Search

Relations between Turkey and Yugoslavia, which were cordial until the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina', were shaped by three factors: Yugoslavia's location on Turkey's trade routes to Europe, the long history shared with the peoples of Yugoslavia, and the friendly relations that existed thus far. Diplomatic relations took a new turn for the worse with the war, whereby economic relations also ended up being victim of the war, as well as the ensuing Kosovo crisis. However, the pattern of diplomatic relations and behavior since then has been different from what takes place, which made relations a complex reality: despite the rhetoric employed by both sides, sometimes verging on the inimical, and withdrawal of or denying agreement to ambassadors, relations survived. Prospects as regards an enhanced future rapprochement point to the importance of building and maintaining mutual political willingness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses Kosovo and questions it raises about the concept of national sovereignty. Topics discussed include Jozep Broz Tito's rule in Yugoslavia, the subsequent rule of Slobodan Milosevic and its malign impact on Kosovo, the redrawing of national boundaries and transfers of populations following World War II, and the experience of certain Soviet republics following the demise of the Soviet Union. The author concludes that in the twenty-first century, the concept of a nation state seldom matches it reality.

The article features the conflict between Kosovo and Yoguslavia which started in 1980's when the economic crisis happened. The problem stems from the ethnic groups in Yoguslavia which the Serbs dominated in number but in some parts they are in minority. The ethnic groups are antagonistic with each other and the Kosovo group wanted to have autonomy at first but then demanded independence. This resulted to violent killings and bombings. The U.S. intervened in the situation but failed.