US policy in the Balkans: recipes for violence | 56 comments (56 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

"... has become important for other reasons."

Are you refering to the land grab for the Serb Trepca mine complex North of Mitrovica, which is estimated to be worth over $5 Trillion dollars with one of the largest coal reserves in Europe?

by vladimir on Fri Dec 14th, 2007 at 01:42:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A question (none / 0)

Erratum: that's US$ 5 billion.

by vladimir on Fri Dec 14th, 2007 at 02:06:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A question (none / 1)

Coal reserves are good...

...for those who still use coal.

Other reasons: oil and gas pipelines from the Caspian into Europe.

by Upstate NY on Fri Dec 14th, 2007 at 02:30:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A question (none / 1)

http://www.economist.com/images/20070414/CEU957.gif
http://www.eoearth.org/upload/thumb/9/97/Balkan_oiltransprojects.JPG/350px-Balkan_oiltransprojects.J PG

Unless you have better maps, I must admit that I don't quite get it.
Russian influence in SE Europe & the Adriatic seems more plausible to me as a cause for concern - even in the 90s, when Russia was in decay.
Empires come & go & come & go.

by vladimir on Fri Dec 14th, 2007 at 05:58:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

US policy in the Balkans: recipes for violence | 56 comments (56 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)