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Archived Articles
Simeon Mitropolitski is a Canadian analyst, of Bulgarian origin, and a former syndicated columnist with the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). He is the author of several hundred articles dealing with hot political and economic topics, both national and international.
He was part of the first group of Bulgarian intellectuals and students that began the opposition movement that finally put an end to the communist regime in this country in 1989, and in 1996-1997 participated in international observation teams during the elections in several Balkan countries - Romania, Albania and Bulgaria.
In 2002 Simeon and his family moved from Bulgaria to Canada where they live now in Montreal, province of Quebec. Simeon is a Master of Political Science from McGill University and a B.A. of Political Science and History.
Global Real Estate Project
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Montenegro - The Worst Is Over Or Is Still To Come?The leaders of Serbia and Montenegro decided on 14th March 2002 to preserve at least for the next three years the loose federation while discarding the previous name "Yugoslavia", which was in use since 1929. The new entity will be called simply Serbia and Montenegro. The decision still has to be approved by the national parliaments of both countries. What are the key economic and political points of the deal except changing the name of the federation? The two economies will be united in a common market, but no provisions have been made for introducing a common currency. Serbia still uses the so-called Yugoslav Dinar, while Montenegro has opted for the German Mark, which since 1st January 2002 ceded place to the common European currency Euro. A five-member government elected by single-chamber parliament will be in charge of international economic relations, internal economic relations, foreign affairs, defense and protection of minorities and human rights. The federal parliament will provide Montenegro (with population of 650,000) a legislative parity with Serbia (population of 10 million). After a three-year period, both entities will have the right, if they wish to hold referendums on independence. Till then the union will have a single seat in all international institutions. Why the deal, which has still to be approved by the Serbian and Montenegro parliament is so important? First of all, it puts an end to the violence circle in the Western Balkans where in the last 11 years the borders were changed only as a result of wars and where every new war was only a link to the following. Second, the deal shows that the local politicians can make important concessions when at stake are the regional and European stability. There isn't a doubt that if Montenegro decides to break all links with Serbia and if that is accepted by the international community, the same plea for independence will be heard by the Albanian majority in Kosovo and who knows maybe the next hot spot will be Macedonia where the Albanians are majority too. Last, but not least, the deal if holds will encourage the foreign investors thus improving the business climate in the region desperately in need of capitals. So should we assume that the worst is over? Definitely no. It will be too early to think so. First, the deal still has to be approved by the parliaments and not all politicians in Serbia and Montenegro are convinced in its significance. Second, even if approved, the two countries can separate after a period of 3 years. Even now we hear loud voices from nationalistic hard-liners both in Belgrade and Podgorica against the deal. In Belgrade the Serbian Justice Minister Vladan Batic was quoted to say: "This imitation of a nation cannot survive long". At the same time in Montenegro Slavko Perovic - the leader of the pro-independence Liberal Party, which holds the keys in the government coalition in Podgorica said immediately after the deal was signed: "This (deal) represents a betrayal without parallel in modern European history". Big words, which unfortunately still have some audience in the Balkans. So what we should expect in the following weeks and months? If approved, the deal will be put at trial. The European Union says that it prefers to deal with the existing federation instead of two independent states when it comes to their integration within the Union. To be a EU member even in a distant future is a big enough award for Belgrade and Podgorica to follow the European prescriptions. The opposite option will destroy not only the federation between Serbia and Montenegro, but also the Balkan prospects for lasting peace and economic prosperity.
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