The Slippery Ground

by Seska Stanojlovic

The attempt by Serbian (Yugoslav) politics and diplomatic service to avoid their obligations ended badly this week in Brussels. The expected collective recognition by the EU wasn't forthcoming although the EU Foreign Ministers spent a few hours on the topic.

Reporters in Brussels said the EU was divided over the conditions Yugoslavia had to meet before it is formally accepted into Europe. Regardless of interpretations, it's certain that Yugoslavia's ambitions of returning to the international community depend on the first most important step which can't be skipped; the diplomatic recognition of the former Yugoslav republics.

It turned out that the "easiest" problem, recognition of Macedonia, is still the main obstacle to normalizing relations with the new states in the region.

Macedonia, along with Slovenia the only republic the Badinter commission said had indisputable statehood, is still experiencing trouble in confirming its statehood. Probably because of obstruction within the EU, the collective recognition of the FRY, VREME sources said, has been linked to recognition of Skoplje by Belgrade. The insisting on Macedonia EU officials assessed depends not only the fact this is the easiest problem for Belgrade but also on the paradox that more complex problems were resolved in the meantime: counter to earlier assessments, the FRY recognized Bosnia as part of the Dayton peace deal. In the meantime, Slovenia recognized the FRY.

Finally, the VREME sources said, because of the delicate situation the EU accepted the continuation of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the FRY and Croatia. But it insisted on the recognition of Macedonia and would be happy if Belgrade and Skoplje just said they had reached agreement leaving the formalities for later.

Only the Yugoslav government kept that part of the deal while Macedonia kept quiet.

VREME learned that the FRY agreed to recognize Macedonia under its constitutional name and the compromise was over the state continuity of the two countries (Macedonia recognized the FRY's continuity with former Yugoslavia and the FRY recognized its republican statehood).

The fact that the statement by the FRY government does not include Macedonia's constitutional name (mentioning only Belgrade and Skoplje) was seen by Macedonia as continuing the old game with Greece and attempts by the FRY to profit in both Athens and Brussels.

In any case, the FRY's start along the long road ahead is discouraging.