Divide and rule - is still the European credo

After several wars and a lot of economic distress it looks like Europe's divide-and-rule policy in the ex-Yugoslav territory has passed its top. In the territory of that other former federation (the Soviet Union) however, the policy is alive and kicking. The EU is starting an Eastern Partnership of most former Soviet states, but excluding Russia.

In former Yugoslavia CEFTA has taken some of the pain away, but for the former Soviet Union I am still waiting for a similar initiative. Just as Norway (oil) and Iceland (fish) Russia (oil and gas) is a country with a resource dependent economy that would have to give up much control of those resources with an EU entry - too much for the taste of many.

Offering these countries a kind of "CEFTA light" - that possibly later could be converted in a full CEFTA membership would go a long way to stabilize their economies. Yet instead the EU is only bickering about possible EU memberships (not very probable for the next decade) and giving minuscule amounts of aid.

The Soviet economies were connected with the other COMECON countries. Breaking that connection was harmful to both sides and the connection should be restored.

Lobbying for Kosovo

BDnews24.com from Bangla Desh has an informative article how the US is lobbying there for recognition of Kosovo. The price: possibly a meeting between Obama and their prime minister when she visits Canada to see her daughter who lives there.