Political defeat for world community

The large-scale Croatian offensive on Krajina ended the existence of this republic. This happened just 24 hours after Serbs in Geneva made proposals regarded by international observers as quite acceptable.

This is a catastrophe for Serbs and all those who tried (or pretended to try) to help the peoples of the former Yugoslavia settle the conflict. The slaughter in Croatia did not start until the West adopted a resolute anti-Serb stance, until the NATO states agreed upon using Croatian airfields for Bosnian operations, until the Security Council rejected Moscow's resolution condemning Zagreb's attempts to resume armed confrontation.

The West goes on with its double-standard policy: when Croats occupied the city which is supposed to be under UN protection, the West is in no hurry to use its bombers. If, instead, Serbs had destroyed the Blue Helmets' posts, raids would have followed immediately.

It is bitter to talk about Moscow's policy: its diplomatic activities become vigorous only when the West discusses using force, which cannot compensate for Moscow's inconsistence, unwillingness or inability to clearly define its goals.

The Croat's offensive was provoked by the Western policy that supporting one of the sides can help solve the crisis. This is not just cynical, it is a mistake. Now all of the sides are sure that they can defend their rights only by force.

Military defeat has aggravated internal Serb conflicts ... It is quite possible now the final word will rest with Belgrade, which seems quite serious about promises by Moscow and the Contact Group to slacken sanctions if it restrains Bosnian and Croatian Serbs. Yugoslav leader (Slobodan) Milosevic, however, is unlikely to manage; Public pressure -- to render direct military assistance to Krajina Serb -- is too heavy.

So, a large-scale war can start in the center of Europe any day. It is the world community who is responsible for this.

-- Krasnaya Zvezda, Moscow