By Selim Ibraimi-Center for Security Studies and Development-Macedonia (CSSD)
The last political developments in the Balkan region indicate that they’re not economic and democratic prosperity from the weak governments. There are factors that have led to the Balkans countries to experience the drastic financial decline of production and ultimately the have return to the authoritarian style of governance.
Russia may deploy S-300 in Serbia near the city of Nis?! In Macedonia the small province of former Yugoslavia, the political crisis and refugees could have double effect on destabilizing the country with possibility of updating the balance of power. The political dynamics inside and in global affairs has enabled Russia to resist efforts in recent years for more hard sanctions on Iran through the Security Council, because of its long oil and military interests with Teheran. Moscow in this matter was concerned that sanctions or US military action would destabilize Iran as factor and also would make Russian border more unsecure regarding of possible new arrivals of refugees and infiltration of terrorist organization inside of the Russian homeland. But Russia’s double standards are bigger, as in the Balkans, where, Russia was able to block a UN resolution to the problem of Kosovo’s status and has threatened to destabilize the region after the US and EU supported Kosovo’s independence in 2008.
Historically, Russia, since the Treaty of San Stefano, has continued to support the Slavic population of the Balkans for domination vs. other nations. In recent years, Russia have been working very closely with Serbia, Macedonia and Hungary, and other opposition parties in the region to gain for more influence and distracting the pro- democratic forces with ties close to US interests in the region (Owen & Anna, 2010). The last political developments in the Balkan region indicate that they’re a no economic and democratic prosperity from the weak governments. There are factors that have led to the Balkans countries to experience the drastic financial decline of production and ultimately the have return to the authoritarian style of governance. The governments of Macedonia, Serbia and elsewhere are continuing the trend of strengthening foreign relations with Russia or in other words are introduced in the so-called “Near Abroad Policy” of the Kremlin from the Caucasus, the Baltic’s to the Balkans. Therefore the Russian threat is still alive and may have negative effects in all new current trends and transformations in the Balkans and Europe.
Note: Analyses and research articles are products of the Center for Security Studies and Development-Macedonia (CSSD) All rights reserved.