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The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia
organized the public debate “Serbia in Russia’s Geostrategic
Positioning” in Niš and Novi Sad in May 2016. Authors of the publication
“The Warp of the Serbian Identity” published by the Helsinki Committee,
spoke about Serbian - Russian historical analogies (Latinka Perović,
Milan Subotić), identity policies and Russophilia (Srđan Barišić), the
scope of Russia’s soft power in the Balkans (Jelica Kurjak, Milivoj
Bešlin), geostrategic priorities and economic cooperation (Dimitrije
Boarov) and the Balkans as Russia’s platform for testing the EU (Boris
Varga).
“Serbia is still ambivalent about its aims and sense
of belonging” said Sonja Biserko adding that “the European Union puts
regional cooperation high on the agenda and considers it as one of the
main criteria. Historically, geographically and culturally Serbia
belongs to this region, which is the framework in which Serbia should
build its future.”
Latinka Perović said that “Russia is a mirage for
Serbia. We want to join the EU while trying to keep the balance that
Yugoslavia successfully preserved but Serbia cannot.” Dimitrije Boarov
said that Russian market should not be underestimated as an option for
Serbian export, but emphasizing the fact that Russia is generally a
country of poor consumers.
The publication “The Warp of the Serbian Identity” and
public debates held in Belgrade, Niš and Novi Sad are part of the
project “Serbian Identity in the 21st Century” implemented by the
Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia with the assistance of the
Open Society Foundation – Serbia.
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