Peace Blog
The views expressed in the blog are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the IIP.
Vor hundert Jahren erschien das bekannteste Werk des irischen Autors, James Joyce. Zwar hat er seinen „Ullysses“ schon 2021 fertiggestellt, aber es war schwierig jemand zu finden, der sich traute das Werk zu veröffentlichen. Einige Vorabdrucke sorgten für große Aufregung. Dem Buch und seinem Autor wurde Pornografie und Blasphemie vorgeworfen. Und auch die moderne Sprache bzw. die ausführliche Beschreibung des Alltäglichen wurde kritisiert.
Über Jahrzehnte nach dem 2. Weltkrieg wurde an einer neuen Weltordnung gebastelt. Im Zentrum standen die Vereinten Nationen mit vielen Unter- und Schwesterorganisationen. Parallel dazu gab es verschiedene Abrüstungsabkommen vor allem zwischen den Großmächten USA und Sowjetunion/Russland. Und Europa hat einen noch nie dagewesene Einigungsprozess in Gang gesetzt - parallel zur Dekolonisierung. All diese politischen Entscheidungen und Maßnahmen wurden von einer Ausdehnung der globalen Handelsbeziehungen begleitet. Schritt um Schritt schien diese umfassende Globalisierung zu einer regelbasierten und friedlichen Welt zu führen.
The EU -- or, more precisely, its predecessor -- was and continues to be a reaction to past European wars and mutual destruction. This becomes especially clear if one examines the documents and declarations preceding the construction of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). However, an additional characteristic of the EU has been emphasized in recent times by scholars such as Timothy Snyder and Ivan Krastev. The ECSC was formed by former -- at the time, still active -- colonial powers. With the process of decolonialization, the EU was later transformed into a new type of empire, an empire that sought to convince other countries to join based on a regime of rule of law, individual freedoms, and free trade. The conception and ideology of such an “empire” is in strong contrast to the old-fashioned concept embraced by today’s Russia.
General elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina have been scheduled for the first week of October this year. While there are still two months to go, an internationally-provoked crisis remains to be resolved. This does not sound that unusual, given the perennially “troubled” nature of the Western Balkans region. Many outsiders have grown accustomed to hearing about crises occurring several times a year throughout the Western Balkans, which include Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Albania. At present, there are two significant crises that are on the path to being resolved. The first concerns a new election law in Bosnia and Herzegovina, while the second arose “overnight” in Kosovo, when the Kosovar government attempted to implement a new rule for Serbian license plates and ID cards.
Der Ukraine Krieg geht in sein sechstes Monat. Und noch immer ist kein Ende abzusehen. Zwar gab es jüngst eine Vereinbarung zwischen Russland und der Ukraine - auf Vermittlung der UNO und der Türkei - über Weizenlieferungen aus der Ukraine. Und das ist in Bezug auf die Nahrungsmitteknappheit und den Hunger in etlichen Regionen der Welt ein wichtiger Schritt. Es ist schwierig zu erkennen ob es weitere - informelle und geheime - Gesprächskontakte zwischen den beiden Kriegsparteien gibt.
Heinz Gärtner glaubt: Eine glaubwürdige, völkerrechtlich garantierte Neutralität der Ukraine, etwa nach dem österreichischen Modell, hätte Russland das Argument entzogen, dass sich die NATO weiter nach Osten ausdehnen würde. Eine neutrale Ukraine wäre auch eine Option für die Beilegung des Konflikts zwischen Russland und dem Westen.
For the 27th annual commemoration of the Srebrenica genocide, the Srebrenica Memorial Center has chosen to dedicate this year to the mothers and women of Srebrenica. Their heroic role in the events in Srebrenica during the war, the days after the fall of Srebrenica, as well as the struggle and activism in post-war society has been underestimated and neglected. Through their activities, projects and research, this year the Memorial Center has highlighted the role of women. It is to remind us that without their never-ending fight for the truth and justice, many aspects of the genocide would not be known today.
I am currently in Belgrade at the invitation of the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy. It is as hot here as in Vienna and many other parts of Europe, and the liveliness of the city is comparable to many EU cities. Nevertheless, the meeting of the European Council a few days prior failed to bring this or any other city or country of the Western Balkans any closer to EU membership. In all discussions I have had here in Belgrade, I can sense a deep disappointment over the decision -- or rather non-decision -- of the recent Council meeting.
I am still very much under the impression of the interview with Olena Halushka, a fighter against corruption in Ukraine, about the future status of Ukraine as a candidate for the EU membership. ( Watch the interview….) Asked about the future relationship with Russia she underlined, that reconciliation with Russia is only possible after a clear victory for Ukraine and a “deputinization”, demilitarization, denuclearization of Russia, the punishment of all generals etc. Emotionally one can understand this hard and uncompromising line, but is it a way to look forward, even considering all the atrocities committed by Russia in Ukraine? Can Ukraine with this stringent line join a European Union, which is built on reconciliation and cooperation?
