British Perspectives

Abstract

Britain played a central role in the international handling of the war of dissolution in Yugoslavia. That role was harshly criticised at different times, from different quarters. Allegations were levelled that British policy was pro-Serbian, that it was a policy of appeasement and a policy of indifference. And yet, whilst British policy was less than glorious, and in the end, a failure, it shared those qualities with other major actors in the international community, as is clearly indicated by other chapters in the present volume. The UK may have stood accused because it played a more significant role in the diplomatic treatment of the crisis than most other states — a role which included the supply of a small secretariat to the European Community (EC) for the duration of the conferences on Yugoslavia, active diplomacy in the United Nations (UN), and the sending of the second largest contingent of troops to operate with UNPROFOR, the UN peace-keeping force in the former Yugoslavia. This reflected its strong commitment to ending the war and its engagement as a major actor on the international stage, as well as its analysis of the various aspects of the situation, within and without the former Yugoslavia.