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An Insider’s Perspective: Voices from the Balkans

NATO bombs continue to fall on Yugoslavia, and ethnic Albanians continue to flee the violence in the Kosovo province, so a group of Calvin professors organized an impromptu seminar last week to address the issues raised by this new international crisis.

“Ever since [the] Nuremberg [Trials], the international community has said that war crimes are our business,” De Vries noted.

Although the lecture was announced less than 24 hours in advance, a crowd of interested students and faculty filled Spoelhof Center room 301, where the forum took place.

Faculty who came to express their views on the subject were Political Science Professors Simona Goi and Robert De Vries and History Professors Douglas Howard and Bert de Vries, who specializes in Middle Eastern studies.

Each of the speakers brought a unique perspective to the seminar about the conflict.

“I agree that we don’t have any direct interest in the Balkans, at least as our traditional interests are defined,” said Robert De Vries, referring to the United States. He continued, “In my mind, the main argument is humanitarian–a moral argument.”

He also noted, “Ever since [the] Nuremberg [Trials], the international community has said that war crimes are our business.” This sentiment was generally supported by the other professors.

However, Bert de Vries raised concerns about “the selectiveness of American altruism.” Commenting on the similarities between the situation of Albanians in Kosovo and that of Palestinians in the West Bank, he asked, “Why do certain people not gain eligibility for this altruism?”

“Selective intervention is a good question, especially when it has racist overtones,” said Goi. However, she holds that “the fact that we failed once is not a good reason not to act now.”

Opinions were also divided about the appropriateness and effectiveness of the current bombing campaign. “I do think that the bombings are necessary and justified in this situation,” Goi said.

Robert De Vries supported the bombing to some extent, but qualified his support, “I have some concerns about it. We can’t have the results we hope to have by just fighting a Nintendo war.”

Bert de Vries, on the other hand, was strongly opposed to the bombings. “There is no good outcome, and in the course of this Yugoslavia is being destroyed,” he said.

“I see a bombing without ground troops, which has become America’s favorite way since [the airstrikes on] Iraq, as a kind of cowardice, and a message that we’re only willing to go so far. We’ll rescue people, but only if we don’t put ourselves in the way.”

After speaking for about 20 minutes each, the professors together fielded questions on a number of topics, including the plight of the refugees and the possibility of achieving a multi-ethnic society in the Kosovo province.