Ethnic Tensions in Yugoslavia Sarajevo Olympics 1984

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) Why the Serbian Hatred? During WWII: Bosnia Muslims cooperated with the Germans sending to concentration camps in Croatia. killing Serbs Christians, Jews, gypsies

The Creation of Yugoslavia Communist Yugoslavia created in 1945 under Josip Tito Consisted of six “equal” republics: Serbia (Vojvodina & Kosovo were autonomous provinces) Montenegro Macedonia Slovenia Bosnia-Herzegovina Croatia Also consisted of over twenty ethnic groups Tito downplayed nationalism and suppressed ethnic hatred. Allowing equality for all. ( but the tensions are deep) Had good relations with the west, economic stability

After the Death of Tito 1980: Tito dies Tito’s influence kept nationalism, or pride in one’s country, at a minimum. Allowed freedom of all ethnicities, languages secular and religion (Keeping the peace on ethnic hatred from the past) 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 1992 = Big Year Bosnia & Herzegovina & Macedonia declare independence, major war in Bosnia Serbia and Montenegro form Federal Republic of Yugoslavia with Milosevic as the leader (nor recognized by the USA)

War in Bosnia Declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1992, recognized by the U.S. and the European Community (eventually the EU!) Ethnically Diverse 43% 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 Reaction Secret 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 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

Dayton Agreement (1995) 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

More Current Events Crisis + threats of military action in the west = NATO Air Strikes in March 1999

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 Bosnia 2006: charged with ordering the murder of former Serb president Ivan Stambolic Died 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