Jugoslavija i odjek beogradske deklaracije u susednim „informbiroovskim” zemljama
Yugoslavia and Reflection of the Belgrade Declaration in Neighbouring „Cominform” Countries

Author(s): Vladimir Lj. Cvetković
Subject(s): Diplomatic history, Political history, Post-War period (1950 - 1989), History of Communism, Cold-War History
Published by: Institut za noviju istoriju Srbije
Keywords: Yugoslavia; USSR; Belgrade Declaration; Cominform; Bulgaria; Hungary; Romania; Albania
Summary/Abstract: Signing of the Belgrade Declaration on 2 June 1955 represented an event which has undoubtedly greatly affected the relations among socialist countries of the time. It was a crown of reconciliation between Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union, as well as a result of a long process of approaching of two countries starting with Stalin’s death in 1953 and ending with Tito’s victory and the first known acknowledgement of the possibility that „different roads to socialism” may exist. The Belgrade Declaration was met with positive response in neighbouring „Cominform” countries and in all of them resulted in greater of lesser, faster or slower changes in relations with Yugoslavia. The general public of these countries understood this event as a victory of Yugoslav politics and its model of socialism over the rigid Soviet model. It also inspired hopes for a possibility that satellite countries might gain greater independence from the USSR. However, the reflection and impact of ideas contained in the declaration had its limits. Despite the changes of the overall attitude toward Yugoslavia and solution of a range of problems that were pending for a long time, changes that occurred after the Belgrade Declaration nevertheless remained li mited to a sphere of less important issues in mutual relations. The most important issues – the issue of financial claims in the case of Hungary, Serbian ethnic minority in the case of Romania, the „Macedonian issue” in the case of Bulgaria or, in the case of Albania, the issue of responsibility for the break-up of relations in 1948 and the Koçi Xoxe trial – remained unsolved. Addressing and solving them required a stronger incentive than the one which occurred by the signing of the Belgrade Declaration. For most of these countries it came next year, in 1956, after the 20th Congress of the CPSU.

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