COMMODITY "BALKAN WAR"

Meanwhile, on the 20th of February, 1991 Slovenia adopts amendment to Constitution. According this amendment Slovenia is proclaimed independent, and then in the beginning of march it put a moratorium for draft of Slovenian youngsters to Yugoslavian army. During the winter of 1991 some facts about Slovenia weaponry purchasing abroad appear in newspapers . Slovenia was the most economically developed republic of the former socialist federative republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). Republic has a common border with Austria the heiress of Austro-Hungarian Empire. Close neighborhood with developed country predetermined the course of events. On the 8th of March, 1990 the word ‘socialist’ was taken out from the name of republic. On the 2nd of July, 1990 parliament adapted Declaration about independence.
Slovenian minister of defense developed “Possible options of dissociation” from military viewpoint. Military leadership of Yugoslavia have been preparing for Slovenia separation. Headquarter of Yugoslav people army developed version of military plan for the case of Slovenia separation. Plan included the need for closing borders with Austria and Italy and protecting wholeness of Yugoslav federation. Preparation for this separation and possible encounter with Yugoslav army goes ahead. Slovenia have been proposing confederative options of arranging community, since even in spring of 1991 nor USA, nor NATO, neither EC support Slovenian partition off. However, it is known that Germany and Austria were ready to acknowledge independence of two republics (later about Croatia).
On the 13th and 26th of March withdrawal of American missiles from Europe had finished in accordance with agreement (INF Treaty). Formal liquidation of Warsaw Treaty military structures took place on the 31st of March. Already on the 5th of April (1991) in London the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) was opened. This bank was established “to assist Eastern European countries and the Soviet Union in developing democracy and a market economy”. It is clear that bigger world capital would not credit development of industry, science, agriculture for possible competitor be enforced. The trend of these “loans” is predetermined by the targets of suppressing potential competitors.
25-26th of April, Conference on The Future of European Security in Prague sponsored jointly by the Foreign Minister of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic and the Secretary General of NATO is held.
And on the 7th of May the Yugoslav Defense Minister declares that his country is in a state of civil war. Slovenia is full of determination to leave federation.
12th of May, Soviet Union eliminates remaining SS20 missiles in accordance with the INF Treaty. 21st of May, The US House of Representatives calls for a reduction of US troop strength in Europe from 250 000 to 100 000 by 1995. And on the 17th of October NATO Defense Ministers meeting in Taormina (Italy) announce reductions in the current NATO stockpile of sub-strategic nuclear weapons in Europe by approximately 80 percent.
6-7th of June, NATO Foreign Ministers meeting in Copenhagen issue Statements on Partnership with the Countries of Central and Eastern Europe, NATO’s “Core” Security Functions in the New Europe, and the Resolution of Problems Concerning the CFE Treaty. Meanwhile developments in Yugoslavia go ahead.
It gets clear in June that Yugoslav army would not be able to send bigger troops against Slovenia and Croatia. The only opportunity is small activity in certain places . 25th of June, Parliaments of Slovenia and Croatia proclaim independence.
26th of June, Slovenian leadership took republic borders, custom points and airspace under control. 9 a.m. on the 27th of June, 1991 Yugoslav army started motion from the territories of Slovenia and Croatia by shortest routes in direction of border-crossing points. Already in Croatian Chakovatz and Jastrebarsk barricades were constructed that hindered military convoys. Army troops were blocked on Slovenian territory by Slovenian volunteers and military; they used barricades, Yugoslavian military had been attacked.
28th of June 15.00 a.m. the army set control over all border-crossing points, fulfilling planned task though shooting have been lasting until evening. President of Slovenia M.Kuchan stated that “it is not about race for power but true conflict between democratic choice Europe oriented and outdated model leading to war” . So the concept of ‘aggressor’ in Yugoslav conflict started to form, and it was utulised by world capital mass-media.
28th of June, the meeting of EC representatives and members of Yugoslav federation Presidium took place; however there were leaders of all republics except Serbia not invited to the meeting. As a result they have achieved first agreement of international mission – Joint (without Serbia) declaration on peaceful solution of Yugoslavian crisis. In Declaration they still have been acknowledging unity of federation and proposing to start with talks between Slovenian side and federation representatives since the 1st of August.
On the 1st of July, 1991 Warsaw Treaty Organisation was officially dismissed in accordance to protocol calling for “reformation of all-European structures”, but not for NATO, WEC and EC.
On the 12th of July Presidium of SFRY made a decision by a majority vote to withdraw Yugoslav troops from Slovenia and re-dislocate them in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro. This war pushed on international acknowledgement of Slovenia. Germany considered army made a putsch and it is required to appeal urgently to Security Council. German chancellor H.-D.Henscher had informed UK, EC, Austira and convinced them in Yugoslav army “aggression” and that it is necessary to admit independence of Slovenia and Croatia .
Events in Croatia went not so quick but more dramatically. Assistance for world bourgeoisie came up from fascism as usual, from pathological patriotism in its newest forms.
By the end of 1980s nationalistic propaganda in Croatia increased, signs of anti-Serbian tones in republic, tension had been growing. Sabor (parliament) of Croatia in august 1989 adopted a law about language; in that law Serbian language was not mentioned at all as a language of people in Croatia. On the 21st of December, 1990 Serbian autonomous district Krajina was proclaimed (SAD). According statute adopted “Serbian autonomous district Krajina is a kind of territorial autonomy in republic of Croatia… within the framework of federative Yugoslavia” . By the 20th of February, 1991 Croatian government submitted constitutional law to parliament; this law determined the priority of republican laws over federal and adopted Resolution “on dissociation” with Croatia and SFRY. On the 28th of February Serbian national parliament (‘Veche’) and Executive Veche of Autonomuous Serbian Krajina adopted Resolution “on dissociation” with Republic Croatia on the basis of referendum results. On the 18th of March local parliament of Knin (‘Skupschina’) passed a decision on final separation from Croatia. On the 12th of May they held a referendum about reunion with Serbia. 16th of may, local parliament of Knin passed a resolution on incorporation of Krajina to Yugoslavia .
Watchers suppose that S.Miloshevic knew nothing about plans of Krajina. That is why the leader of Krajina’s delegation was not allowed to appear at Serbian parliament (‘Skupschina’); the Skupschina itself didn’t attach significance to decision of Serbs in Krajina. It has been sounded like Beograd’s “no” to Serbian Krajina decisions.
Meanwhile traditions of Croatian fascists were practically rehabilitated: symbols of new Croatia repeated those of New Independent Croatia of 1941. Only in Dalmatia they’ve ruined 2000 monuments to the victims of fascism. They began renaming of settlements, streets, enterprises where was any mention about Serbs. The term “fifth column” appears in political vocabulary of ruling Croatian elite. Being under pressure Serbs have been leaving cities and villages: from 1991 to 1993 350 thousand Serbs went away . In total 94 orthodox churches and 4 monasteries in Croatia were robbed, 70 churches and 96 religious buildings, 10 cemeteries were, two libraries, two church archives destructed . In 1991 20 thousand Serbian children were forcibly turned to catholic. The same emotional glow was used later at Albanian border in Kosovo province.
Meanwhile in the east of Eurasia, in the USSR the effort of putsch takes place. The rioters stood since 19 to 21 of August and they were abolished by peaceful democratic revolution. Communist party of the Soviet Union as well as USSR ended their lives by the 20th of August, 1991. The victory of capitalism in Yugoslav republics went through civil war with external assistance of the “world community”.
It is considered that the first phase of military activity began since March (attack of Croatian police on Plitvice) to the end August, 1991 when there were military encounters between Serbian and Croatian sides. The second phase was the war of Yugoslav regular army and Croatian army: from end August, 1991 when Yugoslav army attacked Kievo to the 20th of November (end of Vukovar battle). This period is characterized with bigger victims and destructions .
The reason of war in Croatia (the same as in Slovenia) was announced by Croatian powers as “Serbian aggression…, the effort of Serbs to establish their power in the part of Croatian territory, namely to make the Great Serbia» . In fact the thing was different. The ruling Christian-democratic party (CDA) has been making military squadrons all over the country. The main criterias during recruiting them were: Croatian nationality, loyalty to powers, hatred to Yugoslavia, and readiness to run the command . A lot of mercenaries came to country and among them: Germans, French, English, Rumanians, and even Afro-American. It was allowed to arrive in republic for black legions of Croatian nationalists (Ustashes) that have been waiting this for a long time. They were military trained well in Latin America, Australia, Germany. They were well equipped. Actions of ustashes, CDU-members and mercenaries were differed by sophisticated cruelty.
In November 1991 Yugoslavian leadership appealed Security Council and asked to send UN troops to Croatia deploying them between the territory of major Serbian population and the rest Croatian territory. Situation goes more serious at Croatian front-lines by the beginning of December. Last soldiers of Yugoslav army left positions, none was responsible for mobilization (during the year 1991 Yugoslav army was abandoned by Croats, Slovenians, Macedonians, Muslims).
In December, 1991 S.Wance developed peacekeeping activities plan of the UN for Yugoslavia under temporary mandate for 6 months just to make “the conditions for peace and assure security required for talks about overwhelming solution of Yugoslav crisis”. UN member countries voluntary send their peace troops. Supreme commandership is in the hand of UN general secretary and not of leaders of fighting countries.
Update of these months’ events in Bosnia and Herzegovina was not original. 18th of November, 1990 at the first multiparty elections majority of parliament seats (86) took muslim Party of democratic action (PDA), then 72 seats took Serbian democratic party (SDP) and Croatian democratic alliance (CDA) got 44 seats . Breakdown of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) by nationality has been identified already by dashed line.
And in February, 1991 SDP and CDA offered parliament to discuss Declaration on sovereignty of B&H; then Serbs commenced to unite communities with majority of Serbian population. By the autumn of 1991 tension in B&H has been growing. Croatian volunteers have been getting back from front, first funeral letters were received, and economic situation has being worsened. Communication with other republics was also hampered. Bridges over river Savva were destroyed. Due to the war B&H gradually found itself in economic blockade. All civil airports were closed, the port on Adriatic Sea took on lease is cut off, and energy crisis broke out. The year of 1992 is coming soon.
Already on the 7-8th of January NATO participates in arrangements for airlifting EC humanitarian assistance to Moscow and St Petersburg in aircraft provided by the Canadian and German governments. On the 10th of January, at the first meeting of an informal High Level Working Group established by the North Atlantic Cooperation Council to discuss ratification and implementation of the CFE Treaty, agreement is reached on a phased approach for bringing the CFE Treaty into force. This way NATO has been taking initiative in its hands to “control weapons” over the Europe.
25th of January, 1992 – Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina made a decision to vote a referendum about sovereignty and independence of the republic. Serbian group in parliament refused to vote and left the meeting room. The 1st of March B&H in fact proclaimed its independence.
In February of 1992 Presidium of SFRY adopted peaceful plan of S.Wance. Yet at the 8th of March overnight, 1992 Croatian engaged gunning of Barani town to try to liberate part of the territory before UN troops came up.
10th of March, Extraordinary Meeting of the North Atlantic Cooperation Council. Foreign Ministers and Representatives of the NACC countries publish a Work Plan for Dialogue, Partnership and Cooperation took place. So they published “Work Plan”. This “plan” included two aspects: 1) «intensified consultations on the part of the Central and Eastern European countries with the North Atlantic Council, NATO's various specialized committees, and the Military Committee; 2) and a range of cooperative activities. Both aspects are designed to promote dialogue, partnership and cooperation on security and related issues». What did NATO imply by the term “security”?
The focus of “these consultations and cooperation” as NATO declared lies in the sphere of security, that is: Defence Planning Issues And Military Matters, Issues of defence planning, Force and command structures, Military contribution to conceptual approaches to all arms control and disarmament issues, Views on military exercises, Democratic concepts of civilian-military relations, Planning, management and analysis of national defence programmes and budgets, Concepts and methods of training and education in the defence field.
This activity also covers NATO participation in ecologic programs under the title “Third Dimension”. The money of Euro-American capital saved on rockets withdrawal from Europe goes to conquest of Europe and Asia without weapons.
The sphere of “scientific and ecologic” interests of NATO leadership is very curious. The Work Plan envisages such issues as: Seminar on the military role in environmental protection
Participation of cooperation partners' experts in pilot study meetings; Pilot study of defence base clean-ups; Pilot study on protecting civil populations from toxic material spills during movements of military and other dangerous, defence-related goods; Pilot study on existing cross-border environmental problems emanating from defence-related installations and activities, etc.
NATO allies committed to provide required means to finance its activity on “cooperation”. Herewith part of this funds will be provided by particular country on its own account.
Hereby, NATO is interest in all objects and field of activity that is somehow related to defense, military industry and possibility “to resist” NATO’s invasion. They need as much as possible information on military, economic potential of “partners” which are to be member on the NATO under definite circumstances. All things should be under control, organized or bought on behalf of “common” budget of NATO. At the same time there will be a “casting” of those who will be involved in reshaping Europe and Asia. So “the Plan” had begun to realize very fast.

WE SAY NATO – IMPLY UNO

The 4th of April, 1992 was called by Bosnian Serbs as the day of Muslim putsch in Sarajevo when in parallel to mobilization military activities had started – they retake police offices, post, all major objects in the city. Fear and concern were common in Sarajevo. There were armed forces on the streets which were formed on national basis, most of the youngsters walked in the streets had masques.
On the 6th of April Council of Ministers of the European Community adopted Declaration that had advised member-countries to acknowledge Bosnia and Herzegovina as independent state since the 7th of April. It was a signal to the leadership of Bosnia that Europe supports them, that their requirements are righteous. In the very day Presidium of B&H declared the state of emergency in republic and on the 8th of April imposed the state of military menace. As early as 7th of April, 1992 Bosnia was acknowledged by the USA, EC and Croatia. On the 22nd of May B&H became a member of the UNO. Serbian Republic in Bosnia and Herzegovina had also declared independence but not in the right time. Serbs found ourselves as hostages of world capitalist empires big policy. But previous to this:
10 April – First Meeting of the NATO Military Committee in Cooperation Session with Chiefs of Defence and Chiefs of General Staff of Central and Eastern European States, of course not everyone was invited.
21 April – bloody war in Mostar had waged. At the beginning this war is against Yugoslavian army, then between Muslims, Serbs and Croats themselves. By the 21st of April the number of refugees and displaced persons in B&H according UN reached 230 thousand and each day it has been increased by 30 thousand . Number of refugees outside the republic reached 350 thousand. Presidium of B&H called for military assistance (Turkey in particular) announcing Yugoslav army as aggressor. Again it happened.
22 April – Muslims engage gunning on Serbian district around city of Ilidge. Barracks were blocked in the city; they fired an aiming fire on military hospital, barracks, they attacked military.
End April in B&H there was two centers of power – in Pale (Serbian) and in Sarajevo (Mussulman). 27th of April, Presidium of B&H asked Yugoslavia to draw out its army from the territory of republic.
Meeting of CSCE held in Helsinki set an ultimatum to Yugoslavia – to draw out its troops from B&H by the 29th of April. The Republic of Yugoslavia met set requirements and made a decision to draw its troops from both B&H and Croatia within 15 days.
After withdrawal of Yugoslav army from Croatia its commanders still believed that army in B&H should be strengthened. Serbs from Bosnia which remained in Yugoslav army formed a source for the army of Serbian Republic (SR).
4th of May, Visit to NATO by Japanese Minister of State for Defence, Sohei Miyashita. Japan wants to get a right position in a changing world, to choose the right group. 7th of May, Meeting of Russian Secretary of State Gennady Burbulis with Acting Secretary General of NATO Amedeo de Franchis at NATO Headquarters. 20-22 мая NATO Defence Conversion Seminar with Cooperation Partners, two months later after adoption of the NATO Work Plan. The sooner you can do with military industry and military programs of yesterday rivals – the better.
12th of May, 1992 local parliament of Serbian Republic made a decision about establishment of its own army. Croats in B&H did not expect to fight, believing that making of confederation with Croatia will be enough.
Yugoslavian troops were still in Bosnia. However on the 18th of May in Sarajevo the agreement about evacuation of Yugoslav army was signed. Departure of Yugoslav troops from Sarajevo has started. Since that time military encounters had been extending. Situation is complicated by the participation of three sided in military activity. On the 27th of May an explosion occurred in Sarajevo just in a queue, lots of people died. Security Council blaming Sarajevo passed a resolution on implementing sanctions against United Republic of Yugoslavia (URYO. The operation planned by Muslims has brought results.
On the 4th of June the meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Oslo announced their readiness “to support conventionally” peacekeeping mission under guidance of OSCE on a basis of cease-fire. Ministers also made a statement about crisis on the former Yugoslavia territory (it became “the former” in all documents) and about crisis in Nagorny Karabakh, Armenian-Azerbaijan border. It is notable that on the 5th of June this meeting was attended by representatives of Georgia and Albania as watchers of North-Atlantic Council on Cooperation (NАСС). These two countries have particular relations with NATO leadership.
On the 21st of June Croatian army attacked positions of Serbian national defense forces near plateau Milevachki south to Drnish and moved ahead for a few kilometers. Croats entered protected zone and killed 48 Serbian soldiers. «Blue helmets» didn’t react, neither Beograd come to rescue. The UN Security Council call for withdrawal of Croatian troops from UN-protected zones wasn’t realized at all. This caused response gunning of city Shibenika by Serbian soldiers and counter-strike by Croatian forces on the 22nd of June which put to gunning city of Knin within the limits of southern sector. Witnesses of continuing assassinations on the territory of Croatia were not sounded publicly. There were camps for Serbs on the territory of Croatia. The “World community” didn’t notice brutality in Croatia freed “from communism”.
On the 2nd of July the USA informed their allies about completion of withdrawal nuclear weapons from Europe in accordance with initiative announced on the 27th of September, 1991 about taking away all tactic nuclear missiles from all US navy and attack submarines. Herewith nobody wants to reduce critically military budget nor USA, neither NATO. The means are to spend now more sophistically.
On 3rd of July, 1992 in B&H Croatian community Herzog-Bosnia (CCHB) was proclaimed that is actually legalized status quo when south-western Bosnia in fact does like “southern Croatia”. Ont the 28th of August, 1993 parliament of Bosnian Croats reformed CCHB to Croatian republic Herzog-Bosnia. It was established irreciprocally.
10th of July, at the conclusion of the Helsinki CSCE Follow-Up Conference at Summit Level, leaders of the 51 participating nations approve a Final Document (“The Challenges of Change”) addressing, inter alia, support for CSCE peace-keeping activities by NATO and other international organisations. The North Atlantic Council in Ministerial Session in Helsinki agrees on a NATO maritime operation in the Adriatic in coordination and cooperation with the operation by the WEU, to monitor compliance with UN sanctions imposed on Serbia and Montenegro by Security Council Resolutions 713 and 757. Those resolutions are about SC UN sanctions and about embargo on weapons supply.
In 1991-1992 weapons to Muslims went via Croatia. Embargo on weapons supply set by Resolution No.747 on 25th September 1991 was visibly followed by Bosnia and never by Croatia. Western countries especially USA closed their eyes when Croatia had been received arms via Slovenia and Hungary by sea and air. At the same time it has agreed to get weapons for Muslims in Bosnia as well but has taken 50% of each line, and sometimes more asking money compensation. Disbranched off the whole world Bosnia & Herzegovina had agreed to this . Well, they couldn’t disagree when NATO forces exercised psychological pressure on the conflict parties: NATO military air bases in Italy (Aviano, Istrana, Vicenza, Geda, Villa Franca and Cervia); in Adriatic sea – three air craft carriers, including “Saratoga” (USA) and “Ark Royal” (UK) and cruiser “Dale” (USA).
From April 1994 to April 1994 Croatia purchased weapons for $600 mln. On the 27th of October 1992 after many months of fighting Serbs entered Yaitse town. Taking up of Yaitse was the last big acquisition by Serbs in this war.
Many Islamic countries expressed their solidarity in Bosnian war. 2000 of professional military (Malaysia, Pakistan – ‘Taliban’, Algeria, Libya and others) took part in this war on muslim side as it was pointed in newspapers. . Modjaheds were differenced by extreme cruelty: while killing their victims they used knife not bullet and obligatory beheaded people very slowly. They scarified population by putting people on a ganch or roasting someone on a spit. They performed terrorist and sabotage acts, took part in training of military and actively supplied weapons to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Capital could manage to pit people by national or religious reason.
Delivery of weapons to Muslims and Croats went by several ways: 1) via Croatian ports and within the territory of Croatia and Herzog-Bosnia; 2) by NATO airplanes; 3) with humanitarian convoys (!); 4) from Albania via Kosovo. The main suppliers were Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Already on the 26-28 of August in London there was a conference on the “former” Yugoslavia. It is clear that conclusion of such meeting have been prepared in advance. That is why on 2nd of September North-Atlantic Council had agreed on measures for Alliance to be take by available means to support UN, EC and CSCE efforts in establishing peace in the former Yugoslavia including protection of humanitarian assistance and UN’s watching on heavy weapons.
12-13th of September, UN begins monitoring of heavy weapons in Bosnia and Herzegovina. NATO Allies express readiness to support the UN in this endeavour. Distance between ‘express readiness’ to full replacement of UN troops in most operations wasn’t very short. To express “readiness” by 2nd of October in Billefeld city they put into operation a new military squadron for Rapid Deployment Forces of European Alliance NATO Commandership (Germany). Thus Rapid forces replaced “quick rockets”.
14th October, WEU Permanent Council meets at Ambassadorial level with eight Central and Eastern European countries. The North Atlantic Council authorises the use of a NATO airborne early warning force (AWACS) to monitor the UN-mandated “no-fly” zone in effect over Bosnia and Herzegovina. Hence, from “readiness to support” UN NATO goes to performance of its functions.
20-21st October, NATO Ministers of Defense meeting in the Nuclear Planning Group (NPG) at Gleneagles, Scotland, focus on the implications of the Alliance’s role in peacekeeping activities for NATO’s collective defense planning. New political guidelines providing for reduced reliance on nuclear weapons are also adopted. Here they adopted new political principals supposing not to rely very much on nuclear weapons.
6th November, NATO supplies UN Protection Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina with an operational headquarters, including a staff of some 100 personnel, equipment, supplies and initial financial support. From now on the UNO is handed over under “guardianship of NATO”, but so far to a small extent, so UN became some NATO ‘affiliation’, ‘daughter’ company.
11th of December, Defence Ministers participating in NATO’s Defence Planning Committee state that support for UN and CSCE peacekeeping should be included among the missions of NATO forces and headquarters. And by the 15th of December UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali requests access to NATO contingency plans for possible military operations in former Yugoslavia, including enforcement of the no-fly zone over Bosnia and Herzegovina, establishment of safe havens for civilians in Bosnia, and ways to prevent the spread of conflict to Kosovo and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. So, for the first time the strategic target was sounded – the “key” to cahier Yugoslavia is Kosovo province. NATO quickly used the prompt. And yet on the 16th of December Albanian President Sali Berisha meets with Secretary General Manfred.
18th of December, NACC Foreign Ministers and representatives agree to exchange experience and expertise on peacekeeping and related matters and issue the 1993 NACC Work Plan for the year 1993. More and more often you may face in this “Plan” with the following words: peacekeeping, security, consultations, partnership, cooperation, dialogue. There is also extension in ‘NATO military operations’ in the sphere of culture, information, political discussions and economic seminars. In other words NATO realizes invasion into public conscious of his ‘partners’ and future members of Alliance by wider frontline.
It is remarkable that new annual plan include meetings of Regional expert groups of partners with NATO experts. In defense issues there is addition concerning military exercises as well as consultations “on concepts of modernization of command and control systems, including communications and information systems”. Another issue is already got closer to operational readiness and mobilization both active and reserve forces. This plan also contains such crops as “democratic control over the armed forces”.
In this Plan they mentioned exploratory study of the need and feasibility for establishing a data base on defense industry to be converted in cooperation partner countries. Attendance of scientists from cooperation partner countries in the new Advanced Research Perspective Programme activities (ARPP) and in Advanced Study Institutes (ASI) and Advanced Research Workshops (ARW) had increased by approximately 2,000 scientists from cooperation partner countries; Participation of scientists from cooperation partner countries in the Collaborative Research Grants Programme raised by 130 grants. And so on.
Eventually by the end of 1992 NATO was transformed to independent institution from being an assistant instrument of UNO and it drawing back UN from her working functions in burning points of Europe. Substitute is not visible as it seems but leads to far reaching effects already in 1993. Yesterday partners of NATO become active participants of its scientific, political, diplomatic and finally military “activities”. New role of NATO in Europe and in the world is getting clear. The year of 1993 is closing in.
On the 14th of January, 1993 Allies agree on plans for enforcement of no-fly zone over Bosnia and Herzegovina, if requested to do so by the UN. 21st of January, Signing of the agreement on conditions for employing the European Corps within the Alliance framework by NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe and the Chiefs of Defense of France and Germany.
On the 22nd of January, 1993 Croatian troops exercised a wide scale intervention in sector “South” close to the bridge in Maslenitsa. In this attack on Serbian defense positions different arms took place: infantry, tanks, rocket stations and artillery. Croatian side did not follow the agreement on security zones systematically and disrespectfully. As a “result” Serbska Krajina is proved under pressure to start negotiations on economic cooperation with Zagreb (Croatia). And civil war doesn’t calm down.
10th of March, The North Atlantic Council directs NATO Military Authorities to develop contingency options for possible implementation of a UN peace plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina. So, ‘by request of UN general secretary” NATO develops its reserve plans. On the 2nd of April the North Atlantic Council directs SACEUR (Commander in Europe) to take preparatory steps to implement UN Resolution 816, authorising enforcement of the no-fly zone over Bosnia and Herzegovina. On the 12th of April they start the operation. Fighter and surveillance aircraft from several allied nations participate, as well as aircraft from NATO’s Airborne Early Warning Force (NAEWF).
19th of April, US search and rescue units join Russians in Siberia in the first US-Russian joint training exercise on Russian soil since the Second World War.
22nd of April, UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali meets NATO Secretary General Manfred Woerner in Brussels, to discuss the situation in former Yugoslavia, NATO’s role in peacekeeping and NATO-UN relations in general. Hereway, NATO Headquarters as the new center of world polic(e)y US Secretary of State Warren Christopher arrives on the 6th of May to discuss the Bosnia crisis.
22nd of May, Joint Action Programme on Bosnia and Herzegovina announced by members of the UN Security Council (France, Russia, Spain, United Kingdom, United States) to stop the fighting, including provisions for “safe areas”. Consequently, Security Council makes decision instead of the whole world while NATO acts in the name of the UN.
10th of June, at the Ministerial meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Athens, NATO Foreign Ministers offer to provide protective air power in case of attack against UNPROFOR in the performance of its overall mandate, if so requested by the UN.
18th of June, The UN Security Council approves deployment of 300 US troops to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to join the 700 UN troops already there as a preventive measure to keep the Bosnian conflict from spreading. From now on US troops pretend to be UN troops. For Macedonia it means that those 300 persons will turn soon to military base in Macedonia. Promotion of the “war” commodity keeps going.
9th of August, the North Atlantic Council approves the operational options for air strikes in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as called for by the Council on 2 August, to be implemented on the authorisation of the UN Secretary General. A month later (1st of September) NATO Secretary General Manfred Woerner meets with UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali in Geneva to discuss prospects for a peaceful settlement in Bosnia and Herzegovina and NATO’s role in support of the UN’s peacekeeping mission in the former Yugoslavia, as well as the development of closer links between NATO and the UN. Notable fact that at present ‘peacekeeping’ is associated with bombing and military invasion.
3rd of December, at the NACC Ministerial, NATO and NACC Foreign Ministers approve a second report by the NACC Ad Hoc Group on Cooperation in Peacekeeping, as well as the NACC Work Plan for 1994.
Again we see: ‘security’, ‘cooperation’, ‘partnership’, ‘dialogue’… NATO comes in deeper and deeper to internal policy of ‘partners’, to their military planning, to their military budget, to issues of management and organization of national defense, to their training and education in compliance with NATO standards.
Now they put in the plan: “exploration of options for joint training and joint exercises; exploration of options to create a clearing house for training programmes; exploration of options for coordinating and enhancing Language Training”. It is obvious that for the single commandership one should learn common language of commands. As for the conversion of military industry it is proposed to form a workshop, for interested countries, to consider how NATO can realistically help in areas of defense conversion. There we face with just pure business. The main producers of weapons and ammo in the USA and Europe may help easily and stylishly to get rid of their rivals at the world market of arms. In this case NATO can offer to launch typical ‘pilot project’ leading to cooperation proposals.
NATO more actively gets in budget process, proposing the following topics: interrelationship between defense expenditures/budgets and the economy; modalities for transfer to civilian industry, including small and medium enterprises, of military research and development. It is envisaged to include for next year plan economic colloquium named “Privatisation Experiences and Policies in NACC Countries in the field of defense industry, taking into account privatisation experiences in other fields”, to be organised by the Economics Directorate.
The year 1994 has come. Again he did not bring peace to Yugoslavia, to Europe. The whole year 1993 NATO has been extending in its striving to replace UNO, to fix the idea of NATO trooper as the only ‘peacekeeper’ in the world.
Assessing the result of the coming year of 1994 for NATO we can say that the main achievement is outbreak of powerful NATO initiative at Brussels’ summit with a name “Partnership for Peace”. It was also the reason for US and Europe world capital to break on other countries internal affairs actively. Moreover the ‘initiative’ was supported straight by 30 countries that were not members of the Alliance.
So, on the 10-11th of January, 1994, at the Brussels Summit, Alliance Heads of State and Government launch Partnership for Peace (PfP), issuing an invitation to all NACC partner countries and CSCE states able and willing to participate. The PfP Framework Document is published. The concept of Combined Joint Task Forces is endorsed, as well as other measures to support the development of a European Security and Defence Identity. NATO Heads of State and Government reaffirm NATO’s readiness to carry out air strikes to prevent the “strangulation” of Sarajevo and other UN-declared safe areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Thus, partnership “for god’s sake” has started not with concepts but with readiness to bomb Serbs or anybody else.

6 February, UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali requests NATO to prepare for possible air strikes against artillery positions in and around Sarajevo, following a mortar attack on a crowded market place in the city with extensive loss of life. Let’s remember that the same activities of Croatian troops did not have any reaction from the UN. So, the UN makes an order to NATO to start with bombing of Serbian positions.
9 February, The North Atlantic Council condemns the continuing siege of Sarajevo and announces that heavy weapons of any of the parties remaining in an area within 20 kilometres of the centre of the city after 20 February would be subject to NATO air strikes conducted in close coordination with the UN Secretary General, consistent with the NAC’s decisions of 2 and 9 August 1993. By the 21 February Following expiry of the deadline of 9 February to withdraw heavy weapons from the Sarajevo exclusion zone, NATO’s Secretary General announces that, because the objectives were being met, UN and NATO officials had recommended not to use air power (bombing lessons) at this stage.
Yet on 23 February the President of Albania, Sali Berisha, comes to NATO Headquarters to sign the PfP Framework Document.
28 February, four warplanes violating the UN-mandated no-fly zone over Bosnia and Herzegovina are shot down by Alliance jets
The US made Muslims and Croats to go on armistice and then to form federation. Since beginning of March 1994 peace talks about the conditions of rejunion of both sides that waged a cruel war with each other started in Washington and Vienna. The reason for making a federation was the obvious task of the West to set their control over the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina and to make two front lines instead of three ones uniting Muslims and Croats in their fighting against Serbs.
18 March 1994, the solemn ceremony of signing agreement on establishment of Muslim-Croatian federation on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina takes place in Washington at the pressence of B.Clinton.
Crisis around Gorazhde town. 28 March, Serbs opened gunning of the town. Attacks didn’t stop even when NATO air forces undertook air strikes. Only by 19 April under pressure of world community and menace of new NATO air strikes Serbs were urged to sit at talks table. Oficially the end of Gorazhde town crisis (where the weapon producing plant “Pobeda” is placed) was named as “NATO ultimatum success”
29 March 1994, agreement about armistice is signed between Krajina and Zagreb; in the beginning of December 1994 the agreement between Serbska Krajina and Croatian on normalisation of economic relations is signed. Krajina did not get any autonomy at all. On the contrary, Croatia was engaged with military reinforcement for the Krajina to be reintegrated by military way. And Croatia did so in 1995.
10 April, Following a request from the UN Force Command, NATO aircraft provide close air support to UN personnel in Gorazde, a UN-designated safe area in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
16 April. A British Sea Harrier jet is shot down while on a NATO close air support mission to protect UNPROFOR troops in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is more and more difficult for fighting sides to tell apart whether these are UN troops or Alliance troops that are called ‘peacekeepers’. Therefore everybody gets their portion of fire. The NATO responds to this.
22 April, in a response to a request of 18 April by the UN Secretary General, the North Atlantic Council takes further decisions regarding the use of air power to protect UN personnel throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina and UN-designated safe areas. The Council also authorises air strikes unless all Bosnian Serb heavy weapons are withdrawn by 27 April from an area within 20 kilometres of Gorazde.
26-27 May, Inaugural Conference on a Pact on Stability in Europe, in Paris. European Foreign Ministers discuss a new initiative aimed at averting conflicts over borders and the rights of minorities, promoting good neighbourly relations in Central and Eastern Europe, and strengthening regional cooperation and democratic institutions. They forgot to add: ‘good relations’ prodived by UN troops, that is by NATO forces.
12 July, an important event for the NATO took place. The German Federal Constitutional Court clarifies the constitutional basis for the deployment of German forces abroad, removing constitutional objections to German participation in UN, NATO or WEU peacekeeping missions. For the first time since the end of the World war second Bundeswehr can make a war or, in new terms, maintain security and ‘make peace’ abroad.
Meanwhile, on the 5 of August NATO aircraft attack a target within the Sarajevo Exclusion Zone at the request of UNPROFOR, after Bosnian Serbs seize weapons from a UN collection site near Sarajevo.
13 August, Death of NATO Secretary General Manfred Woerner in Brussels. Deputy Secretary General Sergio Balanzino assumes duties as Acting Secretary General.
1 September, Russian troops leave Berlin, completing their withdrawal from German territory like it was done in 1991-1992 in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Simmetrically the USA, France and UK took out the rest of their troops from Berlin. What if this partnership will be allways of this type? Unfortunately it is not the case.
1 September, the first group of international police forces arrived in Mostar. These forces should put to rights this town where was the atmosphere of provocations, dislike, permanent confrontations. Both Muslims and Croats used to open fire in town, did not allow for people or vehicles enter their territory. Situation could be bursted out.
13-14 September 1994, the meeting of B&H and Croatian delegations headed by A.Tudzhman and A.Izetbegovich takes place. The purpose of the meeting is to refresh Federation of B&H and Washington agreement, to review the issues of cooperation of B&H and Croatian, Federation of B&H and Croatia. As for the ‘federation’ issue they agreed upon establishing transition authorities.
12-16 September, the first joint training exercise under PfP (Cooperative Bridge) is held near Poznan, Poland, with participation by soldiers from 13 NATO and Partner nations. Meanwhile Rapid Deployment Forces do exercises in Denmark from 17 October tо 8 November.
21 November, NATO aircraft attack the Udbina airfield in Serbheld Croatia at the request of and in close coordination with UNPROFOR, in response to attacks launched from Udbina against targets in the Bihac area of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As it is said, following attacks against NATO aircraft, NATO forces carry out an air strike on a surface-to-air missile site south of Otoka, in accordance with self-defence measures previously announced. 24 November, the North Atlantic Council issues a statement condemning recent attacks on the UN safe area of Bihac by Bosnian Serb and Krajinan Serb forces; and announcing measures being taken in support of United Nations negotiating efforts. However, nor UN neither NATO have been ingnoring Croatian activity in this war.
In November 1994 Croatia and the USA made an agreement on military cooperation. State secretary W.Cristopher cynically fastened all the blame for Croatian aggression to Serbs which undertook attack on Bikhach. Croats allegedly just responded for this attack . The role of the USA in Croatian blitzkrieg is not so simple. It is obvious that the U.S. is involved in preparation for aggression in Croatia. According the Croatian minister of foreign affairs M.Granitsa the US consulted Croatia on carrying out both operations .
Germany did not condemn aggression as well but only expressed their wish not to spread these military activity to avoid engaging Balkan war. Russia sent three protests to the UNO with condemnation of Croatian aggression. Russian president offered the initiative of setting a meeting in Moscow with involvement of S.Miloshevich and F.Tudjman aiming to agree and to sign a document about stoppage the war activity. The allegation was made right at the moment when Knin town was taken over and Croatian MIGs begin shooting of refugees’ columns. Tudjman refuse to come to Russian talks since he was actively supported by the US and Germany which sanctioned the plan of seazing Serbska Krajina. Another year of war and peacekeeping went by.
1 January 1995. Four months cease-fire in Bosnia begins.
Austria, Finland and Sweden join the European Union.
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) is established as the successor to GATT. World of empires is changing a bit faster.
18 January. The NATO Council agrees on a NATO standardisation programme to improve the coordination of allied policies and programmes for materiel, technical and operational standardisation. Standartisation became a natural consequence of extension and centralization of Aliance military activity in Eastern direction. Therefore on 24 January the NATO Council agrees on the establishment of a new NATO Standardisation Organisation.
Meanwhile the war in Balkans goes on. 6 March. Croatia forms a military alliance with the Bosnian Muslim- Croat federation. UNPROFOR remains in Croatia. 8 March Secretary General Willy Claes and US President Bill Clinton meet in Washington to discuss a possible pullout of UN peacekeeping forces from Croatia and Bosnia.
18-20 March, a Pan-European Security Conference meeting in Paris, attended by 50 countries, adopts a ‘stability pact’ to eliminate the dangers of crisis in Europe and agrees on a series of measures relating to borders and the “rights of ethnic minorities”. Using this “ethnic sauce” NATO and the allies from now on can make some bad thing being covered by such international mandates.
Spring attack of 1995 was thoroughly planned by Muslim army and it was widely announced. They have carried out excercises, purchased weaponry; troops were redislocated according the outlined plan of attack. Given the ongoing international embargo on supply of weapons American Herculeses С-130 have been delivering Tuzla airport with all sorts of weapons, field machinery from Muslim and Western Europe countries. American and German instructors have been teaching soldiers, assisting in tactic plans development.
25 May, In response to a request from the UN, NATO aircraft attack a Bosnian Serb ammunition depot near Pale. This is followed by a second attack the next day.
27 May, At a meeting, the North Atlantic Council demands that the Bosnian Serbs stop their attacks on UN safe areas and comply with the UNPROFOR ultimatum to remove all heavy weapons from the Sarajevo exclusion zone or place them under UN control. It condemns the killing and detention of UN peacekeepers.
2 July, Srebrenica receives heaviest shelling since being declared a UN safe area. The UN War Crime Tribunal formally indicts Mr. Karadzic (leader of Republic Serbska) and General Mladic with charges of genocide and crimes against humanity. However none of such accusation was addressed to Croats or Muslims. In NATO-UNO version they are victims.
After 6 of July Serbs started large-scale attack on Srebrenica and on 25 July they took over Zhepa. As early as 11 July NATO aircrafts attack targets in the Srebrenica area of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Until surrender of Srebrenica and Zhepa in July 1995 “the line of confrontation at main strategic directions did not change at all” .
1 August, US House of Representatives votes to lift Bosnian arms embargo. NATO launches Operation Deliberate Force, attacking Serb positions with aircraft and artillery in response to the shelling of Sarajevo. It looks like punishment “on behalf of the UN”.
30 August, NATO aircraft strikes against Bosnian Serbs positions near Sarajevo. 1 September, NATO aircraft resume bombing of Bosnian Serb positions; Bosnian Serbs respond by shelling Sarajevo. NATO aircraft attack Bosnian Serb targets near Pale. NATO suspends Operation Deliberate Force after Bosnian Serbs agree to withdraw heavy weapons from the 20 km exclusion zone around Sarajevo. Agreement on the framework of constitutional arrangements for Bosnia and Herzegovina is signed in New York. 2 September, NATO military commanders are authorised by the NATO Council to resume air strikes on Bosnian Serb positions at any time to counter further aggression against UN-designated safe areas. 5 September, NATO aircraft resumed attacks on Bosnian-Serb military targets.
In august-september of 1995 NATO undertook unprecedented by its cruelty operation of Serbian military objects destruction, centers of communication, anti-aircraft systems. All telecommunication systems of radio and television, water reservoirs, agricultural farms, hospitals, refugees houses, bridges, power transmission lines and other objects were annihilated. NATO air strikes were accompanied by attacke of muslim-croat forces into western parts of the country. Situation on fronts started to change flash-like. Military sqads deprived from communication were desoriented.
Western analysts convinced that it were airstrikes which forced Serbs to sit at talk’s table. What if these analysts can stand under bombs? 12 October, the cease-fire agreement was signed. Yet the fightings still went on.
Meanwhile on 26 September NATO presents a draft proposal of a “Political Frameworkfor NATO-Russia Relations” to Russian Ambassador Churkin.
А 28 September NATO presents the conclusions of the Study on NATO Enlargement to NACC and PfP Cooperation partners НАТО. If we throw away the ‘wording’ about “enlargement” it gets clear that “enlargement” is an increase of Aliance budget, the growth of the numbers of troops and scale of excercises and othe ‘operations’. Changing of correlation of forces in Atlantic and in Europe will require from smaller nations to make a choice between empires, yesterdays and todays.

So what can we find in this document in Section A. Purposes of Enlargement:
«…Alliance's basic goal of enhancing security and stability throughout the Euro-Atlantic area, within the context of a broad European security architecture. NATO enlargement will extend to new members the benefits of common defence and integration into European and Euro-Atlantic institutions. The benefits of common defence and such integration are important to protecting the further democratic development of new members. By integrating more countries into the existing community of values and institutions supporting democratic reforms, including civilian and democratic control over the military;
Promoting good-neighbourly relations, which would benefit all countries in the Euro-Atlantic area, both members and non-members of NATO;
Fostering in new members of the Alliance the patterns and habits of cooperation, consultation and consensus building which characterize relations among current Allies;
Emphasizing common defence and extending its benefits and increasing transparency in defence planning and military budgets, [made exclusively by national national approach to to defense policty - AB].
Hence, with a help of NATO it was achieved super-concentration of European capital, so some kind of United States of Europe werw formed and the formation based on common military programmes and unified military commandership of Europe. It is clear that unification on military foundation of different type of states is hardly will pursue the purposes of peacekeeping in nations and regions where the relations of possession, capitalist relations are dominated. Ultimately giant military potential of “peacekeeping, stability and safety” will be put in operation in order to create bigger alliance of “peacekeepers” under NATO command which is in turn ruled by American capital mostly. The US holds controlling interest in the Alliance.
« Study on NATO Enlargement » contains several items, in particular:
«Reinforcing the tendency toward integration and cooperation in Europe based on shared democratic values and thereby curbing the countervailing tendency towards disintegration along ethnic and territorial lines,… strengthening the Alliance's ability to contribute to European and international security,; strengthening and broadening the Trans-Atlantic partnership.». NATO takes upon itself police functions to keep territorial integrity of Europe and guarantees care about safety by military means, just like the UNO.
As far as the «Principles of Enlagement» are concerned we should note the following:
Enlargement of the Alliance will be through accession of new member states to the Washington Treaty (1949).
accept and conform with the principles, policies and procedures adopted by all members of the Alliance at the time that new members join,… Strengthen the Alliance's effectiveness and cohesion of Aliance,… Be part of a broad European security architecture … Active participation in the Partnership for Peace will play an important role in the evolutionary process of the enlargement of NATO …Enlargement should :
Accord with, and help to promote, the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and the safeguarding of the freedom, common heritage and civilisation of all Alliance members and their people, found on the principles of democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law. New members will need to conform to these basic principles
Complement the enlargement of the European Union, a parallel process which also, for its part, contributes significantly to extending security and stability to the new democracies in the East…
New members… must commit themselves… new members will enjoy all the rights and assume all obligations of membership under the Washington Treaty; and accept and conform with the principles, policies and procedures adopted by all members of the Alliance at the time that new members join; Strengthen the Alliance's effectiveness and cohesion; and preserve the Alliance's political and military capability to perform its core functions of common defence as well as to undertake peacekeeping and other new missions… contribute to the development of peaceful and friendly international relations… maintain the effectiveness of the Alliance by sharing roles, risks, responsibilities, costs and benefits … Enlargement will occur through a gradual, deliberate, and transparent process, encompassing dialogue with all interested parties.». If someone refuses he will be made to “dialogue” violently!
So, the NATO practice of “peacemaking” in Bosnia and Herzegovina got ideological figuration as a Program for peace. Beautiful words help to charm hearts of Europeans, to put more people under military flags of NATO for the purpose of “peacemaking” as it is understood by world capital.
And at Balkans on 2 October Croats and Serbs strike deal over Eastern Slavonia to place it under Croatian administration after a transition period. Three Serb SAM sites are attacked by NATO aircrafts. The cease-fire in Bosnia comes into effect. But time does not wait. 12 October, Visit to NATO by President Sali Berusga of Albania S.Berusga, since the “crisis in Bosnia” is close to an end.
27 October, a Memorandum of Understanding is signed between NATO and the WEU to enable direct and plain communication between both organisations. Visit to NATO by Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Special Envoy to NATO, Kofi Annan It seems that this diplomat, perhaps, was found very promising.
1 November, Bosnian peace talks start in Dayton, Ohio. An agreement is signed in Dayton on the reintegration of Eastern Slavonia into Croatia. The UN Security Council suspends sanctions on the former Yugoslavia. So Croatia took a piece of Serbian territory.
8 November, US Secretary of Defence William Perry and Russian Defence Minister General Pavel Grachev visit NATO to discuss participation of Russian forces in IFOR. This way Russia put her signature under the results of “peacefull decision” of Bosnian question. Morover, Russia wanted to take part in Bosnian “regulation” as an equal partner. Given that Russia continues the war in Chechenia going the same stages of federal “peacekeeping” and restauration of constitutional order.
5 December, the NAC meets at ministerial level. Foreign and Defence Ministers of all 16 nations affirm their commitment to continue the Alliance’s efforts to bring peace to Bosnia and Herzegovina. NATO formally endorses the deployment of 60000 troops in Bosnia. The German Parliament votes to contribute 4000 troops. And on 14 of December President Slobodan Milosevic of Serbia, President Alya Izetbegovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and President Franjo Tudjman of Croatia sign the Bosnian Peace Agreement in Paris. 15 December, the UN Secretary Council adopts Resolution 1031 on the establishment of a Multinational Military Implementation Force. After that on 16 December American troops arrived in Tuzla and on 20 December UN handed over commandership of military operations in Bosnia to NATO leadership. Taking-over of UN functions to NATO troops took place as a fact of history.
NATO commaner in chief L.Smith rejected the request of leader of Bosnian serbs parliament to give a delay at least for nine months for handing over of Bosnian serbs territory in Sarajevo under muslims governing. However since the spring of 1992 to spring of 1995 Republic of Serpska Krajina was under ‘blue helmets’ protection and battalions of peacekeepers were dislocated along the border of Krajina and Croatia. Times had changed. Suddenly France announced that it will suspend its membership in NATO military Committee. So there is point of concern, this sort of peacekeeping is ruthless well enough, ss-like.
The war in Bosnia and Herzegovina brought a lot of devastations and victims among civil population. 200 thousan people died duting the war period of which 90% are civil people. From 2,5 to 3 million people left their hoses: 800 thousan serbs from Eastern Herzegovina, middle and Western Bosnia, 800 thousan muslims from Eastern Herzegovina, Krajina and Eastern Bosnia, about 500 thousand croats from middle Bosnia . The final result of war in Bosnia and Herzegovina was finalized in Dayton wher in December 1995 peaceful agreements were signed which opened new page of Bosnia and Herzegovina history.
Western countries especially USA in every way support newly formed federation. On the 24 of January 1996 Presidium of Herzog-Bosnia made a decision on gradual handing over of executive power to corresponding authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina federation. That was asked for from Muslim side as well. Thus the first stage of a bigger Yugoslav war, or “the third Balkan war” had completed.
During the years of the third Balkan war world capital presented by main NATO countries acquired a lot of experience which was helpful for USA and its alies for the final occupation of Balkan Peninsula. However, there is a feeling that it has happened in history and not once. It is deja vu.
Let’s remind at least the first Balkan war. It lasted since October 1912 to May 1913. Senescent Osman Empire faced with a wish of Serbia, Bulgaria and Greece to get rid of Turkish Empire suppression. As a result territories of Albania, Greece, Serbia and Bulgaria and islands in Aegeian Sea were freed. It took less than month to engage new Balkan war which lasted since June to August 1913. Bulgaria offended by the results of war faught with Greece, Serbia and Osman Empire. Pieces of Bulgarian territory along the perimeter went to Turkey, Greece, Serbia and Romania correspondingly. Shortly before 1908 Austro-Hungarian Empire appropriated territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina that was occupied in 1878. Territories of Balkan Peninsula change hands, having being teared apart by empires, by parts of empires that were a lot by the beginning of XX century in Europe. Young European capitalism as the highest stage of capitalist development have been started to try its strength toward “weak material”. In 1990s the worst had started again. Nevertheless, let’s see what is going on then in 1996.
Yet it is the 3rd of January, US Defence Secretary William Perry flies to Sarajevo to discuss peacekeeping with NATO military officers and Bosnian leaders. Natural consequence of NATO peacekeeping will remain here as NATO military base that is why chief of Pentagon came here, as master. Besides, Bosnians need to be instructed about further keeping peace.
5 January, Russian parliament votes in favour the deployment of Russian forces to Bosnia to join the NATO-led peacekeeping mission. Special arrangements apply to the command and control of Russian forces in IFOR. 13 January, it’s a beginning of deployment of Russian troops supporting IFOR in Bosnia. 15 January, the UN Security Council authorises a 5000 men strong force backed by NATO air power for Eastern Slavonia
13 March, Russia signs IFOR Participation and Financial Agreements. And the HQ is visited by the presidents of old and ‘new democracies’, including Poland, Estonia, Austria, Belarus, Lithuania, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Malta, and Slovenia. Hence, NATO’s importance still increases after “successful war”. 23 March, the Foreign Ministers of the contact group on the former Yugoslavia meet in Moscow. Moscow therefore is also involved in ‘peacekeeping’ according NATO schemes.
The summer is relatively quiet: 18 June, following the termination of the UN arms embargo on the former Yugoslavia, Operation Sharp Guard is suspended. 19 July, the North Atlantic Council endorses an overall NATO Standardisation Programme involving 50 harmonised standardisation objectives. Standartisation in NATO terms means first of all military contracts for mostly American corporations which can provide all military forces with standard weapons, ammo and machinery. 13 August, NATO Secretary General Solana and US Secretary of State Warren Christopher meet in Brussels to discuss the Bosnian election, enlargement of the Alliance and relations with Russia.
14 September, IFOR troops provide security for elections held in Bosnia and Herzegovina to be monitored by the OSCE. The moneybox of world experience of NATO peacekeeping is getting filled.
2-3 December, OSCE summit in Lisbon on European Security issues adopts a Declaration on a Common and Comprehensive Security Model for Europe for the 21st Century. And there is a fear that the running of this ‘model’ we saw already in Yugoslavia.
In the meantime on 10 December, Ministerial meeting of the North Atlantic Council at NATO Headquarters in Brussels confirms NATO readiness to organise and lead a Stabilisation Force (SFOR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, subject to a UN Security Council mandate. Ministers also announce further steps to be taken in the internal and external transformation of the Alliance in preparation for the July 1997 Madrid Summit.
17 December, Kofi Annan becomes Secretary General of the United Nations. 20 December, Implementation Force is replaced with Stabilisation Force (SFOR). In other words, peace and ‘stability’ came to Balkans.
If the year 1997 is considered we may say the following in general. At the foregroung it is seen closer contacts between NATO and Ukraine, between NATO and Russia, transformation of North Atlantic Cooperation Council into Council of Euro-Atlantic Cooperation. NATO Enlargement to the “East” develops successfully.
In the “formet Yugoslavia” Stabilisation Forces continue their work instead of previously involved regulation forces.
Meanwhile conflict increases in the south, between Serbia and Kosovo Albanians warmed up by the US CIA specialists that was known recently. NATO declares that plays the “central part” in achiving peaceful political solution, in supporting talks but ready to “get involved by military force to solve conflict peacefully and stop humanitarian tragedy”. NATO on behalf of NATO is more and more getting into taste of Big Lie. And now go into details.
19-21 January, first round of talks between Secretary General Javier Solana and Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeni Primakov on a NATO-Russia Document in Moscow.
4 February In his State of the Union address American President Bill Clinton vows to pursue NATO’s enlargement by 1999 and to establish a “stable partnership” with Russia. It is not clear why he ‘vows’ and why ‘by 1999’? Perhaps, it is connected with some strategic plans of US and NATO toward Russia and CIS nations.
And a week later after ‘president’s vow’ on the 10-14 February: NATO Secretary General Javier Solana visits Moldova, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan to meet Heads of State and government and other leading politicians. 18 February, newly-appointed US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright attends her first NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting in Brussels and proposes the creation of a permanent Russia-NATO brigade. It means we do with active offensive on the territory of the former USSR for its peaceful conquest to NATO flags. There is nothing personal, just normal business. One of the empires only wants to take over perspective market with small losses.
20 February, NATO allies propose major changes to the CFE Treaty, which limits conventional forces in Europe. NATO now accepts the principle of limits on the arsenals of individual countries as opposed to regions. The Alliance also accepts Russia’s wish on having territorial rather than national limits on troops deployment, which effectively prevents NATO from massing troops in one particular area near Russia’s borders. Depriving “buffer territories and states” from excessive weapons NATO spares its strength and means in its Eastern Enlargement. Moreover, those nation or territories which are not agreeing could not resist NATO’s “stability” and “safety”.
23 February, NATO Secretary General Javier Solana meets Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeni Primakov for a second round of talks on a NATO-Russia document in Moscow.
However it is difficult to suspect Alliance in unselfishness in their Eastern direction move. 15 September, Operation Kozatskiy Step 97 under Partnership for Peace begins in Ukraine, involving NATO, Polish and Ukrainian troops. The exercise is designed to simulate an ethnic conflict. In closeness of Russian this topic is very curious in NATO context.
26 September, NATO and Russian Foreign Ministers meet for the first time as the NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council. A Work Plan is approved, providing for consultations on confidence building measures in armscontrol, joint peacekeeping in Bosnia and the stationing of Russian military representatives at NATO. Everybody found themselves. NATO is master; Russia is a “co-worker”, servant.
1 October, at the request of the High Representative in Bosnia, SFOR takes action against Serbian Radio and TV transmitters, following violations and misuse. 9 October, Ukraine and Hungary become the first non-NATO countries to open diplomatic missions to the Alliance. 25 November, Russian military representative to NATO, Lieutenant-General Viktor Zavarzin, held his first official meeting with NATO Military Committee Chairman, Klaus Naumann. 2-3 December, first meeting of the NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council at Defence Ministers level. Military chiefs of staff from 44 countries also meet in the framework of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council. «NATO Enlarglement» gathers speed.
16 December, NATO Foreign Ministers sign Protocols of Accession for the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland in the presencen of their respective Foreign Ministers.
NATO and Ukraine sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Civil Emergency Planning and Disaster Preparedness. The year 1997 as a whole is successful for the NATO. The invasion in Balkan area as well as in CIS area goes on effectively. So the year 1998 is at the door now.

Part 2