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On the other hand, I can understand why Serbs don't trust the EU anymore. The Kosovo war was fought mostly to redefine NATO as an offensive alliance IMHO, and it's sad that people still suffer from that shortsighted action. "If you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles." Sun Tzu
Turambar 08:25: I don't think Russia holds more of a promise for Serbia than the EU politically, economically or regarding rebuilding and long- term peace.
However, EU member states are not allowed to participate in any free trade- or open border- agreements with countries that are not part of the EU, EFTA, CEFTA, oversea territories or candidate countries on their own, so that's what I meant by isolation (CEFTA will end when all other states in the region join the EU). In this age, it hurts small states economically not to be part of a trade bloc. That's why they're everywhere. World map of blocs
Considering the examples you cited, Hong Kong- UK was essentially a colonial relationship. As for South Korea and Cuba, I don't think their special relationships worked out well for these countries in the long term except for providing military security in the Cold War era. But it is over, isn't it? "If you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles." Sun Tzu
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