Marc Fisher Leaders of the world's most powerful nations reluctantly agreed this week that they can do nothing to prevent civil strife in the Yugoslav republic of Croatia, German diplomatic sources said. The obstacle is a clear Soviet message that Moscow would veto any attempt to use U.N. forces to settle an internal Yugoslav dispute. Nothing can be done. He said the hatred between Serbs and Croats is so deep and lasting that both sides are beyond reasoning. But the very idea of Germany or Austria or Italy being involved in such an action is politically impossible.
History forbids it.
There wasn't anything else to say because the war is inevitable. There, diplomats said, the Yugoslav People's Army continues to transfer heavy equipment and Serbian units into Croatian territory. German Chancellor Helmut Kohl this week continued his country's effort to press Yugoslavia toward some compromise. Despite misgivings among several European leaders, Kohl received Croatian President Franjo Tudjman in Bonn Thursday, the first time a European leader has agreed to see him since Croatia seceded June 25. Tudjman wants the Europeans to extend their non-military observer mission, now limited to Slovenia, to his republic as a sign that foreign countries will help Croatia stand up to the Yugoslav army.