President presents Austrian author with medal

BELGRADE Tomislav Nikolic presented a golden medal of merit for outstanding contributions in public and cultural activities to Austrian writer Peter Handke on Monday. The Serbian president said on the occasion that Handke "stood by Serbia's side since 1996 and suffered a lot for Serbia and the Serbian people." President presents Austrian author with medal “We are indeed feeling blessed to see this man, who has rejected many awards and much merit in his life, accept a medal from Serbia and the Serbian people that are dear to his heart. Ever since the Edict of Milan, which made Christianity an accepted religion, we Christians, some more, some less, have always remembered the people who died for Christianity,” Nikolic said. "Our dear guest and receiver of this medal has suffered a lot for Serbia and the Serbian people," the president stated. According to Nikolic, that was "incredibly courageous for someone to be with Serbia ever since 1996, constantly and forever.” Thanking the Serbian president for the medal, Handke said that his standing by Serbia "has not been a suffering at all." "The Yugoslav and the Serbian people have been making me rich inside. I have been nobody's victim, but the Serbian people is a victim indeed," he added. Peter Handke in Belgrade on Monday (Tanjug) Tanjug

President presents Austrian author with medal

“We are indeed feeling blessed to see this man, who has rejected many awards and much merit in his life, accept a medal from Serbia and the Serbian people that are dear to his heart. Ever since the Edict of Milan, which made Christianity an accepted religion, we Christians, some more, some less, have always remembered the people who died for Christianity,” Nikolić said.

"Our dear guest and receiver of this medal has suffered a lot for Serbia and the Serbian people," the president stated.

According to Nikolić, that was "incredibly courageous for someone to be with Serbia ever since 1996, constantly and forever.”

Thanking the Serbian president for the medal, Handke said that his standing by Serbia "has not been a suffering at all."

"The Yugoslav and the Serbian people have been making me rich inside. I have been nobody's victim, but the Serbian people is a victim indeed," he added.