Meaning: The quote "The army did what Milosevic's regime asked of it, which was to create a 'Greater Serbia'" by Stjepan Mesic, a statesman, refers to the role of the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) in implementing the policies of Slobodan Milosevic's government during the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. This quote encapsulates the complicity of the military in carrying out the nationalist agenda of the regime, which sought to expand Serbian influence and control over the territories of the former Yugoslavia.

Stjepan Mesic, a prominent Croatian politician who served as the last president of Yugoslavia and the first president of an independent Croatia, was a vocal critic of the Milosevic regime and its policies. His statement reflects a broader understanding of the military's involvement in the Yugoslav Wars, particularly in the context of Serbian expansionism and the violent disintegration of the multi-ethnic Yugoslav state.

During the 1990s, Slobodan Milosevic's government pursued a nationalist agenda aimed at creating a "Greater Serbia" by asserting control over territories with significant Serbian populations outside of Serbia's borders. This aggressive expansionist policy fueled ethnic tensions and conflicts, leading to the outbreak of wars in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and later Kosovo.

The Yugoslav People's Army, which was predominantly composed of Serb personnel and led by Serb officers, became an instrument of Milosevic's expansionist policies. The army's involvement in the conflicts, particularly in Croatia and Bosnia, was marked by widespread human rights abuses, including ethnic cleansing, mass killings, and the shelling of civilian areas. The JNA's actions were instrumental in supporting and enabling the territorial ambitions of the Milosevic regime, contributing to the devastating impact of the wars in the region.

Mesic's quote underscores the complicity of the military in carrying out the regime's directives, highlighting the role of the armed forces in implementing the destructive and divisive policies of the Milosevic government. It also reflects the broader complexities and challenges associated with the breakup of Yugoslavia, as well as the deep-rooted ethnic and nationalist tensions that fueled the conflicts.

The quote serves as a reminder of the destructive consequences of political manipulation of the military and the grave impact of nationalistic agendas on the stability and security of multi-ethnic societies. It also underscores the importance of accountability and justice in addressing the legacies of conflict and mass violence, as well as the need to confront the complicity of state institutions in perpetuating human rights abuses and war crimes.

In conclusion, Stjepan Mesic's quote encapsulates the role of the Yugoslav People's Army in implementing the nationalist agenda of the Milosevic regime, shedding light on the complicity of the military in the violent disintegration of Yugoslavia and the devastating impact of the Yugoslav Wars. Mesic's perspective as a statesman and a prominent figure in the region provides valuable insight into the complex dynamics of the conflicts and the challenges of addressing the legacies of the past.