Der endlose Krieg in Bosnien und Herzegowina sowie in Teilen des serbisch besetzen Kroatien sollte uns an Moltke erinnern, der am 14. Mai 1890, in der Reichstagssitzung, gesagt hat: „Wenn ein Krieg zum Ausbruch kommt, so ist seine Dauer und sein Ende nicht abzusehen… Es kann siebenjähriger, es kann auch ein dreißigjähriger Krieg werden.” Wer hätte es glauben können, dass die Logik des Krieges in Kroatien, und später auch in Bosnien und Herzegowina, trotz einer Menge internationaler „Sachverständiger“ und „Experten“, immer wieder ein neues Kapitel des Grauens öffnen würde? Die Maastricht-Politiker und die Diplomaten der Vereinten Nationen scheinen so mit komplexen Verhältnissen des mitteleuropäischen und südosteuropäischen Multikultur-Mosaiks überfordert zu sein, so dass das Schlagwort „Balkansyndrom“ oft als ein nettes Alibi für ihr eigenes Nichtstun benutzt wird.
Continue reading “Der Balkankrieg – im Westen missverstanden (den 29 Januar 1994 ~ Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung)”
Category: Newspaper articles
Späte Einsicht in Serbien (14. August 1992, Nr. 187 / Seite 57 ~ Neue Zürcher Zeitung Freitag)
Die Demonstrationen der serbischen Intellektuellen und Oppositionsparteien gegen Slobodan Milosevic, so lobenswert sie sein mögen, kommen leider zu spät.
Die serbische Akademie der Kunst und Wissenschaft, die heute die Proteste anführt, hat eine sehr fragwürdige Geschichte. Die Akademie hat 1986 ein Memorandum entworfen, in dem die bekannten serbischen Akademiker die Schaffung Groß-Serbiens sowie die „ethnische Reinigung“ Kosovos empfahlen. Continue reading “Späte Einsicht in Serbien (14. August 1992, Nr. 187 / Seite 57 ~ Neue Zürcher Zeitung Freitag)”
La logique du pire dans les Balkans ( 07.03.1994 ~ Tribune Libre Le Journal de Montréal )
L’interminable guerre en Bosnie-Herzégovine et dans les régions de Croatie occupées par les Serbes voit actuellement se multiplier des souffrances affreuses. En même temps, la situation devient de plus en plus confuse, voire totalement incompréhensible, pour les observateurs extérieurs.
Trois ans après l’éclatement violent de l’état hybride yougoslave, les organisations internationales ne semblent être d’accord ni sure les causes du conflit, ni sur les motifs de l’agresseur, ni sur les intérêts des victimes. Continue reading “La logique du pire dans les Balkans ( 07.03.1994 ~ Tribune Libre Le Journal de Montréal )”
The Fear of More Terrible Conflicts in the Balkans (21 September 1993 ~ The Guardian)
Some members of the international community, along with some foreign media representatives, have recently criticised Croatia for its alleged mistreatment of Bosnian Muslims. Several details need to be put into perspective in order to comprehend this never-ending Balkan drama:
1. Croatia was the first country in Europe to recognise the sovereignty of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Given the important geopolitical position of this neighbouring state, it is in the paramount interest of Croatia to respect the integrity of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
In fact, it is Mr. Izetbegovic, not the Croats, who has just recently signed the de facto partition of Bosnia and Herzegovina in his agreement with the Serb side. On her part, Croatia has also strongly urged all Bosnian Croat military units to allow free safe passage to all United Nations humanitarian convoys. Continue reading “The Fear of More Terrible Conflicts in the Balkans (21 September 1993 ~ The Guardian)”
The Joint Declaration (February 10, 1994 ~ The New York Times)
In the wake of the joint declaration in Geneva between President Franjo Tudjman of Croatia and Slobodan Milosevic of Serbia, some foreign journalists have jumped to the conclusion that such an agreement amounts to the creation of some sort of alliance against the Bosnian Muslims. Nothing could be further from the truth. Continue reading “The Joint Declaration (February 10, 1994 ~ The New York Times)”
The True Culprits in the Balkans (28 September 1993 ~ Evening Standard)
The race for victim status in Bosnia-Herzegovina appears to be over. The Serbs, as the main aggressors and initial perpetrators of “ethnic cleansing” hardly qualify. The international press has obviously decided that the Croats do not qualify either, despite the fact that the Bosnian Croats have lost considerable territory to the Moslems since the break-up of their alliance. Continue reading “The True Culprits in the Balkans (28 September 1993 ~ Evening Standard)”
The Missing Links in Yugoslavia’s Tragedy (August 16, 1994 ~ The Washington Times)
The causes of the never-ending war in the Balkans could plausibly be attributed to [the] excessive legalism of international organizations, including the United Nations. Despite noble efforts to end the three-year-old conflict in the Balkans, the U.N., as well as other international actors, is still unable to speak with one voice. Continue reading “The Missing Links in Yugoslavia’s Tragedy (August 16, 1994 ~ The Washington Times)”
Yugoslavia: The End of Communism, The Return of Nationalism (20 April 1991 ~ America National Catholic weekly)
The end of communism in Yugoslavia has brought the return of nationalism and a host of new problems steeped in ethnic roots, said Tomislav Sunic, a Croatian who now teaches in Juniata College.
As a result, he believes, “representative democracy…as attractive and functional a model as it may be in the relatively homogeneous societies of the West, has, in the fractured Yugoslavian state, little chance of success. Continue reading “Yugoslavia: The End of Communism, The Return of Nationalism (20 April 1991 ~ America National Catholic weekly)”
Croatia’s Role in Bosnia-Herzegovina (July 27, 1992 ~ The Christian Science Monitor)
Your editorial, “Croatia’s Sellout,” July 10, seemed t o have been prompted more by your desire for evenhandedness than by the desire to objectively analyze the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Unlike Serbia, Croatia recognized the sovereignty, independence, and inviolability of Bosnia-Herzegovina. In contrast to Serbian Army offensive actions in Bosnia, Croat troops are conducting defensive actions. The Bosnian government has repeatedly asked for international help. Continue reading “Croatia’s Role in Bosnia-Herzegovina (July 27, 1992 ~ The Christian Science Monitor)”
Yugo into History ( July 17th, 1991 ~ The Pittsburgh Post – Gazette)
In his interesting piece, “Misreading Yugoslavia” (July 8), Dejan Kovacevic, emphasizes the ethnic roots of the Yugoslav crisis but seems oblivious to huge ideological differences between the Yugoslav republics.
Communist-dominated Serbia and Montenegro are the two republics that are least interested in large-scale market reforms for fear of losing control over the federal bureaucracy and army. Continue reading “Yugo into History ( July 17th, 1991 ~ The Pittsburgh Post – Gazette)”