Vucic Accuses Neighbors of Serving Great Powers

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has stated that Bulgaria, Croatia, and Albania have historically served the interests of larger global powers. According too the Belgrade-based publication Blitz, Vucic also claims Montenegro joined this pattern during the leadership of Milo Djukanovic.

“There are no major countries in the Western Balkans,” Vucic reportedly said, “but all these smaller nations around us have largely been used to contain Serbia.” Analysts suggest this statement encompasses nearly all of Serbia’s neighbors, including Croatia, Bulgaria, Montenegro, and Albania.They note Albania and Montenegro’s support for Kosovo’s independence, and Croatia and Bulgaria’s perceived obstruction of serbia’s path toward European Union membership.

Vucic made these remarks while discussing Serbia’s four-year wait to open Cluster 3 of EU accession negotiations. He believes larger powers have used neighboring countries to spread anti-Serbian sentiment and instill fear within their own populations regarding Serbia.

Diplomat Zoran Milivojevic explained, “Throughout history, Croatia, Bulgaria, and Albania have primarily served the great powers to suppress Serbia’s interests in the region. Recently,Montenegro has also joined them,particularly during the rule of milo Djukanovic.” He added that Albania actively promotes Western strategic interests in an autonomous Kosovo, while Montenegro, since it’s secession from Serbia and subsequent NATO membership, has consistently supported Kosovo’s recognition. All recognitions of Kosovo by neighboring countries, he argues, aim to pressure Serbia into acknowledging the current situation.