October 25th 1991, goodbye to friends, goodbye to enemies

[Betonov]

The last entry into my ''20 years since independence'' series.

By this time Yugoslavia allready fell apart. Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia were independent states. The forces that ripped her apart were plotting a war of conquest. Slobodan Milosevich, the president of Yugoslavia, which was then the size of modern Serbia+Kosovo+Montenegro had dreams of a greater Serbia. A new Balkan power encompassing all Serbian ethnic groups. But the problem was those groups were part of Croatia and Bosnia. And the only way to take them was by force and a large amount of soldiers and equipement was still in Slovenia. The Brion declaration was only a cease fire, not an official peace treaty. A withdrawal of forces was authorised and Slovenia was more than willing to get them out of the country.

Convoys began rolling to our only port of Koper as early as the 22nd and a transport fleet was allready docked, including Tito's personal yacht, the Galeb (Seagull)




the Galeb





The police and the army were on high alert and very nervous. Leaders feared it was al a ruse. But as days went by and less and less soldiers were still in the country, the atmosphere started to become optimistic. They were really leaving. Plus to an educated observant, the events in Croatia and Bosnia were a grimm confirmation, that the soldiers are leaving for good.

On the night of 25/26th October, the last of the JNA troops were loaded unto Venus, a ferry rented from Cyprus, and when the engines started the last act of the fight for independence was concluded.

[Sailor Steve]

Nice history lesson. Thanks for taking the time to put all these up.

[Karle94]

26th December this year is also the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Soviet Union.

[Betonov]

And today is also the birthday of a hot redhead

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Betonov

And today is also the birthday of a hot redhead

Of course it is. Thanks for coming into someone else's thread and rui...waitaminute...

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[Betonov]

She's also 20 years and the suprise on her face when I started to great her: my dear, you are a symbol of Slovenian independence....

[kranz]

Originally Posted by Betonov

She's also 20 years and the suprise on her face when I started to great her: my dear, you are a symbol of Slovenian independence....

for what you got a slap in the...
what do you think, wasn't united Yugoslavia a better place?

[Betonov]

Originally Posted by kranz

for what you got a slap in the...

Ne, she found it funny, I must have lost weight

what do you think, wasn't united Yugoslavia a better place?

There's a discussion that would require a separate thread, it's complicated.

The thing that makes it complicated, that SFRJ (Socialist Federative Republics of Yugoslavia, aka united Yugoslavia) was a paradise for my parents and grandparents. Industry was the showcase of the economy, workers had more rights than today, things were actually being built back then, vacation was cheap and you were welcome everywhere and no-one had to work overtime.
That communist opression that westerners were so keen (and still are) on throwing in our faces was present, but minimal. For burning a flag you got a fine, you went to jail for actuall attacks on officials, spitting on the goverment gave you a black eye, nothing more severe.

But that's the SFRJ of yesterday. An economc powerhouse funded by herself. Companies that wouldn't last a year in market economy were funded by the goverment so they wouldn't tank. And that made the entire economy non-flexible, something that made this recesion even worse. And made SFRJ extremly in debt. That bubble would burst today and I fear the effects would have been 100 times worse than there are today for an independent Slovenia

So, life was better back then than now, but I believe life would have been worse today

[kranz]

Originally Posted by Betonov

The thing that makes it complicated, that SFRJ (Socialist Federative Republics of Yugoslavia, aka united Yugoslavia) was a paradise for my parents and grandparents. Industry was the showcase of the economy, workers had more rights than today, things were actually being built back then, vacation was cheap and you were welcome everywhere and no-one had to work overtime.
That communist opression that westerners were so keen (and still are) on throwing in our faces was present, but minimal. For burning a flag you got a fine, you went to jail for actuall attacks on officials, spitting on the goverment gave you a black eye, nothing more severe.

So, life was better back then than now, but I believe life would have been worse today

almost exactly as in Poland. Life wasn't better, it was just easier. (job, prospects for future).

[Jimbuna]

A good informative post Betonov

[Betonov]

Originally Posted by kranz

Life wasn't better, it was just easier. (job, prospects for future).

That's the standard reply I'll use against nostalgia dreamers, thanks

[Penguin]

Thanks for the interesting update, Betonov, didn't expect one more part in the series.

No thanks for the talk about the symbol-of-slovenian-independence-redhead!
I just wanted to write to tell her from me, how I always supported the Slovenian people and their fight for freedom and blabla - then I thought about how I was 20 years ago and that I could be her father. Now I feel like a creepy, pervert geezer, thanks for reminding me that I am an old fart...

[Betonov]

Penguin, let me reply you tommorow, I'm really to sleepy to digest your post