Tonino Picula, the European Parliament rapporteur for Serbia, strongly reacted to a scandalous Christmas program on Belgrade’s TV Informer, during which Chetnik songs were sung.
Footage from the studio shows editor Dragan J. Vučićević singing alongside several ministers a song with lyrics: “The Turkish girl swore in front of the mosque that she loved only a Serb.” The broadcast also included convicted war criminal Vojislav Šešelj, Serbian Parliament President Ana Brnabić, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, Interior Minister Ivica Dačić, and other officials.
The “entertainment” was provided by Dragan Ašanin, a convicted murderer. According to the Belgrade Higher Court, Ašanin killed his former partner, then 18, in October 1992 in New Belgrade, shooting her in front of her underage brother. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison.
Reacting to these shocking facts, Picula stated that this event represents a new demonstration of Greater Serbian politics and Serbia’s distancing from the European Union.
“For anyone following the political scene in Serbia, this event should not be a surprise. It is just another public demonstration of everything that keeps Serbia trapped in the times when the Greater Serbian regime provoked wars and massive human suffering in the former Yugoslavia,” Picula said.
On the question of whether Serbia under President Vučić is moving away from the EU, Picula explained:
“This display of Greater Serbian ideology is a continuation of threatening Serbia’s neighbors, including Croatia, as recently expressed by Information Minister Boris Bratina. He was, of course, on this stage, but unfortunately so were the Parliament President, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Justice, and Minister of Labor. And inevitably, Vojislav Šešelj was also present, the enduring figure of this politics of hatred and intolerance. As I said, there can be no negotiations about EU membership with people and politics like this.”
Picula also commented on what the Serbian leadership’s response should have been:
“I’m not sure they are willing to apologize. We had a partial apology after the incident caused by Minister Bratina’s statements, but such apologies are short-lived. Here we see, at the first opportunity where they gathered, they demonstrated precisely this kind of policy—an unspoken threat to Serbia’s neighbors and to all pro-European Serbians.”
He concluded by warning that the reality in Serbia is far worse than what Brussels perceives and lamented the lack of reaction from EU institutions:
“I would, of course, like to hear stronger reactions from Brussels, because, as I said, Serbia is a candidate for EU membership. Although it has not opened chapters for four full years, I think this is further proof to those in Brussels who may think this is just an occasional incident, that the reality in Serbia is significantly different—much worse,” Picula told RTL, as reported by Nacional.
