Turmoil in Yugoslavia

Thank you for your timely coverage of the events in Yugoslavia. With the way things are going, it is essential that the public and the government in this country have a proper understanding of the political crisis over there.

This continuous chain of armed conflicts has exposed the complete hopelessness of the narrow-minded nationalistic programs pursued by the ruling parties in all Yugoslav federal republics. The paradox we are facing is horrible: In all republics the governments were formed after free, multi-party elections last year. The mandates they got were for peace and prosperity, not for bloodshed and civil war. Instead we have continuous worsening of the economy, a systematic indoctrination of the public with nationalistic programs and now a ruthless use of force to advance political goals.

It is impossible to understand the events in Yugoslavia without a proper appreciation of the terrible atmosphere of fear and hate systematically created and maintained by the ruling parties in key Yugoslav republics. What can you expect in a country where each regional government thinks it has a “historically justified” mission of national salvation, which professes self-righteousness and contempt for others and which skillfully and ruthlessly uses all the instruments of state in pursuing its goal?

Political problems in Yugoslavia are neither internal borders nor ethnic relations by themselves, but the chronic absence of a government that is responsible to the people. In a country where elementary human rights are respected, no ethnic group can be in jeopardy, no matter how you draw the internal borders. And without this, not a single citizen in a nationally homogeneous country is safe.

The political crisis in Yugoslavia cannot be solved through nationalistic programs, or if democracy is reduced to the tyranny of the majority. It cannot be solved when power is in the hands of people and parties for whom their “higher goals” come before the stability of the country and the safety of citizens. And obviously, it cannot be solved with people who do not refrain from using force. Unfortunately, some or all of the above seem to apply to practically all the ruling parties in the republics.

For further advance it is necessary that the public and the governments in United States and Europe look at the events without prejudice, judge every actor by the methods he uses and employ their considerable influence in calming the situation and encouraging compromise solutions. At stake is not only the fate of 23 million people, but also the future of reform and stability in Europe.

MILAN B. MIJIC

Duarte