Regarding John F. Argoudelis’ letter titled “Bias against Serbs” (Voice, May 6):
First, it is refreshing to find a fellow Napervillian who is also interested in Balkan affairs. Also, I agree with Mr. Argoudelis that there needs to be more in-depth reporting on the situation in the Balkans. We need news stories that don’t generalize the sides of the conflict into “good” and “bad.” I appreciate his take on the Serbian situation, but I think he needs to re-examine some of his facts.
For one, Slobodan Milosevic is not the greatest leader the Serbian people have ever had. His decision to suspend autonomy for Kosovo in 1989 was stupid. It is because of this suspension that the Albanians of this region have taken up arms.
It is true that arms have now begun to cross the border from Albania, but this occurred after the suspension of autonomy. The recent problems in Kosovo are primarily a creation of Milosevic and his regime. If the Serbs wish to be represented more favorably in the Western press, then their first step should be to dump Milosevic.
Furthermore, I think recent media attacks on the Serbs are not part of a continual pattern of disdain that can be traced back to the Crusades. In modern times, Western opinion of Serbia has been favorable.
In World War I, for example, the Western Allies saw Serbia as a valued ally and even opened a front in Greece to relieve pressure on the Serbs. And in World War II, Britain and later the U.S. supplied Serbian partisans with arms for their fight against the Croatian Ustashe.
I believe the Western press is not calling for the sacking of Belgrade by NATO a la Constantinople by the crusaders. What they are calling for is the Milosevic regime to stop oppressing all ethnic minorities, whether they be Catholic, Orthodox or Muslim.
