Vidovdan Speech given by  
HRH Crown Prince Alexander  
In Birmingham on the 28 June 1998  

Your Graces, 
Honourable Fathers, 
Brothers and sisters, 

We are again in Birmingham to celebrate together Vidovdan, a day full
of symbolism and sorrow for all Serbs.  My wife and I are very happy
to be with you, with our Serbian people, on this particular day because
Vidovdan unites all Serbs in remembering Kosovo heroes and all gallant
men who have given their lives for King and Country.  Glory to them! 

The tragedy of Kosovo is being felt even more strongly this year since
dark clouds have gathered again over Serbia, precisely over the issue of
Kosovo.  This is not the place to give an analysis of the Kosovo problem,
but I would still like to point out certain facts which are of crucial
importance for the future of our country and our people: 

First:  If there is no radical change in Belgrade, I fear we are
going to lose Kosovo in the same way as we have already lost Knin, Krajina
and a large part of Serbian Bosnia.  It is for this reason that the
Belgrade regime must go if we want to save what still can be saved. 

Two:  In all Serbian lands – Serbia, Montenegro and Republika Srpska
– there must occur a genuine democratic rebirth if we want the Serbs to
regain prestige in the world and ensure a better future for themselves
and their children.  Montenegro and Republika Srpska have already
shown considerable progress in this respect, but our mother country – Serbia
– is still under the mafia regime responsible for our catastrophe. 

Three:  Throughout the Serbian region there must exist the rule
of law in which all the citizens would have identical rights as well as
identical duties regardless of their religious, national or other differences. 
In other words, the same situation that obtains in England and other advanced
countries.  As Tsar Dusan proclaimed: The law must stand above all
of us. 

Four:  As regards Kosovo, I would like to refer to a recent statement
by the monks of Decani monastery in which they said clearly that “violence
cannot be put right by violence” and called for an end to the conflict
and for a dialogue between Serbs and Albanians.  The Decani monks
also came out in defence of “all innocent victims … regardless of their
nationality”.  They also said (and I quote here): “Both Serbs and
Albanians must understand that in the 21st century Europe there is no room
for ethnically clean territories and for mutual hatred.  These Balkan
regions will not be able to join the contemporary world on an equal footing
until conditions are created for a peaceful common life of all peoples
irrespective of their religion and their ethnic affiliation”. 

I have nothing to add to this since these are my thoughts too, and for
a long time I have been putting them forward both to the Serbs and to the
foreigners. I believe this is my sacred duty, and Saint Prince Lazar will
be proud of us, his descendants, if we act in the way demanded by the monks
of Decani.  There are still great difficulties facing us, but the
Serbian people have the strength to overcome them.  With our faith
in God, we shall win! 

Ziveli and hvala vam!

 
 
 

1997 HRHCP Aleksandar II
All Rights Reserved