EUGENE–A University of Oregon expert on the Balkans says "ethnic cleansing" by Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosovic is in part a result of years of inaction and political fumbling by Western Europe and its ally, the United States.

Further, Ronald Wixman says, even if the NATO air strikes were likely to unseat Milosovic, other Serbian nationals would continue the policy.

Wixman, a UO professor of cultural geography, will explain his views at a free public lecture on Tuesday, April 6. His talk on "The Kosova Crisis: Cultural and Political Implications" will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Room 180 of Prince Lucian Campbell Hall, 1415 Kincaid St.

A nationally recognized expert on the Balkans, Wixman has consulted with the U.S State Department on policy in the region. He is incensed at the Western news media for "consistently presenting inaccurate and misleading information about the Kosovo crisis."

He charges that the Serb propaganda campaign is based on three myths that are being accepted as fact by Western journalists and policy makers:

• Myth 1: The ethnic groups in the Balkans have always hated one another.

The myth is abused by the West as an excuse not to get involved.

"There were no outbreaks of ethnic violence in Yugoslavia until World War II when the Serbs began to massacre Kosovar Albanians," Wixman says.

• Myth 2: Kosovo has been the heart of Serbia since the battle of Kosovo in the 14th century.

"The truth is that Serbs never had Kosovo as the heart of their culture. There is no time we can think of that Albanians or their ancestors were not the majority in Kosovo," according to Wixman.

• Myth 3: It was the nationalism of non Serbs that led to the break up of Yugoslavia.

In fact, Wixman says, it was the ultra-radical Serbian nationalists that led to the break-up of the country. One example–while many moderate Albanians tried working with the Serb government and opposed violence, the West did nothing to promote this movement.

"As a result, out of frustration, young Kosovar Albanians formed the Kosovo Liberation Army to defend their families and their properties against Serbian violence," he contends.

For more information, contact the UO Department of Geography, (541) 346-4555.

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