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Publikation RSSEE 06102015 2 Study Group Information Ernst M. Felberbauer Predrag Jureković (Eds.) A Region in Limbo: South East Europe in the Light of Strained Western-Russian Relations 30 th Workshop of the PfP Consortium Study Group Regional Stability in South East Europe 26/2015 Vienna, September 2015 Imprint: Copyright, Production, Publisher: Republic of Austria / Federal Ministry of Defence and Sports Rossauer Lände 1 1090 Vienna, Austria Edited by: National Defence Academy Command Stiftgasse 2a 1070 Vienna, Austria In co-operation with: PfP Consortium of Defence Academies and Security Studies Institutes Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany Study Group Information Copyright © Republic of Austria / Federal Ministry of Defence and Sports All rights reserved September 2015 ISBN 978-3-902944-67-2 Printing: HDruckZ-ASt Stift 1327/15 Stiftgasse 2a 1070 Wien 2 Table of Contents Foreword 5 Ernst M. Felberbauer and Predrag Jureković Abstract 9 PART I: THE RETURN OF GEOPOLITICS TO EUROPE: HISTORICAL AND RECENT FEATURES IN THE SOUTH EAST EUROPEAN CONTEXT 11 The Return of Geopolitics to Europe: A Serious Threat to Peace Consolidation? 13 Dennis J.D. Sandole Western and Russian Influences in South East Europe from a Historical View 25 Plamen Pantev Current Geopolitical Ambitions of Western Actors and Russia Directed towards South East Europe 33 Johanna Deimel Russian Perspectives on the South East Europe: History and Current Affairs 55 Natalia Smolentceva PART II: SOUTH EAST EUROPE BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE WEST: THE ECONOMIC DIMENSION 71 Foreign Trade Relations of the South East European Countries with a Focus on the Trade Relations with Russia 73 Hermine Vidović Along the Energy Streams: Geostrategic Competition in South East Europe 83 Martin Vladimirov 3 PART III: POLITICAL AND SECURITY IMPLICATIONS FOR REGIONAL CONSOLIDATION 101 The Ukraine Crisis and Small Western Balkan States: Croatia’s Perspective on Russia’s Role in the Region 103 Ðana Luša Russia’s Influence in Albania and Regional Stability of the Western Balkans 119 Ebi Spahiu Political and Security Implications for Regional Consolidation and Relevant Aspects which Affect Montenegro 131 Rajko Radević Russia’s Influence in Bosnia and Herzegovina: from a Constructive Partner to a Factor of Instability 141 Denisa Sarajlić-Maglić Political and Security Implications for Regional Consolidation: the Case of Kosovo 151 Lulzim Peci Macedonia between the “West” and Russia: Aspiring to the “West” and Flirting with the “East” 161 Dane Taleski PART IV: POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS 173 Policy Recommendations 175 Predrag Jureković List of Authors and Editors 183 4 Foreword Ernst M. Felberbauer and Predrag Jureković The 30 th workshop of the Study Group Regional Stability in South East Europe was convened at the Château Rothschild, Reichenau, Austria from 23 to 25 April 2015. Under the overarching title of “A Region in Limbo: South East Europe in the Light of Strained Western-Russian Relations”30 experts from the South East European region, the International Commu- nity and major stakeholder nations met under the umbrella of the PfP Con- sortium of Defence Academies and Security Studies Institutes and the Aus- trian Ministry of Defence and Sports, represented through its National Defence Academy and the Directorate General for Security Policy. During the last two decades, the region of South East Europe has been on the daily agenda of Transatlantic, European and Austrian institutions with the goal of enhancing capabilities in the field of conflict management and peace support. Recent developments in the region have given rise to the main topic of the 30 th workshop of the Study Group Regional Stability in South East Europe. Russia’s military support for the separatist forces in the Eastern Ukraine has led to deep political and economic conflicts with the European Union and United States. Previous channels of cooperation between “the West” and Russia have been put into question or have been suspended. Beyond that, the EU has imposed economic sanctions against Russian officials, firms and military commandants that are suspected to be involved in the war. In the light of the damaged relations between the EU/US and Russia, due to the Ukraine crisis, geopolitics and zones of interest in Europe have again gained importance. In South East Europe that is still passing through a complex and challeng- ing process of post-war consolidation, interests of Western states and Rus- sia clash. Although all the countries of the region are aiming to become members of the EU and most of them also of NATO, Russia’s influence is perceptible above all in the economic and political field. For some South 5 East European countries, Russia has become the most important supplier of oil and gas, which has led to economic dependencies. Alternative routes for supplying South East Europe with energy resources have yet to be built. In the field of security, NATO’s enlargement towards South East Europe has been heavily criticised by the Russian government, which in particular has openly opposed a possible membership of Bosnia- Herzegovina and Serbia in the western military alliance. Russia, on the other hand, after her withdrawal from the peace support operations in the Balkans, has tried to renew her security influence in South East Europe through launching a security centre in Serbia. While Russia has established a close relationship with both Serbia and high- ranking Serb politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina, other countries in the region have consistently supported EU and US policies in the context of the ongoing Ukraine crisis. In the case of a further widening of this split, Western integration policies could be negatively affected in respect to their capacity as a tool for supporting regional consolidation. Cooperative rela- tions between Russia and “the West” for sure would be beneficial for the regional consolidation processes in South East Europe. A continued geo- political rivalry inside Europe, on the other hand, could influence the re- gional transition processes negatively. This applies above all to those coun- tries in the region, which like Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo are still the operational area for international stabilization missions. The following key questions constituted the framework of discussion and debate during the workshop and thus also structure the contributions from the four panels in the following pages: 1. In which extent does the crisis of political and economic relations between “the West” (the European Union member countries and the United States) and Russia influence the various consolidation proc- esses in South East Europe? 2. How big is the risk that this region (again) becomes a further geopo- litical arena for a trial of strength between the former “East” – today Russia – and the “West” – today the EU and the US? 3. Which factors characterize the economic relations between the South East European countries and “the West” respectively Russia, in par- ticular with regard to energy and investment projects as well trade? 6 4. Do striking dependencies exist in the economic field, and if there are some, how can they be explained? 5. How do the governments of the South East European countries per- ceive and react to the tensions between “the West” and Russia? 6. Are the South East European populations split regarding their sym- pathies for the Western respectively the Russian political model? 7. Do “the West” and Russia follows similar goals as far as the consoli- dation of South East Europe is concerned? If not, what are the main differences? 8. Is there any impact of this “big geopolitical crisis” on the stabilisation missions and operations in South East Europe? 9. To which extent does the renewed rivalry between “the West” and Russia adversely affect the integration of the Western Balkan coun- tries into the EU and NATO? 10. Are Russian security initiatives directed to the region compatible with the integration of the Western Balkan countries into the EU and NATO? Part I of this book addresses the return of geopolitics in Europe and its influence on peace consolidation. The economic impact of the geopolitical rivalry between Russia and the West is reflected by the authors of part II. In part III, various political and security implications for regional consoli- dation are analyzed from different country perspectives. The policy rec- ommendations and findings of the expert group are summarized at the end of the publication in part IV. The editors would like to express their thanks to all authors who contrib- uted papers to this volume of the Study Group Information. They are pleased to present the valued readers the analyses and recommendations from the Reichenau meeting and would appreciate if this Study Group In- formation could contribute to generate positive ideas for supporting the still challenging processes of consolidating peace in South East Europe. Special thanks go to Ms. Maja Grošinić, who supported this publication as facilitating editor and to Mr. Benedikt Hensellek for his stout support to the Study Group. 7 Abstract The publication to the 30 th workshop of the PfP Consortium Study Group “Regional Stability in South East Europe” entitled “A Region in Limbo: South East Europe in the Light of Strained Western-Russian Relations” aims at presenting the findings of the workshop to a diverse readership. South East Europe is confronted with opposing political models and geo- political interests. The strategic relevance of the region is evident - there- fore individual activities are highly divergent. This sensitive and complex situation between the European Union, Russia and the United States has gradually increased and has a considerable impact on the Western Balkans. In the meantime, SEE political parties are torn between post-war dilemma, individual interests, traditional alliances and international politics. The re- gion is under high political and economic pressure as well as internal ten- sions and has become a playing field for international stakeholders. The workshop aimed at formulating an adequate strategy regarding the international and regional development of the region in order to counter the successively growing power vacuum and to accelerate the stabilisation of the region.
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