Latest news with #Yugoslavia
The National
6 days ago
- Politics
- The National
The complex legacy of Srebrenica and why today's wars never seem to end
Earlier this month, the world commemorated the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide. The tears of the relatives of victims will not dry for as long as they live. What do they signify? A fundamental insight is that the past is always with us, and we fail to understand details at our peril. In Srebrenica's case, 19th-century Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman imperialism triggered unrest among subject Balkan populations. This was a factor in the First World War and led to a Serbian kingdom that was re-named Yugoslavia in 1929 and conquered by Nazi Germany in 1941. The successor postwar communist republic fell behind the Iron Curtain in 1945 and fragmented into six states in 1991. Thus, the Balkan states – like others elsewhere – have long formed and re-formed. The lesson for our 80-year-old United Nations age is that the sanctity of national boundaries is a recent innovation against history's repeated wars over land that has strong symbolic value everywhere. Nowadays, with 150 territorial disputes frozen, smouldering or raging worldwide, is it futile to find definitive solutions? Perhaps diplomats would be more effective, not by solving such disputes, but by getting nations to disagree in peace. The contrary winner-loser approach via international courts is usually unsuccessful, as with the many maritime disputes in the South China Sea. Furthermore, whatever the dispute, the political economy determines outcome. The relatively stable and prosperous Yugoslavia crumbled after disruption in the 1980s. The lesson for contested corners of the globe is that this is how states are made or broken. What about state structure? Like Yugoslavia, many federations have come and gone. The US and Switzerland are most successful. The Soviet Union was less so, and the Egypt-Syria-Libya and Singapore-Malaysia federations were short-lived. Several contemporary federated countries remain strife-ridden works in progress. When factors of economy and democracy are stripped out, neither federations nor unitary states (such as Afghanistan, Haiti and Lebanon) are superior in terms of stability. That is worth remembering when prescribing governance models for conflicted Myanmar, Iraq and Syria. What matters more is 'ethnicisation'. Genetic variations among humans do not result in biologically defined racial differences. But social, cultural and religious variety are easily manipulated. Yugoslavia illustrated how ambitious leaders instrumentalised the scant differences between Orthodox Serbs, Catholic Croats and Muslim Bosniaks. The lesson for outsiders is to beware the challenges of stretching such fault lines, as the European Commission (now Union) did by hurrying to recognise Serbia, Slovenia and Croatia, thereby entrenching their ethnic majorities. Germany – haunted by its past Nazi role in the Balkans – led the policy to stabilise post-Yugoslav turmoil through 'ethnic cantonisation'. That left multi-ethnic Bosnia and Herzegovina open to bitter warring in the early 1990s. Misdirected bombs and bullets wreak collateral damage among nearby innocents, weaponised language triggers wider horrendous psycho-social trauma transmitted down generations Colonial ethnicisation led to the 1994 Rwanda genocide that included a failed UN peacekeeping mission. No lessons were learnt as the Srebrenica massacre of nearly 8,400 Bosnian Muslims unfolded a year later, watched by a UN protection force. That genocides happen under public gaze and are rarely prevented is the sombre conclusion. The quest for justice in Srebrenica provides more lessons, the first obstacle for accountability being the recognition of a genocide. This was first determined by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in 2004 and confirmed by the International Court of Justice in 2007. By then, the genocide was over. All genocides suffer the same slow reckoning, leaving survivors to get what comfort they can from subsequent commemorations. One reason for tardiness is that states prefer genocide determination to be left to international mechanisms, which take time to negotiate. That allows states to avoid inconvenient implications for foreign relations, although the Genocide Convention empowers them to judge genocide cases. Germany and France have boldly done so, but selective determinations are perceived as political, undermining the universal significance of the most egregious crimes against humanity. Meanwhile, criminal justice for genocide requires finding individuals guilty. That usually means leaders because genocide is generally an act of state or authority. Thus, guilty verdicts get misrepresented as symbolic shaming of a whole nation. This is evident now in rising global anti-Semitism because of Israeli war tactics. After the Srebrenica verdict, Serbian nationalists felt insulted. 'We are not a genocidal people' was a popular slogan. And so, denial became Serbian state policy, hampering collective healing. The country remains mired in citizen discontent with unresolved historical undercurrents, including the further 'ethnicised' loss of Kosovo in 2008. Bosnia and Herzegovina also remains a fractured land. The divisive legacy continues with the neighbouring Russia-Ukraine war, where many Serbians feel a cultural affinity with Russia while the EU supports Ukraine. Russian leaders have been indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity, while Russia invokes alleged Ukrainian collusion with Nazi genocidaires during the Second World War. The discomfiting conclusion is that genocides provide excuses for future bad behaviours. Srebrenica also left the world more divided, as indicated by the 2024 UN General Assembly vote that established July 11 as the day for commemorating the genocide. Just 84 states voted in favour while 68 abstained and 19 opposed. The horror that should have united the world has, instead, sanctioned toxic denialism. That is echoed in current controversy on whether or not Gazan suffering under Israeli attack constitutes genocide. The stark lesson for others seeking genocide-related redress – for example, Sudan's Darfuris, Iraq's Yazidis, Myanmar's Rohingya or Ethiopia's Tigrayans – is that adversarial western judicial traditions can trigger angry pushback rather than contrite 'never-again' pledges. Such justice may seed further conflict when remembrances give prominence to a predominant category of victim while overshadowing other suffering. As with those who also suffered – such as righteous non-Jews during the Holocaust, 'good' Serbs in Bosnia, Hutus in Rwanda, Buddhists in Myanmar or Arabs in Darfur. The paucity of Nelson Mandelas means that inclusive justice through truth and reconciliation is generally not favoured. Srebrenica's lessons are not static as each generation sees the past with new eyes including the significance of genocide. Especially in our era where wars are waged not only through drones and missiles but via words to demonise and dispirit opponents. The most potent verbal assaults deploy the language of genocide because the implicit moral censure is a powerful mobiliser of political narratives that continue in Central and Eastern Europe. Meanwhile, the brutalities that accompany modern conflict, be it sexual violence in Darfur or starvation in Gaza, mean that victims and observers struggle to find language adequate for their pain and outrage. And so, cries of genocide get more common, regardless of the strict criteria of the 1948 Genocide Convention. Invoking genocidal language by human rights violators and defenders alike is one reason why today's wars never appear to end. Because while misdirected bombs and bullets wreak collateral damage among nearby innocents, weaponised language triggers wider horrendous psycho-social trauma transmitted down generations. As the flowers laid during Srebrenica commemorations fade, their biggest message is that when there are no universal settled truths, or if narratives around the lived experiences of affected people are sharply contested, peace retreats further away.
Telegraph
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Melania was ‘quiet force' behind Trump's Putin stance, says daughter of Ukraine envoy
Melania Trump is the 'quiet force' behind her husband's apparent U-turn on Ukraine, the daughter of the president's special envoy to Kyiv has said. Meaghan Mobbs, whose father Gen Keith Kellogg was appointed to lead efforts for peace, said the first lady had put pressure on Donald Trump to protect 'innocent Ukrainians' from Vladimir Putin's bombs. Ms Mobbs, who lives under near-daily bombardment in Kyiv, spoke to The Telegraph about the first lady's influence in an interview in which she also claimed the president was no longer listening to the pro-Russian wing of his Maga movement. Of the first lady, Ms Mobbs said: '[Mr Trump] deeply values her counsel. They have a very, open, conversational relationship and she is one of his closest advisers. People seem to forget that for some reason; maybe because she's so beautiful, or she's not frequently in Washington.' Mr Trump recently hinted at his wife's influence on Ukraine after he announced a deal to deliver billions of dollars of weapons and sanction Russia. 'I go home, I tell the first lady: 'You know, I spoke to Vladimir today. We had a wonderful conversation.' And she said: 'Oh really? Another city was just hit,'' the president told journalists at the Oval Office. Ms Mobbs said Melania, who grew up near the Iron Curtain in former Yugoslavia, could now play a pivotal role if the president can secure a lasting peace. 'I think as we think about the future of Ukraine, or post war Ukraine, I think her influence could be very important, and I think that she could be and she should and could play a huge role.' Asked if Mrs Trump could make an unannounced visit to Western Ukraine like Jill Biden, her predecessor, Ms Mobbs said: 'I think it would be fabulous. 'I've always told people the best way to approach Melania around all of this is through fashion, through art, which is the other piece of it. 'It's both around the victimisation of children and women, which you feel so deeply about, and around this like the very, very beautiful and interesting, creative side of Ukraine that will be fascinating to her.' Ms Mobbs, a mother of two, runs the RT Weatherman Foundation humanitarian mission. She is an ardent supporter of Mr Trump and close to her father, Gen Kellogg, a retired lieutenant general. During the opening months of Mr Trump's presidency, Gen Kellogg appeared to have been frozen out of discussions about the future of Ukraine and Russia in favour of more pro-Putin forces inside the Maga wing of the Republican party. But he has recently seen his star rising, alongside other more hawkish officials including Marco Rubio, the secretary of state. Ms Mobbs said she now believes Mr Trump has turned his back on the Putin cheerleaders to embrace Ukraine, claiming that 'bad actors' in conservative America no longer have the president's ear. 'I shouldn't call them conservatives, I don't think they're conservatives. But in a social media influencer network that was spreading misinformation and disinformation about Ukraine, I think, unfortunately, for a period of time, they had the president's ear. 'I do think that is changing.' Marjorie Taylor Greene, the firebrand Republican and Steve Bannon, a former chief strategist, are amongst those to have raised concerns about Mr Trump's $10bn deal with Nato allies to send US-made military equipment to Ukraine. Others, like Tucker Carlson, former Fox News anchor, have remained silent, but are known for their pro-Kremlin views and abilities to influence Mr Trump's decision making. Ms Mobbs argues that there is nothing more Maga or 'pro-American' than sending weapons to Ukriane, especially if someone else picks up the bill. Under the deal brokered between Mr Trump and Nato, allies have promised to largely pay for missiles, Patriot air-defence systems and ammunition delivered to Kyiv by Washington. 'This is a major Maga win, right? And nothing is more Maga than getting someone else to pay for our stuff.' She added: 'I think supporting Ukraine is the most pro-American thing you can do. And I think dad deeply believes that as well.' Gen Kellogg has been shuttling back and forth to Kyiv, where Ms Mobbs resides, for months relaying Ukraine's demands. Hours after Mr Trump and Putin discussed an end to the war over the telephone, Moscow launched a torrent of missiles and drones in the direction of the Ukrainian capital. 'It's not something to be flippant about, but I was a little bit like, 'Dad, you know how bad things are, let's be honest no peace here,'' the 38-year-old explained. Gen Kellogg's main strategy for convincing his boss to change tack was to explain that Mr Trump could one day end up on the wrong side of history, alongside the likes of Neville Chamberlain, the British prime minister best known for not standing up to Adolf Hitler. Repeating her father's warnings to Mr Trump, Ms Mobbs said: 'Mr President, if you do not change course here, this is how history will remember you, and I know you do not want that.' Just four days after Mr Trump and Mark Rutte, Nato's secretary-general, announced the support deal in the Oval Office, Ukraine received its first Patriot air-defence battery and the interceptor missiles to be used alongside it. It would normally take months between promised deliveries and their emergence in the war-torn country. Mr Trump's administration has 'cut through all the bureaucratic bulls---', Ms Mobbs said. 'The rapidity of action in war is critical. 'I think the president, by the way, sees this as part of a broader effort of signalling to Putin that he's overstepped, and unlike Biden, we're going to move more aggressively and effectively.'
BBC News
21-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
World War Two veteran Henry Francis celebrates 100th birthday
A decorated World War Two veteran who carried out covert missions behind enemy lines has celebrated his 100th Charles Francis, known affectionately as 'H', served in both the Royal Navy and Royal Marines after joining up aged his birthday party, Mr Francis was presented with a personal letter from the First Sea Lord, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, acknowledging his extraordinary daughter, Teresa Betton, said: "What he gave for this country, all the friends that he lost… I'm so proud of him. He tells the stories, but not all of them. He signed the secrets act and has stuck by it." Mr Francis' family said the day was deeply emotional as they recalled stories of his daring tale involved being dropped into the wrong location in what was then Yugoslavia and spending five days finding his way out before being greeted by General Josip Broz Tito, who later became president of the country. Mr Francis, who lives in South Gloucestershire, was awarded the Yugoslavian military medal, which is one of many honours he earned over the years. In his letter, Gen Jenkins paid tribute to the "truly courageous" covert operations carried out by Mr also referenced an incident in Burma when Mr Francis was injured by a bayonet before returning to the UK for a time to recover. Gen Jenkins said: "You are an incredible individual with an abundance of character, and you and all your generation are an inspiration to today's sailors and Royal Marines. "I am delighted to be able to send you the Royal Navy's best wishes for your 100th birthday."Asked for the secret to a long life, Mr Francis replied: "Before you argue with a man, make sure you can handle him."
Daily Mail
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The sexy European blueblood so magnetic that a classic British actor begged her to marry him - and why the Princess turned down King Charles' attempts to court her
In his courting days, King Charles was more than happy to be seen with her on his arm. Sexy Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia was the most alluring blueblood that postwar Europe had ever seen, and he revelled in the attention. Her list of conquests was already long and to Elizabeth, her second cousin Charles was just another date. She'd been married - twice - so was out of the running to become the future Princess of Wales when they were spotted together at polo in 1975. Plus the stunning Elizabeth was twelve years older – though she didn't look it. The daughter of the last Regent of Yugoslavia, Prince Paul, she was a first-cousin of the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra. But though she could turn on the 'princess' bit when required, Elizabeth preferred the company of red-blooded men, not blue-blooded princes. One conquest was the serial bed-hopper Warren Beattie. Another was British actor Richard Burton - who in between his stormy first and second marriages to Elizabeth Taylor, became so smitten by the princess he begged her to marry him. 'I'm not a star. I have no career. There will be no separations in our lives, so I do not see how this cannot last,' gushed the princess about Britain's leading actor as they announced their engagement in November 1974. But it was all over before you could say 'Cut!' The engagement was a risky step for both. She'd already been married – to New York fashion czar Howard Oxenberg, then to Oxford-educated banker Neil Balfour. (With Oxenburg she had a baby girl, Catherine, who'd rise to become an international star playing Amanda Carrington in the fabled TV series Dynasty). Burton had been also married twice – to his first wife Sybil, then sensationally to Elizabeth Taylor, the Queen of Hollywood. For Taylor, Richard was to be her fifth marriage, and their nuptials followed a scandal when the couple, who'd got together on the 'Cleopatra' film set, were accused by the Vatican of 'erotic vagrancy'. Both were still married at the time. The couple divorced in 1974, with Taylor having been the one to introduce Princess Elizabeth to Burton. Within five months of the decree absolute, the princess and Richard were engaged – even though Burton confessed he was scared of her. 'She is very pretty & sexy but impertinent,' he confided to his diary. 'Very self-sufficient, brittle. I'm not absolutely sure she mightn't be a little bit nasty behind one's back. A touch of the daggers – until I get to know her better I shall wear armour on my back, where the daggers go in. 'Elisheba [his pet name for her] is after Warren Beatty. Bess [Elizabeth Taylor] warned her off - but naturally when a women is set on a certain course of action, order turns into chaos, and logic into insanity.' Despite this, Burton managed to push Beatty to one side and grabbed the volatile, alluring princess for himself. He couldn't wait to get her up the aisle, and neither could she - when they announced their engagement to the world's press, Elizabeth was still married to Balfour. She took him to Paris to meet her parents. Prince Paul, the head of state when World War II broke out, was a committed Anglophile having studied at Oxford, and took to Burton immediately, nodding enthusiastically when the subject of marriage came up. Elizabeth's mother, Princess Olga, was the snooty sister of Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent – both sisters were granddaughters of King George I of Greece – and from the very first moment of their meeting looked down her nose at the Welsh actor, despite his colossal box office success and considerable riches. In a taxi, she burst into tears and 'cried all the way home', according to biographer Robert Prentice. 'Thoughts and worries raged through her mind that night.' She went to see a spirit medium in London who got in touch – so she thought – with various dead relatives. They helped her through the crisis which, as it turned out, had been all for nothing. Richard Burton's diaries – never less than brutally honest about himself and others – are curiously silent about what happened next. But within weeks of the engagement, it was over. No explanation was ever made, though within weeks of their getting together Burton was having an affair with the actress and former Playboy centrefold Jeannie Bell. And, according to Elizabeth's daughter Christina Oxenberg in an article for Avenue magazine: 'She went on to squire many others around. I did not meet all these paramours, but rather only the serious boyfriends, and there were quite a few [of those].' Put simply, they were two ships passing in the night.
The Guardian
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Ukrainians hail Melania Trump after president's change of tack over Russia
Ukrainians are celebrating Melania Trump on social media in a series of memes, after Donald Trump suggested the first lady played a part in his apparent change of heart over Russia. Speaking at a meeting in the White House on Monday with the Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte, Trump said his wife had played a key role in pointing out Vladimir Putin's duplicity. 'My conversations with him [Putin] are always very pleasant. I say, isn't that a very lovely conversation? And then the missiles go off that night,' Trump said. 'I go home, I tell the first lady: I spoke with Vladimir today. We had a wonderful conversation. She said: Really? Another city was just hit.' Slovenian-born Melania Trump, who grew up in the former Yugoslavia, has previously appeared to be a bigger supporter of Ukraine than the sceptical US president, who in February this year called Volodymyr Zelenskyy a dictator. Shortly after the 2022 full-scale Russian invasion, she appealed to her social media followers to donate to the Red Cross, saying it was 'heartbreaking and horrific to see innocent people suffering'. Agent Melania Trumpenko After Trump's Oval Office comments on Monday, one social media user posted a photo of 'Agent Melania Trumpenko' wearing a blazer with a Ukrainian trident insignia. Her face is half-shaded with a big hat, giving the impression she is working undercover inside the White House, to Kyiv's benefit. The magazine Business in Ukraine observed that 'there is a lot of love on social media tonight for Melania Trump' after the announcement that the US would send Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine. It reproduced a longstanding meme featuring three creatures wearing an army helmet and military caps. The image is used to denote a western politician or celebrity who supports or is friendly to Ukraine. The creatures give Melania a hat decorated with a Ukrainian flag. This article includes content provided by Facebook. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click 'Allow and continue'. Another meme shows the first lady standing behind her husband in the Oval Office, while he signs a presidential decree. The caption reads: 'Sisters Melania of the Bene Gesserit' – a reference to the powerful, secret and politically influential sisterhood from Frank Herbert's science fiction book Dune.
