Doprinos Vladimira Velebita jugoslavenskoj diplomaciji
The Contribution of Vladimir Velebit to Yugoslav Diplomacy

Author(s): Lidija Bencetić
Subject(s): Diplomatic history, Political history, International relations/trade, WW II and following years (1940 - 1949), Post-War period (1950 - 1989)
Published by: Institut za noviju istoriju Srbije
Keywords: Vladimir Velebit; mission in the West; Trieste crisis; ambassador to Rome; ambassador to London; functions in international bodies; Informbiro Resolution;
Summary/Abstract: The article analyzes the contribution to the Yugoslav diplomacy of one of the most important Yugoslav diplomats, Dr. Vladimir Velebit. Dr. Velebit spent 18 years in Yugoslav diplomacy, out of that two in partisan diplomacy. He was one of trailblazers and organizers of the diplomacy of the ,,new“ Yugoslavia. He entered diplomacy during WWII in 1943 when he was appointed chief of the mission of the People’s Liberation Movement in Egypt. During the negotiations in Egypt he acquitted himself excellently so he became the pennanent representative of the People’s Liberation Movement with the Western allies. He played one of the key roles during the negotiations with the emigre Yugoslav government in London concerning the formation of the postwar government and the idea of introducing a regency as a transitional government originated with him He was the man in whom Tito had special confidence, the person who broke through the international isolation of the People’s Liberation Movement, Tito’s personal aide acting on his orders. During the first six months of the Tito-Šubašić government he was the sole aide foreign minister. Considering his intimacy with Tito it is likely that Velebit was then the most important person in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, more important than the minister Šubašić himself. He took part in resolving the most important Yugoslav postwar matters - the Trieste crisis, negotiations about a loan from the World Bank, negotiations with USA on aid in food and annament, organization of Tito’s visit to Great Britain. He served as ambassador in Rome and in London. The list of his achievements and contributions to the Yugoslav diplomacy would perhaps have been even larger but for two factors: firstly, Velebit wasn’t a high ranking Party official but just an ordinary Party member, and secondly he was accused of being a British spy in the Informbureau resolution. He spent the last 14 years of his career serving on international bodies (secretary of the European Economic Commission of the UN in Geneva, director for planning in the International Labor Organization, he chaired the project of reconciliation between the Jews and the Arabs within the framework of the Carnegie Endowment, he organized a round table on Cyprus in Rome between 18 and 22 November 1973). Velebit was one of the best known Yugoslav diplomats in international circles, respected in the diplomacy of the United Nations and of other international organizations.

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