Shorts

Victory
Serbia marked the 50th anniversary of the victory over fascism with dignity. There were celebrations at home and abroad, so that Valjevo was no exception. Since fascism hasn't been destroyed, and as was noticed, was waging a merciless war against the Serbian people, VE-Day was celebrated collectively and cultural events were held in the House of Culture. Since the war veterans, authorities and local municipalities know what it is all about, children from primary and secondary schools attended, in order that they might learn something. The children were told the Serbs and Montenegrins suffered the greatest losses and that the "creators of the new world order" ignited the conflagration in the Balkans in 1990, which was once again the target of the world's "no. 1 policeman". But we are where we are "because our soldiers didn't sacrifice their lives in order that the country might be free, but also in order that a more just society might be set up, which through adequate political and economic solutions links together freedom and social justice". These instructions were followed by folk dances and all that was missing were pioneer neckerchiefs. But that wasn't all. The garrison lined up in the name of victory. And the children were present again. The commander of the Drina division reported that we were militarily prepared today, and that we wouldn't buckle under. The army marched across the concrete parade ground, invincible in its combat readiness. All applauded another victory.

 

Statistics
Even though the citizens of Belgrade might think differently, statistics show that there is an 18.6% drop of the crime rate in the first three months of the year (4,255 cases) - compared to the same period last year. This downward trend continues and what is especially important, there are less crimes in which arms have been used.

Head of the Department for Combating Crime with the Ministry of the Interior in Belgrade Milorad Vlahovic told the Belgrade daily "Politika" that the number of crimes in March this year has increased in comparison to January and February. The explanation is that nice weather is favorable to thieves. With regard to the decreased number of serious crimes, Vlahovic said: "We were inundated with a wave of the most serious crimes - murder, robberies, etc. A lot of criminals who lived in the West have come, and the refugees are here. According to our estimates there are over 250,000 persons in Belgrade from other territories and this includes a large number of criminals. Our estimates say that there are some 20,000 persons in the city who incline to crime or are natural criminals. Then, there is the economic crisis, war psychosis, the war syndrome which inspires crime... I can't say that we were surprised.

We have organized ourselves with all this in mind. Numerous police actions have yielded good results. I think that the judiciary and other state organs have improved, they have acquired certain experience and have started working appropriately..."

That same day the papers said that an explosive device of great strength had been thrown at the pizzeria "New York" in Proleterskih Brigada Street. During heavy gunfire in the cafe "ABC" in Zemun one person was killed and another seriously wounded.

But these are May statistics.

 

Style
On 9 May - VE-Day, an interesting graffiti was seen in the center of Paracin a city in central Serbia. A red five-pointed star and the swastika with an equal sign between them were sprayed on the monument to national hero Branko Krsmanovic.

Belgrade daily "Politika Ekspres" journalist Bosko Samardzic was revolted by this anti-revolutionary act and wrote an article, from which we are citing the most interesting bits:

"Who did it?

A desperate boy. A frightened pawn of party destruction. In ignorance and with a 'work' which makes him a spiritual invalid. I devote these lines to him. (...) Think boy, where are you heading?

This is your country. Your city, and your freedom. And you are free, totally, in the very fact that you can create odium with the fascist symbols on the day of victory over fascism.

And another thing.

In your fatherland Serbia, in your city of Paracin, your compatriots and fellow citizens have never spat on or desecrated monuments to the dead, nor the symbols of those who died for your and their freedom.

Think boy, where are you heading?

Never forget the lines of the great poet Branko Miljkovic: 'Will freedom know how to sing, as the slaves sang of it?'"

 

The Phantom
To give blood here is nothing new, but those who give their blood voluntarily, in peace or war, had best do so without expecting anything in return, least of all some show of social or state gratitude. A performance of the play "Kir Janja" (a story about a miser) was supposed to be held at the National Theater for blood donors, but was postponed because the main actress failed to turn up.

The disappointed audience didn't ask for its money back, but expressed their disapproval with catcalls...

 

"Time" On Arsenijevic
The American "Time" magazine (8 March) in its regular column "Sightings" included the award winning novel "U potpalublju" (In the Hold) by Vladimir Arsenijevic (edition "Vreme Books") in its cultural events. Time noticed that Arsenijevic had won the "NIN" award in competition with much older and better known writers. The critic compares the hero of Arsenijevic's novel with that of Albert Camus's "Stranger". Arsenijevic's antihero is an idealist who regards the world as tower of absurdity without hope or salvation. The novel hasn't yet appeared on the American market, but will be published in Italian, Swedish, Danish and French this year.

 

Spy (I)
Zagreb weekly "Globus" columnist Tanja Torbarina writes in the magazine's latest number about VREME and an article on Ceda Mihailovic. "VREME is attacked by the Serbian state media for receiving money from Soros. Now that spy Ceda Mihailovic has appeared with papers which compromise Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic, VREME has accidently received proof from the state security that Ceda lies a lot. This means he can't testify against Milosevic. It is a fact that diplomats, foreign correspondents and all those who wish to learn something about Serbia respect VREME. So, if VREME says that Ceda is a loony case, then it can't be proved that Milosevic is guilty. Surprisingly, state security pick opposition VREME to give it data on Mihailovic (...)

VREME and Milos Vasic publish articles which help Milosevic. Foreign diplomats trust VREME. Foreign correspondents trust VREME, because, it is an opposition paper.. But, as we see, when necessary and when the going gets rough, VREME trusts the state security, and it trusts VREME...

 

Spy (II)
CEDA MIHAILOVIC, who is mentioned by Tanja Torbarina in her article, also mentions VREME in a four-page interview in the same issue of "Globus": "The Belgrade weekly VREME also wrote of my business with horses, trying to compromise me as a thief and cheat. They said that I had bought three horses from a woman in America with dud checks. Those are ridiculous constructions which the secret police, who knew very well what the business with horses was about, are trying to are place through VREME.