Diplomatic Blunders

It is one thing when the Chinese adopt a restrained stand towards affairs in Moscow. It is quite another when the Serbian leadership does the same through the mumbo-jumbo statements of Federal Foreign Minister Vladislav Jovanovic (‘‘We hope and wish that the critical moment will be overcome successfully... I hope that these events will not affect Russia's stability in the international sense...'').

It is interesting to follow policy blunders by Serbia's official propaganda with regard to Russia, which has surpassed the status of a mother image and become some sort of a mystical mainstay, one which is referred to in very imaginative ways and on all possible occasions. It is difficult to forget that in certain Foreign Office departments theoretically charged with forecasting international developments, toasts had been drunk in honor of the putchists and against Gorbachev, and that nothing was learned from the ensuing hangovers. On the occasion of the referendum in Russia, TVS surpassed itself in wishing for, and confidently announcing, Russian President Boris Yeltsin's downfall. Yeltsin didn't fall, but that didn't embarrass those predicting his doom. With the confidence of those who know they are right, they continued to expect aid, support and Russia's lobbying for Serbia on the international scene, by that very same Yeltsin. On the latest occasion, Vladislav Jovanovic, who had obviously been given the task of neither being for, nor against Yeltsin, came up with statements which sounded as they did.

Jovanovic is not to blame for the silly, rather than romantic, obsession with Russia, which is only part of a foreign policy lacking pragmaticism and common-sense. He is just the executor of a policy which has grown out of stupidity, and simply reproduces itself. But, Jovanovic joined the game voluntarily, and really shouldn't be crying over spilled milk now.

A refreshing moment in this Russian story was Serbian Police eminence grise Radmilo Bogdanovic's blunt statement: ‘‘We expect Russia to urge the lifting of sanctions against our country, but it remains to be seen if Russia will be able to do so.'' Jovanovic, however, has an answer: ‘‘When speaking of our country and the lifting of sanctions, it is in the interests of the international community as a whole, including Russia, regardless of later developments in that country.'' Perhaps it is also a little bit in our interests, but Jovanovic did not think it necessary to say so. Perhaps it won't come about that tomorrow, or the day after, some of them say that sanctions were close to being lifted, but that the idea was abandoned after all that happened in Russia. More proof of the spiritual closeness between the two nations.

Jovanovic, who has been Serbian Foreign minister and Yugoslav Foreign Minister, and is currently Yugoslav Foreign Minister, cannot be blamed of adopting a metaphysical approach, of an excess of discussions on the spirit, the battles, or the being of the Serbian people. His only beating of the national breast took place when he left former Yugoslav Prime Minister Milan Panic's government, and when he tried strictly and uncompromisingly to berate the PM for his treachery of national interests. But, the style and language did not suit him, and it was obvious that somebody else had written the text. This however, does say a lot about Jovanovic's personality.

Jovanovic is one of the most durable members of Milosevic's entourage, and has survived several changes of government painlessly. When, as a relatively anonymous diplomat, he took over the post of Foreign Minister, he was received with greater expectations than most of the other ministers in the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) government. After his predecessors, the well-spoken professional diplomat who even looked like a foreign minister, was regarded as a great improvement. It turned out however, that he didn't bring anything new. His colleagues considered him a good professional, analytical, but too much of a cabinet man who communicated with foreigners in a cliched, clerkly manner, without much creativity. Jovanovic was a quiet and modest man who hadn't made enemies. He did, however, make the mistake of getting involved in politics which he wasn't good at, and where, next to Milosevic, he had no chance of doing anything. What did Milosevic impress him with, or bind him with (political gossip on the matter abounds), remains a mystery. It is a fact that Jovanovic agreed to repeat his boss's tirades day after day, starting with the one on continuity with the former Yugoslavia. With every new declamation, expectations of the new minister and of an eventual change in Serbia's diplomatic style waned, and finally faded away altogether.

Jovanovic is the kind of man to whom unexpected things do not happen, since he has never asked to differ, nor has he found the strength to say something originalwithin the limitations of the allowed. That is why Jovanovic was surprised and not a little hurt when he heard that a bright new star from the younger echelons was trying to oust him out of office. The matter concerns Zeljko Simic, Vice-Prime Minister in Federal Prime Minister Radoje Kontic's government. Apart from being known as Milosevic's cabinet chief, Simic has, with Yugoslav President Zoran Lilic, received the Friendship with China Society delegation. There are also more serous indicators of his growing power. Simic has taken over all the work linked to the Geneva negotiations, and for Jovanovic, as Foreign Minister, this is quite a blow. It seems that nothing can stop Simic; and that there is no reason why Milosevic should hang on to his old master of ceremonies.

More important than Jovanovic, is what is happening with Serbia's (Yugoslavia's?) diplomatic service, which has never sunk this low. Those in the know claim that a cadre and organizational chaos reigns at the Foreign Ministry, and that the mediocre have been given posts from where their ignorance and incompetence will be able to shine. So far the majority of jokes were at the expense of ambassadors who can't say ‘‘How do you do?'' in the language of the country to which they have been accredited.

Perhaps this is no big surprise, since there are not many fields here today in which real professionals have the final say. Perhaps it wasn't all that important who was going to be given the futile job of presenting tribal demands as the highest moral principles, in line with international norms. If, however, the war really does come to an end and chances for the lifting of sanctions do crop up, then it will not be irrelevant who will be doing the negotiating. Unless Milosevic is thinking of doing the whole job on his own, and hopes to persuade the international community that it shouldn't allow us to die of exposure and starvation, then he will be needing people who can say something, and who don't behave like a miffed spinster misunderstood by all. Jovanovic just doesn't fit the bill any longer.