Pragmatism carries the day in Serbia

It is laughable to imagine a government that would start arresting national heroes and gladly give away territory to terrorists. That is a western fantasy.

Hello Mr Ex-Ambassador,

The quality of your musings is deteriorating.

The factual accuracy of your observations often leaves a lot to be desired, and the subsequent analysis and conclusions drawn are hovvering between weak and abysmal.

Here's just one example of your inaccuracy in reporting, "Even with a convincing success in the Parliamentary elections (winning by far the largest number of seats), the Democratic Party/G17 Plus coalition - like their Radical Party and DSS (Koštunica) opponents ...."

How many parliamentary seats did pre-election ZeS coalition obtain? 102.
How many parliamentary seats
did the post-election SRS/DSS-NS bloc obtain? Just how does 6 LESS seats equate to a "convincing success"?

Did you struggle with math at school, or are you deliberately trying to mislead B92s readership with disingenuous statements?

Not much point rebutting the rest of your prose given this as a start point is there?

How strange. Part of my previouis post has 'altered' itself between keyboard and B92 publishing.

Para 4 should read...

How many parliamentary seats did pre-election ZeS coalition obtain? 102.
How many parliamentary seats did the post-election SRS/DSS-NS bloc obtain? 108.
Just how does 6 LESS seats equate to a "convincing success"?

Although I do not agree with this government I truly hope it stabilizes. However even if I did support Tadic's policies I would never vote for him or his party. Nothing they do is democratic... you think persuading the Socialists to join is democratic? Knowing full well that most of its electorate despises him and his policies he still did everything he could to woo the Socialists.


Tadic and his entourage are just like the European Union.. only practice democracy when it suits your own interest. Maybe thats why they have such a unbreakable love connection.

I would say that some of your comments on political situation are right and some are not. However, I would like to ask you on your part of responsibility for not recommending your government to support 'pleas of late PM Zoran Đinđić and many other pro-European Serbian politicians to take quicker and more substantive steps to bring Serbia into Europe'. With you and the other US Ambassadors in Serbia US Adminsitration has shown incomtenece and made so many wrong moves including recognition of Kosovo. Aren't you ashamed?

Mr Ex. Ambassador,

You wrote, "For over seven years after the fall of Slobodan Milošević, the European Union and the United States resisted the pleas of the late Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić and many other pro-European Serbian politicians to take quicker and more substantive steps to bring Serbia into Europe. One has to wonder how different the region would look today if in fact the West had responded far more positively in those early days. In fact, quite the opposite occurred."

Reading between the lines, I sense you now consider that that US/EU policy was, in hindsight, wrong. Am I right?

So, to put your (new) belief into context, I should point out - because you neglect to do so - that YOU were Chief of US Mission to Belgrade Nov. 2000 to Nov. 2001, and then Ambassador until Feb. 2004. You were thus the US President's (via the State Dept.) principle advisor on Yugoslavia SRJ/SiCG policy.

In effect, that failed policy was that which YOU advised your political masters of the
time. Please have the decency to admit that YOUR advice has, in hindsight, been very much part of the problem not the solution.

Alternatively, if that US/EU policy was not that which you advised (you councelled differently but kept quiet publically) then it demonstrates how little the State Dept. and the president thought of your advice. Thus indicating that you were simple a placeman/bagman sent to do the State Dept's. bidding.

So Mr Ex-Ambassador, are you to shoulder and accept part of the blame for the mess that we now see?

Mr. Montgomery, I am slightly less optimistic about the chances of this government.
- First, there is mr. Tadic. I have the impression that just as with Kostunica the power is getting to his head and he risks overplaying his hand and making mistakes. His dirty political tricks before the election didn't show the capacities that are required if you want to keep a coalition together.
- Then there are the socialists. It is the question whether they will be happy with just having their own island-like ministeries. For their political future it might be wiser to have some real influence on the general government policy so that they have something to show to their voters. Fast elections may be bad for them, but being seen a voiceless supporters of Tadic may be even worse.
- Finally it would be nice to hear a comment from you on the foreign influence in the Serb democracy and its effect of stability. It is my impression that it gives many people the impression that they are powerless and drives voters to the SRS.

Mr Ambasador,
Obviously the "Hail Mary" shot scored!
A beacon of hope is shining over Serbia nad the region. It looks like an awakening of reason.
But how long before yje opposit side equalizes?
They have no reason, but are full of rage. Rage for the loss of Yuggoslavia, Krajna, now Kosovo.
If the EU opens its gates fast, the rage may evaporate in the common European space.
But judging from their mood after the Irish referendum, for reasons far beyond Serbian control, THEY WON'T.

To show any signs of optimism in this situation, as Mr Montgomery does here, is to be praised. In principles, because optimism is always more difficult to support than pessimism, which all too often defines itself as "realism". Optimism is therefore a pleasant and becoming attitude, and I try myself to show some of it. However.

However, here's the problem: this coalition government, made up of former complete and determined enemies, is not based either on realism or goodwill. Its only basis is the hunger for power. The fact that DS and SPS only now decide to write a common declaration of reconciliation proves just how bad their act is. In order to be credible, they should have signed such a declaration before the election, not after.

All in all, the entire matter only goes to show the following: the election process in Serbia is doomed. With its Italian-style miriad of parties, any result is bound to be completely distorted by the usually shadowy negotiations that take place after the elections. Everything depends on these negotiations, not on the elections. When SRS won the election, we had a DS-DSS-G17 governement. When DS government, we end up with Palma and SPS calling the shots. It amounts to say that, given the existing election process, democracy cannot truly exist in Serbia. And the current coalition government is no exception to this sad rule. My optimism lies in the hope that these rules will soon be changed. But about this government, any optimism would be sadly foolish.

Hello Mr Ex-Ambassador,

The quality of your musings is deteriorating.

The factual accuracy of your observations often leaves a lot to be desired, and the subsequent analysis and conclusions drawn are hovvering between weak and abysmal.

Here's just one example of your inaccuracy in reporting, "Even with a convincing success in the Parliamentary elections (winning by far the largest number of seats), the Democratic Party/G17 Plus coalition - like their Radical Party and DSS (Koštunica) opponents ...."

How many parliamentary seats did pre-election ZeS coalition obtain? 102.
How many parliamentary seats
did the post-election SRS/DSS-NS bloc obtain? Just how does 6 LESS seats equate to a "convincing success"?

Did you struggle with math at school, or are you deliberately trying to mislead B92s readership with disingenuous statements?

Not much point rebutting the rest of your prose given this as a start point is there?

How strange. Part of my previouis post has 'altered' itself between keyboard and B92 publishing.

Para 4 should read...

How many parliamentary seats did pre-election ZeS coalition obtain? 102.
How many parliamentary seats did the post-election SRS/DSS-NS bloc obtain? 108.
Just how does 6 LESS seats equate to a "convincing success"?

It is laughable to imagine a government that would start arresting national heroes and gladly give away territory to terrorists. That is a western fantasy.

Although I do not agree with this government I truly hope it stabilizes. However even if I did support Tadic's policies I would never vote for him or his party. Nothing they do is democratic... you think persuading the Socialists to join is democratic? Knowing full well that most of its electorate despises him and his policies he still did everything he could to woo the Socialists.


Tadic and his entourage are just like the European Union.. only practice democracy when it suits your own interest. Maybe thats why they have such a unbreakable love connection.

I would say that some of your comments on political situation are right and some are not. However, I would like to ask you on your part of responsibility for not recommending your government to support 'pleas of late PM Zoran Đinđić and many other pro-European Serbian politicians to take quicker and more substantive steps to bring Serbia into Europe'. With you and the other US Ambassadors in Serbia US Adminsitration has shown incomtenece and made so many wrong moves including recognition of Kosovo. Aren't you ashamed?

Mr Ambasador,
Obviously the "Hail Mary" shot scored!
A beacon of hope is shining over Serbia nad the region. It looks like an awakening of reason.
But how long before yje opposit side equalizes?
They have no reason, but are full of rage. Rage for the loss of Yuggoslavia, Krajna, now Kosovo.
If the EU opens its gates fast, the rage may evaporate in the common European space.
But judging from their mood after the Irish referendum, for reasons far beyond Serbian control, THEY WON'T.

Mr Ex. Ambassador,

You wrote, "For over seven years after the fall of Slobodan Milošević, the European Union and the United States resisted the pleas of the late Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić and many other pro-European Serbian politicians to take quicker and more substantive steps to bring Serbia into Europe. One has to wonder how different the region would look today if in fact the West had responded far more positively in those early days. In fact, quite the opposite occurred."

Reading between the lines, I sense you now consider that that US/EU policy was, in hindsight, wrong. Am I right?

So, to put your (new) belief into context, I should point out - because you neglect to do so - that YOU were Chief of US Mission to Belgrade Nov. 2000 to Nov. 2001, and then Ambassador until Feb. 2004. You were thus the US President's (via the State Dept.) principle advisor on Yugoslavia SRJ/SiCG policy.

In effect, that failed policy was that which YOU advised your political masters of the
time. Please have the decency to admit that YOUR advice has, in hindsight, been very much part of the problem not the solution.

Alternatively, if that US/EU policy was not that which you advised (you councelled differently but kept quiet publically) then it demonstrates how little the State Dept. and the president thought of your advice. Thus indicating that you were simple a placeman/bagman sent to do the State Dept's. bidding.

So Mr Ex-Ambassador, are you to shoulder and accept part of the blame for the mess that we now see?

To show any signs of optimism in this situation, as Mr Montgomery does here, is to be praised. In principles, because optimism is always more difficult to support than pessimism, which all too often defines itself as "realism". Optimism is therefore a pleasant and becoming attitude, and I try myself to show some of it. However.

However, here's the problem: this coalition government, made up of former complete and determined enemies, is not based either on realism or goodwill. Its only basis is the hunger for power. The fact that DS and SPS only now decide to write a common declaration of reconciliation proves just how bad their act is. In order to be credible, they should have signed such a declaration before the election, not after.

All in all, the entire matter only goes to show the following: the election process in Serbia is doomed. With its Italian-style miriad of parties, any result is bound to be completely distorted by the usually shadowy negotiations that take place after the elections. Everything depends on these negotiations, not on the elections. When SRS won the election, we had a DS-DSS-G17 governement. When DS government, we end up with Palma and SPS calling the shots. It amounts to say that, given the existing election process, democracy cannot truly exist in Serbia. And the current coalition government is no exception to this sad rule. My optimism lies in the hope that these rules will soon be changed. But about this government, any optimism would be sadly foolish.

Mr. Montgomery, I am slightly less optimistic about the chances of this government.
- First, there is mr. Tadic. I have the impression that just as with Kostunica the power is getting to his head and he risks overplaying his hand and making mistakes. His dirty political tricks before the election didn't show the capacities that are required if you want to keep a coalition together.
- Then there are the socialists. It is the question whether they will be happy with just having their own island-like ministeries. For their political future it might be wiser to have some real influence on the general government policy so that they have something to show to their voters. Fast elections may be bad for them, but being seen a voiceless supporters of Tadic may be even worse.
- Finally it would be nice to hear a comment from you on the foreign influence in the Serb democracy and its effect of stability. It is my impression that it gives many people the impression that they are powerless and drives voters to the SRS.