The Daily "Danas"
December 2, 2014.
By Jelena Tasic
Maybe I am the problem for the government
I am disappointed with the lack of respect for my ancestors,
government don’t even invite me. There is a terrible violation of human rights
of my family and me, which should be solved. Fact that we’ve got monument to the
Russian Emperor Nicholas the Second before the monument for the rulers of
Serbia is very interesting, and also sad.
This year has been very important for our history, but
I found that Serbia has not had much opportunity to see what my ancestors – King
Peter I Liberator and Alexander I Unifier did 100 years ago, although they are
very important people in our history. My grandfather was the supreme commander
of the Serbian army. I did not see his name even at the exhibition “1914” at the
Historical Museum. I am disappointed because of this lack of recognition. Almost
every member of Karadjordje’s dynasty personally participated in the Great War,
and each of the descendants of the Supreme Leader is a part of the iconostasis
of our national being and our historical consciousness – says Crown Prince
Alexander. In an interview for the “Danas” he speaks about the centennial of
the beginning of the First World War in Serbia, relations with the current
government, position and circumstances of the Royal Family, whose head he is.
Q: Has Serbia marked worthily and in the right way the
Balkan Wars and the beginning of the First World War, which formally started by
bombing of the Belgrade by Austro – Hungarians?
More could have been done the ideas existed for a long time,
but implementation was invariably done at the last minute. There were parts of
history missing and lack of more coverage and acknowledgment for what you
mention in your question. Unfortunately, it is not in the interest of some
people for our true history to be known, they still stick to its cleansed
version.
Q: Why were you not seen in the ceremonies in Serbiat hat
marked the centennial of the outbreak of the Great War and the famous battles?
I did not receive the invitation. Not even for marking the
Battle of Cer, which is sad, because many of our people respect what my
grandfather did. I could not lay my wreath. I complained to the authorities, but
there was no effect. The second case was marking 80 years since the assassination
of King Alexander in Marseilles. The French were very correct. When they found
that I am not in the Serbian delegation, they organized our arrival at the
airport we were met by a representative of the French government. The French
government is socialist, but has a lot of respect for my family.
Q: What do you say about the City officials’ proposal that
monuments of Kings Peter I and Alexander I should be erected in Belgrade. Have
you been consulted regarding that?
I heard about it last week from the City of Belgrade. I
fully support and encourage monuments for King Peter I and King Alexander I. It
is about time. There is a spectacular monument in Paris to the two kings, I
would be thrilled and very proud if there was such a magnificent monument in a
nice location in Belgrade. I think they should not be at the end of the world.
The fact that we’ve got the monument to the Russian Emperor Nicholas the Second
before the monuments to the rulers of our blood is very interesting,but also
sad. I think that my grandfather and my father should get their streets in
Belgrade soon, too.
Q: Why didn’t you come to consecration of the monument to
Emperor Nicholas and what are your ties and connections with Russia?
Nice monument. I don’t recall being invited and in any case
it was at the last minute and I had obligations set well in advance abroad. I
have good ties with Russia and will always remember a superb memorable lunch my
wife and I had in the Kremlin as guests of President Vladimir Putin, Prime
Minister Dmitry Medvedev. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the Russian
Patriarch.
Q: Why has the evaluation of King Alexander’s personality,
his state, military and foreign policy not yet come out of the cliché, which
was set, according to historians, by “the communists and political
enemies”?
There are a few individuals who still feel uncomfortable
when it comes to our uncensored history, but I am certain with more openness
and time things will become clearer and much more open. I want
to mention that when I came to live in the Royal Compound I kept all the
symbols of the past and there are many referring to our communist past. Only
dictators cleanse history.
Q:Is such an attitude towards King Alexander I, especially
in Serbia, the price of his forcing of the Yugoslav idea?
That was the deal with everyone after the Treaty of
Versailles, and there were pressures from the West. The Kingdom of the Serbs,
Croats and Slovenes, and later the Kingdom of Yugoslavia was the solution for
the time,without which we would have another war. Ethnic map of the former
Yugoslavia was described as “leopard skin”,which showed a remarkable diversity.
Now this map isethnically very clean everywhere, except in Serbia,especially in
Croatia and Bosnia. What happened to people’s lives, their homes and property,
was really shocking. It was complete madness. When we came here13 years ago, we
had over 500 thousand refugees. We need to know what happened in the past, to
avoid repetition of such situations in the future. Our obligation is to respect
all religions and all ethnic origins, which is supported by the Patriarch, the
dignitaries of other religious communities and politicians who advocate
humanrights and dialogue. Now we are standing at the door of the European Union
and we are showing that we respecteveryone, regardless of ethnic origin or
religion.
Q: Recent exhibition at Historical Museum of Serbia “In the
name of people” and controversial reaction in the public again opened questions
whether the civil war among the Serbs is over. What do you think about that and
who finally have to deal with national reconciliation?
What happened in the period this exhibition shows was
shocking. It mainly dealt with Serbia, but it in fact reflected what happened
throughout the former Yugoslavia. It is a pity few people visited this
exposition. The civil war is over, but getting to know what happened “in the
name of people” will never be over. With education, jobs and more free media a
lot will be revealed about our past. There must be national reconciliation and
there must be no revanchism. We must pray together for all those that lost
their lives regardless of which side they were on. We must be one nation and
let the ballot box freely decide our future without threats or pressure.
Q: Professor Oliver Antic said when the remains of your
father were brought back that “President Nikolic is preparing the ground for
the monarchy and that he is some kind of the substitute for the King at the
moment”. How do you estimate Nikolic’s work as “the substitute for the King”
and has Serbia moved an inch towards the restitution of monarchy? What do the advisory bodies of the Crown do
about that?
My view is that our country would be well served by a
constitutional monarchy of which there are many examples across the world. Our
politicians would have one less post to contend with that has shown to create
political jousting from time to time. But the problem is that many do not
understand what constitutional parliamentary monarchy means, because there was
so much propaganda against it. The monarch is not a member of a political party,
he is not engaged in daily politics – he is a symbol of unity, stability and
continuity. Travelling through Serbia, I saw a lot of interest in monarchy.
People from all political parties are friendly, warm. In some places, the mayors
from parties that are not monarchist, were the best hosts. But, one would have
to ask President Nikolic what his views are. I would have thought the answer to
perpetual power is to be prime minister after his potential second mandate as
president comes to end. The prime minister can be elected many times providing
re-election takes place. When I jokingly, mentioned this solution to Nikoliche
replied: “Interesting”.
Q: Has anyone in the East or West suggested the restoration
of monarchy in Serbia to you?
It is possible that I am seen by some as competition and
even envy due to my many international connections and friends. There is also a
dilemma what to with me and my family since so far nothing has been solved, a
human rights violation, and we are still living in confiscated properties that
is a never ending issue and even a difficult situation for the government to
resolve in a proper manner.
Q: What seems to be the problem when it comes to the status
of the Royal House?
To address this issue, there are examples in Bulgaria,
Romania and Montenegro, which passed a special law.We talked about the new law,
similar Montenegro’s, with Tadic’s and Dacic’s government. It was discussed last
June, too, at a meeting with the Minister of Justice. The plan was to go
through the Office of the Prime Minister, but there it stopped. We keep
reminding them, but they say we should wait, because they have a lot of work
–important people are coming, drones are coming, too…
I did not have any contacts with the Milosevic regime,
only with the DOS. I have been lucky to have had good relations with every
government. There have been difficult
moments and there is still much to be resolved and comes painfully slow. I am
in full negotiations now and hope that something positive will come out of the
talks. The Royal Compound is of historical importance and has beautiful
priceless art, it is open to the public. Since it is still confiscated and for
that matter so are all properties of my family, it is only fair that the
maintenance and repairs are taken care of by the state in a proper budget. We are
open to all the requests from the ministries and embassy for almost daily
visitations. People love coming to visit The Royal Palace and the White Palace,
they really enjoy our small Serbian Versailles. We try hard to keep the complex
in good shape, but it is not easy. The current prime minister is very polite
when we meet, but perhaps the government does not know how to solve our
situation. I think that they are not against the Karadjordjevic family, but they
do not know how to solve the question of the Palace maintenance budget, and how
to preserve this monument.
Q: Has the government profited from the royal funeral in
Oplenac at last year?
Everyone has profited – my family and the people in power.
The fact that the head of state made it possible for my father, the late King
Peter, to return – was a sign of respect. It is very important that my mother,
my grandmother and my uncle Prince Andrej “came back”, too. It brought together
the whole family, and now, they all rest in peace in Oplenac, as King Peter King
and Alexander wanted.
Q: Has the state met all of its financial obligations in
this regard?
Just last Friday afternoon, the money was paid.
Previously the bills were settled in London, the Greek government assisted my
mother, and now, finally, the transfer from the United Sates of my father and
uncle has now been paid, too.
Q: How do you evaluate the relations within the Royal House
and are there any unhealthy ambitions among the members?
I have good relations with the majority of my relatives, but
I am sad about some issues. All members of the family are free to come and many
have stayed numerous times in the two palaces. It is of course important to be
a united and happy family.
Q: Why are you the only descendant of Queen Maria who didn’t
ask for her rehabilitation, which is a legal requirement, as some people claim,
for the restitution of assets to Karadjordjevic family, although only Prince
Paul was convicted, before the WWII, because of the Tripartite Pact?
I am in full process following and reading all the never
ending extraordinary demands and bureaucracy. There are appalling human right
violations against me and my family that need to be resolved. What happened in
1947 was appalling and still has not been solved. We have recently received a
letter from the Commission for Restitution, in which they say the
rehabilitation of Prince Tomislav, Prince Andrej and me is required. I think the
Commission is buying time.
Q: How true is the impression that Princess Elizabeth has a
“privileged” status with the current government – the remains of her father
Prince Paul came to Serbia the first, although at that moment it was certain
that the crowned members of the family would return as well, then he was
buried, against the protocol of King Peter I, in the main church in Oplenac,
and she was the first of the Karadjordjevics who got back the estate in
Dedinje?
I am not aware of privileges, but rather the Princess case
and that of her brother Prince Aleksandar being a much more easy and simpler
one to solve than the rest of the Royal Family. I am very happy that her
father, mother and brother “came back” and they were buried in Oplenac. It is
good that the villa “Montenegrin” with surrounding estate was returned. I think
she is not a problem for the government, while I might have been, so they do
not sleep well.
I have not given up my right of king
I have never given up my rights, even though way back
in1970, when my father, King Peter died, I decided not to use the title of the
king – said Crown Prince Alexander. To the question of whether it was a good
decision to educate his children out of Serbia, he responds that “Princes Peter,
Philip and Alexander are here often and have helped the victims of the terrible
floods”.
Broz and the Karadjordjevics
Q: Is it a paradox that the probate hearings started by
Josip Broz’s descendants opened the possibility for the Karadjordjevics to take
part in looking for their assets?
I am certain with good will all issues can be solved in good
time. This question needs to be carefully examined and ascertained. When we
learned about the safe in the National Bank, I have officially requested,
several times, that it should be opened, but I have never received the response.
When Joska Broz requested the same, they immediately opened the vault. Although
this was done two years ago. It is interesting that inside the safe, there are
belongings of the members of the Royal Family. When the Romanoff’s safe was
found in Sweden, it was decided to go on auction in order to avoid conflicts
and debates. The family at the instigation of my cousin Princess Lavinia’s
husband, Mr Austin Prichard-Levy, suggested to the government of Serbia that it
would be a good solution here, too, but I have received no response. This
solution would like the Romanoff safe avoid conflict.
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