Alexander Karadjordjevic

Peace and monarchy is what Serbia needs

The possibility for Serbia to become a parliamentary monarchy is not yet included in the present political deals, and although many people support such form of state, no one wants to make a first step – is the conclusion based on the conversation with Crown Prince Alexander Karadjordjevic.

However, on top of his wish list, just before the celebration of his 60th birthday, is not the re-establishment of monarchy, but the wish for peace.

- When my Godmother, Queen Elizabeth asked me at the celebration of my 50th birthday what my birthday wish was, I said I would be happy if I celebrated my 60th birthday at my home, in my country, with my people! That wish came true! What could I wish for today? I am a man of peace, and my wish is to have peace and to live in it, surrounded by our families, friends, good will and love. Wit peace, and in peace, we can work on achieving the most ambitious plans and projects. Without peace, we can’t achieve anything – says The Crown Prince.

He sees monarchy in Serbia as a “focal point for meetings and discussions and not for arbitrary decision making or bargaining about the importance of the past or the projects for the future”.

- The fact that many individuals in both ruling and opposition parties support this idea, represents in the best possible way the advantage of the concept of parliamentary monarchy. However, politics is a matter of daily opportunities, priorities of the moment, and party negotiations. I understand that, and our situation in that respect is no different than in any developed parliamentary democracy. But our problems are more acute, more serious, particularly regarding the decisive influence of foreign factors and the fact that we must solve our problems in circumstances that significantly discourage making big and brave steps.

Are you satisfied with the status of The Royal Family in Serbia?

- There is a huge difference between our status in Serbia today and the one we had only five years ago. By that I mean, above all, the relationship with the government and public relations, which have been dramatically improved. On the other hand, I am not quite content, for I believe that cooperation in the public affairs might be and should be more intensive. This is no criticism, but simply a feeling that there is so much room for doing more, and we all have so little time.

Are you satisfied with what you have achieved so far concerning coming of the foreign investors to Serbia?

- Of course I am not quite satisfied. I praise every successful contact that has been made and I think the competent state officials are also aware of the potentials that exist and that are at their disposal. However, I am aware of the dimensions of our needs and of our general situation and I know I have no right to stop or to be self-content whit the achieved.

Who are the greatest allies of Serbia today?

- The greatest allies of Serbia are the citizens of Serbia. We don’t have bigger friends than ourselves, nor bigger enemies than our weaknesses which we refuse to get rid of.

What are your relations with President Boris Tadić and Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica?

- Excellent. I appreciate very much both Mr. Tadic and Mr. Kostunica, and I have been in contact with them ever since they both were the leaders of the democratic opposition. I have excellent contacts with most of Serbian politicians, regardless of the political option they represent. Where the contacts are weaker, my door is always open. Anyone who works abiding the law and respecting elementary rules of democracy is not my enemy, but my collocutor.

When do you expect the property of The Royal Family to be returned?

- At this moment I can’t answer to that question. It is anyway up to the efforts of the Parliament and the Government to solve the problem of property and restitution in principle and in full, for without it, one can’t go on into European integrations and recovery of the country’s legal system and economy.

What is the value of the property?

- It would not be good if the outcome of restitution of someone’s property

depended on its value. You either have the right to something or not. The Royal Family’s property has several levels of value: historical, artistic, cultural, sentimental and economic. How you evaluate it, depends on your standards and interests.

By Ivana Cvetkovic