Serbia decides its future

As always, Mr. Montgomery's articles are a balance between sound observations and problematic conclusions.

First, I wholeheartedly agree with Nikola Pereic on the issue of "isolation". This is a tactic used by Western analysts as a short form for "non-EU integration". Saying Serbia risks self-imposed isolation is only believed by the United States and the EU, and here only by policymakers keen on pushing a particular agenda that has seen more failures and setbacks than achievements in the Balkans. Serbia under Kostunica and Nikolic could slip away from Brussels, but gravitate towards Moscow, Beijing, New Dehli, and other economic centers. The fact that both Russia and China are interested in building pipelines and automobile factories in Serbia respectively means Serbia will be anything but isolated. If anything, we should classify Serbia as moving either towards the EU, or towards other economic partnerships as an independent country has the right to. But to say that Serbia is engaging in isolationism is an outright lie.

Second, there is a good chance the SRS stands to win the upcoming parliamentary elections, but like every other election since 2000, voter support is far more inclined to be because of frustration with the current democratic coaltion than any sense of Greater Serbian nationalism as the Western drive-by media loves to continuously portray Serbia being perennially stuck in. Say what you want about Nikolic, but he has been extremely successful in moving the SRS from the far-right policies of Seselj into the more encompassing national populist parties that are present in almost every European country. Support for the SRS lies more to dissatisfaction with the corruption and cronyism seen in the ruling coalition than any sense of exclusionary nationalism. Again, to say the SRS is anti-democratic is an outright lie.

Third, it is not the EU that needs to convince the Serbian people that there is a future for them in Brussels, but rather Serbian politicians need to do this. Right now, the choice is in black and white: support the EU and flush more of your cultural and historical identity down the toilet for the sake of a few extra euros and a bunch of German bureaucrats telling you what to do, or reject the EU and its top-down policies in favor of Serbian identity, Serbian jobs, and Serbian interests. Again, say what you want about Nikolic, he has successfully captured the Serbian identity of "CCCC" and turned it into a referendum on the EU (not without the tremendous help of idiotic EU policies in Kosovo that have all but legitimized his claims). It is therefore the job of the so-called "pro-Western" parties to construct an alternative Serbian historical narrative that shows that Serbian history has been influenced just as much through working with Central and Western Europe as it has been looking eastward. Serbian identity right now is caught up in Kosovo, and it neglects the cosmopolitan character of Belgrade, the intellectual achievements of Serbs in Hapsburg Vojvodina, and the spirit of "bratsvo i jedinstvo" that made Yugoslavia one of the best places to live a generation ago. The EU cannot meddle anymore in Serbian politics. Rather, Serbs will have to realize that they are just as much a Western country as they are non-Western. But any further push from Brussels, after all that's been said and done, will just galvanize the populist vote for DSS-SRS.

It really seems, when all is said and done, that Serbia has had more elections that "decide its future" than any other state. Everytime Serbia tries to "decide" its future, the EU does something to rebuke that decision, delegitimize the goverment, and throw everything back to square one, where armchair policymakers and half-witted Western intellectuals shake their heads in disbelief over Serbian intransigence, and claim that once again, Serbia is at the "crossroads" and "deciding" it's fate. The cliches would actually get tiring if those very same institutions that Serbia has repeatedly said it wants to join didn't work so hard at pushing it away.

Mr Montgomery, I would first like to thank you for your thoughts and your concern on the current and future status of Serbia. However I am not seeing the real point to this article. We all know what the situation of Serbia is. One side wants join the EU at every single cost and one side would only join it if something simple as territory is respected. This in my opinion is yet another propaganda scheme used by your self and of course B92 to scare Serbians into believing that there is only one option and one party for prosperity amongst the people living in Serbia. However I do not think this is the case. Clearly nobody would ever want to see Serbia dip into isolation. This is of nobodies interest. But to call Tomislav Nikolic and Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica "isolationists" is just another one of your propaganda schemes.

I think what most of you fail to realize is that while the EU has its benefits, it is not the only viable option for economic progress in Serbia. There are plenty of booming economies all over the world who have not recognized Kosovo and who would be pleased to do business in Serbia and with Serbia. Countries like Russia, China, India, Japan, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuala and markets in North Africa. Also with regional partners like Greece, Romania, Slovakia, and Cyprus also maybe even some other countries like Macedonia, Austria, Czech Republic and Hungary if they decide not to recognize Kosovo. This would ensure such great prosperity for Serbia without giving an inch of its sovereignty like it would under the EU. Serbia would be considered a "European Country" without having to actually join the EU.

So with all due respect Mr Montgomery please do not try to insult or scare the Serbian people with the "my way or the high way" approach because its going to get redundant and irrelevant to anything thats going on in Serbia.

Serbia decides its future Brussels EU ,NATO & U.S. will try everything to undermine Serbia if it chooses wrong in their nonsense opinion. They are only interested in Serbia to choose the only one they have planed and trying to implement with or without Serbia's cooperation. It would be easier for them if Serbia gave up its independence and its rights to Brussels EU and let them run its internal affairs. Serbia would deliberately isolate itself from the European Union integration process. The only ones trying to isolate Serbia is Brussels because it dos not follow its hypocritical rules and its unlawful program. They are standing up for their country. Which is the right thing to do for them selfs and their country which they fought and died for their freedoms and they are not selling out or is it for sale. Which the hypocrites in the west don't care but if some one tried to do the same thing to them it would mean war without a doubt on their part. Serbs are resisting not only for them selfs but every nation people that want to be free independent of the ridiculous new world order which is nothing but slavery and death to the human spirit.

Vote for the radicals and Kostunica!

let vermont and then texas become independent.

This article is a stretch - an attempt by Mr. Montgomery to "blame" the Serbs.

The EU and the US has forced Serbia's government to fall. And now that it is evident that the Serb population will put into power a nationalistic Radical Party government, now all of a sudden it will be the fault of the Serbs. Mr. Montgomery is a fear monger because of his position that the Serbs will be isolated. The Serbs are being PUSHED into isolation.

Mr. Montgomery,

There is no internal conflict inside of me. Being cut-off from the EU and NATO is just fine with me.

Russia and China are friendly nations that have some of the fastest economic growth in the world, we don't need the EU. Serbia's future is with our friends in the East not our enemies in the West.

We would be foolish to believe that the EU and NATO will bring us prosperity when they have attacked us and tried to take so much away from us. Friends don't assault you and try to steal from you. With "friends" like NATO and the EU Serbia wouldn't need any enemies.

If the EU and NATO offered full membership to Serbia tomorrow I would tell them both to take a hike.

Vlada:
Thank you. For my part, I believe that the progress Serbia has made since 2000 has not been adequately recognized or rewarded; that the US and most of the EU are in the wrong on Kosovo, and indeed are acting provocatively and stupidly; and that we bear a large part of the burden for the situation you've described, and for the disappointment you express. For what it's worth, which is little, I apologize on behalf of the US (and a government that I did not vote for, and which as you know was not elected in 2000 but installed by our Judiciary, and "elected" in 2004 as a result of fraud and fear).
Since 2000, the west has betrayed not only you -- I mean progressive Serbs, not some heavenly idea of "Serbia" -- but also its own ideals, with the US war in Iraq, the EU acquiescence to this war, and the erosion of rights at home as well.
For what it is worth (again, very little I fear), do know that some of us care about you and your part of the world, and that we do what we can in order to increase this understanding at home.
Peace, C

Always threatening Serbs that if they don't kow tow to the EU et al, that they will be isolated and with out a bright economic future. Is the EU not going to buy gas supplied by the Serb pipeline? Is there nothing else of value that Serbia can supply to anyone? If Serbia is that pathetic and useless, why would the EU want such a basket case?
Well, Serbia is not a basketcase, and if it wants entry in the EU it it dosen't have to do it as a beggar.

"Serbia decides its future"

Yes, Mr Montgomery, that would have been the best, but since so many EU politicians and even politicians from other continents wants to interfere in internal serbian matters its quite hard.

But EU and american politicans should remember the story about the boy that cried wolf to many times, it will not help serbia if you cries "self isolation" either since its not going to be so EVEN if SRS wins the elections. Nobody will belive that lie anymore.

Empty promises if serbian population votes "right" is also not going to work. Lets se what carrots EU and America will throw out to Serbia one week before the elections in may, maybe again the old "non-visa" offer? Well, just do it then, with no demands in regard, then maybe Serbia will start to trust western politicans, but it will be hard.

Agent Montgo, what ever your name is?
Serbia is not and will not be isolated. Serbia has frends. You and your government definitley are not Serb's frends. I wish your country, what you country did to Serbia. Western exceptional greed will be appreciated and eastern europe will treat west very soon like we did soviets. EUSSR wil go done like USSR

Nikodem

Excellent analysis. The Serbian people must choose between their hearts and their minds. But it is a very difficulte choice. The Serbs lived through a series of national catastrophies. While in many parts of Europe the formation of the EU was seen as a remedy of past traumas it may take time for the Serbs to view it in this way. It took almost a century for the Hungarians to get reconciled with their present borders. The EU must spare no effort to convince the Serbs to do it until the May ellections.

Our dear friend,

it is not Serbia who is about to decide its future (as your title wants to say), it is actually the oligarchy of corrupt western politicians and bureaucrats who is continuously deciding for us in last 20 years, or so. I would like to ask you to convey to your bosses in Washington (or wherever they are) that you are about to face new face of Serbia very soon - new Serbia with a nationalist parliament and government lead by the SRS. I am sure that you and your satellites in Europe will not like what is bound to happen after that, but be sure you've none else to blame but yourselves, as we are fed up with western cynism that is about to destroy our county and our nation. We just have to put a stop to it and we are brave and capable enought to do so!

Serbia decides its future

this is a battle between the right of serbia to decide its future, and what some countries and organizations think is their right to decide for her. as a country i am sorry to admit it we have not yet the level where we really decide. this is why radicals dss will i hope form the government. they will be the genuine choice of the people who are unaffected by hideous propaganda and scaremongering and defeatism. in other words, their voters maybe wrong, but they will not be deliberately manipulated. now, srs dss they may not be good choice otherwise, who knows, but we need to start building our democracy from the foundations not from the roof. after all those milosevic and post milosevic years of all kinds of manipulations, let's get started. let's have genuine people's choice in office. looking forward to the srs dss coalition. looking forward to strong ties with russia.

Mr. Montgomery, are you a journalist or an agent?

Dear all,
I will not try to comment all the things but I need to say one thing. From the 1996 I was one of the active fighters against the government and policy of S. Milosevic, believed in so many things coming from the so called democratic west. Then 2000 happened, and nation was happy, the most of it. But then, together with our weakness, you gentleman from the west also started to destroy our hope for a better life with all the things you created to make our EU dream possible...do you remember everything in past 8 years. Yes you will say "But your government didn`t do this, and this", yes we know that and remember, we are living in this country, no one of you, so we know the reality...but lets be honest....is there any country in Europe, including ex Yugoslav countries who had such a history and those kind of the conditions for the EU integrations...I think not, or maybe now I sound nationalistic. Yes I am democrat in my soul, but YES I want to sound nationalistic because I love my country and I wanted to make my dream in it, I don`t want to have the American dream...but why can`t all of you say "Yes we didn`t help Serbia, enough...we also made a lot of these things to happen, we have asked from Serbia some impossible things to fulfill in years which were difficult for that country and nation....but did you care about that, I think not.So many requests, sometimes impossible, and we who are living here needed to face with all of that, and wait, and wait....so how many years we need to wait and what we need to do. You say, we need to look in the future not in the past..but is that really true. If you don`t look in your past (and don`t forget our past is not only the last 15 years of war,yes that is terrible history,but we had also great things in our history, glorious things, I may say), but do you give up of your glorious past, any of you. If you don`t have that past your countries wouldn`t be what they are today....and please tell what should Serbia forget and to give up to become the better country. And should we, who has that right to cancel the past or history of one of the oldest nations in Europe with all its good and bad things in the past. Yes we are not the angels, but are you or any of the EU states...I don`t think so!If you give up all your activities in the past 40 years, would you be so strong nation in the world? Did any of you forget your own past and gave up your hopes, your identity and you land, no, never seen!Yes you would say, but you have done so many bad things in past 15 years....and half of this nation says yes, we know, that is why we have fought for democracy and better life, believing in EU....but are we the only country who did bad things....sometimes I think that Germany had better conditions after all those terrible things in the war, then Serbia today. Will you ever take this nation seriously or you will keep punishing us with everything possible just because we are proud nation...yes stupid so many times in the history, more for ourselves then for the others, yes stubborn and proud but we also like our country and we also like to put our flag as a symbol of respect and we don`t have to be Serbian nationalists. We have our hopes but did any of you think that you are also responsible for this situation in Serbia when we need to choose again between something and something....yes I say it like this because I am sick of it as a citizen...to much for us who are 30 and still young aiming for the better future which is also taken by all of you gentleman. What does it mean "We recognize the independence" but we hope it will not spoil our good relationship with Serbia, we are friends of Serbia...do we look so stupid when you say those things, are we? Please tell me if any of your countries has the crisis like Serbia with Kosovo, would you believe if somebody says we recognize the independence of Texas, Scotland, Corsica...but we are your friends and we wish you all the best. Please, did I miss something when I was thought about the moral, behavior...normal thinking? Something stinks there.Can you treat us for once in the history as a normal, equal nation in Europe? Can you really help us by showing that you really respect us and what we are? I know that somebody also needs to say in this country that life with Kosovo will not be the easiest life, and that we made so many mistakes with that province...but all of us who love this country were ashamed on the 17th of February, as as citizen of this country who strongly believed in EU thing, in normal life in the country who will recognize the mistakes and move on, and be proud. But what now...you will say life goes on, but is that really true. How? Would you continue easily? No, I doubt. And what are the plans for the future...I don`t see them. You will continue with your policy saying "Why they make such a mess when all of them will be in EU in some years"...but is there any sense in what are you saying? Will we be really? How, humiliated? I don`t really believe in that anymore. Sometimes when I listen to all EU speakers I think I am in the kindergarten....the same like here in Serbia with our politicians, and yes gentleman of the strong west, all of this is also your fault. You want stability in Serbia, but will you try to be honest to Serbia and to respect her identity...no, I don`t see that will happen, and to be honest and you need to know a lot of people here doesn`t see the end of this game you are playing with us and to remind you they are not the nationalists with guns, ideas of war...we are just normal human beens who have their own brain and their hearts for this country!Will you ever learn that with your double standard policy to Serbia, helped the Radicals to become such a strong party after they have had 6 representatives in the Parliament in 2000...you helped with your not honest policy, the policy of punishment for Serbia to all of those bad things to become alive again, to come out from the past, yes you did and you need to admit that, eventually, but I think you will never. You just do you international policy, new kind of irony in treating the world problems, and of course we need to be the first one to feel that new way of equal things for the nations in the world. Shame on all of you who gave us hope in years we we suffered under the fist of Milosevic, shame on all of you who gave to Serbia so many impossible tasks in her delicate history, shame on all of you who thought that Serbian nation is a fool that will take everything what you think of...what is the cost of everything. How will you feel if you are the side who suffer like this country does?Do you even ever think about the opposite roll, maybe.I think you will never change your policy to this country like this country will never recognize independence of Kosovo, even if half of the nation knows that life with it will never be the easiest, but it is just the matter of national pride. At least we have the right for it and you can`t call that "the past". You have it, we have it and it is the past, present and future for all our nations and that makes us proud of ourselves...and to tell you one more thing....I am the citizen who badly wants to be the EU citizen but not like this, with all this games about Kosovo, all the other things...should we, yes you said it is up to us to choose but EU will need to give the hard effort to make us believe in it....is that really possible again, how many times they did it in the past years...we make the move, they say o, no, that is not enough....and so on, can they really make us believe...I don`t think so, to be honest and that doesn`t make me a radical or "other side", the past....I am just an intellectual who knows to think, who can see what is going on and to tell you so many things are rotten in this story about everything and we are the only ones who actually feel the result of it, us who want to believe and to finally have the normal life without being ashamed who we are and what we are and what is our country...we are just people who lost their hope for everything coming from this or your side, because all of you are telling lies to all of us every day in every possible minute of a day. And then you say all of you will need to make an effort to convince us in our future in EU....I don`t think so, not anymore (and saying this it doesn`t mean I will vote for radicals or Kostunica)...I don`t want to give my vote to anyone anymore...you betrayed all of our hopes together with our politicians....work hard to convince those ones in Serbia who believe in the same things but they still didn`t open their eyes, maybe you will win....and remember, lot of us are betrayed by all of you...and thank you for the moments of nice dreams that we can be also a proud and equal member of the EU and the international community...it was nice dreaming and then when you see Serbia seeking two ways, please don`t help to anyone...at the end the result of your help will be Radicals and then the only things you can do is to punish the nation again, not them...they will find their way to survive, like everywhere in the world. Good bless Zoran Djindjic and forgive this nation for his death, lies from his domestic and international friends, and save us of the temptations of ours in the past, present and future...we have the right to live with heads up and proud of who and what we are.
The believer, lost in the believing, thanks to all of our "FRIENDS".... and sorry for the mistakes in English!

Serbia did not proclaim self-isolation, you and your cronies did.

Just look at treatment of our swimming hero Cavic. He won gold on European Championship and was suspended as he was wearing Serbian flag and shirt "Kosovo is Serbia". You expelled Serbs, not the other way around.

solid analysis. some observations

- the plight of K-Serbs south of Mitrovica. Yes, they are the losers in this. But not sure (former) IC representatives have much moral authority here.

- the spectre of bosnia. A constant US over-preoccupation... Banja lUka always yanks the chain with this and every time gets a response...

- you amusingly, and probably correctly, point out that many doctoral theses will be written on IC policy towards Serbia. But do we really need such depth of analysis? At the end of the day, what are the big headlines on what the US/EU has done for serbia since 2000? Ironic that it was Nikolic that has done most to get a weasly half-promise out of Solana on visa liberalisation.

- the EU isn't even finished with the bad news, it hasn't spelt out yet that Serbia must recognise Kosovo to enter the EU. interesting move by Kostunica to insist on entering together... the EU and Serbia need to come up with some common understandings...

..the thing about American policy here that I will never understand is that although they know that they are making a serious mistake in approaching issues in serbia and the region here, they keep on doing it and expecting that everyone is going to see a carnage us made as a result of their good and noble intentions..
..us should take bulk of responsibility for the growth of radicalism and nationalism in serbia, and somehow I believe now that us would rather have radicals in serbia for some time than a credible eu leaning government with clear track record..
..having that in mind, serbs do not have anything to choose from, since us is creating our minds towards choosing future for the country, and we can be as resilient and European as one gets, but still, being so unfaithful to reformists in serbia, us is going to put radicals in the parliament eventually and have the government they can bully and blackmail, even throw cruise missiles at if surplus appears in the us army stocks..

Chukuriuk,

Thanks for the kudos to my comment. Let me address some of the valid points you've raised:

1. Concerning Serbia and it's alternative partners if it decides to thumb its nose at the EU. For starters, I'm wary of Russia. The references in Western drive-by media to Russia being close to Serbia due to them being Slavic and Orthodox, are tenuous. Russia is looking out for its own ends, and has left Serbia in a lurch many times in history. It's unfortunate that Serbia has to make Faustian deals with Moscow in order to preserve its territorial integrity and to be defended within the bounds of international law, something the US only recognizes if it suits their purposes.

2. Concerning the SRS. My comments on them being more populist than nationalistic should not be translated into me supporting them. It should be understood as me saying the SRS is far more complex and far more sophisticated than a simple ultranationalist "F You" party that the West loves to describe them as. Nikolic has done a fantastic job of transforming the SRS from what it was under Seselj and we cannot overlook the reality that it is the largest and most organized party of any in Belgrade today. Most of that organization has been built on resentment of Western policies geared towards Serbia, and it is, I fear, only a matter of time before such a large party comes to power in Belgrade.

Oh and the "housebroken" metaphor? I love it :)

Finally, I'm American just as you. I'm also a firm believer that the US has deliberately gone out of its way to undermine Serbia/Yugoslavia at every turn since the early 1990s. Our double standards and subjective interference is bordering on criminal in my eyes, and if Kosovo's stability is gained at the expense of Serbia's we will once again be celebrating zero-sum gains through Pyrrhic victories.

Given the self declaration of the Kosovo Albanians and the immediate recognition by many states, lets go to step two: the declaration of the Serbian Republic of Northern Mitrovica. The oppressed minority get their freedom, just like the others..

Mike:

Bravo -- a fine analysis, and I don't have anything to add to your third point (that it is up to Serbian politicians to emphasize alternative, or westernizing, if you will, national narratives) or your conclusion (that the EU keeps yanking the banana away).

Your first and second points do need some nuancing. First, it is of course true that an "EU-isolated" Serbia will find partners elsewhere. However your improvement in living standards will be much slower (compare the size of the EU's economy to Russia's -- it's a joke) and, what's more, you can expect less autonomy in both political and economic decisions (recall the Russian media's recent pronouncement on Djindjic, -- and good luck with Gazprom). Second, even if the Radicals have lately been housebroken (which I don't quite believe), you're still looking at a near-suicidally depressing political life. Unless, of course, that you think it's been fun living under Bush (mutatis mutandis, Bush supporters in the US = Radical supporters in Serbia).

But by and large, good points -- thanks. Peace, C

Why should viza-free entry to EU matter to great majority of citizents? We only have enough money to barely make ends meet, travelling is out of the question for most.
What if US drops viza requirements too? Serbia would be empty in a minute, everyone would go for a vacation to Hawaii.

Bill, Bill, Bill, better to be poor, free and happy than a SLAVE.
Kosovo is Serbia.
Vote for Kostunica.

Mr Montgomery,

It's a shame that the country with the least geo-political understanding (US) has taken the most influential role in international affairs...how can such a "dumb" people make such a collosal mess of the planet...money and dumb behaviour is the key!!
Sad....BT

Like always Montgomery is manipulating with the truth and deliberately ignoring some facts, due to his former postion and role.
Montgomery you represented the US foreign policies here, you are not a humanitarian or a civil right activist.

@ DSS and Radical posters

Serbia can not compete economicly with Russia or China, Serbia has a deficit with this countries.
Serbia like many other countries depends on Russian gas, no matter how much it exports to Russia, the deficit will remain due to the high prices of oil and gas and the huge amounts Serbia imports.
China exports goods that only they can produce at such low prices, its delusional to think that Serbia can achive some kind of sufficit with them.

The longer u ignor the reallity which is not pretty at all, the harder it will be to face it.

Several of the previous posters have said that Montgomery and other western politicians are using propaganda and isolation scare tactics to lure people away from the radicals and Kostunica in the election. Although I agree that these western governments work on the basis of interest not friendship. I would like to dwell on one point which Montgomery makes and reads as follows:

"The reality is that within almost every Serb is an internal conflict. They are all angry with the West for illegally and unfairly "taking " the cradle of their civilization away and many want to lash out somehow, in some direction in retaliation. But a large number also pragmatically realize that the only viable future for Serbia is integration into the EU as soon as possible."

I have to say that I agree with Montgomery in this assessment 100%. I for one choose E.U. integration as the best road for Serbia. The question for me then is which political party and leaders have the best chance to deliver a better European future for Serbia's citizens. I think that's the Tadic and G-17 coalition.

Despite some of the warnings of previous posters as to why Serbia should not be in a hurry to integrate with western europe, there are several reasons which favor such integration. First of all, every country around Serbia wants to be in the European Union, and they can't all be wrong. This list includes Serbia's great allies Greece, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Cyprus, and Romania, who are already members and eventual member Montenegro.

Furthermore, being in the E.U. does not mean you can't do business elsewhere. A good example of this is the fact that Bulgaria and Hungary have also joined Russia on the South Stream oil project. In other words, Bulgarians and Hungarians are getting the best of both worlds and Serbs would be in a ripe position to do the same.

Also, being the European Union will reunite Serbian lands in Krajina, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Serbia, and Kosovo. How else will the next generation of Serbs experience Gracanica, Pec, Decani, and many other places that are now outside the borders of Serbia?

Moreover, as bitter as I feel towards Albanians, Bosnian Muslims, and Croatians why should Serbs stand aside and let them have more prosperity and political clout in Europe than Serbia.

The only unknown for me is at what cost will this E.U. entry be on Serbia. Most European ministers have already said Serbia's recognition of Kosovo will not interfere with E.U membership. As far as EULEX in Kosovo goes does anyone really think there is a difference on whether it's UNMIK or EULEX. Afterall, it will be the same Eurocrats running it as they are now.

As far as the Hague goes we all know it's a Kangaroo court, but Serbia has already deported almost everybody it was supposed to including the former President, cabinet members, and generals. Does anyone really think that process can be stopped now with only four indictees remaining? (Radovan my prayers are with you)

In short, it's time for Serbia to learn from the bitter lessons from the past and move forward. A modern and prosperous Serbia means a strong and proud Serbia.

Kosovo is Serbia, and it will be Serbia

Excellent analysis. The Serbian people must choose between their hearts and their minds. But it is a very difficulte choice. The Serbs lived through a series of national catastrophies. While in many parts of Europe the formation of the EU was seen as a remedy of past traumas it may take time for the Serbs to view it in this way. It took almost a century for the Hungarians to get reconciled with their present borders. The EU must spare no effort to convince the Serbs to do it until the May ellections.

let vermont and then texas become independent.

"Serbia decides its future"

Yes, Mr Montgomery, that would have been the best, but since so many EU politicians and even politicians from other continents wants to interfere in internal serbian matters its quite hard.

But EU and american politicans should remember the story about the boy that cried wolf to many times, it will not help serbia if you cries "self isolation" either since its not going to be so EVEN if SRS wins the elections. Nobody will belive that lie anymore.

Empty promises if serbian population votes "right" is also not going to work. Lets se what carrots EU and America will throw out to Serbia one week before the elections in may, maybe again the old "non-visa" offer? Well, just do it then, with no demands in regard, then maybe Serbia will start to trust western politicans, but it will be hard.

This article is a stretch - an attempt by Mr. Montgomery to "blame" the Serbs.

The EU and the US has forced Serbia's government to fall. And now that it is evident that the Serb population will put into power a nationalistic Radical Party government, now all of a sudden it will be the fault of the Serbs. Mr. Montgomery is a fear monger because of his position that the Serbs will be isolated. The Serbs are being PUSHED into isolation.

Agent Montgo, what ever your name is?
Serbia is not and will not be isolated. Serbia has frends. You and your government definitley are not Serb's frends. I wish your country, what you country did to Serbia. Western exceptional greed will be appreciated and eastern europe will treat west very soon like we did soviets. EUSSR wil go done like USSR

Nikodem

Several of the previous posters have said that Montgomery and other western politicians are using propaganda and isolation scare tactics to lure people away from the radicals and Kostunica in the election. Although I agree that these western governments work on the basis of interest not friendship. I would like to dwell on one point which Montgomery makes and reads as follows:

"The reality is that within almost every Serb is an internal conflict. They are all angry with the West for illegally and unfairly "taking " the cradle of their civilization away and many want to lash out somehow, in some direction in retaliation. But a large number also pragmatically realize that the only viable future for Serbia is integration into the EU as soon as possible."

I have to say that I agree with Montgomery in this assessment 100%. I for one choose E.U. integration as the best road for Serbia. The question for me then is which political party and leaders have the best chance to deliver a better European future for Serbia's citizens. I think that's the Tadic and G-17 coalition.

Despite some of the warnings of previous posters as to why Serbia should not be in a hurry to integrate with western europe, there are several reasons which favor such integration. First of all, every country around Serbia wants to be in the European Union, and they can't all be wrong. This list includes Serbia's great allies Greece, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Cyprus, and Romania, who are already members and eventual member Montenegro.

Furthermore, being in the E.U. does not mean you can't do business elsewhere. A good example of this is the fact that Bulgaria and Hungary have also joined Russia on the South Stream oil project. In other words, Bulgarians and Hungarians are getting the best of both worlds and Serbs would be in a ripe position to do the same.

Also, being the European Union will reunite Serbian lands in Krajina, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Serbia, and Kosovo. How else will the next generation of Serbs experience Gracanica, Pec, Decani, and many other places that are now outside the borders of Serbia?

Moreover, as bitter as I feel towards Albanians, Bosnian Muslims, and Croatians why should Serbs stand aside and let them have more prosperity and political clout in Europe than Serbia.

The only unknown for me is at what cost will this E.U. entry be on Serbia. Most European ministers have already said Serbia's recognition of Kosovo will not interfere with E.U membership. As far as EULEX in Kosovo goes does anyone really think there is a difference on whether it's UNMIK or EULEX. Afterall, it will be the same Eurocrats running it as they are now.

As far as the Hague goes we all know it's a Kangaroo court, but Serbia has already deported almost everybody it was supposed to including the former President, cabinet members, and generals. Does anyone really think that process can be stopped now with only four indictees remaining? (Radovan my prayers are with you)

In short, it's time for Serbia to learn from the bitter lessons from the past and move forward. A modern and prosperous Serbia means a strong and proud Serbia.

Kosovo is Serbia, and it will be Serbia

Vote for the radicals and Kostunica!

Mike:

Bravo -- a fine analysis, and I don't have anything to add to your third point (that it is up to Serbian politicians to emphasize alternative, or westernizing, if you will, national narratives) or your conclusion (that the EU keeps yanking the banana away).

Your first and second points do need some nuancing. First, it is of course true that an "EU-isolated" Serbia will find partners elsewhere. However your improvement in living standards will be much slower (compare the size of the EU's economy to Russia's -- it's a joke) and, what's more, you can expect less autonomy in both political and economic decisions (recall the Russian media's recent pronouncement on Djindjic, -- and good luck with Gazprom). Second, even if the Radicals have lately been housebroken (which I don't quite believe), you're still looking at a near-suicidally depressing political life. Unless, of course, that you think it's been fun living under Bush (mutatis mutandis, Bush supporters in the US = Radical supporters in Serbia).

But by and large, good points -- thanks. Peace, C

Like always Montgomery is manipulating with the truth and deliberately ignoring some facts, due to his former postion and role.
Montgomery you represented the US foreign policies here, you are not a humanitarian or a civil right activist.

@ DSS and Radical posters

Serbia can not compete economicly with Russia or China, Serbia has a deficit with this countries.
Serbia like many other countries depends on Russian gas, no matter how much it exports to Russia, the deficit will remain due to the high prices of oil and gas and the huge amounts Serbia imports.
China exports goods that only they can produce at such low prices, its delusional to think that Serbia can achive some kind of sufficit with them.

The longer u ignor the reallity which is not pretty at all, the harder it will be to face it.

Mr Montgomery, I would first like to thank you for your thoughts and your concern on the current and future status of Serbia. However I am not seeing the real point to this article. We all know what the situation of Serbia is. One side wants join the EU at every single cost and one side would only join it if something simple as territory is respected. This in my opinion is yet another propaganda scheme used by your self and of course B92 to scare Serbians into believing that there is only one option and one party for prosperity amongst the people living in Serbia. However I do not think this is the case. Clearly nobody would ever want to see Serbia dip into isolation. This is of nobodies interest. But to call Tomislav Nikolic and Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica "isolationists" is just another one of your propaganda schemes.

I think what most of you fail to realize is that while the EU has its benefits, it is not the only viable option for economic progress in Serbia. There are plenty of booming economies all over the world who have not recognized Kosovo and who would be pleased to do business in Serbia and with Serbia. Countries like Russia, China, India, Japan, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuala and markets in North Africa. Also with regional partners like Greece, Romania, Slovakia, and Cyprus also maybe even some other countries like Macedonia, Austria, Czech Republic and Hungary if they decide not to recognize Kosovo. This would ensure such great prosperity for Serbia without giving an inch of its sovereignty like it would under the EU. Serbia would be considered a "European Country" without having to actually join the EU.

So with all due respect Mr Montgomery please do not try to insult or scare the Serbian people with the "my way or the high way" approach because its going to get redundant and irrelevant to anything thats going on in Serbia.

As always, Mr. Montgomery's articles are a balance between sound observations and problematic conclusions.

First, I wholeheartedly agree with Nikola Pereic on the issue of "isolation". This is a tactic used by Western analysts as a short form for "non-EU integration". Saying Serbia risks self-imposed isolation is only believed by the United States and the EU, and here only by policymakers keen on pushing a particular agenda that has seen more failures and setbacks than achievements in the Balkans. Serbia under Kostunica and Nikolic could slip away from Brussels, but gravitate towards Moscow, Beijing, New Dehli, and other economic centers. The fact that both Russia and China are interested in building pipelines and automobile factories in Serbia respectively means Serbia will be anything but isolated. If anything, we should classify Serbia as moving either towards the EU, or towards other economic partnerships as an independent country has the right to. But to say that Serbia is engaging in isolationism is an outright lie.

Second, there is a good chance the SRS stands to win the upcoming parliamentary elections, but like every other election since 2000, voter support is far more inclined to be because of frustration with the current democratic coaltion than any sense of Greater Serbian nationalism as the Western drive-by media loves to continuously portray Serbia being perennially stuck in. Say what you want about Nikolic, but he has been extremely successful in moving the SRS from the far-right policies of Seselj into the more encompassing national populist parties that are present in almost every European country. Support for the SRS lies more to dissatisfaction with the corruption and cronyism seen in the ruling coalition than any sense of exclusionary nationalism. Again, to say the SRS is anti-democratic is an outright lie.

Third, it is not the EU that needs to convince the Serbian people that there is a future for them in Brussels, but rather Serbian politicians need to do this. Right now, the choice is in black and white: support the EU and flush more of your cultural and historical identity down the toilet for the sake of a few extra euros and a bunch of German bureaucrats telling you what to do, or reject the EU and its top-down policies in favor of Serbian identity, Serbian jobs, and Serbian interests. Again, say what you want about Nikolic, he has successfully captured the Serbian identity of "CCCC" and turned it into a referendum on the EU (not without the tremendous help of idiotic EU policies in Kosovo that have all but legitimized his claims). It is therefore the job of the so-called "pro-Western" parties to construct an alternative Serbian historical narrative that shows that Serbian history has been influenced just as much through working with Central and Western Europe as it has been looking eastward. Serbian identity right now is caught up in Kosovo, and it neglects the cosmopolitan character of Belgrade, the intellectual achievements of Serbs in Hapsburg Vojvodina, and the spirit of "bratsvo i jedinstvo" that made Yugoslavia one of the best places to live a generation ago. The EU cannot meddle anymore in Serbian politics. Rather, Serbs will have to realize that they are just as much a Western country as they are non-Western. But any further push from Brussels, after all that's been said and done, will just galvanize the populist vote for DSS-SRS.

It really seems, when all is said and done, that Serbia has had more elections that "decide its future" than any other state. Everytime Serbia tries to "decide" its future, the EU does something to rebuke that decision, delegitimize the goverment, and throw everything back to square one, where armchair policymakers and half-witted Western intellectuals shake their heads in disbelief over Serbian intransigence, and claim that once again, Serbia is at the "crossroads" and "deciding" it's fate. The cliches would actually get tiring if those very same institutions that Serbia has repeatedly said it wants to join didn't work so hard at pushing it away.

Always threatening Serbs that if they don't kow tow to the EU et al, that they will be isolated and with out a bright economic future. Is the EU not going to buy gas supplied by the Serb pipeline? Is there nothing else of value that Serbia can supply to anyone? If Serbia is that pathetic and useless, why would the EU want such a basket case?
Well, Serbia is not a basketcase, and if it wants entry in the EU it it dosen't have to do it as a beggar.

Serbia decides its future Brussels EU ,NATO & U.S. will try everything to undermine Serbia if it chooses wrong in their nonsense opinion. They are only interested in Serbia to choose the only one they have planed and trying to implement with or without Serbia's cooperation. It would be easier for them if Serbia gave up its independence and its rights to Brussels EU and let them run its internal affairs. Serbia would deliberately isolate itself from the European Union integration process. The only ones trying to isolate Serbia is Brussels because it dos not follow its hypocritical rules and its unlawful program. They are standing up for their country. Which is the right thing to do for them selfs and their country which they fought and died for their freedoms and they are not selling out or is it for sale. Which the hypocrites in the west don't care but if some one tried to do the same thing to them it would mean war without a doubt on their part. Serbs are resisting not only for them selfs but every nation people that want to be free independent of the ridiculous new world order which is nothing but slavery and death to the human spirit.

solid analysis. some observations

- the plight of K-Serbs south of Mitrovica. Yes, they are the losers in this. But not sure (former) IC representatives have much moral authority here.

- the spectre of bosnia. A constant US over-preoccupation... Banja lUka always yanks the chain with this and every time gets a response...

- you amusingly, and probably correctly, point out that many doctoral theses will be written on IC policy towards Serbia. But do we really need such depth of analysis? At the end of the day, what are the big headlines on what the US/EU has done for serbia since 2000? Ironic that it was Nikolic that has done most to get a weasly half-promise out of Solana on visa liberalisation.

- the EU isn't even finished with the bad news, it hasn't spelt out yet that Serbia must recognise Kosovo to enter the EU. interesting move by Kostunica to insist on entering together... the EU and Serbia need to come up with some common understandings...

Serbia decides its future

this is a battle between the right of serbia to decide its future, and what some countries and organizations think is their right to decide for her. as a country i am sorry to admit it we have not yet the level where we really decide. this is why radicals dss will i hope form the government. they will be the genuine choice of the people who are unaffected by hideous propaganda and scaremongering and defeatism. in other words, their voters maybe wrong, but they will not be deliberately manipulated. now, srs dss they may not be good choice otherwise, who knows, but we need to start building our democracy from the foundations not from the roof. after all those milosevic and post milosevic years of all kinds of manipulations, let's get started. let's have genuine people's choice in office. looking forward to the srs dss coalition. looking forward to strong ties with russia.

Mr. Montgomery, are you a journalist or an agent?

Mr. Montgomery,

There is no internal conflict inside of me. Being cut-off from the EU and NATO is just fine with me.

Russia and China are friendly nations that have some of the fastest economic growth in the world, we don't need the EU. Serbia's future is with our friends in the East not our enemies in the West.

We would be foolish to believe that the EU and NATO will bring us prosperity when they have attacked us and tried to take so much away from us. Friends don't assault you and try to steal from you. With "friends" like NATO and the EU Serbia wouldn't need any enemies.

If the EU and NATO offered full membership to Serbia tomorrow I would tell them both to take a hike.

..the thing about American policy here that I will never understand is that although they know that they are making a serious mistake in approaching issues in serbia and the region here, they keep on doing it and expecting that everyone is going to see a carnage us made as a result of their good and noble intentions..
..us should take bulk of responsibility for the growth of radicalism and nationalism in serbia, and somehow I believe now that us would rather have radicals in serbia for some time than a credible eu leaning government with clear track record..
..having that in mind, serbs do not have anything to choose from, since us is creating our minds towards choosing future for the country, and we can be as resilient and European as one gets, but still, being so unfaithful to reformists in serbia, us is going to put radicals in the parliament eventually and have the government they can bully and blackmail, even throw cruise missiles at if surplus appears in the us army stocks..

Why should viza-free entry to EU matter to great majority of citizents? We only have enough money to barely make ends meet, travelling is out of the question for most.
What if US drops viza requirements too? Serbia would be empty in a minute, everyone would go for a vacation to Hawaii.

Dear all,
I will not try to comment all the things but I need to say one thing. From the 1996 I was one of the active fighters against the government and policy of S. Milosevic, believed in so many things coming from the so called democratic west. Then 2000 happened, and nation was happy, the most of it. But then, together with our weakness, you gentleman from the west also started to destroy our hope for a better life with all the things you created to make our EU dream possible...do you remember everything in past 8 years. Yes you will say "But your government didn`t do this, and this", yes we know that and remember, we are living in this country, no one of you, so we know the reality...but lets be honest....is there any country in Europe, including ex Yugoslav countries who had such a history and those kind of the conditions for the EU integrations...I think not, or maybe now I sound nationalistic. Yes I am democrat in my soul, but YES I want to sound nationalistic because I love my country and I wanted to make my dream in it, I don`t want to have the American dream...but why can`t all of you say "Yes we didn`t help Serbia, enough...we also made a lot of these things to happen, we have asked from Serbia some impossible things to fulfill in years which were difficult for that country and nation....but did you care about that, I think not.So many requests, sometimes impossible, and we who are living here needed to face with all of that, and wait, and wait....so how many years we need to wait and what we need to do. You say, we need to look in the future not in the past..but is that really true. If you don`t look in your past (and don`t forget our past is not only the last 15 years of war,yes that is terrible history,but we had also great things in our history, glorious things, I may say), but do you give up of your glorious past, any of you. If you don`t have that past your countries wouldn`t be what they are today....and please tell what should Serbia forget and to give up to become the better country. And should we, who has that right to cancel the past or history of one of the oldest nations in Europe with all its good and bad things in the past. Yes we are not the angels, but are you or any of the EU states...I don`t think so!If you give up all your activities in the past 40 years, would you be so strong nation in the world? Did any of you forget your own past and gave up your hopes, your identity and you land, no, never seen!Yes you would say, but you have done so many bad things in past 15 years....and half of this nation says yes, we know, that is why we have fought for democracy and better life, believing in EU....but are we the only country who did bad things....sometimes I think that Germany had better conditions after all those terrible things in the war, then Serbia today. Will you ever take this nation seriously or you will keep punishing us with everything possible just because we are proud nation...yes stupid so many times in the history, more for ourselves then for the others, yes stubborn and proud but we also like our country and we also like to put our flag as a symbol of respect and we don`t have to be Serbian nationalists. We have our hopes but did any of you think that you are also responsible for this situation in Serbia when we need to choose again between something and something....yes I say it like this because I am sick of it as a citizen...to much for us who are 30 and still young aiming for the better future which is also taken by all of you gentleman. What does it mean "We recognize the independence" but we hope it will not spoil our good relationship with Serbia, we are friends of Serbia...do we look so stupid when you say those things, are we? Please tell me if any of your countries has the crisis like Serbia with Kosovo, would you believe if somebody says we recognize the independence of Texas, Scotland, Corsica...but we are your friends and we wish you all the best. Please, did I miss something when I was thought about the moral, behavior...normal thinking? Something stinks there.Can you treat us for once in the history as a normal, equal nation in Europe? Can you really help us by showing that you really respect us and what we are? I know that somebody also needs to say in this country that life with Kosovo will not be the easiest life, and that we made so many mistakes with that province...but all of us who love this country were ashamed on the 17th of February, as as citizen of this country who strongly believed in EU thing, in normal life in the country who will recognize the mistakes and move on, and be proud. But what now...you will say life goes on, but is that really true. How? Would you continue easily? No, I doubt. And what are the plans for the future...I don`t see them. You will continue with your policy saying "Why they make such a mess when all of them will be in EU in some years"...but is there any sense in what are you saying? Will we be really? How, humiliated? I don`t really believe in that anymore. Sometimes when I listen to all EU speakers I think I am in the kindergarten....the same like here in Serbia with our politicians, and yes gentleman of the strong west, all of this is also your fault. You want stability in Serbia, but will you try to be honest to Serbia and to respect her identity...no, I don`t see that will happen, and to be honest and you need to know a lot of people here doesn`t see the end of this game you are playing with us and to remind you they are not the nationalists with guns, ideas of war...we are just normal human beens who have their own brain and their hearts for this country!Will you ever learn that with your double standard policy to Serbia, helped the Radicals to become such a strong party after they have had 6 representatives in the Parliament in 2000...you helped with your not honest policy, the policy of punishment for Serbia to all of those bad things to become alive again, to come out from the past, yes you did and you need to admit that, eventually, but I think you will never. You just do you international policy, new kind of irony in treating the world problems, and of course we need to be the first one to feel that new way of equal things for the nations in the world. Shame on all of you who gave us hope in years we we suffered under the fist of Milosevic, shame on all of you who gave to Serbia so many impossible tasks in her delicate history, shame on all of you who thought that Serbian nation is a fool that will take everything what you think of...what is the cost of everything. How will you feel if you are the side who suffer like this country does?Do you even ever think about the opposite roll, maybe.I think you will never change your policy to this country like this country will never recognize independence of Kosovo, even if half of the nation knows that life with it will never be the easiest, but it is just the matter of national pride. At least we have the right for it and you can`t call that "the past". You have it, we have it and it is the past, present and future for all our nations and that makes us proud of ourselves...and to tell you one more thing....I am the citizen who badly wants to be the EU citizen but not like this, with all this games about Kosovo, all the other things...should we, yes you said it is up to us to choose but EU will need to give the hard effort to make us believe in it....is that really possible again, how many times they did it in the past years...we make the move, they say o, no, that is not enough....and so on, can they really make us believe...I don`t think so, to be honest and that doesn`t make me a radical or "other side", the past....I am just an intellectual who knows to think, who can see what is going on and to tell you so many things are rotten in this story about everything and we are the only ones who actually feel the result of it, us who want to believe and to finally have the normal life without being ashamed who we are and what we are and what is our country...we are just people who lost their hope for everything coming from this or your side, because all of you are telling lies to all of us every day in every possible minute of a day. And then you say all of you will need to make an effort to convince us in our future in EU....I don`t think so, not anymore (and saying this it doesn`t mean I will vote for radicals or Kostunica)...I don`t want to give my vote to anyone anymore...you betrayed all of our hopes together with our politicians....work hard to convince those ones in Serbia who believe in the same things but they still didn`t open their eyes, maybe you will win....and remember, lot of us are betrayed by all of you...and thank you for the moments of nice dreams that we can be also a proud and equal member of the EU and the international community...it was nice dreaming and then when you see Serbia seeking two ways, please don`t help to anyone...at the end the result of your help will be Radicals and then the only things you can do is to punish the nation again, not them...they will find their way to survive, like everywhere in the world. Good bless Zoran Djindjic and forgive this nation for his death, lies from his domestic and international friends, and save us of the temptations of ours in the past, present and future...we have the right to live with heads up and proud of who and what we are.
The believer, lost in the believing, thanks to all of our "FRIENDS".... and sorry for the mistakes in English!

Vlada:
Thank you. For my part, I believe that the progress Serbia has made since 2000 has not been adequately recognized or rewarded; that the US and most of the EU are in the wrong on Kosovo, and indeed are acting provocatively and stupidly; and that we bear a large part of the burden for the situation you've described, and for the disappointment you express. For what it's worth, which is little, I apologize on behalf of the US (and a government that I did not vote for, and which as you know was not elected in 2000 but installed by our Judiciary, and "elected" in 2004 as a result of fraud and fear).
Since 2000, the west has betrayed not only you -- I mean progressive Serbs, not some heavenly idea of "Serbia" -- but also its own ideals, with the US war in Iraq, the EU acquiescence to this war, and the erosion of rights at home as well.
For what it is worth (again, very little I fear), do know that some of us care about you and your part of the world, and that we do what we can in order to increase this understanding at home.
Peace, C

Chukuriuk,

Thanks for the kudos to my comment. Let me address some of the valid points you've raised:

1. Concerning Serbia and it's alternative partners if it decides to thumb its nose at the EU. For starters, I'm wary of Russia. The references in Western drive-by media to Russia being close to Serbia due to them being Slavic and Orthodox, are tenuous. Russia is looking out for its own ends, and has left Serbia in a lurch many times in history. It's unfortunate that Serbia has to make Faustian deals with Moscow in order to preserve its territorial integrity and to be defended within the bounds of international law, something the US only recognizes if it suits their purposes.

2. Concerning the SRS. My comments on them being more populist than nationalistic should not be translated into me supporting them. It should be understood as me saying the SRS is far more complex and far more sophisticated than a simple ultranationalist "F You" party that the West loves to describe them as. Nikolic has done a fantastic job of transforming the SRS from what it was under Seselj and we cannot overlook the reality that it is the largest and most organized party of any in Belgrade today. Most of that organization has been built on resentment of Western policies geared towards Serbia, and it is, I fear, only a matter of time before such a large party comes to power in Belgrade.

Oh and the "housebroken" metaphor? I love it :)

Finally, I'm American just as you. I'm also a firm believer that the US has deliberately gone out of its way to undermine Serbia/Yugoslavia at every turn since the early 1990s. Our double standards and subjective interference is bordering on criminal in my eyes, and if Kosovo's stability is gained at the expense of Serbia's we will once again be celebrating zero-sum gains through Pyrrhic victories.

Bill, Bill, Bill, better to be poor, free and happy than a SLAVE.
Kosovo is Serbia.
Vote for Kostunica.

Serbia did not proclaim self-isolation, you and your cronies did.

Just look at treatment of our swimming hero Cavic. He won gold on European Championship and was suspended as he was wearing Serbian flag and shirt "Kosovo is Serbia". You expelled Serbs, not the other way around.

Our dear friend,

it is not Serbia who is about to decide its future (as your title wants to say), it is actually the oligarchy of corrupt western politicians and bureaucrats who is continuously deciding for us in last 20 years, or so. I would like to ask you to convey to your bosses in Washington (or wherever they are) that you are about to face new face of Serbia very soon - new Serbia with a nationalist parliament and government lead by the SRS. I am sure that you and your satellites in Europe will not like what is bound to happen after that, but be sure you've none else to blame but yourselves, as we are fed up with western cynism that is about to destroy our county and our nation. We just have to put a stop to it and we are brave and capable enought to do so!

Mr Montgomery,

It's a shame that the country with the least geo-political understanding (US) has taken the most influential role in international affairs...how can such a "dumb" people make such a collosal mess of the planet...money and dumb behaviour is the key!!
Sad....BT

Given the self declaration of the Kosovo Albanians and the immediate recognition by many states, lets go to step two: the declaration of the Serbian Republic of Northern Mitrovica. The oppressed minority get their freedom, just like the others..