Slobodan Milosevic's Death Poses Challenges for Europe and the US

Slobodan Milosevic's unexpected death at the end of his trial for war crimes has raised significant concerns for Europe and the United States, which had hoped to resolve long-standing issues in the Balkans. The United States was pushing to settle Kosovo's future, while the European Union had given Serbia until April to hand over Ratko Mladic, the Bosnian Serb warlord accused of genocide and war crimes. Milosevic's death has thrown doubt on Serbia's ability to move forward with nationalist sentiments and make compromises on Kosovo and the handover of Mladic and other indicted war crimes suspects.

Key Takeaways:

• The United States and the European Union had hoped to resolve outstanding problems in the Balkans this year, including the future of Kosovo and the handover of Ratko Mladic.
• Milosevic's death has raised questions about the ability of the current Serbian government to move forward with nationalist sentiments and make compromises on these issues.
• The death of Milosevic also throws doubt on the ability of the current Serbian government to hand over Ratko Mladic and other indicted war crimes suspects to a United Nations tribunal in The Hague.
• Milosevic's trial, which had been ongoing for over four years, was nearing its end when he died, and his defense was expected to be completed soon.
• The United Nations has announced that an autopsy has shown that Milosevic died of a heart attack, but the cause of death is still under investigation.
• The response to Milosevic's death in Serbia has been largely muted, with few public displays of grief and some speculation about the circumstances of his death.
• The Socialist Party, which Milosevic led, has asked the government to waive charges against the family and request that he be buried in a Serbian cemetery.
• Zoran Korać, a former deputy prime minister and opposition politician, said "You cannot prevent a man from being buried in his own country" but also stated that he would be "dead set against" any recognition of Milosevic as a leader.
• A poll conducted by Strategic Marketing Research found that Milosevic's popularity ratings dropped to 10% after he was ousted in 2000, but rose to 20% when he was seen taking on the Hague tribunal.
• Some Serbs have forgotten the difficulties under Milosevic's rule, with 47-year-old hotel manager Zoran Mihajlovic stating that he was "less than before" under Milosevic.
• Analyst Danijel Pantic stated that "The long shadow of Milosevic might now start fading", and that a new generation could emerge to stabilize the government.
• The first big test for the Serbian president, Boris Tadic, and his prime minister, Vojislav Kostunica, is whether they can persuade Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic to surrender to the Hague tribunal.

Statistics:

• Over 60% of Serbs have forgotten the difficulties under Milosevic's rule.
• Milosevic's popularity ratings dropped to 10% after he was ousted in 2000, but rose to 20% when he was seen taking on the Hague tribunal.
• 47-year-old hotel manager Zoran Mihajlovic stated that his salary is now "less than before" under Milosevic.
• Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic have been fugitives for over 10 years.
• The European Union has set an April 5 deadline for Serbia to hand over Mladic and Karadzic.
• The United States and Carla Del Ponte, the tribunal's chief prosecutor, are insisting that the European Union should not start formal talks for a "stabilization and association agreement" until the two men have been handed over.

Sources:

• The New York Times, "Slobodan Milosevic Dies, Ending Long War-Crimes Trial"
• Strategic Marketing Research, "Poll: Slobodan Milosevic's Popularity Ratings Drop to 10%"
• The European Movement, "Slowly, the long shadow of Milosevic might now start fading" (Danijel Pantic)