10 years since fall of Milošević regime

Why no mention of Otpor? Are people ashamed that it was created, funded and sponsored by the US (and NATO)? Koštunica is probably the only politician who has awoken. What ever happened to the promised $5 billion for handing over Milošević against our constitution? Đinđić ended up losing his life instead.

Its nice to know that we live in a world where mass murderers and adulterers like Clinton and Blair are considered to be moral and just, where as Milosevic is considered a tyrant for defending his nation and its territorial integrity against albanian terrorists!
Milosevic's crimes where many. But they were crimes against the Serbian people!
It was for the Serbian people to judge and punish him. Not the corrupt puppet court of the ICJ.
It would be nice to see a day where the US gets judged for the millions of innocent people it has killed throughout history in its imperialistic quest for dominance and power. And that all the thousands of innocent victims of crippling sanctions and collateral damage receive some justice and closure!

"10 years since fall of Milošević regime"...and still Milosevic's ideology prevails and what is more important Serbia is still in the year 2000...(or maybe even further back)

Unlike the rest of Serbian politicians I am glad that Serbia has Cedo Jovanovic who thinks different than Milosevic...

Really and truly today's Serbian politicians do not differ from Milosevic BUT unlike Milosevic they got NO TOOTH...(as NATO broke theirs in 1999)

TIME for Serbia to reflect his awful past

Is it not just normal of the Serbs to rig the vote it happened in Srpska entity just now in the election. Just like Slobodan Milošević's regime did 24, 2000 and before that. When they tried to corner the votes in fraud as they did in the old Yugoslavia take away the autonomous regions elected official's votes and use them against the rest. If that fraud dose not work they get even more violently deranged pity your neighbours but you have no pity or shame its business as usual until some one puts a end to it.

Lets not get lost in sides issues concerning the west, the Hague and so on.

This anniversary is another moment to reflect on what 5th October should have been and what it turned out to be?

In my mind the question is why did Serbia fail to make the changes necessary and why the government continues to make serious mistakes particularly in its internal policies but also with its dealings with the world.

In my opinion we must decide what is the overriding priority and move towards this goal because half hearted moves in any direction do not help anybody.

There are still too many people in Serbia (particularly politicians and certain government appointed officials) who do not understand they have a duty towards the people of Serbia, and not towards things like getting a job for life or taking as much as you can.

Some are still under the impression that policies of sleepwalking or merely saying no to something (sadly this applies mostly to Kostunica) is the answer to all our ills.

With negativity and conservatism must come policies, direction and energy. Making no changes to a system that is still sick and offering no solutions is both irresponsible and stupid.

On the other hand we have a government that suffers from a lack of true opposition. They are not pushed by the opposition to do anything radical and mostly they sit making small changes that at best only benefit a minority of people. At the same time they swallow some of the worst aspects of western economics (neo liberalism) in allowing rich oligarchs to operate with minimal regulation / sanction.

The people see no needs to change their habits when those at the top are not setting an example.

Were I in charge one of the first things I would implement would be to enforce anti corruption authorities to take action against public officials / politicians, to reduce the pay of ministers, to clampdown on false accounting / monopolistic practices by companies. At the same time I would make a huge deal out of this crusade and remind the public that they have a responsiblity to society to play by the rules too. This would culminate in new laws for everybody to be brought in over a period of time.

Part of the money clawed back could go towards public debt and the rest towards investment in public services...

Oh, when will things change for the better?

Serbia should have taken the opportunity on that day not only to send to The Hague Milosevic, but all those who participated closely with him in this infamous war of ethnic cleansing which resulted in the death of 1000s of innocents, no matter the ethnicity.

It was the perfect occasion to get rid of people like Mladic, Karadzic and others who have tarnished the image os Serbia for a long time.

"Really and truly today's Serbian politicians do not differ from Milosevic BUT unlike Milosevic they got NO TOOTH...(as NATO broke theirs in 1999) "
(PRN, 5 October 2010 14:24)

It might be your opinion that today's Serbian politicians don't differ much. But at least, in Serbia, the Serbian people have been smart enough (well, not all of them, as we can see in the commmetns here) to elect other leaders than the ones from before 2000. In the independent dream state of Kosovo, on the other hand, former KLA fighters are still in high-ranking positions.

'I will always remember the guy on the tractor...'
(kate, 5 October 2010 12:46)

...and? What about him?
(TP, 5 October 2010 14:01)

He is just a memorable image. Is that okay with you?

Not that I could have achieved any of these things, politics being what they are, but had I been in charge starting 5 Oct 2000:

1. any politician or member of the security forces/military with the slightest hint of blood on his/her hands would have been immediately jailed and put on trial (that would have been a pretty large group and difficult to contain)

2. final status negotiations with Kosovo would have commenced immediately

3. a truth and reconciliation commission with Muslims, Croats, Albanians and Slovenes would have been established without delay in order to allow for the prosecution of all war crimes committed in ex-Yu (my TRC would not have allowed for amnesty)

4. remaining border disputes would have been resolved as soon as possible

5. Hague suspects and all documentation considered to be potential evidence of war crimes would have been quickly transferred to the ICTY

5. Nationalism would have been greatly toned down and crimes of intolerance of any kind severely punished

6. EU accession negotiations would have been started promptly

7. Discussions regarding affordable and reasonable reparations to BiH and Croatia would have been initiated (there would definitely be some off-setting costs there)

8. Apologies for all war crimes committed in the name of Serbia would have been promptly made

9. Security forces would have collaborated with their counterparts in BiH and Croatia to arrest any Serbian war crimes suspects hiding on those territories

10. As much money stolen from Serbian citizens as possible would have been returned (that would be a tiny fraction of the total, of course, but deferred restitution could at least make the younger generation more whole at some point)

10. Vojvodina and Sandzak would have been granted full autonomy

11. The largest possible economic stimulus plan would have been launched in an effort to put all citizens to work and to rebuild/modernize the FRY infrastructure (such a plan would benefit from conditions created for much higher foreign investment)

12. The Serbian people would have been encouraged to stop blaming the outside world for all their woes, and to start taking some responsibility for the mess their politicians of the 90s did much to create (they weren't the only culprits, but they were culprits)

Some of these things have actually happened and Serbs' lives would have been a little easier had they happened much sooner. Others may yet happen. Too anti-Serbian in my bullet points? Just think what Serbia might have gotten back from her neighbors out of good-will.

Though I have never felt Slobo on my own skin I believe his main guilt was that he proved to be unable neither to save Yugoslavia nor Serbia. But he was a much more brave and honest than many of the barkers.

I will always remember the guy on the tractor...

Great post bganon, u ask fair questions but already gave in ur post many answers, transition is never an easy task!
I could give you so many reasons as to why this why that, my own experience and exposure of nearly 20 years in countries in transition, too long for a blog!
Let's give some credit to Tadic and part of his crew for what they are trying to achieve in a very very difficult environment, both at home and abroad !

It might be your opinion that today's Serbian politicians don't differ much. But at least, in Serbia, the Serbian people have been smart enough (well, not all of them, as we can see in the commmetns here) to elect other leaders than the ones from before 2000. In the independent dream state of Kosovo, on the other hand, former KLA fighters are still in high-ranking positions.
(Top, 5 October 2010 15:42)
Your post makes no sense. If you look throughout history every new emerging country is lead by the ones who got them there. In Kosovo it is the ones who lead them to freedom from Kosovo. The change in Kosovo is Kosovo leaders not Serbian, just like in Serbia the leaders are non-Milosevic not a continuation of the past.
New leaders will emerge in Kosovo as a transition. But to expect any country to emerge and then immediately turn against the very people who got them there would be unnatural and probably a historic precedent.
In the US who was elected the 1st President--General George Washington.

"In my mind the question is why did Serbia fail to make the changes necessary and why the government continues to make serious mistakes particularly in its internal policies but also with its dealings with the world.

(bganon, 5 October 2010 16:38) "

Excellent post, bganon. My guess as to why things haven't changed more, for the better, is that simply removing Milosevic was not enough - the security services should have been disbanded at the same time, and the private armed groups, and those responsible for the crimes and war crimes jailed and then prosecuted. This would have allowed those who had engaged in wartime smuggling to be dealt with before they turned into the "controversial businessmen" who have controlled the economy ever since. But nothing could be done as long as the security forces had their info to blackmail the politicians and the force to control the people.

It was easier in a way for the rest of Eastern Europe to throw off authoritarian government because it could be interpreted as foreign rule in the interests of a foreign ideology. But in Serbia, as in Russia, the system was home-grown, and it was/is more difficult to reject it entirely and to eliminate all signs of it. Lustration - if it had been possible - would have saved Serbia years, and maybe Kosovo.

This is a problem that Communists never had after a revolution - they simply physically eliminated any possible resistance right at the start, or enough of it to terrorize the population into silence. Those who replace them play by different rules, and appear weak and confused, and end up struggling for years. And when dealing with the past can be interpreted as caving in to foreign pressure, it's clearly even more difficult.

Thank you Lenard for the good wishes and goodwill towards Serbs and Serbia. With good neighbors like you in the Balkans, it will not be long before the entire territory of southwest Europe blossoms into a land of economic stability, respect, and harmony.

Sloba fought defensive wars but he criminalized nationalism. He did all he could when RUS was weak. Today when RUS has risen, we can use diplomacy. His family is protected by RUS today, so make no mistake, both Sloba & Tadic are respected by Putin.

Excellent post baganon, as always.

Kate, I remember the tractor guy also. Too bad Serbia has had a shortage of tractor drivers since then.

Zoran who said about shutting off parts of the economy? The idea is to legalise the economy and (eventually) bring it under control of the tax authorities.

I don't agree that the end result, increasing the federal budget would be harmful, quite the opposite. And of course alongside real legalisation the question of current rates of tax would have to be examined and changed.

I think Serbia has had quite enough of anti monopolistic practice and have to say that on this issue you are quite out of touch. Telling people to wait for the sake of waiting or on a prayer of something changing is just an excuse to do nothing.

I fail to see what OTPOR has to do with anything, they are long gone. Sounds like a load of negativity you should try to make a positive out of it!

Nenad you made some good points. I think the argument that Serbia should have made more radical moves earlier on a number of issues is the correct analysis. Sadly at the time I fell for the 'revanchism is bad' line and I felt that Serbia must not go from one extreme to another. In hindsight I was mistaken, the boil should have been lanced. The irony is that Serbia actually had 2 chances to make real change - the second time was after they murdered Djindjic. That opportunity was not used either. And again, ever the democrat, I was against any excesses by the D(O)S led government and fought against what I saw as the abuse of human rights of some of those arrested by the government and the state of emergency. Its a thankless task but as an individual I am still against any undermining of human rights and lack of democracy. However, if we are talking about what is good for the country in the longer term, it might be true that these rights have to be harmed in order to put the country on the right track.

The problem is who trusts Serbian politicians to rule in their long term interest without their deciding just to abuse their people instead? I don't have that trust myself so its no wonder people are cynical.

But things are starting to change on monopolists and its high time. Look how only a few years ago Imlek were given free reign by the authorities (and arch neo-liberal Milosavljevic). Now the media and certain government ministers and regulatory authorities put pressure on these companies, even if its not enough. The same is true for the Karic's and Miskovic's of this world.

Did I mention I am an Imlek shareholder? That my better half is connected to a Karic institution? What is right for me personally is not what is right for the country. Its a pity self interested individuals are not capable of being 'big' enough to sacrifice their profit margins for the good of society. I don't expect the poorer in society to make this kind of sacrifice until those at the top set (or are forced to set) that example.

"But at least, in Serbia, the Serbian people have been smart enough ... to elect other leaders than the ones from before 2000. In the independent dream state of Kosovo, on the other hand, former KLA fighters are still in high-ranking positions.
(Top, 5 October 2010 15:42) "

This is normal after a war - the losing side turns on its unsuccessful leaders, and the winning side rewards and revers its successful leaders. The change in Serbia would have been more thorough if Slobo et al. had not been able to convince a large part of the population that Serbia had actually won the war - a parade of Nato troops down the main street of Belgrade would have done wonders for democracy in post-Slobo Serbia. But since people were simply rebelling only against dishonest politics and low living standards, they didn't develop the fury needed to root out the existing power structure, and change has been slow and incremental. If Slobo had been charged with losing Kosovo, and Serbians had reacted to that, Serbia would today be in the EU.

@bganon,
a well written post. Thought out and articulate. Altho we may share differing views on quite a few issues , your intelligent opinions are always welcome and indeed encouraged. well done sir.
Perhaps your future lies in politics. The world always welcomes peaceful and constructive thinkers.

I get a bit nauseous when I hear the remarks from these US/EU politico talking heads. After they all had a major part in destroying Serbia, with sanctions, bombs, propaganda, etc., now they congratulate the Serbs for bouncing back. Well I have two words for these people in English, and four in Serbian.

12. The Serbian people would have been encouraged to stop blaming the outside world for all their woes, and to start taking some responsibility for the mess their politicians of the 90s did much to create (they weren't the only culprits, but they were culprits)

Some of these things have actually happened and Serbs' lives would have been a little easier had they happened much sooner. Others may yet happen. Too anti-Serbian in my bullet points? Just think what Serbia might have gotten back from her neighbors out of good-will.
(Nenad, 5 October 2010 20:58)--

Very good, very strong points, Nenad, some of which I have made, or tried to make, many times.

accept responsibility for the sins of the past. hold the war criminals (not just the few big fish demanded by the intl comm)responsible for their actions, and empower an indpt judiciary to deal with them. yes, there would be thousands, but otherwise you have a society based on (war) crime.


pay reparations to individuals whose lives, loved ones have been destroyed forever by yr country's actions, even if under the ex regime.

dr broz told me she believes that BILLIONS, not millions, were gobbled up by a handful of families in former yu, leaving the masses to poverty, to uncertainty. and guess who was the main family? what has been done to press charges ag. said family (s), to recoop even some of the $$? nothing, less than nothing. most of the impt damning files were destroyed by one of yr charming presidents, who is still a pol figure there.

there is no real will to address, to redress offenses of the past. they are just murkily covered in a cesspool of nationalistic rhetoric and threats of one sort or another.

yes, i remember milosevic. all too well. wondering how long that war-mongering monster would stay in power. wondering how long it would take the serbian people to get rid of him, and under what conditions. how many had to die, and some of the most miserable deaths, before that man was taken out.

i am not afraid or embarrassed for one second to discuss my involvement w Otpor. yes, i see now so many of the contradictions, how it housed and harbored many nationalists, extreme nationalists even, but not only. it was a complex movement, a kind of coalition, as such things often become. we chose to ignore our differences, and fight for the common good, the common goal. now that he is long gone, we see the differences, the contradictions, all too clearly. but in the end, i am not sorry for the part i played, small as it was.

actually, milosevic changed my life. i just became more and more involved, almost an unconscious movement. becoming involved with serb war resisters, deserters, families, and on and on. involving many of my frnds, changing their lives forever. i still don't feel comfortable telling all, perhaps one day. let's just say we tread a fine line with rules and regulations.

but i've met so many people because of it all, and that's been incredibly rich, sometimes quite painful...

some of the anger i feel here comes fr the many promises left so unfulfilled. some ow which have been openly discussed today. the media -- i dare not even start about the media here. the people, all too easily manipulated by often sleazy politicians, using the most primitive nationalistic impulses. whether they themselves "really" believe it all or not, whether they are really "rational" deep inside, whatever that means -- who cares? their words and actions have consequences, very bad consequences, that constantly reinforce those so-called ancient animosities we never hear an end to. ancient, recent, they just keep coming. the latest campaign for dodik is just another example. the sleaze, the cynicism, the utter ruttiness of it all. for anyone who still tries to hold on to ideals or optimism, it becomes virtually
impossible.

and here is the one little factor that no one, i mean no one here has bothered to mention (at least in the last few months): they are, as we speak, digging up corpses from the milosevic days. at least 330 bodies, corpses, of victims, bosnian victims fr visegrad, thrown into the waters... but wait, they are not bodies at all, they are body parts, they are 330 sets (last reading) of mingled body parts, with ONE being an almost complete skeleton, sans the head.

all thanks to climate change and a temporarily dried up lake perucac.

can you imagine, all the while dodik and co. make their case for an indpt rs and the outside world (us) just goes about our daily business, as they scream about what's fair is fair, and we have rights too! and everyone is guilty, and just all of the usual recycled lies and slanders and put downs... and plans, plans to destroy their neighbors, and take what is "rightfully" theirs...

and so we come full circle, back to milosevic, back to those days...

thank you.

and yes, peggy, now you can say: thanks for yr latest War and Peace chapter, and go w/ yr brothers and go pray to allah, etc etc...

thank you.

roberto
frsico

"This is normal after a war - the losing side turns on its unsuccessful leaders, and the winning side rewards and revers its successful leaders. The change in Serbia would have been more thorough if Slobo et al. had not been able to convince a large part of the population that Serbia had actually won the war - a parade of Nato troops down the main street of Belgrade would have done wonders for democracy in post-Slobo Serbia. "
(Amer, 5 October 2010 18:26)

True. But what's "successful"? In the case of Kosovo, it's probable a misconception or a strange perception: Has the "success" been caused by the Kosovo politicians? I don't think so at all. Without the NATO intervention (which was necessary and justified in my opinion), the status today would have been different. And I'm sure, with more honorable politicians, Kosovo would have made much more progress until today and would have been accepted and recognized more. About Serbia: The problem here is that a lot of people still see good old "Slobo" as a hero and 'defender' of Serbia (or Yugoslavia), though it's totally the opposite: Yugoslavia has dissolved, Serbs have been expelled from Croatia, regions of Bosnia and Kosovo, all because of his "greater Serbia" politics. It's often like that in life: "If you want too much, you'll loose a lot"

'I will always remember the guy on the tractor...'
(kate, 5 October 2010 12:46)

...and? What about him?

before we judge the development of serbia during the last ten years and the failure to go beyond Slobo's politics we must find out what made serbia different from the rest of the former communist countries in Eastern europe? First unlike Czecks, Poles... Serbs had no such a bad memory from communism. And unlike other yugoslavian nations, they had no reason to be unhappy of the federation. So when most wanted change, serbs wanted the status quo...a difficult position in a changing world. When it became clear that the yugoslavian status quo could not be preservered they chose the change, but an opposite to the one sweeping over europe.when others wanted democracy, serbs wanted Kosovo's autonomy to be scraped.when others wanted independence, Serbs wanted the preservation of yugoslavia OR a redtawal of borders. All Slobo wanted was to stray in power, but to do so he proclaimed loudly what many serbs wanted. The serbian goals, right or wrong were impossible in that epoch and serbia lost a lot.After slobo Serbia seems to has preserved the goals, changing only the means by which they were to be achieved. No wonder Serbia keeps wandering in the wilderness

I would point out that the last Serbian leader who ever accomplished anything for the Serbia was Slobodan Milosevic.

It was Milosevic who secured the passage of Resolution 1244 on Kosovo, and it was Milosevic who gained international recognition for Republika Srpska's autonomy and territorial status at Dayton.

What have the Serbs gained in 10 years of so-called "democracy"?

For the last 10 years, "Democratic" Serbian politicians have done nothing but grovel at NATO's feet, and in exchange all they've gotten are some vague statements from the West that maybe someday Serbia will get to join the EU.

Serbia has capitulated and surrendered its citizens to the Hague Tribunal, eventhough everybody knows it's a joke. That tribunal isn't about justice, it's about politics and everyone knows it.

Nobody who really cares about democracy and human rights would willingly hand people over to a kangaroo court like the Hague Tribunal.

To continue the thoughts of Ashton's "Quisling," 'We see a day when Serbia will be completely subservient to the USA and EU. We see a day when independent Kosovo and Serbia sit at the same table as equals. We see a day when Serbia is no more!" The traitor Tadic is responsible for this mess, all for the promise that Serbia will enter the EU in 2016. Ask Romania how successful their accession has been and how much they have benefitted from EU membership. Oh, that's right! They did serve their American masters with a secret torture prison, a so-called "Black Site." Way to go, Romania. Serbia dies and Serbs pay no attention yet we celebrate the fall of Milosevic, who truly cared about Serbia but also all of Jugoslavija. Sad!

A week ago, I was talking about radical Serbs on this forum. When I look at the appreciation of my last post, it confirms exactly what I had asserted.

Were I in charge one of the first things I would implement would be to enforce anti corruption authorities to take action against public officials / politicians, to reduce the pay of ministers, to clampdown on false accounting / monopolistic practices by companies.
(bganon, 5 October 2010 16:38)
--
You would essentially try to shut off the largest parts of Serbia's economy? Your intentions may be good but the consequences would be harmful. Unfortunately, the practices you talk about are not uncommon in the western world.

From my point of view, the first thing I would change is the flawed tax system. If I were to employ someone at minimum wage I would have to pay 70% tax for this person. Ridiculous! It's no wonder so many people work in the black. Import tax is another joke and the reason so many goods are overly priced. A good tax system would encourage investment and help Serbia's economy.

Once the economy is moving in the right direction, tackling anti-competitive practices would be next.

Of course this was never the intention of Otpor and co. They only wanted power to serve their masters. The master turned out to be a dud and I'm not surprise the people aren't motivated. Making Serbia prosperous has to come from within and not by some false dreams of joining the EU.

had I been in charge starting 5 Oct 2000:
(Nenad, 5 October 2010 20:58)
--
Nenad, but people just aren't ready for it, even now.

Truth and reconciliation is more about healing by revealing the truth and not locking people away. No-one would reveal the truth if they are locked up afterwards.

Nenad,
I absolutely agree with you no need to say any less or any more just spot on.

Nenad,

You do have one or two good ideas. But your comments are certainly anti-Serb!

Autonomy for Vojvodina and Sandzak are the most ridiculous ideas. No other country would grant autonomy to areas simply because they have quite large ethnic or religious minorities. Would you recommend that Neukoeln, Marseille, and Bradford be made autonomous because they have many Muslims?

And whilst Serbia has and should continue to arrest war criminals, and apologise for criminal acts in war in the 1990s, it is outrageous to suggest that the same should not also be expected for Croatian and Bosnian Muslim crimes. Certainly any hint of compensation, requires that first as a precondition.

RE; Reading between the lines....

B92

"Milošević was arrested on April 1, 2001 and extradited to the Hague Tribunal on June 28, where he died in detention in March 2006, before his trial was completed."


"Milošević was arrested on April 1, 2001 and extradited to the Hague Tribunal

[Against the Yugoslavian Constitution]

on June 28, (Vidovdan-Anniversary of Battle of Kosovo, June 28, 1389)

where he died
[was murdered and denied medical treatment from his own doctors] in detention in March 2006, before his trial was completed."

Both Kostunica and Djindijic are responsible for sending Milosevic to the Hague Tribunal on June 28, St. Vitus day to signify defeat.

@ Zoran ,
your comment was intelligent and very sound - right up to the last paragraph. If one doesnt like the EU , no problem. But to refer to some form of conspiracy and/or victim mentality actually weakens the argument. But the ecomomics are sound.

Kate, I remember the tractor guy also. Too bad Serbia has had a shortage of tractor drivers since then.
(Mike, 5 October 2010 20:59)
--
I remember reading about the tractor driver and he became disillusioned just like most Serbians. The so-called revolution wasn't about changing peoples lives for the better, it was an illusion the west painted to grab power in Serbia. That's what the Otpor fist was all about. :)

Since there's no "I fully support and endorse this post" then I will say Nenad's post was by far very constructive.

This was posted by someone else but I'll repost here as I believe it to be very appropriate. Check http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=21317

Mrnovic,

I was in no way suggesting that apologies from Serbian enemies shouldn't be expected. They absolutely should. But to get, you have to give. And there can be no question as to the prevailing perception held by non-Serbs in ex-Yu: Serbs were the primary instigators. The accuracy of that perception doesn't matter; Serbs needed to take the initiative on reconciliation. In any event, I think many of us could agree that Serbs had a lot of apologizing to do. But yes, they were owed some apologies in return.

Autonomy for Vojvodina and Sandzak outrageous? What about the fact that Vojvodina had already been autonomous prior to 1989? As for Sandzak, why not? It would have made a very nice conciliatory gesture toward Muslims and I don't think it would have caused any foreseeable harm. And for those who believe in land swaps (I'm not really one who does), it could have even been a potential bargaining chip for a certain region at some point, but that certainly wasn't my main point. The real practical benefits would be the goodwill gesture toward Muslims (including those outside the Balkans) and the elimination of a future political dispute (potentially loaded with dire consequences) with Novi Pazar that any Serb could reasonably anticipate.

By the way, Serbs would be making a conciliatory gesture to minorities in Vojvodina as well -- some were harrassed there in 1991 and 1992.

Zoran,

I somewhat agree with your point on obtaining the truth, but strongly believe that the authorities of the ex-Yu republics possessed the means to get at essential information pertaining to operations carried out during the wars. I don't think much interrogation would have been required.

I absolutely agree with you that the people of the Balkans still aren't ready to completely reconcile. In my fantasy of being the head of state with a lot of power, I would take the Tito approach to that problem (but unlike Tito, make it stick -- and with much more lawful action).

In any case, all of this is purely fantasy. And to anyone who feels I'm biased against Serbs, I can assure you that I am most definitely not. I also recognize that there are scores of governments around the globe (including, obviously, those of the West) carrying plenty of guilt for their own crimes and believe me, I fantasize every bit as much about how they, too, could pay for their wrongs. But we all know how the world works.

Is it not just normal of the Serbs to rig the vote it happened in Srpska entity just now in the election. Just like Slobodan Milošević's regime did 24, 2000 and before that. When they tried to corner the votes in fraud as they did in the old Yugoslavia take away the autonomous regions elected official's votes and use them against the rest. If that fraud dose not work they get even more violently deranged pity your neighbours but you have no pity or shame its business as usual until some one puts a end to it.

Why no mention of Otpor? Are people ashamed that it was created, funded and sponsored by the US (and NATO)? Koštunica is probably the only politician who has awoken. What ever happened to the promised $5 billion for handing over Milošević against our constitution? Đinđić ended up losing his life instead.

Its nice to know that we live in a world where mass murderers and adulterers like Clinton and Blair are considered to be moral and just, where as Milosevic is considered a tyrant for defending his nation and its territorial integrity against albanian terrorists!
Milosevic's crimes where many. But they were crimes against the Serbian people!
It was for the Serbian people to judge and punish him. Not the corrupt puppet court of the ICJ.
It would be nice to see a day where the US gets judged for the millions of innocent people it has killed throughout history in its imperialistic quest for dominance and power. And that all the thousands of innocent victims of crippling sanctions and collateral damage receive some justice and closure!

Sloba fought defensive wars but he criminalized nationalism. He did all he could when RUS was weak. Today when RUS has risen, we can use diplomacy. His family is protected by RUS today, so make no mistake, both Sloba & Tadic are respected by Putin.

"10 years since fall of Milošević regime"...and still Milosevic's ideology prevails and what is more important Serbia is still in the year 2000...(or maybe even further back)

Unlike the rest of Serbian politicians I am glad that Serbia has Cedo Jovanovic who thinks different than Milosevic...

Really and truly today's Serbian politicians do not differ from Milosevic BUT unlike Milosevic they got NO TOOTH...(as NATO broke theirs in 1999)

TIME for Serbia to reflect his awful past

Serbia should have taken the opportunity on that day not only to send to The Hague Milosevic, but all those who participated closely with him in this infamous war of ethnic cleansing which resulted in the death of 1000s of innocents, no matter the ethnicity.

It was the perfect occasion to get rid of people like Mladic, Karadzic and others who have tarnished the image os Serbia for a long time.

Though I have never felt Slobo on my own skin I believe his main guilt was that he proved to be unable neither to save Yugoslavia nor Serbia. But he was a much more brave and honest than many of the barkers.

"Really and truly today's Serbian politicians do not differ from Milosevic BUT unlike Milosevic they got NO TOOTH...(as NATO broke theirs in 1999) "
(PRN, 5 October 2010 14:24)

It might be your opinion that today's Serbian politicians don't differ much. But at least, in Serbia, the Serbian people have been smart enough (well, not all of them, as we can see in the commmetns here) to elect other leaders than the ones from before 2000. In the independent dream state of Kosovo, on the other hand, former KLA fighters are still in high-ranking positions.

'I will always remember the guy on the tractor...'
(kate, 5 October 2010 12:46)

...and? What about him?

To continue the thoughts of Ashton's "Quisling," 'We see a day when Serbia will be completely subservient to the USA and EU. We see a day when independent Kosovo and Serbia sit at the same table as equals. We see a day when Serbia is no more!" The traitor Tadic is responsible for this mess, all for the promise that Serbia will enter the EU in 2016. Ask Romania how successful their accession has been and how much they have benefitted from EU membership. Oh, that's right! They did serve their American masters with a secret torture prison, a so-called "Black Site." Way to go, Romania. Serbia dies and Serbs pay no attention yet we celebrate the fall of Milosevic, who truly cared about Serbia but also all of Jugoslavija. Sad!

I get a bit nauseous when I hear the remarks from these US/EU politico talking heads. After they all had a major part in destroying Serbia, with sanctions, bombs, propaganda, etc., now they congratulate the Serbs for bouncing back. Well I have two words for these people in English, and four in Serbian.

I would point out that the last Serbian leader who ever accomplished anything for the Serbia was Slobodan Milosevic.

It was Milosevic who secured the passage of Resolution 1244 on Kosovo, and it was Milosevic who gained international recognition for Republika Srpska's autonomy and territorial status at Dayton.

What have the Serbs gained in 10 years of so-called "democracy"?

For the last 10 years, "Democratic" Serbian politicians have done nothing but grovel at NATO's feet, and in exchange all they've gotten are some vague statements from the West that maybe someday Serbia will get to join the EU.

Serbia has capitulated and surrendered its citizens to the Hague Tribunal, eventhough everybody knows it's a joke. That tribunal isn't about justice, it's about politics and everyone knows it.

Nobody who really cares about democracy and human rights would willingly hand people over to a kangaroo court like the Hague Tribunal.

'I will always remember the guy on the tractor...'
(kate, 5 October 2010 12:46)

...and? What about him?
(TP, 5 October 2010 14:01)

He is just a memorable image. Is that okay with you?

Thank you Lenard for the good wishes and goodwill towards Serbs and Serbia. With good neighbors like you in the Balkans, it will not be long before the entire territory of southwest Europe blossoms into a land of economic stability, respect, and harmony.

Were I in charge one of the first things I would implement would be to enforce anti corruption authorities to take action against public officials / politicians, to reduce the pay of ministers, to clampdown on false accounting / monopolistic practices by companies.
(bganon, 5 October 2010 16:38)
--
You would essentially try to shut off the largest parts of Serbia's economy? Your intentions may be good but the consequences would be harmful. Unfortunately, the practices you talk about are not uncommon in the western world.

From my point of view, the first thing I would change is the flawed tax system. If I were to employ someone at minimum wage I would have to pay 70% tax for this person. Ridiculous! It's no wonder so many people work in the black. Import tax is another joke and the reason so many goods are overly priced. A good tax system would encourage investment and help Serbia's economy.

Once the economy is moving in the right direction, tackling anti-competitive practices would be next.

Of course this was never the intention of Otpor and co. They only wanted power to serve their masters. The master turned out to be a dud and I'm not surprise the people aren't motivated. Making Serbia prosperous has to come from within and not by some false dreams of joining the EU.

Not that I could have achieved any of these things, politics being what they are, but had I been in charge starting 5 Oct 2000:

1. any politician or member of the security forces/military with the slightest hint of blood on his/her hands would have been immediately jailed and put on trial (that would have been a pretty large group and difficult to contain)

2. final status negotiations with Kosovo would have commenced immediately

3. a truth and reconciliation commission with Muslims, Croats, Albanians and Slovenes would have been established without delay in order to allow for the prosecution of all war crimes committed in ex-Yu (my TRC would not have allowed for amnesty)

4. remaining border disputes would have been resolved as soon as possible

5. Hague suspects and all documentation considered to be potential evidence of war crimes would have been quickly transferred to the ICTY

5. Nationalism would have been greatly toned down and crimes of intolerance of any kind severely punished

6. EU accession negotiations would have been started promptly

7. Discussions regarding affordable and reasonable reparations to BiH and Croatia would have been initiated (there would definitely be some off-setting costs there)

8. Apologies for all war crimes committed in the name of Serbia would have been promptly made

9. Security forces would have collaborated with their counterparts in BiH and Croatia to arrest any Serbian war crimes suspects hiding on those territories

10. As much money stolen from Serbian citizens as possible would have been returned (that would be a tiny fraction of the total, of course, but deferred restitution could at least make the younger generation more whole at some point)

10. Vojvodina and Sandzak would have been granted full autonomy

11. The largest possible economic stimulus plan would have been launched in an effort to put all citizens to work and to rebuild/modernize the FRY infrastructure (such a plan would benefit from conditions created for much higher foreign investment)

12. The Serbian people would have been encouraged to stop blaming the outside world for all their woes, and to start taking some responsibility for the mess their politicians of the 90s did much to create (they weren't the only culprits, but they were culprits)

Some of these things have actually happened and Serbs' lives would have been a little easier had they happened much sooner. Others may yet happen. Too anti-Serbian in my bullet points? Just think what Serbia might have gotten back from her neighbors out of good-will.

I will always remember the guy on the tractor...

12. The Serbian people would have been encouraged to stop blaming the outside world for all their woes, and to start taking some responsibility for the mess their politicians of the 90s did much to create (they weren't the only culprits, but they were culprits)

Some of these things have actually happened and Serbs' lives would have been a little easier had they happened much sooner. Others may yet happen. Too anti-Serbian in my bullet points? Just think what Serbia might have gotten back from her neighbors out of good-will.
(Nenad, 5 October 2010 20:58)--

Very good, very strong points, Nenad, some of which I have made, or tried to make, many times.

accept responsibility for the sins of the past. hold the war criminals (not just the few big fish demanded by the intl comm)responsible for their actions, and empower an indpt judiciary to deal with them. yes, there would be thousands, but otherwise you have a society based on (war) crime.


pay reparations to individuals whose lives, loved ones have been destroyed forever by yr country's actions, even if under the ex regime.

dr broz told me she believes that BILLIONS, not millions, were gobbled up by a handful of families in former yu, leaving the masses to poverty, to uncertainty. and guess who was the main family? what has been done to press charges ag. said family (s), to recoop even some of the $$? nothing, less than nothing. most of the impt damning files were destroyed by one of yr charming presidents, who is still a pol figure there.

there is no real will to address, to redress offenses of the past. they are just murkily covered in a cesspool of nationalistic rhetoric and threats of one sort or another.

yes, i remember milosevic. all too well. wondering how long that war-mongering monster would stay in power. wondering how long it would take the serbian people to get rid of him, and under what conditions. how many had to die, and some of the most miserable deaths, before that man was taken out.

i am not afraid or embarrassed for one second to discuss my involvement w Otpor. yes, i see now so many of the contradictions, how it housed and harbored many nationalists, extreme nationalists even, but not only. it was a complex movement, a kind of coalition, as such things often become. we chose to ignore our differences, and fight for the common good, the common goal. now that he is long gone, we see the differences, the contradictions, all too clearly. but in the end, i am not sorry for the part i played, small as it was.

actually, milosevic changed my life. i just became more and more involved, almost an unconscious movement. becoming involved with serb war resisters, deserters, families, and on and on. involving many of my frnds, changing their lives forever. i still don't feel comfortable telling all, perhaps one day. let's just say we tread a fine line with rules and regulations.

but i've met so many people because of it all, and that's been incredibly rich, sometimes quite painful...

some of the anger i feel here comes fr the many promises left so unfulfilled. some ow which have been openly discussed today. the media -- i dare not even start about the media here. the people, all too easily manipulated by often sleazy politicians, using the most primitive nationalistic impulses. whether they themselves "really" believe it all or not, whether they are really "rational" deep inside, whatever that means -- who cares? their words and actions have consequences, very bad consequences, that constantly reinforce those so-called ancient animosities we never hear an end to. ancient, recent, they just keep coming. the latest campaign for dodik is just another example. the sleaze, the cynicism, the utter ruttiness of it all. for anyone who still tries to hold on to ideals or optimism, it becomes virtually
impossible.

and here is the one little factor that no one, i mean no one here has bothered to mention (at least in the last few months): they are, as we speak, digging up corpses from the milosevic days. at least 330 bodies, corpses, of victims, bosnian victims fr visegrad, thrown into the waters... but wait, they are not bodies at all, they are body parts, they are 330 sets (last reading) of mingled body parts, with ONE being an almost complete skeleton, sans the head.

all thanks to climate change and a temporarily dried up lake perucac.

can you imagine, all the while dodik and co. make their case for an indpt rs and the outside world (us) just goes about our daily business, as they scream about what's fair is fair, and we have rights too! and everyone is guilty, and just all of the usual recycled lies and slanders and put downs... and plans, plans to destroy their neighbors, and take what is "rightfully" theirs...

and so we come full circle, back to milosevic, back to those days...

thank you.

and yes, peggy, now you can say: thanks for yr latest War and Peace chapter, and go w/ yr brothers and go pray to allah, etc etc...

thank you.

roberto
frsico

A week ago, I was talking about radical Serbs on this forum. When I look at the appreciation of my last post, it confirms exactly what I had asserted.

This was posted by someone else but I'll repost here as I believe it to be very appropriate. Check http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=21317

"In my mind the question is why did Serbia fail to make the changes necessary and why the government continues to make serious mistakes particularly in its internal policies but also with its dealings with the world.

(bganon, 5 October 2010 16:38) "

Excellent post, bganon. My guess as to why things haven't changed more, for the better, is that simply removing Milosevic was not enough - the security services should have been disbanded at the same time, and the private armed groups, and those responsible for the crimes and war crimes jailed and then prosecuted. This would have allowed those who had engaged in wartime smuggling to be dealt with before they turned into the "controversial businessmen" who have controlled the economy ever since. But nothing could be done as long as the security forces had their info to blackmail the politicians and the force to control the people.

It was easier in a way for the rest of Eastern Europe to throw off authoritarian government because it could be interpreted as foreign rule in the interests of a foreign ideology. But in Serbia, as in Russia, the system was home-grown, and it was/is more difficult to reject it entirely and to eliminate all signs of it. Lustration - if it had been possible - would have saved Serbia years, and maybe Kosovo.

This is a problem that Communists never had after a revolution - they simply physically eliminated any possible resistance right at the start, or enough of it to terrorize the population into silence. Those who replace them play by different rules, and appear weak and confused, and end up struggling for years. And when dealing with the past can be interpreted as caving in to foreign pressure, it's clearly even more difficult.

Great post bganon, u ask fair questions but already gave in ur post many answers, transition is never an easy task!
I could give you so many reasons as to why this why that, my own experience and exposure of nearly 20 years in countries in transition, too long for a blog!
Let's give some credit to Tadic and part of his crew for what they are trying to achieve in a very very difficult environment, both at home and abroad !

RE; Reading between the lines....

B92

"Milošević was arrested on April 1, 2001 and extradited to the Hague Tribunal on June 28, where he died in detention in March 2006, before his trial was completed."


"Milošević was arrested on April 1, 2001 and extradited to the Hague Tribunal

[Against the Yugoslavian Constitution]

on June 28, (Vidovdan-Anniversary of Battle of Kosovo, June 28, 1389)

where he died
[was murdered and denied medical treatment from his own doctors] in detention in March 2006, before his trial was completed."

Both Kostunica and Djindijic are responsible for sending Milosevic to the Hague Tribunal on June 28, St. Vitus day to signify defeat.

Kate, I remember the tractor guy also. Too bad Serbia has had a shortage of tractor drivers since then.
(Mike, 5 October 2010 20:59)
--
I remember reading about the tractor driver and he became disillusioned just like most Serbians. The so-called revolution wasn't about changing peoples lives for the better, it was an illusion the west painted to grab power in Serbia. That's what the Otpor fist was all about. :)

Lets not get lost in sides issues concerning the west, the Hague and so on.

This anniversary is another moment to reflect on what 5th October should have been and what it turned out to be?

In my mind the question is why did Serbia fail to make the changes necessary and why the government continues to make serious mistakes particularly in its internal policies but also with its dealings with the world.

In my opinion we must decide what is the overriding priority and move towards this goal because half hearted moves in any direction do not help anybody.

There are still too many people in Serbia (particularly politicians and certain government appointed officials) who do not understand they have a duty towards the people of Serbia, and not towards things like getting a job for life or taking as much as you can.

Some are still under the impression that policies of sleepwalking or merely saying no to something (sadly this applies mostly to Kostunica) is the answer to all our ills.

With negativity and conservatism must come policies, direction and energy. Making no changes to a system that is still sick and offering no solutions is both irresponsible and stupid.

On the other hand we have a government that suffers from a lack of true opposition. They are not pushed by the opposition to do anything radical and mostly they sit making small changes that at best only benefit a minority of people. At the same time they swallow some of the worst aspects of western economics (neo liberalism) in allowing rich oligarchs to operate with minimal regulation / sanction.

The people see no needs to change their habits when those at the top are not setting an example.

Were I in charge one of the first things I would implement would be to enforce anti corruption authorities to take action against public officials / politicians, to reduce the pay of ministers, to clampdown on false accounting / monopolistic practices by companies. At the same time I would make a huge deal out of this crusade and remind the public that they have a responsiblity to society to play by the rules too. This would culminate in new laws for everybody to be brought in over a period of time.

Part of the money clawed back could go towards public debt and the rest towards investment in public services...

Oh, when will things change for the better?

"But at least, in Serbia, the Serbian people have been smart enough ... to elect other leaders than the ones from before 2000. In the independent dream state of Kosovo, on the other hand, former KLA fighters are still in high-ranking positions.
(Top, 5 October 2010 15:42) "

This is normal after a war - the losing side turns on its unsuccessful leaders, and the winning side rewards and revers its successful leaders. The change in Serbia would have been more thorough if Slobo et al. had not been able to convince a large part of the population that Serbia had actually won the war - a parade of Nato troops down the main street of Belgrade would have done wonders for democracy in post-Slobo Serbia. But since people were simply rebelling only against dishonest politics and low living standards, they didn't develop the fury needed to root out the existing power structure, and change has been slow and incremental. If Slobo had been charged with losing Kosovo, and Serbians had reacted to that, Serbia would today be in the EU.

It might be your opinion that today's Serbian politicians don't differ much. But at least, in Serbia, the Serbian people have been smart enough (well, not all of them, as we can see in the commmetns here) to elect other leaders than the ones from before 2000. In the independent dream state of Kosovo, on the other hand, former KLA fighters are still in high-ranking positions.
(Top, 5 October 2010 15:42)
Your post makes no sense. If you look throughout history every new emerging country is lead by the ones who got them there. In Kosovo it is the ones who lead them to freedom from Kosovo. The change in Kosovo is Kosovo leaders not Serbian, just like in Serbia the leaders are non-Milosevic not a continuation of the past.
New leaders will emerge in Kosovo as a transition. But to expect any country to emerge and then immediately turn against the very people who got them there would be unnatural and probably a historic precedent.
In the US who was elected the 1st President--General George Washington.

Excellent post baganon, as always.

Kate, I remember the tractor guy also. Too bad Serbia has had a shortage of tractor drivers since then.

had I been in charge starting 5 Oct 2000:
(Nenad, 5 October 2010 20:58)
--
Nenad, but people just aren't ready for it, even now.

Truth and reconciliation is more about healing by revealing the truth and not locking people away. No-one would reveal the truth if they are locked up afterwards.

Nenad,

You do have one or two good ideas. But your comments are certainly anti-Serb!

Autonomy for Vojvodina and Sandzak are the most ridiculous ideas. No other country would grant autonomy to areas simply because they have quite large ethnic or religious minorities. Would you recommend that Neukoeln, Marseille, and Bradford be made autonomous because they have many Muslims?

And whilst Serbia has and should continue to arrest war criminals, and apologise for criminal acts in war in the 1990s, it is outrageous to suggest that the same should not also be expected for Croatian and Bosnian Muslim crimes. Certainly any hint of compensation, requires that first as a precondition.

"This is normal after a war - the losing side turns on its unsuccessful leaders, and the winning side rewards and revers its successful leaders. The change in Serbia would have been more thorough if Slobo et al. had not been able to convince a large part of the population that Serbia had actually won the war - a parade of Nato troops down the main street of Belgrade would have done wonders for democracy in post-Slobo Serbia. "
(Amer, 5 October 2010 18:26)

True. But what's "successful"? In the case of Kosovo, it's probable a misconception or a strange perception: Has the "success" been caused by the Kosovo politicians? I don't think so at all. Without the NATO intervention (which was necessary and justified in my opinion), the status today would have been different. And I'm sure, with more honorable politicians, Kosovo would have made much more progress until today and would have been accepted and recognized more. About Serbia: The problem here is that a lot of people still see good old "Slobo" as a hero and 'defender' of Serbia (or Yugoslavia), though it's totally the opposite: Yugoslavia has dissolved, Serbs have been expelled from Croatia, regions of Bosnia and Kosovo, all because of his "greater Serbia" politics. It's often like that in life: "If you want too much, you'll loose a lot"

Mrnovic,

I was in no way suggesting that apologies from Serbian enemies shouldn't be expected. They absolutely should. But to get, you have to give. And there can be no question as to the prevailing perception held by non-Serbs in ex-Yu: Serbs were the primary instigators. The accuracy of that perception doesn't matter; Serbs needed to take the initiative on reconciliation. In any event, I think many of us could agree that Serbs had a lot of apologizing to do. But yes, they were owed some apologies in return.

Autonomy for Vojvodina and Sandzak outrageous? What about the fact that Vojvodina had already been autonomous prior to 1989? As for Sandzak, why not? It would have made a very nice conciliatory gesture toward Muslims and I don't think it would have caused any foreseeable harm. And for those who believe in land swaps (I'm not really one who does), it could have even been a potential bargaining chip for a certain region at some point, but that certainly wasn't my main point. The real practical benefits would be the goodwill gesture toward Muslims (including those outside the Balkans) and the elimination of a future political dispute (potentially loaded with dire consequences) with Novi Pazar that any Serb could reasonably anticipate.

By the way, Serbs would be making a conciliatory gesture to minorities in Vojvodina as well -- some were harrassed there in 1991 and 1992.

Zoran,

I somewhat agree with your point on obtaining the truth, but strongly believe that the authorities of the ex-Yu republics possessed the means to get at essential information pertaining to operations carried out during the wars. I don't think much interrogation would have been required.

I absolutely agree with you that the people of the Balkans still aren't ready to completely reconcile. In my fantasy of being the head of state with a lot of power, I would take the Tito approach to that problem (but unlike Tito, make it stick -- and with much more lawful action).

In any case, all of this is purely fantasy. And to anyone who feels I'm biased against Serbs, I can assure you that I am most definitely not. I also recognize that there are scores of governments around the globe (including, obviously, those of the West) carrying plenty of guilt for their own crimes and believe me, I fantasize every bit as much about how they, too, could pay for their wrongs. But we all know how the world works.

Nenad,
I absolutely agree with you no need to say any less or any more just spot on.

@ Zoran ,
your comment was intelligent and very sound - right up to the last paragraph. If one doesnt like the EU , no problem. But to refer to some form of conspiracy and/or victim mentality actually weakens the argument. But the ecomomics are sound.

Since there's no "I fully support and endorse this post" then I will say Nenad's post was by far very constructive.

before we judge the development of serbia during the last ten years and the failure to go beyond Slobo's politics we must find out what made serbia different from the rest of the former communist countries in Eastern europe? First unlike Czecks, Poles... Serbs had no such a bad memory from communism. And unlike other yugoslavian nations, they had no reason to be unhappy of the federation. So when most wanted change, serbs wanted the status quo...a difficult position in a changing world. When it became clear that the yugoslavian status quo could not be preservered they chose the change, but an opposite to the one sweeping over europe.when others wanted democracy, serbs wanted Kosovo's autonomy to be scraped.when others wanted independence, Serbs wanted the preservation of yugoslavia OR a redtawal of borders. All Slobo wanted was to stray in power, but to do so he proclaimed loudly what many serbs wanted. The serbian goals, right or wrong were impossible in that epoch and serbia lost a lot.After slobo Serbia seems to has preserved the goals, changing only the means by which they were to be achieved. No wonder Serbia keeps wandering in the wilderness

Zoran who said about shutting off parts of the economy? The idea is to legalise the economy and (eventually) bring it under control of the tax authorities.

I don't agree that the end result, increasing the federal budget would be harmful, quite the opposite. And of course alongside real legalisation the question of current rates of tax would have to be examined and changed.

I think Serbia has had quite enough of anti monopolistic practice and have to say that on this issue you are quite out of touch. Telling people to wait for the sake of waiting or on a prayer of something changing is just an excuse to do nothing.

I fail to see what OTPOR has to do with anything, they are long gone. Sounds like a load of negativity you should try to make a positive out of it!

Nenad you made some good points. I think the argument that Serbia should have made more radical moves earlier on a number of issues is the correct analysis. Sadly at the time I fell for the 'revanchism is bad' line and I felt that Serbia must not go from one extreme to another. In hindsight I was mistaken, the boil should have been lanced. The irony is that Serbia actually had 2 chances to make real change - the second time was after they murdered Djindjic. That opportunity was not used either. And again, ever the democrat, I was against any excesses by the D(O)S led government and fought against what I saw as the abuse of human rights of some of those arrested by the government and the state of emergency. Its a thankless task but as an individual I am still against any undermining of human rights and lack of democracy. However, if we are talking about what is good for the country in the longer term, it might be true that these rights have to be harmed in order to put the country on the right track.

The problem is who trusts Serbian politicians to rule in their long term interest without their deciding just to abuse their people instead? I don't have that trust myself so its no wonder people are cynical.

But things are starting to change on monopolists and its high time. Look how only a few years ago Imlek were given free reign by the authorities (and arch neo-liberal Milosavljevic). Now the media and certain government ministers and regulatory authorities put pressure on these companies, even if its not enough. The same is true for the Karic's and Miskovic's of this world.

Did I mention I am an Imlek shareholder? That my better half is connected to a Karic institution? What is right for me personally is not what is right for the country. Its a pity self interested individuals are not capable of being 'big' enough to sacrifice their profit margins for the good of society. I don't expect the poorer in society to make this kind of sacrifice until those at the top set (or are forced to set) that example.

@bganon,
a well written post. Thought out and articulate. Altho we may share differing views on quite a few issues , your intelligent opinions are always welcome and indeed encouraged. well done sir.
Perhaps your future lies in politics. The world always welcomes peaceful and constructive thinkers.