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West watches warily as Serbia copes with demonstrators
December 4, 1996
Web posted at: 9:50 p.m. EST (0250 GMT)From Correspondent Margaret Lowrie
(CNN) -- The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 sparked a wave of democratic reform in central Europe, but the movement largely passed over the Serbian government in Belgrade.
Until now. The cry for democracy is escalating in Serbia, and the international community is scrutinizing how far the authoritarian government will tolerate the protests in the streets.
"I don't think the peace process can survive a situation where Serbia was regressing and beginning to turn back the clock on democratic procedures by canceling elections," said Lloyd Axworth, Canadian foreign minister. "If it makes any moves against the demonstrators, then the signal is very clear."
Until recently, Serbia was an international pariah, with its leader, Slobodan Milosevic, viewed as a man who made war on its neighbors.
But crippling United Nations sanctions were lifted after Bosnia's elections passed without incident in September. The United States retained the so-called outer wall of sanctions, denying full diplomatic ties.
It now warns of harsher measures if Milosevic uses force to stop protests.
"The U.S. has and continues to say the state of democracy in Serbia is deplorable," said John Kornblum, U.S. assistant secretary of state for European affairs. "We believe in both the treatment of elections and of political parties -- also the state of the media there. Overall, the state of the democratic process is in a really sad state."
Europe will be reluctant to follow suit if sanctions come up again, given recent agreements encouraging trade and the return of refugees, among other things. But if the situation deteriorates, Europe, too, may be pushed into action.
"It would be very difficult for the west Europeans as a whole to simply turn a blind eye to the open suppression of popular discontent when they have been talking very aggressively about supporting human rights and democracy in more remote parts of Europe," said Mark Almond of Oriol College at Oxford.
Experts say sanctions last time hurt Serbia's economy, but helped Milosevic politically. Hardship sharpened Serb nationalism and created a common enemy.
This time, the difference is that Serbs are no longer looking to blame the rest of the world for their problems. Rather, they are taking to the streets to provide their own solution.
Related stories:
- Independent radio stations silenced in Yugoslavia - December 3, 1996
- U.S. warns Milosevic not to use force against protesters - December 3, 1996
- Anti-Milosevic protesters take to streets despite threats - December 2, 1996
- Belgrade protesters keep up campaign against Milosevic - November 30, 1996
- Students protest on streets of Belgrade - November 29, 1996
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