Although the prevailing reality - which is that each of the countries of the SEE is a too small market for its own needs and they are not prepared for serious competition with the West – again connected and 'forced' those countries to primarily economic and then cultural, non-cultural (pop and mass culture) and social exchange, a better look at the countries that just went through a war, or managed to escape from it, will show that each of these countries is, to a lesser or greater extent, society of isolation, disinformation, lack of communication and fear.

Although the return or refugees and IDPs started, and the transit and exchange of people and goods is not disputed or problematic (in majority of cases), there is the prevailing feeling that the full normalization of life is still unreachable, and that the process itself lacks the true will and preparedness to act. The climate of mistrust is present in all social layers and activities, the mutual accusations (although whispered rather than said loudly) are a part of the everyday life in the villages and in the cities, in each of the states and in the region in general.

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01.07.2008 On the occasion of the sanctions of Croatian Football Association (HNS) because of the racist and xenophobic incidents involving some Croatian fans during the recently completed European Championship, the Centre for Peace Studies (CMS) said that HNS should do more, since it has the power and responsibility for such an action.

11.06.2008 The Documenta centre demands further investigation on events that took place during the Medacki Dzep offensive in the Homeland War in Croatia, noting that the completed trial at the District Court in Zagreb is an important, yet not sufficient step forward to justice.

09.11.2006 Based on the observation that in post-conflict countries the attention is usually paid to violations of human rights rather than to needs of victims, the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), a New York City based NGO committed to assisting countries where human rights are severely jeopardized, recently launched The Handbook of Reparations that has the unique approach to the question of justice.

27.02.2008 Creation of political independence starts with the declaration. Ideally, if all relations and interests in a given geographic area are harmonised, or solved, the start of independence gets its logical continuation in the UN, where that status of independent state is made formal. Obviously, Kosovo not exactly in that ideal position and it needs much more than just political independence.