Soros's War Orphans
by Fahrudin Djapo , Ljiljan, Sarajevo, Bosnia-Hercegovina, 2/28 1996
Geroge Soros, a Hungarian Jew with American passport, millionaire and financial genius, philanthropist and an advocate of open society is certainly one of the most controversial and interesting persons from this end of the century. His foundation Open Society Institute is present in almost every country in transition. Soros financially supports hospitals, schools, universities, publishers, refugees, autonomous businessmen, However his support of independent media is surely the most transparent part of the arrangement. His Belgrade's magazine Vreme, Sarajevo's Slobodna Bosna, Split's Feral Tribune, Ljubljana's (Sarajevo's) Svijet, Zagreb's Arkzin - are the newspapers with more or less standardized pro-Serbian concept. Their general opinion is that the war in the Balkans was a result of "nationalism" or in the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina "nationalist parties" or "nationalists' leaders". Soros himself does not consider these newspapers to be too influential or powerful. As an example he mentioned Feral which "deals with the most delicate issues, however there is a small number of those ready or willing to listen and accept responsibilities and consequences".
The Only Bosnian Speaks With a Heavy Serbian Accent
The most powerful "fist" of this 60 year old man, who according to his own confessions "wishes to change the World", is Radio Slobodna Europa (Free Europe, program broadcast in South Slavic languages), which has been led by (recently) the former editor of Sarajevo's TV Nenad Pejic.It was first broadcast from Munich and later from Prague (capital of the Czech Republic where Soros's central offices are also located). The program is available to all listeners from Macedonia to Slovenia. A formulation such as a "program in south Slavic languages" should suggest the language openness and representation of all variants as precondition of political independence and objectivity. However on Pejic's radio, Omer Karabeg, only member of editorial office who according to his name and surname is a Bosnian, speaks with such a heavy Serbian accent (note: never Slovenian nor Macedonian languages which are also South Slavic languages) on which even Srbislava Kobilarov, the staff correspondent from Belgrade, could envy him.
The fact that Geroge Soros is interested in the former Yugoslavia is a clear proof that behind his aureole of a genius in one area of his work hides a really naive and dilettante man in the other. If we accept Soros's well-meant intentions to help us surpass the consequences of the Serbian aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, then we cannot but ask ourselves the following question: How come that such a financial wizard who managed to destroy English pound in just one day at the World Stock Market allowed Serbian lobby to deceive him and play with him.
Soros "agrees and confirms that Serbia is the aggressor", which is contrary to the statements of the editor of the radio Free Europe or contrary to the articles written in the independent media. Consciously or unconsciously, multimillionaire George Soros has become the puppet on the string pulled by the quasi democrats Serbs, alleged citizen alternative who work for Vreme or for Prague's editorial office, whose highest point of democracy and objectivity is expressed by the attitude that nationalism is the main reason for the outbreak of war in Yugoslavia. Milosevic and his Nazi regime derive more profit from the independent and open Free Europe program than from TV Serbia, which they hold in their own claws. The Free European reporters from Serbia engage in a foal play. Trying to sound objective and critical, Srbislava Kobilarov, Zoran Mamula, Dragoje Zarkovic, Milica Lucic and others report about dramatic fights in the Parliament between Milosevic and democratic opposition leaders such as Dindic, Seselj, Kosutnica...., in which they criticize Milosevic, executioner from Dedinje, because he has not been more systematic in his genocide against the Bosniaks. We should not forget that they also regularly broadcast socio-economic analysis, "with a critical tone". This should influence the receivers of messages to create a picture of Serbia as dynamic and somewhat undemocratic society, which still does not surpass the limits of parliamentary democracy.
Personal and National Interests Drawn From the Aggression
One of the most indicative examples of the recent democratic changes in Serbian society was the following case: Milosevic closed down and put under government control "independent" radio station Studio B. Soros's Free Europe has decided to protect freedom and independence of the media at once and tried to sympathize with the colleagues from Belgrade. At first sight nothing controversial has happened since all the principles of the democratic state formed the part of the play. To cry and whimper about the recent shut down of the sisterly radio station is completely legitimate. The most important news item on Pejic's radio (what a coincidence) is the one relating to the event when IFOR captured the group of Bosnian terrorists "trained" by three Iranians. Free Europe also broadcast (with great pleasure) the news relating to the quantities of the weapons and explosives in shape of children's toys found at the spot and the conclusion drawn from the case was that the aforementioned group was "under the direct control of the Bosnian Government in Sarajevo".That's it, then! Milosevic is "not a democrat". He threatens independent local station. On the other hand Izetbegovic is the sponsor of "Iranian terrorists". The news are, (what a coincidence again), published again just before the meeting in Rome. (February 16).
The special reporter from the Italian capital, Srdjan Kusovac, added a special tone to it all, stating that there were rumors around the city that Alija Izetbegovic was not willing to leave Sarajevo at the time of the Ramadan. Such statements were considered funny by Kusovac.
Tendency to interpret events around us by some theories of conspiracy leads away from truth. We should not doubt the good intentions of Soros and give negative connotations to his mission without any solid arguments. One should look at things without any bitterness and excess of emotions. Then we should ask ourselves how Serbs managed to enchant and deceive Soros, placing him in the service of their own national and personal profits.
"Bosnia is more important to me than Croatia", says Soros. In spite of the fact that Bosniaks are already sick of conspiracies, there are no reasons to worry about. Critical and open media is not a rare or miraculous thing in Bosnia. It would not hurt Bosnia if the wealthy Soros spent a few bucks on the opening of the new newspapers which would be called "Grude Tribune" or "Slobodne Pale" (Free Pale). There would not be a lack of journalists who would be working for them because as one of his ex employees said: "To work for Soros is easy and there is a pile of money involved."
Translated by: CHC for Human Rights, Zagreb, March 4, 1996
