Wanted: People with vision!!

For almost a year now I have been writing to Serbian leaders, ministries, politicians, the Embassy of Serbia in London (prior to the decision to withdraw the Ambassadors from those countries that recognised Kosovo), various Serb "lobby" groups, the Royal Family of Serbia and many more. As of yet I have had little or no reply. My aim- to work with likeminded people in promoting the positive side of Serbia (political, cultural, tourist) and aid in helping to improve the negative side.

I am a member of the Diaspora (also known as "oni" in Serbia!) I was born, educated and graduated in the UK.

During my studies in London, I was amazed as to the help available for students of other ethnic backgrounds (Diaspora or native). The Embassies of those students were only too keen to aid them with books, documents, documentary films, interviews and contact with experts, anything that could be of any use. They even translated texts into English for those who couldnt speak the relevant language. The only "help" I got from "our" Embassy in London was a lungful of cigarette smoke and a photocopy of an article that was already widely available.

Fortunately I can speak and read Serbian but what about those students that can't? The majority of sources in English are extremely biased and portray a very one-sided and negative image of Serbia. So why is there so little translation of Serbian texts into English and why is there so little written in English in the first place?

Why are there so few documentary films promoting Serbia culturally and as a tourist destination? It's not as if there is nothing to see in Serbia!! Beautiful countryside, weather, monasteries and other places of historical significance, lovely food, great people and hospitality but nothing promoting this!! If Taiwan can manage to organise itself then there is no excuse for Serbia not to!!

This morning, and ever since Karadzic was arrested the BBC has wheeled in its "experts" and has interviewed representatives from Bosnia, Croatia and even Kosovo. Where were the Serbian representatives? I saw one five minute interview with Vuk Jeremic and that was it. 

Serbia has (finally) made progress on the long road to EU membership and a better future, but mark my words it is a very long and winding road and there is still a lot of work to be done. It is time that Serbia sheds its image of a tired and internally fractured country and portrays itself as a vigorous, modern and adventurous state that would be an asset to the EU (especially in the curent cooling attitude toward EU expansion here in the West).  

So come on people with vision, lets sort something out!!!