Jeremić hits back at Croatia reaction

Truth hurts-time for croatia to face it`s demons.
Bravo Jeremic..

Sorry guys but it's time to own up to your past as Serbia has. Serbs were not the only bad guys. Besides, the wars are over, noone in the west even cares anymore who the bad guy actually was. The time has come for all Ex-Yu republics, especially Croatia to allow and encourage the return of ALL refugees by providing them with acceptable living conditions and investments into developing these areas.

"to press so hard." bganon

You mean he shouldn't have said it?! I am glad he did, as the FM its his duty to address our concerns abroad, the expulsion of 250 000 Serbs by Croatia is a very good reason to "press hard" Not to mention after that insulting and horrid lies by the Croatian president and PM...

I expected nothing less from you bganon.... I bet you were hoping for the 2 countries to get cozy just so they can join the EU together right? Pffft your an insult to every Serb life lost!

Jeremić should dump DS and join DSS the Pro-Serbia party.

I'm still not entirely clear why Jeremic is choosing this moment to play hardball with Croatia.

Part of it must be the current political situation in Serbia, part might be the ICJ genocide suit but where is the rest? There is a missing factor. Any ideas?

BTW I think he believes what he says on this issue, but this alone isn't enough for a foreign secretary to press so hard.

Jeremic has said all the right things in regards to Croatia's and Serbia's past. The reason the Croatian government still flails whenever anyone mentions Operation Storm in a less than herioc light is because the Western powers that backed Croatia in the 1990s have never pressured them to come to terms with their past as they have constantly pressured Serbia. Croatia was rewarded for its ethnic cleansing and is generally regarded as a lawful player in international affairs. Again, this is largely because Tudjman, Milosevic' equal, did what he did while relying on support of the West.

No state is ever going to reexamine its dark past unless pressured to do so. Croatia is not alone in this category, but it strikes me odd that a country that tries so hard to prove it's not a Balkan country, continues to act like one.

BGanon: you raise a very interesting question, perhaps I can offer fodder for discussion.
Despite just winning a presidential election, being the incumbent government with a recovering economy, direct money from the west, a vast arsenal of political allies and some very skilled campaigners, the DS having lost Belgrade and perhaps the parliament. Because of this, internally there will be vast reforms in the DS and heads will likely roll. Mr. Jeremic will benefit from the situation either way, he is a rising young star of the DS and if by some miracle the DS does form a parliamentary coalition, he may be the new DS Prime Minister and if the DS does not form a parliamentary coalition, his portfolio may well increase within the party.

@bganon
The main problem is not what he said (even i can agree mainly) but the circumstances and the timing..
I have seen once Mr.Jeremic with a fluent english and good knowledge of the problems but maybe his young age and all the things that has happened in the last months have caused a little short circuit...
We will see the next FM from the Radical side what is able to do..

Jeremić should dump DS and join DSS the Pro-Serbia party.
(Duro, 29 May 2008 20:25)
--
You are right. I've often thought that myself as he is more pro-Serbian than EU but still young. He is right to challenge Croatia but he is made to look like a fool many times by his apparent EU friends.

Whatever happens, he will probably be around for a while and wisen up with time.

bgannon,

You are being a bit too tricky here, like trying to say that Israeli politicians are "maneuvering" for advantage if they remember the holocaust.....

I think that Serbian politicians should bring this issue up EVERY TIME they meet their Croatian counterparts, politely, but firmly, until something is done to make ammends.

Of all the events that took place since Yugo broke up, the genocide of the Krajinians (I'm one of them) is the most devistating.

It must never be forgotten.

Else, it means we condone it.

Does Jeremic think of diplomacy as of table tennis?

Serbia has invaded Croatia and Serbs living in Croatia were mobilised by the Serbian army to fights Croats.

Now, what do you want? You lost all the wars you initiated Jeremic. It's "Great Serbia's" fault - not Croats one.

Marko, since DS were the main gainers in the past election I think it unlikely that Jeremic is looking to replace Tadic.
You know most people (including in DS) wondered who the hell this young upstart was, who was not qualified in foreign affairs, son of a former communist functionary etc. So I doubt he has the authority to just brush aside established players in DS.

But, you did give me an idea. It is still possible that Jeremic is hoping to become Prime Minister and would need support from SPS and their allies who would no doubt be impressed by his performance.
Still, I doubt Jeremic would be that transparent. There is still something else going on, I can smell it.

If you read just a little, you would realise that I support Jeremic's move. But I'm not stupid enough to believe he is doing it from the pureness of his heart.

Bagnon I don't think Jeremic is likely to replace Tadic in 2008. I think he is likely to increase in his party prominence. BTW- Youth in politics is not a liability, it is an asset- Do you remember 10 years ago they were saying "marry me Cedo". Times change and so do the faces

It’s clear why Jeremic ids saying this now. It is because his party wants to share the government with Milosevic followers from SPS. DS even admitted that “with SPS we share the same ideology”. Jeremic chose to attack Croatia firing he might have to answer some serious questions about the attacks in Croatian embassy in Belgrade. But policy of denial will lead Serbs to nowhere. They are the only nation in Europe that has committed genocide after Germans. When I hear Jeremic all my hopes for better Serbia diminish.

Marko.

Jeremic playing hardball? He was basically saying "we did both bad things; but it is time to move on". But if the Croats want to pose like saints: let them disclose all their archives from that time.

What I remember best before the war was Tudjman's reactions to the Serb autonomy demands: if you don't like it here why don't you go to Serbia? To me that made it very clear that he had ethnic cleansing on his mind.

I'm still not entirely clear why Jeremic is choosing this moment to play hardball with Croatia.

Part of it must be the current political situation in Serbia, part might be the ICJ genocide suit but where is the rest? There is a missing factor. Any ideas?

BTW I think he believes what he says on this issue, but this alone isn't enough for a foreign secretary to press so hard.

@bganon
The main problem is not what he said (even i can agree mainly) but the circumstances and the timing..
I have seen once Mr.Jeremic with a fluent english and good knowledge of the problems but maybe his young age and all the things that has happened in the last months have caused a little short circuit...
We will see the next FM from the Radical side what is able to do..

"to press so hard." bganon

You mean he shouldn't have said it?! I am glad he did, as the FM its his duty to address our concerns abroad, the expulsion of 250 000 Serbs by Croatia is a very good reason to "press hard" Not to mention after that insulting and horrid lies by the Croatian president and PM...

I expected nothing less from you bganon.... I bet you were hoping for the 2 countries to get cozy just so they can join the EU together right? Pffft your an insult to every Serb life lost!

Jeremić should dump DS and join DSS the Pro-Serbia party.

Marko, since DS were the main gainers in the past election I think it unlikely that Jeremic is looking to replace Tadic.
You know most people (including in DS) wondered who the hell this young upstart was, who was not qualified in foreign affairs, son of a former communist functionary etc. So I doubt he has the authority to just brush aside established players in DS.

But, you did give me an idea. It is still possible that Jeremic is hoping to become Prime Minister and would need support from SPS and their allies who would no doubt be impressed by his performance.
Still, I doubt Jeremic would be that transparent. There is still something else going on, I can smell it.

If you read just a little, you would realise that I support Jeremic's move. But I'm not stupid enough to believe he is doing it from the pureness of his heart.

Sorry guys but it's time to own up to your past as Serbia has. Serbs were not the only bad guys. Besides, the wars are over, noone in the west even cares anymore who the bad guy actually was. The time has come for all Ex-Yu republics, especially Croatia to allow and encourage the return of ALL refugees by providing them with acceptable living conditions and investments into developing these areas.

Truth hurts-time for croatia to face it`s demons.
Bravo Jeremic..

Jeremic has said all the right things in regards to Croatia's and Serbia's past. The reason the Croatian government still flails whenever anyone mentions Operation Storm in a less than herioc light is because the Western powers that backed Croatia in the 1990s have never pressured them to come to terms with their past as they have constantly pressured Serbia. Croatia was rewarded for its ethnic cleansing and is generally regarded as a lawful player in international affairs. Again, this is largely because Tudjman, Milosevic' equal, did what he did while relying on support of the West.

No state is ever going to reexamine its dark past unless pressured to do so. Croatia is not alone in this category, but it strikes me odd that a country that tries so hard to prove it's not a Balkan country, continues to act like one.

BGanon: you raise a very interesting question, perhaps I can offer fodder for discussion.
Despite just winning a presidential election, being the incumbent government with a recovering economy, direct money from the west, a vast arsenal of political allies and some very skilled campaigners, the DS having lost Belgrade and perhaps the parliament. Because of this, internally there will be vast reforms in the DS and heads will likely roll. Mr. Jeremic will benefit from the situation either way, he is a rising young star of the DS and if by some miracle the DS does form a parliamentary coalition, he may be the new DS Prime Minister and if the DS does not form a parliamentary coalition, his portfolio may well increase within the party.

Jeremić should dump DS and join DSS the Pro-Serbia party.
(Duro, 29 May 2008 20:25)
--
You are right. I've often thought that myself as he is more pro-Serbian than EU but still young. He is right to challenge Croatia but he is made to look like a fool many times by his apparent EU friends.

Whatever happens, he will probably be around for a while and wisen up with time.

Bagnon I don't think Jeremic is likely to replace Tadic in 2008. I think he is likely to increase in his party prominence. BTW- Youth in politics is not a liability, it is an asset- Do you remember 10 years ago they were saying "marry me Cedo". Times change and so do the faces

bgannon,

You are being a bit too tricky here, like trying to say that Israeli politicians are "maneuvering" for advantage if they remember the holocaust.....

I think that Serbian politicians should bring this issue up EVERY TIME they meet their Croatian counterparts, politely, but firmly, until something is done to make ammends.

Of all the events that took place since Yugo broke up, the genocide of the Krajinians (I'm one of them) is the most devistating.

It must never be forgotten.

Else, it means we condone it.

Does Jeremic think of diplomacy as of table tennis?

Serbia has invaded Croatia and Serbs living in Croatia were mobilised by the Serbian army to fights Croats.

Now, what do you want? You lost all the wars you initiated Jeremic. It's "Great Serbia's" fault - not Croats one.

It’s clear why Jeremic ids saying this now. It is because his party wants to share the government with Milosevic followers from SPS. DS even admitted that “with SPS we share the same ideology”. Jeremic chose to attack Croatia firing he might have to answer some serious questions about the attacks in Croatian embassy in Belgrade. But policy of denial will lead Serbs to nowhere. They are the only nation in Europe that has committed genocide after Germans. When I hear Jeremic all my hopes for better Serbia diminish.

Marko.

Jeremic playing hardball? He was basically saying "we did both bad things; but it is time to move on". But if the Croats want to pose like saints: let them disclose all their archives from that time.

What I remember best before the war was Tudjman's reactions to the Serb autonomy demands: if you don't like it here why don't you go to Serbia? To me that made it very clear that he had ethnic cleansing on his mind.