Yugoslavia at
the Turn of the Century:
Which Road Leads to Europe and the World
Prompted by Yugoslavia’s extremely difficult position and eager to contribute to the ongoing public debate, the European Movement in Serbia and the Forum for International Relations present herein their views on the ways out of the crisis.
Yugoslavia has never been in a more difficult position thus far.
The following facts are the most illustrative instances of the above: Yugoslavia is almost totally isolated from the international community; it increasingly confronts leading world powers and many other states; its poverty and degradation of its economy, along with impoverished funds and structures, are on the downward curve; disintegration of the Yugoslav state is ever more visible; causes leading to political and social conflicts with unforeseen effects on the very survival of both the people and the state multiply; militant and retrograde ideas soar; repression leading to further degradation of the political life grows; national institutions in the domains of education, healthcare, science, culture, judiciary and social well-fare are exposed to degradation and destruction; all strata of the society, particularly the young generation – supposed to secure the state’s renewal under the rule of law and its equal status in the international community, but forced to leave it – experience despair and apathy. Such situation resulted in the state’s lost international reputation and its substantially diminished capability to influence its own destiny.
Faced with an eroded system of values and a non-existent realistic and productive strategy to overcome the crisis, all relevant social and political factors – political parties, media, non-governmental organizations and other institutions - should plan their activities on both domestic and international scenes so as to turn Yugoslavia into a normal European state in the soonest possible while. One of the two members of the federation, Montenegro, has already made an encouraging progress.
A resolute break with the present policy that has led the state to catastrophe after catastrophe is a prerequisite to having one’s basic interests realized in today’s world. What Yugoslavia needs is a fundamental political change – an open society instead of a closed one, a state with comprehensive and fruitful ties with other states worldwide and international organizations, instead of a self-sufficient one.
Recognizing world standards in the domains of human rights and parliamentary democracy, as well as Yugoslav democratic public’s explicit wish to avoid further bloodshed and hardships, we take free and fair elections under international control – as agreed at opposition parties’ round table – the only way to a fundamental political change in Yugoslavia. Political parties, as actors in an election campaign, are most responsible for creating a social and political setting that would make free and fair elections inevitable. Responsibility of political parties, struggling to carry out their programs and take charge of the state and its people’s future, implies clear answers to all relevant social and national issues. Such answers are needed to create a new public consciousness that would replace conservative myths, propaganda delusions and false promises.
Awareness that we ourselves are most responsible for our situation should prevail. This does not exclude other factors and circumstances that have contributed to the present situation. First and foremost, we should ourselves take all necessary measures to overcome this catastrophic situation and secure ourselves a proper place in Europe and the world.
We must get rid of distorted and primitive notions about today’s world. The world is not divided into those who hate Serbs and those who favor them on ideological, historical and other grounds. The world’s ongoing and far-reaching changes necessitate that all member-states of the international community get adjusted to new realities. Driving forces of such processes should primarily include interests of their own. A priori mistrust in the international community is inasmuch false and counterproductive as expectation that the international community is willing to support anyone regardless of its interests is ungrounded.
Some actions taken by the international community in the course of the crisis in the region are subject to serious criticism. Some actions just fomented the crisis. Some other included means and methods contrary to civilizational values on behalf of which they had been taken. Even now when it reconsiders the list and impact of the sanctions against Yugoslavia, the international community should opt for lifting of those that inflict people the most. And – bearing in mind full respect for and implementation of the Security Council’s Resolution 1244, and today’s hardships of Serbs and other non-Albanian communities - it should reconsider in good earnest all aspects of the present situation in Kosovo. Responsibility for preceding crimes committed against Albanian population should not thus be made any less. Notwithstanding justified criticism of some of the international community’s actions, one must stress that without its presence and activity in this region – economically underdeveloped and pregnant with social tension, political conflicts and ethnic powder kegs – a level of stability, needed to settle down regional antagonisms, encourage economic development and join Europe, cannot be attained.
Renewal of destroyed societal institutions and transition are formidable challenges Yugoslavia has to meet. Economic and social stabilization – a prerequisite to development – figures as Yugoslavia’s priority. Adjustment of its legislature, social and constitutional arrangements to European standards (political and civil rights, free media, independent judiciary, academic freedom, privatization, and market economy) should go in parallel. Rule of law is an indispensable segment of Yugoslavia’s democratization.
By promptly settling all disputable issues, Yugoslavia should normalize its relations with all former Yugoslav republics, now independent states in its closest neighborhood. It should establish comprehensive cooperation with all Balkan states. Regional economic cooperation is of major importance in the world marked by integration of neighboring states. The South Eastern Europe’s Stability Pact is crucial to a speedier development of the entire region and, particularly, to Yugoslavia’s overcoming its crisis and desolation. An international assistance as such would surely greatly help Yugoslavia to anticipate and carry out its option for Europe by starting the procedure to join the Council of Europe and other European organizations, especially the European Union as a pillar and driving force of Europe’s economic and technological progress.
Yugoslavia must endeavor to normalize its either broken or disturbed interstate relations, particularly those with the United States, a friend and an ally ever since late 1800s. In today’s world almost all countries, regardless of size or affluence, realize their considerable or major national interests through promoting allied or partner relationships with the United States. The issue of Yugoslavia’s membership in the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the World Trade Organization and other major organizations cannot be solved unless the policy of confronting the entire world is changed and counterproductive insisting on legal continuity abandoned.
Yugoslavia must stop reviving the artificial and outdated world’s political and ideological division in the East and the West. Big countries, such as Russia and China, are significant partners in political, economic and all other forms of cooperation. But relations with these two countries cannot be based on a presumed historical, ideological or some other solidarity. Bearing in mind its national interests, Yugoslavia must detect partners worldwide.
Yugoslavia’s readiness to duly meet its international obligations, those to the Hague Tribunal included, will entitle it to ask all other relevant international factors as well to respect its legitimate rights and interests.
