Background

• Parts of the Balkans invaded by Serbia:

  Slovenia

  Declared independence in 1991; invaded by Serbia, but defeated them after 10 days.

  Croatia

  Declared independence in 1991; invaded by Serbia, conflict resolved 1995.

  Bosnia

  Declared independence in 1992; invaded by Serbia, conflict resolved 1995.
• Macedonia

  Declared independence in 1991; no action was taken

  Kosovo

  Rebelled against Serbia in 1998; Serbia surrendered after NATO intervention in 1999; gained full independence in 2008.
• Serbia: (at the 'heart' of the identity war)

  1990/ Milosevic, who was the Serbian president, wanted Yugoslavia together under Serbian control.

  1991/ Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia all declare independence

  • Yugoslav army focussed on Croatia

  (contained a large population of Serbs)

  • Macedonia ignored

  (few Serbs living there)