SARAJEVO : Crumbling Yugoslavia
More than a test of support for independence, a referendum in Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday and Sunday will gauge the commitment to peace of the Yugoslav republic’s three ethnic groups.
With Bosnian Muslims, who account for 44% of the population, and Croats, making up 18%, already declaring support for independence, it’s seen as a foregone conclusion that most will back an appeal to the European Community for diplomatic recognition.
But hard-liners of the Serbian community--about 31% of the republic’s 4.5 million citizens--have threatened an uprising if severed from the Yugoslav alliance uniting them with Serbia. The weekend vote will show whether they value union with Belgrade enough to risk war.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
