Posted on 09/10/2003 9:12:16 PM PDT by Hoplite
In the first formal meeting since the wars of Yugoslav secession, the leaders of Serbia and Croatia met yesterday to apologise for "all the evils" committed during the conflict, Europe's worst since the Second World War.
President Svetozar Marovic of Serbia and Montenegro and President Stjepan Mesic of Croatia met in Belgrade in the first official visit between the former Balkan enemies since the 1991-5 wars.
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Their reconciliation was all the more poignant given the relationship between the godfathers of the wars, the then Yugoslav leader, Slobodan Milosevic, and Croatian leader, Franjo Tudjman. They were blamed by many for secretly planning the division of Bosnia while publicly expressing mutual loathing.
The war to assure Croatia's departure from the Yugoslav federation cost an estimated 20,000 lives amid widespread acts of savagery, while the even bloodier war in Bosnia cost at least another 200,000.
"I want to use this opportunity to apologise for all the evils that any citizen of Serbia and Montenegro has done to anyone in Croatia," Mr Marovic said at a press conference at the Federation Palace in Belgrade.
Mr Mesic, the last president of the former Yugoslavia, responded in kind. "I would like to accept the symbolic apology and to apologise to all those whom the citizens of Croatia have inflicted pain or caused damage," he said.
Mr Mesic's lined face, which served as a visual symbol of the horror of Yugoslavia's break-up when he was photographed grim-faced at the start of the war, was yesterday wreathed in smiles.
"This sends a strong message about the normalisation of relations in the region," said a Croatian analyst, Zeljko Trkanjec.
The apologies marked a new chapter for the Balkans. Regional leaders hope trade and cultural exchanges will replace ethnic rivalries that have been a staple of Balkan politics over the past decade. Both countries also want to join the European Union.
Despite yesterday's historic reconciliation, both presidents are sure to be criticised by hardliners who prefer ethnic hatred to forgiveness.
Fears of an attack meant there were stringent security precautions. Older Belgraders could not recall such stringent measures since the days of Tito.
It was also rich in irony. Mr Mesic was guarded by the special anti-terrorist unit, an elite outfit that fought in the Croatian war.
Belgrade was virtually shut down for most of yesterday. The extraordinary precaution was deemed necessary following the assassination six months ago of the Serbian prime minister, Zoran Djindjic, by hardline nationalists.
Ultra-nationalists in both Serbia and Croatia, though less visible than before, continue to be a significant force. Several delicate issues have yet to be tackled by the two states.
Croatia's Serb population, whose breakaway provided a pretext for the conflict and who were later driven out, still demand the return of property. Nearly a third of the refugees have returned to Croatia, but many found their homes destroyed or occupied, often handed as booty to soldiers who fought in the Croatian war of independence.
Croatia demands compensation and aid in finding those still missing from the conflict.
But relations have none the less improved. Pop groups from Croatia and Serbia now regularly play concerts in each other's territory while a regular Zagreb-Belgrade flight was re-established this week.
This summer, the Croatian government lifted visa requirements for citizens of Serbia and Montenegro.
But ethnic rivalries still crop up at unexpected times, most often in sports. This summer, a water polo championship match between the two states, played in Slovenia, ended in violence as Croatian fans destroyed the stadium and attacked Serbs after Croatia lost the match.
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