Re: [Marxism] Letter fromSerbiansocialistssupportingKosovarself-determnation

["Paula" <Paula_cerni@xxxxxxx>]

John wrote:
> I would have seen that as a clarification of the real situation in Iraq.
> The UN oil for food program was part of the UN sanctions policy, which
> was part of a UN/US war against Iraq.

And the subsequent US occupation and administration of Iraq clarified the 
situation even further. But most Iraqi people know the difference between 
direct foreign rule and formal independence, even under UN sanctions.

Michael wrote:
>> Serbia is no more in Russia's sphere than anyone else's in particular. 
>> Serbia has developed excellent relations with all EU countries ... [clip] 
>> Moreover, given the vast economic relations between EU countries and 
>> Russia, even the concept of "spheres of influence" between them being 
>> different is somewhat vague. >>

My concept is that spheres of influence are not 'different' but 
overlapping - hence the potential for conflict as well as for co-operation. 
To take Iraq again as an example, I would argue that it falls within several 
spheres of influence - America's, Britain's, Iran's, Saudi Arabia's and 
Turkey's, at the very least.

In the case of EU-Russia relations we see strong economic and political 
links as well as fierce competition - the kind of combination we also see 
with US-EU relations.

>IF the battle was between "the west and
>Russia" (which as I explained I not exactly think, but there's an
>element of it), then "the west" has lost influence in the much bigger
>prize, the very centre of the Balkans, through which road, rail and
>water links pass, as well as pipelines etc. In return, they've got a
>little piece of third world misery in Kosova in exchange.

In that case, why is Russia upset about all this? Michael's interpretation 
does not make sense here, I think because it gives too much weight to the 
'decision' of the K Albanians, and not enough to the wider Great Power 
disputes that are shaping events in the region and ultimately deciding when, 
how and for how long Kosovo's independence applies.

I notice that Boris Tadic says Serbia can only defend its right to Kosovo if 
it joins the EU (see http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7285817.stm). In a 
few months' or years' time, will the EU be interested in such a deal? Quite 
possibly. I would not be very surprised if Europe ends up sacrificing even 
Kosovo's fake independence to its own strategic interests. The more reason 
for us to back real self-determination.

Paula 


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