Christian-on-Christian Violence
Many English Christians might not realize that most of the current violence in the Balkans involves Christians fighting other Christians. Various Christian "bands" roam the region, terrorizing villages and forcing them to switch from the Greek Church to the Bulgarian Church or vice versa, often using brutal force. Turkish soldiers occasionally pursue these bands and swiftly deal with them when caught, resulting in more killings.
Deep-Rooted Hatreds
The situation in the Balkans has changed over time. While Christians still harbor hatred towards the Turks, they now hate each other even more. During a visit to a village near Koritza, close to the border of Macedonia and Albania, I asked an innkeeper about his allegiance. He replied, "I find it best to be a Greek," because a Greek band was active in the nearby hills. This highlights the fear and pragmatic decisions villagers make based on which band is currently in power.
The Real Problem
The real issue for those who care about the Balkan people is not just addressing Turkish incompetence but finding a way to stop the civil war raging between rival Christian churches. The atrocities committed by these church factions against each other are as terrible and inhuman as any perpetrated by the Turks. Meanwhile, the Turks watch and laugh, seeing no need to kill Christians when they are so intent on killing each other Tours Bulgaria.
A Confused Kettle of Fish
The Balkans is a confusing and tangled situation. The average person knows it's too complex to fully understand and often wonders why the Great Powers don't just agree to remove the Turks from Europe. However, the Powers cannot agree on this because the real question is: Who will control the Balkans once the Turks are gone?
Interests of the Great Powers
Russia and Austria have their own interests in the region. Russia aims for Constantinople, and Austria covets Salonika. Russia liberated Bulgaria from the Turks, intending to use Bulgaria as a stepping-stone to the Bosphorus. Austria has used Serbia to prepare a route to an Austrian port on the Aegean Sea. Both Russia and Austria were surprised and disappointed when Bulgaria and Serbia, instead of being grateful and compliant, started to assert themselves and dream of expanding their territories without interference from their northern neighbors.
Balkan Ambitions
At the same time, the Greeks began to remember their historical claims to large parts of the Balkan region. Romania, situated on the other side of the Danube, also shocked everyone with its bold claim that the Balkans were really Romanian territory. Each nation in the Balkans began to assert its ambitions, further complicating the situation.
The Balkans remain a complex and volatile region, with deep-rooted hatreds and conflicting ambitions among various Christian factions and neighboring powers. The challenge is not just to remove Turkish rule but to manage the intense rivalries and civil strife among the Balkan peoples themselves. Only by addressing these internal conflicts can there be hope for lasting peace and stability in the region.
No comments:
Post a Comment