ECONOMIC DIPLOMACY

The disintegration of the bipolar system of international relations and a whole range of major political and economic consequences that followed as a result made necessary a switch over of foreign-policy priorities and those of economic diplomacy to different directions. In today's world in which international relations, including economic ones, represent a system of relationships of power, political and economic, a new system seeking to curb the influence of states and individual economic players is gradually taking shape. Economies are losing ever more their national character and becoming increasingly global, thus turning into a transnational system of production based on international division of labor.

However, despite this obvious trend in international political and economic relations, the role of states and diplomacies, as tools of the promotion and protection of interests of countries remains highly relevant, in particular in the sphere of economic relations (so-called economic diplomacy)

The most developed countries that base their power on economic superiority, military supremacy and supremacy in the domain of production are increasingly transferring their foreign policy priorities to the economic sphere and linking them to that sphere, endeavouring to accommodate their interests, inter alia, through a thrust of economic diplomacy.

The inclusion of developing countries and countries in transition into traditional international institutions (WTO) and various economic integrations and trade blocs (EU, NAFTA, ASEAN, etc.) calls for a new model of approach and diplomatic activity with a view to better protecting their economic and political interests in the process of globalization of present-day economic relations.

Consequently, the contemporary system of international economic relations and the processes of globalization and integration impose the need for intensified activity of economic diplomacy aimed at the realization and protection of economic priorities and interests. Developing countries and countries in transition are bound to follow the example of the most advanced countries in determining their priorities in the domain of foreign policy and those in the economic sphere.

The Balkan region, in particular the territory of the former SFRY, after a decade of centrifugal processes and disintegration accompanied by armed conflicts, the conviction prevailed that it is necessary to develop good neighbourly relations and to accelerate political and economic stabilization as a prerequisite of progress and prosperity. This will, amongst others, make possible the fulfilment of conditions for the integration of the newly emerged states into the European Union. In this context, the commitment to a strong economic diplomacy is becoming a necessity.