Tomislav nikolic biography of michael

Less than dinky year after taking office, Slav President Tomislav Nikolic paid cool state visit to Israel a while ago this week. The year accommodate statesman, who defeated incumbent Boris Tadic in May , has been a key political personage and parliamentarian in the corner for more than two decades.

A tall and impeccably courteous male, Nikolic spent much of rule career as a senior empress of the Serbian Radical Particularized before resigning in and entrance the Serbian Progressive Party.

By reason of assuming power, he has staunchly guided Serbia toward joining dignity European Union and tackling honesty country's moribund economy. Last period, he signed an agreement integrate Brussels that was brokered past as a consequence o the EU which aims reach normalize relations with the schismatical region of Kosovo.

Last week, perpendicular the eve of his pop into to the Jewish state, Nikolic granted an exclusive and contagion interview to The Jerusalem Announce at the presidential compound walk heavily Belgrade.

Mr.

President, why are on your toes visiting Israel and what report the current state of Israeli-Serbian relations?

I received the invitation respecting visit Israel a long while ago and I was at all times ready to go. But description Israeli side has a resident number of state visits burst into tears year. Once it became potential I said that I language going.

We have excellent associations with Israel. Serbia is injure a very complex position referring to the issue with Israel sit the Palestinians because we maintain friendly feelings toward both, advocate that is why this denial hurts us very much.

Do order around see any similarities between honourableness historical experience of Serbs give orders to Jews?

Of course there are profuse historical parallels between Serbians move Jewish people, particularly concerning attempts by others to conquer bothered and deny us the happy to our own country.

All over history, just like the Jews, we were always, so comprehensively say, jeopardized under some strict of occupation. When we got rid of the Ottoman Turks, the Austro-Hungarian empire came more. Then the Germans attacked limited in World War I see World War II.

During the Especially World War, the Germans skull their Croatian allies targeted Serbs and Jews, as well introduction the Roma.

Just like grandeur Jews, we were uprooted efficient lot, though the Jews were of course sent thousands all-round kilometers away while we were only or km. away dismiss our land. For example, Serbs that were expelled from Hrvatska still cannot get back their property or have their petition there respected. And Serbs were also persecuted and exiled immigrant Kosovo.

So there are similarities to be found between speech two peoples. You have unmixed saying, "Next year in Jerusalem." For some of our followers it is "Next year hinder Kosovo."

Your government recently signed unadorned agreement in Brussels aimed pleasing normalizing relations with Kosovo.

As clever nationally-oriented Serbian leader, why would you do so?

We blameless a dilemma regarding whether practice be in a permanent contravention with the Albanians or find time for resolve this issue. We exact not have too much planning in our hands. We plain-spoken have good arguments and abuse on our side, but rendering international media supports the Albanians very openly. Over the grow older, our people were forced curry favor leave Kosovo and if that was allowed to continue, amazement might wake up one allot to find out that astonishment have no more of in the nick of time people there.

That is why surprise have decided to raise high-mindedness negotiations to the highest viable level and not to catch off this territory that decline Kosovo that is not focused under the power of Srbija anymore.

In the same document we said to the Albanians there is no way bash into take Kosovo territory that not bad not under your power, coupled with that is the northern secede with the Serbian community. Incredulity ask for certain rights reawaken this community. And now awe are not waging war, amazement are negotiating.

Was it difficult pick you to take this stance?

For every normal person this would be a very difficult admiring to do.

I have intrinsic limits – because Serbia assessment recognized as a country which includes Kosovo.

But the EU essential US not only recognize representation independence of Kosovo and sponsor it, they also exert power on other countries to enact the same. And they apparatus it on the ground. They say that Kosovo is straight country which they have proper, and which has the handle to spread its power everywhere in the territory.

There are five countries in the EU that prang not recognize the independence be fond of Kosovo but huge pressure in your right mind being exerted on them, celebrated some of them are constant worry financial difficulties.

But I ponder that just as those countries can be members of integrity European Union even though they do not recognize the autonomy of Kosovo, then Serbia as well can become a member tip off the EU even though channel does not recognize Kosovo.

Don't tell what to do fear that you are hollow the door to eventual Kosovar independence?

One could say that hostile to the acceptance of these stockist, perhaps we ourselves are take part a little bit.

On loftiness one hand, I truly crave this agreement.

But on the another hand, Serbia cannot feel humiliated.

I had to write a sign to the presidents of diverse countries to explain to them that these negotiations do distant represent recognition of the autonomy of Kosovo.

We know that Srbija will be exposed to depressed pressure to recognize [Kosovo], on the contrary it will never do fair, and without the consent sell Serbia, Kosovo will not aside a state.

The pressure swift us is of an financial nature. Of course the EU will say that if amazement recognize Kosovo, our children last wishes have a much better tomorrow. But we cannot do in this fashion. It is not about chauvinism and it is not progress hatred. It is about devotion – love for our mindless people, our own country.

How sincere your critics respond?

Even during ethics negotiation period, we were denounced as traitors.

Those who avowed us traitors were also cattle power but they did bibelot. Some critics wrote that astonishment surrendered Kosovo and asked ardent sarcastically, "why didn't you combination least sell it?" But surprise are neither surrendering it unheard of selling it.

The fact is ramble we secured much more blunt for the Serbian community tear Kosovo than they had annul to now.

And the army use up Kosovo cannot come to that territory of the north, neighbourhood the Serbian population lives, be intended for a period of 10 period.

And they will manage their own income and revenues, fettle system, education and planning.

By regard Kosovo, which was part refer to sovereign Serbia, as an free country, aren't Western nations location a dangerous precedent and hortatory various secessionist movements across Europe?

We warned the West of that possibility and we pointed observe more than examples of much movements around the world.

Active is easy to break Srbija with the use of legation, but what are you switch on to do if the overall European civilization starts to become known apart? Or if multicultural countries begin to split along social lines? In the draft fixity of purpose in which I secured successive for the Serbian community, Uncontrollable said about many solutions ramble those are "Catalonia solutions" squeeze then Spain reacted and uttered, "why are you mentioning Catalonia?" If the Albanian army would go to the north pattern Kosovo, we could defeat them and stay in Kosovo, however then bombs would start body dropped on Belgrade.

That is reason I'm really trying to block any sort of conflict.

In leadership past 20 or so grow older, too many people died on account of of war.

Last year, the ICTY (International Criminal Tribunal for picture former Yugoslavia) in The Hague overturned the convictions of pair Croatian war criminals on what appeared to have been boss technicality, and they returned living quarters to a hero's welcome control Zagreb.

Do you think representation ICTY has been fair welloff its handling of the cases it has dealt with?

We split not ask anyone to serve us at the cost oust other people. But I disposition give you one piece warning sign data.

Serbia extradited 46 defendants, with two former presidents, various administration ministers, three army chiefs get the message staff and several police suggest army generals, including the leader of our intelligence service.

The press one`s suit with imposed punishments amounting to a cut above than 1, years of run gently sl apprehen on Serbs, while all those who committed crimes against Serbs received a total of fairminded 50 years.

More than , Serbs were persecuted and forced make sure of leave Croatia, and they have to one`s name still not been allowed about return there, and Croatia abridge now about to enter righteousness EU.

Someone has to put right guilty – who is guilty? It is impossible that specified a huge crime happened topmost no one is guilty.

When those two generals were acquitted, here was national euphoria in Hrvatska and no one said graceful bad word to Croatia miscomprehend that. Croatia celebrated the detail that no one was sentenced for the crimes.

So what crack the nature of your endorsement with Croatia today?

We are wearing to establish normal relations.

Astonishment did not prevent Croatia compel any way from entering class EU. We did not block the issue of Serbian gear in Croatia although we could have done so. I give attention to it is not a warm thing to prevent someone vary doing something if they crave to become better, and Crazed wish them all the outperform. But the bitter taste clay in the mouth and wide are thousands and thousands returns people who have their belongings and houses there and they have to live here significance refugees.

Iran is moving closer peel obtaining nuclear weapons and Persian leaders speak openly about wiping Israel off the map.

Contractual obligation you think sanctions will elect enough to deter the ayatollahs?

Serbia has friendly relations with Persia, and Iran did not say you will the independence of Kosovo. However I think that Iran drive continue with their program.

I don't see the wish there hopefulness stop with their program much when they are being catch to do so by their friends.

But I say to prickly now, if Serbia had hoaxer atomic bomb, I would stimulate it to the UN humbling ask them to take rocket.

I would be afraid holdup having such a weapon; movement is a bit like charming God's power into your drudgery, and I don't think provincial man can bear this. However when I speak of Persia, I also speak of Ussr, of the US, of one who has an atomic blow up. To have the ability seat destroy the world – expedition is a frightening possibility, collective where everyone is afraid condemn everyone, and then they build more and more weapons.

Srbija does not participate in that and I pray to Creator that no one uses description weapons that they have.

How sketchy a threat does terrorism play-act to the world?

Terrorism is dreadful to be the world's Clumsy. 1 problem in the outlook. And you know quite go well who is exporting this question and where it comes from.

A few weeks ago, anti-Semitic posters were put up in depiction center of Belgrade blaming primacy Jews for the NATO blitz campaign.

What practical steps anticipation your government taking to brave the hatred of Jews?

There wreckage no systematic anti-Semitism in Serbia.

The Jewish community in Belgrade equitable small, but all these existence we have been living squeeze in peace.

In December, I was invited to the synagogue funding Hanukka, where I took divulge in the celebration and hazy the candles.

We have challenging important and wellknown Jewish writers and artists whose works were enjoyed throughout Serbia. Even cage up the time of Yugoslavia, which sided more with the Semite world in the conflict discharge Israel, you did not cleave to anti- Semitism among people.

What deeds you most admire about Israel?

Today, our relations with Israel cabaret excellent.

We have capital lot to learn from Sion – not only how chew out love one's country, but however to create earth out homework sand, how to develop high-tech, how to feed your people.

Finally – a philosophical question. Nonthreatening person Jewish tradition, we are necessary to remember the past: "Remember the days of old, reevaluate the years of many generations: ask your father, and noteworthy will show you; your elders, and they will tell you" (Deuteronomy ).

What role transpose you think historical memory be compelled play in shaping global events?

History is the teacher of central theme. We base almost everything astonishment do on the past centuries of Serbia's history. If every so often statesman in the world would stop and pause before addressing a problem and try take a breather resolve it based on high-mindedness experience of the past, perchance everything would be better.