APPEAL TO THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE UNITED STATES REGARDING DUAL STANDARDS

Belgrade, 10 January 2007 – HRH Crown Prince Alexander II issued a statement today appealing to the European Union and the United States regarding the dual standards being applied exclusively upon Serbia.

“The international community should seriously consider not isolating Serbia. The Crown Prince would like to remind everyone that after the Second World War, Germany faced the Nurnberg trials, and some war criminals were never caught and still many are at large after decades. Nevertheless, Germany was not forbidden to join NATO, or the European Union, or international organizations.

Neither Afghanistan, nor Iraq was conditioned with having to extradite any Al Qaeda and Baath Party members or even Taliban leaders in order to be eligible for international aid. Only Serbia has been commanded by the United States and the European Union to fulfil condition after condition in order to move ahead and become an equal member of the international organizations.

The International community is definitely applying double standards although some will argue that different standards apply to different people and nations across the planet. There is no doubt that anyone who has committed a crime against humanity should face justice, but to continue to ransom several million people and their future due to a single missing individual is not good policy.

The international community should as soon as possible review its policy and give the people of Serbia a chance to live like normal Europeans, just like Germany was given the chance, and move ahead towards Europe. The policy of pushing us into a corner will not work. It is clear that justice must take its course and international obligations must be fulfilled, but again not at the cost of the entire population of Serbia.

For the next six months Germany has the Presidency of the European Union. Germany is a great democracy, is greatly admired and we would be grateful for the support of the German government in finally resolving this pressing issue which is affecting the future of Serbia. The objective is that Serbia must not be kept in constant isolation, but rather be brought into the European Union as soon as possible, therefore stabilizing South Eastern Europe and securing permanent peace in the region.” Stated Crown Prince Alexander