>And we've had the Proyect-Jones axis making >the most extraordinary claims that a murderous, kleptocratic regime >represented the last bastion of European socialism It is a lie to state that I said that "socialism" was under attack. I am sure that Cuba is socialist, but I am not so sure what Yugoslavia is. What I am sure about is that western imperialism viewed Yugoslavia as an impediment to its economic program in Eastern Europe. Sandinista Nicaragua, despite having less state ownership than Mexico, was targeted for the same reason. The problem is that the economic tensions between Belgrade and the west got lost in the ocean of ink about human rights, refugees, etc. Just a reminder of the sort of thing I had been posting which other people I'm sure will recognize have nothing to do with the black-and-white reductionist caricature that Doug puts forward. NY Times, July 18, 1996 United Nations sanctions against Serbia were suspended after the Dayton accord but can be reimposed for noncompliance with the treaty. On the positive side, Mr. Holbrooke can offer to formally end the sanctions, lifting the cloud of uncertainty that might deter international investors. Since the suspension of sanctions last December, there has been little improvement in the Serbian economy, largely because of the determination of Mr. Milosevic, a former Communist, TO KEEP STATE CONTROLS AND HIS REFUSAL TO ALLOW PRIVATIZATION. But daily life has regained a modicum of normality. Families no longer hoard oil, sugar and other foodstuffs and gasoline, previously sold on the roadside by black marketeers, is more easily available. ==== June 10, 1998 G8 Stability Pact for Yugoslavia The Stability Pact aims at strengthening countries in South Eastern Europe in their efforts to foster peace, democracy, respect for human rights and economic prosperity, in order to achieve stability in the whole region. Those countries in the region who seek integration into Euro-Atlantic structures, alongside a number of other participants in the Pact, strongly believe that the implementation of this process will facilitate their objective. . . To that end we pledge to cooperate towards: --creating vibrant market economies based on sound macro policies, markets open to greatly expanded foreign trade and private sector investment, effective and transparent customs and commercial/regulatory regimes, DEVELOPING STRONG CAPITAL MARKETS AND DIVERSIFIED OWNERSHIP, INCLUDING PRIVATISATION, leading to a widening circle of prosperity for all our citizens; --fostering economic cooperation in the region and between the region and the rest of Europe and the world, including free trade areas; promoting unimpeded contacts among citizens; Louis Proyect (http://www.panix.com/~lnp3/marxism.html)
