EU signs SAA with Serbia

[Sarmatian]

I didn't want to bump our old "Kosovo declares independence from Serbia" thread, mainly because it's every possible topic had been discussed there, from Kosovo drug trade to taking down F-117. A fresh start is needed.

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Anyway, about a week ago EU signed Stabilization and Association Agreement with Serbia. The signing itself was largely symbolic, since the agreement was frozen the moment it was written, under pressure from Netherlands and Belgium until Serbia starts to "fully cooperate" with the Hague (in other words, until Ratko Mladic gets there).

In Serbia there were mixed reactions. It was seen by some as a support for pro-western parties at the upcoming general elections (11th may), a sugarcoating of a bitter pill named Kosovo independance, typical carrot on a stick to lead a donkey around (as it was frozen the moment it was signed) and so on...

So, it left me wondering - would the price of the eventual EU admission for Serbia be recognizing Kosovo? Some politicians here say that even by entering into negotiations with EU we're indirectly recognizing Kosovo independence, while others argue that by coming closer to the EU and eventually becoming part of it, Serbia can make its case stronger by using EU mechanisms. The latter group also stresses that EU can't put Kosovo recognition as a condition for EU membership since there are several EU countries which didn't recnognize Kosovo.

So the questions are:

• SAA - Is it genuine try to speed up the process or just throwing a bone?
• Is Serbia indirectly recognizing Kosovo by trying to enter EU?
• Would Serbias case be strengtened or weakened by trying to get in EU?

Also, just wondering, since most of the "backroomers" are either US or western Europeans, what do you think about Serbia in EU? I remember reading some polls some time ago about which country would you most like to see in the EU? It appears that EU residents would most like to Switzerland and then Norway. Serbia is second last, ahead of Turkey...