LDP could join govt. “under certain conditions”

I really don't understand how this guy is in politics.

I can tell you that Serbian politics is extremely corrupt and personally, I've had enough of this country. Don't get me wrong, the people are the most hospitable and friendly in the world but the criminal politicians with tentacles leading to the West and criminal entities have destroyed this country. It has got worse in the past four years and I can't see it getting any better.

We are heading in the same direction as Greece my friends. We have boarded the Titanic with our third class ticket. Bye bye Serbia!

So let me get this straight, the LDP want to join government yet they came 5th in the parliamentary elections, putting them behind the SNS and DSS who most probably wont be in government. What right do they honestly think they have to be a part of the government? But also this would mean that Serbia would have to recognize Kosovo and join NATO, what a travesty this is for Serbian 'democracy'.

Jeez. They've barely managed to cling to a few mandates. Not exactly a position from which you can dictate a majority coalition.

Jeez. They've barely managed to cling to a few mandates. Not exactly a position from which you can dictate a majority coalition.
(Burt, 10 May 2012 09:38)

Usually, I would agree with that kind of a statement, but since Dacic demands to be prime minister while his party only reached 3rd place, this appears to be not so surprising.

Burt.

They got 25% more votes than last time, compared to the opposite fringe of Serbian politics - SRS, DSS, who both lost large.

When things are as tight as they are in Serbian politics, these small parties can make a (disproportionate) difference.

DSS won 21 seats (on their own), same as in 2008, so they lost nothing. LDP (or 'Preokret' I should say) on the other hand won 20 seats and that was as part of a coalition. Get your facts straight.

Jeez. They've barely managed to cling to a few mandates. Not exactly a position from which you can dictate a majority coalition.
(Burt, 10 May 2012 09:38)

They got 20 mandates, thats 100% more mandates compared to year 2008. DS doesnt want to be in coalition with URS, so future goverment will be DS-SPS-LDP

Of course, not everyone is terrible, but to say that Serbs are "the most hospitable people on earth" is utter garbage.
(Danilo, 10 May 2012 15:02)
--
Whatever Danilo, that is my experience and even the opinion of many ex-pats I speak to. You as usual would choose the exception.

Did you ever go to any of Cedo's parties in the late 90s or early 2000s? He had quite a reputation for being very generous with distributing certain substances, most likely originating from the KLA. Is that why you support him?

So indeed the problem clearly lies with you, don't be bitter that you can't chat up Serbian women, your own personality shown here is the problem, maybe you should work on it.
(SCP UK, 11 May 2012 12:36)

I get the feeling that our dear genius Danilo has a problem chatting up ANY women, not just Serbian women.
Danilo, perhaps you need to look in the mirror and say to yourself 'Maybe it's just me?'.
Cheers!!

Zoran am not going to tell you 'I told you so', but I'm surprised that you didn't realise a little sooner that nothing would change politically.

There is of course, as I'm sure you know, no difference between criminal politicians with tentacles to the west or criminal politicians with tentacles to anywhere else. The important part is the fact that we have a political class who are willing to say anything to be elected and are only concerned with helping themselves.

As far as Jovanovic is concerned again you surprise me in not understanding politics here. Many people disillusioned with 'democratic' parties are looking for somebody who will increase speed of reform, someone who doesn't go along with the cosy concensus that appears to be getting us nowhere. They may be wrong, but voting for LDP is the only way they can express this feeling.

I don't know what kind of result you were expecting, but this result is pretty much in line with what I thought would happen. My only surprise was just how well SPS did.

Danilo, I have asked this before but I will ask again because you always avoid the question, but why do you live in Serbia if you think Serbs are such disgusting and filthy people? It really baffles me, I mean there are a fair amount of Serbs who are pro-EU and the rest of it, but I have never seen or heard a more self-hating Serb than yourself. The thing is you will always be a Serb, I'm surprised that hasnt motivated you to kill yourself already.

Danilo, I am talking about the Serbian people and hospitality. Serbs are definitely world leaders from my personal experience and from listening to others. I have traveled to many countries and I know personally how good it is here. I.e, visiting family and friends, going to restaurants and so on.

I am not talking about business (or even driving) because that aspect has a different mentality. As someone mentioned to me, we do business like the Turks and I agree, many people here are short sighted, looking for the quick buck instead of building a reputable business. However, there are also the honest and good business people, you just need to find them. That is one area that we can improve on, but when our leaders are corrupt criminals, then it seems to filter down. In fact, your Cedo is one of the biggest criminals we have. Ask around and you'll know what he was up to in the late 90s and early 2000s. Quite disgusting really and I don't know why he is still in politics and not behind bars.

But then again, since he is Western leaning, just like Thaci and Djukanovic, NATOs partners in crime get support.

I don't know what kind of result you were expecting, but this result is pretty much in line with what I thought would happen. My only surprise was just how well SPS did.
(bganon, 10 May 2012 16:03)
--
My surprise was how dirty and manipulated politics can get in Serbia. We don't have democracy. I wasn't expecting anything to change even if Nikolic ended up in government but I did hear the elections were fixed from certain internationals.

How can anything change when Serbia is an occupied country, yes, the whole country. You should know that.

I already answered all of these questions, SPCUK. Why are you so interested in my personal details anyway? Does it have any impact on the things I say?

As for my ethnicity, I don't have one, thank goodness. My grand-parents were Serbian. If you think that makes me "a Serb", fine, but I have more in common with the ethnically Chinese neighbour in my city in North America, who I went to the same schools with than my neighbour in Belgrade.

Anyway, this identity stuff some of you Serbs have trouble with is boring. I'm a man of the world. It's a shame your world is so small.

Try to chat someone up in a club that you haven't been introduced to and you'll get a crazy look.
============================

Danilo, next time leave a good impression on her.

Anyway, this identity stuff some of you Serbs have trouble with is boring. I'm a man of the world. It's a shame your world is so small.
(Danilo, 10 May 2012 21:08)
============================

And you wonder why you strike out in clubs.

As far as Jovanovic is concerned again you surprise me in not understanding politics here. Many people disillusioned with 'democratic' parties are looking for somebody who will increase speed of reform, someone who doesn't go along with the cosy concensus that appears to be getting us nowhere. They may be wrong, but voting for LDP is the only way they can express this feeling
=============================

They are like our Greens here in Australia. One would have to be crazy to vote for them and we have our share of crazies. Inner Melbourne crazies who actually vote Greens.
Politicians are the same world over but one thing looks certain and that is that Tadic had help from his friends in Washington.

Where is this famous hospitality? Was it in the metal bars used to beat Brice Taton?
(Danilo, 10 May 2012 22:07)
--
Poor Danilo, no one here talks or even cares about Taton or what his family might think about Serbia. I think you are spending too much time in Switzerland.

If you haven't experienced Serbian hospitality then I really feel sorry for you. It seems your ego and self obsession gets in the way of having a good time in Serbia. If you can't connect with the people here then for some reason, I don't think they are the problem. As mentioned, pretty much all of the expats I meet tell me they are treated like royalty, even those who work for the occupation.

Too bad for you. Get over yourself and maybe you'll see the light.

"the people are the most hospitable and friendly in the world "

This is the most ridiculous, exaggerated myth that people perpetuate about Serbia.

Tell that to the Taton family, Zorane.

I've been subjected to a number of extortion attempts while I've been here, and the Serbian worker at any office or business - There is not a ruder creature on the planet.

Of course, not everyone is terrible, but to say that Serbs are "the most hospitable people on earth" is utter garbage.

Zoran in your opinion which countries of Europe are occupied and which are not?
I'm presuming that you are referring to all NATO countries as being occupied including countries like France? Or is it just some Balkan countries?

And one more question, when did Serbia become occupied? I'm presuming you are saying occupation began under Milosevic?

And wow, you REALLY didn't realise how dirty and manipulated Serbian politics was??? I'm flabbergasted - blackmail, use of state security, control of the media, threats of losing jobs to name but a few were utterly commonplace under Milosevic. That was the culture then, how can one expect normality now?

To be honest I couldn't care less that Cedo (or Vuk) might have dabbled in substances in his younger days and I've heard so many stories about Cedo and Zemun that its become pase. Yes, you meet people that claim to have seen this and that with their own eyes, or tell you some story on good authority. Frankly it became clear to me some years ago that state security apparatus is still able to use clever methods to discredit politicians who would undermine their authority. In fact on this subject I have first hand experience and knowledge of this.

BTW I don't agree that the elections were fixed in the way you do. I believe that internationals would not be unhappy if SNS came to power. If you mean that elections are fixed against non DS, non SNS and non SPS parties that would be a massive ask to prove. Its probably impossible to fix on such a widespread basis. The only logical conclusion is that these are the parties most Serbs support, for good or ill there is no necessity to fix.

"I have a huge amount of experience in both"

lol. aren't you a kid going to university living with your parents? You don't have a HUGE amount of experience in anything.

Anyway. No. it's not my fault that Serbs are rude. It's not my fault that I've been extorted. It's not my fault that that waiter yelled at those Germans for being German.

I'm just being honest about my experiences here. don't shoot the messenger.

as for nightclubs, I'm not talking (only) about picking up people in bars. In the UK, I find you can go into almost any place and chat people up and have an interesting conversation. In Serbia, everyone thinks you must want something.

Again. I'm just relaying my honest experiences. Aren't they enough to suggest that this legendary hospitality is just that, some kind of nice story that Serbs like telling each other?

Poor Danilo... seems like you are a person that focuses on the negativity. I've found most border police to be rude and egotistical everywhere, Serbian ones included. Nothing unusual there.

I stumbled on this site. Seems like a French man living in Belgrade has gone out of his way to promote this country. So much so that he has proclaimed himself Serbia's ambassador to the world. Have a look for yourself.

http://www.ambassador-serbia.com/category/is-serbia-safe
http://www.ambassador-serbia.com/

BTW, I would offer to catch up in Belgrade but I have this feeling you'll ruin the night. ;) Learn about humility and things might start working out for you. The hospitality is great, the women are the best but as everywhere, it comes with its faults. We can easily point to the corrupt political class for your extortion. Doing business is not so easy here, I'll agree there. However, cheap labour seems to be the attraction.

It's not my fault that that waiter yelled at those Germans for being German.
(Danilo)

It's one thing to yell at Germans for being German and quite another thing to yell at Germans for talking about Hitler (probably in rather sympathetic way)

Zorane, I didn't choose to be a victim of extortion attempts in Serbia.

Other expats are fine, I'm sure. Most of them just do some job from abroad and hang out in nightclubs. I'm doing something a little more serious, and as soon as people get an idea that you have some money, out come the scams and mafia behaviour.

Serbia is fine if you're just "blaying". Scratch the surface a little and you'll get scum under your fingernails.

Once again, tell the Taton family that "Serbs are the most hospitable people on the planet"

SPC UK.

I've been over this a lot on this board. I'm here because I have a branch-office of my business here. I hire a team of people here. I'm always asking myself if it's worth it or not.

I'm not a self-hating serb, because I'm not a Serb. Describe me like that if you wish, it's just that it's not a particularly useful way to describe me, if it's your intent to understand me.

I'm not a self-hating anything. I'm pretty proud of myself for having the guts and sense of adventure to move around the world to an underdeveloped but slowly developing country and make an interesting go of things.

I think that pretty much covers it. if you have any more questions about me, feel free to ask. Thank you for your interest in me.

PS. if you ever need a job in Belgrade, I pay 20% more than the standard average.

Ohhhh right I see, well if you are not a Serb then that explains a lot, if you don't mind me asking, what is your ethnic background? Even still though, if you hate Serbia so much then I don't understand why you work there.

PS I wouldn't ever work for someone like you, I don't know what kind of business you run but I pretty damn sure I can do a whole lot better.

Couple of things Danilo. Your little speech about you being a man of the world and denying your ethnicity is as much stupid as it is false, everyone has an ethnicity, whether they they like it or not, but denying doesn't make it non-existent. Such a statement really does make you sound like a fool, everyone is a member of an ethnic group, not everyone on earth is the same.

As for your statement about cedo, that is utter BS, you have on numerous occasions shown support for him on this site or jumped to his defence.

And wow, you REALLY didn't realise how dirty and manipulated Serbian politics was??? I'm flabbergasted - blackmail, use of state security, control of the media, threats of losing jobs to name but a few were utterly commonplace under Milosevic. That was the culture then, how can one expect normality now?
--
I'm not talking about how dirty and manipulated politics was but how it is now. And I'm not talking about substance consumption by Cedo but distribution. I'm sure you've heard about it because it's no secret. I have had many people tell me about it from first hand experience.

Peggy, people don't hook up in clubs here. They just don't. So, thanks again for showing how little you know about Serbia.
(Danilo, 11 May 2012 10:18)
========================

Maybe not. I have no idea what clubs in Serbia are like but I think clubs around the world have a common theme.
So what did you mean when you said this:

"Try to chat someone up in a club that you haven't been introduced to and you'll get a crazy look."

What are you trying to do when you try to chat someone up? Are you only trying to chat to them in a platonic way or do you give the impression that you are really trying to chat them up?
Maybe it doesn't matter. They see a man so up himself (sorry, a man of the world) coming their way they are stunned like a dear in a headlight.
They might be used to normal Serbian men.

BTW, Zoran. I've experienced LOTS of Serbian hospitality. I experience it every day.

3 days ago, I left Serbia by car and the border guard literally SCREAMED at me because I went to the wrong window. Yesterday I bought a charger in Belgrade and the lady at the store yelled at me because I changed my mind. Former co-workers of mine have gotten together with criminal elements and have tried to extort me. I've been to a few slavas where I get harassed all night as to whether I feel Serbian and why not (ya. lots of fun. great hosts). 3 weeks ago, I was in a cafe and witnessed the waiter harass young German tourists because they were German and started talking about Hitler.

This is just off the top of my head and in the last three weeks examples of outstanding Serbian hospitality I've either witnessed or experienced.

No, Peggy.

Serbs are simply not used to speaking to people they haven't been introduced to. They mostly hang out with the same people they went to elementary school with.


Not that it matters, that's how they are, but it hardly fits this fanciful notion that they are 'outstandingly hospitable'

Danilo, it's all becoming clear now! I must begin with your little rant about chatting up women in Serbian nightclubs, perhaps if you try a more selfless approach and more interest, it seems probable that the arrogance you bring to this site you also take to the nightclub, and therefore causing women not to like you. There are an awful lot of beautiful Serbian women but from my own experience they are not more unpleasant than any other women, I don't know what your chat up lines are but I would try not to talk about politics, it's really a massive turnoff. Perhaps take a look at your own personality before blaming the women, my experience seems to be utterly the opposite to yours, I wonder why...

As for you being shouted at by a couple of people, I suggest you just man up a bit and not be so damn sensitive, oh and the fact that you use a couple of examples to generalise a whole nation shows nothing but pure ignorance on your part. Come back again with that argument when every single shop owner and border guard has the same attitude, in the mean time try not to cry about it.

Let's make a comparison here between Serbia and the UK, because I have a huge amount of experience in both. Just as an example, in Serbia people's homes are always open to guests, in the UK however it is considered rude to turn up at a friends house without calling well in advance, as if it is a doctors appointment. Go to London and you will see how inhospitable people are, you have no clue.

So indeed the problem clearly lies with you, don't be bitter that you can't chat up Serbian women, your own personality shown here is the problem, maybe you should work on it.

Danilo, using the whole age argument is rather pathetic and shows substantial weakness in your arguement, my experiences are that I spend large amounts of time in both countries, so I do know thank you very much. And as for your suggestion about ethnicity, I said everyone has an ethnic identity, that doesn't mean they have just one, if they are of mixed ethnicity then they are mixed, but still have ethnicities. Are you also mixed?

It appears you are a sad and lonely individual who is looking for a place to cry their heart out, I pity you greatly, but none of us care for your deeply routed personal issues.

"The important part is the fact that we have a political class "

Very true, Bganon. Only the same faces all the time. I heard it costs 1000e to register as a political party. Is this true? If so, what a terrible barrier for people to get into politics.

Zoran. Why do you keep calling Cedo "mine". I am neither able to vote in Serbia nor have I ever expressed an opinion on him. Personally, I think he comes across as a terribly inexperienced politician.

Serbs do business "like Turks"? I have never had better business partners than Turks. If ONLY Serbs did business like Turks.

So, where is this "hospitality"? Walk into a Serbian store and you won't see it. Walk into a restaurant, and if you change your order, you might get a rude word from the waiter. Try to chat someone up in a club that you haven't been introduced to and you'll get a crazy look.

Where is this famous hospitality? Was it in the metal bars used to beat Brice Taton?

Peggy, people don't hook up in clubs here. They just don't. So, thanks again for showing how little you know about Serbia.

"everyone has an ethnicity"

I missed this gem

So, what is the ethnicity of some 7th generation American, who's great-great-grandmother is Chinese, great-great grandfather in Malasian, Who's great-great paternal grandfather is Irish, other one is German, great-great paternal grandmother is French, other one is Spanish.

on the grandfather level, one is native American, one is Swedish, one is etc, etc, etc.

what is this person's "ethnicity"?

Maybe it's hard to understand coming from a society that puts a lot of value on this kind of tribalism, but not everyone in the world thinks like that.

Actually, I do pretty well anywhere but Serbia (where I score about average)

Look guys, I'm just telling you my experiences. I've had some terrible experiences with Serbs- extortion attempts being the latest. police are involved.

I'm not making this stuff up because I hate Serbs. I hate Serbs because I'm not making this stuff up.

@aaaaay

you misunderstood me.

The Serbian waiter started harassing the young German tourists for being German and started talking to THEM about Hitler

Serbian hospitality for ya.

Zoran, I couldn't imagine anything I'd rather do less than hang out with you, and I'm sure the feeling is mutual, so no love lost.

wait wait... politicians are responsible for the scum trying to rob me now? Maybe the simpler explanation is that they're just scum.

but hey. that's just more Serbian hospitality.

"the people are the most hospitable and friendly in the world "

This is the most ridiculous, exaggerated myth that people perpetuate about Serbia.

Tell that to the Taton family, Zorane.

I've been subjected to a number of extortion attempts while I've been here, and the Serbian worker at any office or business - There is not a ruder creature on the planet.

Of course, not everyone is terrible, but to say that Serbs are "the most hospitable people on earth" is utter garbage.

Burt.

They got 25% more votes than last time, compared to the opposite fringe of Serbian politics - SRS, DSS, who both lost large.

When things are as tight as they are in Serbian politics, these small parties can make a (disproportionate) difference.

SPC UK.

I've been over this a lot on this board. I'm here because I have a branch-office of my business here. I hire a team of people here. I'm always asking myself if it's worth it or not.

I'm not a self-hating serb, because I'm not a Serb. Describe me like that if you wish, it's just that it's not a particularly useful way to describe me, if it's your intent to understand me.

I'm not a self-hating anything. I'm pretty proud of myself for having the guts and sense of adventure to move around the world to an underdeveloped but slowly developing country and make an interesting go of things.

I think that pretty much covers it. if you have any more questions about me, feel free to ask. Thank you for your interest in me.

PS. if you ever need a job in Belgrade, I pay 20% more than the standard average.

Jeez. They've barely managed to cling to a few mandates. Not exactly a position from which you can dictate a majority coalition.

So let me get this straight, the LDP want to join government yet they came 5th in the parliamentary elections, putting them behind the SNS and DSS who most probably wont be in government. What right do they honestly think they have to be a part of the government? But also this would mean that Serbia would have to recognize Kosovo and join NATO, what a travesty this is for Serbian 'democracy'.

Jeez. They've barely managed to cling to a few mandates. Not exactly a position from which you can dictate a majority coalition.
(Burt, 10 May 2012 09:38)

They got 20 mandates, thats 100% more mandates compared to year 2008. DS doesnt want to be in coalition with URS, so future goverment will be DS-SPS-LDP

DSS won 21 seats (on their own), same as in 2008, so they lost nothing. LDP (or 'Preokret' I should say) on the other hand won 20 seats and that was as part of a coalition. Get your facts straight.

Zorane, I didn't choose to be a victim of extortion attempts in Serbia.

Other expats are fine, I'm sure. Most of them just do some job from abroad and hang out in nightclubs. I'm doing something a little more serious, and as soon as people get an idea that you have some money, out come the scams and mafia behaviour.

Serbia is fine if you're just "blaying". Scratch the surface a little and you'll get scum under your fingernails.

Once again, tell the Taton family that "Serbs are the most hospitable people on the planet"

I really don't understand how this guy is in politics.

I can tell you that Serbian politics is extremely corrupt and personally, I've had enough of this country. Don't get me wrong, the people are the most hospitable and friendly in the world but the criminal politicians with tentacles leading to the West and criminal entities have destroyed this country. It has got worse in the past four years and I can't see it getting any better.

We are heading in the same direction as Greece my friends. We have boarded the Titanic with our third class ticket. Bye bye Serbia!

I already answered all of these questions, SPCUK. Why are you so interested in my personal details anyway? Does it have any impact on the things I say?

As for my ethnicity, I don't have one, thank goodness. My grand-parents were Serbian. If you think that makes me "a Serb", fine, but I have more in common with the ethnically Chinese neighbour in my city in North America, who I went to the same schools with than my neighbour in Belgrade.

Anyway, this identity stuff some of you Serbs have trouble with is boring. I'm a man of the world. It's a shame your world is so small.

Zoran am not going to tell you 'I told you so', but I'm surprised that you didn't realise a little sooner that nothing would change politically.

There is of course, as I'm sure you know, no difference between criminal politicians with tentacles to the west or criminal politicians with tentacles to anywhere else. The important part is the fact that we have a political class who are willing to say anything to be elected and are only concerned with helping themselves.

As far as Jovanovic is concerned again you surprise me in not understanding politics here. Many people disillusioned with 'democratic' parties are looking for somebody who will increase speed of reform, someone who doesn't go along with the cosy concensus that appears to be getting us nowhere. They may be wrong, but voting for LDP is the only way they can express this feeling.

I don't know what kind of result you were expecting, but this result is pretty much in line with what I thought would happen. My only surprise was just how well SPS did.

Of course, not everyone is terrible, but to say that Serbs are "the most hospitable people on earth" is utter garbage.
(Danilo, 10 May 2012 15:02)
--
Whatever Danilo, that is my experience and even the opinion of many ex-pats I speak to. You as usual would choose the exception.

Did you ever go to any of Cedo's parties in the late 90s or early 2000s? He had quite a reputation for being very generous with distributing certain substances, most likely originating from the KLA. Is that why you support him?

I don't know what kind of result you were expecting, but this result is pretty much in line with what I thought would happen. My only surprise was just how well SPS did.
(bganon, 10 May 2012 16:03)
--
My surprise was how dirty and manipulated politics can get in Serbia. We don't have democracy. I wasn't expecting anything to change even if Nikolic ended up in government but I did hear the elections were fixed from certain internationals.

How can anything change when Serbia is an occupied country, yes, the whole country. You should know that.

Zoran. Why do you keep calling Cedo "mine". I am neither able to vote in Serbia nor have I ever expressed an opinion on him. Personally, I think he comes across as a terribly inexperienced politician.

Serbs do business "like Turks"? I have never had better business partners than Turks. If ONLY Serbs did business like Turks.

So, where is this "hospitality"? Walk into a Serbian store and you won't see it. Walk into a restaurant, and if you change your order, you might get a rude word from the waiter. Try to chat someone up in a club that you haven't been introduced to and you'll get a crazy look.

Where is this famous hospitality? Was it in the metal bars used to beat Brice Taton?

BTW, Zoran. I've experienced LOTS of Serbian hospitality. I experience it every day.

3 days ago, I left Serbia by car and the border guard literally SCREAMED at me because I went to the wrong window. Yesterday I bought a charger in Belgrade and the lady at the store yelled at me because I changed my mind. Former co-workers of mine have gotten together with criminal elements and have tried to extort me. I've been to a few slavas where I get harassed all night as to whether I feel Serbian and why not (ya. lots of fun. great hosts). 3 weeks ago, I was in a cafe and witnessed the waiter harass young German tourists because they were German and started talking about Hitler.

This is just off the top of my head and in the last three weeks examples of outstanding Serbian hospitality I've either witnessed or experienced.

No, Peggy.

Serbs are simply not used to speaking to people they haven't been introduced to. They mostly hang out with the same people they went to elementary school with.


Not that it matters, that's how they are, but it hardly fits this fanciful notion that they are 'outstandingly hospitable'

"everyone has an ethnicity"

I missed this gem

So, what is the ethnicity of some 7th generation American, who's great-great-grandmother is Chinese, great-great grandfather in Malasian, Who's great-great paternal grandfather is Irish, other one is German, great-great paternal grandmother is French, other one is Spanish.

on the grandfather level, one is native American, one is Swedish, one is etc, etc, etc.

what is this person's "ethnicity"?

Maybe it's hard to understand coming from a society that puts a lot of value on this kind of tribalism, but not everyone in the world thinks like that.

"I have a huge amount of experience in both"

lol. aren't you a kid going to university living with your parents? You don't have a HUGE amount of experience in anything.

Anyway. No. it's not my fault that Serbs are rude. It's not my fault that I've been extorted. It's not my fault that that waiter yelled at those Germans for being German.

I'm just being honest about my experiences here. don't shoot the messenger.

as for nightclubs, I'm not talking (only) about picking up people in bars. In the UK, I find you can go into almost any place and chat people up and have an interesting conversation. In Serbia, everyone thinks you must want something.

Again. I'm just relaying my honest experiences. Aren't they enough to suggest that this legendary hospitality is just that, some kind of nice story that Serbs like telling each other?

"The important part is the fact that we have a political class "

Very true, Bganon. Only the same faces all the time. I heard it costs 1000e to register as a political party. Is this true? If so, what a terrible barrier for people to get into politics.

Ohhhh right I see, well if you are not a Serb then that explains a lot, if you don't mind me asking, what is your ethnic background? Even still though, if you hate Serbia so much then I don't understand why you work there.

PS I wouldn't ever work for someone like you, I don't know what kind of business you run but I pretty damn sure I can do a whole lot better.

Zoran in your opinion which countries of Europe are occupied and which are not?
I'm presuming that you are referring to all NATO countries as being occupied including countries like France? Or is it just some Balkan countries?

And one more question, when did Serbia become occupied? I'm presuming you are saying occupation began under Milosevic?

And wow, you REALLY didn't realise how dirty and manipulated Serbian politics was??? I'm flabbergasted - blackmail, use of state security, control of the media, threats of losing jobs to name but a few were utterly commonplace under Milosevic. That was the culture then, how can one expect normality now?

To be honest I couldn't care less that Cedo (or Vuk) might have dabbled in substances in his younger days and I've heard so many stories about Cedo and Zemun that its become pase. Yes, you meet people that claim to have seen this and that with their own eyes, or tell you some story on good authority. Frankly it became clear to me some years ago that state security apparatus is still able to use clever methods to discredit politicians who would undermine their authority. In fact on this subject I have first hand experience and knowledge of this.

BTW I don't agree that the elections were fixed in the way you do. I believe that internationals would not be unhappy if SNS came to power. If you mean that elections are fixed against non DS, non SNS and non SPS parties that would be a massive ask to prove. Its probably impossible to fix on such a widespread basis. The only logical conclusion is that these are the parties most Serbs support, for good or ill there is no necessity to fix.

Peggy, people don't hook up in clubs here. They just don't. So, thanks again for showing how little you know about Serbia.

Danilo, using the whole age argument is rather pathetic and shows substantial weakness in your arguement, my experiences are that I spend large amounts of time in both countries, so I do know thank you very much. And as for your suggestion about ethnicity, I said everyone has an ethnic identity, that doesn't mean they have just one, if they are of mixed ethnicity then they are mixed, but still have ethnicities. Are you also mixed?

It appears you are a sad and lonely individual who is looking for a place to cry their heart out, I pity you greatly, but none of us care for your deeply routed personal issues.

So indeed the problem clearly lies with you, don't be bitter that you can't chat up Serbian women, your own personality shown here is the problem, maybe you should work on it.
(SCP UK, 11 May 2012 12:36)

I get the feeling that our dear genius Danilo has a problem chatting up ANY women, not just Serbian women.
Danilo, perhaps you need to look in the mirror and say to yourself 'Maybe it's just me?'.
Cheers!!

Actually, I do pretty well anywhere but Serbia (where I score about average)

Look guys, I'm just telling you my experiences. I've had some terrible experiences with Serbs- extortion attempts being the latest. police are involved.

I'm not making this stuff up because I hate Serbs. I hate Serbs because I'm not making this stuff up.

Jeez. They've barely managed to cling to a few mandates. Not exactly a position from which you can dictate a majority coalition.
(Burt, 10 May 2012 09:38)

Usually, I would agree with that kind of a statement, but since Dacic demands to be prime minister while his party only reached 3rd place, this appears to be not so surprising.

Danilo, I have asked this before but I will ask again because you always avoid the question, but why do you live in Serbia if you think Serbs are such disgusting and filthy people? It really baffles me, I mean there are a fair amount of Serbs who are pro-EU and the rest of it, but I have never seen or heard a more self-hating Serb than yourself. The thing is you will always be a Serb, I'm surprised that hasnt motivated you to kill yourself already.

Danilo, I am talking about the Serbian people and hospitality. Serbs are definitely world leaders from my personal experience and from listening to others. I have traveled to many countries and I know personally how good it is here. I.e, visiting family and friends, going to restaurants and so on.

I am not talking about business (or even driving) because that aspect has a different mentality. As someone mentioned to me, we do business like the Turks and I agree, many people here are short sighted, looking for the quick buck instead of building a reputable business. However, there are also the honest and good business people, you just need to find them. That is one area that we can improve on, but when our leaders are corrupt criminals, then it seems to filter down. In fact, your Cedo is one of the biggest criminals we have. Ask around and you'll know what he was up to in the late 90s and early 2000s. Quite disgusting really and I don't know why he is still in politics and not behind bars.

But then again, since he is Western leaning, just like Thaci and Djukanovic, NATOs partners in crime get support.

Try to chat someone up in a club that you haven't been introduced to and you'll get a crazy look.
============================

Danilo, next time leave a good impression on her.

Anyway, this identity stuff some of you Serbs have trouble with is boring. I'm a man of the world. It's a shame your world is so small.
(Danilo, 10 May 2012 21:08)
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And you wonder why you strike out in clubs.

As far as Jovanovic is concerned again you surprise me in not understanding politics here. Many people disillusioned with 'democratic' parties are looking for somebody who will increase speed of reform, someone who doesn't go along with the cosy concensus that appears to be getting us nowhere. They may be wrong, but voting for LDP is the only way they can express this feeling
=============================

They are like our Greens here in Australia. One would have to be crazy to vote for them and we have our share of crazies. Inner Melbourne crazies who actually vote Greens.
Politicians are the same world over but one thing looks certain and that is that Tadic had help from his friends in Washington.

Couple of things Danilo. Your little speech about you being a man of the world and denying your ethnicity is as much stupid as it is false, everyone has an ethnicity, whether they they like it or not, but denying doesn't make it non-existent. Such a statement really does make you sound like a fool, everyone is a member of an ethnic group, not everyone on earth is the same.

As for your statement about cedo, that is utter BS, you have on numerous occasions shown support for him on this site or jumped to his defence.

Where is this famous hospitality? Was it in the metal bars used to beat Brice Taton?
(Danilo, 10 May 2012 22:07)
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Poor Danilo, no one here talks or even cares about Taton or what his family might think about Serbia. I think you are spending too much time in Switzerland.

If you haven't experienced Serbian hospitality then I really feel sorry for you. It seems your ego and self obsession gets in the way of having a good time in Serbia. If you can't connect with the people here then for some reason, I don't think they are the problem. As mentioned, pretty much all of the expats I meet tell me they are treated like royalty, even those who work for the occupation.

Too bad for you. Get over yourself and maybe you'll see the light.

And wow, you REALLY didn't realise how dirty and manipulated Serbian politics was??? I'm flabbergasted - blackmail, use of state security, control of the media, threats of losing jobs to name but a few were utterly commonplace under Milosevic. That was the culture then, how can one expect normality now?
--
I'm not talking about how dirty and manipulated politics was but how it is now. And I'm not talking about substance consumption by Cedo but distribution. I'm sure you've heard about it because it's no secret. I have had many people tell me about it from first hand experience.

Peggy, people don't hook up in clubs here. They just don't. So, thanks again for showing how little you know about Serbia.
(Danilo, 11 May 2012 10:18)
========================

Maybe not. I have no idea what clubs in Serbia are like but I think clubs around the world have a common theme.
So what did you mean when you said this:

"Try to chat someone up in a club that you haven't been introduced to and you'll get a crazy look."

What are you trying to do when you try to chat someone up? Are you only trying to chat to them in a platonic way or do you give the impression that you are really trying to chat them up?
Maybe it doesn't matter. They see a man so up himself (sorry, a man of the world) coming their way they are stunned like a dear in a headlight.
They might be used to normal Serbian men.

Danilo, it's all becoming clear now! I must begin with your little rant about chatting up women in Serbian nightclubs, perhaps if you try a more selfless approach and more interest, it seems probable that the arrogance you bring to this site you also take to the nightclub, and therefore causing women not to like you. There are an awful lot of beautiful Serbian women but from my own experience they are not more unpleasant than any other women, I don't know what your chat up lines are but I would try not to talk about politics, it's really a massive turnoff. Perhaps take a look at your own personality before blaming the women, my experience seems to be utterly the opposite to yours, I wonder why...

As for you being shouted at by a couple of people, I suggest you just man up a bit and not be so damn sensitive, oh and the fact that you use a couple of examples to generalise a whole nation shows nothing but pure ignorance on your part. Come back again with that argument when every single shop owner and border guard has the same attitude, in the mean time try not to cry about it.

Let's make a comparison here between Serbia and the UK, because I have a huge amount of experience in both. Just as an example, in Serbia people's homes are always open to guests, in the UK however it is considered rude to turn up at a friends house without calling well in advance, as if it is a doctors appointment. Go to London and you will see how inhospitable people are, you have no clue.

So indeed the problem clearly lies with you, don't be bitter that you can't chat up Serbian women, your own personality shown here is the problem, maybe you should work on it.

Poor Danilo... seems like you are a person that focuses on the negativity. I've found most border police to be rude and egotistical everywhere, Serbian ones included. Nothing unusual there.

I stumbled on this site. Seems like a French man living in Belgrade has gone out of his way to promote this country. So much so that he has proclaimed himself Serbia's ambassador to the world. Have a look for yourself.

http://www.ambassador-serbia.com/category/is-serbia-safe
http://www.ambassador-serbia.com/

BTW, I would offer to catch up in Belgrade but I have this feeling you'll ruin the night. ;) Learn about humility and things might start working out for you. The hospitality is great, the women are the best but as everywhere, it comes with its faults. We can easily point to the corrupt political class for your extortion. Doing business is not so easy here, I'll agree there. However, cheap labour seems to be the attraction.

It's not my fault that that waiter yelled at those Germans for being German.
(Danilo)

It's one thing to yell at Germans for being German and quite another thing to yell at Germans for talking about Hitler (probably in rather sympathetic way)

@aaaaay

you misunderstood me.

The Serbian waiter started harassing the young German tourists for being German and started talking to THEM about Hitler

Serbian hospitality for ya.

Zoran, I couldn't imagine anything I'd rather do less than hang out with you, and I'm sure the feeling is mutual, so no love lost.

wait wait... politicians are responsible for the scum trying to rob me now? Maybe the simpler explanation is that they're just scum.

but hey. that's just more Serbian hospitality.