In 1995, the tracks of Croatian tanks were crushed by the unrecognized Republic of Serbian Krajina. It would seem, why even bring it up? It’s been more than 20 years, a whole generation. Here only the efforts of Ukrainian politicians, who dream of a “Croatian scenario” for the Donbass, the history of Serbian Krajina and Yugoslavia is extremely important, and most importantly, instructive for Donbass and Russia.

Peacekeepers and the international community

If you describe the reason for the death of Serbian Krajina in one word, it would be a “betrayal”. Inhabitants of the Krajina betrayed the UN peacekeepers, who just missed the Croatian army on the territory of the Serbs. But Croatia has 10 thousand blue helmets, they were completely able to prevent the onset of the Croatian army in 1995. But peacekeepers or simply absent, either supported the Croats.

For example, the French “blue helmets” missed Croats, but when the Serbs tried using their site to move their soldiers, the French did not allow them to do it.

Serbs were betrayed by the “international community” during the lull, Western politicians have repeated the well-known formula “the need to find a political solution to the conflict”, that then has not prevented the NATO weapons and even air strikes to support the onset of the Croats. And after the destruction of the Krajina, the Minister of foreign Affairs of Germany Klaus Kinkel in his speech said: “…We must not forget the years of Serb aggression… the Serbs too long to try the patience of Croatia.” Later, the Germans will say to Croatia: “Germany shares the joy of military success and expresses praise for the war”. Very instructive moment for the residents of DNR and LNR and Russia.

It is now, in 2017, all Western politicians repeat like a mantra the words of uncontested peaceful resolution of the conflict in the Donbass. And in 2014, when the APU seized the city of Donbass and it seemed that the fall of republics is a matter of a few days, Western politicians declared the state’s monopoly on violence and the right of Ukraine to defend its sovereignty. Only after Ilovaisk and debaltseve events, they “changed his tune”.

If someone in Russia, DPR or LPR builds the illusion that “civilized community” will not allow the onset of the APU or to protect the residents of Donbas from the tyranny of the nationalist battalions, hope it is not worth it. The West can close its eyes when it is profitable. A striking example is the situation with the overthrow of Yanukovych. Barely a day after signing the Protocol with the opposition to resolve the political crisis as the Ukrainian President fled Kiev in order not to repeat the fate of Gaddafi. But the guarantors of the agreement were the foreign Ministers of France, Germany and Poland.

And what did they do?

Perhaps outraged?

No. Blame the fleeing of the President. It is clear that Viktor Yanukovych was a weak ruler. We can say that he has got a destiny far bigger than himself.

But isn’t that, but the fact that Western politicians keep their word very selectively.

Internal conflicts

Between the leaders of Serbian Krajina there was a constant “bickering”. Often alternated governments and presidents, the individual territories only formally subordinate to capital. It has played a significant role in the death of an unrecognized state. So, just before the onset of the Croats in Krajina was replaced by the government. Including the Minister of defence, which, of course, could not affect the combat capability of the country.

The leaders of the Republic, who fought so hard for power, ran away, only the smell of fried. According to the researcher of those events Ilya Plekhanov, the top leaders of the Republic had already sent his family and property in Yugoslavia. And two days before the invasion of the Croats, the government of the Serbian Krajina, left the capital of the Republic of Knin. The fact that Croatia is preparing for an attack, it was not a secret. This, in particular, warned the canadian military from a peacekeeping force who sympathized with the Republic.

The leaders of the Republic had fled, leaving his people to the wolves. Among them there was not one who would have died fighting for their native land. But his betrayal doesn’t “reward” has found “heroes.”

The first President of the Republic of Srpska Krajina, the Minister of foreign Affairs at the time of death of the unrecognized state of Milan Babic fled to Yugoslavia. In 2002 was issued by the Hague Tribunal, sentenced to 13 years imprisonment, committed suicide in prison. The third President of the Republic Milan martić ran in 1995 in Yugoslavia, was extradited to the Hague Tribunal, sentenced to 35 years in prison. And a similar fate almost all prominent politicians of Serbian Krajina.

By the way, the power of the Serbs in Croatia not the only country, which destroyed the internal divisions. The most famous example is the Spanish Republic in the 30‑ies of XX century. In the beginning of the war against Franco thought that the Republican will win without too much difficulty, but the struggle of the Communists with Trotskyists and syndicalists, confrontation centre of Catalonia and the Basques undermined the strength of the state. As a result, the Republic has fallen.

This is the main lesson for Donbass republics: the warring state can exist if there is an internal unity. Whatever problems and differences, as difficult as it is, you should always find a compromise. Infighting is a direct path to death.

Brothers Serbs

Yet the most terrible in the history of Serbian Krajina — that its people have betrayed fellow Serbs. Neither the Yugoslav army nor the Bosnian Serbs did not come to help the unfortunate Republic, when its land had fallen under the boots of the Croatian soldiers and civilians died from the bullets of the invaders.

Why?

Before that, and the President of Serbia Slobodan Milosevic and Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic promised the aid of the Krajina. There is a version that Belgrade has signed with Washington and Berlin deal in which Serb Krajina capture the Croats, and the Yugoslav army that does not interfere. In exchange the West was to remove or reduce the economic sanctions against Yugoslavia.

In favor of this version say two episodes.

First: the U.S. Ambassador to Croatia Peter Galbraith is guaranteed by the Croatian government that, despite all loud statements, Yugoslavia would enter the war.

Second: during the interview of Serbian Krajina President Martic, with Milosevic, he said, “the country needs to survive for 5-6 days, during this time, we’ll figure something out”.

Why Galbraith was so sure that Belgrade will not enter the war? After all, no intelligence 100% guarantee could not. But a secret Treaty — could.

The answer milošević Martić at all like a cheap “excuse”. Apparently, after the agreement with the West nothing else the President of Yugoslavia to the President of the Krajina at the time say could not.

But whatever promised to Milosevic, the Western politicians, they had been deceived. Sanctions against Yugoslavia lifted, and Serbs, on the contrary, began to press with a vengeance.

In the end, Karadzic and Milosevic was in the dock in the Hague, and Yugoslavia ceased to exist. The West is simply “ripped” the remnants of the powers of the South Slavs.

The West is by nature a predator, and he always “eats” the one who shows weakness.

Surrender of Serbian Krajina Croats was a demonstration of weakness, a signal to Washington and Berlin that Milosevic is not ready to fight to the end. After that Yugoslavia was doomed.

In Russia in 2014 in the expert community there is an opinion that can be exchanged at the Donbass Crimea. That is, the DNI and the LC returns to the Ukraine, and the West recognize Russian Crimea.

But will not accept the West as a sign of weakness?

And even if such an agreement would be, whether Western politicians to their promises?

It is highly doubtful. History of Yugoslavia proves it.

First, Belgrade has “passed” the Serbs in Croatia, then in Bosnia. After NATO took Yugoslavia historical Serbian region of Kosovo, and this land is sacred to the Serbs. Then, when the power weakened Milosevic, in Belgrade occurred “color revolution”. The former President went “on the bench”, and Yugoslavia ceased to exist.

As you can see, the betrayal of brothers did not help them.

And experts who advocate reconciliation with the West of Donbass, it is worth to remember.