Sarajevo cafes stir with intrigue

By Bethany Bell
BBC News, Sarajevo

Pictures of former Yugoslav leader President Tito are still in evidence

In the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, which endured a 44-month siege by Bosnian Serb forces in the early 1990s, people have been coming to terms with news of the arrest of Radovan Karadzic.

At the popular Cafe Tito in central Sarajevo, discussion of the arrest carries on into the night.

The smoke-filled bar is hung with memorabilia to Yugoslavia's former leader. The communist-era bronze busts and framed Life magazine articles about President Josip Broz Tito on the walls, clash stylishly with the cool modern music.

Azra, a 19-year-old student of economics, says the place is a tribute to a multi-ethnic way of life which was all but destroyed during the Bosnian war.

"I like the system of communism and I like Tito, he was a big man," she told me. "The people who come here are totally different from other places - they are so relaxed."

Mixed opinions

The clientele of young students and trendy professionals includes Bosnian Serbs and Muslims. Most people here are relieved at the arrest of Radovan Karadzic - but opinions as to its significance are mixed.

For Goran, a journalist, the arrest is crucial for Bosnia.

"I think that he is an evil man and it is very important to judge him. Justice and the truth are important," he said.

Azra laments the passing of the communist-era way of life in Bosnia

But Azra disagrees.

"I don't think this is really a big deal," she said.

"People lost their family and their friends and this won't bring them back. Now there are elections coming up and maybe this will be a good commercial for our political situation - but nothing more."

She thinks Bosnians have other problems to worry about.

"We have corruption; we don't really have a good police system. I try to be optimistic but no-one is talking about a better future, everyone is just looking back to what happened 10 or 15 years ago."

Anger at lifestyle

Dino, a student of media studies and production, says the arrest is long overdue.

"This is good news. This is very important for people in Srebrenica and in other places where the Serbs did terrible things. But when we talk about people in Sarajevo, I don't think there will be so much change, because I think this is too late - after 13 years and after a war."

But Dino is upset that Mr Karadzic was able to live quietly in Belgrade and walk freely around the city.

"I'm angry. Radovan Karadzic was in Belgrade all the time and worked normally."

Besim says Bosnia must look to its future

When the news of the arrest of Mr Karadzic first broke, there were scenes of celebration on the streets of Sarajevo. But now many people here are more reflective.

In a more sedate cafe up the road, Besim, a professional man in his 40s, sat on a sofa and stared into his drink.

He lived through the siege of Sarajevo during the war.

"Radovan Karadzic made big trouble," he told me. "It is very good that he is caught. We mustn't forget. But what is important now is to think to the future."