Former Balkans Adviser Sees Problems for Serbia

Hans Koschnik, a former German mayor, spent a large amount of time in the 1990s getting to know the political problems of the Balkans. He served as the German government's special adviser on Bosnia-Herzegovina and as the European Union's administrator for Mostar, the ethnically tense Bosnian town that remains divided between Bosnian Croats and Muslims. In an interview with DW-WORLD, Koschnik (photo) talks about Wednesday's assassination of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic and the future of the country.

How dangerous is the power vacuum created by Djindjic's death?

Because he was not the leader of a large mainstream party but the head of an alliance that he could steer without problem ... it is very hard to say whether there is a successor with whom the various leaders of the different groups could work as they did with him. If that does not happen, the times will be difficult for Serbia.

Don't you think that the democratic forces will come together, especially because elections are scheduled for next year or may even be moved up?

I don't know what these forces will decide. They have to meet first and examine the question, and those of us sitting on the sidelines cannot give them any suggestions. We can only let them know that a Serbia that distances itself from Europe again will not have the same chances for the development aid that we would like to give as a Serbia, with its pivotal position in the Balkans, would have if it moved closer to Europe.

You also have talked about nationalistic forces that eventually could profit from the death. How dangerous is this game with nationalistic fire for Bosnia or for Kosovo?

Right now, I don't see any danger for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Particularly because the international peacekeeping force is there. But Kosovo is a very major problem. After the international community stopped the persecution and killing, the United Nations and NATO have been unable to promote a peaceful coexistence among the various ethnic groups.

What can the European Union do to help Serbia?

I think it cannot pull out. We cannot leave Serbia alone to deal with its economic crisis. On the other hand, the Europeans will have a devil of a time if we have to financially help a country that does not want to work with Europe. But that is an issue for Serbia to decide. An outsider cannot do this with money or kind words.