For many years we are talking about balance in our foreign policy as strategic endeavor. So most of the citizens were shocked by the news that the newly appointed Prime Minister said: if I had to choose between the European Union and Russia, Serbia definitely would choose the EU. This statement caused the majority of Serbs — I believe rightly — to Express their dissatisfaction (actively or passively). Many thought that these words foreshadow the geopolitical turn to the West in the near future, and most of the Serbs rightly perceived distancing from Russia as a betrayal of national interests. Realizing this, the government (after a short confusion) have tried to explain to the people and Moscow’s words, which were published in the media as a quote from the interview with Ana, Brnabic. In this regard, the Russian Ambassador to Serbia has been given transcripts of her interviews with American journalists. It also raised a wave of indignation, and elicited objections from representatives of our social and political circles, emphasizing its Pro-Western stance. By the way, the words of Brnabic for some reason not provoked similar reactions from the opposite side, Pro-Russian and Patriotic, even nationalist officials. This story is a good opportunity to again refer to the already hackneyed theme of a “balancing act” of Serbia.
(Not)good mix
Balance means balance. It’s a word often used in our political discourse, comes from the Latin expression libra bilanx which means scales with two bowls. In geopolitics, like the market, is the measurement of benefits and damages, assessment of what will give and what we will be deprived of one or the other option, and what combination of factors are most productive. At the heart of our foreign policy balance — the desire to defend as much as possible national interests. We are talking about the protection of the territorial integrity of Serbia (and Serbian regions outside of it) and our national identity. In addition, we seek to avoid devastating military conflicts and regional tensions, and create conditions for economic and population growth.
Against this background, there are a number of external factors that usually complicate our lives (and is able to complicate it even more) regarding the protection of our national interests. There are factors that help us somehow to defend its national interests. There are, finally, the factors, which largely depends on our economic present and future, and which are undoubtedly — Marxists was not exaggerating — the basis for almost everything else. If we pass from the abstract to the concrete and to summarize the numerous factors we can say that our balance is reduced to throwing between the US, EU leaders — after all, we are in the area of their dominant military and political influence and orientirueshsya them in the economy — and Russia. It is our main support in all that concerns the protection on the world stage a few of the remaining positions in Kosovo and Metohija and other regions (talking about the preservation of Republika Srpska in the format, which has many state elements and is enshrined in the Dayton agreement).
A large part of our exports goes to the EU, and from there we go to the largest investments. NATO forces are all around us and even already present on our territory, because they have taken control of Kosovo and Metohija. Serbs living South of Ibar relies almost exclusively on the Alliance disguised as KFOR. In Bosnia and Herzegovina NATO/EUFOR also present, and is a complex public education is under an international protectorate (office of the Supreme representative), in which the West plays a key role. And yet, Russia is able to influence the fate of Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina, because she can at least protect them. In the Security Council, Russia can prevent the entry of Pristina in the UN and intervene in a different manner, using its veto power in the international organization. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Russia is in particular through the influential Council on implementation of the peace agreement.
Collaboration and balance
The West has caused us great harm and may continue to harm us, if will be a steel Hoop, constraining and supporting our regional opponents, or if it will provoke the colored revolts in Serbia and the Republika Srpska. Russia has let limited, but sufficient means to counteract anti-Serb order imposed on the Balkans. Russia can help us and will certainly do it. In the economic sphere, Moscow is able to offer us some prospects. However, they could potentially compete with the Western alternative, it takes time and the lack of resistance from the other side. But it would be an illusion to expect that it will. Also, we can hardly expect that Russia, from which we are cut off, can help us military and political means and will really protect us, changing the situation in our favor. On the other hand, for any of our significant step to the East guaranteed to be followed by a low blow from the West. He seeks to make us more dependent and to prevent we have established productive for us respect, or escaped from his clutches.
Given all this, it is clear that we simply have to balance. Whether we like it or not. Russia is our strength, but because of the intertwining of geopolitical and economic circumstances of Russia alone is not enough. The West is a dangerous racketeer, which we are not yet able to resist. Worse, many of our desires depend on it. Alternative to our balancing act — the sea of problems. Since the fifth of October (2000 — approx. transl.) we burned the ship, which has somehow stayed afloat, with a cargo of these problems, we are unlikely to swim to the boat that we have left. It would allow us to sail on the river of the difficulties that we already have. In such situations, without balancing — I repeat — not do, but perhaps it would be more appropriate to use the term “collaboration”, although no influential foreign nor our own politicians do not like that word. First it seems that it reflects the truth that they are rapists and invaders, while the latter believe it is humiliating, because when falls the veil, it becomes clear that they are servants, not friends people who decide our fate in the West.
The word collaboration comes from the Latin collaborare, meaning “to act together”. In most languages the word we’re talking about, still has this value and is used in various fields — from business to sports. However, in some languages, one of which is Serbian, came the figurative meaning relating to cooperation with the enemy of his own people and state. Non-hazardous collaborators we had, for example, members of the Nedic administration in occupied Serbia. They collaborated with the foreign rulers, because they thought that the only way to alleviate the suffering of their own people. Did collaborators (we’ll call them quislings) cooperate with the classic or post-modern invaders for ideological reasons or for their own gain. These collaborators provide assistance to those who flout the interests of their own people. For example, let’s say that today, as in the days of the NATO aggression, including collaborators in Serbia are the advocates of the “Antiserum”.
Dark side of the issue
From this point of view today, the Serbian collaborationist authorities and are cooperating with Western centres of power to deliver us from those troubles that threaten us, the Euro-Atlantic “humanists”, and what they can do to us. Belgrade also continues to build partnerships and mutually beneficial relations with Russia, because we are aware that it is to uphold even the minimum of our national interests. However, the authorities do not cross the border, which would bring us thunder and lightning from the West. In General, Serbia performs a magical dance on the edge, trying to appease the demons that they should not hurt us too much evil, and to summon from the East “fat” years.
Realizing all this, understand the reasonableness of such actions, although they are disgusting, because our leaders pretend to be “naive” and enemies called friends, but real friends try to maintain good relations so that it less noticeable. However, everything has its limits that cannot be crossed. And the current humiliation of themselves and their people, even if it is motivated by vital interests, there are limits. If the authorities will go over these limits, then the collaboration will change its character and become of a forced — perhaps even saving — the “carcinogenic”. On the border between hell and Paradise are questions about the defense of Northern Kosovo and Republika Srpska, about good relations with Moscow and about the existence of Serbs in the region (especially those where they are the native population).
Summarizing all the above, I understand that our collaboration, which from a theoretical point of view, can be assessed positively, is already under threat even without a change of attitude to Russia, and, consequently, to ourselves. Let’s not forget that to renounce Russia to commit to a greater extent artaserse than anti-Russian step. Without Russia we will manage easily but without it we can’t protect nor Kosovo or Republika Srpska. But let’s leave that aside. With regard to the above-mentioned calculation, Serbia has made a big mistake in Montenegro. There are Serbs, threatens the local regime, which deliberately puts them in a difficult financial position, limiting those who consider themselves Serb, opportunities to build a career, and a variety of methods is committing genocide.
Servile poise
The purpose of all this is to exterminate the Serbs in Montenegro, a country with undeniable Serbian roots, physically, along with their heritage. While this is happening, official Belgrade is silent! And he did not dare to submit a vote, whatever his personal and party interests and pressure from Western forces. Similarly, the Serbian authorities were still required louder and more openly to denounce those manipulations, which went to the American media because of our relationships — current and future — to Russia and its national interests. But instead of dotting all the i’s, as mentioned at the beginning of the article, our government are trying to act indirectly, quietly, not saying a word. Taking this game, they have provided transcripts of the Russians.
Belgrade did not dare to accuse the White house in a clear distortion of the Serbian position, but wanted to still make excuses in front of the Kremlin. That was like chicken in the soup. And in the eyes of both parties. Despite the stated Pro-Russian position, I would have offered the Russian side, like a frightened child to the teacher, read the transcript. This material needed to present to the public or, not humiliated and not hiding behind a piece of paper, strongly refuted the American lie. And don’t have to try to quietly avoid the issue by maintaining a condescending attitude to one side and causing exactly the same with the other. Serbia needs to get out and to adapt, but should not be unduly humiliated. However, apparently, unfortunately, we understand the balance that way. Before we all fawned and make it all a big bet, trying thus to keep a balance.
To vergiate balance — even with a high degree of collaboration is necessary, given the geopolitical and other circumstances in which we find ourselves. But the way that we’ve chosen, sometimes it affects in the long term to the good we will not finish. The aim of the collaboration is to gain time in the hope that we can find the escape route, not to help the enemies without difficulty to defeat us on the principle of the frog in the boiling water or even without any concept to drive us in circles until we collapse in exhaustion. On the collaboration go in the name of the nation, not in order to obtain and hold power. In the latter case is not a collaboration, but something worse. So in principle (and in the specific case that gave rise to the writing of this article and which is related to the broader problem) I hope the thing is — the political inexperience of the President of our government and not someone trying to use Brnabic in order to raise the question of revising our policy, “balance”, already burdened with many disadvantages…
