yugoslavias implosion

forces from outside (chiefly, from within the Croatian and Serbian
diasporas) were conspiring with internal forces to disturb the stability
of the Socialist self-governing system, compromise Yugoslavia’s
international prestige and nonaligned policy, and weaken the ability
of Yugoslavia to defend itself. This Special War rhetoric against
Yugoslavia intensified whenever international relations in Europe
and the Mediterranean were tense or Yugoslavia faced internal political
or economic difficulties.
Various groups in the country were engaged in this special
warfare: remnants of the “class enemy” (i.e., nationalists in the
republics), liberals, clerics, and other counterrevolutionary and
reactionary forces. All were united, regardless of their political and
ideological orientation, in organizing opposition in the country, with
overseas support, to prevent the successful development of Yugoslavia
as a socialist country. 227 Although Socialism was collapsing in
the ussr and Eastern Europe, prominent ypa leaders openly accused
those who participated in debates on the transformation of Yugoslavia,
especially after the first multiparty elections in 1990, of being
the “same forces that once brought about the collapse of Yugoslavia.
During the nor [National Liberation War] they collaborated
with the occupier and were politically and militarily defeated.” 228
Kadijević described those who called for foreign military intervention
“traitors,” pointing to Croatia’s and Slovenia’s republican governments.
229 Mamula said that the ypa would intervene if necessary
to protect the integrity and survival of Yugoslavia as a federal state.
He asserted that Yugoslavia would be able to “control the situation
within its borders, even if forced to use repressive measures, including
the force of arms.” 230 Federal Interior Minister Petar Gračanin
227 Dejan Jović, “San o prinudnoj upravi”, Danas, March 19, 1991, p .16 .
228 Veljko Kadijević, in an interview with Narodna armija, December 6, 1990 .
229 Veljko Kadijević, Moje viđenje raspada, p . 88 .
230 Miroslav Lazanski, “Jugoslavija neće biti Lebanon”, Danas, December 4, 1990, p .11 .
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