Hope, Lingering Tensions Mix at Balkan Summit

The leaders of nine countries in southeastern Europe met here Wednesday in a summit celebrating the end of a decade of Balkan wars, the rise of democracy in Yugoslavia and new hope for regional cooperation. But unresolved tensions prompted sharp words from some participants.

The atmosphere at the summit’s private working sessions “was very, very warm,” said European Union foreign policy representative Javier Solana, who attended the meetings. “The region is completed, with countries all based on the same values--democracy, rule of law, stability and tolerance.”

In the most concrete accomplishment of the summit--which brought together Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Romania, Turkey and Yugoslavia--newly elected Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica agreed to a joint statement endorsing “the principle of equality and nondiscrimination of all the successor states of the former Yugoslavia in their mutual relations.”

This marks “a significant change in the Yugoslav position” and opens the door for that nation to gain membership in the United Nations and improve its relations with neighbors, said U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Richard Holbrooke, who met with some of the leaders at the summit.

The insistence of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic that his nation was the only legitimate successor state to the communist Yugoslav federation of the post-World War II era was a key factor that triggered wars in Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia, Holbrooke explained.

Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski, in opening remarks that captured the spirit of the day, declared that “it has been said, ‘History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives.’

“In southeastern Europe, we have witnessed conflicts that have ravaged our land, cities and homes,” he continued. “We have witnessed the tragedies of our neighbors, friends and countrymen--the endless march of refugees, the hardship of material poverty. Thus, we have exhausted all other alternatives and we must now behave wisely.”

The summit comes after the departure from power of the three key leaders who presided over the Balkan wars of the 1990s: Milosevic, ousted Oct. 6; former Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic, who stepped down a week later; and Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, who died in December.

Though Kostunica received a friendly welcome, leaders of states that have had bitter conflicts with Yugoslavia spoke bluntly of their demands and fears.

Albanian President Rexhep Mejdani called on Kostunica to release ethnic Albanian political prisoners held in Serbia, the dominant republic of Yugoslavia, and provide information on the fate of others who have disappeared. He also urged an “explicit declaration condemning that sinister policy which gave rise to genocide and ethnic cleansing,” a reference to Milosevic’s harsh 13-year rule.

With between 800 and 1,100 ethnic Albanians from Kosovo still in jail, the prisoner issue is one of the most emotional problems keeping ethnic tensions high in the Serbian province, which is under U.N. administration.

Croatian Deputy Prime Minister Goran Granic called on Kostunica to take quick action to show that Yugoslavia has renounced the “expansionist, undemocratic and aggressive policy [that had] undermined peace and security and led to huge human losses, a massive refugee crisis and large-scale war damage in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo.”

Asked which Albanian or Croatian concerns and demands he was willing to meet, Kostunica responded by stressing his desire to establish and improve diplomatic relations with countries in the region as a first step toward solving other problems.

“With a sensible and good-willed dialogue, without accusations and self-accusations in advance, patiently freeing ourselves of pent-up prejudice, we will be able to solve the problems that burden our relations,” Kostunica said. “We must live in peace one next to another and cooperate.”

Later, Kostunica, who has yet to form his federal government, told reporters that he is “thinking about a possible law on amnesty” to resolve the problem of political prisoners. “That is something that can be realized when we get the new government,” he said.

“We have the problem of missing persons in Kosovo,” he added. “We are trying to solve all these problems. You must be aware, I’m just for 20 days in my office. So many things have been done. These problems are also going to be solved.”