Brotherhood And Unity Second Time Round

After two days of negotiations in the Palace of Nations in Geneva, the Yugoslav and Croatian Foreign Ministers Vladislav Jovanovic and Mate Ganic respectively, signed a joint statement on the start of a normalization of relations between the two countries and the speeding up of the peace process in the former Yugoslavia. The signing of the agreement was attended by Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic, Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, Montenegrin President Momir Bulatovic and Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic. The joint statement says that Yugoslavia and Croatia are starting from ``positive joint experiences,'' and that they are ``led by the decrees of the UN Charter and the basic CSCE documents.'' Their goal is the setting up of good neighborly relations, a contribution to a just and lasting solution of the crisis in the area of the former Yugoslavia, and the reestablishing of stability in this part of Europe. The first step in this direction will be the opening of offices by the two governments in Zagreb and Belgrade on February 15.

At the same time, Nikola Koljevic and Mile Akmadzic signed a joint statement on the setting up of a lasting peace and official relations between the Serb Republic in BosniaHerzegovina and the Croat Community of HerzegBosnia. This statement says that there are no controversies between these two ``states'' which cannot be resolved in a peaceful manner, and that it is necessary to set up official relations with the aim of promoting political relations and help in humanitarian actions. The Serb Republic in BH will open its offices in Mostar, while the Croatian Community of HerzegBosnia will open theirs in Sarajevo on February 15, there is no mention which part of Sarajevo is being referred to. Both sides call on Moslems to sign the declaration immediately.

The international press view the MilosevicTudjman agreement as one made at the expense of the Moslems. It is believed that it is primarily a tactical move aimed at pressuring the Moslem government in Sarajevo into accepting the peace plan. The British press quotes anonymous diplomats who say that an open SerbianCroatian military alliance is possible in BH. It cites the secret mobilization of Bosnian Serbs and Croats in Serbia and Croatia, and the readiness of both sides to use force in cutting through the Gordian knot in BH should the Moslems refuse to accept the situation.

Milosevic and Tudjman have done their best to confirm this impression. On returning to Zagreb, ``Vecernji List'' (Zagrebbased daily) carried Tudjman's statement that he had met with Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic and Foreign Minister Haris Silajdzic before leaving Geneva, and that the Croatian and Moslem views differed greatly because the latter believed that the problems in BH could not be solved without war. Milosevic accused the Moslem side for openly rejecting all concessions offered by Serbia and stipulated by the European Union. Milosevic said: ``The Moslems do not wish to stop the offensive in central Bosnia, because they want to push the Croats back and raze Vitez, Travnik, Busovaca and Novi Travnik, to capture Mostar and reach the coast which belongs entirely to Croatia.'' It is obvious now that growing SerbCroat brotherhood and unity is being made at the expense of Moslems. A part of the foreign media underscore that Tudjman was forced to make this move because of the defeats suffered by the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) in central Bosnia and mounting criticism in Croatia, while Milosevic is doing so because of the devastating effect that international sanctions have had on Yugoslavia's economy.

Tudjman considers the signing of the YugoslavCroatian declaration the success of his policy, claiming that Serbia and Montenegro, ``even though they have not said so outright,'' have recognized Croatia as it was within the former Yugoslavia's borders. Milosevic, however, calls for direct negotiations between the Krajina Serbs and Croatian representatives. Yugoslav Foreign Minister Vladislav Jovanovic underscored that the agreement will not affect the question of borders. It has been learned unofficially, that the possibility of opening up communication routes, primarily the BelgradeZagreb highway, was discussed in Geneva. This has led to speculation that Belgrade has abandoned the idea giving the Krajina Serbs further military support. In return Zagreb has agreed to adopt a strategy aimed at reintegrating these areas slowly through economic steps.

For the time being, there have been no important reactions from Krajina. Considering that the second round of presidential elections destabilized the authorities, it is clear that no one wishes to make hasty moves. Republic of Serb Krajina Foreign Minister Slobodan Jarcevic said that the agreement did not violate the ``integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Serb Krajina.'' This is the only official reaction. At the same time, opposition party leaders in Serbia, Vojislav Seselj of the Serbian Radical Party and Zoran Djindjic of the Democratic Party underscore that the normalization of relations with Croatia must not be made at the expense of the Serbs in Krajina.

It seems that after more than two years of bloodshed, Serbs and Croats have opted, albeit not voluntarily, for the only possible option negotiations.