Nobody is Pleased with Choice of Extremist

Croatian President Mesic evaluated that nobody is pleased with choice of radical Tomislav Nikolic as president of the Serbian Parliament.

Mesic also added that he regrets the situation and that the possible choice of a democratic government can cushion this move greatly.

Answering to journalists` questions, who followed the South Eastern Europe Co-operation Process summit (SEECP), Mesic said that the summit was dedicated to co-operation in the region which is getting better and better and which is supported by all international instances.

-But we certainly had to mention some crisis, above all the election of radical Nikolic as the president of the Serbian Parliament- Mesic said. Croatian President pointed out that this should not concern Croatia because it is a matter of an entirely different country, but that it had to express its view seeing how Nikolic repeated the position even after being selected for the high political function, which states that his goal remains to be great Serbia.

-This is why we are called to speak our minds on the issue, and everyone else talked with us about it. Nobody is pleased with such an outcome because Serbia is not heading towards Euro-Atlantic integrations with this, it is returning to the years when aggression on Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina happened- Mesic said. But, the President added, if Serbia finds the strength to select a government of democratic orientation, this would significantly cushion the case of choosing the Parliamentary president.

To the question of a Serbian journalist why is there still no official Croatian reply to Vuk Draskovic`s note which stated that the campaign against Serbia should end after the verdict of the International Court of Justice on Serbia not committing genocide in BH, Mesic said that he cannot state his opinion on the matter if the Croatian government will answer or not. But he assessed the manner of solving this issue of diplomatic notes as displaced. He stated that it is a fact that genocide happened in Srebrenica, that more than 8,000 were killed “on God`s justice”, that someone caused this and that someone has to be held responsible.

-Who was paying Mladic and the officers, Croatia certainly was not. Serbia, actually Yugoslavia then, was paying for the great military machinery which was in BH at that time- Mesic said. If Serbia did not commit genocide, it should be determined who did, Mesic repeated, adding that “nobody in Serbia need not be angry because this logical question was asked”.

When asked to comment on the perception of Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica as a democrat in the international public, although he spread hate talk during his campaign, especially towards Kosovo, Mesic said that Kostunica`s party is called Democratic but that it can be discussed how democratic it really is.

He pointed out that many Serbs tried to get votes on the issue of Kosovo`s independence and the status of Kosovo Serbs. Mesic said that Serbia must realise that the reality today differs from the one 20 or 30 years ago and the solution must be sought in such a way.

-Kosovo Serbs should be allowed to enter themselves into (Kosovo) institutions and participate in the creation of the Kosovo status together with Kosovo Albanians- Mesic said.

In stead, Kosovo Serbs keep saying that Belgrade must solve the problem and it is questionable, Mesic believes, if Belgrade can solve it at all.

-This way, the issue is only swept under the rug and there is no sight of the solution-, Mesic said, adding that Serbian authorities should send a precise message Kosovo Serbs stating that they should solve their own issues within the frame of Kosovo institutions.