Slovenia

On the day the central international commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the victory over fascism was held in Moscow, local newspapers reported that the Russians intended to seat the presidents of FR Yugoslavia, Croatia, Macedonia and Slovenia at the same table.

This review of the way the 50th anniversary of the victory over fascism was marked in the republics of the former Yugoslavia (which was one of the victors of World War II) was prepared by Nenad L. Stefanovic, Svetlana Vasovic and the Vreme Documentation Center.

Slovenia
The Slovenians came closest to a victory day parade. Following two months of political arguments they gave up on the parade since "the concept of the defence of Slovenia as a small state must not be based on intimidating potential enemies with weapons but on understanding and cooperation".

The central celebration is scheduled for May 13 in Ljubljana. It will open with a formal session of parliament and later a party on the central Republic Square with alpine and airborne troops appearing first and will end with recitals, a combination of opera and movie screening. A draw decided who speaks where and when.

A formal academy will hear a speech by president Milan Kucan, the parliament session will be addressed by Joze Skoljc and prime minister Janez Drnovsek will speak at a tribunal.

That scenario doesn't make everyone happy; opposition leader Janez Jansa is protesting the fact that the chosen date is the day of the former Yugoslavia's security service, rightist Zmago Jelincic thinks everything is too conciliatory while Slovenian W.W.II veterans' organization chief Ivan Dolnicar is complaining about the army marching without weapons. There are even some who don't like the fact that Slovenian partisans will parade their red star decorated flags.

Slovenia's rightists are boycotting the central celebration and there has been mention of the "victorious Yugoslav army" in strangely warm tones and joint efforts by the former Yugoslav nations to defeat fascism.

Macedonia
The anniversary was declared a holiday in Macedonia. Before leaving for London, Paris and Moscow, president Kiro Gligorov spoke at a formal academy and noted that Macedonia's joining in the fight against fascism was very important "since there are people who claim Macedonia was inaugurated by Tito and that it became a state, and the Macedonians a nation, thanks to him".

The Macedonian media stressed that the Macedonian people's struggle was headed by the communist party and Tito 50 years ago. The Belgrade media mainly stressed that Svetozar Vukmanovic Tempo had not been invited to the anniversary even though he was one of the organizers of the uprising in that former Yugoslav republic or quoted Gligorov that Macedonia liberated itself without help from allied armies.

The central festivities in Skoplje were held on May 9 when prime minister Branko Crvenkovski warned that the Balkans are seeing "shots fired, killing and destruction in the name of the idea of the heavenly people and thousand year old dreams".

Bosnia
Few wanted to celebrate amid the gunfire and destruction. Sarajevo was occupied with the shelling of Butmir, seen in the city as further proof of "Pale fascism".

Pale did not mark the anniversary but a formal academy was held in Banja Luka on May 9 as well as modest commemorations in Prijedor, Drvar and Kozara. Mico Carevic (SK-PJ) warned that revamped fascism was taking its toll in blood once again while his party comrade (Yugoslav W.W.II veterans organization chief) general Milan Daljevic called for oppostion to evil - "our own ranks against all those who ethnically cleanse and destroy other nations, who destroy other's religious shrines and monuments".

Croatia
The celebration in Croatia seemed to have caused the greatest traumas and dilemmas. A special session of parliament was held in Zagreb and state and veterans' delegations toured some monuments.

The celebration was joined by US ambassador Peter Galbraith who laid a wreath at the Jasenovac death camp monument. Parliament speaker Nedeljko Mihanovic accused Serb propaganda of denying Croatia's role in the anti-fascist coalition.

Many veterans protested the fact that the celebrations were not exactly truthful. Veterans organization chief Sime Balen claimed Croatia is trying to minimize the victory over fascism. "Paying respect to the victims of fascism is semilegal here," Balen said and voiced hope that Zagreb's central square would have its old name (Fascist Victims' Square) restored.

Serbia
Belgrade split into partisans and Chetniks on May 9 with a seemingly greater ideological ferocity than Yeltsin's opponents and supporters in Moscow.

The partisans celebrated in Sava congress center while the Chetniks began their commemoration in Belgrade's Trade Union Hall and will end it on Ravna Gora mountain on May 13 in front of general Draza Mihajlovic's monument.

The Sava center gathering warned of revamped fascism which has started out from Zagreb and Jasenovac again. The Chetnik gathering focused on "national reconciliation" but the prevailing feeling is that the two won't ever reconcile or achieve a balance.

Apart from those bitter debates, the FRY commemoration had a brighter side. Just prior to the commemoration, the 100th Red Star-Partizan game was aired on TV, price cuts were announced and many employees got part of the day off.

The best celebration was in Gosa holding company in Smederevska Palanka. Company workers haven't received January and February pay checks yet but they did get a stable of race horses bought with factory money on May 9. Races were organized and whoever had any money could bet.