Boycott and threats to Serbian community in Macedonia

22/2/2010

Traditional Serbian evening in Macedonia ‘Serbs and friends’ was almost not to be held the evening before yesterday because of allegedly planted bomb which ‘shall be activated if Archbishop Jovan and leader of the Democratic Party of Serbs in Macedonia Ivan Stojiljkovic appear at celebration’. This threat was preceded by, for the first time since proclamation of Macedonian independence, complete boycott of Macedonian state and church authorities of celebrate of the Day of Statehood of Serbia in Skopje.

Bad signals started arriving to Serbian community in Macedonia about twenty days ago. Publicly everything was brought in connection with the return of Archbishop Jovan to Macedonia who is in unity with the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Everything culminated with the false information about planted bomb at ‘Alexander Palace’ where about a thousand of guests gathered on the occasion of traditional Serbian evening. The police intervened and the celebration was held.

After persecution by Macedonian courts, Archbishop Jovan returned to Macedonia on St. Sava’s Day, January 27 which is celebrated there as an official Serbian holiday. His return was very much commented in media by politicians, diplomats and church circles. Some of the messages were even threatening especially the one sent by the Bishop of Veles: ‘If there is no court justice, Macedonian people shall know how to deal with traitors’.

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