Sitemap

Nikola Pejović, Umka Cardboard Mill General Manager

Sustainability and Quality as Foundations of Trust

The Umka Cardboard Mill boasts a rich tradition dating all the way back to 1939, when it was first established to produce paper and...

Miodrag Kostić Endowment

Palace of Science Welcomes Visitors

Thanks to Miodrag Kostić’s gift to the Serbian society that’s worth over 25 million euros, an area of 5,500m² in one of Belgrade’s most...

dm drogerie

CSR Marks Milestone Year for dm

Retail chain dm drogerie markt, a leader in corporate social responsibility in Serbia, concluded its anniversary year with numerous humanitarian activities and monetary and...

Kathrine Decorzant, general manager, JTI Adriatica

Benchmark for Success

JTI represents one of the largest Japanese investments in Serbia and the country’s leading tobacco company, which has been recognised as a Top Employer...

Aleksandar Momčilović, sales and service manager at Daikin Serbia (Heating & Cooling expert)

Trust Built on Expertise

Daikin has introduced many global “firsts” and patented technologies that have become indispensable in modern air conditioners and heat pumps ~ says Diakin Serbia’s...

Aleksandar Radić, Military Analyst

BiH Haunted By Postponed High-Level Conflict

Serbia accepts the political reality and negotiations on the status of Kosovo, but those in power in Serbia simultaneously want the image of being powerful and dangerous, which is essential for them to avoid a loss of confidence in their real capacity. At the same time, the far more complex issue of Bosnia-Herzegovina is ignored

The dramatic tones linked to Kosovo are primarily an issue of propaganda and the internal political needs of the authorities in Belgrade, and they create the image that they are ready to do whatever is required, including the use of force, to protect national interests. At the same time, we have their counterparts in Priština, who also need to project an image of being determined patriots.

The Kosovo issue is a medium of daily political propaganda, which is precisely why it is important to note that showing 155mm self-propelled howitzers near the administrative line is a media pose. When it comes to our side, the Serbian side, I support the show of force provided it is a tool of foreign policy at a specific juncture. Showing force is not a taboo topic, but that is not to be abused in the media for the needs of domestic politics.

If we observe the bigger picture, we see that there is communication between the Serbian authorities and the Serbian Army with KFOR, with KFOR presenting itself and accepting its role as the only relevant interlocutor when it comes to the security of Kosovo, which is of course reassuring and indicates that it is acting responsibly and that there are no indications of the situation becoming radicalised. On the flip side, strong pressure is being exerted on domestic public opinion with images intended to show that the army and the police are just a step away from war.

In NATO over the last few months, whenever the war in Ukraine is mentioned, the next sentence makes mention of the situation in the Balkans, but with the focus on Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Of course, this is presumably because it is politically correct for the public promotion of people from the non-governmental sector, then to a number of our fellow analysts and journalists, to insist on Russian pressure, on the Russian factor. That is valid, but it is by no means as radical as our Balkan problems actually being our problems. We have inherited hatred and unresolved conflicts from the past.

Unlike Kosovo, elements of unfavourable assessments exist in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The wars of the 1990s were actually stopped through truces, provisional solutions, none of which are stable. And here B-H is seen as the main problem. In NATO over the last few months, whenever the war in Ukraine is mentioned, the next sentence makes mention of the situation in the Balkans, but with the focus on Bosnia-Herzegovina. That’s because the peace of the Dayton Accords left sharp national divisions, and a state that never became functional. And there one can see a postponed conflict at a high level, in contrast to the situation regarding Kosovo, where day-to-day politics mainly dominates. Of course, here we must add the caveat that the possibility always exists that control of the situation could be lost in this dangerous game being played.

A large section of our public is convinced that foreigners create wars; that a foreign factor is in control, and until 1991 it was neglect that was one of the catalysts for the radical development of the situation. Back in 2014, when the crisis in relations between Moscow and Kiev, or between Moscow and the West, began with Crimea and the Donbass, then German Chancellor Angela Merkel noted that she wouldn’t want problems to arise in the Balkans in the shadow of that conflict. I believe that today the EU, U.S. and NATO perceive the Western Balkans as a potential area of high security risk, particularly in the shadow of the war in Ukraine, and that they perceive it as risky precisely when pressure is lacking. I am nevertheless convinced that the real risk of armed conflict between Serbia and the Albanian authorities and their formations isn’t high.

Comment by Zoran Panović

The Absurdity of Reality

Amid the unfolding upheaval surrounding Trump’s return to the White House, mass Student-led protests have erupted in Serbia. The trigger was a tragedy at...

Florian Bieber, Professor for Southeast European History and Politics at the University of Graz and director of the Centre for Southeast European Studies

Autocratic Regimes Spark Mass Protests

Protests in Slovakia, Georgia and Serbia stem from different causes, but reflect broader political frustration and often inspire one another There have been large protest...

Vladan Marjanović, journalist of weekly news magazine Radar

Violence Threatens from Above and Below

With Trump’s return to the White House, the world has entered a period in which the power of state repression, based on the violating...

Slobodan G. Markovich, Faculty of Political Science of the University of Belgrade

The Mutiny of Zoomers and the Belgrade Student Protests

Gen Z in the West and Serbia seeks security and respect, expecting institutions – and not politicians – to deliver. Using likes, dislikes and...

IWC Opens Call for Proposals for Women Empowerment Projects in Serbia

Following the success of its 2024 Charity Bazaar, which raised over 4 million RSD, the International Women’s Club of...

Neoplanta Celebrates New Life with Generous Gesture

In a touching display of community spirit, Neoplanta, a renowned food company based in Novi Sad, once again marked...

The Hermitage Days are Being Held Again in Belgrade in 2025

The Hermitage Days in Serbia represent a unique international cultural project that will take place from February 19 to...

AgroBelgrade 2025 – A Hub for Innovation and Trade in Agriculture and Horticulture

Over 500 exhibitors will converge at the three-day AgroBelgrade 2025, bringing together the best of Eastern Europe’s fruit, vegetable,...

Djokovic into Australian Open Semifinals After Victory Over Alcaraz

The best Serbian tennis player, Novak Djokovic, secured his place in the Australian Open semifinals after an incredibly thrilling...

The Hermitage Days are Being Held Again in Belgrade in 2025

The Hermitage Days in Serbia represent a unique international cultural project that will take place from February 19 to...

Djokovic into Australian Open Semifinals After Victory Over Alcaraz

The best Serbian tennis player, Novak Djokovic, secured his place in the Australian Open semifinals after an incredibly thrilling...

UK Surges to Second in Global Investment Rankings, Offering Hope Amid Economic Uncertainty

In a remarkable shift, the UK has surged to second place in global investment rankings, overtaking Germany, China, and...

Orban Visits Belgrade: Hungary and Serbia Aim for Affordable Energy for All

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban emphasized the joint goal of Hungary and Serbia to make energy accessible to citizens...

Nigeria Joins BRICS as a Partner Country

Nigeria has been admitted to BRICS as a partner country, the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced. Brazil currently...

The Hermitage Days are Being Held Again in Belgrade in 2025

The Hermitage Days in Serbia represent a unique international cultural project that will take place from February 19 to...

Djokovic into Australian Open Semifinals After Victory Over Alcaraz

The best Serbian tennis player, Novak Djokovic, secured his place in the Australian Open semifinals after an incredibly thrilling...

UK Surges to Second in Global Investment Rankings, Offering Hope Amid Economic Uncertainty

In a remarkable shift, the UK has surged to second place in global investment rankings, overtaking Germany, China, and...

Orban Visits Belgrade: Hungary and Serbia Aim for Affordable Energy for All

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban emphasized the joint goal of Hungary and Serbia to make energy accessible to citizens...

Nigeria Joins BRICS as a Partner Country

Nigeria has been admitted to BRICS as a partner country, the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced. Brazil currently...
spot_img