IIW History 1990-2015

and Caucasian states declared independence. Both East and West Germany were to merge into the one Germany after decades of physical separation and, when Iraq invaded Kuwait, the Middle Eastwas todeliver uncertainty to anunsettledworld.TheBalkan Wars were another serious concern whenYugoslavia collapsed and Slovenia and Croatia declared independence. Within a short time, in 1993, the European Economic Community eliminated trade barriers and created a single market. The Maastricht Treaty also took effect, formally establishing the European Union with all the concomitant effects that it would have on terms of trade, labour markets and many other issues that would impact on IIW and the welding industry.

Slobodan Kralj

Initially it was thought that the massive political and structural changes presaged a period of peace and political stability in the world. Such expectations were to come to naught very quickly. What effect this would have on IIW was unknown but the immediate concern would be a decline in membership numbers. Dispelling fears to some extent, both Slovenia and Croatia acted quickly by applying for separate IIW memberships and were accepted as individual members a short time later which brought the total membership to 39 countries. Similarly, when Czechoslovakia broke up into two distinct countries (Czech Republic and Slovakia) any potential loss of membership was averted when both re-joined IIW as individual members. In questioning IIW’s role in these uncertain times Prof. Slobodan Kralj (Croatia), after undertaking a study on the composition of IIW, was quick to draw comparisons. ‘It was noted that of the 39 members of IIW most are mainly industrially developed countries with a high gross national product. Generally those countries that might have significant benefit from IIW are poor and industrially under-developed countries.’ Kralj was to comment further that ‘…this imbalance was due to lack of understanding of the structure and work of IIW’, indicating that such countries were unaware of the benefits and role of IIW and how it was able to assist them. 21 Despite the uncertain times, Iran (1990), Romania (1990), Greece (1991) and Russia (1995), along with Slovenia and Croatia (1992), the Czech Republic and Slovakia (1993) were added to or re-joined the ranks of the IIWmembership over this period of instability. The turmoil and upheaval in the political structure of Europe did have profound effects on Member Countries as well as for IIW. The Secretary General of IIW was to make general comment on this. ‘Of particular significance to the IIW is that for the first time the effect of international sanctions has prevented us from conducting our usual business

LINKING PEOPLE, JOINING NATIONS