After the end of World War II, Ukraine became a prosperous Soviet republic, with high-tech industries and an educated class of elites.

The more prosperous republics of SR Slovenia and SR Croatia wanted to move towards decentralization and democracy.

Slovenia and Croatia, the two most prosperous republics, are pushing for a loose confederation that would give them greater autonomy over their economies.

In discussing the Baltics, however, he talked of "more prosperous republics" trying to erect "regional fences" that would interfere with plans for a "federal market" designed for common prosperity.

It would be a nation of 17 million, shorn of its most prosperous and advanced republics, and very likely isolated politically and economically from the rest of Europe.

Comparisons between Kosovo and Slovenia, which was the most prosperous republic in the former Yugoslavia, reflect Kosovo's underdevelopment.

The Slovenes were embittered that their relatively prosperous republic was being milked by the poorer republics and given nothing in return.

"Everybody lost the war, that's for sure," said Joze Mencinger, a respected economist and former vice president of Slovenia, which was Yugoslavia's most prosperous republic.

But while Slovenia looks forward to a relatively secure future as a comparatively prosperous Alpine republic, the joy in Croatia was tempered by uncertainty.

About 300 people have died in the fighting in Croatia, Yugoslavia's second most prosperous republic, since it declared its independence from the country on June 25.