From The Propagandist: Bosnian Politicians Fail to Change Constitution That Breaches Human Rights

Leaders of Bosnia’s six main parties have failed to reach agreement on ways to implement a 2009 European Court of Human Rights ruling on rights of ethnic minorities to allow them to be elected to high public offices. The European Court of Human Rights ruling, brought by Jew and a Roma, called on Bosnia and Herzegovina to change its constitution to allow ethnic minorities, as well as main ethnic groups (Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats), to compete for high public offices including for the Presidency and federal parliament.

For The Propagandist Magazine: Croatia’s Silent Approval of the Ustasha Regime

The Independent State of Croatia was a quisling marionette state formed from the territories of present Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1941 to 1945 in support of the Third Reich. Its supporters have been out in force in recent weeks.

Several small far right parties, historically connected with Ustasha regime, get together in the last week of December of 2011 to commemorate the death of Jure Francetic, a Ustasha commander. He responsible for thousands of deaths in concentration camps formed on Croatian territory. Just a days after the pro-Francetic celebration, same political groups with large crowds of supporters gathered at a church in the city of Split, where they celebrated mass for the leader of the NDH (Nezavisna Drzava Hrvatska/ Independent State of Croatia), Dr. Ante Pavelic. Last but not least, a relatively well-known columnist for the Zagreb Vecernji newspaper, Josip Pavicic, called for the Croatian public and literary community to compare Miroslav Krleza, a poet and author Communist, with Pavelic’s minister responsible for racial laws, Mile Budak (also known as minor writer and author of several books).

Article for The Propagandist Magazine: Serbia’s Enemies are Not Kosovo or the USA. Look Closer to Home

In Kosovo, we’re still watching same scenes we saw in 1989, 1990 or 1999. There are barricades. “Peaceful” people empowered with stones and firearms face off against well-armed KFOR soldiers. Governments engage in “negotiations”. Foreign leaders try to pick sides.

Some positive moves were made in the last day or two when the Serbs opened some roads allowing international peacekeeping forces to access their bases and to fulfill duties assigned by United Nations and NATO. Some commentators say that move is the result of blackmail schemes from foreign leaders forcing Serbia to recognize Kosovo as independent state. The plot is supposed to include German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

From the Propagandist Magazine: Neo-Nazism in Hungary

A Hungarian court acquitted a former Nazi captain late last week. The accused war criminal Sandor Kepiro, 97, faced trial for his alleged crimes committed in the Serbian town of Novi Sad during the Second World War. This was his fourth judicial process and fourth acquittal due to “lack of evidence” that he committed or ordered crimes in 1942 against Jews, Serbs and Roma people.

Read more here.

A Possible Future For NATO In The Western Balkans

The Western military alliance NATO wants to bring the Western Balkan countries as member states in the near future. Indeed, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen seems passionately devoted to this issue. Two out of six former Yugoslavian republics have already joined the NATO pact. The remaining four are in pre-membership bodies hoping to one day gain entry.

Read more here.

Justice Coming To The Balkans. But First We Need Answers

Half a century ago Adolf Eichmann faced justice after nearly two decades of hiding in plain sight. He was brought to Jerusalem to answer for his crimes in the Holocaust. Now another wanted man, General Ratko Mladic, will be brought in front of a judge to answer questions regarding his actions during the bloodiest European war since the Second World War.

Read more here.