James Bissett was Canada's
ambassador to Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Albania. He is widely recognized as one of the
foremost authorities on Balkan politics.
Unfortunately, the Serbian tragedy is not
yet over. Sometime this year a decision will be announced
about Kosovo independence. I say announced because there is
some evidence suggesting the decision has already been made
to tear away that integral part of Serbia and to grant
Kosovo independent status.
Slobodan Milosevic's obituaries are damning. In death, as
in the last years of his life, the former Serbian
President is being blamed for all of the death and
destruction that accompanied the breakup of the Yugoslav
Federation in the early 1990's. He has been described as
the "Butcher of the Balkans".He is accused of masterminding four wars, of
committing genocide and of massive ethnic cleansing.