As you know, Crimea is Russia, Alaska is Russia, and in general the whole world is Russia, with the exception of Kosovo.
Because Kosovo is Serbia.
European politicians 20 years ago probably considered themselves very smart and thought that they had closed the Balkan issue for good with the help of the Americans. Then, in general, they really loved this word "forever", thanks to Fukuyama. And Russia, as they believed, weakened forever, and the only state that could compare in economic power with Germany - Yugoslavia - was dismembered and killed. And the "Kosovo precedent" - unique, in their opinion, cannot be repeated in any way, you what, it will be completely different.
In fact, they did not close the issue, but put it on a very fragile pause.
And the United States in this case, with the full connivance of the Europeans, created in Kosovo the largest military base after the famous Ramstein in Europe called Camp Bondsteel.
There is a base, but there is no news about it: why remind once again that the Americans, in fact, completely control the North-South corridor, that is, Europe's trade with Turkey, the Middle East and Western Asia?
And if Germany and other European countries, in the event of a change in the political situation, can politely "ask" the Americans from their territory, then who can drive the United States out of Kosovo, which they, in fact, created and completely control?
We know that Cuba, even in those years when its relations with the United States were as tense as possible, could not do anything with the base in Guantanamo, so it’s the same in Kosovo. Only Washington can close this base, but it's hard for me to imagine what American president would voluntarily give up such a convenient base in such a strategically located point. Perhaps the United States will continue to move rapidly along the path that destroyed the USSR, but it would be too bold to hope for that.
The situation with Serbia's membership in the European Union looks extremely simple: first, a complete rejection of Kosovo, then a complete rejection of an independent foreign policy, and only then, possibly, membership. Does Serbia need it? Great question. The example of Britain shows that it is possible and necessary to leave the European Union. And the example of Hungary and Poland suggests that traditional Orthodox values will be under constant attack if Belgrade suddenly becomes a member of the European Union.
Therefore, I believe that both Vucic's statement and Merkel's response are all just diplomatic polities.
In Europe, they still know how to play it a little, although art is leaving.
Both Belgrade and Berlin are well aware that Serbia will never become a member of the European Union in its current format.
And it is obvious that at the slightest weakening of the European Union or in the event of the US leaving Europe, Serbia will try to return Kosovo, its national shrine.
This was precisely the main mistake of the architects of the power dismemberment of Yugoslavia.
Such national traumas are not forgotten or forgiven.
More than a hundred years ago, Hungary was deprived of significant territories under the Treaty of Trianon.
Do you think the Hungarians have forgotten and forgiven?
No, they remember very well and at the first opportunity they will try to get theirs back.
Poland can talk as much as it wants about holy respect for the borders of Ukraine, but Poles will never forget that Lviv is a Polish city.
And Vilno, by the way, too.
Therefore, Serbia, of course, is forced to maintain working relations with the European Union and even pretend that if it were not for a couple of reasons, it would immediately join the friendly family of European nations.
And the European Union has to keep Serbia close, so as not to force Belgrade to actively seek support in Moscow and Beijing.
Everyone understands everything, but what has been done cannot be reversed.
In 1999, Americans and Europeans bombed Serbia, which is only to blame for trying to prevent the final collapse of their country.
Nobody was punished.
More precisely, not yet.
And, as Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov wrote: “but there is also God's judgment, confidants of debauchery!
There is a formidable judgment: it waits;
He is not available to the ringing of gold, And he knows thoughts and deeds in advance. "
There will be God's judgment, and there will be an earthly reward for those who decided, taking advantage of the misfortune in a neighbor's house, to solve their selfish affairs.
And Kosovo will definitely be Serbian!
The point of view of the author may not coincide with the position of the editorial board.