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Thread: Balkan watching (catch all)

  1. #161
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    Quote Originally Posted by Azor View Post
    If I recall correctly, neither the EU nor its previous iterations did anything in the Balkans, which were pacified by American interventions. Juncker is truly the goofiest of the Eurocrats, and probably the dirtiest...
    Would actually agree.....

  2. #162
    Council Member davidbfpo's Avatar
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    Default Pacified by American interventions?

    Quote Originally Posted by Azor View Post
    If I recall correctly, neither the EU nor its previous iterations did anything in the Balkans, which were pacified by American interventions. Juncker is truly the goofiest of the Eurocrats, and probably the dirtiest...
    I am no fan of Mr Juncker, but this is a re-writing of history - with the USA riding to the rescue of the EU and the people in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Yes, just one part of the Balkan jigsaw and my remarks only apply to Bosnia.

    The EU collectively made bad decisions at the start of Yugoslavia breaking up and once the civil war began - not in Bosnia - stood back relying on diplomacy. When Bosnia slipped into mayhem a number of EU nations contributed to the much-criticized UNPROFOR, which IIRC the USA made no contribution. It did send an envoy to head one mission in part of Croatia.

    As the Bosnian civil war escalated, with horrors committed by all three sides, there were times when NATO, not the EU, threatened and used air power from August 1995 - a good part being provided by the USA (based in Italy IRRC).

    The key event from my reading now years ago was the Serbian siege of Sarejevo; this was broken by the deployment of heavy artillery and mortars to Mt. Igman - an independent force, with Dutch, French & UK troops - who fired upon Serbian artillery.

    Remember the Croats had launched an offensive in north-western Bosnia, which had significant US support, not "boots on the ground", in August 1995 and took significant Serbia territory.

    The Dayton negotiations then went into high gear and the peace accords followed in November 1995. Only with the deployment of IFOR in December 1995 did US troops deploy to Bosnia; a significant two brigade force from Germany, with three allied brigades alongside.

    I am sure there is a casualty list somewhere, but I would wager accidents aside the USA paid in gold, not blood when it was present on the ground.
    Last edited by davidbfpo; 03-25-2017 at 11:27 AM. Reason: 42,919v
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  3. #163
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    Ivan Krastev: #Russia will test @NATO in #Balkans because can be sure that it won't be a priority of the US.

  4. #164
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    Quote Originally Posted by OUTLAW 09 View Post
    Would actually agree.....
    My reference was to Juncker himself as many around Merkel would like to see him basically shut up for awhile...

    Loose cannon that tends to overstate and misstate....

  5. #165
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    https://www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-a...egro-zugzwang/

    Balkan Gambit: Part 2. The Montenegro Zugzwang
    March 25, 2017
    By Christo Grozev

  6. #166
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    Tensions are building up between the Socialist Party of Albania (PSSh) and the Socialist Movement of Integration (LSI). Coalition between LSI will have a very good position at the coalition building table. LSI worked together with Democrats (2009-13) and Socialists (2013-17) those parties will be important for the outcome of the election. Without LSI, it will be difficult for Rama to win 71 seats alone

  7. #167
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    Balkanist Magazine @Balkanist
    Op-Ed: Europe Should Brace Itself, a New Autocracy is on the Rise in #Serbia
    http://balkanist.net/op-ed-europe-sh...ew-autocracy/#

    Vucic has won a crushing 1st round win in #Serbia's presidential election. Signs of growing autocracy in the country

  8. #168
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    Default What the hell is going on in Macedonia?

    Via Open Democracy a viewpoint by:
    David Stefanoski is a student at the Institute for Security, Defense and Peace at the University of Skopje. He was a co-ordinator of the original student protests in Macedonia and active in protests and plenums in the country.
    The sub-title:
    A maelstrom of scandals, drama, violence and anger has seen Macedonia sliding towards collapse in recent months, with serious implications for the Balkans as a whole.
    Link:https://www.opendemocracy.net/can-europe-make-it/david-stefanoski/what-hell-is-going-on-in-macedonia?
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  9. #169
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    A Quarter-Century Later, Sarajevans Still Haunted By Siege #Bosnia #Serbia
    http://www.rferl.org/a/28412521.html

  10. #170
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    Serbian president-elect who earlier wanted 'Greater Serbia' now calls for 'New Yugoslavia'.


    You can't blame their immediate neighbours for being bit anxious

  11. #171
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    Massive protests in Serbia for the 6th day in a row against the elected President
    http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-internat...spat-ales.htm#

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    Protests against the #Serbia president elect Vucic continue. This kind of instability could explode..

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    Trump Campaign Chief ‘Worked for Montenegrin Independence’ :: Balkan Insight
    https://shar.es/1Q8zu3

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    Bosnian Serbs Unveil Monument to Russian War Volunteers
    http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/arti...rs-04-12-2017#

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    Vladimir #Putin is bound to safeguard the cross until #Russian empire is restored - say #Serb veterans in #Bosnia

    http://balkans.aljazeera.net/vijesti...im-u-vojsci-rs

    Interestingly many have forgotten that the Russian Orthodox Church called for a crusade when Putin announced he was heading to Syria...to fight IS.....

  16. #176
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    Montenegro becomes 29th member of NATO, which expands for the first time since 2009
    https://goo.gl/rauLnN
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  17. #177
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    No end in sight for the constitutional crisis in Skopje. Trenches look even deeper.
    Grave situation.
    http://meta.mk/en/there-will-be-a-ne...edium=twitter#

  18. #178
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    Serbian tabloids have been publishing sensationalist reports about the possibility of war with Albania and Kosovo
    http://bit.ly/2pokxTn

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    Pushkov laments on Montenegro decision join NATO saying in no outside threat situation pointless and the alliance is helpless with terrorism

  20. #180
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    Violence against Macedonia MPs prompts western fears that simmering tensions could erupt into bloodshed.
    https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/w...ing-q2k08f59t#

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