5 minutes agoJoseph: Congratulations Lavrov, who gave the kiss of open Balkan death
Periskopi(4 years ago)
(4 years ago)The expert for the Western Balkans, Edward Joseph, has praised Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who, according to him, gave the death wish to the Open Balkans initiative, which he said was an idea of the administration of former US President Trump who advanced Russia's <x0-based strategic partner in the region, Serbia”. After aborting [...]
Following the annulment of the visit to Belgrade, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that “NATO and the EU want to turn the Balkans into a project called Closed Balkans, referring to the Open Balkans.
Joseph said Lavrov is credited for causing the Balkan Open's failure.
“NATO, also praised for Sergey Lavrov, who gave him the kiss of death to the Open Balkans. This idea of the Trump administration advanced the agenda of Russia's strategic partner in the region, Serbia, under Aleksandar Vucicin”, Joseph wrote.
He says that for this Sputnik Serbia, which he called Russia's main extension in Serbia, has consistently supported the Open Balkans, the Express newspaper reports.
“Open Balkan is an open invitation for Vuciqi to exploit Serbia's economic size for political advantages without political restrictions or EU values. Open Balkan = Serbian Bota Srpska via market for Serbia's smaller neighbours”.
Joseph has said that not necessarily trade creates trust, taking other countries as well that trade has not solved political problems.
“Trusting that Aleksandar Vuciq wants to join the EU, US officials have accepted the notion that trade is equal to trust. What matters is the character of the regime you're trading with. Ask Ukraine: until February 24th, Russia has been the main trading partner of #iev, for exports and imports. Ask Japan, South Korea, or Taiwan if trade has built trust with China”.
He says the same story is in the Balkans.
Serbia is Montenegro's number one trade partner for imports and exports, and Belgrade is in the last place in terms of trust. Montenegro's last support for the Balkan Open has exacerbated the divides in the country”.
Joseph says any policy in the Balkans facing direct threat from Serbia is sceptical, if not suspicious of the Balkan Open.
“As though BERZH noted that in Bosnia, basic economic problems are of political nature. As Putin has pushed NATO, we hope Lavrov will promote alternatives for the Balkan Open that build a joint regional market on common EU values”.
Lavrov's visit was halted because Montenegro, Bulgaria and North Macedonia allowed his plane to pass through their airspace.
