Belgrade Foresees Balkans Yugoslav Scenario in Ukraine Crisis BELGRADE, Serbia — So far, #Serbia has been the only country where the #Ukrainian situation has sparked actual street protests. On March 3 this year, 200 pro-Russia demonstrators gathered in the capital, #Belgrade, chanting and holding placards reading, #Crimea is #Russia, and #Kosovo is #Serbia. [Reminiscence of War 3] RFE/RL 3/06/2014 - #Moscow backed Serbian opposition to Kosovo independence in 2008 On an official level, however, Belgrade has sought to maintain a far more subtle balancing act. As a fellow Orthodox country with urgent economic needs, Serbia has long served as Russias Balkan foothold. - Serbia was caught in between Russia and the EU Caught in a Ukraine-like squeeze between Russia and the EU, Serbia has attempted to present itself as a stable, if not entirely neutral, partner to both sides. Speaking at a March 3 rally in Sremska Mitrovica, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said that work and discipline would lead the day in his country, adding, We are not going to have a Ukraine or Bosnia in Serbia. At the same meeting, however, he noted Serbia would not break off its ties with Russia, regardless of what is happening in the world. - Still mourning Belgrades loss by collapse of Yugoslavia Indeed, many Serbs and Montenegrins, still mourning Belgrades loss of influence following the collapse of Yugoslavia, harbor tacit sympathies with Moscow as it seeks to restore its Soviet-era status as the imperial center of power. - Putins tactics in Crimea compared to Milosevics in Balkan The similarity has led some commentators, including Ian Traynor in The Guardian, to compare Vladimir Putins tactics in Crimea to those of late Yugoslav strongman Slobodan Milosevic in Bosnia, Croatia, and Kosovo. Unfortunately, Ukraine is following the Yugoslav scenario, and Im sorry about that, Serbian film director Emir Kusturica told ITAR-TASS. I see the same kind of catastrophe. I think that Russia should protect the Russians who live in Ukraine. Next ▶Reminiscence 4: Unstoppable Democratization Moving Eastward Read in full: rferl.org/content/balkans-see-selves-ukraine/25286891.html
Posted on: Thu, 06 Mar 2014 21:31:34 +0000
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