THE PRESIDENT'S REPORT

VOJIN JOKSIMOVICH

Greetings to you all. Delighted to see you in Pittsburgh. It appears that we are on the way of yet another successful convention.

Overall I am more than satisfied with the SUC achievements in 1996/97. On balance, I believe that the tide has turned and that the SUC ship of state is now beginning to sail forward. This is a very encouraging state of the affairs, one that all of us should feel good about it. However, it has been a confusing year. To start with the positive: after years of wilderness we have experienced a change of climate in Washington and some European capitals. Most now realize and some openly admit that the issues are much more complex than just blaming and demonizing the Serbs. It is now generally accepted that in Bosnia all sides bear responsibility for the tragedy and all violate the Dayton Accords. This is a welcome step in the direction of even-handedness we advocated all along.

Further, one of our key ideas-that the solution to the Bosnia tragedy lies in some form of partition-is now openly discussed as the most sensible option. This is another significant advance. Milo Djukanovic in Montenegro has become a serious threat to Milosevic. Milosevic cannot feel too good about the elections in Serbia. On the debit side, principal developments in our motherland are of deep concern to us. Coalition ZAJEDNO in Serbia has succeeded in squandering a huge political capital built by 90 days of dignified demonstrations. Power struggle in the RS is tearing the country apart. Our task now is to have the confidence to reinforce our successes and to the fortitude to overcome our setbacks. Now that we have the tide running in our favor, I have no doubt that we will succeed.

Before I provide an overview our principal accomplishments, as I se them, I would like to express my profound gratitude to those who helped me most during my term: (a) To the SUC founder and the first President, Mr. Miroslav Djordjevich, with who was always present to help and consult with in decision making process as writing numerous joint letters, memoranda, position papers, etc; (b) To supportive Members of the Board of Directors for the effort they put in shaping the SUC decisions, policies and statements; (c) To our media and public affairs consultant, Jonathan Clarke, with whom it has been a delight working closely with even though he is attempting to create a diplomat out of me -I only wish Jonathan's engagement took place earlier than June; (d) To the hard working SUC ladies both in the Napa Valley and Belgrade, Jelena and Slavka, as well as my own ladies: wife Nada and niece Olivera; (e) To the Strategic Committee Chairman, Dr. Zarko Bilbija; (f) To IAB members and Boba Stefanovic in particular; (g) To supportive and dependable presidents of the San Diego and LA chapters; and (h) To many members who informed me how they had felt about some of our decisions and in particular regarding the leadership struggle in RS; and lastly (i) To those new members who were attracted to the SUC because of our values and activities.

SUC has grown. Growth is a wonderful development but it also brings us closer to a decision point when we will have to look very clearly about how we organize ourselves. As you know our leadership depends wholly on volunteers. My predecessors in the office were so dynamic that the Presidency is a full time job. To illustrate, I have written in excess of 500 letters and messages. Others in the leadership have undertaken equally grueling schedules.

I am not mentioning this to brag, or anything of that description, but to promote more voluntarism and professionalism in our organization. Professionalism is essential at this point in time assuming we want to grow. Our goal must be match contributions that the American Jews, Armenians, Greeks, Poles, Lithuanians, Croats and the others have made to their fatherland. Without the American Jews there would not have been Israel. Without the diaspora Croats there would not have been today's Croatia. Also, doubt that without the Serbian diaspora there will be a viable Serbia ready to enter into the 21st century. We must continue to fight for survival of the Serbian nation. We owe it to the future Serbian generations. What this means is that the time may have come for us all to consider whether an organization as large and widespread as the SUC needs to adopt a more professional structure, for example with a full-time Executive Director. I see this as one of the major challenges facing the future leadership.

Our principal accomplishments fall into the following measurable categories: (a) Internet Home Page; (b) The Hague Tribunal; (c) Dialogue with the Executive and Legislative Branches of our Government as well as the media, (d) Support for democracy in Serbia; (e) Support for survival of the RS; and (f). Belgrade Office Operations.

These accomplishments are fully compatible with the striving and values prevailing in the Serbian diaspora. Regretfully, our accomplishments have not as yet been translated into larger scale benefits to the Serbian people in the motherland. We are solely motivated to help the Serbian people, not any political leader.

We have tried hard to establish a partnership between the diaspora and the motherland but it takes two to a tango. It has been difficult for us to find true partners both in Serbia and the RS. Most of the time, our countrymen do not even respond to our letters unless they need something. They provide us with little useful information to use in the US. For example, in some way, it has been easier for us to communicate with President Clinton's special envoy, Robert Gelbard, than with Dr. Plavsic's chief of staff who happens to be my friend.

However, exchanges with the DS and DSS in Serbia are on the upswing. In a recent E-mail, Dr. Kostunica wrote: "Our struggle for fair and democratic elections does not end on September the 21st. As a matter of fact it only begins. A great deal of effort will be needed, both yours and ours". In addition, a recent statement in NIN by Nebojsa Covic, President of Democratic Alternative, is also encouraging. Covic supported our idea for a technocratic government in Serbia and pointed out that the Serbs are a rare nation which pays no attention to its diaspora. Furthermore, he recognized that Miroslav Djordjevich could help a great deal but he needs first help from Serbia.

With the SUC Home Page, we communicate with the world. Everyone with a computer can visit our website which contains reports on the current affairs affecting the Serbian people, factual Serbian history as well as literature which present the truth about the Serbian people.

In 1996/1997 year I would like to single out the following highlights: (a) Doubled number of hits and received several messages per day, approximately 50% from the Serbs in diaspora and 50% from others including the US/British/Canadian soldiers in Bosnia; (b) Membership requests of several per day which now constitutes our mainstream membership drive; (c) Formed electronically the South African Chapter of SUC; (d) Extensive news coverage. To illustrate. During Protest 96/97 in Serbia, B92 and SUC Telex were added to the list of daily news coverage. During the Protest, the web page was redesigned. Radmilo Bozinovic was interviewed on CNN. (e) Few more pages were added: Royal Page or HRHCP Aleksandar Karadjordjevic page; Republic of Srpska Page, The Prologue from Ohrid-Bishop Nikolaj Velimirovic. "The Serbs chose war"-Ruth Mitchell, and History of Serbian culture. (f) Few major exhibitions were added: Serbian Royal Ornaments, Byzantine Coinage, Protest 96/97 and Naive art of Martin Jonas.

The SUC is actively countering the anti-Serbian bias of the UN Security Council appointed War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague. Our director, Nikola Kostic, has helped to defend those Serbians charged. Through our SUC members of the American Serbian Women's Caucus, witnesses and documentation have been provided to the Tribunal to prosecute those responsible for crimes committed over the Serbian population. Their efforts helped to achieve indictments of three Muslims and a Croat.

I will stop here and will let Nikola Kostic and Desa Wakeman tell you much more about it.

Unquestionably, the past year has been the most productive ever. Relationships with both the Executive and Legislative branches of our government are at all time high. Three major factors are contributing. Firstly, we are experiencing a cumulative effect resulting from efforts of prior years. Secondly, we have adopted a different approach of emphasizing democratic transformations and economic reconstruction instead of lamenting about our misfortunes. Thirdly, we have been positive and are seen as offering well intended solutions to difficult problems. As a result, our advice is being accepted and acted upon.

I expect that most of you have been probably watching or reading about Senator Thompson, Governmental Affairs Committee, hearings and now fully comprehend what it takes to buy influence in Washington. We did not contribute to the DNC. Our personal contributions to a handful of Congressmen, both Republican and Democrats, have been infinitesimal compared to the influence bought by the Muslims and Croats.

Everybody in Washington knows Silajdzic and many policy makers know only what he told them. He has simply brainwashed them because of the level of access he had. To my knowledge, only Congressman Cunningham challenged his credibility.

Nonetheless, despite colossal disadvantages, we are on the upswing, moving forward, because we offer solutions in an acceptable form compatible with the values prevailing in the American society. We are now even reaching to groups, such as the International Crisis group, that hitherto were stridently anti-Serb.

I will not go any further. Miroslav Djordjevich and Jonathan Clarke will be presenting their reports containing the specifics. I know, however, that they both want to see our members more actively involved in carrying the message to our congressional representatives. I very much endorse this call. Serbs now have a good story to tell. Please don't be shy about contacting your representative and the senators.

Our top priority has been support for true democracy in Serbia. On November the 20th, the ZAJEDNO coalition made an urgent appeal to the SUC to inform the US Administration, the Congress and the media about their landslide victory in the municipal elections and the Milosevic regime fraud. The SUC leadership instantly provided the requested support. The ZAJEDNO coalition appointed two of our Board directors to represent them in the US. Numerous activities followed including a letter of support read before 200,000 demonstrators; Open letter to Milosevic; Soliciting and obtaining support from Governor Voinovich; Organizing a highly successful visit of a ZAJEDNO delegation to Washington; Frequent communications with the Clinton Administration high level officials; Writing numerous letters including those from our European members, etc.

SUC sponsored a visit of the four member Student Protest 96/97 delegation to Washington, Boston and Chicago in January. The visit was a resounding success. Both the Administration officials and the Congressional leaders showed admiration for the dignity of the Belgrade demonstrations and offered help to Serbia in establishing independent media. This visit, combined with the ZAJEDNO delegation visit as well as many visits by the SUC officials, created a positive "Serbian momentum" in Washington. In response, the US Government allocated this fiscal year $5 million for support of democracy in Serbia. This figure is likely to be increased to $10 million in the coming fiscal year.

Passage of the SUC sponsored initiative by the House of Representatives, and subsequently by the Senate, in support of the development of democracy in Serbia tops probably the list of our achievements. The Gonzales Commission Report and this US Congress resolution serve as the two external drivers for the true democracy in Serbia. This is illustrated best with the joint House of Representatives/Senate Helsinki Committee to recommend not sending the US observers to witness the September 21 Serbian elections. Hence, the US has an option not to recognize the results of this yet another Milosevic's fraud.

President Harry Truman on the recommendation of General Eisenhower, on March 29 1948, belatedly awarded General Dragoljub Mihailovich with the Legion of Merit Chief Commander, We cannot think of another event more significant to the Serbian-Americans than passage of the above mentioned resolution.

The SUC supported the Serbian opposition boycott of the above mentioned elections. Our founder, and the first president, was nominated by three distinguished US professors to be a diaspora candidate for presidency of Serbia. Due to our support for the election boycott the candidacy was withdrawn; but considerable publicity in Serbia took place. Our recommendation to promote and support transitional government of experts, as the best solution, has been noted and discussed. Other than Milosevic's press, the Serbian independent media provides now routinely coverage for the SUC initiatives.

Since day 1 from eruption of hostilities, the SUC has supported the Bosnian Serbs in their determination to retain the lands of their forefathers have lived on for over a millennium. During the war our support consisted of: educating the American public as well as their elected representatives about the exact nature of the conflict as opposed to what the national media was telling them; maintaining a liaison, visits with the Bosnian Serb leadership at Pale; attempting to offer ideas how to terminate the war on favorable terms; collecting the humanitarian aid, etc.

Upon signing of the Dayton Accords the SUC has produced a plan for an economic reconstruction of RS which served as a basis for publishing the RS 1996 Yearbook. The book was distributed to major government funding agencies. The State Department has asked us to help with regard to loans available for small businesses. In attendance here today is the first small business delegation from the RS visiting the US as guests of the USAID.

Another important activity, at the request of President Plavsic, was selection of American attorneys to represent the RS in the Brcko Arbitration. As a result, Brcko remained part of the RS at least for a year. We also provided a series of books to the Banja Luka electrical engineering faculty, Recently we allowed the RS to use our server for their home page. Continued education of the American public and its elected representatives regarding a need to overhaul the Dayton Accords in order to arrive at a permanent solution leading to peace and stability in the Balkans.

With profound concerns an growing indignation we have been following recent intransigence between Banja Luka and Pale which is tearing apart the RS. It is abundantly clear, that the Pale leadership cannot pull 1.3 million Bosnian Serbs out of economic misery they live in.

The economic disparities between the RS and the Muslim-Croat Federation are dramatic. In the Federation, GDP grew at 50% last year compared to 5% in the RS. Average wages are three times higher in the Federation. Much of this growth is international aid driven. A significant percentage of it is yet to come to the RS assuming Dr. Plavsic remains the President. She just signed a 50 million DM loan from the World Bank.

In addition, her professed commitment to democracy and contempt for Milosevic, her policy of honoring the Dayton Accords and a commitment to anti-corruption matched closely our positions. Hence, we supported what she stood for. This decision led to an internal debate which has been sometimes controversial and even heated. This is a sign of a healthy organization. However, we needed to ensure that the debate does not degenerate into a diaspora disunity. Serbia has plenty of enemies waiting to pounce on disunity. ZAJEDNO is a textbook example of how internal dissention can open the door to negativism and more adversity.

Hence, we urged reconciliation and unity of purpose which is exactly what the Serbian Church seems to have done as well. I am assuming that you all have read my letter sent both to Dr. Plavsic and Mr. Krajisnik which is published in the Bulletin and can be viewed on our home page. In addition, we have published a press- release titled "Serbs must unite in Bosnia". The release was found to be newsworthy and important. It was carried by SRNA, TANJUG and the Banja Luka Glas Srba.

The Belgrade Office, headed by Ms. Slavka Draskovic-Jovanovic, has become the anchor point for all of our activities in Serbia and the RS discussed above. It is a place where the diaspora and the motherland meet. Slavka acts as a communication link between us and the democratic forces, the Serbian Church, the Serbian Academy of art and Sciences. International Red Cross and others. I might add that in the process the communications are enhanced and enriched.

Relationship with the media in Serbia and the RS has been outstanding. Numerous interviews were arranged. In addition, the office provides Internet support to our grandmasters in the Silicon Valley. The office was an integral part of our Hague Tribunal efforts discussed above as well as many humanitarian efforts. This year we started offering memberships both in Serbia and the RS. Recently, the Office made a giant step towards a self-financing goal. An agreement was reached with the Serb Bank membership in the SUC with a corporate rate of $200/month.

I will conclude with a piece of crusade for democracy in the Serbian lands.

In the years of the twentieth century prior to WW1, Serbs had an effective, working, constitutional democracy long before Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary, Russia and others did. King Peter I was a constitutional monarch and a social reformer who admired western democratic ideals and had translated John Stuart Mill's influential essay on Liberty (1859) into Serbian. He was greatly admired in France and there is a prominent street in Paris named after him.

Serbs have had an instinct for individual liberty, self governance and democracy. Serbs have always resisted oppression and autocracy and have had a profound respect for western democracy and the US. It is critical to note that neither Izetbegovic's Bosnia nor Tudjman'a Croatia are entities in which principles od democracy are affirmed and implemented. Even under Milosevic, freedom to publish dissent is greater in Belgrade than Zagreb.

52 years of communism has set the country back at least that many years. Now we must return to our democratic values and traditions in order to be viable for the next century. Close partnership between the diaspora and democratic forces in the Serbian lands is the way to go.