yugoslavias implosion

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ChApter 4
international community. With Putin and Koštunica in power in
the early twenty-first century, the Russian-Serbian connection was
strong.
In consolidating Russia as a global power, Putin made skilful use
of the unfinished process of the break-up of Yugoslavia. Interestingly,
in spite of declaring that the preservation of the fry was in its
interests, Russia quickly recognized an independent Montenegro and
urged Koštunica to follow suit. In the case of Kosovo, Russia sought
to manipulate the situation there with a view to controlling similar
situations closer to home. In June 2008, Russia blocked a Security
Council resolution designed to replace Resolution 1244; the new resolution
would have accorded Kosovo full recognition as an independent
state, with membership in the United Nations. The move gave
rise to hopes in Serbia that Russia would play the role of Serbia’s diplomatic
protector, especially with regard to the partition of Kosovo
and Bosnia. These hopes have been stoked by Russian arguments that
Republika Srpska has the right to follow the precedent set by Kosovo
and secede.
Russia’s motives in the Balkans are economic and strategic. Economically,
it wants to develop closer ties with the Balkans, especially
in the energy field. Strategically, it seeks to assert its continuing relevance
as an actor in the region (for instance, it challenges the Europe
Union to demonstrate that it has the mechanisms to maintain order
in the Balkans), even though it refrains from engaging wholeheartedly
there.
Financing the War
Yugoslavia’s armaments industry—a hypertrophied sector of
the economy for a country with a relatively small population—was
a top earner of foreign exchange. Its factories, controlled by the ypa
and located mainly in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia, made infantry
and other light weapons and modern tanks, guns, and electronic