EVROPA, March 2005 

Interview with HRH Crown Prince Alexander II for weekly magazine “Evropa” 

THE PROPERTY WILL BE RETURNED TO US 

Evropa: Which property in Serbia is to be claimed by The Royal Home? 

KARADJORDJEVIC: The question of the return of the property of The Royal Home was raised long time ago, and resolved on the occasion when the National Parliament abolished the shameful Decree from 1947. When and how this property will be returned depends on the enactment of a special law, in the manner that was regulated by the above-mentioned decision of the National Parliament.  

Evropa: Which members of The Royal Home will claim the property and what property exactly is to be claimed? 

KARADJORDJEVIC: It is not possible to answer this now, because the appropriate decision will be made by each of the inheritors themselves. What we need to bear in mind, by all means, is that a part of this property has a special cultural and historic value, beside its material and sentimental value. I believe that a solution is possible, and that it could be fair and beneficial for everyone.   

Evropa: In what form do the members of The Royal Home expect the property to be returned to them? 

KARADJORDJEVIC: What is possible should be returned directly, and what is impossible to return directly should be the subject of compensation (it should not be forgotten that a considerable part of the property was destroyed). 

Evropa: Would you agree to have the property partly returned, and partly to have a monetary compensation? And under which conditions would you agree with that?  

KARADJORDJEVIC: That is, also, something that the inheritors themselves will decide on. Personally, I think that it is possible, and an agreement on conditions is certainly needed and possible.  

Evropa: Do you still consider, as You did seven years ago, that without the return of the confiscated property Serbia will not realize the full democracy and acquire the condition for joining the European Union? 

KARADJORDJEVIC: This is not only what I consider, but also everyone who knows how the immunity of private property is treated in Europe and in the whole world. 

Zoja Jovanov and

Zorica Djuranovic