Interview of the member of the Crown Council academician Matija Beckovic to daily newspaper “Politika”

About the brand in Serbian culture : Matija Beckovic

CROWN – The great advantage of Serbia

Speaking with our great writer and academic Matija Beckovic about the brand in Serbian culture, we told him that in our opinion he himself is a “known brand”, that distinguishable Serbian sign. Matija had a good laugh about this! In answer to our question however, he responded :

- In all the countries which have a Royal House, the Crown is the largest brand – the same is the case for Serbia, even though it is not a Kingdom. But it was (a Kingdom) for centuries when it was a free European country. It has a Crown, but it’s as if it didn’t. It has it on the coat of arms, and on the flag, but not on the head. In Europe today, the Crown is the symbol of a modern democratic country, a civil society and respect for human rights. It could be the same for Serbia, but it isn’t. Everyone is asking for a democratic alternative, demanding for a clean break from the communist heritage and the lawlessness, and a quick return to Europe, but that which is the true democratic European alternative, and the most convincing evidence of a break from communism, basically isn’t being mentioned by anyone. They see Serbia as a leader in the Balkans, but they do not mention the only real advantage it has, which at the same time is unique to Serbia. True, the Crown is not worn on a bare body. It is only the symbol on the (book)cover of a large democratic project for the moral, economic and cultural metamorphosis of Serbia. Everything else the Crown is not.

The Crown does not vote nor does it express political opinions or take sides. The Crown, in European monarchies, like the Church, is separate from the State, which is in charge of public affairs. For this reason, the Crown remains the key brand of Serbia. A brand which we have, but it is as if we didn’t. The agony has lasted for too long. This is why the question: “Will Serbia know how to sing/ As the captives sang about her?” has to be posed.

R. Saratlic