FEBA, the Federation of Balkan American Associations, held their “Road map 2011” event at the Javits Center Thursday. It was an ambitious, three-part affair with speeches from some of the Balkan’s most powerful figures, who were in town for the U.N. General Assembly.
Talks were positive, focusing on cooperation and unification, but the region’s challenges and dividing lines were also apparent.
The long and troubled history of the Balkans is perhaps best captured by the word “balkanized,” noted one presenter. Once broken up into small, mutually hostile political units, now was the time to “de-balkanize the Balkans,” a principle mission of the hosting organization.
A couple of hundred Balkan expats, students, businessmen, and even some Balkan media were present to receive first and foremost two messages from the many speakers: The Balkan countries should realize that they have more things in common than what separates them, and they should start cooperating on all levels to build a better future.
Several speakers, such a Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nickolay Mladenov, who spoke during the first segment, which was a youth and student symposium, stressed the importance of the EU and NATO as the way for greater integration and cohesion among the Balkan countries. But cooperation will require less suspicion among neighbors and practical cooperation on infrastructure and border control.
“If all of us subscribe to the same rules, regulations, and standards, we will all be much more successful than we currently are,” said Mladenov.
Mladenov, being Bulgarian, spoke from a relatively neutral standpoint with regard to the legacy of the wars in former Yugoslavia, which of course was the proverbial elephant in the room. But conflict manifested itself quietly in the makeup of the participants.
The youngest Balkan nation, Kosovo, was strongly represented, both among the speakers and the audience. This new kid on the block, with a young population, huge international diaspora, and massive unemployment, is scrambling to build a functioning nation. And it was clearly there to rally support and investment, both from the rest of the Balkan states and from the United States, especially, perhaps, from its successful expats in the country.
“I use this opportunity to invite all of you to come and support us and to build a country,” Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj said, addressing the American-Kosovan students in the audience. First Deputy Prime Minister Behgjet Isa Pacolli’s speech read almost like an ad for Kosovo, directed to businessmen, introducing the country, and pointing out measures the government has taken to facilitate foreign investment.
Serbia, on the other hand, the country from which Kosovo detached itself after the war in 1998–1999, and which does not recognize Kosovo as a sovereign nation, was notably absent among the speakers and panelists, hinting at only one of the many dividing lines in the region.
David Berger of the U.S. State Department also stressed EU/NATO integration, and could, as an outsider, afford to be very frank about the situation:
“Identity politics must stop,” he said, notably the Balkan mentality of “Why should I be a minority in your country if I can make you a minority in mine.” His remarks indicated the current fractiousness in Bosnia-Herzegovina—which has no functioning government and seems in danger of splitting up further—is not the way forward.
Turkey was also a major presence, especially in the discussions focused on business relations and economy. The economic clout and confidence of this rising regional superpower was obvious.
With a GDP growth second only to China in the whole world, and exports that have quadrupled since 2002, Turkey, and its 70 million inhabitants, is not only seeking to renew its old Ottoman cultural bonds with the Balkans, but clearly also wants to invest.
There were many Turks present, many of them students, living examples of how seriously Turkey is investing in its future, through education.
There are thousands of young Turks who are currently studying at different foreign universities on generous state scholarships. It used to be that only a handful of people whose families were close to the right officials would get this chance, but with the AKP government under Prime Minister Erdogan, this changed, and now Turkey is investing as heavily in education and health care as they used to invest in the military.
The event was a unique opportunity for Balkan expats to see the leaders of their former countries in a relatively intimate context and to express their national pride.
This became particularly clear during the last segment, where the prime ministers of Turkey, Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo, and Montenegro, as well as the chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina spoke.
Albanian PM, Sali Berisha, who took the stage amid thunderous applause and cheers, almost drowning out the presentation, happily exclaimed, “This is by far the best and largest Balkan gathering of all my life.”
But perhaps the biggest cheers of the evening were reserved for Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who delivered his address in Turkish. An audience member summed up his popularity,
“He’s the most influential figure here. And after the Israel-Turkey conflict, he’s been well received.”
