Dangling
the carrot
At this summit, the European Union came up with a big carrot with which to drag
the conflicting parties into some level of harmony. If the parties cooperate
in building a democratic system and practice tolerance of the minority populations
in their countries, the EU leaders offered $4 billion in economic aid. Offered
as an additional inducement was duty-free access for 95 percent of the Balkan
nations’ industrial and farm products. Opening up the EU markets to the
Balkans would do much to stimulate these countries’ economies.
A further encouragement for good behavior is the possibility of the Balkan countries
entering the European Union as full members. EU rules are that only democratic
nations living in peace with their neighbors and with market economies and solid
human rights records need apply.
An additional proviso for acceptance by the European Union is that these countries
must cooperate with the war crimes tribunal in The Hague by turning over people
accused of committing atrocities.
Given the high rates of unemployment and shortage of funds to rebuild devastated
economies, one would expect the Balkan countries to rush to cooperate. Despite
these potentially strong rewards for changing their behavior, many in the European
Union have doubts that enlightened self interest will carry the day. The level
of hatred of each other is such that many people in these countries are willing
to do great damage to their own interests if it also results in damage to the
enemy. It is especially questionable whether the Albanian Kosovars and the Serbs
will be able to control their need for vengeance.
After 50 years of communism these Balkan countries are finding it difficult to
make the change to democratic-style leadership. My own observation is that even
more than our democratic politicians, former communists like to talk and talk
and in talking feel that they in some way have solved a real problem.
I have felt a great deal of frustration after group members at meetings I’ve
attended have failed to make specific plans for action. In addition, the reports
I’ve seen indicate that, as we saw in Russia, there has been much favoritism,
organized crime and corruption. The Balkan countries have promised to cooperate
in reinforcing independent justice systems to fight these problems.
In addition to the anger at Serbs and the insistence on the removal of all Serbs
from Kosovo, there is strong disagreement on what the status of Kosovo should
be. The European Union will probably insist that it remain an autonomous province
within Yugoslavia. The Albanian Kosovars want an independent country free of
control by the Serbs.
Holding out hope
The offer by the European Union is handsome. It opens the possibility of rebuilding
destroyed economies and developing true democratic political systems. The growth
of a market economy, however, will take time. We must remember there is much
to unlearn after 50 years of communism, and new leadership styles will need encouragement.
But, under the watchful eyes of the European Union, there is a potential for
these countries to become an integral part of the European scene. When that is
accomplished, perhaps we will have seen the end of wars within and between European
nations.
