But according to Todorović, Serbia’s fierce opposition to the resolution has more complex roots than simple nationalist anger. She explained that Belgrade wants to quickly resolve disputes after squabbles with its neighbors to increase its international influence and thereby gain a reputation as a force for stability and a major player in the region.
“This is the foreign policy that Serbia has chosen for itself, especially since the start of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine,” Todorović said. “We want to be relevant to the world by creating tension and receiving praise from the international community when the problem is resolved.”
genocide on trial
The 1992-1995 Bosnian War was the bloody result of the breakup of socialist Yugoslavia and included a four-year siege of the capital Sarajevo, considered the longest in a modern war.
This conflict occurred at a time of relative stability and euphoria in the rest of Europe. At the time, former communist countries were rejoicing in their newfound democratic rights and independence.
As such, the seriousness of the Yugoslav civil war aroused keen interest, and the resulting crimes led to the establishment of a special tribunal called the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY).
The court aimed to show that a newly unified Europe and a more cooperative post-Cold War world could deal with war crimes in a way consistent with Western legal traditions and the highest standards of proof.
