Some of them were protecting their turf, while others were trying to usurp it. In the end, they all made a killing - often literally. It is the same the world over - from Sierra Leone to Nigeria and from Sarajevo and its ephemeral Stability Pact to the killing fields of Pristina. Shadowy dealings, drug trafficking, white slavery, smuggling and forfeit goods are all intertwined with political power in the Balkans. Milosevic we discussed everywhere.
Nothing can be further from the truth.
It makes for good soundbites and raises the fighting spirits at home by focusing public attention and energy on the enemy. They alternately pose as democrats, autocrats, strong men or underdogs - anything to get Western aid and keep investment flowing. Since it is currently very fashionable and expedient to be a democrat, President Djukanovich is a democrat. In retaliation, Djukanovic opened Montenegro's borders with Italy, to cigarette smuggling, and with Albania, to oil imports. Taxes from imported cars, the smuggling of cigarettes and oil provided Djukanovic with the hard currency needed to replenish the republic's coffers and begin charting an independent course away from Belgrade.