Security in the Balkans After the Cold War: Bosnia and Kosovo Interventions
What were the three important political parties in Bosnia-Herzegovina before the start of the Bosnia war in 1992?
The three critical political parties in the country were The Muslim Democratic Action Party (SDA), the Serbian Democratic Party (SDS), and the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), each of which "had a different perspective on the future of Bosnia-Herzegovina."
The term "Western Balkans" is believed to have been coined by the European Union. Which countries does the area of Western Balkans cover?
The area covers "Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Kosovo".
What were the main two reasons behind the Bosnia war?
The two main reasons behind the war in Bosnia were: "the dream of Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic to create a Greater Serbia" and "ethnic nationalist feelings, rooted in the historical codes of Balkan societies."
In which town of Bosnia-Herzegovina did the acts of the Serbian militia forces reach the level of genocide?
Srebrenica
What political model did the Vance-Owen Plan propose for Bosnia-Herzegovina?
The Plan "proposed the implementation of the Swiss model in Bosnia. According to the plan ... Bosnia would be divided into ten cantons and the control of these cantons would be shared among Serbs, Croats, and Muslims".
What were the reasons why the Bosnian Muslims and Serbs opposed the Vance-Owen Plan?
"While the reason why Bosnian Muslims opposed the Plan was that the plan divided Bosnia-Herzegovina territories on an ethnic basis, the Plan was rejected by Serbs because it would cause the loss of some of the lands they controlled ".
Because of Serbian attacks, which towns and cities in Bosnia-Herzegovina were declared "safe zones" by the UN Security Council Resolutions 814 and 824, adopted in April 1993 and May 1993, respectively?
"The UN Security Council declared Srebrenica a safe zone with the resolution 814...and Sarajevo, Zepa, Tuzla, Gorazde and Bihac with the resolution 824".
How did the UN Security Council conceptualize the attacks of Serbian paramilitary groups against Bosnian Muslims?
"The UN Security Council defined the attacks against Bosnian Muslims as ethnic cleansing".
What was the legal argument behind the NATO's Operation Deliberate Force that legitimized the use of force by the Allies in Bosnia in an attempt to stop the Serbian attacks in the region and especially in and around Sarajevo?
The legal argument behind the NATO's action was Article 53 of the UN Charter, which stipulates that "the Security Council shall, where appropriate, utilize such regional arrangements or agencies for enforcement action under its authority."
What are the main characteristics of the presidential system of Bosnia-Herzegovina introduced by the Dayton Peace Agreement?
"The Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina shall consist of three Members: one Bosniak and one Croat, each directly elected from the territory of the Federation, and one Serb directly elected from the territory of the Republika Srpska."
Which group took the decision to start an armed struggle on behalf of the Kosovars against the Serbian forces in an attempt to turn Kosovo into an independent state?
The UÇK (Ushtria Çlirimtare Kosoves= the Kosovo Liberation Army).
Why did the international community have second thoughts about the legitimacy of the NATO intervention in Kosovo?
"The legitimacy of the Kosovo intervention in terms of international law became questionable due to the lack of the UN (United Nations) Security Council approval. "
What is the name of the proposed peace agreement between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the ethnic Albanian majority of Kosovo that was drafted by NATO and whose rejection by the Serbs triggered the NATO's armed intervention in Kosovo?
The Rambouillet Agreement
Which American diplomat helped broker a peace between the parties in Bosnia-Herzegovina and later came to be known as the architect of the Dayton Peace Agreement?
Richard Holbrooke
What was the main difference between the US policies toward the Bosnia and Kosovo crises?
"The US did not have an “end game” strategy in Kosovo, whereas in Bosnia especially Richard Holbrooke’s diplomatic efforts enabled the implementation of such a strategy".
How may the continuous policy of Russia toward the Balkans be characterized?
Russia has preferred to follow Pan-Orthodox and Pan-Slavist policies in the Balkans.
What is the main foreign policy objective of the European Union in the Balkans since the mid-1990s?
The main foreign policy objective of the EU is that the Balkans "do not turn into a source of conflict and insecurity again."
When did the EU grant the "candidate status" to Western Balkan countries?
The EU granted the candidate status to Western Balkan countries at the Thessaloniki Summit, which was held in 2003.
From a legal perspective, what was the major reason for Turkey's extending support to Kosovo Albanians?
"The Yugoslavian administration had committed grave human rights violations in Kosovo".
Which institution or state became the most influential global actor in the Balkans following the end of the Yugoslavia war?
"After the end of the Yugoslavia war, the EU gained the position of the most influential global actor in the Balkans."