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rfmcdonaldThe odds of Serbia's eventual accession to the European Union has just risen.
The Serbian Radical Party was founded in 1991 by nationalist politician Vojislav Seselj. At present, Seselj is on trial in The Hague for crimes against humanity associated with his leadership of the White Eagles paramilitary group, before that having come to international attention through the threateningly colourful rhetoric that he directed towards non-Serbs.
Nikolic's appointment has already complicated Serbia's international role, by making the worthiness of Serbia to hold the rotating presidency of the Council of Europe quite open to question. As for Serbia's prospects of membership in the European Union, it's tempting to claim that Nikolic's selection will only make an unlikely event somewhat more unlikely, since the Europeanization of western Balkans seems to have come to a halt in the face of western European reluctance to further expand the Union. The baleful effects of this institutional cementing of ultranationalism on Serbia itself, alas, seem likely to pass without much notice.
Serbia should quit striving for closer ties with the West and turn to Russia, the newly elected, right-wing parliament speaker said, while feuding pro-democracy parties remained unable to forge a coalition government.
Tomislav Nikolic, a leader of the ultranationalist Serb Radical Party and an admirer of late President Slobodan Milosevic, chaired the assembly on Tuesday after clinching the key post of Speaker during a tense overnight session that fully exposed deep divisions among Serbia's pro-democracy groups.
"Russia will find a way to bring together nations that will stand up against the hegemony of America and of the European Union," Nikolic told the 250-seat parliament. "I hope that a majority in Serbia will strive for membership in such an organization, not in the European Union."
His remarks reflected a rising anti-Western sentiment here, fueled by Brussels' decision last year to suspend pre-entry talks with Serbia over its failure to capture a war crimes suspect. Furthermore, many Serbs feel disappointed by Washington's support for independence of Kosovo, a breakaway province in Serbia's south.
The Serbian Radical Party was founded in 1991 by nationalist politician Vojislav Seselj. At present, Seselj is on trial in The Hague for crimes against humanity associated with his leadership of the White Eagles paramilitary group, before that having come to international attention through the threateningly colourful rhetoric that he directed towards non-Serbs.
The prosecutor also replayed clips of speeches he had made, in which Seselj had recommended the “amputation” of Croatia, warned that Yugoslavia would soon become “Serboslavia” and stated that Bosnian Muslims who weren’t prepared to show loyalty to a Serb state should “start packing”.
But Seselj denied that he had been seeking to stir Serbs into a frenzy of hatred, or that he had hoped to instil fear in other ethnic groups. Instead, he argued, he’d simply been warning both Serbs and non-Serbs alike about potential dangers they faced.
Another example was the notorious statement he made when war broke out between Serbs and Croats. Seselj supposedly said, “We will gouge the Croats eyes out with rusty forks and spoons.” He told the tribunal this comment was part of the “black humour” he so enjoys.
Nikolic's appointment has already complicated Serbia's international role, by making the worthiness of Serbia to hold the rotating presidency of the Council of Europe quite open to question. As for Serbia's prospects of membership in the European Union, it's tempting to claim that Nikolic's selection will only make an unlikely event somewhat more unlikely, since the Europeanization of western Balkans seems to have come to a halt in the face of western European reluctance to further expand the Union. The baleful effects of this institutional cementing of ultranationalism on Serbia itself, alas, seem likely to pass without much notice.
