Have the Balkans been forgotten?

The announcement that ex-Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic trial date has been set for February next year has reminded people about the still unresolved situation in the Balkans.

The "war on terrorism" has pushed many other world conflicts off the news agenda as Osama Bin Laden has become the most wanted man on the planet.

Yet, few people now reflect on the fact that Radovan Karadzic is still at large and impeding the peace process in Bosnia and that the economy of the entire region is still in tatters.

Have the Balkans been forgotten about? When the world turns its attention to another conflict, what happens to other unresolved matters around the globe?

This Talking Point was suggested by Peter from the Netherlands. To have your say, Click here.

This debate is now closed. A selection of your comments are posted below.

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Once again we are letting these people down

Martin Banks, UK

We let atrocities carry on in the Balkans and were so slow to react. Once again we are letting these people down. We only seem to act when we have a financial gain. Being in charge of the world carries a moral responsibility which we fail to meet.
Martin Banks, UK

In the wake of the tragic events of September 11 the best course of action for the West would be to re-examine its policy towards the Albanian "freedom fighters". Some time ago Osama Bin Laden also used to be a "freedom fighter", but today he is the West's enemy #1.
Alam, USA

If Milosevic is in a "world court" for war crimes, why don't we see Kissinger, Reagan and Bush Sr there too? Whatever Milosevic may have committed, it certainly is at a child's level compared to the ruthlessness committed around the world by the above mentioned.
Slavko, USA

Nato leaders and Tony Blair in particular have recently used NATO's war against Yugoslavia as an example of how waging war on recalcitrant regimes governing rogue countries produces desired results in bringing democracy and freedom to oppressed people. However, while it is true that a more democratic government is in power in Belgrade and Milosevic is in prison the funds for rebuilding Yugoslavia's shattered economy which were originally promised to the people of Yugoslavia as a dividend for rising up against Milosevic's regime have largely been forgotten.

The everyday lot of ordinary people has become worse over the past year and their situation is likely to get even harder over the coming year as economic restructuring kicks in. If the Western governments fail to provide proper support for the Yugoslav economy then the current transitional government will fail and the people of Yugoslavia will be left desperate and without hope once again. The more the West is preoccupied with other issues the more it seems likely that Yugoslavia will fail and may drag the Balkans down with it. When this happens will Mr Blair still consider the war against Yugoslavia a success?
Mark, Australia

The world never did wake up to the Balkans war

Sobia, Oxford, UK

Forgot? The world never did wake up to the Balkans war and this is why it went on for so long, and why the likes of Milosevic were able to carry out ethnic cleansing on a mass scale. He got away with it then and he'll get away lightly now which is why he can ridicule the trial.
Sobia, Oxford, UK

The Balkans have been forgotten because Serbia/new F.R. of Yugoslavia is finally now our ally. But don't worry: it won't be long before another "freedom fighter" group demands and starts fighting for greater autonomy. Plus, the so-called democratic election in Kosovo is approaching; Montenegro may opt out for independence, and Macedonia's new constitutional order will surely fail after a couple of months. It's certain that journalists focusing on the region won't be out a job yet!
Veronika Busch, Germany/Canada

In February one of the most evil men on earth is being put on trial in front of a world court and jury to face his crimes against humanity. We have not forgotten what he has done. In fact with each passing day we learn more about his horrific deeds. If it seems we have become complacent about current events in the Balkans it is because the media has turned its attention to yet another evil that threatens the morality of the human race. Fortunately mankind does not forget these horrors. These are the same evils we fought against in WWII. We can never forget that it is among us. Always has been and always will be. But we can never turn our backs to it. The Trial goes on and so does our struggle of good against evil.
Randall Bray, USA

No one who has experienced Nato's 78-day terror-bombing of Yugoslavia will ever forget it. To speak about "media freedom" for years and then pulverise the RT Serbia TV station in Belgrade and then claim it as an OK operation, as Tony Blair has done, is something I remember every time I turn on the Natomedia (CNN, BBC, ZDF, SKY, etc)
Dejan, Germany

Without trying to undermine the number of victims in the terrorist attacks in USA on 11th of Sep. Please do remember that during the conflict in Kosovo at least tenfold of that number of people have died. Now, if you can put that in perspective with the population of Kosovo (2 million). Now, it is clear the scale of a terrorist atrocities committed by Milosevic, Kradjic, Mladic, et al and their numerous and still free roaming thugs.
I. Rugova, Kosovo

The so-called Hague trial against Milosevic is a mockery of justice

Samuel T, Ethiopia

The so-called Hague trial against Milosevic is a mockery of justice. It is victors' justice. There is no such thing as "world court". More over, Milosevic was a head of state with all the immunity intact. Let me ask fair questions: Why only Milosevic? How about the US ex-presidents for their crime in Vietnam?
Samuel T, Ethiopia

Of course the Balkans have been forgotten. The interventions of the western powers in this region have for centuries been exclusively focused on their own long and short term strategic military and economic interests.
Ognjen, UK

Krajina will never be forgotten by the Serbs who were born there, and who were ethnically cleansed by Croats assisted by NATO air raids. The Serbs who had lived there for centuries are still not permitted to return - until such time, we should not allow anyone else to forget about Krajina either.
Olga Desnica, UK

The terrorism attacks in the States one more prove how wrong were the decisions of allying with terrorists in the Balkans, by the Clinton administration.
George, Cyprus

The western world leaders have forgotten the Balkan criminals, no doubt about it

Peter, Finland

This totally depends on the point of view. Mostly the western world leaders have forgotten the Balkan criminals, no doubt about it. But there are the people whose mission is to capture these villains, and I am sure they have not forgotten their primary objective. The International Court doesn't have any interest at the moment towards the Muslim terrorists, but mostly at the Balkan people. I would see that the criminal investigations around the world are only somewhat affected by the new developments.
Peter, Finland

Sad but true: Out of sight, out of mind. The media focuses too much on headlines and is not informative enough on all global topics. After September 11 the media has only focused on one cause.
Sharon B, UK