Letter: Bosnia: a fire outsiders helped to start

David Burdett
Sunday 16 November 1997 00:02 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

DOUGLAS Hurd looks at the bright side with his claim that the present international effort in Bosnia is well organised ("Just like the Book of Kings", 9 November). But this is congratulating firefighters for putting out a fire they helped start.

Why was Germany allowed to lead in policy matters, given its appalling record in the South Slav lands? Bonn's encouragement of unilateral secession violated both the spirit of the Hel- sinki Accords and diplomatic convention. The Krajina region of Croatia was akin to an Ulster compounded by genocide within living memory and Bosnia bore resemblance to the Lebanon, yet the EC decreed that federal Yugoslavia had ceased to exist and that the federal units via winner-take-all referendums would be the successor states.

The international community should ponder on having had its way with Croatia and Sarajevo, today whole (non-partitioned) and, for the first time, whole- some (nearly ethnically pure).

David Burdett

Richmond, Surrey

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in