Vojvodina speaker calls for regionalization

It seems like there are some issues here. On one hand some commentators here claim Serbia is multiethnic and tolerant society but according to this article people in Vojvodina seem to disagree with that assertion. Ms. Jerkov called for restoration of full autonomy for Vojvodina. She mentions restore, which implies that some sort of autonomy was taken away from Vojvodina. Why something like this, taking away of autonomy, needs to happen in a democratic country? If a group of people complains about injustice being done to them, a democratic country negotiates by giving them more say in their daily lives, more autonomy to address these concerns. In this case this autonomy was taken away as if to tell them if you complain more you'll loose everything.

But then again Ms. Jerkov must be referring to the 1974 autonomy Mr. Milosevic stripped it of Kosovo and Vojvodina using tanks on March 1989. It would be a positive sign sent to the whole world community involved in solving the status of Kosovo, if Serbia would address the issue of Vojvodina as its citizens have raised it and certainly there seem to be issues (I cannot but remember remarks made by the German ambassador regarding Vojvodina). Only in this manner their proposed autonomy (a mysterious proposal this never seen thus far and never made public for opinion in Serbia and outside it to evaluate) would make sense. If this autonomy proposal for Kosovo would create issues like the ones in Vojvodina then no wonder Serbia had no courage to make it public and no wonder it was not taken serious by any party involved on the negotiation process. There will be no return prior to 1999 is one principle of the Contact Group. Based on this autonomy issue now it appears as Serbia (as usual) is still locked in some year prior to 1999.

So to the Serb government, before you propose another autonomy for Kosovo, please see that the autonomy in Vojvodina works first. Or better yet restore the autonomy that Vojvodina had before.

vojvodina is 70% + Serbs so i don't know where its going and this Slovak guy talking if Slovak kids leave its going to get old he should think again because there is not even 50,000 Slovaks in vojvodina.

For a country as small as Serbia, regional autonomies threatens its soveriegnty. And for what; only to satisify minority cravings for ever more self rule, i.e., de facto independence? The minority peoples of Serbia already have established nation-states in existence which are in close proximity to Serbia. If their representatives are unwilling to function with Serbs on equal democratically elected footing in Serbian politics and/or unable to look out for what is best for the entire state of Serbia (continued improvement of economy, opposing threats to territorial integrity, reduction of corruption), they should strongly consider uprooting themselves and their families and go to live within their ethnicity's nation-state where everything, seemingly, is a bed of roses simply because the politics are dominated by their own kind.

"So to the Serb government, before you propose another autonomy for Kosovo, please see that the autonomy in Vojvodina works first. Or better yet restore the autonomy that Vojvodina had before".
james

James I fully agree. The real problem is that the Serbs do not want to give or restore autonomy either in Kosovo or Vojvodina. They can do only one thing, take it away. This is there democratic or "european" way.

The quicker serbia becomes a member of the EU the quicker borders will become meaningless as far as the lives of ordinary people are concerned.For the time being it may be a big plus for Hungarians and Slovaks to emmigrate to those countries since both are already members of the EU.it is only these ethnic politicians in Serbia who are upset about the fact that they will have nobody to vote for them once the Serb population climbs from 70% to 99% in Voivodina.Shalom

James, the issues you raise are good in that they highlight to duality of Serbian identity in Vojvodina today.

On the one hand are the "native" Serbs of Vojvodina: those Serb communities that have lived there since the Hapsburg era. They see Vojvodina as more of their home than any other part of Serbia. Regional centers like Novi Sad, Sremska Mitrovica, and Sremski Karlovci have played pivotal role in forging a distinctly "Vojvodinian" Serb identity, and its role in Serb history between 1690 and 1804 is one of the most underrated eras of Serbian history and socio-political development. Their relations with Hungarians, Slovaks, Ruthenians and others are also exceptionally good. They serve as the model for Serbia's multiethnic character.

On the other hand, Vojvodina has recently been home to many Serb refugees from Croatia and Bosnia from the 1990s. They are generally looked down on by the more affluent native Serbs of the region. They tend to be the largest supporters of SRS candidates in local elections, and have, though I cannot definitively verify this, been privy to many of the recent racially motivated attacks against non-Serbs in the region. The local history of Vojvodina means little to them, and they tend to be the propnents of a larger pan-Serb identity.

For Vojvodina's minorities to now be calling for greater autonomy and local self rule stems from both a desire to reestablish the autonomous status that was taken away in the late 1980s as well as erect intitutional barriers against the more intolerant Serb refugee families that might use them as general scapegoats.

It is in Belgrade's primary interest to make sure the multiethnic character of Vojvodina remains and that local Serb histories and identities continue to reflect the tolerant atmosphere many are proud to use as a point of reference.

I agree 100% with vrnjak.

Serbia(Central/Vojvodina/Kosovo)

is too small to have provinces both geographic and population wise. And are completely unnecessary especially in vojvodina.

The best solution is for municipal governing and nothing more.

This party can keep hoping for more but they won't get it.

Vrnjak,

regionalisation won't harm the state of Serbia if it is done in the way that regionalisation should be. When people like Kotres talk of regionalisation he does it with the false belief that in doing so Vojvodina would be one region however vojvodina itself is 3 regions in itself - Banat Backa and Srem. Of the 30 okrugs this could be rationalised to 12 (Belgrade being one in itself, the 3 from Vojvodina 6 in central Serbia and 1 each for Kosovo & Metohija. If the local decisions were handed to local "counties" the local electorate would have more participation in the decisions that are closer to them. There should and would still be a central government controling key elements such as Foreign affairs, economic policy (with regions in mind, national defense and other matters but the central parliment could be streamlined. Some people like Kostres need to think clearly prior to making a wish unless he does it with such an open mind in the intrest of all rather then for small minded local elitism/lordship.

With regards the young Slovaks well this is a natural phenomena - many people who go to university in another location will quite often stay their having enjoyed the place they studied and obtaining jobs. The real reason is that currently Slovakia offers better job opportunities for these Serbian Slovaks. That is the sad case currently but Serbia can change this as it develops and then who knows those same well educated and career experienced Slovaks may make the reverse choice.

It seems like there are some issues here. On one hand some commentators here claim Serbia is multiethnic and tolerant society but according to this article people in Vojvodina seem to disagree with that assertion. Ms. Jerkov called for restoration of full autonomy for Vojvodina. She mentions restore, which implies that some sort of autonomy was taken away from Vojvodina. Why something like this, taking away of autonomy, needs to happen in a democratic country? If a group of people complains about injustice being done to them, a democratic country negotiates by giving them more say in their daily lives, more autonomy to address these concerns. In this case this autonomy was taken away as if to tell them if you complain more you'll loose everything.

But then again Ms. Jerkov must be referring to the 1974 autonomy Mr. Milosevic stripped it of Kosovo and Vojvodina using tanks on March 1989. It would be a positive sign sent to the whole world community involved in solving the status of Kosovo, if Serbia would address the issue of Vojvodina as its citizens have raised it and certainly there seem to be issues (I cannot but remember remarks made by the German ambassador regarding Vojvodina). Only in this manner their proposed autonomy (a mysterious proposal this never seen thus far and never made public for opinion in Serbia and outside it to evaluate) would make sense. If this autonomy proposal for Kosovo would create issues like the ones in Vojvodina then no wonder Serbia had no courage to make it public and no wonder it was not taken serious by any party involved on the negotiation process. There will be no return prior to 1999 is one principle of the Contact Group. Based on this autonomy issue now it appears as Serbia (as usual) is still locked in some year prior to 1999.

So to the Serb government, before you propose another autonomy for Kosovo, please see that the autonomy in Vojvodina works first. Or better yet restore the autonomy that Vojvodina had before.

vojvodina is 70% + Serbs so i don't know where its going and this Slovak guy talking if Slovak kids leave its going to get old he should think again because there is not even 50,000 Slovaks in vojvodina.

"So to the Serb government, before you propose another autonomy for Kosovo, please see that the autonomy in Vojvodina works first. Or better yet restore the autonomy that Vojvodina had before".
james

James I fully agree. The real problem is that the Serbs do not want to give or restore autonomy either in Kosovo or Vojvodina. They can do only one thing, take it away. This is there democratic or "european" way.

For a country as small as Serbia, regional autonomies threatens its soveriegnty. And for what; only to satisify minority cravings for ever more self rule, i.e., de facto independence? The minority peoples of Serbia already have established nation-states in existence which are in close proximity to Serbia. If their representatives are unwilling to function with Serbs on equal democratically elected footing in Serbian politics and/or unable to look out for what is best for the entire state of Serbia (continued improvement of economy, opposing threats to territorial integrity, reduction of corruption), they should strongly consider uprooting themselves and their families and go to live within their ethnicity's nation-state where everything, seemingly, is a bed of roses simply because the politics are dominated by their own kind.

I agree 100% with vrnjak.

Serbia(Central/Vojvodina/Kosovo)

is too small to have provinces both geographic and population wise. And are completely unnecessary especially in vojvodina.

The best solution is for municipal governing and nothing more.

This party can keep hoping for more but they won't get it.

Vrnjak,

regionalisation won't harm the state of Serbia if it is done in the way that regionalisation should be. When people like Kotres talk of regionalisation he does it with the false belief that in doing so Vojvodina would be one region however vojvodina itself is 3 regions in itself - Banat Backa and Srem. Of the 30 okrugs this could be rationalised to 12 (Belgrade being one in itself, the 3 from Vojvodina 6 in central Serbia and 1 each for Kosovo & Metohija. If the local decisions were handed to local "counties" the local electorate would have more participation in the decisions that are closer to them. There should and would still be a central government controling key elements such as Foreign affairs, economic policy (with regions in mind, national defense and other matters but the central parliment could be streamlined. Some people like Kostres need to think clearly prior to making a wish unless he does it with such an open mind in the intrest of all rather then for small minded local elitism/lordship.

With regards the young Slovaks well this is a natural phenomena - many people who go to university in another location will quite often stay their having enjoyed the place they studied and obtaining jobs. The real reason is that currently Slovakia offers better job opportunities for these Serbian Slovaks. That is the sad case currently but Serbia can change this as it develops and then who knows those same well educated and career experienced Slovaks may make the reverse choice.

The quicker serbia becomes a member of the EU the quicker borders will become meaningless as far as the lives of ordinary people are concerned.For the time being it may be a big plus for Hungarians and Slovaks to emmigrate to those countries since both are already members of the EU.it is only these ethnic politicians in Serbia who are upset about the fact that they will have nobody to vote for them once the Serb population climbs from 70% to 99% in Voivodina.Shalom

James, the issues you raise are good in that they highlight to duality of Serbian identity in Vojvodina today.

On the one hand are the "native" Serbs of Vojvodina: those Serb communities that have lived there since the Hapsburg era. They see Vojvodina as more of their home than any other part of Serbia. Regional centers like Novi Sad, Sremska Mitrovica, and Sremski Karlovci have played pivotal role in forging a distinctly "Vojvodinian" Serb identity, and its role in Serb history between 1690 and 1804 is one of the most underrated eras of Serbian history and socio-political development. Their relations with Hungarians, Slovaks, Ruthenians and others are also exceptionally good. They serve as the model for Serbia's multiethnic character.

On the other hand, Vojvodina has recently been home to many Serb refugees from Croatia and Bosnia from the 1990s. They are generally looked down on by the more affluent native Serbs of the region. They tend to be the largest supporters of SRS candidates in local elections, and have, though I cannot definitively verify this, been privy to many of the recent racially motivated attacks against non-Serbs in the region. The local history of Vojvodina means little to them, and they tend to be the propnents of a larger pan-Serb identity.

For Vojvodina's minorities to now be calling for greater autonomy and local self rule stems from both a desire to reestablish the autonomous status that was taken away in the late 1980s as well as erect intitutional barriers against the more intolerant Serb refugee families that might use them as general scapegoats.

It is in Belgrade's primary interest to make sure the multiethnic character of Vojvodina remains and that local Serb histories and identities continue to reflect the tolerant atmosphere many are proud to use as a point of reference.