The former peace envoy of the United Nations in Yugoslavia, Jasuši Akaši, believes that the former leader of Serbia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Slobodan Milošević, was not as evil as he is labeled today.
At a meeting with media representatives from the Balkans, Akaši explained that Milosevic's biggest mistake was the choice of people around him, citing the examples of Milan Martić, whom he described as an "impossible person".
"We agreed on a ceasefire and he tried to cancel that agreement before the ink was dry. But he had a very high opinion of Milosevic".
To the comment of Željko Ivanović from "Vijesti", that Milošević was the one who chose these people and that he chose people like Martić and Ratko Mladić because they are capable of committing the crimes they committed, Akashi replied that it may have been so, but that Milosevic had to deal with it.
Ivanovic said that Milošević's responsibility is enormous and that it cannot be placed only on Radovan Karadžić, Mladić or Martić, and not on Milošević.
Akashi assessed that Slobodan Milošević was in the mood to talk, and that he had his own visions, but also his own illusions.
He recalled the gathering at Gazimestan and the revival of the Kosovo myth, and that Milosevic should have used his intelligence better to help the general situation in the Balkans, that he tried to help the United Nations several times, but that it was too late.
Speaking about Franjo Tuđman, Akaša stated that, unlike Milošević, he surrounded himself with wise people, although he himself was not that great.
Akashi said that the American political system is not as simple as it seems. He recalled the reasons why the USA adopted the Constitution, that the founding fathers did believe that human nature is such that it should be defended against dictators and that is why they created the system of "checks and balances" - division of power.
He said that he does not think that Donald Trump is a dictator, but that he is simply not part of the American political tradition.
Akashi believes that Trump is simply a deviation like Richard Nixon and says that he hopes that the US will restore "equilibrium" and that it will regain a positive influence on peace and prosperity in the world.
Speaking about China, he says that there is a tendency to oversimplify foreign policy and that he does not see that country as evil.
He states that China is more of a cultural power than a military power, even though it has a huge defense budget, and that he hopes that world powers will begin to disarm.
"Yes, China has its advantages and its disadvantages. But China has its own good and intelligent people and they are doing good things by helping Africa," Akashi added.
Akashi said he does not agree with the way China is governed by a single party that has nearly 20 million members in a country of one and a half billion people.
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