LETTER : The only way to build lasting peace in Croatia

From Dr M. A. Laird

Sir: R. Marcetic and others (letter, 5 May) complain that the British government has not invited a representative from Belgrade to the VE Day celebrations. However the Government is quite right: during the Second World War Serbs indeed suffered greatly from the Nazis and Ustasha and contributed to their eventual defeat; but unfortunately that record has been besmirched since 1991 by Nazi-style crimes - notably the destruction of Vukovar, the bombardment of Dubrovnik, and above all the policy of ethnic cleansing.

The current Serbian leaders initiated ruthless violence to achieve their aim of a Greater Serbia, and therefore have no place in a celebration of the end of a war which was fought to outlaw such methods.

Yours faithfully,

M. A. LAIRD

Havant,

Hampshire

6 May