Garcevic on Radio Free Europe on Russia and the Balkans
Ambassador Vesko Garcevic, Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Relations at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University, was recently interviewed for a radio segment on Islamic radicalism in the Balkans and how this problem is presented in Russian media.
Garcevic was interviewed for a February 14, 2018 segment on Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe (RFE) entitled “Russia Aggravates Conflicts in the Balkans.”
From the (translated) segment:
Vesko Garcevic is sure: the problem with radical Islamic groups and any other group of foreign militants should not be minimized, but in the case how media in Russia has been presenting the problem, a typical example of propaganda can be recognized.
Although I can’t deny or ignore the fact that in many Balkans disputes are rooted in religious differences and disagreements, it is difficult to imagine that radical Islamists with combat experience in Iraq and Syria will flood Bosnia and Herzegovina or any other state in the Balkans, as it’s been presented by Russia’s media.
Most of the disputes in the Balkans, including the one between Serbs and Albanians or the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina, can be characterized as ethnic conflicts with certain religious components (Orthodox Christians vs Islam). But, in both cases, the religious component of the conflict is not dominant and putting it in a context of radical Islam is an example of a narrow or malicious interpretation of the events in this part of Europe. These conflicts are much older than today’s problems with the religious radicalism of any kind. They are rooted in the history of the region and its complex ethnic, religious and cultural composition. I would say that these conflicts have been utilized by radical religious groups on both sides, including Orthodox radical groups, for their purposes.
Radical Islamic groups exist in all corners of the Balkans, including Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina, but their capability and strength is questionable, and they are far from being a major threat to the security of the region. We can talk about a few hundred members scattered over the Balkans, who, so far, proved to have been incapable of carrying out a serious terrorist attack. Moreover, most of them are closely monitored by the police.
Radicalized Balkan Muslims are in most cases used as cannon fodder in Syria or elsewhere in the Middle East. Yes, some of them have come back. Some create problems. On the other hand, most of them who returned from wars in Syria face trial and long-term sentences at home. By the way, when talking about Islamic militants, it will be fair to ask what to do with those who returned from Donbass, Ukraine. It’s no secret that many Serbs are fighting on the side of Russians in Ukraine.
The possible escalation of the conflict between Serbs and Albanians, or Bosniaks and Serbs in Bosnia and Herzegovina is an example of the Russian tactic as Moscow is known for its love of “frozen” conflicts. Just recently the Bosnian Serbs acquired 2500 automatic rifles through Serbia apparently from Russia, and this fact further raises concerns about the strengthening of Moscow’s influence in the region. Russia utilizes this situation in its own interests. In their simplified version of feuds in the Balkans, Moscow supports the Serbs (“good, Orthodox guys”) against Albanians or Bosniaks (“bad guys – Muslims”).
During his diplomatic career, Amb. Vesko Garcevic dealt with issues pertinent to European security and NATO for almost 14 years. In 2004, he was posted in Vienna to serve as Ambassador to Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. He had been a Montenegro’s Ambassador to NATO from 2010 until 2014 and served as a Montenegro’s National Coordinator for NATO from 2015 until he joined the faculty at the Pardee School.