Belgium’s royal affair and Montenegro gains independence

27:54A few days earlier, unusually heavy rain had swept through the town, washing cattle manure into the water system. Residents didn't know it yet, but their drinking water was contaminated with a type of bacteria called E. coli. Something as ordinary as a glass of tap water had become deadly. In a town of 5 ,000 people, more than 2 ,000 would fall ill, at least seven would die. In the early days, as officials tried to understand what was happening, some explanations focused on the unusually heavy rain. Well, lots of towns experience heavy rains and people don't die from contaminated water. But this wasn't just about rain.

28:37Instead, a water system that failed at almost every level and critical information that wasn't properly disclosed. The event would change water safety across Canada forever. To understand how we got to that point, we need to go back, before the helicopters were flying overhead and the hospital waiting rooms were overflowing. Walkerton is a very quiet rural community in Ontario. It's about two and a half hours drive from Toronto, so a very idyllic place. A community that, by and large, the vast majority of people, even in Ontario, would never have heard of. So anonymous and headed for Infamy. It's May 22nd, the Monday of a long bank holiday weekend, and Bruce and his family are arriving home after being away for a few nights.

29:27My best friend pulled into the driveway, thankfully, within seconds of us doing it. Had he been a few minutes earlier, he would have missed us. and he got out of his car and he said the radio is saying there's something wrong with the water and you shouldn't drink it, something about E. coli. At that point, was there anything you noticed in your town that made you think, okay, the radio is on to something, that there is something wrong with the water? Well, you know, in a small town you can't keep a secret and very quickly rumours started to spread that something had gone seriously wrong with our water to the point where the local nursing home had actually switched their patients from regular tap water to boiled or bottled water days ahead of time, believing that something could be wrong.

30:11The day after Bruce and his family arrived home, Tuesday 23rd, local children returned to school. My kids arrived to see all the fountains taped off with plastic over them so the kids couldn't drink from the water. But my daughter's kindergarten teacher told me later that she spent the entire afternoon trying to deal with young students, five and six years old, as these children doubled over in pain, burst into tears. So that was a complete shock. And by the Wednesday 24th... School was closed. the first death in Walkerton had occurred, and we started to sort of grasp the magnitude of what we were facing, where this is not only going to give you some kind of stomach flu, but it could kill you.

30:59Initially, health officials looked for a foodborne outbreak. E. coli is commonly linked to undercooked meat, but they couldn't find a shared meal or event linking the victims. What no one in the town knew was that Walkerton's Public Utilities Commission, responsible for the town's water, had already tested the water. It came back positive for E. coli on May 15th, two days before people started feeling ill. But the results were not disclosed. Good evening. Most Canadians take safe drinking water for granted, but they don't do that anymore in Walkerton, Ontario. It's a community of five... By now, the media had arrived.

31:41Reporters, including from Canada's public broadcaster, the CBC, were speaking to residents, many wondering why they hadn't been told to stop drinking the water sooner. Well, some people, Peter, were starting to get sick last Friday, before the long weekend, and officials here knew something was wrong, they didn't know what, and by Sunday they knew it was in the water, they knew the bacteria, and they didn't, however, issue any public warnings until yesterday. That warning came from Dr Murray McQuigg, the region's medical officer, responsible for protecting public health. Tests administered by his unit were now pointing to E.

32:21coli. So he went on local radio with an order. Don't drink the tap water unless it's been boiled. It was a warning that clashed with other public statements, suggesting the water supply was unlikely to be the problem. By now, anger in Walkerton was beginning to boil. So we decided that we would write a letter to the Premier of Ontario and respectfully request that he immediately commence a full public inquiry to find all the answers to our dilemma. An inquiry was announced and scheduled to start months later. First was the issue of getting the water clean. Thankfully, communities all across the province sent us water.

33:07And even one of Canada's major breweries bottled water for us and sent it up. They sent it in beer bottles. But we just assumed that it was American beer because it was so watery. But it was life-saving. After 198 days of relying on bottled and boiled water, Walkerton residents could finally use their taps again. around the same time the inquiry started. The Ontario government will appoint a judge or a retired judge as a commission of inquiry under the public inquiry. The inquiry found Public Utilities Commission operators, brothers Stan and Frank Coble, had no formal training in water quality management and had failed to properly treat the water or monitor the system.

33:55That was the thing that, you know, shocked us. and we were victims of what I would call ignorance and arrogance. The brothers were convicted on criminal charges. After the inquiry found, they regularly falsified tests. But for Bruce, who attended several hearings in his role as co-founder of the concerned Walkerton Citizens, the problem went far beyond the two men. Justice is not just about punishing those who did something egregious, but there is no penalty for anyone above them who failed to supervise them properly. There was no penalty for the government for not ensuring the training. The inquiry found wider systemic failures, which the Ontario government accepted, introducing major reforms to the province's drinking water system.

34:41But Bruce says some Walkerton residents would never fully recover. There's a psychological aspect to this with post-traumatic stress that is just horrific. You know, you sort of say, well, hey, the water can kill you. Now we fixed it. Now it's OK. Well, there isn't a switch you flick in your mind to do that. As for what happened to his son's friend. It's interesting. He did survive, thankfully. He did have some pretty difficult times and it was a slow recovery. And they both went off to university many years later and I was driving them home. And I said to him, you know, when you were over at our house playing, you seemed fine.

35:24You seemed like you were having a great time. And the next day you were airlifted. And he said something that absolutely floored me. He said, in the mind of a nine-year-old, people who told that they were sick were taken away and they died. And so he didn't tell out of fear. And that fear almost cost him his life. Bruce Davidson was speaking to Megan Lawton and recalling the Walkerton contaminated water crisis of 26 years ago. It's just 20 years since Montenegro achieved independence from Serbia in what was the final part of the breakup of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Unlike what happened in other former Yugoslav republics, Montenegro's independence was achieved through a referendum, not war.

36:15Tim O 'Callaghan has been hearing from someone who was at the heart of the independence campaign. There are signs tonight that the people of Montenegro have voted for independence from Serbia. If the exit polls are correct, it'll be the final chapter in the breakup of the former Yugoslavia. I mean, I personally and all the other people who were involved in that, we knew that we managed to achieve something that is huge, something that is historical. Ivan Vyjovic was part of the Social Democratic Party who campaigned for Montenegrin independence. The country is in the Western Balkans in the south of Europe on the Adriatic coast and has a population of just over 600 ,000.

36:58It was one of the six republics in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia between 1945 and 1992. But Montenegro's independence wasn't achieved through the war and violence which mired the region during the 1990s. Good evening. Britain and America both warn tonight that events in Yugoslavia are sliding out of control towards civil war. Columns of federal tanks are heading towards the breakaway republics of Croatia and Slovenia. The people of Sarajevo have been marking the 1 ,000 days since the Bosnian-Serb siege of Essity began. Montenegro is the country with the long-lasting statehood. among all the other former republics of former Yugoslavia.

37:44We had practically one millennium of the continuity of our state. We were the country who were recognized as an independent state in 1878 at the Berlin Congress, one of 27 independent states at that time in all the world. So our tradition, our statehood tradition, and our national and historical tradition is very, very long. But after the First World War, the Podgorica Assembly in Montenegro changed everything. As the BBC programme Final Battle of Yugoslavia explained. At a meeting in an old cigarette factory, Montenegro was blotted off the map. A parliament of clan leaders declared Montenegro Serbian territory.

38:28Montenegro became part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, which then became a communist state after World War II. In 1992, while other former Yugoslav countries were declaring their independence from Serbia, Montenegroans voted to remain aligned with them in a referendum. But Ivan believes the seeds of independence were already being sown. Pro-independence parties in Montenegro had boycotted the vote. Montenegro was always pro-Yugoslav oriented if this kind of union was possible to be built on the equal basis. In the moment when it was obvious that it is impossible, this part of the political scene decided to establish this pro-independence movement because we knew there cannot be any kind of equality in the federation between Serbia and Montenegro because Serbia is ten times bigger in terms of territory and in terms of population.

39:24This new state was called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Montenegro had its own president and prime minister, but the country was mostly controlled by the president of Serbia, Slobodan Milosevic. During his first decade in power, Milosevic controlled Montenegro like a fiefdom, placing his own henchmen in power. Milo Djukanovic was then a close ally. In 1997, everything changed. Djukanovic challenged his mentor by contesting Montenegro's presidential election. He narrowly defeated Milosevic's chosen candidate. This process of Montenegro independence began in the beginning of the 90s, but it practically erupted and has been the main topic on the political stage and political scene of Montenegro after the clash between Djukanovic and Milošević in 1997.

40:15That was, let's say, a kind of crucial crossroad, a political crossroad in Montenegro. It meant turning to the West, establishing contacts and liaisons with international community, European, United States. And a move towards Montenegro nationalism and independent statehood. In 2002, a new agreement was signed between Serbia and Montenegro. It consigned the name of Yugoslavia to the history books and created a new state simply called Serbia and Montenegro. Crucially for the independent movement, the agreement included a clause which allowed for the states to re-examine the union after three years.

40:54We practically conducted this campaign from the day when this state union between Serbia and Montenegro was established. All these years, especially these three years since 2003 until 2006, was the years in which the main political topic was when the referendum will be and what will happen after this referendum. Legislation to hold the vote on Montenegrin independence was passed in March 2006, but arguments began over who should be allowed to vote. The political side opting for a state union, they put the question who has the right to vote in that referendum. They wanted to enable many citizens of Serbia, which had some kind of the background with Montenegro, regions in Montenegro, to vote in the referendum.

41:46But only citizens of Montenegro, who has the right to vote on the elections in Montenegro, acquired the vote to vote in the referendum process. The European Union agreed to oversee and regulate the referendum. However, there was a stipulation set by the EU for the pro-independence camp to win. Our option for independence needed to gain at least 55 % of voters who voted to guarantee the victory on the referendum. So we didn't have the situation in which each vote was worth the same. The result was predicted to be very close. Voting took place on Sunday the 21st of May. And as initial results started to come in during the early hours of the morning, things were looking good for Ivan.

42:30It was really the explosion of emotions when you proclaim independent states. After practically 100 years, you know, and after everything happened during the 90s and the inferior and very poor position of Montenegro in this form, first Yugoslavia and Milošević's oppressive regime, to have your independent states in the region, which experienced the dramatic and disastrous political life during the 90s in the war surroundings and sanctions. And it was difficult to live in such conditions and to make this idea survive. So it added specific weight to our victory. The result was officially confirmed later that day.

43:18The independence bloc had won, just. getting 55.5 % of the vote. Mr Boris Tadic, who was at that time president of Serbia, second or third day after the referendum, he sent a letter congratulating the people of Montenegro. His move was very, very wise and very, very correct way to acknowledge what happened in Montenegro. The Montenegrin independence campaigner Ivan Vujovic was speaking to Timo Callaghan. Next, we've got this week's sporting witness. When Shakhtar Donetsk won the UEFA Cup in 2009, it was meant to be the start of a new chapter for independent Ukraine. But when war broke out in 2014 in the east of the country, the team's ambitions were put on hold.

44:03The captain Dario Serna has been telling Andy Brassel how he and his family coped in the aftermath. It had been a long journey to get here. It was Wednesday, 20th May, and Shakhtar were in their first UEFA Cup final, facing the experienced and talented German side Werder Bremen. The sides were locked together at 1-1 and 30 minutes of extra time would be required. It was our routine action. William, when he received the ball, if he go inside, I feel the timing. And I run in the free space. Normally Winge go inside, took left back with him and I have open space. Normally, Ozil play against me, but I'll calculate that he's not the guy who likes to play defence.

44:52Seven minutes into it, as the clock ticked past midnight in Istanbul, Dario Sierna made his umpteenth run down the right-hand side. It was like calculation. I pushed him to play more defence, to be tired. And delivered perfectly for Jadson. I received a long ball from William, and always I'm giving pass back to Jadson, who scored so many goals like this. The Brazilian side-foot shot spun off goalkeeper Tim Visser and into the corner of the net. It was the denouement of a long night. It was, you know, we scored the goal, but I was happy, but it's not the end, you know. When you're losing the game, one minute, it's like 10 seconds.

45:34Winning the game, one minute, it's like one hour. For me, this, I don't know, 20 minutes, I don't know, when we scored, it was like the whole night. When the whistle went, clad in their statement orange shirts, the Shakhtar team erupted with joy. To bring European Trophy to Donetsk, it was a surprise, I think, for the whole football world. For us, for the future, for Ukraine, for Korean football, it was an amazing trophy. European Trophy always is something special, something that you cannot forget for all your life. When they finally peeled their exhausted bodies off the turf, a beaming Serna, wearing a Ukrainian flag like a superhero wears his cape, surged to lift the 15kg trophy into the night sky.

46:22Proudly stood beside him was Romanian coach Michele Luchescu, who had brought Dario and the team's cluster of Brazilians to the club. Luchescu, who had won trophies with Galatasaray and Bajiktas in his years working in Istanbul, had spent the days leading up to the final trying to procure scores of tickets for all the friends he still had in the city. But for Shakhtar, the initial prize had been beating their domestic rivals Dinamo Kiev, the nation's traditional power, in a dramatic semi-final at Donetsk's Olimpijský Stadium. And as the game took place, just on the opposite side of the city's park, Shakhtar's imposing new stadium, Donbass Arena, was almost complete.

47:07It felt like a power shift. It meant everything to them. The president said to us like a joke, if you don't win, you don't play there. The new stadium will stay here. You know, it was some kind of motivation. When you're playing all stadium, across the road there is building one of the best stadiums in the world. Every game was 45 ,000, 50 ,000 people. You know, it's something special. I realised that I'm in the big club. Don Basarena was a state-of-the-art 55 ,000-capacity stadium, completed shortly after Shakhtar's night of glory in Istanbul that would catapult the club towards the very elite of continental football.

47:47It would certainly have no equal in Eastern Europe. Beyoncé gave a concert to open the stadium in July before Shakhtar played their first match there in August. Set amongst natural surroundings, it was not just a formidable arena but a home and a symbol of rebranding for an increasingly outward-looking city that wanted to connect with the world. You know, a lot of times, during the construction of Donbass Arena, I took my car and I drive there. And just, I go out on the empty stadium, alone at night, watching. Future, you know, I want to feel it. And expecting to play in the new stadium is killing me.

48:30I want to be there as soon as possible. The president sometimes calls me, hey, Dario, how are you? I say, president, I'm Donbass Arena now. He said, what are you doing with Donbas Arena? I said, I'm filling the stadium. But, you know, it's difficult to explain to everyone. Now we don't have nothing. You need infrastructure from the fans. The park around, you know, they have a lot of facilities for the children. My children were happy, playing everything, a lot of children there. My wife was happy because she has her box with the food, with the friends. It was like, you know, family Sunday. It was really beautiful.

49:07Normally we play five o 'clock. They wait for me. We go to have dinner all together. From today, my point of view, I think that was a dream. Donbass has more beautiful stadium in the world than what I saw in my life. And it felt like that for everyone at Shakhtar. Visitors were stunned by the stadium itself and by the atmosphere which gripped it on big European nights. In October 2012, Champions League holders Chelsea were beaten there in front of a full crowd. There was increasing confidence that one day soon, Shakhtar might be in a position to take the Champions League title themselves. But the dream didn't last.

49:47Shakhtar last played at the Donbass Arena in May 2014, after war broke out in the city and in the region. They've never been back. It was initially used as a humanitarian hub for the club to distribute aid, but was subsequently taken over by the Russian military and has even been used to store weapons. For Dario Sierna, this wasn't the first time he had experienced war and had had to flee his home. Dario grew up in the former Yugoslavia during the 1990s and had to escape with his family. In Donetsk, he was doing it all over again. I even don't remember the day. Why? Because I thought that I would come back after two weeks.

50:29It was last game. I didn't took nothing, just one suitcase for holiday with my family for summer. And three days after when I leave the Donetsk, they start to bomb the airport. I didn't believe. After one year, one year and a half, maybe two years, I start to believe, but no. For me, it was impossible. You know, we are the 21st century, come on. My daughter, she was born in Zagreb, but after two months, she already arrived to Donetsk. She has her house, her room. And one day, you don't have nothing. When I was a child, I didn't understand what is war. Like my daughter, Windonetsk. You know, she was four years old, five years old.

51:15She didn't understand nothing like me.

51:20But it was also stressful. It doesn't matter if she's five or ten, it was stressful for her. She feels something. At that moment, 2009 couldn't have felt further away, and sport couldn't have felt less relevant. But as time has gone by, it has meant more than ever before. It was a moment that gave Shakhtar Donetsk their Europe-wide status, and showed them what they could achieve, even without knowing the stresses and difficulties that lay ahead, perhaps more than any elite European club has ever faced. so much so that even away from their home with players and staff away from their loved ones they would continue to thrive and to win trophies.

52:03Dario Cerna knows that because he stayed for an almost unbroken period over two decades as player, coach and now as sporting director. With his boots on he helped author perhaps the greatest knight in Shakhtar's history. With his suit jacket on, he works in the boardroom to maintain the club's connection with elite European football that he first helped forge in 2009. He wouldn't do anything else. Shakhtar is Dario Cerna's home. Dario Cerna, one-time captain, now sporting director at Shakhtar Donetsk, was speaking to Andy Bressel in that Stack production. We've come to the end of this edition of the History Hour.

52:46We'll have more first-hand stories from the past for you next week So until then, this is Max Pearson From all of us here, thanks for listening, goodbye Sporting Witness takes you to the events that have shaped the sports world Through the eyes of the people who were there We weren't going to ask permission, we were just going to do it It was such an amazing feeling, it was incredible He started to write a story about how he came up with the idea for the red and yellow cars I got to go, we cried a bit, we laughed a bit, it was wonderful There's a magic during those moments that carries your soul.

53:18We were truly blessed to be a part of history. Sporting Witness. Subscribe wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

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