Embargo – – Uniting Uniting Embargo People People Margarita Karamihova, Margarita Karamihova, PhD PhD Svetlana Antova Antova, PhD , PhD Svetlana
First presented: First presented: � COST/ COST/ EastBordNet EastBordNet Conference Conference � 2 0 - - 2 2 January 2 0 1 1 , 2 2 January 2 0 1 1 , 2 0 � Katania Katania , I taly , I taly �
The current Bulgarian- -Serbian border was established Serbian border was established The current Bulgarian by the Treaty of Neuilly- -sur sur- -Seine, France, on 27 Seine, France, on 27 by the Treaty of Neuilly November 1919 November 1919 � Almost a century later Almost a century later � this is one of the most this is one of the most contested and non- - contested and non permeable borders of permeable borders of Bulgaria. Bulgaria. � During the two During the two � embargoes of embargoes of FYugoslavia (1991 (1991- - FYugoslavia 1995 and 1998- - 2000) 2000) 1995 and 1998 this border should this border should have become even have become even more solid and strictly more solid and strictly guarded. guarded.
In 1990 1990- -1991/92, 1991/92, the the panoply panoply of of In border- -keeping keeping installations installations was was border demolished demolished
TIME LINE OF U.N. RESOLUTIONS TIME LINE OF U.N. RESOLUTIONS Succeeding Succeeding the the break break- - up up of of the the former former Yugoslavia Yugoslavia, , the the United United Nations Security Security Council Council (U.N.S.C.) (U.N.S.C.) adopted adopted a a series series of of Nations Resolutions to to impose impose economic economic sanctions sanctions against against Serbia Serbia and and Resolutions Montenegro, , the the United United Nations Nations Protected Protected Areas Areas in in Croatia Croatia, , and and Montenegro those areas those areas of of Bosnia Bosnia- - Herzegovina Herzegovina controlled controlled by by Bosnian Bosnian Serbs. . Serbs * U. . N N. . S S. . C C. . Resolution Resolution 713, 713, adopted adopted on on 25 25.09. .09.1991, 1991, imposed imposed a a * U complete embargo embargo on on all all deliveries deliveries of of weapons weapons and and military military complete equipment to to all all parts parts of of the the former former Yugoslavia Yugoslavia. . equipment * U.N.S.C.Resolution esolution 757 (30 757 (30.05. .05.1992) 1992) imposed imposed a a wide wide range range of of * U.N.S.C.R measures effectively measures effectively severing severing economic economic links links with with the the Federal Federal Republic of of Yugoslavia Yugoslavia ( ( Serbia Serbia and and Montenegro Montenegro). ). The The Republic Resolution was was fourfold fourfold. . It It prevented prevented imports imports of of all all Resolution commodities and and products products originating originating in in Serbia Serbia and and commodities Montenegro. Montenegro . It It prevented prevented the the sale sale of of commodities commodities and and products ( ( other other than than food food and and medical medical supplies supplies notified notified to to the the products U.N.S.C. Sanctions Sanctions Committee Committee) ) to to Serbia Serbia and and Montenegro Montenegro. . It It U.N.S.C. imposed a a ban ban on on making making funds funds available available to to Serbian Serbian and and imposed Montenegran entities Montenegran entities. . It It banned banned scientific scientific and and technical technical co co- - operation; ; as as well well as as flights flights to to or or from from Serbia Serbia and and Montenegro Montenegro. . operation * U.N.S.C.R U.N.S.C.Resolution esolution 787 (16 787 (16.11. .11.1992) 1992) prohibited prohibited the the shipment shipment * of energy energy supplies supplies, , and and various various commodities commodities through through Serbia Serbia of and Montenegro Montenegro unless unless specifically specifically authorized authorized by by the the U.N.S.C. U.N.S.C. and Sanctions Committee Sanctions Committee .
The Second Yugo Yugo- -embargo embargo The Second � Was imposed in response of Kosovo war and was Was imposed in response of Kosovo war and was � th of June 1999 officially terminated on 10 th of June 1999 officially terminated on 10 ( Kumanovo Kumanovo agreement) agreement) ( � Bulgaria was the first to impose complete ban on Bulgaria was the first to impose complete ban on � trade with fuel and any product of Chemical trade with fuel and any product of Chemical industry. “ “ The Council of Ministers retyped the The Council of Ministers retyped the industry. Periodic table of elements plus some chemical plus some chemical Periodic table of elements junctions and labeled it ‘ ‘prohibited for export to prohibited for export to junctions and labeled it Yugoslavia’ ’ that that ’ ’s what it was the Bulgarian s what it was the Bulgarian Yugoslavia embargo. If some chemical element was missing embargo. If some chemical element was missing it was due to lack of time” ” , commented a high , commented a high it was due to lack of time positioned chemist . . positioned chemist � S Sanctions anctions were were compromised compromised to to some some degree degree by by � oil smuggling smuggling operations operations from from border border regions regions oil despite the the best best efforts efforts of of NATO NATO and and the the Western Western despite European Union Union European
The he Danube Danube River River is is believed believed to to be be the the primary primary T source of of oil oil shipments shipments into into Serbia Serbia during the two during the two source embargoes embargoes � But the western But the western � Bulgarian border was Bulgarian border was the place where the the place where the “ Big Bosses Big Bosses” ” of oil of oil “ smuggling used tanker smuggling used tanker trains and oil trucks: trains and oil trucks: � “ “ We witness the huge We witness the huge � oil trucks driving with oil trucks driving with lights off quietly in the lights off quietly in the night … … Still it was Still it was night good for them, it was good for them, it was good for us too. good for us too. Everybody could sale Everybody could sale An Oil-Station working as a Washing Machine… now oil ” ” , said , said Bassil Bassil (45). (45). oil abandoned…
Profits for petty- -traders and traders and “ “Big Big Profits for petty Bosses” ” Bosses � 1992 1992- - 1993 1993 the official price of ton of the official price of ton of � oil is USD USD 94. 94. Serbians were buying Serbians were buying oil is a ton at a price a price 230 230- - 250 250 USD USD. . This This a ton at price includes bribes for customs price includes bribes for customs officers, police officers etc. officers, police officers etc. Unofficially 1100 1100 tons fuel per day tons fuel per day Unofficially were entering Serbia through were entering Serbia through Bulgarian- - Serbian border. Serbian border. Bulgarian � 1998 1998- - 2000 the profits remained 2000 the profits remained � almost the same. almost the same.
The 199 1998 8 sanctions sanctions have have resulted resulted The in the the revival revival of of the the illicit illicit trade trade in in oil oil in � While While the the Bulgarian Bulgarian government government supports supports � the oil oil sanctions sanctions against against Serbia Serbia, , the the the Bulgarians especially from border zone especially from border zone Bulgarians have resumed resumed the the smuggling smuggling that that was was so so have profitable during during the the earlier earlier U.N. U.N. profitable sanctions. . sanctions � Bulgarian Bulgarian customs customs officials officials have have noted noted an an � increase in in the the number number of of cars cars crossing crossing increase into Serbia Serbia, , and and cars cars can can legally legally cross cross with with into a full full tank tank of of gas gas. . a � The The customs customs officials officials at at the the Vrashka Vrashka � Chuka crossing crossing estimated estimated that that 200 200 cars cars Chuka carrying 8 8 tons tons ( ( almost almost 3000 3000 gallons gallons) ) of of carrying
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