Date: August 14, 1995
Author: Senior Advisor, Office of the Minister of National Defence, Government of Canada
Addressed to: Ms. Valentina Krčmar, Thornhill, Ontario
View the Original Letter:
About This Letter
This official response, dated August 14, 1995, was sent from the Office of the Minister of National Defence in acknowledgment of Valentina Krčmar’s letter of July 27, 1995 concerning the Balkan War and Canada’s foreign policy toward the conflict.
Signed by a Senior Advisor on behalf of the Minister, the letter is polite and formulaic — the kind of carefully worded bureaucratic reply typical of government offices during wartime controversies.
“On behalf of the Minister of National Defence, I wish to thank you for your letter of July 27th, 1995, concerning the cultural history of the Balkans and Canadian policy regarding the war in that region.”
It expresses gratitude for Krčmar’s observations and assures her that her views would be “taken into account.”
“The Minister appreciates receiving the observations of concerned citizens and would like to assure you that your views will be taken into account.”
The letter concludes by reaffirming Canada’s official stance of neutrality and commitment to humanitarian aid and diplomacy — the very position Krčmar had long criticized in her writings.
“The Canadian government has consistently supported efforts to alleviate distress in the Balkans conflict and facilitate the conduct of negotiations to achieve an overall solution to the crisis.”
While brief and impersonal, this exchange captures a stark contrast: Krčmar’s urgent, moral appeals for truth and justice against the government’s cautious, procedural language. It reflects how citizens like Krčmar struggled to make their voices heard amid a climate of political restraint and diplomatic caution.
Tags
Mothers for Peace, Bedem Ljubavi, Valentina Krčmar, Minister of National Defence, Government of Canada, Balkans Conflict, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canadian Policy, Political Correspondence, Humanitarian Efforts, Neutrality, Global Hypocrisy, Bureaucratic Response, Justice and Remembrance, 1995 Letters, Voices for Peace
