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Soviet Union | Yugoslavia |
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Soviet Union | Yugoslavia |
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Soviet Union–Yugoslavia relations (Russian : Советско-югославские отношения; Serbo-Croatian : Odnosi Sovjetskog Saveza i Jugoslavije, Односи Совјетског Савеза и Југославије; Slovene : Odnosi med Sovjetsko zvezo in Jugoslavijo; Macedonian : Односите Советски Сојуз-Југославија) were historical foreign relations between Soviet Union and Yugoslavia (both Kingdom of Yugoslavia 1918–1941 and Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 1945–1992). Both states became defunct with the dissolution of the Soviet Union between 1988 and 1991 and the breakup of Yugoslavia between 1991 and 1992. Relations between the two countries developed very ambiguously. Until 1940 they were openly hostile, in 1948 they deteriorated again and in 1949 were completely broken. In 1953–1955 period, bilateral relations were restored with the signing of Belgrade declaration, but until the collapse of Yugoslavia they remained very restrained. Relations with Soviet Union were of high priority for Belgrade as those relations or their absence helped the country to develop the principle of Cold War equal-distance on which the Yugoslav non-alignment policy was based. [1]
While geographically not close, two countries were both predominantly Slavic with significant shared Eastern Orthodox Christian traditions which were particularly reflected in historical pre-World War I relations between Russian Empire with Principality of Serbia and Principality of Montenegro. Significant historical, cultural and political links were nevertheless not reflected in close bilateral relations with tensions and strategic divisions continuing almost throughout the existence of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union. It was not until June 1940 that the Kingdom of Yugoslavia formally recognised the USSR and established diplomatic relations, [2] one of the last European countries to do so. [3]
In the 1960s and 1980s, the trade between the two countries was significant and grew up until 1985. The USSR became a major consumer of Yugoslav cultural products with publication of translations of books by Yugoslav writers, and presentation of Yugoslav movies.
While in the case of Soviet Union Russian Federation was internationally recognized as a sole successor state there was shared succession in Yugoslav case with five sovereign equal successor states which were formed upon the dissolution of the federation. [4] [5] Serbia and the Russian Federation nevertheless recognize the continuity of all inter-State documents signed between the two countries since 1940. Croatia, using the principle and legislative procedure for of state succession, formally recognizes some of the old agreements such as 1955 Agreement on Scientific and Technical Cooperation, 1974 Agreement on Cultural, Scientific and Educational Cooperation or 1988 Agreement on Higher Education Qualifications Recognition. [6]
Common name | Soviet Union | Yugoslavia |
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Official name | Union of Soviet Socialist Republics | Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia |
Coat of arms | ||
Flag | ||
Capital | Moscow | Belgrade |
Largest city | Moscow | Belgrade |
Population | 287,970,155 | 23,229,846 |
Government | Unitary Marxist–Leninist one-party socialist republic | Socialist republic |
Official languages | Russian | No official language Serbo-Croatian (de facto state-wide) Slovene (in Slovenia) and Macedonian (in Macedonia) |
First leader | Vladimir Lenin | Joseph Broz Tito |
Last leader | Mikhail Gorbachev | Milan Pančevski |
Religion | Secular state (de jure), state atheism (de facto) | Secular state (de jure), state atheism (de facto) |
Alliances | Warsaw Pact, Comecon | Non-Aligned Movement |
After the Russian Civil War ended in 1922 in a Bolshevik victory, relations between the interwar Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union remained frosty. Since 1920, the government of the Kingdom of SHS welcomed tens of thousands of anti-Bolshevik Russian refugees, [3] mainly those who fled after the final defeat of the Russian Army under General Pyotr Wrangel in Crimea in November 1920, explaining its hospitality by presenting it as paying back the debt Serbia owed Russia for the latter's intervention on the side of Serbia at the outbreak of WWI. [7] The Kingdom of SHS became home for 40.000 exiles from the Russian Empire. [8] In 1921, at the invitation of the Serbian Patriarch Dimitrije, the leadership of the Russian Church in exile moved from Constantinople to Serbia and in September 1922 in Karlovci (until 1920, the seat of the abolished Patriarchate of Karlovci) established a de facto independent ecclesiastical administration that a few years later was instituted as the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR).
Following military success by Yugoslav Partisans the new authorities in the country wanted to gain international recognition by the Soviet Union, United Kingdom and the United States in opposition to the Yugoslav government in exile. [9] Moscow and London were well informed about the events during the World War II in Yugoslavia already in fall of 1941. [10] Ahead of the Moscow Conference in October 1943 Tito informed Soviet authorities that his movement does not recognize the Government in exile and that they will prevent the King of Yugoslavia in any effort to return to the country as it may initiate a civil war. [11] Moscow was restrained and reserved in its support to Yugoslav Partisans in fear that it may antagonize western allies. [12] Soviets were therefore irritated by radicalism of the Second Session of the Anti-Fascist Council for the National Liberation of Yugoslavia which was organized without any prior consultations with the Soviet Union. [12] The Soviet military also assisted by sending arm shipments to the Yugoslav partisans mainly guns and submachine pieces. Soviet military mission to Yugoslav Partisans arrived in February 1944, at the time when there already was already British mission since February 1942. [9] Tito left the island of Vis on 19 September 1944 and on 21 September he met with Stalin in Moscow. [13] With support in logistics and air power from the Western Allies, and Soviet ground troops in the final stage of the war during the Belgrade offensive, the Partisans eventually gained control of the entire country and of the border regions of Trieste and Carinthia. While Soviet support at the final stage of war was significant, particularly in the northeast of the country (Vojvodina, Slavonia, Belgrade), Yugoslav communists, unlike most Eastern European communists, did not base their victory primarily upon the Red Army offensive. [14] The Soviet Union agreed not to treat northern liberated parts of Yugoslavia as occupied territories (like the rest of the territories in Europe) and that the daily life will be organized by the local civil administration. [15] During the six months of the Red Army's presence in Yugoslavia civil authorities received reports on 1219 rape cases, 359 rape attempts, 111 murder, 248 attempts to murder and 1204 robberies with injured individuals. [16] Tito expressed his anger with such developments and with efforts to recruit Yugoslav soldiers and police officers into Soviet secret services. [17] During the meeting with Andrija Hebrang in January 1945 Stalin referred to reports of inappropriate behavior, but underlined that those were isolated cases. [17] Later that year, during the new meeting between Stalin and Tito, Yugoslav leader once again complained about rape cases in Belgrade which left Soviet leader without a word. [17]
Socialist Yugoslavia (declared on 29 November 1945) was recognized by the USSR on December 19 of the same year. In November 1945 President of Yugoslavia Josip Broz Tito gave an interview to the Times in which he underlined that "Yugoslav people have warm and profound sympathy, friendship and brotherhood with the peoples of Soviet Union. But there is nothing exclusive about it." stressing country's intention to maintain independence. [18] From 1945 until 1948 Yugoslavia signed treaties of friendship and mutual assistance with almost all East European states. [18] Yugoslavia and Soviet Union signed their Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation on April 11, 1945, in Moscow. [14] Cominform was initially located in Belgrade.
In the first two years following the war, relations between FPRY and the Soviet leadership, which during that period sought to accommodate the USSR's Western allies demands in Europe, were not entirely free of disagreements on a number of issues, such as Yugoslavia's territorial claims to Italy's Free Territory of Trieste and the part of Austria's Carinthia populated by Carinthian Slovenes, Tito's efforts to play a leading role in the entire Balkans region, as well as over Stalin's reluctance to decisively support the Greek Communists in the Greek Civil War, who were actively supported by Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, and Albania. [19] [20] Drastic deterioration in relations occurred in early 1948. The assumption in Moscow was that once it was known that he had lost Soviet approval, Tito would collapse. The expulsion effectively banished Yugoslavia from the international association of socialist states, while other socialist states of Eastern Europe subsequently underwent purges of alleged "Titoists". Faced with East Bloc economic embargo and the possibility of a military attack Yugoslavia sought assistance from the West, mainly the United States. [21] Stalin took the matter personally and attempted, unsuccessfully, to assassinate Tito on several occasions. Tito's successful resistance to Stalin in 1948 increased his popularity both in Yugoslavia and around the world and defined future Soviet–Yugoslavia relations. [22] With deterioration of relations Yugoslav representation at the United Nations even accused the Soviet Union of having started the Korean War. [23]
Yugoslav–Soviet normalization following Stalin’s death was influenced by the process of De-Stalinization, creation of the Non-Aligned Movement and was symbolized in an exchange of letters in March 1955 when Tito and Khrushchev agreed to meet in Belgrade. [21]
Socialist self-management, while never formally adopted by any East Bloc state, was a popular idea in Polish People's Republic, Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and Hungarian People's Republic. [24]
President of Yugoslavia Tito even attended the 1967 Conference of the Warsaw Pact (the only time the President of Yugoslavia was present) in an effort to convince Eastern Bloc countries to support Yugoslav Non-Aligned ally Egypt in Six-Day War while Yugoslavia also permitted member states to use its airspace to deliver military aid. [25]
The new period of antagonism was initiated in 1968 with the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia. [26] Contrary to Yugoslav verbal support to Soviet intervention in Hungary in 1956, Yugoslavia strongly condemned the invasion of Czechoslovakia which was perceived as a particularly close country. On 12 July 1968 President of Yugoslavia Josip Broz Tito gave an interview to Egyptian daily Al-Ahram where he stated that he believes that Soviet leaders are not "such short-sighted people [...] who would pursue a policy of force to resolve the internal affairs of Czechoslovakia". [27] President Tito visited Prague on 9 and 10 August 1968, just days before the intervention while large group of 250,000 demonstrators gathered in Belgrade once the intervention started. [27] Yugoslavia provided refuge for numerous Czechoslovak citizens (many on holidays) and politicians including Ota Šik, Jiří Hájek, František Vlasak and Štefan Gašparik. [27] During and after the invasion thousands of citizens of Czechoslovakia used Yugoslavia as the most important paths of emigration to the Western countries. [28]
Relations improved once again following the 24th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1971 with the Soviet new international policy strategy towards the United States and the Non-aligned movement and Yugoslavia’s positive attitude towards Soviet policy of deescalation and cooperation with the West. [1] On 5 June 1972 Josip Broz Tito received the Order of Lenin, the highest national order of the Soviet Union.
Yugoslav diplomacy was once again alarmed by the 1979 Soviet intervention in Afghanistan, which similarly to Yugoslavia was at the time a non-aligned and socialist country outside of the Warsaw Pact. [29] Yugoslavia officially condemned Soviet intervention and expressed "astonishment" and "deep concern" about developments in Afghanistan. [30] The intervention happened when President of Yugoslavia Josip Broz Tito health situation deteriorated with perception that Moscow is waiting for Tito to die in order to renew its pressure on Belgrade. [29]
Josip Broz, commonly known as Tito, was a Yugoslav communist revolutionary and politician who served in various positions of national leadership from 1943 until his death in 1980. During World War II, he led the Yugoslav Partisans, often regarded as the most effective resistance movement in German-occupied Europe. Following Yugoslavia's liberation in 1944, he served as its prime minister from 2 November 1944 to 29 June 1963 and president from 14 January 1953 until his death in 1980. The political ideology and policies promulgated by Tito are known as Titoism.
Titoism is a socialist political philosophy most closely associated with Josip Broz Tito during the Cold War. It is characterized by a broad Yugoslav identity, socialist workers' self-management, a political separation from the Soviet Union, and leadership in the Non-Aligned Movement.
The Belgrade declaration is a document signed by President of Yugoslavia Josip Broz Tito and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev on 2 June 1955 that brought about a short reconciliation between the two states. Negotiations leading up to the signing of the document took place between 27 May and 2 June.
The Tito–Stalin split or the Soviet–Yugoslav split was the culmination of a conflict between the political leaderships of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union, under Josip Broz Tito and Joseph Stalin, respectively, in the years following World War II. Although presented by both sides as an ideological dispute, the conflict was as much the product of a geopolitical struggle in the Balkans that also involved Albania, Bulgaria, and the communist insurgency in Greece, which Tito's Yugoslavia supported and the Soviet Union secretly opposed.
Russia–Serbia relations are the bilateral foreign relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Serbia. The countries established official diplomatic relations as the Russian Empire and Principality of Serbia in 1816. Russia has an honorary consulate and embassy in Belgrade, and a liaison office to UNMIK, the capital of the disputed territory of Kosovo. Serbia has an embassy in Moscow, an honorary consulate in St. Petersburg and has announced to open a consulate-general in Yekaterinburg.
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement, an international groupation established to maintain independence of countries beyond Eastern and Western Bloc from the major Cold War powers. Belgrade, the capital of Yugoslavia, hosted the First Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in September 1961 and the Ninth Summit in September 1989.
Czechoslovakia–Yugoslavia relations were historical foreign relations between Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia, both of which are now-defunct states. Czechoslovakia and the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes were both created as union states of smaller Slavic ethnic groups. Both were created after the dissolution of Austria-Hungary, itself a multinational empire unable to appease its Slavic populations or implement a trialist reform in its final years.
Yugoslavia–Zimbabwe relations were historical foreign relations between now split-up Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Zimbabwe. Relations between Yugoslavia and Zimbabwe independence movement started before the 1980 independence and were marked by participation of both sides in activities of the Non-Aligned Movement. The formal diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1980.
Afghanistan–Yugoslavia relations were historical foreign relations between Afghanistan and now split-up Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Both countries were founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement. Afghan Prime Minister Daoud Khan represented the Kingdom of Afghanistan at the 1961 First Conference of Heads of State or Government of the Non-Aligned Movement in Belgrade.
Poland–Yugoslavia relations were historical foreign relations between Poland and now broken up Yugoslavia.
Egypt–Yugoslavia relations were historical foreign relations between Egypt and now break-up Yugoslavia. Both countries were founding members and prominent participants of the Non-Aligned Movement. While initially marginal, relations between the two Mediterranean countries developed significantly in the aftermath of the Soviet-Yugoslav split of 1948 and the Egyptian revolution of 1952. Belgrade hosted the Non-Aligned movement's first conference for which preparatory meeting took place in Cairo, while Cairo hosted the second conference. While critical of certain aspects of the Camp David Accords Yugoslavia remained major advocate for Egyptian realist approach within the movement, and strongly opposed harsh criticism of Cairo or proposals which questioned country's place within the movement.
Ethiopia–Yugoslavia relations were historical foreign relations between Ethiopia and now split-up Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Both countries were among founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement. The first contacts between the two countries were established at the United Nations in 1947 where Yugoslavia supported Ethiopian claims on Eritrea while Ethiopia supported Yugoslav claims over the Free Territory of Trieste. After the 1948, Tito-Stalin split Yugoslavia turned towards the non-bloc countries and two countries opened their embassies in 1955. The formal diplomatic relations were established already in 1952. Emperor Haile Selassie was the first African head of state in official visit to Yugoslavia in 1954.
Norway–Yugoslavia relations were historical foreign relations between Norway and now split-up Yugoslavia.
United States–Yugoslavia relations were the historical foreign relations of the United States with both Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1918–1941) and Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1945–1992). During the existence of the SFRY, relations oscillated from mutual ignorance, antagonism to close cooperation, and significant direct American engagement. The United States was represented in Yugoslavia by its embassy in Belgrade and consulate general in Zagreb.
Romania–Yugoslavia relations were historical foreign relations between Romania and now broken up Yugoslavia. Relations between Romania and independent South Slavic states developed before creation of Yugoslavia and union of Transylvania with Romania and those relations played prominent role during the Second Balkan War. Relations between the two states were generally friendly and were only occasionally affected by wider alliance policies.
Libya–Yugoslavia relations were historical foreign relations between Libya and now split-up Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Two countries established formal diplomatic relations in 1955.
China–Yugoslavia relations were historical foreign relations between China and now split-up Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. For a long period during the Cold War China was critical towards perceived excessive liberalism, too close cooperation with Western Bloc or market socialism of Yugoslavia, therefore the Chinese communists accused the Yugoslav communists of being revisionists, while the Yugoslav communists accused the Chinese communists of being dogmatics. But, the good relations between both socialist states were restored at the end of the 1960s, and improved even more since the Sino-Albanian rupture occurred, with the trend of improved relations continuing in relations with successor states, particularly Serbia. In the 1980s Deng Xiaoping's foreign policy resembled Yugoslavia's stance of being non-aligned and non-confrontational and with Hu Yaobang’s 1983 appraisal of ‘Josip Tito's principles of independence and equality among all communist parties, and of opposing imperialism, colonialism, and hegemonism’. All six former Yugoslav republics have memoranda of understanding with China on Belt and Road Initiative.
Foreign relations of Yugoslavia were international relations of the interwar Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Cold War Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. During its existence, the country was the founding member of numerous multilateral organizations including the United Nations, Non-Aligned Movement, International Monetary Fund, Group of 77, Group of 15, Central European Initiative and the European Broadcasting Union.
United Kingdom–Yugoslavia relations were historical foreign relations between United Kingdom and former Yugoslavia. Relations between United Kingdom and independent South Slavic states developed before creation of Yugoslavia following the decline of the Ottoman Empire.