Serbia

Global intellectuals warn: Street protests – A favorite tool of NATO imperialism

The political turmoil in Serbia has drawn the attention of a circle of European and global intellectuals, prompting them to share their insights, express their views, and warn Serbian friends about the potentially disastrous consequences of the ongoing processes and the possibility of their exploitation by those long known as seasoned masters of government overthrows and war incitement.
By 
May 3, 2025
2 mins read

Calling for reason, and being well-informed observers of the events of the 1990s, the signatories of the following message state: Only the Serbian people can save Serbia – or destroy it.

We publish the letter in its entirety:

We are independent writers, journalists and academics from various countries who during the 1990s tried to expose the lies and distortions used to blame “Serbian nationalism” for the violent breakup of Yugoslavia, indirectly incited by Western powers. Leading Western politicians and media used the demonization of Serbs as pretext for the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. The false pretense of “humanitarian intervention” transformed NATO into an openly offensive alliance which went on to destroy Iraq, Libya and Syria as viable nations. The violent detachment of Kosovo from Serbia was followed by a series of Western “regime change” operations and NATO expansion eastward which has led to the current war in Ukraine. 

Serbia thereby served as the experimental laboratory and ideological justification for subsequent NATO aggressions, both military and political.  The Western propaganda narrative against Serbia persists as a foundation of NATO’s interventionist policy.

Based on our past commitments, we would like to join with the citizens of Serbia in freeing Serbia from the consequences of that negative narrative. However, such efforts can be nullified by divisions in Serbia itself.

            Today’s protesters described as students were children (or not yet born) in the 1990s when the anti-Serb campaign prepared the world for a series of wars.  It seems likely that many young people are troubled by conflicting versions and interpretations of those past conflicts.   As concerned witnesses to that past, we would like to make a few observations.

  1. To be effective, protest demonstrations should make clear practical demands that can be realized.
  2. Faced with powerful enemies, the leader of a small country like Serbia can reasonably seek good relations with all. If this produces compromises that people disapprove, they should make their objections clear and offer alternatives.
  3. If a protest is clearly directed against joining the European Union, that can be understood, debated and decided – for example in a referendum.
  4. Street protests are the favorite method of U.S./NATO imperialism to weaken and overthrow governments they don’t like.
  5. Imprecise, general protests can produce chaos which enables outside manipulators to seize power (as in Ukraine in 2014).
  6. Elections remain the best way to settle differences.
  7. The Serbian electoral system is particularly fair in comparison to other Western countries.
  8. The deteriorating relations between neighboring Hungary and the EU should be a significant factor in determining Serbian policy.
  9. Corruption exists everywhere, and is effectively fought by rules and investigation, not street meetings. The most insidious corruption is ideological.
  10. Only the Serbian people can save Serbia – or destroy it.

With respect and affection for the people of Serbia,

(signed)

Diana Johnstone

Andrea Martocchia (secretary, Italian Coordination for Yugoslavia)

Jeannie Toschi Marazzani Visconti

Christopher Black

John Laughland

George Pumphrey

Tim Fenton

Jonathan Rooper

George Szamuely

Laurie Mayer

Flavio Grimaldi

Open to signatures.

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