 Aussenpolitik Manfred Pantförder
By Susanne Simon
Belgrad, Mai 26th –
WELT: Montenegro decided to
become an independent state. And you stated publicly
for the first time your support for the
Constitutional Monarchy of Serbia.
Crown Prince Aleksandar II:
Montenegro´s decision makes me sad. But of course I
accept and respect the election results, and wish
our Montenegrian brothers and sisters all the best
and happiness for their future. We will come
together I hope soon in The European Union. For
Serbia I see a chance of a new orientation. Too much
blood has been spilled over the last decades.
Dictatorships ruled Serbia and finally after the 5th
October 200 revolution the long wanted Democracy
came is now not even six old. Since then, I am
observing the governments, and I have to say, the
output (results) could be better.
WELT: A Constitutional
Monarchy could have achieved more?
Crown Prince Aleksandar II: I
would say, yes. We have to gain back our proudness,
and live again in peace with ourselves and our
neighbours. Like in the times of my great
grandfather King Petar I. – when we had democracy
under a proud, respected Constitutional
Parliamentary Monarchy, it was a golden time for
Serbia. One would certainly avoid the tragedy of
almost daily bickering between the offices of the
president and prime minister. We do need stability
and breathing space for the government.
WELT: King Petar I. returned
after more than 40 years in exile to his home
country in 1903. You were born in London, and only
moved to Serbia less than six years ago.
Crown Prince Aleksandar II: I
would have loved to return earlier, but the regimes
violated my human rights. However I did come a few
times snubbing the regime to rally our democratic
opposition against the regime
WELT: Today Serbia is one of
the most poorest (backwards) countries in Europe.
Crown Prince Aleksandar II: This
makes me very sad. Constitutional Parliamentary
Monarchy could help Serbia move ahead, like it
helped Spain, when King Juan Carlos was the focal
point for democracy after the dictatorship. With a
modern Constitutional Parliamentary Monarchy like
the UK, Sweden, Holland or Belgium, Spain, Japan,
Canada, Australia and so on, we would have a neutral
head of state and the government elected by the
people with the prime minister ruling with his
cabinet and the democratic parliament legislating.
The head of the state is the king, who respects the
parties, but does not belong to one and is the
meeting point.
WELT: According to the Serbian
constitution you would need a two third majority in
the parliament to implement the Constitutional
Monarchy. How are the chances?
Crown Prince Aleksandar II: The
current Serbian constitution is still the old one
from the past regime. We must have a new
constitution as soon as possible and not waste
anymore time specially now as the Union between
Serbia and Montenegro has sadly come to an end. We
cannot go backwards, our task is not to live in the
past and or fall into on a bunch of conspiracy
theories, now is time for once and all revive Serbia
and bring it into the mainstream of Europe and
partake in Europe. We must fulfil our international
obligations and thus secure our entry into the
European Union sooner then later. As a matter of
interest my office as a modern example translated
the Spanish constitution into Serbian and circulated
it. There are several ways for Constitutional
Parliamentary Monarchy to succeed like forming a
constitutional assembly since it was illegal what
happened in 1945.
WELT: Are the Serbian Members
of Parliament open for your idea of a Constitutional
Monarchy
Crown Prince Aleksandar II: I
have lived in Serbia since the fall of the regime in
autumn 2000. Since then I have met members of the
governments and the opposition and many are warm to
such a proposal. The people are enthusiastic maybe
because Serbia is facing in 2006 a very difficult
year. The separation of Montenegro, the ongoing
status talks about Kosovo and the tragedy of the
failed stabilisation- and association-talks with the
EU.
WELT: Because the indicted war
criminal Ratko Mladic is still not handed over to
the War Crime´s Tribunal in the Hague. You
mentioned, that the Constitutional Monarchy would
forward Serbia the fastest to the EU. Let us
presume, you would already be the king, would Ratko
Mladic already be placed in this cell in
Scheveningen?
Crown Prince II: The king stands
above daily politics, but on the other hand he
protects the constitution. It was a big draw back
for the Serbia’s future in Europe, when the
cooperation with the Hague Tribunal failed. The
majority of the people are longing for a better
life, for secure working conditions, improved social
services and for a future for their children. We
Serbs want to enter quickly the EU and have a normal
life. Many of the 8,5 Million people of Serbia feel
like a hostages because of the failed extradition of
the indicted war criminal. We must solve the
situation for the sake of our people.
WELT: So what are you
proposing?
Crown Prince Aleksandar II: The
international community should seriously consider
not to further isolate Serbia. For example Germany
faced after the Second World War the Nürnberg trials
and still some war criminals were never caught. But
they not forbid Germany to enter NATO, or the
European Union and international organizations?
Today Germany must be proud it is a role model for
Democracy and tolerance. And: Germany was reunited.
WELT: You would love to become
the King of Serbia. Are you also sad, like in the
case of Montenegro, that the Bosnian Serb Republic
does not belong to Serbia?
Crown Prince Aleksandar II: At
this time we have to accept the borders of
Bosnia-Herzegovina. I often travel there and talk to
the people. In the Bosnian Serb Republic many
identify themselves Serbia than with
Bosnia-Herzegovina. The future will show us, if our
neighbouring country will still have the same
borders. Observes must remember that Democracy must
be flexible and respects everyone. We all need each
other for success, but we don’t need anymore Berlin
walls. Politicians have no option but to respect
everyone and use the art of negations.
WELT: Your HRH Crown Prince
Aleksandar II., when will you become King of Serbia?
Crown Prince Aleksandar II:
(smiles) with the wish of the people I hope not too
far way. Thank you
GERMAN VERSION |
