Role of The International Community
The war developed at a time when the attention of the USA and the world was on Iraq, and the Gulf War in 1991, along with a sharp rise in oil prices and a slowdown in the growth of the world economy. Thereafter it was if the rising influence of nationalist and separatist ideologies found their counterpart in Western and Russian policies of laissez-faire. This was not unique to the Balkans, with the West later refusing to intervene for example in Rwanda in 1994. In 1989, the international community tended to support the authority of the Yugoslav government.
Then, between December 19 and December 23, several other European countries, including Germany, Sweden and Italy announced their recognition of Croatia's (and Slovenia's) independence. The European Union as a whole recognized the independence of the two republics on January 15, 1992.
Each of the major foreign governments acted somewhat differently:
- United Kingdom – The John Major-led government favoured neutrality. Cyrus Vance supported the 'integrity of Yugoslavia'.
- United States – The United States, under George H. W. Bush, tended to favour non-intervention at first, just like the United Kingdom. In contrast, from 1993, the administration led by Bill Clinton tended to engage itself in order to end the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia.
- Germany – up until 1991, Germany supported a 'status quo'. According to diplomat Gerhard Almer, the Yugoslav disintegration was feared as "a bad example for the dissolution of the Soviet Union". During the war, this policy changed when Germany recognized Slovenia and Croatia. Helmut Kohl's government, given historical ties, was more favourable than the US or the UK to Croatia’s plight, and might have been ready to lead more affirmative action if it had not been so busy with German reunification.
- Russia – Russia tended to oppose recognition of Croatia, however it was not seen as actively encouraging Serbian efforts towards expansion either. If anything, Boris Yeltsin's government was a moderate influence since back then the Soviet states also declared independence. The large changes occurring in Russia at the time also supported caution.
Read more about this topic: Croatian War Of Independence
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