17.12.2022
However, despite its (unwritten) commitment to respect this request, NATO has not kept its promise by continuing to expand to the countries of Eastern Europe to include, among others, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic (1999), the Baltic countries (2004) and to grow from 17 to 30 members within it, currently.
13.12.2022
The EU should not perceive itself from the position of Europe centrism, because the era of “courtship of the West” is at its end. Every country pursues its policy in line with its interests and has different offers and solutions for its future on the table. The EU is no longer the only offer and option on the menu of Western Balkans countries. The ball is in the EU’s court now.
28.11.2022
Putin will reappear if the present stalemate is favourable to him; otherwise he will let his generals run things, or appear to, so they can carry the blame if things go wrong. The end game is in sight, but don’t hold your breath!
22.11.2022
Analysts warn that while the EU sets new conditions and criteria for membership, there are EU member countries that could not fully met the membership conditions set to Western Balkans. In the recent history, EU “turned a blind eye” in the case of Bulgaria and Rumania, as well as Croatia, when it granted them full-fledged membership. Another testimony of unprincipledness of the EU is the fact that in 2004 no less than 9.5 countries were coopted into the EU, as only half of Cyprus became a member.
11.11.2022
The presidential elections are an opportunity for Slovenia to part with Orban’s “values”, which still constitute a real threat to Slovenia, and to elect a president who will be up to the task in changed and demanding geopolitical and international circumstances, that will result in a fundamental change in the global order. For the first time in the history of the young Slovenian state, a path has been created for Slovenia to elects its first female state president.
08.11.2022
After the failure of the attempts to replace Russian gas using alternative producers such as Qatar, US and Azerbaijan, EU turned to Algeria as one of the largest exporters of natural gas in the world, as well as, because of its geographical proximity to Europe. Algeria could be one of the long-term solutions as it will actually not be able to replace the supply of Russian gas to Europe.
28.10.2022
After decades of controversies related to the natural gas fields in the sea, and the threats of war because of them, Lebanon and Israel have finally brokered an agreement on their maritime boarders. The agreement is described as historical. After almost two years of intensive trilateral negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, under US mediation, the three parties announced on 10 October 2022 that an agreement had been brokered on demarcation of “temporary” maritime borders between Lebanon and Israel ...
27.10.2022
Rishi Sunak has just been chosen by a fair margin, the next Prime Minister, the first ethnic Asian Briton to be so elected, and we wish him well. His appointment comes after a considerable period of turmoil which has raised many eyebrows around the world. Britain is supposed to be the home of parliamentary democracy. It still is, despite the fractious behaviour, which has not been seen for some time. It was occasionally in the past, but there was nothing like the same level of media scrutiny.
20.10.2022
Logar should clearly distance himself from Janša and SDS Party which suffered plebiscitary defeat at recent parliamentary elections when the Freedom Movement won. Brglez should clearly distance himself from incumbent President Pahor and the SD party. Such distance would enable both candidates to win more favour among the general electorate, while for both of them as individuals this would be a political suicide. This situation suits best Pirc Musar, who is not backed by any political party.
13.10.2022
Analysts believe that Türkiye's diplomacy should be joined by another two non-aligned countries - Qatar and Serbia. In the past Qatar's diplomacy has proven capable of reaching politically impossible agreements, such as the historical Doha agreement of between the US and the Taliban on the withdrawal of foreign troops concluded on February 29, 2020. With the “Open Balkan” initiative developed for the past three years Serbia has managed to bring together some of the states in the region.
10.10.2022
Ukraine won’t stop its endeavours as it has slowly been taking its land back, gaining territory, particularly in Donetsk and latterly towards Kherson. They rightly believe that the land is Ukrainian and not Russian. In the past few days, the Ukrainians have been making steady progress, which has led to the pronouncement again that Russia will take all the land within the four provincial boundaries, which it has illegally claimed, as the “successful’” outcome of the special military operation.
05.10.2022
Analysts believe that Open Balkan can be a crisis response tool that can help the region face and overcome crises together. Therefore, it is important to establish institutional and functional mechanisms required for an effective response. The upcoming winter will be a challenge and a test.
