucic has demonstrated a responsible policy...and although he has not been met with understanding and flexibility..."

so it looks like it is not just sensationalism. Serbia's policy of pretending to drag this issue on forever is being challenged. It is just a repetition of what they were told long ago "you cannot seat on two chairs".

@EU Dude,

You don’t get it do you? The EU does not care whether Serbia wants to join it or not, the EU wants Serbia to join but cannot let it in with Kosovo included. Therefore, to force Serbia to join it will first use isolationism to create discontent within Serbia at any parties that don’t want to join the EU, while funding and propping up parties that want to join the EU and end the isolation that will soon be imposed if Vucic and Dadic do not recognize Kosovo. They may drag it for a bit, maybe until they finish their terms, but once EU decides it’s time for Serbia to make concessions and join the union, they’ll either have to make those concessions or lose power.

FYI, 'Enlargement' is QMV (Qualified Majority Voting).

There is no member state veto, only Foreign & Security affairs.

Germany is acting as the point state here, supported by others such as soon to be ex-member, the UK. One less member state of 65 million affects (reduces) the level of support for the current policy within the EU.

It cannot veto Serbia by itself.

Go read the Lisbon Treaty.

The headline is wrong. let me correct it:

Serbia has received ANOTHER ultimatum on Kosovo
-

Now it is accurate!

The guy who uses poppers claims that the west will allow Greater/Natural/Bio Albania clearly hasn't seen that Pristina finally ratified the border agreement with Montenegro.

When Macedonia joins NATO, pray which countries will or will not support Obese Albania? The West will not support yet another war.

Gee, I have been wrong about Serbs, they actually love Albanians! They love Albanians so much that they're doing everything they can to keep the almost 2 million Albanians of Kosovo as a part of their country...

"the West wants to convince Belgrade to make a concession, not only not to oppose the entry of Kosovo into UNESCO and Interpol, but for us to open the door of the UN to them"

That was the deal from the beginning, "genius". You can keep repeating the lies about how "Kosovo didn't implement anything and Serbia did" to your people, but the world outside Serbia is not stupid. You didn't keep to your deal and you started to get confident and asking for more. You mistook good-faith negotiation for weakness. You didn't want public humiliation, but you will get it now. Nobody has any more patience for Serbia's whining.

The West has finally figured out how Serbia operates. You can't fool them now. Anyways, Albanians can wait it out and if Serbia keeps obstructing, a quick union with Albania is the only logical choice and the West will support it.

Watch the panic then Brussels and Nikola Tesla airport is not big enough to accommodate all the jets arriving from Brussels to talk to the Serbian government.

Its a rouse; a try on. Serbia is far too important to let go and they will in the end implement all that the Albos signed off on.
(sj, 22 March 2018 10:42)

This is the point that Nikola Tesla airport won't have many ppl coming if instability returns this is what Vucic is trying to sell/say here.

You should go read agreement and it says based on Kosovo Constitutional court and laws of Kosovo, however, Serbia wants a bit more than what is being given hence the back and forth.

@EU Dude,

It’s not that difficult for the West to force a regime change in tiny little Serbia, let’s not be naive. It can easily be isolated and neutralized at the same time, especially now in this new context where it’s surrounded by either EU or its allies. And let’s not just confine Western activity to just the EU. The US is always behind the scenes instilling changes that eventually make a difference. That’s what Serb politicians are flirting with, that’s why it’s so mind boggling for outsiders to see. Perhaps they just want to make a fast buck from Eastern investments before Western order is installed.

Well get all of the accession chapters approved, including #35, try getting “qualified majority” of you have a country like Germany who can sway enough votes its way, and also try making Russian and Chinese investments work if West tries isolating you. Then come back and tell me how well the resistance path works out for you and whether internal support for your policies remains intact.

@EU Dude,

Your argument instead sounds more like a straw grasping one. You seem to completely discount or underestimate the power of the West, focusing instead on how Serbia can “slide through”. You can’t slide through chapter 35, and you can’t make investments from disconnected countries work if an isolationist policy is enacted. You also would have huge issues getting qualified majorities if countries like US, Germany, France or Italy encourage others to block your EU path. That’s how power politics works, it doesn’t need to get into the nitty gritty.

So Ha's argument is entirely subjective and devoid of critical thinking. What a surprise. No need to address the issues or detail because 'the EU & US can do whatever it likes whenever it likes' which it obviously has done already. Not.

@HA,

You seem to be completely overestimating the power of the west after a financial crisis, multiple disastrous foreign wars, huge political and economic immigration etc. Have you heard of BREXIT?

Brussels/Berlin changes the rules as it sees fit. It has done so in the past and it will do so again if it sees fit. That has always been true.

To write of 'isolation' when the west openly trumpets 'smart sanctions' because otherwise the economic and political collateral damage to neighboring members is unavoidable.

There's no 'isolationist policy' in Belgrade. You just made that up. It is globalized and multilateral. 'Disconnected'? Throw a few more words about if it makes you feel better.

If Germany's power is to intimidate other member states to do its bidding then it is not the EU, it is Greater Germany. No one has signed up to that or will accept it. Go and ask Poland and others. Germany has to tread a fine line and build coalitions to push its policies, even as the EU's principle paymaster.

As for QMV, the US is not a member of the EU. Irrelevant. Serbia is not Bulgaria and that useless corrupt fart Borissov.

The EU minus sixty odd million Brits equals less automatic support within the EU for Berlin's line as per QMV.

There's a reason you are not interested in the 'nitty gritty', its because you clearly have no idea how the EU actually works. Good for you. Most people don't. Sleep well. And pray.

Ha, in the 90's maybe! This is was a time when Russia possibly had the worst leadership in it's history. It's a different landscape now with the rise of Russia on a global stage with strong leadership; and, for good measure, we can throw in China into the mix for good measure. Two Pro-Serb countries with strong leadership with recent issues with the US.
(ChiTown, 23 March 2018 16:01)


What will Serbia do when the U.S. calls Serbia's bluff, and you know the will.

@EU Dude,

Okay sure it’s good to have cognitive dissonance when it comes to the tough reality that Serbia is facing. You have to jump to Brexit which is irrelevant since UK will always have a sway on EU whether a member or not, and then you pray that a qualified majority will be there to let Serbia join a union where the overwhelming majority recognizes Kosovo, and that the EU will somehow switch positions in favor of Serbia (at the cost of angering Albania, who is firmly pro-EU unlike Serbia), and then you somehow fail to recognize the potential of isolationism being applied as an EU policy to force Serbs to vote out parties that refuse to recognize Kosovo and move on, and then you also don’t see how non-Western investments could fail if the EU isolates Serbia, and you also seem to think that the US has no say on EU politics. I really don’t know what exactly you are on when you conveniently dismiss all the real and potential challenges that Serbia faces.

No one supports Kosovo's merge with Albania.
(Navi, 22 March 2018 15:33)

I, for one, support it... So, what you wrote above is clearly a lie.
(icj1, 23 March 2018 00:39)

I'm sure he means, no one who matters.
(Peggy, 23 March 2018 05:59)

So you can read other people's minds?! lol

The Western countries do not understand the Serbian fighting spirit and history against all odds ))They will learn the hard way.
(Sasa from near Jagodina, 22 March 2018 12:30)


Yep you right, we saw your spirit in srebrenica, the rapes in Bosnia and Kosova, and the mass graves of unarmed civilians. That’s the serbian spirit, you got me THERE

Serbia will be isolated from the world if doesn’t take this ultimatum siriosely. And will regret it later on. This is lost chance for Serbia to make it better for them self time is running out fast.

Serbia has no card left in its hand. If it blocks Kosovo UN membership further, the big Western powers might eventually give consent to the unification of Albania and Kosovo. That would be the end of the story. But there are several other ways to put pressure on Serbia e.g. re-introducing visa regimes to EU.

I think is fair offer.
Recognition in exchange of ZSO.
Serbia should take it because the next offer will be worse.

I think is fair offer.
Recognition in exchange of ZSO.
Serbia should take it because the next offer will be worse.
(Teodor Muzaka 1389, 22 March 2018 12:03)

@teodoraj- lol, yeah.... we’ll take that offer, lol
Lol, are you 10 years old? Lol

Serbs rely on their fairy tales than their history.
The only reason Serbia became more developed than Albania was that many Serbs were educated in Austria, and even Belgrade was part of Austria for some time and not thanks to Dear Mother Russia who has been always an always will be a backward country.

In 1918 the small irrelevant Serbia became Yugoslavia thanks to US, UK, and France not thanks to Dear Mother Russia. It was them who gave you Kosovo, Vojvodina and the rest of Yugoslavia.

In WWII if it wasn`t for USA military supplies to Dear Mother Russia, Serbia an Dear Mother Russia would be speaking German today. Ofc Russia fought harsh against Nazis but that was AFTER Germany attacked Russia, while USA came to your aid without being attacked or provoked by Nazis.

In 1948 if it wasn`t for USA and UK Yugoslavia would become a Stalinist state and would be as poor as Albania.

In 1987-1999 you betrayed West, denied all the political and economical aid they gave you and embraced Dear Mother Russia and that ended up pretty well.

In 1999- an still counting and Serbia is still waiting for Tzar Putain to come and "liberate Holy Serbian Land of Kosovo from the Islamic Terrorist Goatherd Donkeyriders Albanians".

Oh, yes China will invest in Serbia and you will live happily ever after. Just like they did with your Dear Sister Greece.

What's the point of having any agreement when Albanians are encouraged not to honour it.
You can't strike a deal with someone who will not honour their part of it and keep changing the demands.
(Peggy, 22 March 2018 13:55)


Peggy dear, can't you see that Serbia is being served a little of her own medicine.

Kosovo was, is and will be Serbia.

Who actually owns Srbija, is it the Serbian people or the USA, England France and Germany ???

So the Roman Catholic Empire first destroy Jugoslavija and then Murder Srbija ! What incentive for Serbian people too keep loosing their homes and land and lives ? How many Serbian people raped, robbed of all earthly possessions, tortured and murdered since the early 1990's in the Balkans ? Ethnic Cleansing of the Serbian people in the Balkans at the evil and wicked hands of USA, England and Germany ! I only see WAR very soon in the Balkans, Serbian people no where else to go and up against the wall so we will fight to the death !!!

I can’t believe how many people are still living in a bubble, Vucic included.

You all know what has to happen but can’t admit it.

Maybe if you hear it in Serbian you might open your eyes to the reality that Serbia lost Kosovo long ago.

https://youtu.be/QNhjcvBWLBs

Well they can ultimate all they like but all Serbia has to say it was signed off in the Brussels Agreement and we have implemented all from our side its time for you to do something. Then call for a referendum on whether to join the EU.

Watch the panic then Brussels and Nikola Tesla airport is not big enough to accommodate all the jets arriving from Brussels to talk to the Serbian government.

Its a rouse; a try on. Serbia is far too important to let go and they will in the end implement all that the Albos signed off on.

Serbia has no card left in its hand. If it blocks Kosovo UN membership further, the big Western powers might eventually give consent to the unification of Albania and Kosovo. That would be the end of the story. But there are several other ways to put pressure on Serbia e.g. re-introducing visa regimes to EU.
(Contractor, 22 March 2018 10:33)

First they will never allow a unification of Kosovo with Albania - never. Secondly I wish they did reintroduce visa regimes, but they will not. There are too many players in the game for Serbia, especially China. This is not the 1990s.

Let me predict. Serbia will not even entertain the idea of a UN anything for Kosovo and the accession talks will continue otherwise its bye, bye EU.

Serbia should not accept being blackmailed like this. EU wants Serbia and Serbia should put demands on the EU, not the other way around. Just tell the EU shitplomats that they accept Serbia's terms or else Serbia will team up with Russia and flush EU down the toilet.

Two things are particularly problematic when it comes to Serbian political logic. First, they think that just because 5 EU countries don’t recognize Kosovo, the EU can’t force Serbia into concessions. How many times do they need to hear that it only takes 1 country (usually Germany) to block Serbia’s path towards the EU and/or isolate Serbia in the region? Second, as a landlocked country surrounded by EU members and unfriendly countries, do you think isolation won’t deter and/or undermine any Russian or Chinese investments you may get?

Belgrade is a basket case and a failed state that depends on EU handouts and trade -- simple as that! If Brussels wants to pressure Vucic all they have to do is close the purse.

Tiny Kosovo embargoed Belgrade in 2011 (?) and boy oh boy was Belgrade ready to cooperate; just think the cobsequences from the powerhouse (EU) doing the same.


Sincerely,

"The EU cannot afford to lose Serbia" you must think that the EU has suffered by not having Serbia as a member. Serbia has not been a part of the European Community since a European Community was initiated and every single EU member state that I can think enjoys a higher economy, higher living standard than Serbia. but hey, if you want to to Istanbul, you should go via Serbia, apparently and that's why Serbia is so important!

The west is losing support for an independent "Kosova"*** and there is even less of an appetite for greater Albania. An attempt to push it through will create even more divisions within the west. LOL! Until the west recognises its failure, there will be no progress. Serbia has tried to be very flexible. Unfortunately the case is not the same from the other side.

. But there are several other ways to put pressure on Serbia e.g. re-introducing visa regimes to EU.
(Contractor, 22 March 2018 10:33)
@ contractoraj - pressure? Pressure for what? For Srbija to recognize and approve the theft of over 15% of her land?
What self respecting government would do that?
As far as “Kosova” being annexed by Albania, that will never happen ... not only would that be rejected by BG, but by your masters also... it would mean they can’t say or do anything about Crimea anymore... and they couldn’t live that down... trading “Kosova” for Crimea!
Not happening, even in your wildest dreams!

think is fair offer.
Recognition in exchange of ZSO.
Serbia should take it because the next offer will be worse.
(Teodor Muzaka 1389, 22 March

How worse )) Serbia has already been bombed 78 days around the clock.
It's like mafia style)) I find your wet and take all the money inside and then return it empty and ask for a reward Lol.
The Western countries do not understand the Serbian fighting spirit and history against all odds ))They will learn the hard way.

Well this will be interesting.For over ten years Serbia knew that it would come to this.
It was talked about it,but everybody in Serbia denied it. Whether you agree or not Milosevic was also put in a similar position (different topics), he did not back down and he paid the price.
Now again same scenario, different leader,topic somewhat different.

Hmmmmm

No one supports Kosovo's merge with Albania.
(Navi, 22 March 2018 15:33)

I, for one, support it... So, what you wrote above is clearly a lie.

(Contractor, 22 March 2018 11:41)

The EU cannot afford to lose Serbia. This is not because of a great love for Serbs but it’s for practical reasons. Serbia is located at the cross roads from east to west and vice versa. Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Croatia or Kosovo are irrelevant. Istanbul to Berlin visa Serbia 3 days; Istanbul to Berlin around Serbia, 7 days.

China is a huge problem for the EU because its cosying up to Belgrade. The reason the EU membership is delayed is because Brussels does not have the money to keep up its part of the bargain.

In a lot of ways Serbia has a greater hold over the EU than the other way around.

I think is fair offer.
Recognition in exchange of ZSO.
Serbia should take it because the next offer will be worse.
(Teodor Muzaka 1389, 22 March 2018 12:03)
==========================
What's the point of having any agreement when Albanians are encouraged not to honour it.
You can't strike a deal with someone who will not honour their part of it and keep changing the demands.

Is it a real ultimatum or just a media interpretation ? Are there no real and trusting sources like EU Council or Parliament internet sites, confirming this subject ?
(Darmon, 22 March 2018 10:32)

There are none because this ultimatum doesn't exist. If you read what this media outlet is saying, it's less an ultimatum over Kosovo than it is a false praise of Vucic preventing such a scenario.

Nowhere in the history of the EU's (mis)guided policy towards Kosovo has there ever been such a blunt and brazen display of diplomatic pressure, and nowhere in any previous agreement associated with ZSO has there ever come the requirement of recognition as attached strings to its formation. The Brussels Agreement of which ZSO forms a large part of it, explicitly calls for the "normalization" of relations between Serbia, a sovereign state, and Kosovo, a legally disputed and partially-sovereign territory.

Whatever official statements the EU has made regarding ZSO, it is the pressure placed on Pristina to ratify the agreement and see to its establishment, just like they ratified the border demarcation with Montenegro.

Forcing Serbia to recognize Kosovo in exchange for ZSO is not only blackmail, it's sloppy foreign policy that will most assuredly backfire. The EU doesn't want this, so these so-called "ultimatums" being reported nowhere else but certain Serbian media outlets makes it obvious it little more than sensationalism.

The EU doesn't want this, so these so-called "ultimatums" being reported nowhere else but certain Serbian media outlets makes it obvious it little more than sensationalism.
(Balkan Anthropologist, 22 March 2018 15:01)

If you read the article again, there are Serbian officials quoted.

Drecun: "Asked "what could happen if Serbia did not accept the ultimatum of the West," Drecun did not rule out the possibility of "isolation."

Jadranka Joksimovic: "Aleksandar Vucic has demonstrated a responsible policy...and although he has not been met with understanding and flexibility..."

so it looks like it is not just sensationalism. Serbia's policy of pretending to drag this issue on forever is being challenged. It is just a repetition of what they were told long ago "you cannot seat on two chairs".

@EU Dude,

You don’t get it do you? The EU does not care whether Serbia wants to join it or not, the EU wants Serbia to join but cannot let it in with Kosovo included. Therefore, to force Serbia to join it will first use isolationism to create discontent within Serbia at any parties that don’t want to join the EU, while funding and propping up parties that want to join the EU and end the isolation that will soon be imposed if Vucic and Dadic do not recognize Kosovo. They may drag it for a bit, maybe until they finish their terms, but once EU decides it’s time for Serbia to make concessions and join the union, they’ll either have to make those concessions or lose power.

If Serbia were to agree to anything like this, it really doesn't deserve to exist as a country anymore. So Albanians, please take Belgrade too if Serbia's government cares more about what aggressors think Serbia should do in regards to its southern province.

"Go one step further in capitulation, and we'll force the separatists to implement what was already agreed to 5 years ago". Pathetic! Serbia gave the phone code, and this was something that ONLY Serbia could grant separatists. Meanwhile the Community of Serb Municipalities has not been formed. What is there left to negotiate?

The only logical conclusion is that the Western powers have compromising material on those within the Serb gov't and are using it against them with regards to Kosovo-Metohija. Those people need to step aside and not put their own lust for power ahead of national interests.

"the West wants to convince Belgrade to make a concession, not only not to oppose the entry of Kosovo into UNESCO and Interpol, but for us to open the door of the UN to them"

That was the deal from the beginning, "genius". You can keep repeating the lies about how "Kosovo didn't implement anything and Serbia did" to your people, but the world outside Serbia is not stupid. You didn't keep to your deal and you started to get confident and asking for more. You mistook good-faith negotiation for weakness. You didn't want public humiliation, but you will get it now. Nobody has any more patience for Serbia's whining.

The West has finally figured out how Serbia operates. You can't fool them now. Anyways, Albanians can wait it out and if Serbia keeps obstructing, a quick union with Albania is the only logical choice and the West will support it.

@EU Dude,

It’s not that difficult for the West to force a regime change in tiny little Serbia, let’s not be naive. It can easily be isolated and neutralized at the same time, especially now in this new context where it’s surrounded by either EU or its allies. And let’s not just confine Western activity to just the EU. The US is always behind the scenes instilling changes that eventually make a difference. That’s what Serb politicians are flirting with, that’s why it’s so mind boggling for outsiders to see. Perhaps they just want to make a fast buck from Eastern investments before Western order is installed.

" Serbia has received ultimatum on Kosovo - media reports"
Is it a real ultimatum or just a media interpretation ? Are there no real and trusting sources like EU Council or Parliament internet sites, confirming this subject ? Besides Serbian NGO could send to the same an open question demanding what exactly they want Serbia to do, and then, Serbia could decide weather she should continue "negotiations" or not with Albanians. It seems according to what was said that there is no use to go on, of course if it is confirmed.

The headline is wrong. let me correct it:

Serbia has received ANOTHER ultimatum on Kosovo
-

Now it is accurate!

The guy who uses poppers claims that the west will allow Greater/Natural/Bio Albania clearly hasn't seen that Pristina finally ratified the border agreement with Montenegro.

When Macedonia joins NATO, pray which countries will or will not support Obese Albania? The West will not support yet another war.

I think it shows a lack of confidence that we don’t throw this out immediately.
Serbia, for all its problems, will be a big asset to the EU in so many areas. We are far from being desperate. They seem to think we are.
We only have to look at croatia to see the EU isn’t all they make it out to be.
Listen, I would like Serbia to join and for us to contribute to it, but not at any cost.
I realise we are going to lose a lot in Kosovo whatever happens, but I won’t accept losing everything, no matter what they do,
We’ve already seen that movie before so we will know what to do.

Watch the panic then Brussels and Nikola Tesla airport is not big enough to accommodate all the jets arriving from Brussels to talk to the Serbian government.

Its a rouse; a try on. Serbia is far too important to let go and they will in the end implement all that the Albos signed off on.
(sj, 22 March 2018 10:42)

This is the point that Nikola Tesla airport won't have many ppl coming if instability returns this is what Vucic is trying to sell/say here.

You should go read agreement and it says based on Kosovo Constitutional court and laws of Kosovo, however, Serbia wants a bit more than what is being given hence the back and forth.

If it blocks Kosovo UN membership further, the big Western powers might eventually give consent to the unification of Albania and Kosovo. That would be the end of the story.
(Contractor, 22 March 2018 10:33)

That story is fiction outside the comment sections of English-language Balkan news portals. No one supports Kosovo's merge with Albania.

Well get all of the accession chapters approved, including #35, try getting “qualified majority” of you have a country like Germany who can sway enough votes its way, and also try making Russian and Chinese investments work if West tries isolating you. Then come back and tell me how well the resistance path works out for you and whether internal support for your policies remains intact.

"accession talks will continue otherwise its bye, bye EU."
(sj, 22 March 2018 11:12)

Nobody want any new member states to join the EU. I think in the next 30 years no new country can join the EU. New generation of politicians are coming after Merkel and they are going to be less enthusiastic about any expansion. By 2025 no current prime ministers will be in power in the EU. The EU citizens do not want expansion either.

Belgrade is a basket case and a failed state that depends on EU handouts and trade -- simple as that! If Brussels wants to pressure Vucic all they have to do is close the purse.


Is that why the French got the Belgrade airport concession? Pass the weed, mon!

Tiny Kosovo embargoed Belgrade in 2011 (?) and boy oh boy was Belgrade ready to cooperate; just think the cobsequences from the powerhouse (EU) doing the same.

(L*O*G*I*C, 22 March 2018 13:07)

I don't recall that happening. I do recall Kosovo undercutting what legitimate economy it had by more than half because they were insistent products are labelled "Republic of Kosovo". Goods remained on your side of the "border" until an agreement was made to relabel the products simply from "Kosovo".

Good thing you actual economy of scrap metal, drugs, and remittances from relatives abroad kept you all from starving to death in the meantime :)

Gee, I have been wrong about Serbs, they actually love Albanians! They love Albanians so much that they're doing everything they can to keep the almost 2 million Albanians of Kosovo as a part of their country...

@EU Dude,

Your argument instead sounds more like a straw grasping one. You seem to completely discount or underestimate the power of the West, focusing instead on how Serbia can “slide through”. You can’t slide through chapter 35, and you can’t make investments from disconnected countries work if an isolationist policy is enacted. You also would have huge issues getting qualified majorities if countries like US, Germany, France or Italy encourage others to block your EU path. That’s how power politics works, it doesn’t need to get into the nitty gritty.

No one supports Kosovo's merge with Albania.
(Navi, 22 March 2018 15:33)

I, for one, support it... So, what you wrote above is clearly a lie.
(icj1, 23 March 2018 00:39)

I'm sure he means, no one who matters.
(Peggy, 23 March 2018 05:59)

So you can read other people's minds?! lol

First, they think that just because 5 EU countries don’t recognize Kosovo, the EU can’t force Serbia into concessions.
-

Surely the problem is entirely with your logic?

Serbia is not obliged by any law, international or otherwise to join the EU.

The EU is a voluntary organization, like a golf club.

They have rules and conditions. They sometimes change the rules depending on who they want to let in.

If Serbia does not want to join, it has no need to follow their rules & conditions.

Even then, Serbia does not have to agree to made up rules & conditions that are discriminatory (and having 5 EU member stated openly not agreeing with them is not 'no-thing'), which some of Brussels conditions clearly are.

Diplomatic pressure applied directly by Berlin rather than just from Brussels shows that it is in fact a form of coercion and Brussels threats are too weak to achieve their purpose.

Plan B. Now what kind of club is it (that depends on candidates voluntarily accepting its rules & conditions) of whom some members make open threats and leave horse's heads in Serbia's bed?

It's not a club, it's a mafia, Deutschland style. More so that the UK has shot both its feet off.

According to the media, the Serbian president "received such an offer" from diplomats in Berlin, Paris, London, and Washington....SAY WHAT?...This can't happen because we all know how many Serbs live there (wink-wink).

Serbia's policy of pretending to drag this issue on forever is being challenged. It is just a repetition of what they were told long ago "you cannot seat on two chairs".
(Reader, 22 March 2018 18:31)

Assuming this actually is an "ultimatum", which would be a huge departure from previous diplomatic agreements, the issue is not on Serbia's future but the future of ZSO. In so many words, Serbia is now told if it wants international pressure on Pristina to form ZSO, it must recognize Kosovo.

This hardly seems like a checkmate for Serbia since the formation of ZSO is part of Kosovo's so-called EU-integration obligations, so it's Kosovo's EU future to throw away. Additionally, it is known that certain states want Serbia to recognize Kosovo but they can't force it to. If the alleged consequences actually do amount to "isolation", that doesn't prevent Serbia from engaging in a number of bi-lateral relations with Russia, China, India, Turkey, Italy, Spain, and others outside EU membership.

The paradox is that the West can claim its desire to incorporate the "Western Balkans" in the EU in the same breath it frets and worries Serbia and the Balkans at large are increasingly falling under the influence of Russia, Turkey, and China.

I wonder why that is? I'll give you a hint. It's not because Serbs have some latent illiberal political culture. Ultimatums like this, if they are real, will not work.

@Ha,

I live in Brussels. I know people at the institutions. Some believe what they say, others don't. Plenty of them are hypocrites, contrary and illogical. Just like everyone else, they are prone to being first emotional, then maybe logical.

You are applying a level of collective intelligence to the 'EU' that just doesn't exist and 'the plan' that is the usual Brussels compromise.

As for them creating isolationism & discontent in Serbia, this is 2018, not 1990, 1995, 1999 or even 2008. The UK for example no longer has any input on EU decisions, the EU is split and it joint statement are about papering over the cracks. Russia has friends in the EU. It's lowest common denominator stuff.

Undermining Serbia politically and economically is a return to the past and war. Been there, done that. Destabilizing Serbia means destabilizing the Balkans. The EU certainly doesn't want that. They've already done the worst to Serbia and it is still there, economy growing and attracting investment (Hello Belgrade Nikola Tesla airport)!

The only fly in the ointment is the stupidity of the Serbs (particularly the political class) themselves. But, they have long since stopped believing every word coming out of Brussels, Berlin or Washington. There is no trust. Promises are meaningless. They might still fold, but it is by no means certain.

Brussels does not fund Serbian political parties, but it does fund NGOs.

Isolation is not possible or even wanted by the West.

So Ha's argument is entirely subjective and devoid of critical thinking. What a surprise. No need to address the issues or detail because 'the EU & US can do whatever it likes whenever it likes' which it obviously has done already. Not.

Ha, in the 90's maybe! This is was a time when Russia possibly had the worst leadership in it's history. It's a different landscape now with the rise of Russia on a global stage with strong leadership; and, for good measure, we can throw in China into the mix for good measure. Two Pro-Serb countries with strong leadership with recent issues with the US.
(ChiTown, 23 March 2018 16:01)


What will Serbia do when the U.S. calls Serbia's bluff, and you know the will.

@EU Dude,

Okay sure it’s good to have cognitive dissonance when it comes to the tough reality that Serbia is facing. You have to jump to Brexit which is irrelevant since UK will always have a sway on EU whether a member or not, and then you pray that a qualified majority will be there to let Serbia join a union where the overwhelming majority recognizes Kosovo, and that the EU will somehow switch positions in favor of Serbia (at the cost of angering Albania, who is firmly pro-EU unlike Serbia), and then you somehow fail to recognize the potential of isolationism being applied as an EU policy to force Serbs to vote out parties that refuse to recognize Kosovo and move on, and then you also don’t see how non-Western investments could fail if the EU isolates Serbia, and you also seem to think that the US has no say on EU politics. I really don’t know what exactly you are on when you conveniently dismiss all the real and potential challenges that Serbia faces.

France's Vinci signs Belgrade airport concession deal
https://seenews.com/news/frances-vinci-signs-belgrade-airport-concession-deal-606142

Vinci Airports will pay 417 million euro ($513.2 million) to the Serbian government and 84 million euro to the retail shareholders of airport operator Nikola Tesla [BEL:AERO] for the concession plus an annual concession fee of between 4.4 million euro and 15.1 million euro, the government said in a statement.

Moreover, the French company will invest in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Belgrade airport's main runway, the construction of auxiliary runways and quick exits, the government said.

The French company committed to making investments worth 732 million euro during the 25-year term of the concession, the government said back in January.
~~~~

The joke is on the French then.

No one supports Kosovo's merge with Albania.
(Navi, 22 March 2018 15:33)

I, for one, support it... So, what you wrote above is clearly a lie.
(icj1, 23 March 2018 00:39)
=====================
I'm sure he means, no one who matters.

Serbia has received an ultimatum - "to recognize Kosovo in exchange for the Community of Serb Municipalities (ZSO)."

I can tell you all. This is nothing but pure bull sh**.
I would state the opposite actually. Serbia is gaining more and more support in the global arena.
Look who will get the post as US National security advisor. John Bolton, who has an extreme resistance on Kosovo as an narco and extremist fictious state.
No, as I told before, Kosovo as an own state is long long gone.

https://www.google.se/amp/s/www.rt.com/news/john-bolton-kosovos-independence-a-danger-to-balkan-stability/amp/

https://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics.php?yyyy=2007&mm=09&dd=11&nav_id=43679

@EU Dude,

It’s not that difficult for the West to force a regime change in tiny little Serbia, let’s not be naive. It can easily be isolated and neutralized at the same time, especially now in this new context where it’s surrounded by either EU or its allies. And let’s not just confine Western activity to just the EU. The US is always behind the scenes instilling changes that eventually make a difference. That’s what Serb politicians are flirting with, that’s why it’s so mind boggling for outsiders to see. Perhaps they just want to make a fast buck from Eastern investments before Western order is installed.
(Ha, 23 March 2018 12:24)

Ha, in the 90's maybe! This is was a time when Russia possibly had the worst leadership in it's history. It's a different landscape now with the rise of Russia on a global stage with strong leadership; and, for good measure, we can throw in China into the mix for good measure. Two Pro-Serb countries with strong leadership with recent issues with the US.

If it's an ultimatum, what's the threat? I highly doubt that all Nato countries would even comply like last time.

FYI, 'Enlargement' is QMV (Qualified Majority Voting).

There is no member state veto, only Foreign & Security affairs.

Germany is acting as the point state here, supported by others such as soon to be ex-member, the UK. One less member state of 65 million affects (reduces) the level of support for the current policy within the EU.

It cannot veto Serbia by itself.

Go read the Lisbon Treaty.

@HA,

You seem to be completely overestimating the power of the west after a financial crisis, multiple disastrous foreign wars, huge political and economic immigration etc. Have you heard of BREXIT?

Brussels/Berlin changes the rules as it sees fit. It has done so in the past and it will do so again if it sees fit. That has always been true.

To write of 'isolation' when the west openly trumpets 'smart sanctions' because otherwise the economic and political collateral damage to neighboring members is unavoidable.

There's no 'isolationist policy' in Belgrade. You just made that up. It is globalized and multilateral. 'Disconnected'? Throw a few more words about if it makes you feel better.

If Germany's power is to intimidate other member states to do its bidding then it is not the EU, it is Greater Germany. No one has signed up to that or will accept it. Go and ask Poland and others. Germany has to tread a fine line and build coalitions to push its policies, even as the EU's principle paymaster.

As for QMV, the US is not a member of the EU. Irrelevant. Serbia is not Bulgaria and that useless corrupt fart Borissov.

The EU minus sixty odd million Brits equals less automatic support within the EU for Berlin's line as per QMV.

There's a reason you are not interested in the 'nitty gritty', its because you clearly have no idea how the EU actually works. Good for you. Most people don't. Sleep well. And pray.