Jeremić at the Kopaonik Business Forum

The President of the Center for International Relations and Sustainable Development (CIRSD) participated in this year’s Kopaonik Business Forum, where he said in a widely-noticed speech that this year “we can anticipate even more geopolitical tumults than last.”

During his speech, revolving around the great return of geopolitics to the international political and economic scene, Jeremić noted that this year’s Davos Forum was strikingly different than those of previous years.

foto: Tanjug
This can be particularly attributed to the fact that 70 percent of the World Economic Forum’s discussions pertained in one way or another to international political and security relations, and ways in which they affect our expectations of 2015.
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In that regard, he reiterated that the Davos 2014 Global Risks Report did not even contain the word Ukraine or ISIS in it, which in a way contributed to providing the 2015 Davos Forum with an enhanced geopolitical and security overtone.

“We are witnessing a period defined by a shifting balance of power between the major actors, all of which happen to have diverging interests,” Jeremić said.

Whilst identifying the European crisis as one of the four major risks to the global economy, Jeremić remarked that this year will be a year of elections and major decisions for the Old Continent, and stated that 2015 will be crucial for various ongoing multilateral processes.

“Some of these processes are already ending and have a huge historical significance. Yet, we do not seem to be paying attention to them,” he asserted while referring to the post-2015 UN development agenda and the impending international negotiations on climate change.

The Ukraine crisis is another issue in the line of major risks. Speaking about the relations of the West and Russia, CIRSD President argued that they are not on the best possible trajectory, thus leaving very little room for optimism.

foto: Tanjug

The events in Ukraine represent a loss for everyone. Even though it seems most affected, Ukraine is not the only actor at a loss. Both Russia and Europe benefit in no way from this crisis, Jeremic said.

The sanctions imposed on Russia, he continued, have had an enormous impact on its economy, while Europe edges closer to a position of an overall strategic instability which could lead to further political divisions.

The Middle East also remains a challenge, especially in terms of confronting ISIS and managing the growing threat of fundamentalism in the region.

Finally, another risk is the Russian pivot toward China.

CIRSD President also said that the new Chinese leadership has presented an ambitious reform package that will be difficult to implement and might have an effect similar to the Chinese Government’s decision to open up to the world economy in the late 1970s.

(Tanjug)

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