U.S. Serbs Praise Anti-Milosevic Protests
Oct. 5 -- Serbian-American leaders today celebrated what they believed was the end of Slobodan Milosevic’s long reign over Yugoslavia.
When Slavko Panovic heard about today’s protests in Belgrade against Milosevic, he couldn’t help himself — he started singing.
“We’re singing here, ‘Hit the Road, Jack,’” said Panovic, president of the Serb National Defense Council, the oldest Serbian-American organization in the country. “These are the happiest moments for us, for all freedom-loving Serbs.”
Speaking from Chicago, the heart of the nation’s Serbian-American population, Panovic said he was even thinking about translating the song into his native language.
Other Serbian-Americans echoed the sentiment, expressing their joy at what they hoped was a new more prosperous and democratic era in Yugoslavia.
“There’s not a soul here who doesn’t want to see Milosevic ousted,” said Father Dennis Pavichevich, an active member of the Serbian-American community in Chicago.
Milosevic first came to political prominence in 1987, became president of the republic of Serbia in 1989, then switched titles to become president of Yugoslavia in 1997. During his tenure, he has started three wars — in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo — and lost them all.
Like others, Pavichevich said, he was praying for a peaceful transition for Vojislav Kostunica, the opposition candidate who claims to have defeated Milosevic outright in the Sept. 24 presidential election.
Support for Opposition LeaderThe Serb National Foundation — the largest Serbian-American organization in America, with 15,000 members — issued a statement of congratulations and support to Kostunica. “He believes in the rule of law and democracy,” said the group’s vice president, Lou Milicich.
The Serb National Defense Council also pledged support for Kostunica, and offered to help the families of anyone killed in the protests in Yugoslavia.
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