ABSTRACT
After 1991 and the subsequent wars, all one could think of was nationalism and re-reading the sources in search of evidence. Nationalism and ethnic issues were important to the communists who were aware of their existence. They had ways of dealing with nationalism and were very sensitive in their approach. However, although important, on the whole nationalism was not the main issue in BosniaHerzegovina. The change came with the rise in power of Slobodan Milosevic in neighbouring Serbia. Therefore, by 1989, nationalism was still not a major issue in Bosnia-Herzegovina, but the first incidents started to appear in public and even among the once monolithic leadership. Ethnic divisions, however, were not in existence at the time, although the leaders were well aware of the possible danger. In a statement, issued by the Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina on 20 February 1989, they said in an old communist fashion: ‘Internal enemies are joining forces on nationalistic basis and act as inter-connected. The aims are attacks on the constitutional order and divisions on ethnic basis. They are helped by reactionary circles from the country and from abroad.’1
