HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK ---------------------------What did Solana offer to
Serbia and Montenegro?
Solana's mediation in the
negotiations showed that Yugoslavia wasn't a state. Is everything the same?
Maybe, if we agree that there are no differences between Solana and
Holbrooke
By Zeljko Cvijanovic
Although he signed the order for air raids on Yugoslavia, Javier Solana isn't at the top of the list of people who bring troubles. His job is such that troubles attract him but he usually doesn't solve them. After a series of Solana's visits to Belgrade, there are many similarities between Yugoslavia on one hand and Bosnia and Macedonia on the other hand- states which this high official of the European Union used to visit. Namely, Solana improved the situation neither Macedonia nor Bosnia.
So, it's not about Solana, but about Yugoslav (Serb) state. Solana remained the same but some circumstances changed. A few years ago, Yugoslav court found that Solana should be arrested so that Yugoslav statehood can be preserved. This time, we should have followed the advise of Bosnians and Macedonians and avoid Solana in order to preserve the statehood.
Although Solana defines his Yugoslav mission as "encouragement to the negotiations between Belgrade and Podgorica" and his mediating role as "technical", situation is different. People familiar with Solana's mission in Yugoslavia claim that the "technical mediator" offered to his collocutors several things, which don't seem to be technical. Namely, he required that Montenegro put three-year-moratorium on its splitting away from Yugoslavia, that Montenegrin boys perform military service in the Yugoslav Army but at the territory of Montenegro and that Montenegro send its demands to the EU treasury only as a part of Yugoslavia. He even mentioned the option of new Montenegrin elections in April 2002.
Solana's mediation can cheer up neither people who advocate a mutual state of Serbia and Montenegro nor those who support their separation. Yugoslavia admitted that it couldn't solve its problems and attracted international mediation once again. Yugoslavia did the same thing when it extradited Slobodan Milosevic to the Hague, being unready to face his "inheritance" in its own courts.
Solana doesn't mediate in Serb-Montenegrin negotiations because the European Union decided to support survival of Yugoslavia. The European explicit demand for a reformed federation has nothing to do with Yugoslav statehood. Namely, Solana doesn't need a state at the Adriatic coast, which organizes tobacco smuggling and damages the European budget. Beside that, current political and social situations in Montenegro and Kosovo prove that Milosevic wasn't the only Balkan problem although the EU is trying to show that he was the only problem.
Milo Djukanovic's intention to split away from Yugoslavia at the end of the 90s, was explained with Milosevic's rigidness. As soon as Kostunica had become the head of the state, Djukanovic stated that the situation remained the same. Miodrag Vujovic, the spokesman for Montenegro kept repeating that the only difference between Kostunica and Milosevic was that one of them had gone to the Hague. European leaders insist on survival of Yugoslavia because they want Belgrade to deal with one of the Balkan monsters, whom they created.
The following procedure would be logical: elections should be called in Montenegro and Serbia and the winners would agree about a mutual state, division or a referendum.
Without that, situation remains blurred with the ambitions of dominant Serb and Montenegrin political parties. For example, Milo Djukanovic must continue the legal way toward splitting away from Yugoslavia. Unless he accomplishes that aim, he cannot remain in power. Members of the Social People's Party led by Bulatovic insist on a mutual state of Serbia and Montenegro to animate the Montenegrin citizens, who live far away from the coast and smoke domestic cigarettes. As far as Zoran Djindjic is concerned, every day of negotiations with Milo Djukanovic postpones elections in Serbia. Finally, Kostunica adhere to the idea of a mutual state. However, the burning problem of Serb-Montenegrin relations will crumble his reputation before the new elections are called. Until then, William Montgomery will push him to vote pro the Labor Act, Charles Crafford will advise him not to vote for something else and Javier Solana will try to persuade him that elections represent an anti-reformation act.
So, Solana's presence is crumbling the statehood. Everything is the same with the exception of him. Maybe, if we agree that there are no differences between Solana and Holbrooke.
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