Why are the Serbians protesting?
Jun 16, 2011 14:38 Moscow Time |
Photo: EPA |
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Interview with Professor Daniel Serwer, a senior fellow at the Centre for the Transatlantic Relations to the Johns Hopkins University and a former minister-counselor at the Department of State.
Belgrade is hosting a NATO conference amid nationalist protests against the alliance. Why are the Serbians protesting?
It's the anniversary of the end of the NATO-Serbian war, and there are people in Serbia who don't want to become members to NATO, and they're protesting. That's their right.
Why don't they see the benefit of becoming a member-state of NATO?
I think there are two considerations. One is that NATO was their enemy and NATO continues to pressure them on Kosovo and on other issues that they don't want to be pressured on. But in addition to that I think it's true that if Serbia would join NATO it would mean that it would have to settle all its issues with its neighbours. That would mean settling the issue of Kosovo to the satisfaction of quite a few NATO members that have recognized Kosovo. So, it's not only about the past, which is quite problematic between NATO and Serbia, it's also about the present and future.
So, Serbia won't be admitted into NATO unless they choose to recognize Kosovo?
I don't say it can be admitted into NATO unless it somehow settles its issue with Kosovo to the satisfaction of both Pristina and Belgrade. It would be a bit foolish for the alliance to admit a member that hadn't agreed on its borders with its neighbor.
Is Serbia's current government supportive of cooperation with NATO?
The government has made a decision about joining NATO, and it has been supportive of cooperation with NATO in Partnership for Peace. But, you know, there's a strong nationalist opposition inside Serbia. Lots of countries have trouble with joining NATO, and Serbia is not unusual in this practice. But at the same time, I think Serbian armed forces, in particular, have been anxious to begin to meet NATO standards. That's important to them as professional soldiers – NATO standards are pretty much world standards these days. They've got different views inside Serbia, and that's perfectly natural.
What is the current extent of cooperation between Serbia and NATO?
Serbia is a member of Partnership for Peace, and it has some soldiers deployed with NATO forces. Cooperation is quite good, I think. But again, cooperating with NATO and becoming a member of NATO are two quite distinct things. NATO only has an obligation to defend its members. If you are not a member of NATO, your obligations to NATO will be quite limited.
But what are the benefits that Serbia will enjoy in joining NATO, if it ever does?
It will enjoy the military defence aspect of NATO – and that's a big plus for a lot of countries. But, essentially, there are also greatly enhanced possibilities and industrial cooperation and that kind of thing with NATO companies. So, there are industrial, military and political advantages to be a member of NATO. But there are countries who choose not to be NATO members as well. NATO isn't so much actively looking for new members as it's trying to keep the door open for those who decide they want to join and commit to NATO standards.
Have any of Serbia's neighbours become members of the alliance?
Yes, Croatia is a member of the alliance, Albania is a member of the alliance. And there are a number of others who'd like to become a member of the alliance. A lot of its neighbours, including Hungary, are already in NATO. It doesn't mean it has to join NATO, it means that it's a bit more of an incentive to do so.
Have other Balkan countries, who have become members of NATO, enjoyed significant increase in international political influence?
You have to ask them. But I think it's a general feeling in the Balkans that being part of the NATO club is a good thing. It's good for you military, it's good for your standing in the world, it's good for self-posture – there's a general feeling that it's a good thing for Balkan countries. Most of them either have joined or aspire to join, and I think Serbia is the one that has actually reserved it position.
And what is NATO's interest in the Balkans, specifically in Serbia?
The NATO interest in the Balkans is to make sure that the Balkans stay stable, and there are no further alterations in borders in the Balkans. And then NATO gets the benefit of some troops and capability from those countries. But those contributions to the alliance are necessarily very small.
Do you think that Serbia's not joining NATO will interfere with NATO's missile defence shield plan?
No, not at all. It's perfectly irrelevant to that. Nobody is going to pressure Serbia to join NATO. They join if they want – and if they don't they don't.
Do you think the public opinion in Serbia can be reversed in favour of NATO?
I don't know the answer to that question. I don't know whether public opinion in Serbia will ever favour NATO membership. But I can tell you that, if you talk at least privately to the military, they are rather keen on it because of the professional advantages. And certainly quite a few politicians would like to do it. But the public opinion polls weren't favourable, and that's quite understandable. Serbia fought a war with NATO.
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