MILOSEVIC: THE VIEW FROM LONDON

by Brian Gallagher

Hrvatski Vjesnik - July 6, 2001

 

Milosevic's transfer to The Hague has produced something quite remarkable in the British media; a fit of telling the truth.

The 28 June BBC Ten O'Clock News - their prime news bulletin --mentioned Milosevic's attempt to create a "Greater Serbia" in its opening headline. The Daily Mail reported Serb nationalism as being the cause of the wars. The Financial Times said that Milosevic policies of imposing Serbian rule led to Serbia invading Slovenia and Croatia . There was talk of crimes in Croatia. Vukovar was mentioned more times since, I suspect, the time of its destruction by the Serbs.

This is all very strange. Usually we hear nonsense about "civil war" in Croatia, how the Croats "provoked" the Serbs by declaring independence, all sides equally guilty, 'Krajina' Serbs being the victims etc.

The former Bosnian ambassador to the United Nations Mohammed Sacirbey appeared on the BBC's prestigious Newsnight and pointed out Western inaction during the war.

BBC foreign correspondent Allan Little wrote an article on the BBC website, which also appeared in a prominent London newspaper, entitled "How we turned a blind eye to Milosevic". Here he reminded us all about Western complicity in Milosevic's crimes; the arms embargo that could only lead to Serb victory, how the lie of "ancient ethnic hatreds" had been adopted and pushed by the West from Milosevic so as not get involved, moral equivalence etc. Other articles followed on the West's role in the Daily Telegraph, The Guardian and The Financial Times.

For their part, Serb representatives and Serb apologists were nowhere to be seen - at least in the first 24 hours of the news breaking.

It is as if Milosevic's transfer to the Hague has resulted in a catharsis of truth.

It is important to note that it was American threats to withhold aid that allowed Milosevic's transfer to happen. The EU would have been happy to give over aid with nothing in return. Already we can see that the European Union has much the same "Grace and Favour" policy towards Serbia as it did in 1991 - something Zagreb should think about in their dealings with the EU. Of course, the whole business of "buying" Milosevic with aid - $1.3 billion- is unseemly. It should also be asked if that money should more appropriately go to Serbia's victims.

With Milosevic in The Hague, he will no doubt 'spill the beans'; all his deals with the West should hopefully come out now. His lawyers are already threatening this. This will benefit Croatia and historical truth greatly. Questions may also be asked then about the Hague Tribunal. Why did it take so long to indict Milosevic, and only for Kosovo - i.e. when he was no longer a man for the West to do business with? The Hague's excuses about lack of evidence for Croatia have a hollow ring to them.

From now, it becomes much harder for the Serb lobby to pretend Serbia was the victim. If an indictment does indeed follow for Milosevic's crimes in Croatia - and a conviction - this will be of vital importance.

Now is the time for Croatia to breaks its policy of silence. It cannot be left to western journalists such as Allan Little to press for a Milosevic indictment for Croatia. And not just Milosevic. Those also responsible for Vocin, Zadar, Osijek etc must also be indicted. Details of Serb crimes in Croatia must be vigorously presented to the world's media - who may then question why the Tribunal has not done enough so far.

The transfer of Milosevic to The Hague may well be good news for Croatia. But Croatia must not be complacent. So far no Croat politician or official has made it into the press demanding an extension of Milosevic's indictment to cover Croatia, or for others to indicted. Only Croats can do this; it should not be left to European journalists.

© Brian Gallagher