June 11. 2006.

PRESS, Belgrade

Reader’s Interview 

IT IS NOT GOOD WITHOUT KING

Monarchy is more cost-effective than the republic, because the King has a small cabinet, and there are no costs for the President, his staff and security

For the interview with Crown Prince Alexander Karadjordjevic readers of the PRESS have sent more than 90 SMS messages. Prince gave the answers to the actual and most interesting ones.

You are appealing for unity and reconciliation, but, don’t you think that you should first recon ciliate with Princess Elisabeth and other members of Karadjordjevic family?  

I have always been available to meet and talk. 

How do you to restore monarchy in Serbia, if all the public opinion pooling analysis show small percentage of pro-monarchy oriented population?

 I disagree because I have experienced polling in the west as an observer and I have seen many times how wrong it has been. It is important to know that polling is good political tool and should be used, but one must be cautious. The polling views I have even without a campaign and not to forget the current lack of knowledge about Constitutional Parliamentary Monarchy are  over one third in favour, a third are neither for or against it and one third are mostly against it. This is pretty good since there was vicious and negative propaganda against monarchy in the past even though Tito went out of his way to create friendship with Kings and Queens and entice the European Monarchies and had them stay at the Royal Palace. Many of our people live in Constitutional Parliamentary Monarchies and they are positive about the value they bring to a country and democracy.

What shall I, simple citizen of Serbia, get if my country becomes kingdom? All I can think of is that I will have to pay additional tax for your appanage.  

In a Constitutional Parliamentary Republic there are democratic elections just like in a republic with the exception of presidential elections. Just imagine every four years how much the expensive presidential election polling system costs and the expensive campaign - millions of euros. Imagine the retirement benefits of many presidents, their security and all their staff when in office and when out of office. In Constitutional Parliamentary Monarchies the elected government steers the country with Prime Minister at the head. In a Constitutional Parliamentary Monarchy the king has a very small staff just like in the Constitutional Parliamentary Monarchies such as Sweden, Norway, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark, Belgium, United Kingdom and Spain. All citizens of Serbia must feel at ease that a President is very much more costly then a Constitutional Parliamentary Monarch. Just think of the duplication of positions we have today between the president’s office and the prime ministers office, our people are paying a lot of money for all these duplications. Wouldn’t it be more cost effective to have the Prime Minister with only one set of offices for each area?  

How is Crown Prince explaining the lack of knowledge of Serbian, and sufficient knowledge of possibility to become a King of Serbia?

It already has and I am proud to say that I learn something new everyday and I can have good conversation.

History proved that creation of Yugoslavia was a mistake. When are you going to apologize to the Serbian nation for that mistake?

I simply have nothing to apologize for. I find this question odd to apologize for the dead, history and for what happened in the past I simply was not alive. Remember I was made an enemy of the state at 2 years old by Tito’s deputy Kardelj on the orders of Tito and I am not asking for an apology (I must have been very strong and dangerous at 2). Please I would like to say what you might ask is for all those who are still alive today and  have committed crimes against humanity from all sides to apologize for the blood thirsty crimes they committed against humanity in the former Yugoslavia and indeed all those globally. It is one their conscious if they have a conscience and believe in God. We all regardless of religion or ethnic origin want to live in a democratic Serbia with full human rights just like in the European Union and we want to move ahead and not go back into the past. We must certainly learn from the past.

Can we restore kingdom and still have an occupied part of Serbia?

We can because it will bring more stability and enhance any negotiations avoiding the bickering and recriminations. We need stability, credibility and unity to deal with such important matters as Kosovo that are so very close to our hearts. A stable government without the duplication of offices and bickering would do well for Serbia.

When you think about our kings in the history, who would be your model?

King Peter I when Serbia was respected by so many. King Peter was a great gentleman. The king translated into Serbian Stewart Mills treatises on Liberty. Serbia can be a great country again.

Is it true that your father gave you in his will only 5.000 USD, but not the right to be Crown Prince? What about royal property in USA?

My father had a very rough life and time. I did not even get my father’s watch nor did I get any money. My poor father suffered very much and was very homesick. My father always wanted to protect me from all the endless mess of émigré politics intertwined with domestic games. Unfortunately my father fell unwillingly into some pretty bad hands emanating probably from our former intelligence services and indeed those who wishes to play political intrigue and all kinds ridiculous conspiracy theories.

JUDGES CANNOT BE THE MEMBERS OF THE CROWN COUNCIL 

Among confiscated property of Karadjordjevic family is the land where FC Rad has its stadium. Can it become the Royal Club soon?

Regarding the stadium I have to say it was the stadium even before the World War II, and it was also used for the inspection of the honor guard and the troops. FC Rad stadium therefore has not been built on Karadjordjevic property. Anyway, the fact that any sports club has the stadium on the royal property does not mean that it will have the special treatment.

While I am in favour of Kingdom of Serbia, and I am a judge by vocation, can I become the member of the Crown Council and contribute to the idea of Monarchy? 

I am very pleased that a judge is interested in the Monarchy and in the Kingdom of Serbia. However, having in mind that juditional system must be neutral and impartial; we have never engaged any judge into the Crown Council while it could jeopardize his/her impartiality. Besides, it is not the title or the vocation that gives you the membership in the Crown Council. Membership in the Crown Council is the sort of honorable merit for all the things one person has done for the Crown.