What Would Father Say

Here with us is Marko Milosevic, son of Mr Slobodan Milosevic, President of Serbia. This is how Radio Boom 93 from Pozarevac announced its teenaged guest at the beginning of the last week show. Presenter made remark that the talk will be straightforward and open about "how does the life of a descendant, son or relative of a statesman in Serbia really looks like."

How old are you, Marko?

Eighteen and a half, exactly. My birthday was 6 months ago.

Eighteen and a half, you say... You are mainly staying here in Pozarevac (birth place of President Slobodan Milosevic). We kept seeing you around here...Are you permanently living in Pozarevac or in Belgrade?

It is a rule that one has to be registered at the Municipality where one spends more than 15 days. I am registered in Belgrade, though I live here for two and a half years now

Do you think of going home, to Belgrade?

I do go to Belgrade every other month, for I am an extramural student of third grade of Belgrade Grammar school. I go there to study and pass exams.

What is your major subject?

Its a secondary school with classical and social side. I study Humanities.

Well, you came of age, after all. Have you voted, recently?

No, I haven't. I couldn't make it that day. Unfortunately I now have the right to vote, but it doesn't fascinate me at all.

Still, you must be concerned about something else in life?

Anything but that.

What with your car? What are you driving these days? What happened to your 205 GT turbo-diesel?

It wasn't turbo-diesel. It was Peugeot 205 GTI. It was the most precious car in my life. I was devoted to it as someone might be to a dog or something. I was emotionally attached to it.

You love cars, I reckon ?

I do. Its my obsession. That one I had to sell couple of months ago, since the petrol-shortages begun. I bought a diesel car, but I didn't have much luck with that one, either.

I heard you had a car accident ?

Yes, like in a cartoon. I was hit by a tram.

Fortunately, you survived. It wasn't vary bad, was it?

Now, what I really like and what is the cheapest way is to borrow a car. I do that now.

You borrow a car? From your old man?

No, no, at a present time he doesn't have a car, either. I borrow it from my pals, mates...

You find your level, ah? Well, its OK, man. Everybody needs a car these days. Its so bloody cold outside. How is your old man. I have to ask you that, you know. What is he doing?

His health is fine, if that's what you mean.

I see, his health is fine. How is he living? Is he a private person, preferring a family circle? Is he going out at all?

Its a way of life well-known to our mentality. Its so very characteristic, but definitely not my cup of tea. I'm a more dynamic person. I'm not used to live with constant protection of my family.

But still, you pay respect to it. When they call you to come with them, for some official cause, do you go ?

Naturally, parents are parents.

OK, it is natural. Do you travel with them? Did you travel with your old man to some faraway countries, where he had to do business?

I did once. To Greece, in 1991. I took that opportunity, since I've never been to Greece before, and there were room for me. But, the schedule was so tight, I had to make an express tour, since we only had two days. I went to Athens, Corinth and Corfu.

Do you find interesting these business trips of your fathers, or do you prefer to travel alone?

I don't find them interesting. I'm typical tourist, by mentality.

You've been traveling recently. Where have you been?

This summer, my fiance and I, we traveled in my old car. That's why I loved my old car so much. On the third of July, this year, it was my birthday, I got my driver's license. I scattered the guests from my birthday party half an hour after midnight, so that I could get enough sleep, and in the morning we set off for Greece. It's more relaxed way of vacation, when you are driving, you have the freedom to move around.

When I was coming here today, I was checked at the gate of your house. It was all very proper, and you explained it to me... Please, repeat for our listeners that part. They are not protecting you, but the house of your old man...

Of course, its a legal stuff. Legally, high rank officials have a right to a security... Security task is to protect that person and the object, but it has nothing to do with the rest of the family. In other words, nobody thinks I'm in jeopardy since I don't have an escort or any kind of security following me. This policeman that you've seen at my door, he is not protecting me, but this house. It is embarrassing a little, for my personality. I think I'm more precious than this house which is 180 years old. But, that's life.

Well, it may be little messy, but it's a New Year, man. Bachelor life, you know...

I believe that it's your mother who forces you to study, not your father. It's because of her profession, she is a professor, isn't she?

No, it's my father who forces me. Mother is weak on me, I'm her only son.

I have a provocative question. The word has been spread that you are friends with him, so I have to ask you...do you know Arkan?

Arkan?! No chance. He has candy-shop in the neighborhood where we live in Belgrade, but I didn't know how he looks like until I saw his commercial on TV.

You never got acquainted with him?

Never. I even never passed by him on the street.

So, people are talking but it's not true?

As I told you, we can't criticize people for talking too much. People are assuming too much. They even think it's true, but God forbid!

So, you don't know him?

No, and I don't have desire to, neither.

Tell us, from your point of view, since you are a family with someone who is really somebody in this country, how are the young people living today? How are you living as a young man? Do you find this country satisfying your aspirations? Would you go far and away from this country? Do you like it living here? And why more than 120.000 people have deserted Yugoslavia?

You made some very specific question, Kiza. It's not the question whether I like this country or not, but whether I like the situation in it. Situation is obviously not good. It hurts me. I am 18 and I still have some possibilities to have fun, to party... I had to sell my favorite car couple of months ago, because of this situation with petrol. I have to admit, to be realistic, if the material, financial or sociological circumstances would constrain me to leave Yugoslavia, I would probably do that. Things that are happening now wouldn't expire away without help from the people who are living here. This is, still, a country, not a Coca-Cola can, which you can use and than throw away as worthless.

In a way, you justify those youngsters who left Yugoslavia in search for better life, since you're twenty once in your lifetime?

Absolutely. Not only 120.000 people, there are more of them who are not in a position to change anything in this country.

In other words, it's not their fault, and they're in no position to help?

Exactly.

I've heard you love arms and guns...

I love it. You know how it is, it's kids characteristics to love weapon, guns and stuff. When you are a kid, you are watching movies and you fancy it. Sometimes it expire away with age, but not with me. I have some kind of passion for it. People think it has to do with my security circumstances. For example, I live in Pozarevac for two and a half years. It's well known that I hang around a lot, I'm not isolated at all, and I never had any problems. So, in that way I don't need weapon at all. But I simply love it.

Do you have some short weapon, or hunting rifle or something decorative, maybe a trophy weapon?

Decorative? No, I don't like it.

You like something more explicit? A piece?

Yeah, everything else looks too old-fashioned to me. I like something conventional, a side arm.

Something short, eh? A piece?

Yes.

Do you have some pet piece, or a pet gun?

I do. It's a Ruger GP 100357 "Magnum"

You think it's the best in arm industry?

Well, it's not. It's the matter of taste. Like when somebody likes cars and he is in a position to choose...

It's not the highest level in arm industry. There are some better pieces. But this one suites me best. It's according to my assets and my circumstances.

When I asked you earlier how are your finances you said you're trying not to demand from your parents so much. You are trying to earn it?

If they offer it I don't refuse it, that's for sure. But I am making every effort to lead a life which I can support myself. Since I am an extramural student, I have plenty of time, I go out a lot. I like to drive and I need dough for fuel, but it's still very modest sum. My car is my only capital, and even that is my parents property.

So you don't have big dough? People are probably thinking - this one is loaded.

As you can see, I'm sitting here in ragged jeans.

Have you been baptized in church?

No, I haven't.

Are you planning to do it?

No, I'm an atheist. It has nothing to do with my political orientation. I was brought up in a modern way, so I'm not weak on that stuff. But I have nothing against it.

Maybe just for traditional reasons sake? It could be a motivation for a big party, you know.

Baptizing?

Yeah.

I'll have to consider that.

Do you drive your parents in your car?

I drive my mum sometimes. But she is afraid. However, my dad is behaving like a driving instructor, so I avoid that situation.

We had a relaxed chat with a young man who has some normal attitude towards the world that surround us. He spoke of a life in Serbia and how he would like it to be. Do you have any message for the end? Some encouragement, since you've come from the place where they might know something that we don't. What good could happen to us?

I wish that everybody could live like we do in Pozarevac. It's the best wish for 1993.

You think it's a great life we're having here?

We don't feel the embargo.

OK, we are lucky that we are in Pozarevac. We got everything here.