It would appear that nearly 25 years has not mitigated the terrors of war. According to a BBC article, Croatia has accused Serbian leaders of genocide, stating that they are 'in denial' over the events of the 1990s. In turn, Serbian lawyers raised issue with the removal of 230,000 Serbians in 1995 and a similar claim of genocide. The charge dates back to the initial filing in 1999, but took a milder turn in the early 2000s with leaders on both sides appearing to strive for peace and reconciliation. The most recent continuation of the claims have been brought before the International Court of Justice for judgement, with a verdict anticipated this year or early 2015.
The riots in Bosnia and Herzegovina also hold ties to the Balkan Conflict. In February 2014 a string of riots broke out in four major cities - one of which is Sarajevo. Government buildings were burned and police were injured as citizens exhibited their frustration with a stagnant economy and the perceived corruption of prominent politicians. Many cite the Dayton Accords - which went into effect at the end of the Balkans Conflict - as a root cause of the inefficient political status. The director of the Museum of Literature and Art in Sarajevo gave a rather striking quote:
"...people woke up from a dream that someone would come to save us. During war no- one came to save us and 20 years later we were waiting for a miracle - that the EU would say: this constitution is stupid, we'll make a new one for you. We finally realised that's not going to happen."
She's referencing the fact that there are three presidents - one Serbian, one Croat, and one Bosnian Muslim - and two 'entities' - the Bosnian/Croat Federation and the Republika Srpska which is ethnically Serbian. To top it all off, the town of Brcko is an autonomous entity. This guarantee of presidency to only three ethnicities has been challenged by a Jew and a Roma - and ruled unfair by the European Court of Human Rights - yet the constitution and its restrictive clauses remains intact. By and large, however, this matter is not as important to everyday citizens who are more concerned with the 27% unemployment rate and health care. Yet, it takes up space and time on packed political agendas, ensuring other matters do not have the time to be raised.
In light of the recent Ukrainian unrest (which has elements of the Balkans Conflict), one Bosnian issued a warning to Ukrainians - beware deus ex machina offers from the West. He cites the ten-fold increase in foreign debt after EU intervention and an soldier's lament that "while we were bleeding, they were stealing." It seems that the EU - and possibly the US for its role in the NATO bombings - are not seen in a favorable light by all.
While visiting Croatia and Bosnia, I am curious to see how these attitudes are displayed by others. The two Bosnians who gave quotes appear to be mid-30s, early 40s so they would be the generation that fought and grew up during the Conflict; would the elderly and Millennials have a different perspective? Are the Millennials the fuel for the recent riots in Bosnia due to reduced opportunities or are there more complex ethnic and generational facets?
Sources:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26415503
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-10691468
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26093160
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26549245
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/03/ukrainians-bosnian-eu-flag
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