The revolution in Croatia which was fundamentally prevented, the talks on the partition of Bosnia, and the conspiracy to overthrow Ante Markovic, the last prime minister of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY)-it is only a part of the political and diplomatic balance of the state and military residence Karadjordjevo, hidden in the forests of Vojvodina.
There are few villas in the history of the Balkans whose walls remember several state meetings that carried the veil of secrecy decades later.
”Karadjordjevo became important because Josip Broz Tito hunted there and welcomed politicians and diplomats, but also stopped the Croatian Spring in1971,” said Josip Glaurdic, director of the Institute of Political Science at the University of Luxembourg.
”The fascination of Balkan politicians with Tito is also interesting. Later, many chose Karadjordjevo for important and tricky agreements, in order to imitate him a little,” Glaurdic added.
One of those agreements was a one-on-one conversation that is still talked about today – a meeting between Slobodan Milosevic, President of Serbia, and Franjo Tudjman, Croatia’s first man on March 25th, 1991.
The main topic was the division of Bosnia, just before the breakup of the SFRY and the wars that followed. The villa, which is now run by the military guard, was also chosen by politicians “because of the specific spirit of secrecy that the building exudes,” stated Petar Boskovic, a military analyst.
”Karadjordjevo has that museum note,” added Boskovic, who visited the building several times during his engagement in the Serbian Army, even though the military complex is closed to the public.
”Retro, but perfectly new”
”Retro and antique, but perfectly preserved and looks as new. There are thick carpets and antique bedding, halls with a handful of art paintings and numerous paths for a long walk,” this is how Boskovic described the furniture design and style in which Karadjordjevo is decorated.
The villa also has a swimming pool, massage rooms, and the rarities are two “Zastava 750” vehicles from 1978, specially adapted for the residence.
Good things happened in place of bad ones
Although he was not among the guests in Karadjordjevo in 1991, Stjepan Mesic entered the villa in Vojvodina – but 15 years later.
As President of Croatia, he attended the Summit of Southeast European Countries, organized by his counterpart Boris Tadic, then President of Serbia, to fight organized crime and terrorism.
”Tadic organized a gathering on the future of Bosnia at the site where the partition of Bosnia was being agreed upon. He probably wanted to draw a parallel – to agree on something positive at the place where bad things happened,” concluded Glaurdic.
E.Dz.
Source: Avaz
