Balkans, between future prosperity and past ghosts

The 1995 Dayton Accords succeeded in the predetermined goal: to close the bloody wounds caused by brotherly fighting in previous years and to restore Bosniak territory, the scenario of ethnic cleansing and terrible crimes committed against the populations living there. More than 20 years after the end of the Yugoslavia wars, which sanctioned total destruction, the declared independent Balkan republics have never been able to fully integrate into European reality, guilty of the effects of the economic crisis that are still hindering Croatia today, Serbia has scuttled Slovenia to advance fully on the path to social prosperity. Questions are still numerous, if you consider the few securitys these new countries can rely on. Croatia, Slovenia and, recently, Montenegro are NATO members, contrary to Serbia and Aleksandar Vucic, still convinced of the European integration path altogether by not giving up on the unchanged preservation of stable economic, political, strategic and cultural ties always held with Russia. Bosnia and Herzegovina (the Muslim community, which turns out to be still a key workshop for the Islamic State), continues to play the role of the Cypriot buffers imposed by Dayton, not giving even the minimal impression that it can strengthen the state's own entity in the autonomous sense, while recent clashes between Belgrade and Pristina (related to preventing the Belgrade train Mitrovica) -- though not even the still peaceful political situation of the Republic of Macedonia, which seems to be the most problematic prospects: the best of the future, can again degrade the situation with the most of the alerts in the most of the global and the cultural crisis, which the most of the times in the European Union, or the most, or the most of all, the most, or the most of the times in the cultural crisis in the world, there are, the most of the most of the times in the world. We've talked to Inoslav Besker, correspondent of the Croatian daily “Jutarnji List”, as well as professor at the Universitys of Bologna, Naples, Zagreb and Dubrovnik.

In Croatia, proximity “Agrokor” continues to prevail. Croatian press stresses that the two Russian banking coloss like Sberbank and VTB may be interested in buying the titles of this large food company...

More than anything else, Sberbank appears to be interested in <x0-vard” Agrokor more than buying titles. The Agrokor case can be provided more unique than rare -- it is about a company of large sizes for our standards, which numbers about 600 employees not only in Croatia, but also in Serbia, Bosnia and Slovenia. Its tour represents about 17% of Croatian GDP. That means that if Agrokor were to be sick “”, the entire Croatian economy would suffer. The idea of preserving a company with a decree similar to that of “Prodi ter” is at stake, namely, what the company Parmalates with Enrico Bond did in the quality of the government commissioner. In this way, you want to avoid bankruptcy and the subsequent blocking of company activities by giving 2 years to requalify yourself and, meanwhile, by preserving all <x6).

Moscow has often been accused of wanting to intervene in different ways in European countries' policies and economies. The dating of potential Agrokor buyers (that is, two powerful banking institutions linked to the Kremlin) has caused particular threats near Zagreb?

I'd say this problem hasn't come up yet. I don't think Sberbank has the intention of buying Agrokor, even though it's not about the single creditor at the dance. But I believe that the Russian government has, in this sense, attempted to play its letters, especially when Anvar Azimov, the ambassador of the Russian Federation in Croatia, has, in a somewhat ton by the governor, declared that the Russian state would no longer interfere with Agrokor's assistance from the moment the president of the company refused to visit him. These statements have contributed to the further reduction of the company's rates, to Sberbank's own disappointment. In the quality of the journalist, I've underlined how this is one of the ways Russia tries to destabilise European Union countries, but that remains only an assumption of me.

What do you think of Serbia's recently advanced <x0-movable” positions? I refer to Belgrade's attempt to join the European Union, although to keep the important cultural, economic and military ties it always maintains with Russia, with even greater reason after the overwhelming electoral victory achieved by Aleksandar Vucic at the presidential on April 2nd...

All clear? On the contrary, I believe that this is an extremely consistent attitude. I'd say it's about a “balancing” position. Not by chance do I choose to use this term, since Serbia is comparable to a balancer trying to walk over a rope. In order to maintain balance, you sometimes put your weight on the right, sometimes on the left. This attitude may virtually appear to be <x2ndwagut”, but if it is not operated in that sense, it is severely endangered to be drawn from the rope. It is an approach to remember that adopted in the time of Yugoslavia by Marshall Tito, who was able to create a “third path” in the true sense of the word "magrement," alternative to East Diacotomy West, the same thing cannot yet be said of current Serbian politics. It is interesting to note how Vucic has chosen to give up the prime minister's post to cover a role of representation as the president of the Republic. Prior to all, I believe that in the event Nikolic had not been confirmed, Vucic would have had little headache with a colourful presidency from him. In the second place, it is easy to see how he can be recognised both as president of the Republic and as head of government, according to the model Milo Djukanovic used in Montenegro and Vladimir Putin in Russia. In this way, Vucic has managed to kill two birds with a stroke of “: save the heads that would come from a president with a different political color than his and, at the same time, confirm and strengthen his personal political strength, from the moment that presidential elections are not voted for the party, but for the individual.

The recent creation of the date of celebrations of Republika Srpska's birth anniversary on the part of Banja Luka authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina has sparked heated controversy, contributing to the rise to the surface of old conflicts never completely settled between Belgrade and Zagreb in Bosnian territories, theatre of terrible crimes during the Yugoslav wars of the Ninth. What dangers exist in the case where Europe, or more generally, the international community lowers its alert level regarding the Balkans?

This level of vigilance has already decreased. In my opinion, it would have been better to integrate Bosnia and Herzegovina long ago into international political discussion so that its policies could be dedicated, which today turns out difficult. Speaking of Bosnia, the problem lies in the fact that we do not talk only about the policies of Serbia and Croatia. On the contrary, since 2000 Zagreb has been strongly interested in Bosnia and Herzegovina Croats, even though this cannot be stated in terms of HDZ, the movement with the same name of Bosnian Croats is not to be considered only a simple imitation of the Croatian original, but as a party in itself, up to slightly right above the ruling HDZ in Zagreb. The same can be said for Republika Srpska, where autochthons are considered Serbian “ ” that Serbs still reside in Serbia today. The idea of Republika Srpska in Bosnia was that of creating an autonomous entity that would then have to unite Belgrade in the case where Kosovo would annex Albania. More than that of Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina's situation is similar to that of the Crimea, as well as Bosnia turns out to be a “tri ethnic”>>. However, the problems of Bosnia and Herzegovina's last 15 years have been created from within, regardless of Serbia and Croatia. On the other hand, the current Bosnia can be compared to a system of communication vessels: once the level of tension rises here, it rises automatically between extremists in Croatia and Serbia; all of this leads to inevitable friction. In December 1995 Bosnia and Herzegovina has been stopped by war, but the foundations have not been laid for a formation of a state in the true sense of the word. In Bosnia, the state exists only as imposed “state”, given that both Bosnia and Herzegovina's coat of arms were imported from the European Union. There is no state territorial identity in Bosnia, virtually no one feels “Bosniak” either, in any case, the number of those who claim to be “Bosniak “” is even lower than that of those who declared “oslav” at the time of the former Yugoslavia. In Bosnia, people who feel Croats think of their homeland, which has not yet rewarded them. And the Bosnian Muslims have no homeland, Turkey is not their homeland... The Dayton Accords were credited with stopping that slaughter and as a witness to those events I can't say “Thank God! But I have to admit that the European Union has done nothing to cross the line imposed by Americans in Dayton, that is, the recognition of 49% of Bosniak territory, with a situation that greatly reminds both Korea. The perspective, obviously, is not pink. What should be done? The next international conference, such as Geneva or Berlin, may be organised, but this solution has also proved false. If I had a clear answer, I would be entitled to the Nobel Peace Prize, for more reasons than Barack Obama...

In a way, the current Turkey can serve as “and ideological” for Bosnian Muslims?

In the case of Turkey or the United Emirates, I don't believe it can be spoken of “and ideological” in the true sense of the word. It is noteworthy that the concept of Islam in reality is far more universal than the very concept of Christianity itself. We Catholics believe in a Greek Catholic “Chiche” (where catholicos in Greek is equal to universalis in Latin), that is, in the Church of People, not of nations. Even more universal is Islam, associated with the concept of Umma, that is, the total community of believers, linked with solid obligations regardless of their language and ethnicity. By becoming a Muslim, you become part of Umma, and if you really believe in what the Koran describes you are obliged to help all members of the community materially. This is not about “ideology” in the western sense of the term. The problem lies in the fact that who really believes in these commandments is often also extreme...

Croatia is a member of NATO from 2009, Slovenia from 2004, while recently it has become Montenegro's accession. How much could this region's stability go for, given the fact that at the moment Serbia does not seem to intend to join the Atlantic Alliance at all?

Serbia, I'm sure, will never enter NATO. I don't believe that real problems can stem from this; here, NATO's is a side issue. In fact, I believe that the present-day Balkan area's neurosurgeons are Bosnia, Kosovo and, even more than before, the Republic of Macedonia. Greece and Turkey are both NATO members, but this has not contributed to completely mending their diplomatic relations. It is to be remembered that, formally, the Atlantic Alliance is designed to protect the borders of member states, but also to treat the interests of these countries that pay to keep this structure operational. In this optic I don't believe that the strategic interests of Croatia and Montenegro can really interest those who command. From a close military and strategic prism, I think Montenegro is important to Kotor's Grip and not enough for a strategic potential use on NATO's part, but simply to prevent the use of other forces, as happened in the period between the two world wars for the island of Sanzaan, occupied to avoid the Albanian ports of Vlora and Durres from being used in anti-taliaan function. I strongly believe that, for the stability of the entire Balkan area, it is a tern to operate jointly to avoid forming a mafia state in Montenegro, in spite of what seems to have happened in Kosovo. I know that the danger is not in Montenegrin mentality: I've been teaching for years in Chapania, Naples, and I know very well that most people have nothing to do with Camorra, even a victim. Making Montenegro an oaz of peace can greatly contribute to the stability of the region.

On July 12th, it is scheduled to be held in Trieste on the annual summit of the Western Balkans under the “Berlin Processing”, in which Chancellor Angela Merkel's presence is predicted. Italy, having played at home, will face several countries in the Western Balkan area, proposing as the main mediator for a “European training <x3nd) full of parts of the former Yugoslavia territories in direct competition with Germany. In your opinion, what are the actual Italian prospects in the region?

Germany has become a spokeswoman for a simple principle: it is better to integrate these countries into the EU than to keep them out, even from a simple <x0-hygiene political principle”, let me use this slightly disgusting term. Italy has never opposed this political line. On the contrary, in early 90s, he was very interested in the European integration of the Balkans, even though he could not compete with Germany, nor with Great Britain in the Western political field. In essence, there was full interest in becoming the first trade partner in the entire Balkan area. But, unfortunately, I believe Italy has failed to play its chances properly. I admit that Rome has invested a lot to reform and bring to the way of the rule of law both Albania and Montenegro, only to protect its own interest, namely, the disappearance of illegal trafficking routes between the two sides of the Adriatic. But the Adriatic initiative has not produced the expected effects: too much resources have been spent, but little is produced, there is no positive effect either on GDP or on the stability of the territory. I believe Italy has taken a very much “conservator”, it would have to work harder to welcome these countries if not directly into the EU, at least in a predome. But, on the other hand, Italy has not done well in Libya. And this, apparently, does not seem to be a Balkan problem...

(from Geopolica)

Prepare: ARMIN TIRANA / World.al