Clinton: Bosnia risks being left behind on EU/NATO path

[Gerald]

(Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pressed Bosnia on Tuesday to overcome ethnic infighting and pursue constitutional reforms needed for any chance of joining NATO and the European Union.

"If you do not make progress you will be left behind," Clinton said at the start of a trip with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton to three Balkan nations still coming to terms with the collapse of Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

"We are here today to urge the leaders to put aside their political differences, put aside the rhetoric of dissolution, secession, denial of what tragically happened in the war, for the sake of the young people of this country," Clinton told a news conference after meeting Bosnia's tripartite presidency.

Bosnia remains deeply divided 17 years since the end of its 1992-95 war, which killed 100,000 people before the United States, under then President Bill Clinton, brokered peace at an air base in Dayton, Ohio.

Power is shared uneasily between Serbs, Croats and Muslims in an unwieldy state ruled by ethnic quotas. Bosnia lags behind its ex-Yugoslav neighbors on the road to the EU membership.

Croatia, already a member of NATO, is due to become the second country carved from Yugoslavia to join the EU in July next year. Slovenia did so in 2004.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...89T16M20121030


Note: Tue Oct 30, 2012 12:04pm EDT

[Betonov]

Things are improving.
But slowly. 80's generation or older, the one that survived the war has no intention to forget. While preocupied with the pursuit of a better standard of living and the glitter of the modern west, both sides wont need a big push to start another bloodbath. Just another hothead blaming the other side for every problem in the area.

90's generation, born after the war or too young to remember is polluted by their parents and will take up arms as quick as the older generation. They might not know the names of their ministers or historical leaders, but they know in their sleep who the ''enemy'' is.

It will take the younger generation to ignore their elders, another generation to forget all about it and then Bosnia can really move on. IF someone doesn't start another war.

So the west can just shut up and get back to fixing their own economies.
No one lifted a finger in 93' and same will happen the next time things turn ugly

[Betonov]

Trade is the only thing that can prevent another war.

As long as they're contempt and fed they won't start another mess. They love life and they love to eat. And if the country pulls itself out of the economic collapse that occured when Yugoslavia fell apart the chances of war will drastically fall down.
Whic wont occur untill the US and EU pull themselves out since all balkan states are dependant on outside trade. Anything else is just screwing your own population convincing that your diplomats are doing something right.

And keep the peacekeepers in. They're a small unbiased boost to local economies

[Gerald]

There are several factors that can prevent a war you know Bet, you will not get to the situation during the Balkan War.

[Betonov]

Most efective is keeping people fed and so happy, they'd rather burn their own parliament than go to war.

The hatred in the region is embeded in their DNA. No old blond from DC is going to convince anyone down there to start loving eachother.

[Gerald]

None from DC will come if problems arise, if such case occurs, the solution is within the EU.

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by Betonov

Most efective is keeping people fed and so happy, they'd rather burn their own parliament than go to war.

The hatred in the region is embeded in their DNA. No old blond from DC is going to convince anyone down there to start loving eachother.

What are you saying Mr. Betonov? Don't be a h8ter, I dodged sniperfire there.

[Betonov]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

What are you saying Mr. Betonov? Don't be a h8ter, I dodged sniperfire there.

That was not sniperfire, that was just normal wedding festivities

[Gerald]

Originally Posted by Betonov

That was not sniperfire, that was just normal wedding festivities

Free beer and drinks

[Betonov]

Originally Posted by Vendor

Free beer and drinks

And free odojek (hog) for the serbs and lamb for the muslims

[Gerald]

^Odojek,looks good

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Betonov

As long as they're contempt and fed they won't start another mess.

Not trying to stir up trouble, but I think you wanted to use "content" there. "Contempt" means someone you hate or despise.

"Content" is one of those words that make English so complicated, because the word has two different meanings, and when spoken the different meanings are told by where the accent is used.

"Content" means what's inside, as "The content of the story was not suitable for children."

"Content" means happy, or satisfied, which is the word you wanted there.

[Betonov]

Was wondering about that word longer than I was writting the entire post

Thanks Steve

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Betonov

That was not sniperfire, that was just normal wedding festivities

LOL...pass me the pork and lamb, I'm not fussed either way

[Betonov]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

LOL...pass me the pork and lamb, I'm not fussed either way

So arent the muslims down there