Turmoil in Yugoslavia

In the April 27 letter protesting the tone of media reporting on the Yugoslav political situation, Svetislav Paunovic and Rajko Tomovich of the Serbian National Defense Council are correct to characterize the Serbian people as democratic, peace-loving and pro-Western. But their attempt to smear the Slovenian and Croatian states and leadership as either undemocratic, fascist, Hitler-like, or communistic were totally unnecessary to make their central point. Instead, it only revealed the deeply rooted animosity that is the curse of Yugoslav politics.

If Paunovic and Tomovich truly want peace among Yugoslavs, they and all Yugoslavs must stop the inflammatory rhetoric, forget ancient grudges and rivalries, and with mutual respect and understanding, seek common values, interests and goals to promote prosperity and political stability.

FREDERICK J. MLAKAR

Whittier