From Straight Razor to the Balkan Blofeld?

Don't worry Srdjan, when I'm done with Milo I'll make a Bond bad guy out of Kostunica or Blair or Paddy Pantsdown, I mean Ashdown, or Predrag 'where's my chin gone' Markovic or Bush or any other political leader on the planet.

I didn't pick on Milo becuase I'm anti-Milo, but rather because it was the news of his retirement that inspired the idea and because he has had one hell of an interesting career-path.

... the problem is not you being anti-Milo, it is Srdjan being anti-Kostunica, and being anti-Kostunica means being anti-anti-Milo, which in the end turns out to be pro-Milo. Milo is irrelevant here, this is the necessity of the logic.

the enemy of mine enemy ... Jasno mi je.

Tell me, is everything in bloggsville gunna start getting curiouser and curiouser as the elections approach?

If so, let me take a leaf out of Brewster's book (Richard Pryor’s Monty Brewster that is) and give my unwavering support to Mr. None of the Above.

...guys with 30 million to waste are not non-of-the-above

Please, don't try to get them all together, it's dangerous, it might be a sort of a pain-amplifier!
For our sanity's sake, please pick only one bad guy at the time! :-)

Cutthroat Milo - aka Britva - is just in his infancy.

I cant agree more with Srdjan!

On the other side, If Milo wanted to be on power he would be on Power. He got the elections, and only after victory he declared that he is leaving Politics. He had rightful reasons to stay on power for, at least, four more years, but he decided to retire. It is quite extra ordinary for Balkan but it is possible!

So don't forget Milo is extra ordinary!

I could agree about DSS and NIN.

On the other side, if Milo didn't want to stay in power he wouldn't remain in the position of president of DPS. This is the best way to stay in power without real responsibility for the state policy.

Lets be real. Milo will be very influential in Montenegro in next few years. Source of his influence is not place of President of DPS. Source of his influence is his personality and popularity he has inside of DPS and Montenegrian nation. Just remember that he had never won elections so easy. And also he put Mr. Sturanovic on PM place instead of his candidate (Mr. Luksic). And whole opposition agreed with that decision. Where you can find better level of political culture and understanding?

On the other side we have also examples of political understanding in Serbia. But on which basis and for how long?

Not sure if Maylo is 'on power', but he is on something all right.
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humbert.mojblog.co.yu

What a load of patronising dribble. Can you guys, ‘freedom fighters’, or whatever it is you call yourselves these days relax a little, please? Not all is ‘us’ and ‘them’, not all is ‘our guy’ vs. ‘your guy. There are shades of grey as well. And not all is politics. Can’t we have a bit of fun?

I’m quite sure that in your Bond script Maylo would be the goody Bond girl and the bad guy would probably be the Serbian Patriarch himself, but this is Mark’s scrip. And it is a FICTIONAL story. Nobody is stopping you from writing your own, in Serbian, English or any other language you choose but I’m sure it will be boring as Hell.

Now, I can see from your biography that you are a very bitter person (after reading it I was depressed for half an hour) but thankfully I than read Mark’s and was laughing for half and hour. Maybe you should read it as well.

Kindest regards,

a.h

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humbert.mojblog.co.yu

Since a couple of sentences about somebody absolutely unimportant in your life can make you depressed for a half an hour I don't think that you are the right person to judge one's attitude.

I thought to answer you, but after reading your blog (where I tried to find info about you, to set the level of the discussion) I gave up. There’s nothing there except monotonous mourning about B92.

It will be much better if we keep staying on "the different side of the barricades".

However, thanks for saying that my blogs are "boring as Hell". When it comes from a guy like you that is the best possible compliment.

Thank you for your civil and restrained reply. It is refreshing when the VIP B92 bloggers use words rather than the ‘delete’ or ‘ban’ button when engaging other people’s opinions. I did get the message, however: ‘It will be much better if we keep staying on "the different side of the barricades"’. A threat or just a friendly advice? But about that later.

Now for the record, I didn’t say I think your blogs are ‘boring as Hell’ – I said that I was sure that your fictional Bond story (if you decide to write one) would be boring as Hell. Simply because your first reply to Mark’s blog showed that you don’t have much imagination and are bit circumscribed – not characteristics of a good story teller. It also felt that you would deny your fellow blogger the right to write whatever he wants to whomever he wants which seemed (to me) patronising. Again not a good fiction writer’s virtue.

In fact, I think you last blog

http://blog.b92.net/node/2694

was rather good and it certainly raised important questions. How you managed to bring Kostunica into that subject as well (in your follow-up comments) is beyond me, though.

I am very flattered that you looked at my blog. Yes, it is rather monotonous I’m afraid. I just hope that you were able to recognise it was provoked by the subject of limits of free speech on B92 (this blog in particular) after the well known recent events. Since writing about it here is almost prohibited. Also I am constantly reminded I should go ‘somewhere else’ so I did. I would rather have the opportunity to discuss the issue here, but it is not my decision to make.

As for you looking for more information about me as ‘to set the level of the discussion’ I’m afraid it doesn’t work like that. You are in the public domain, I’m not. It is your own choice to write this blog and to open your writings to anonymous comments. I do appreciate that it is not easy to do that; you expose yourself, suffer abuse and you give up a part of your privacy. It is kind of sacrifice as well as privilege. But you can’t have it both ways.

The same goes for your remark whether I’m the right person to judge this or that, or the advice that I should keep off. I appreciate your opinion but I think whether I should judge something or comment your writing is my decision to make and I hope you would not deny me that. ("The different side of the barricades"? As I asked, why always the divide, why the war references? Didn’t we have enough of this already?)

Kindest regards and thanks for reading this (even to me) monotonous post.

a.h

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humbert.mojblog.co.yu

This was much polite, or to say normal, answer that makes discussion possible. Previous one was pure insulting.

Regarding deletions, bans etc. I understand your frustration but I am responsible only for my blog.

I am always trying to answer messages on my blog. I have never deleted different opinions on my blog. What have been deleted (in just several well explained cases) were messages that include speech of hate, crude fascism, and impudence. However, I have repeated there that I appreciate thoughtful different attitude much more than a fool who backs me.

Thanks for the reply. You seem to tend to reply as much as you can, especially on your own blog which I think is great. Although I don’t think bloggers have that obligation and I don’t expect them to.

I’m sorry that you feel my first post was “pure insulting” but I still stand by what I have written. My intention was not to insult but to ridicule. In the kindest possible way, of course. I think your stiffness and lack of imagination was worth it. You are very judgemental and righteous in your own blogs so I found it interesting that you would think it appropriate to direct fellow blogger what to do.

On the question of ‘free speech’: I have no problem with deleting insulting comments and banning serious offenders, as long as it is applied consistently and even-handedly. Not at all. But what has been happening on the Blog (B92) goes much beyond that. I also find it amusing that you decided (as far as I could see) to ignore the whole issue.

Again, if the editorial policy is to promote only one view, one political idea, one side of every story – that is fine. As long as it is made clear that that is the deal. ‘People who think otherwise are not welcome’ should be printed on the front page. Or it becomes pure hypocrisy.

Kindest regards,

a.h

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humbert.mojblog.co.yu

I think you're right. Short, sharp and to the point, yet - if left in the original Serbo-Negrin - also abstract. Simply 'Britva' it is then.

Blitva?

his communist past, you can call him bljutva, as well...

I meant untouchable by the electorate - as the public don't get to vote on who should be the leader of the political party that's leading the government

You do know what I think?
That is really wondrous possibility to have a peep into a thing like my brains. I am curious how did you realized that.

:))
Excellent joke. Funny, not wordy, effective... (Although jokes about Kostunica (and Bush) are always great.)

and by the end of the movie, most of the audience starts percieving him as the good guy, xept for the die-hard 'villain' fans who are waiting for the episode where James Bond finally bites the dust....

Loosing freedom ha ha ha

you failed to mention the most important Milo's role:
- the man who brought the independence - THE FATHER OF THE NATION.
Ha, ha. :)

Majority of our 'democratic' politicians are corrupted and nepotists too, but compared to Milo they are incredible stupid and with no style at all.
I almost envy the Montenegreens for that. :)
( But I'll tell you more about it on Mark's funeral. :) )

Anyhow, the real question is who will play the role of James Bond?
And IMHO, the answer is Nebojsa Medojevic.
He is smart, honest and capable. He should work a little bit on his style though. :)

Yes, I do write what I think. But please, tell me where did you find (as you wrote) that I "glorify politicians". Which one, please?

You also wrote: "Milo is not that bad, but also not that good as Srdjan thinks."

How do you measure my perception of the level of "Milo's goodness"?

And about diferences between Milo and V.K. First one has made his lifetime goal real. Second one could be best described with Serbian saying: "Da se mlada za zelen bor vatim, i on bi se zelen osušio".

Not sure about S, but there's lot of fun in M now.

Much important then his goal is that he is a politician who made the goal of the majority of citizens of his country real.

And finally he deliberately withdrew making his opponents almost mad because they spent their whole (political) lives (and too much facilities) trying to force him to do that.

Empty accusations for crime even human trafficking is the only thing left after years of frustration that ended with total failure of ones, and complete success of the others. The only thing the first group in that situation can do is to make bad comparisons, to invent cheep jokes, and to accuse those who try to be real for being Đukanović’s apologetics.

Finally, why all of this? Is there any reason for that? Is there any reason for anyone in Serbia who doesn’t like Milo Đukanović to discuss his case now? He is the former Prime Minister and President of Serbia’s neighboring country. Why choosing him? Are there no relevant topics in Serbia? Or there is necessity to approve one’s "own" attitude? (Criticizing Milo is even better for that than criticizing Kosovo Albanian leadership). Or just: Da komšiji crkne krava.

Milo is a thug, Koshtunitsa isn't. That's the only difference between them that really matters as all the other ones seem to stem from it.

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A Conservative Angle
http://degaullist.wordpress.com

Not important if I am sure or if you are sure. Important is that international representatives were sure:
http://www.osce.org/odihr-elections/item_1_19143.html

I am going to post something about Serbia & Montenegro (when I have time), so we can discuss there. Without hard feelings, of course.

If you know, please tell me, what are international representatives saying about serbian referendum, was that result the will of the majority?
According to my informations they say the referendum was OK, but if that is the only relevant opinion on that matter, than this http://blog.b92.net/node/2635 was not really nice of you, don't you agree?

There were no OSCE observers in Serbian referendum. That referendum, as typical and life-shorted political project for interior use, is not important for anybody outside Serbia.

On the other side referendum in Montenegro was: well prepared by implementing everything delivered by the special international (EU) representative Miroslav Lajčak; carefully and closely monitored not only by international representatives, but also by Montenegrin opposition. (Suppose you do know that opposition was banned to monitor whole process of the Serbian referendum). Furthermore, there was the international (EU) representative as head of the State Electoral Commission (František Lipka). And finally there was unique margin of 55% set by the international community (EU).

I am very sorry for swaying you with these irrefutable arguments already but I must proceed :) and finish with two quotes.

Mr. Rhodes, of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, also notes that the Serbian government has allowed only a tiny number of international observers to the weekend poll, and has not invited the elections-monitoring body of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) at all.

If Serbia's former junior partner Montenegro, which went its own way after a heavily monitored independence referendum in May, had tried the same tactic, he says, "The international community would have blown a gasket.
But the OSCE and the [European Union] have in this case made no comment that I'm aware of about this constitution, which in any country is the most important piece of legislation."
Whole text

For the first time in Serbian history, the poll lasted two days. All forms of advertising were used to stimulate citizens to vote. Those favoring the boycott of the referendum were neglected and underrepresented in the mainstream media. The pressure was pumping up. The first day of voting was marked by the relatively low turnout of 17.8 percent. Political leaders struggled to get 50 percent by calling all the citizens again and again over the TV. As the hours passed, they even announced that Albanian leader Agim Ceku was preparing fireworks and celebration which would take place if the referendum fails. At the end, 53.3 percent of legitimate voters showed up to vote.

However, there are doubts about these turnout figures - because of the numerous irregularities reported.
Whole text

I am very certain that there were foreign observers and that there were no negative comments from the iportant part of the outside (meaning that those who commented it like BBC and some more important diplomats gave positive or neutral comments).

Now about your quotes. I am not arguing facts in any of these two. But let us look last two chapters of what you wrote. These are all facts but what do they mean? Like an analogy, I could tell you about numerous cases of bying votes in Montenegro, for some I know directly from my relatives in MN, and we have alll seen the most famous case on TV, and it is a fact as well as all those things you said of the Serbian referendum.

So these chapters are true, but have nothing to do with my point here - both referendums were equally honest and basicly equally represented in the international comunity.

And for the story of irregularities you have put in your answer, I do not dispute its facts, but it is as relevant for the comparing these two referendums as the fact that my granny has reuma.

I hope that different levels of democratic standards demonstrated in referendums in Montenegro and Serbia do not reflect different levels of democratic standards in these two countries.

Serbian referendum was monitored by 68 foreign observers.
There were 8.385 poling stations. Therefore 1 observer “covered” 123 polling stations.

There were also possibility given to the opposition to observe some 1% polling stations.

Referendum in Montenegro, conducted on 1.100 polling stations, has been monitored by 3.400 foreign observers. Furthermore, at least one opposition representative was present at each polling station.

You still think there’s no difference?

The EU observers had not even finished writing their report before Solana made his official congratulations. I just read the International Crisis Group's analysis of the elections. It is very damning of the international community and offers conclusive proof that the elections were stolen and that the EU and Council of Europe took the position they did due to political expediency. ICG based this on observations of international observers that were hushed up. You can find it at: http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=4494&l=1