|
|
Home  Publications Sarajevo, 28th June, 1996 Press Conference [A Serb spirit beyond the battle-field]
|
Sarajevo, 28th June, 1996 Press Conference [A Serb spirit beyond the battle-field] |
|
|
|
"Some comments today on the position of Dr. Karadzic. As we said recently, these are days heavy with symbolism. From Pale we were all of us informed, a week ago, that the Bosnian Serbs would make certain important announcements today, on the anniversary of the battle of Kosovo, as to their choice of leaders and electoral candidates.
On this day, 28th June, in 1989, Mr. Milosevic addressed several hundred thousand Serbs assembled on the battle-field of Kosovo Polje for the 600th anniversary of that battle. Before the day's end, to roars of approval, he had let loose the demons of extremism.
So as to leadership! First of all let me say that the High Representative, Mr. Carl Bildt, has led, on behalf of the international community, intensive diplomacy over the last few days, to see that Dr. Karadzic steps down from public life.
The track pursued by the office of the High Representative has been two-fold—firstly, that Dr. Karadzic get out of the way of the peace process and secondly, that Dr. Karadzic go to the Hague.
These two tracks are each important. They are not mutually exclu¬sive. But the diplomacy of Mr. Bildt has, at this moment, focused on the first. The peace implementation process must not be obstructed. To that end, Mr. Bildt consulted widely, with different capitals, and then held lengthy and tough discussions with Mr. Milosevic.
The High Representative then held discussions in Pale with Mr. Krajisnik.
Now we ask you to take a hard look at where we were just one week ago. Dr. Karadzic, resurgent and re-invigorated, was well advanced in his "comeback"—re-organising, appointing more hardliners, organis¬ing meetings and planning new strategies. And you will all recall the recent dismissal of Mr. Kasagic with whom we were working in Banja¬Luka. The diplomacy of Mr. Bildt turned the situation around again.
So we expect firm results on this problem this weekend.
The problem here has always been—how to stretch past leaders indicted for war crimes in order to reach the Bosnian Serb people, both with the extended hand of friendship and with real and substantial aid. How to allay the fear of the Bosnian Serb people—for fear it is—that the international community might not offer the way forward, toward what every family in this country really wants—a decent future for its children.
That is what we do want. That is the goal of the peace we must build.
But make no mistake about it, the plans of resurgent indicted war criminals include resurgent fascism.
(You hear things from this podium that you never heard before from the international community!)
The High Representative, and the international community, are com¬mitted instead to peace, justice, democracy, employment, normalcy—the things families all over Bosnia hunger for.
Yet as to myth and war, we say this:
You cannot eat the battle of Kosovo. You cannot do anything with it—except as a call to arms, a call to further conflict at a time when the fruits of peace are at hand for Serb, Muslim and Croat. If only they seize it!
In the long past, Serb talent and courage has been rightly admired. But the politics of sincerity are not sufficient. The politics of passion are not sufficient. The politics of responsibility, and accountability, are entirely more fitting. Accountability is greatly needed in the Balkans—needed, called for, indeed cried out for.
That is why the Hague tribunal is so relevant here. That is why the High Representative has engaged his best efforts in regard to Dr. Karadzic. For all of us this is a story of justice lost and sought.
All of us can be criticized. Today is not only the anniversary of the battle of Kosovo Polje in June 1389, sacred to Serbs. Today is also the anniversary of a great folly on the part of the international community.
Today, just over four score years ago, the "shot that was heard around the world", the one that killed the heir to the Austrian throne, was fired in this town, precipitating the first world war.
Four years and many millions of deaths later, the international community formed the League of Nations to prevent a recurrence of the slaughter. Diplomacy moved from Sarajevo to Geneva.
Two international organisations later—(The League and The United Nations)—the international community still struggles to extend its writ into the dark corners of the body politic—lest the dark extend its writ into us.
Bestial things happened in this country—on the order of war crimi¬nals.
On the other hand, in stirring words, the great Serb leader at Kosovo said, before battle: " I will not look at or count our strength of arms but at the sacredness of our cause."
We here too must not look at the close count of our arms, but at the value of our cause : it is that of international law and accountability.
This is not mere rhetoric; shells rained down on this city only very recently. The sight of young men in this city, wounded and unemployed, say it all. None of this is academic. It is a direct challenge to all of us.
It isn't a greater Serbia that is needed. Nor a greater Croatia. But a greater international community—with a greater sense of community and a greater sense of urgency.
Meanwhile, just above Sarajevo—in Pale—the battle of Kosovo is being remembered today.
At the end of that Kosovo battle, after the Serb hero Lazar had died, it is said that a grey falcon rose above the battle-field, the spirit of Lazar.
Well, that spirit of the Serb people—one of courage and together¬ness—was recently led, falsely, to fly against the currents of modernity. It must find new direction—so that the talents of the Serb people find full play over open plains, free of constrictive tribalism.
It is a hard wrench, to break from false leaders. But it must be done. It is the only way forward. It is why we have focused on Dr. Karadzic, who has gambled too often, beginning with his gambling in the casino of this very building.
Pale must change direction now—so that the buried spirit there of tolerance can break free. So that a new spirit there can soar above recent battle-fields, like the spirit of Lazar, and a new start be made on the currents of modernity. For justice and its construction there isn't any other way." |
|
Quotes
Colum Murphy witnessed the Western intervention in Bosnia — during and after the war—from the inside. His account provides important testimony, both about the dealings of the UN diplomats and military men, and about the attitudes of the Bosnian politicians in Sarajevo and Pale. Above ail, this is a deeply humane book, by someone who has not been afraid (unlike some of his colleagues at the time) to distinguish clearly between good and evil. — Noel Malcolm, Fellow of AII! Souls College, Oxford; author of Bosnia: A Short History.
|