Vladislav Bevc, A Smiling Slovenia, Interview – 1/2

Smiling Slovenia's collection of articles and essays on Slovenia's current political scene boldly declares its dissenting view from the political mainstream beginning with a declaration of prominent intellectuals presenting their views of Slovenia's political situation.

Topics range from recent Slovenian history, Slovenia's role in the breakup of Yugoslavia, foreign policies, including liaisons with the Islamic terrorists to present -day Slovenian-American relations and Slovenia's admission into the European Union.

Although Slovenia has risen to prominence due to its presidency of the European Union, little is known of its recent history.

Mr. Vladislav Bevc, welcome to the interview.

Q: Collection of essays of which you are editor but includes also some of your writings has been just published under title "Smiling Slovenia". Any reason for the title?
Vladislav Bevc: I had quite a discussion about with the editor. I considered a long list of titles. But finally I thought of Act I, scene 5 of Shakespeare’s Hamlet where, after Hamlet had been told by his father’s ghost that his own brother had murdered him, he exclaims: "O, villian, villian, smiling damned villain!"

Q: As you would want to say that despite outward successes – EU and NATO membership and current EU presidency – Slovenia did not quite make it to a "good laugh"?
Vladislav Bevc: There always was a tendency for countries like Slovenia to seek international prominence. Slovenia’s idol Josip Broz, alias Tito, made himself a self-styled leader of the "non-aligned" countries of the Third World. The Nazi Germany, for example, just prior embarking on world wide aggression, presided over the Olympic games in Berlin. Whether this is a matter of a "good laugh" I cannot say. I believe this is rather a sad state of world affairs, which promotes a country that does not respect human rights, especially property rights.

Q: The subtitle reads "Political Dissent Papers", can you explain and why now?
Vladislav Bevc: The last chapter "Media Bliss" may provide a clue as regards to the timing. Hopefully, with Slovenia’s current presidency of the EU more people will reach for my book and discover what lies behind the smiling mask – a grinning skull. The selected papers were translated from time to time as they appeared on the internet, mainly in Google groups.

Also from time to time they were made available to American Congressmen and, of course, to the Department of State. However, am afraid they did not get much attention judging from "fawning" policy towards the so-called "fledgling democracies," i.e., reorganized communist countries of Eastern Europe.

Q: The book is dedicated "to all those who will read it". For whom are the writings of particular interest, and who do you expect will read it?
Vladislav Bevc: Peter Lang is publisher of academic books and, so far most of the sales go to university libraries. The book is rather expensive therefore it does not get such prominent display as, for instance, the series on Harry Potter or the numerous writings by Hillary Clinton.

One can get the book at Borders or even Barnes and Noble by special order. They do not display promotional posters like the one appended. I therefore thought to dedicate the book to persons who would take the trouble of obtaining it and reading it and – hopefully – will get an idea of what a "socialist reality" looks like.

Q: The opening chapter quotes a verse from France Preseren`s "Baptism at Savica": "Forth he goes to his compatriots and further far beyond their land, dispelling to the last days of his life the clouds and errors of then ways"…can you explain the meaning in relation to the "Smiling Slovenia"?
Vladislav Bevc: The book is actually intended to go "beyond the land of the Slovenese" and dispel the errors of international fawning over "the small communist enclave on the sunny side of the Alps".

But I have no illusions that it will actually dispel errors of their ways.

This is made clear in the Introduction and in the Conclusion. I purposely selected Crtomir’s decision, or rather, Crtomir’s resignation because in some way resembles the present situation. Christianity seemed – at Crtomir’s time – to be inevitable – as socialism and regimentation appear today. He felt that by bringing the "Word" to his compatriots, he may at least to some extent ward off the German expansion which was masquerading under the guise of bringing the Christian religion to the pagan Slavs and - who, so far as I can tell, were quite happy with their old pagan ways.

Q: Czech author Milan Kundera in one of his essays about "Sensucht", or desire says that "Sensucht" (for Homeland) existed on both ends, at home and in Diaspora. Why then do you claim that Slovenia cannot reach you and touch you any more?
Vladislav Bevc: The book is my final, a belated goodbye. Writing it, the song "Ja se oprastam, Cigani, sa vama..." [I am bidding my farewell, oh Gypsies, from you...] kept coming to my mind.

Indeed, from time to time "they" do manage to "touch me". For example, whey they come up with something like "reparations for the injustices payments" to their victims. These are examples of the Slovene arrogance with which they try to manipulate people without the slightest intention of actually trying to act in a conciliatory way. Such program is simply a mockery to their former victims and it can be annoying if one allows get it on you.

At Thanksgivings I always forward thanks that I am far away from Slovenia and that I live free under the American flag.

Q: Given the human nature of things, "truth" can be a difficult concept. You say Slovenia has "many truths". Isn`t time to tell the "whole truth" in order to move forward? Or is the Polish way – to look back with anger for example – a viable approach?
Vladislav Bevc: As an engineer – or even as part-time physicist and a pilot – I believe that I deal with matters where truth is established. And while it may be hard to find an firmly established "truth", I believe the later is not impossible.

Not many may recall Grand Admiral Doenitz’s parting remarks on how National Socialism actually brought German together and left a lasting legacy [and also left it in ruins]. In the same manner Slovenes indulge in an almost a sickening nostalgia for their Marshal Tito. And dealing with the faceless bureaucracy of Brussels, they must feel rather disoriented in the absence of a "strong" leader.

Slovenes can get very defensive when, for example, the matter of 200,000 plus corpses on their territory is brought up. They feel that since they did not take part personally in the genocide - the essence of communism and their state - they should not be held accountable.

I came across a rather different attitude in Germany after the end of World War II. Germans, even those who were directly subjected to the process of de-nazification, did not think that the process was not proper or unjust. Of course, my experience may be limited but that was my general impression. Slovenes, for example, take a rather different stand, they opted to bear the mark of Cain on their forehead rather than confronting the truth.

Q: In the declaration "The hour of European Truth for Slovenia" stands written that the issue for Slovenes today is - what can they do for themselves. What can Slovenes do for themselves, what do you propose?
Vladislav Bevc: I believe that the declaration – which could only be published by purchasing the advertising space in the Slovene newsprint as none of their communist party controlled dailies would publish it – tells what the intellectual elite thought and may still thinks. But I think they could do equally well by sending radio messages to distant stars where there is no chance of getting a reply - for the next hundreds of years.

Q: Even the media did not escape your critique. You say there is a silent treatment of matters of "importance". Which are those matters of importance for Slovenia?
Vladislav Bevc: The media are controlled by the so-called "continuity" which is actually a code word for the communists. Apparently straight talk has to be avoided. Consider only the article discussing the temerity of Slovenian media to censor the Chief justice of their Constitutional Court. Shortly after the book came out I received a message from the Third Secretary at the Embassy of Slovenia in Washington suggesting that I look up their penal code which provides sanctions for "insulting" Slovenia.

In other words Slovenia continues to carry on its statutes of laws on "verbal delicta" which do not belong to norms of civilized countries and are apparently even ruled out by the Helsinki Agreement.

Number one, I would suggest that Slovenia should get rid of all the laws and repressive provisions which were enacted by the communists. Moreover, they should return all confiscated property to the rightful owners. Seventeen years of chicanery has clearly demonstrated that Slovenia has no intention to return the property of the so called "class enemies."

Foremost is the respect and scrupulous observation of the Rule of Law. This is unlikely to happen during next few generations. I rather think, that Slovenes think that the rule of law means uncontrolled abuse of the people by government bureaucrats.

Q: Which conditions are required for understanding of the specific position of culture in Slovenia. Can culture play a role where politicians seem to be failing?
Vladislav Bevc: In the case of Slovenia, I would say no. The youth in schools is being brought up by the "tovarišice", or comrades – as they used to call the teachers– which inculcate the current views of the Communist continuity.

This may not be the case unique to Slovenia. Many of us, for example, think that the schools in the United States are failing the society badly. I rather think that schools and the culture should primarily develop the youth’s ability of thinking critically. It appears to be anathema to any government. If matters continue in this way and the people are not taught to analyze what is placed before them, personal freedom will be lost, perhaps irretrievable.

Q: Do you think that "time" is a good factor, and that 'time" is required for Slovenes to come into terms with their own history?
Vladislav Bevc: In physics "time" of course is one of the operators. But, if things are left to themselves, passage of time only leads to an increased entrap, that is - chaos.

Q: Patriots always talk of dying for their country, and never of killing for their country. Murders are not yet solved, who are the patriots?
Vladislav Bev: As General Patton – one whose straight talk led to his undoing while idiots like Eisenhower floated to the top – said

"You do not win a war by dying for your country – you win it by making some OTHER poor bastard die for HIS country."

I am out of this and I cannot judge who is patriot and who is not.

Q: Why are not the full facts about the events following WW2 genocide presented to the Slovene public?
Vladislav Bevc: I am not sure what is meant by "presented." There certainly was an extensive parliamentary inquiry in Slovenia by the Pucnik commission. But the parliament never acted on it or formally published it. Pucnik got the Brnik airport named after him, but he never got his report published by the Parliament.

Slovenes do not want to hear about it. They will tell you that they have not personally taken part in killings but would not dream to stopp privileged pensions to those who are responsible, like Mr. Ribicic and alike. Even less summon them before court or hold them accountable for their crimes.

Q: People are at their most creative when things are very disturbed, You say that "freed from paralyses", Slovenes can move forward. Can you elaborate, what is your plan of action?
Vladislav Bevc: A. I do not have a plan of action for the Slovenes, am fortunately - out of it.

Q: Why was important for Slovenia to join NATO, who are now "the enemies", where lies the danger, what role can Slovenia play in this organization?
Vladislav Bevc: A good question. The same was asked by Jack Kennedy some time ago: "Fellow citizens of the World – ask not what America [NATO] can do for you, ask what together we can do for the advancement of mankind." And when you look at what Slovenia can or is willing to do for the advancement of mankind, or even its own citizens (party comrades excluded, of course) you will find that it is one big zero.

It is reported that Slovenia hosts the largest CIA base in Southern Europe. It certainly has aspirations – megalomanic - I think - of becoming a country that would lead the rest of the Balkans to democracy. This was apparently suggested to the U.S. Ambassador Nancy Halliday Ely Raphel by her Slovene mentors like Dimitri Rupel and Milan Kucan.

Ely Raphel was formerly in the Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor which is notorious for holding the view that property rights are not human rights.

Currently Slovenia is useful to the United States as member of the Vilnius group supporting the coalition against Iraq. But as far as any contribution to the United States policies, the results will turn out to be negligible. As for exporting democracy to the Balkans, I always thought, it is hard to export what one does not have.

Q: There are no exact parallels, least of all between democracy in the United States and Slovenia, but common questions can open fresh lines of thought. There is second old rule in politics - stick with friends, but stick closer to enemies. Brief us about Slovenia/ US relations, are they good and can they be better, what can be done differently?
Vladislav Bevc: In a sense the Slovenia/US relations are - a mystery. Judging from the quality of the ambassadors the United States is sending to Slovenia – with one exception – there seems to be little expectations on the part of the United States about the performance of Slovenia in the world affairs.

A most cursory observer and reader of the Slovene press would notice a deep anti-American attitude enhanced perhaps by envy — a specific characteristics of the Slovene character. It probably does not matter much to the United States what goes on in Slovenia as Ljubljana seems to be a pleasant place for American diplomats. And those who do not play along with the local establishment, well, they can always be transferred to Fiji...

Q: It is as you are looking into mad eye of history and not blinking. There may be no political messages, but there is no hope either, can you reflect on this?.
Vladislav Bevc: That`s about it.

Q: Both the right and left seem to be misread in Slovenia, are you reformer or spectator?
Vladislav Bevc: Have you read Arthur Clarke’s 2010? There’s an astronaut captured by higher beings who in turn is gradually being transformed into one of them. He becomes the "Star Child." He no longer visits the Earth out of his own motivation but is sent there more like a probe by his new relatives. He no longer is what he used to be.

There is a curious statement about him in Clarke’s novel. Although he no longer is part of the Earth, compassion and some other feelings have not quite left him yet.

REVIEWS:
Although Slovenia has risen to prominence due to its presidency of the European Union, little is known of its recent history. Vladislav Bevc’s collection of papers—some his own—is a welcome contribution to our knowledge.

No one interested in Slovenia should miss this book that shows the difficulties of overcoming the baneful heritage of communism. This problem, to which much attention is devoted in Smiling Slovenia, transcends borders. In various ways and degrees, it besets other post-communist countries as well."

Andrzej Brzeski, Professor of Economics Emeritus,
University of California, Davis

ABOUT VLADISLAV BEVC
Vladislav Bevc received his Ph.D. in electrical engineering from University of California, Berkeley, and was a postdoctoral fellow of the National Academy of Sciences and Air Force Office of Scientific Research at Oxford University St. Catherine's College, England.

He has conducted scientific research in defense and aerospace industry and taught electrical engineering as Associate Professor at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, and as a part-time lecturer at the University of Southern California and San Francisco State University.

Bevc was a senior staff member at the California Public Utilities Commission and a consultant to the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice as well as a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University.

Vladislav Bevc is the author of papers on applied physics and a contributor to the Reinhold Encyclopedia of Electronics and The Wiley Encyclopedia of Environmental Pollution and Cleanup.

He is also the author of Liberal Forces in 20th-Century Yugoslavia (Lang, 2007) as well as of papers and book reviews on Yugoslav politics published in The South Slav, Journal and Canadian Review of Nationalism.

Bevc, Vladislav (ed) Smiling Slovenia, Political Dissent Papers is published by Peter Lang Publishers www.peterlang.com

Coming soon: Vladislav Bevc, A Smiling Slovenia, Part Two, interview