Date: October 1, 1997
Author: Valentina Krčmar, Director, Bedem Ljubavi – Mothers for Peace
Addressed to: The Honourable Lloyd Axworthy, Minister of External Affairs, Ottawa, Ontario
View the Original Letter: krcmar book 3_Part14_Part50.pdf
About This Letter
In this powerful letter dated October 1, 1997, Valentina Krčmar, writing as Director of Mothers for Peace, addresses Lloyd Axworthy, then Canada’s Minister of External Affairs. Following the Toronto Star’s exposé “Serbian Red Cross Tied to Killings” (September 20, 1997) by journalist Rebecca Bragg, Krčmar urges the Canadian government to take immediate action against the corruption and complicity within the Red Cross system — both in Canada and abroad.
Krčmar opens with urgency and moral conviction, acknowledging Bragg’s article and its rare courage in exposing the Serbian Red Cross’s involvement in war crimes and the failure of international humanitarian oversight:
“I sincerely hope that your assistants told you about the article from The Toronto Star (Sept. 20/97) regarding the Serbian Red Cross. The journalist from The Toronto Star, Ms. Rebecca Bragg, was courageous enough to help us expose the wrongdoings of the Red Cross (our own Canadian, ICRC, and Serbian Red Cross in particular) and also had enough courage to touch ‘the sacred cow’ of the world.”
She calls on Minister Axworthy to meet with her personally, insisting that Canada has both the moral obligation and international credibility to lead reform efforts within the Red Cross movement. Her words blend patriotism with moral indictment:
“I think that it is of vital importance that you meet with me, Hon. Minister. I have all the information pertaining to this sad case of the Red Cross, and for the sake of Canada and the world we have to act now. Canada is my home and I would like that Canada leads the action in cleaning of the Red Cross, starting with our own Canadian Red Cross, then going on the ICRC and its action in Bosnia.”
The tone is respectful yet urgent, reflecting Krčmar’s deep frustration with the systemic inaction of international organizations during the Yugoslav Wars. She underscores the gravity of the situation by enclosing internal evidence — an internal Red Cross memo from 1993 — which, she notes, details unethical conduct that persisted for years.
“For your information I am enclosing an internal Red Cross Memo from 1993. Please read it and check also how much money was given to Serbian and Bosnian Red Cross after March 10, 1997, after this terrible memo.”
Her letter closes with an appeal for immediate response and leadership:
“I will be in Ottawa on Monday Oct. 6/97. Hon. Minister, can you please let me know today or tomorrow if we could meet so that these shameful events be discussed instantly for the sake of our future.”
This document exemplifies Krčmar’s unrelenting pursuit of truth and justice. At a time when most governments remained silent about Red Cross complicity, she demanded accountability at the highest level, turning a national scandal into a moral test for Canada’s leadership on the world stage.
