Sir: 'Where a vacuum of knowledge exists, a stream of
misinformation is quickly sucked in to fill the void.' This is an accu- rate description of how the complex issues and facts of the Yugoslav conflict have been presented by the media to the British public. It is also the only accurate sentence written by Noel Malcolm in his article.
Everything that comes out of Serbia is propaganda according to Mr Malcolm. If so, why does he use Borba (a Serbian news- paper) as the source to tell us that 'no deal was made' regarding the proposals for a confederal Bosnian state? Was Mr Mal- colm there? Allow me to quote Kate Boban, the Bosnian Croat leader who was there: 'The Cuteliero plan was signed by all three sides in Lisbon in March 1992. Regrettably, Mr Izetbegovic later rescinded his signature.'
Mr Malcolm's piece evidently suffers from some glaring omissions. For instance, he fails to mention that an estimated 60,000 Croatian army regulars have been and still are fighting in Bosnia's 'civil war'. They are not an expeditionary force recently sent from Zagreb. They have been active in western Hercegovina for well over a year and have proclaimed their own de facto part of Croatia, namely 'Hercog-Bosna'.
Mr Malcolm asserts that the 'violence between Bosnian Croats and Muslims . . . is a direct result of the Vance-Owen "peace process"'. This theory reaches extraordi- nary heights of ignorance. The fragile Croat-Muslim military pact started its treacherous collapse in October 1992.
LETTERS
Mr Malcolm epitomises the ignorance amongst British pundits who pose as Balkan 'experts'. If John Major ever thought of creating a Department of Mis- information he need not look too far for the appropriate person to head it. Mr Mal- colm would be an excellent choice.
Neven Lezaic
43 Shepherds Bush Road, London W6
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