Dragoljub Mikhailovich the pills, according to the Belgrade historian Bojan Dimitrijevic, this is a man who is worthy of great respect, while Milan Nedic, Chairman of the Serbian government during the Second world war is “just” a collaborator, but not a criminal. Serbian Orthodox Church canonized Nikolai Velimirovic, the anti-Semite, which compared Adolf Hitler with Saint Sava. For Muamera of Sokolica, Akif Effendi collaborator and not an accomplice of the Nazi occupiers, and “Bosnian hero.”
Former Minister of culture of Croatia Zlatko Hasanbegovic called ustasha “heroes, martyrs and the martyrs.” Montenegrin nationalism has not prevented Krsto Popovic to accept the decision Petrovacki Assembly on the proclamation of an independent state under Italian occupation. “If you take the Turks on their history Montenegrins just about anything will grind a nonsense,” he explained recently, Ivica Dacic, Minister of foreign Affairs of Serbia, the former speaker of criminal party of Slobodan Milosevic and the chief jester at the state festivals of half-closed type.
Recently, Recalling some lost and received only in the early 90-ies of the letter, the academician of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and arts (SASA) Dragoslav Mihajlovic is finally revealed “the dark secret of the SFRY: doctors on the island of Goli Otok conducted experiments on prisoners”. This, according to Mihailovich, invented and maintained “a latent homosexual, a sadist and a masochist” (and Montenegrin!) Milovan Djilas. Against performed, though without success, famous Serbian humanist and nature lover Aleksandar Rankovic. This nonsense as one of the “exclusive” and “first time stories”, published by the Belgrade newspaper Nedeljnik. Almost all other regional media picked up this information. Not excluding even Podgoričke Vijesti!
Serbian historian Milivoj Beslin said that the revision history of the Yugoslav peoples — just a clumsy attempt with the help of the Lodge and falsifications to conceal the disastrous consequences of the policy pursued in the 90-ies of the last century on the territory of the former SFRY. “Attempts to demonize Yugoslavia, which are undertaken from the time of the collapse of this state and a breakdown in his system, indicate that the state-heirs want to build its own new identity, primarily on the audit of the past. Part of this process is the rehabilitation of collaboration during the Second world war, as well as a desire to present all the enemies of Yugoslavia and its leader Josip Broz Tito not only as “the good guys”, but as “victims” and “martyrs” of the system. Despite ideological and other differences, today in Serbia so appreciate the draza Mihailovic, Milan Nedic, Nikola, Kalamitsi and Alexandra of Rankovic,” says historian Milivoj Beslin.
Avangarda: However, by Milovan Djilas (although he was nine years old when Tito was in prison) is not the case. In Serbian society Milovan Djilas never received the status of “good guy”, primarily because of its “deadly sins” because he was not a nationalist and “invented” the Montenegrin nation.
Milivoj Beslin: Yes, it is. Unlike Djilas, the people I mentioned fit into a certain standard of martyrdom. That is, none of them is responsible for anything, nobody did anything wrong, and their only fault is that they, being in opposition to the Tito regime, “defended Serbian interests.” Adhering to the logic that “standard”, we come to the thesis, which was recently expressed on the pages of the Belgrade newspaper Nedeljnik. Academician Dragoslav Mihajlovic tried in his article to prove what took place on the island of Goli Otok are solely responsible Croats and Montenegrins: Tito, the Croat, the state security organs (UDBA), supporters, news, Milovan Djilas, Jovo Kapicic…
– It turns out that General, Jovo Kapicic, being one of the five assistants of the former then the “number two” in Yugoslavia Alexander Rankovic directly responsible for what is happening on Goli Otok, you just think — mentioned the chief Capachica didn’t have the slightest idea.
And not only that. Now say that in Yugoslavia for decades remained silent about Goli Otok, and this is also true. Until 80-ies of the last century, also conducted critical studies and written literary works, which raised these difficult questions. The author of one of these works (I mean the novel “When the bloom pumpkin”, published in 1968) is an academician Dragoslav Mihajlovic. Of course, no one is going to justify the methods that were used on Goli Otok, but the speech now not about it.
About what?
— The attempt to rehabilitate the betrayal and distorting the past to call it patriotism. Those supporters of the information Bureau which in 1948 advocated for the USSR and Stalin against their country, were de facto fifth column. In the early 90-ies these people began to be counted among the patriots. This is not surprising, since the organization of the Yugoslavs, who fought for Stalin, and which, in the late 40’s somehow managed to cross the Soviet Union itself was officially called the “Yugoslav patriots.” Furthermore, today those who once supported news, talking about how great Democrats who fought against the “dictatorship” Tito, punished and taken to Goli Otok only for their verbal crimes. Of course, this is not true. Sent to Goli Otok was a typical settling of scores inside the Communist party of Yugoslavia in which the dominant ruling forces fought against the staunch Stalinists and dogmatists. And they, again, did not hide that in case of Soviet aggression against Yugoslavia, will be on the side of the enemy, i.e. the Soviet Union and Stalin. Its dogmatism and “consistency” they felt a special virtue. To better understand the time, we should not forget that almost all the Yugoslav Communists was formed when the Communist party of Yugoslavia was the only section of the Comintern, that is, obeyed Stalin.
– Was there in 1948, the real danger of Soviet aggression against Yugoslavia?
— Of course, Yes. Although in recent decades, the dramatic story of the 1948 trying to bring it exclusively to talk about the camp on Goli Otok…
Why?
Because the dominant political and intellectual elite of Serbia is explicitly Pro-Russian. The betrayal of the country in the name of the Soviet Union or Russia or in the name of Stalin or Putin for them is patriotism of the highest order… by Bringing the events of 1948 only to Goli Otok, these people are trying to downplay the seriousness and historical significance of the conflict between Tito and Stalin, that is, to hide the fact that at the time Yugoslavia was on the brink of a new war. It is, of course, no one declared war, but were active on several fronts: military, political, economic, cultural, propaganda and intelligence. Do not forget that the Soviet Union imposed sanctions against Yugoslavia that the country was blockaded and under constant Soviet propaganda attacks.
Although the end of the conflict was still in the indefinite future, already in 1951 in Yugoslavia appeared a White paper, which set out not only the aggressive actions of the Warsaw Pact countries, but the names of hundreds of Yugoslav soldiers, border guards who died in these collisions. I repeat that no one is going to justify the methods used to Goli Otok, but — like it or not – not far from the truth the idea that all of Yugoslavia would be transformed into Goli Otok, don’t be on this island one camp. By the way, in 1956, it became clear how severely Nikita Khrushchev is ready to act to punish naughty Hungarian leadership. So did Leonid Brezhnev in 1968 in Czechoslovakia. In this regard, think about how you would manage with Stalin and Yugoslavia in 1948! Yes, there would be stone upon stone left. Especially inside the Yugoslav party and the army were many who were ready to side with the Soviet aggressor.
– You said that the States that emerged after the collapse of Yugoslavia, are trying to build their own identity, demonizing Yugoslavia. Besides the fact that all of the events of 1948 can be reduced solely to the story of Goli Otok, where else do you notice this trend? And anyway what are all these historical falsification?
— The present national States on postyugoslavian space not brilliant. All of this corrupt, poor, abandoned to the fate of society, which are mostly equally whiny to Moscow, Ankara or Berlin. To cover up the grim reality, you need first of all to present in the worst light total the best of the past. Therefore Yugoslavia is being demonized. Another reason, of course, ideological. Yugoslavia was a very egalitarian government based on the idea of social justice, anti-fascist values consensus and multinational integration. All this is contrary to the contemporary dominant ideology, which is based mostly on nationalism, hatred and ethnic prejudices and stereotypes. Thus, all postyugoslavia of society based on differences of different kind (national and social), and they need to justify and reconcile with them. It is easier to legitimize the internecine enmity and hatred through demonization of the period of Yugoslavia, Today it is called a dictatorship, in which most of the people oppressed, had no rights and so on.
– The President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic began his political career in the party, whose members were in the Dedinje district, to hammer a stake in the “vampire” Tito. After 20 years, the President Vucic, who is often very inappropriate compared to Tito, not only demonizes “better past”, but, for example, is very supportive of the foreign policy of the SFRY. Why the change?
Grotesque attitude to Tito Vucic explained, primarily, by megalomania. Interestingly, during the reign Vucic historical revisionism has gained some momentum, as the ruling structures have on the historiography of less pressure than when Boris Tadic. Remember just how Tadic openly supported the rehabilitation of the sugar plum Mikhailovich or the formation of a state Commission, which would deal with “Communist crimes”, and then the Commission, whose task was to find the burial place of Stalin. On the other hand, Vucic rather cynically refers to the Yugoslav past.
– In what sense?
— Surrounded by Vucic have their “Chetniks” and “partisans,” their “Westernizers” and “Russophiles”, their “reformists” and their “nationalists,” which he deliberately manipulates. If, for example, declared that the court rehabilitated some collaborator during the Second world war, speaker Nebojsa Stefanovic, who comes from a partisan family, and which is critical to such things. At the same time, according to the pre-approved roles, takes the voice of someone from the right wing Serbian progressive party. Its task is to support the court’s decision. Similarly, Vucic comes to other events in the community, because it is easiest to incorporate in native mode the entire political and social dynamics. This kind of “intra-party pluralism” everything is under question, except the authority Vucic. However, it thus prevents the emergence of any alternative to the existing system.
Whether it is known to the public that the President Vucic thinks about rehabilitation Pills Mikhailovich, for example?
— No. The public does not know even, whether reformist or nationalist Vucic, a Westerner or a Russophile. In all of these questions survived consistently ambivalent. However, I have to say that after the rehabilitation of the Chetnik commander Nikola Vucic Calabia took moderately disapproving position, in particular criticizing a law passed by the previous government. Note that Vucic criticized not the rehabilitation, and the government of Boris Tadic, which in 2011 adopted the law. Of course, it is very bad, but the question is, why the party Vucic won’t change or cancel it, using its majority.
– While the President survived trying on the role of a “factor of peace and stability in the Balkans”, the Ministers and the media, controlled by him, quarrel with their neighbors and deliberately create the impression that Serbia is indeed preparing for war. Why the region is ignored?
— I think that today everything is more or less clear that Serbia is ready to take revenge. I don’t know, is training only in thought or taken any real actions in the financial and military spheres, but the opinion that you expressed, is justified.
– What kind of revenge are you talking about?
— Humiliated by the defeat in the wars of the 90s Serbia again raising in the region of the so-called Serbian question, which is, as always, primarily concerned with territories. Serbian nationalists, defeated, but safe in the knowledge that their guilt is nothing, and that their failure led Western conspiracy and hatred, managed to keep his “project”. Now they wait, when international conditions change and will have the chance to take revenge.
– What kind of international environment is it?
— First, aggressive Russia is entering in all the big contradictions with the West. This new cold war is only at the hand of Serbian nationalism. By the way, it is no longer Autonomous. Being an offshoot of the Russian great-power nationalism, Serbian nationalism today is in the position of a subordinate and, even if he wanted to, could not repulse the Russians. They easily manage to incite Serbian nationalists to those again and again raised the issue of revision of borders in the Balkans. In this region of the world never will be as long as Serbia does not unite with Republika Srpska, have not yet returned to Kosovo, and Montenegro — that’s the message an influential Russian political activists in the Balkans. Serbia needs a leader like Milorad Dodik — so say Russian academics, media and analysts. If the trend of Russification of Serbian society continues, the Serbian nationalists would encroach on Bosnia and Herzegovina, making her his first target. In this sense, the position of Montenegro as a NATO member, much safer and more stable. To strike at Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially in view of the fact that in this country there is something that Serbian nationalists have long called “the most useful military conquest”, his only trophy. I’m not talking about Milorad Dodika, which, due to its special relations with Moscow, only reinforces the conditions for Serbia “second chance”.
– Does this mean that Moscow is not satisfied with the President’s call for Vučić to “internal dialogue” on Kosovo?
— Of course, it is not satisfied. The goal of dialogue is to solve the Kosovo issue and Russia wants this issue remained open. With its help, Moscow wants to have a negative impact on Serbia and destabilize the Balkans. Today of certain Russian circles which first threatened Montenegro received threats Uucico. Now, as before, is not threatened by senior officials of the Russian Federation, and the heads of certain Russian institutions, academics, analysts, media close to the Kremlin. Even Russian state television recently made offensive remarks about the President of Serbia.
– How you think, whether the President survived to react to Moscow’s threats? If to assess objectively how big it space?
— It is smaller, and the blame for this largely he survived. Recently a Belgrade media published a review of Nikita Bondarev how sincerely Vucic defends Russian national interests, and whether it is in fact a “Russian patriot.” If he was not, in the material shamelessly covers all the available “options” for further action. I think that in this sense today Uucico in great danger. Because the warnings are there, and they only need to “count”. Anyway, doesn’t history reminds us, what methods are able to use the Russians to get even with the “traitors” in the Balkans?!
– If it has been five years of his unquestioned power, the President Vucic systematically destroys the Pro-Western opposition, NGOs and free media, to whom he is now to rely for protection from future attacks of Moscow? Who can become his ally in this fight?
— The last five years in parallel Vucic destroyed and the Pro-Western and liberal parties and critical media, to appear in the West as the only entity in Serbia, which has real political power. However, taking the same game, and Viktor Orban, Vucic frightened Europe radical right-wing that they renounce from the President may be a serious problem for Brussels. Of course, nurtured right-wing as the only alternative, Vucic made a huge strategic error. Because, if there is a serious conflict with the Russians, Vucic exactly is left alone. He has no almost no one on whom one could rely on. Why? Because — I repeat — he has destroyed all their potential allies. In addition, he made the second gross error. With the help of controlled media, he is so Russified Serbian society that today it is more anti-Western and Pro-Russian than it was after the NATO intervention in FRY in 1999. So if Vucic decides on a radical political turn, then he will have allies not only in the media or liberal parties, but in society to which he is affected.
– As it characterizes the President as a politician Vucic? You know he often talks about his own place in history, wondering what it will history remember…
In the mid — 90s, the then Prime Minister of Montenegro Milo Djukanovic has made a strategic decision to send Montenegro to the West, but before he took action, opposite action Vucic. Djukanovic formed an Alliance with the Pro-Western opposition, the media, society — and won. In 2006, Djukanovic of Montenegro regained independence, and in 2017, brought it into NATO. Such serious political decisions to implement, not destroying political opponents, and creating with them a strategic Alliance. I’m afraid Vucic does not understand. I wouldn’t want to make assumptions about his place in history, but, judging from what has happened so far, how we live, I don’t think that ever Vucic name will be inscribed in Golden letters in our history. Because he is a declarative set ourselves ambitious goals, most of which have not been achieved. But if he had made a truly historic step…
– Which step are you talking about?
— A historic step for Serbia would be a conscious rejection of attempts to “stand out in history”, which began in the mid 80-ies. What are we talking about? You should make the decision that Serbia finally refers to herself, abandons its Imperial pretensions in the region, fully recognizes the sovereignty and statehood of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and ceases to play the role of policeman or “little Russia” in the Balkans. Serbia needs to recognize Kosovo, to recognize their own military and moral, to recognize the genocide in Srebrenica, the genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina… that would be a historic step. Without this, Serbia will remain imbedded in a block of 90-ies of the last century. But, unfortunately, I don’t see Aleksandar Vucic today was ready to make a step in this direction.
