The West should take over the part of responsibility for developments in the region of former Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia, for merciless and brutal war in which many people died. Everything could, and should, have happened in a different way, because big powers were more observing their own interest than the one of the region, says professor Steven Meyer , former head of the CIA for Balkans, in his interview to Belgrade-based daily Vecernje Novosti.
Meyer said that Republic of Srpska will survive, but added that there are “big chances that borders in Balkans will change” and presented his view that “borders will change in Kosovo, as well as in B&H and Macedonia”.
“The most dangerous place in Balkans at this moment is Macedonia, not only because of the problems between Macedonian Albanians and Orthodox Macedonian’s, but because there are disputes even between the Orthodox themselves in Macedonia,” argues Meyer.
When asked about the survival of the Republic of Srpska he said that it will survive and that “it is only a question in which form it will survive”. “And, in future we will see situation with two entities and very loose agreement between themselves. All decisions would be brought at the level of entities. B&H is a fictive country, state on the map only,” assessed Meyer.
When asked about US’s support to the amendment of Dayton Agreement and strengthening of central authorities in B&H, Meyer said that “general conclusion is that White House supports Bosnian Muslims,” and that US Embassy in Sarajevo has “always insisted on the creation of the unified state”.
On the occasion of marking 21 years from the military operation ‘Storm’ in Croatia, Meyer was asked why the US allowed ethnic cleansing of Serbs in Croatia and why no one is held responsible for it. He replied that American government has warned Croatian authorities to stop ‘when they were on their half way to attack”. “There are many in the West who claim that it was not the ethnic cleansing, this is ridiculous, because it was exactly that,” said Meyer.
With regard to the work of Hague tribunal Meyer said that ‘there are too many Serbs in the Hague”.
When it comes to the US policy in Kosovo Meyer said that this policy has not changed as of 1999. “This means that administration considers that Kosovo should be recognized as an independent state. Of course, this is not simple for Serbs, thus, problems of Kosovo has become complicated for the Serbian government,” said Meyer, and added that NATO bombardment of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia could have been avoided.
He also reflected on the influence of Wahhabism in Kosovo and said that there is particular threat from the links between the organized crime and terrorism.
