Analysis, Serbia non-EU options

[Crvena zvezda]

View: EU is not the solution
Decision on Serbia’s strategic alliances
By By Boba Borojevic
June 15, 2008

The question of Serbia’s EU membership has paralyzed the country. Instead of focusing on the economic development that would help Serbia out of poverty and joblessness, Serbia 's government led by Boris Tadic and his Democratic Party (DS) is preoccupied with the question whether Serbia should or should not become a member of the EU.

Prime Minister Kostunica's attempt to explain the obvious has been in vain by saying that: "Serbia has been a European country for centuries, and, at least so far, there was no other Serbia but European in all senses, economic, political, cultural and all others." Kostunica also stressed that Serbia should become an EU member as an equal partner only.
Tadic, however insists that Serbia has no future outside the EU. Indoctrination of Serbian people doesn't stop here. Tadic insists that the ratification of a key pre-membership deal with the European Union known as the Stabilisation and Association Agreement [SAA] (which Brussels signed with Belgrade in late April) is the key to Serbia 's prosperity.
This brushes off a crucial detail that by signing the SAA Serbia will sign away its province Kosovo and Metohija, thus violating its own Constitution. Serbia’s famous writer Ivo Andric wrote in his novel "Signs near the travel-road”: "Prolonged submission and bad governance can so confuse and maim the comprehension of a people that its common sense and sound judgment become weakened and entirely corrupted." Indeed, a great number of Serbia’s population believe in Tadic's spin so much so that it "can no longer tell the difference not only between good and evil, but between their own benefit and obvious detriment."
The EU is the problem
"The EU is in fact the problem and not the solution for Serbia," says F.W.B. of ALEXIS International Ltd, a Toronto based consulting firm. "Today's EU is a special interest Moloch corrupt to the core and with a hidden agenda. This is not what the founding fathers had in mind," explained F.W.B. in his interview to "Monday's Encounter", Serbian radio program in Ottawa.
"Europe was meant to be an association of independent regions that pursue their own policies and serve the interests of their people in a European House. Instead appointed commissioners and their armies of committee bureaucrats who are not accountable to anyone rule. The European Parliament is a puppet show with ZERO power and authority. Most people are clueless to how the EU is structured, it operates and it is run. "You might want to share this documentary ‘EU Takeover & The Lisbon Treaty' - with anyone who wants to know how the EU is structured and functions. It’s a real eye opener," says F.W.B.
Serbia is in a unique position
Having been abused and battered things have been slow in coming together for multiple and very complex reasons. This is actually a blessing in disguise. According to F.W.B, Serbia has nothing to expect from the EU that will promote and secure Serbian interests, be they political or economic.
"The EU is a failed concept and the EURO is a failed currency. There are only a hand full of EURO surplus countries - Germany, Finland, Austria and the Benelux countries [Holland, Belgium , Luxembourg ]. These countries are being deprived of their surpluses by the European Central Bank [ECB] that redistributes those surpluses to the deficit countries like France, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Italy , Greece etc. Hence the surplus countries have no money left for much needed infrastructure investments etc. They are being drained and impoverished, while the deficit countries live the good live of the surplus countries. Germans have today the same purchasing power they had 1983 (a brutal decline and unacceptable under any given circumstances) since EUR 120 billion are officially 'stolen' from the German coffers by the ECB every year and being sent to the deficit countries that use those EUROS to purchase hard German assets [banks, construction and industrial companies etc.], since they know that sooner or later they will be ejected from the EURO core zone as it is operated today. Once that happens, their money will be worthless whereas their acquired assets are in the surplus, hard currency EURO zone countries, maintaining its value. How long can this last? Well, not much longer," continues F.W.B.
So even if Serbia pursues EU membership, by the time it happens, whatever the gains perceived currently by Serb politicians will have evaporated like morning mist once the EU dawn is over. Should Serbia be part of such a cartel? “I would recommend against it. Associated? Yes. A member? NO", insists F.W.B.
The best strategy for Serbia
Serbia's wealth is its people and its deep-rooted and very complex history, its creativity and perseverance.
"Serbia must make strategic linkages to the BRIC countries - Brazil , Russia , India , China - rather than looking to Western Europe or America- remember these are the very states that wrought the destruction of Yugoslavia on the Serb people; the very same states that tore Serbia ’s cultural heartland, Kosovo, away from Serbia. Such a policy needs to be synchronized regionally, nationally and internationally, utilizing state of the art, highly mobile and flexible structures that are transparent and all embedded in a solid legal framework that is pragmatic and easy to understand by locals and foreigners alike,” says F.W.B.
Serbia could model itself after the Republic of San Marino, Luxembourg, Hong Kong, Singapore or Dubai. “Considering the location Serbia could easily be structured and developed into an European 'Free Port Zone' , ''Off Shore" location, making it extremely popular with people who want to live in Europe but not being haunted by taxes, as well as businesses that engage in international manufacturing, trade and commerce,” says F.W.B. “Kaliningrad will eventually be converted into one of such 'Free Port Zones' with all the bells and whistles.
What is to be done?
There are Serbs all over the world. Once they see that something constructive is happening in the country of their ancestors they will route their business thorough Serbian structures and lift Serbia 's economy and international standing to unprecedented levels. It will take a few very good men and women to make that happen. Men and women who have vision, their feet on the ground, and who stand on money and rather than having money on their head. You would be amazed how many non-Serbs would lend a hand in helping to implement such a concept. Once an event driven dynamic is triggered there will be an avalanche of positive developments lifting the Serbs and Serbia to new heights. The first thing that needs to stop is the divisive actions and fragmentation of the various political groups. One must not necessarily agree with ones adversaries to define and reach a common goal. Different opinions and controversial debates are actually quite constructive. However, this is about Serbia and the Serbs, and as long as people with different opinions can agree on an overall policy design that is free from foreign dictate and patronization, then there will be swift progress. Where there is negative energy and darkness there is an equally positive energy and light. The positive energies must be unleashed. No one can do this but the Serbs themselves; with a little help from some friends it might actually shorten the learning curve and be quite successful in its outcome,” concluded F.W.B. Partners at ALEXIS International Ltd. believe that the Serbian situation is unique and if help is seriously wanted they are open to talk to legitimate players.

[BeliAndjeo]

I can only find myself desperetlly confused..i don't even know where is left and where is right in this situation in Serbia,don't know anymore who to trust,what to do and where to look..i am affraid that Serbia is not going to make any progress in next 20,30 years and we have so much things to offer to this world..sad

[Crvena zvezda]

^ You aren't the only one confused. Any one believing the rhetoric coming from the ZES coalition is confused.

It's sad, when at the end of the day that a party led by Seselj (look at the claim he madfe yeasterday, that he is in contact with Mladic and Karadzic from inside the Hague prison) is the second most honest one in Serbia (the ohter being DSS led by Kostunica).

[Menydh]

Kostunica also stressed that Serbia should become an EU member as an equal partner only.

[...]

There are only a hand full of EURO surplus countries - Germany, Finland, Austria and the Benelux countries [Holland, Belgium , Luxembourg ]. These countries are being deprived of their surpluses by the European Central Bank [ECB] that redistributes those surpluses to the deficit countries like France, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Italy , Greece etc. Hence the surplus countries have no money left for much needed infrastructure investments etc. They are being drained and impoverished, while the deficit countries live the good live of the surplus countries.

This is one side of the story. There is no such thing as entering the EU as an equal partner. While it is true that the structural and cohesion funds are taken from stronger countries to be invested in weaker ones, this is a trade-off. In exchange, a new member is usually one which its economy and industry is much weaker, and it is forced to compete in a highly strong and competitive market. That forces to an impossible "restructuration" of the industry which, in real words, it means the dismantling of the national industry to be sold out at sale prices to the multinational companies of the stronger countries.

Not just that. Agriculture, fisheries and other traditional sectors in the weakest countries are used as bargains to obtain better deals in the international markets for the industry of the stronger ones.

"Today's EU is a special interest Moloch corrupt to the core and with a hidden agenda. This is not what the founding fathers had in mind,"

Says who? This is exactly what the "founding fathers" had in mind.