Byzantine Blog

Gentleman Liar

“A diplomat is an honest gentleman, sent abroad to lie for his country,” said British diplomat and politician Sir Harold Nicolson a while back.

The adage should be taken as a jest, since Nicolson in his books - which serve as textbooks for diplomats around the world - explained the importance of a radically opposite attitude: that the key for all negotiations is honesty and readiness of the participants to respect and understand the interests of the other side.

Nicolson's counsel became the guide for consciences diplomats anywhere, representing the set of rules which are supposed to be applied today as well. Diplomacy has to be unburdened with the “crusaders' spirit,” and a diplomat must be willing to examine each problem not only from the personal point of view, but also from the opponent's perspective. A professional diplomat should never allow himself to get stuck in a situation from which he cannot escape without dishonor or without an overwhelming risk. A good diplomat has to know that armed forces are only a tool, not the master of foreign policy. Finally, the government is expected to model the public opinion, rather then being enslaved by it. Nothing is as traumatising for a diplomat as the clash of the above mentioned tenets with the reality.

Rohan's Hate

Albert Rohan, a deputy of the UN Secretary General's special envoy for Kosovo status negotiations, has revealed in an interview for Serbian daily Politika, published on June 21, 2006, just how far the practice is removed from the theory.

Rohan claims that “the whole thing started when Kosovo was stripped of the autonomy and with repression over Kosovo people” (1991). He is convinced there are politicians in Serbia who will sign off 15 percent of their state's territory and accept Kosovo independence. As far as the history goes, he “prefers not to mention the role Serbia played in a First World War.”

Informing me that “a woman can't be a little pregnant - she either is or isn't,” Rohan was enthusiastically explaining why independent Kosovo can't exist within Serbian borders. He counts on Serbian leader's “reason,” since “there comes a moment in history when the territories are lost.” Rohan fervently equates Milosevic's Serbia with Nazi Germany, reminding us that Germans had to pay for Hitler's crimes, even if he was few feet below the ground, “so what if Milosevic is at the same place.”

Albanian Advocate

If Albert Rohan knew anything about Serbian history, he wouldn't easily launch into claims that problems in Serbian province of Kosovo have started yesterday. If he possessed the skills of a mediocre negotiator he would know when is the time to put on the “opponent's shoes,” as recommended in the diplomat's handbook. He would be capable of making distinction between blackmail and compromise, and wouldn't turn into a fiery advocate for the fulfillment of Kosovo Albanians' dream. If Rohan believed that government models the public opinion, he would not burden the Serbian government with demands to destroy the last trace of sovereignty of their nation, he would expect the Pristina side to explain to Kosovo Albanians the simplest of all things -- where are the borders.

If Rohan supported the idea that armed forces are not policy makers, he would use his diplomatic skills and the power of the organization he represents to end the threats of violence from armed Kosovo Albanians in the Serbian province. If he was able to renounce the crusader's spirit his “mediation” is drenched in, and if he was dedicated to upholding the international law, he would respect the fact that, apart from secession, there is an option of self-determination that doesn't jeopardize the integrity of the state.

Peace or Punitive Mission

The way it is, the Austrian diplomat nurturing the retaliatory attitude that suggests a punitive, rather then a peace mission, is a model character from Nicolson's jest.

The diplomacy in Rohan's book selectively accepts the wisdom of the Native Americans that “wearing the other man's shoes means carrying his burden.” Rohan addresses the Kosovo and Metochia issue as if he wears Albanian shoes only, under the guise of an international mediator between Belgrade and Pristina.

The most shocking part is that not a single representative of Serbian government has protested the fact Annan's envoy openly supports one side in the negotiations, while showing cynical contempt for the other.

Serbian Silence

Austrian embassy in Belgrade probably expected protests of the Serbian government when it asked for a stenogram of my conversation with Rohan. I explained that journalists do not work for ambassadors and that all they can get is an interview published the day before in Politika. However, the anxiety of Austrian embassy due to undiplomatic blabber of Albert Rohan was needless. The official Serbia was deaf to Rohan's controversial statements.

While Serbia has to cooperate with the international community, it is not required to silently put up with caprices of biased mediators. Such passivity of the government representatives could be perilous, since the international circles can interpret it as a “silent admission.” The politician who turns mute when he should refute the lies isn't displaying a diplomatic wisdom, but working against the interests of the nation he represents.

From the article by Svetlana Vasović-Mekina, reporter of Politika;
Cartoon by T. Borković