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I have friends in Serbia (Belgrade), I've been there several times, and 5 years after Milosovic was forced to resign this nation still has more problems than it appears it can handle. Their national debt is staggering, unemployment is between %30-%40, and underemployment is even worse. Milosovic robbed their treasury for his wars and left the nation virtually bankrupt. As you walk the streets of Belgrade you sense despair and hopelessness everyhwere. There is a steady "brain drain" with many of the young emigrating to other European countries and the US seeking a better a way of life. I believe the new President, Prime Minister and legislature mean well and truly want to reform their government and society, but it is proving to be a very difficult task. Many of the bureaucrats and judges Milosovic appointed are still in power (case and point as to why the Serbian government is only partially cooperating with the World Court and UN in "trying" to track down war criminals), and it will take many more years before they will all be tossed from office. Not to be forgotten is the mafia, their presence is everywhere, they are very powerful and they do not hesitate to use violence (the previous Prime Minister was murdered on the streets of Belgrade by the "Zemun Gang"). It's a sad situation.

Not to be forgotten is the mafia, their presence is everywhere, they are very powerful and they do not hesitate to use violence.

This is sad but true. I work as a civil engineer and architect in Germany. Last year we were building tunnels in Munich and there were lots of Serbian workers employed. As far as I know they all had to pay some protection money to their mafia. Don't ask me for the details (I did not have to pay since I am a German). Anyway I know that it was extremely dangerous for those guys to refuse.

It would be a start, if we (the west) would catch or kill Mladic and Karadzic. After this, the EU could open its borders to Serbian goods and services. If the economy gets a grip there might be some hope. We should not forget that Slovenia and Croatia, both parts of the former Yugoslavia, are doing fine.

Everything that comes out of the mouth of Vladan Batich should be taken with a grain of salt. After all this is the guy who did absolutely nothing positive during his mandate as Justice Minister. He did, however, oversee the arrest and illegal detention of some 12,000 Serbian citizens ("Operation Sabre") in March 2004.

The mafia had them all on the payroll -- the same Zemun Gang that killd PM Djindjich...