yugoslavias implosion

276
ChApter 4
Milošević fell from power, and which failed to quickly appreciate
the real direction in which Serbia was heading. Notably, it failed to
understand that the election of Vojislav Koštunica in 2000 meant a
continuation of the old policy; instead, it welcomed Koštunica as a
democratic president who had won the world’s unqualified support.
Not until 2008, when it accepted Kosovo’s declaration of independence,
did the international community permit the final break-up of
Yugoslavia, thus creating a framework for the consolidation of the
region.
Post-October 2000 Serbia was focused on preserving its military
gains (Republika Srpska especially) while dealing with Milošević’s
legacy of a corrupt state, a tottering economy, and devastated institutions.
It also struggled to end its ten-year isolation from the international
community, as well as the self-imposed isolation that had kept
it away from the regional networks and processes of European integration.
Internal differences within the Democratic Coalition that
came to power after Milošević began to deepen, especially over cooperation
with The Hague Tribunal and strategies for the country’s
future. From the very beginning, Premier Zoran Đinđić was clearly
pushing a pro-European strategy, whereas fry President Vojislav
Koštunica was doing all in his power to safeguard Milošević’s cronies
and the old structures in the police, the army, and the judicuary.
Confrontation between these two diametrically opposed options
obstructed the postwar transition and left Serbia lagging behind
the rest of the region (especially after the assassination of Đinđić).
It became increasingly evident that, without substantial assistance
from the eu, Serbia would be unable to distance itself economically,
politically, and morally from its recent past.