U.S.A. Administration Shows Hypocritical and Cynical Concern

Dnevni Telegraf, Belgrade, FR Yugoslavia, October 13, 1998

"At the moment when our country is threatened by tons of bombs and rockets, the American Government has found it appropriate to announce its support for the independent media, academic community and especially, fired professors from the Law department. This worry for the endangered media and the autonomy of the University as well as the concern for the fired professors, is cynical, hypocritical and simply in bad taste. It is cynical that the American government takes it upon itself to support the freedom of press in Serbia, while at the same time through its regents it stifles the freedom of speech in the Republic of Srpska by restricting the freedom of media and removing elected officials because of the statements it finds inappropriate. It is hypocritical to now show concern for endangered academic freedom, when it only serves as another accusation against the authorities in the state from which unprecedented concessions are being sought. Finally, it is pathetic to express worry for the fate of several fired professors if the same government intends to expose the whole country to the horrors of war and destruction. Milosevic's rule has doomed the Serb people. Consequently, it is wrong for the American government to negotiate with him and at the same time terribly punish his victims, while all along hypocritically (to the extent of causing disgust) trying to present itself as a supporter and defender of endangered freedoms," writes Mirjana Stefanovski.