Written by,
Mr Azem Vlasi,
(The author was a prominent politician during SFRY. Today he is a lawyer in Priština)
The phantom of the 1990s is hovering our region. Scars from past wars and break-up of Yugoslavia endure and now the public stage is packed with the bearers of the policy which spared the spiral of crimes thirty years ago.
Under new circumstances, such politics will be given new incentives. Dark clouds are coming from the same direction, from those who initiated bloody break up of Yugoslavia: those from Belgrade, from the circles of the great Serbian clerical nationalism. And the government as roof structure incites riots and instability in the neighborhood, while its heads keep telling ironically that they are the ones who “maintain peace” and “export stability” in the region, which is jeopardized by others. Just like Slobodan Milošević in his time.
Fresh tensions
Serbia has missed historical chance to divorce itself from bloody heritage of Milošević’s politics after October 2000. The new government sent him before the Tribunal in the Hague but that was it. It looked like they were fed up with useless warfare and that they needed reconciliation with neighbors.
We hoped that dire past was finally left behind and that war wounds were healed. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. People inspired by the politics popular before October 2000 consolidated and strengthened their power. Today, they are the backbone of the force which is dominant at the Serbian political stage.
The symbol of the continuity of politics before and after October 2000 is the Serbian radical party, together with Socialist party of Serbia, whose leader, Mr Vojislav Šešelj, is the epitome of post-Yugoslav Serbia.
Party ruling over Serbia and its head is the bud of the SRP.
Just like Milošević back then, the present government and the opposition, talk about the alleged vulnerability and endangerment of Serbs in neighboring countries. Now they’ve made up the story that Serbs in Montenegro are endangered. And they want to protect them attacking Kosovo, Bosnia, Croatia…
Foreign patterns
Like Mr Aleksandar Vučić has said recently, 93% of Albanians live in Kosovo. There were 11% of Serbs until the moment Milošević started to defend them. Today, it’s 3%.
There’s no doubt that there would be more Serbs in those newly-formed countries if the dissolution of Yugoslavia had been peaceful.
Since their idea of united Serbs living in one country failed, the right of Serbia is to take care of the status of Serbs in the newly-formed countries.
Bosnia and Kosovo
The situation in Bosnia is particularly difficult. Mr Milorad Dodik seems to be very serious about the destruction and destabilization of the country. He seems to be in the final phase of his desires becoming reality… Of course, Bosnia’s salvation doesn’t depend on him but the consequences are felt. Citizens live in tensions and poverty.
Old politics is still aimed against Kosovo. Hatred directed towards Albanians hasn’t faded away. Belgrade wants to make Kosovo dysfunctional.
Everybody in Belgrade clearly thinks that Kosovo is not part of Serbia and there’s no chance it can ever be. But it is strictly prohibited to tell that truth. Nationalist public uses stories that Russia will bring Kosovo back to Serbia as sedative.
Montenegro
Montenegro has become a huge problem for the great Serbian nationalism.
After lost wars for the “Great Serbia”, Montenegro is a sort of solace.
But in 2006, Montenegro renewed its independence. Belgrade wasn’t indifferent.
Media rhetoric
Now when the infrastructure of the great Serbian nationalism is being placed within the frames of a legal state with the Law on Freedom of Religious Beliefs, Montenegro has become target of attacks. The role of Serbia is obvious.
Media rhetoric, lies, distortion of facts, all that reminds of the Milošević’s times.
However, Montenegro is serious, consolidated and functional state, NATO member and soon to be EU member. Milošević’s times passed and Serbia is not what it used to be.
Objectives of Belgrade
Thanks God Montenegro is NATO member and Kosovo is under NATO protection.
Six countries formed after the break up of Yugoslavia have stable mutual relations. Serbia provokes problems and meddles into internal affairs of other states.
Danger from the war is not looming, although such tensions might last. It’s not hard to imagine how much easier everything would be if relations were normal.
