Ethnic Tensions in Yugoslavia. The Background: Yugoslavia Before WWI: Many E. European countries under Austrian- Hungarian rule. Austria-Hungary defeated.
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Ethnic Tensions in Yugoslavia
The Background: Yugoslavia
Before WWI: Many E. European countries under Austrian-Hungarian rule.
Austria-Hungary defeated in WWI, The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes created
Called this Yugoslavia
Ruled by Serbs, anti-Serb movement begins (especially within Croats)
During WWII: concentration camps in Croatia set up, killing Serbs, Jews, gypsies
Basically—lots of conflict before, during, and in-between wars!!
The Creation of Yugoslavia
Communist Yugoslavia created in 1945 under Josip Tito
Consisted of six “equal” republics: Serbia (Vojvodina & Kosovo were autonomous provinces)MontenegroMacedoniaSloveniaBosnia-HerzegovinaCroatia
Also consisted of over twenty ethnic groups
Had good relations with the west, economic stability
TensionsVojvodina & Kosovo granted autonomy by Tito in 1974; Serbians angered
1980: Tito diesTito’s influence kept nationalism, or pride in one’s country, at a minimum.
Tito’s death gave rise to ethnic tensions, especially in Kosovo between the Serbs & Albanians
1987: Serbian politician Slobodan Milosevic is sent to Kosovo to eliminate tensions.
Instead, he tells Serbs they will no longer be “mistreated” and begins Serbian nationalist movement
Independence Movements
Serbian nationalism breakup of Yugoslavia
Slovenia & Croatia: 1991Slovenia able to break away pretty easily
only 10 days of fighting, which Slovenia won
Problem with Croatia: had 12% Serb population causing about four years of fighting with Yugoslavia for independence.
1992 = Big YearBosnia & Herzegovina & Macedonia declare independence, major war in Bosnia
Serbia and Montenegro form Federal Republic of Yugoslavia with Milosevic as the leader (not recognized by the USA)
War in BosniaDeclared independence from Yugoslavia in 1992, recognized by the U.S. and the European Community (eventually the EU!)
Ethnically Diverse43% Muslim
31% Serbian
17 % Croatian
Serbs who lived there were determined to stay in Yugoslavia and help build a better Serbia
Ethnic Cleansing in B-H of Muslims & Croats by Bosnian Serbs, attack on capital city of Sarajevo
Thousands of Muslims were killed, others sent to concentration camps. All were tortured and living in horrible conditions, women and girls were raped.
Bosnian Genocide
List of the dead
World ReactionSecret concentration camps, mass killings & the destruction of mosques were being reported worldwide
United Nations placed economic sanctions on Serbia (wouldn’t trade with them), but wouldn’t send troops to fight the Serbians
Sarajevo attack:1994 agreement to stop attacking Muslims, but this was broken when Serbs attacked “safe havens” in Bosnia against Muslim-Croat alliance
Eventually, U.S.A. led bombing campaigns in 1995 when 8,000 men and boys were killed in a “Safe Haven”, Srebrenica---continued from August to October
Dayton Agreement
Created two self-governing entities within Bosnia:
Bosnian Serb Republic
Muslim-Croat Federation
(each of these had their own armies, parliament, & government)
Goals: Reintegration of Bosnia
Protection of human rights
Peacekeeping force created to make sure the agreement was being followed, keep areas separate
Dayton Agreement (1995)
More Current Events
1998: Kosovo Liberation Army (Albanian) came out in open rebellion against Serbians, wanted independence
Internationally, not agreed upon
Crisis + threats of military action in the west = NATO Air Strikes in March 1999
At the same time, the relationship between Serbia and Montenegro was fizzling, Montenegrin leaders wanted to distance themselves from Milosevic
The End of Yugoslavia
By 2003, Yugoslavia had disappeared and the “leftovers” became the union of Serbia and Montenegro
EU wanted to stop Montenegro’s quest for full independence, so this was the resulting arrangement
2006: Montenegro NARROWLY becomes independent, end of the union of Serbia & Montenegro
Montenegro becomes 192nd member of the UN in June, 2006.
What’s Happened Since Yugoslavia Ended?
Small bouts of ethnic conflict since early 2000s, but each event has been resolved
Slobodan Milosevic lost the Serbian presidential election of 2000 and was forced out of office by protests
Then charged with crimes against humanity in Kosovo, violating laws/customs of war, breaches in the Geneva Convention & genocide in Bosnia2006: charged with ordering the murder of former Serb president Ivan StambolicDied in March 2006 in UN war crimes detention center in the Netherlands (The HAGUE) awaiting end of his trial & the verdict
2008: Kosovo declares its independence
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