Balkans: Hungarian Unrest in Serbia

Archives

October 8, 2005: Over the past few months Serbia's Hungarian-ethnic minority has expressed increasing concern over "violent ethnic incidents" in Serbia's Vojvodina province. Vojvodina is home to over 300,000 ethnic Hungarians. On October 3 Hungary's president (during a visit to Serbia) issued a statement about the complaints. Serbia's president agreed to punish "criminal acts." Serbia doesn't want the political embarrassment of either UN or EU-sponsored human rights monitors in Vojvodina. There are many old tensions at work. Vojvodina was part of Hungary. Hungary lost it in World War One. Hungary is also viewed as Croatia's ally (both are "Catholic" while Serbia is "Orthodox".) Hungary, however, is a member of NATO. For Serbia, Hungary also serves a very useful political bridge to the EU. Look for Serbia to crackdown on troublemakers in Vojvodina.

 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contribute. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   contribute   Close