I Believe in Rationality

Soros Foundation Yugoslavia president, Sonja Liht, last week visited London where, together with Radio B92 chief editor Veran Matic, she participated in a panel discussion at the Institute for Peace and War Research. Mrs. Liht spoke about the problems of survival of independent media and the independent civil society in Serbia and Yugoslavia, and the position of democratic forces and civil initiative.

The direct reason for Sonja Liht's visit to four countries (Britain, France, Germany and Belgium) was the ban on Studio B and Soros Foundation. We wish to underscore that it is necessary to eventually realize that there is another, democratic and peace-oriented Serbia which is becoming weaker, but which must have support, said Sonja Liht.

VREME: Do you expect the support to arrive after the Dayton agreement?

Liht: Many people in Belgrade think that Serbia is in a way abandoned, and that democracy was sacrificed on the altar of the peace agreement. A true and lasting peace cannot be reached unless the cessation of killing and establishing of trust between the former conflicting factions is accompanied by the development of democracy and relations with foreign countries. However, I am afraid the international community and all the countries who are interested in peace in the Balkans think peace is possible without democracy.

Why are Western diplomats and commanders in the field so fascinated by Slobodan Milosevic? Is it the establishment's love for establishment?

I think they are fascinated by a capable politician whom they imagined differently. We must remember all that the Western media have written and said. Milosevic has obviously been a very capable politician who, at least in direct communication, knows how to defend his attitude and to be charming. At the same time, some people who are in power in Serbia are doing the things which harm Serbia's interest. The existence of Studio B, the work of the Soros Foundation cannot jeopardize the people in power and can give them a kind of democratic image. Of course, this was not our goal, but it remains a political fact.

Concerning the takeover of Studio B, the British press writes that Milosevic has never been stronger. If this is so, why is he afraid of the independent media and Soros Foundation?

It is difficult to tell whether the media and independent institutions are being strangled because the people around Mr. Milosevic believe they are stronger than ever, or because they actually don't feel strong enough for an open dialogue with the opposition on the causes and consequences of this war. The closing down of Soros Foundation, the only institution of this kind in the country, will discourage other foundations and international financial institutions to make any investments in Yugoslavia. This will have unforeseeable consequences for the development of our economy and society. At any rate, the situation is much more complex than the picture presented by our journalists.

In the short run and in the long run - what is the future of Soros Foundation?

I still believe that there must be some rationality in the field of politics, so I believe that Soros Foundation has a future. I think the politicians will realize it is not in their interest to strangle such an important and useful institution. Not only because of the enormous humanitarian aid that it has offered, but also because it enabled a number of young people to live and work as normally as possible. I don't think that rational politics need young people who don't have the possibility to turn their positive energy into creativity. All of this may be dangerous for the authorities. I believe the reactions, in the country above all, will shake many institutions and individuals and contribute to the registration of the Foundation.