Moved East

markowe · Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 9:59 am Post subject: Embassy warning to Brits

The other day the British Embassy in Belgrade sent out a circular to British citizens giving guidelines regarding the current situation with Kosovo. I won't reproduce it here because it was marked "in confidence", which I will grudgingly respect.

However, it made clear that the UK would be recognising Kosovo independence once the declaration came, which it now has. It said that there would probably be some "reactions" from the public and demonstrations focused on embassies. The letter also says that there could conceivably be some form of retaliation against UK-related businesses.

The advice to Brits is to lay low, avoid demonstrations, avoid discussions about politics and that no major tensions are expected.

Pretty much what I would say too, I guess.

As for the atmosphere here on the ground, there were quite a few incidents around Novi Sad and Belgrade, mostly bakeries being trashed - many of these being owned by Albanians. The general impression though is that those responsible are the usual hothead football-supporter types who will jump at the chance for a fight with the police. The next few days may tell, since large-scale demonstrations are planned and will probably be initially well-attended while the sense of indignation is still strong in the population. Hopefully they will not lead to any larger disturbances.

Don't want to get into any heated politics here. But, if you live in Serbia and have any affinity for the country and its people, then this is a very gloomy day... Even the most liberal-minded will agree that the whole Kosovo thing has been handled criminally badly by the West. At the very least, Serbia has yet again been humiliated on the world stage and it is hard to tell how much of that any nation can take...
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adam562 · Joined: 18 Oct 2007 Posts: 18 Location: Belgrade, Serbia

It certainly was pretty chaotic here in Belgrade on Sunday evening. I sat watching it from the safety of my flat; I'm very glad I wasn't outside at the time in the centre to say the least!

The football hooligans attacked the U.S. Embassy, completey trashed the Slovene Embassy, smashed up three McDonalds, bus shelters and various other shop windows in different parts of the city centre. I don't get why they would want to destroy their own city - but that's football hooligans and high levels testosterone for you.

I completely agree with you, Mark, the situation has been handled terrilbly by the West and I can understand the anger and humiliation felt by the Serbs. I've also been pretty annoyed with the way the BBC and other news outlets in the West have reported these last few days. Serbs oppresive bad guys, Albanians good guys - it's simply not that black and white.

For those of you coming to Serbia soon, don't worry, I'm hoping the situation won't escalate - anyway it's already back to normal on the streets in Belgrade (and I'm sure in Novi Sad as well).

You'll certainly be made to feel most welcome in Serbia! Very Happy

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markowe · Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 4:12 pm Post subject: SMS warnings from British Consul

British expats in Serbia have today received a message from the Consul as follows:

"A major demonstration is planned for central Belgrade tomorrow (21st Feb). Major traffic disruption expected and disturbances are possible. Low profile advised and avoid the area where possible"

I suppose I would echo that - not because Serbia has suddenly become an evil, scary place, but because emotions are running high at the moment, and this kind of event is bound to cause an increase in tensions. Also, English speakers would be a prime target for anyone wanting to cause trouble.

Me, I'm going to be staying in Novi Sad tomorrow...
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Rene · Joined: 19 Jan 2008 Posts: 7 Location: Belgrade

i need to go into town tomorrow, my friend has her birthday and she lives right across the American embassy but i think about going per bus or see if i can borrow a car with local plates since i don't think it's very smart to park my dutch plates there Neutral

markowe · Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:26 pm Post subject:

Rene · Joined: 19 Jan 2008 Posts: 7 Location: Belgrade

tell me about it Wink

Every evening there are 4 big city bussed packed with police waiting on the Sarevska side of the building. And i mean the intervention force complete with shields, helmets and sticks.

Scary shit...

adam562 · Joined: 18 Oct 2007 Posts: 18 Location: Belgrade, Serbia

Yes, as I was walking along Savska ulica this afternoon on my way to the police station to deal with my visa, I saw four buses full of riot police, plus 5 or 6 smaller vans.

On my way back home, I took the tram round Kalemegdan (ended up getting locked in the tram at the depot - oh dear Laughing

), and on my walk up I saw three of those buses outside the Slovene Embassy. The police are everywhere in the city, even the 'normal' police - must have seen at least 10 cars in the space of 15minutes while walking through town.

Let's hope this demonstration planned for tomorrow doesn't cause any problems, I'm need to get to work at around 6pm, a few hundred metres down the road from meeting area. Perhaps a day off work will be on the cards!

Adam
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Laura9654 · Joined: 08 Dec 2007 Posts: 23

Meep. Things really aren't looking good are they? It would be much easier if I was IN the country and able to make an assessment about my safety.

I'm supposed to leave Wednesday. What would your advice be?

For what it's worth, I've arranged to be in Zemun for the first month.

Mark - can you email me? I'll just PM you with my address.

Rene · Joined: 19 Jan 2008 Posts: 7 Location: Belgrade

I've been Zemun ever since the demonstrations started and i can asure you Zemun is quiet as ever. All the main 'events' where happening in Center and not really in the outer towns like Zemun.

Last night we visited some clubs and besides being awefully empty no tension what so ever was in the air and the Centar was somewhat deserted. Looks like most people rather stayed in house then go into town.

In other words, i would not worry to much about it. Won't go shouting on the streets that your foreigner but at the other hand most people i spoke to say you have more to fear if your Croatian then whatever country.

markowe · Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 4:29 pm Post subject:

Yes, my wife and I were in Zemun yesterday visiting relatives and it is perfectly quiet, though I imagine it is pretty much the same in Belgrade proper. We wanted to sit and chat in a smoke-free environment, so we went in McDonald's. It was working normally and was thronging with young people who did not appear to have the slightest concern about being there. Even the effigy of Ronald McDonald sitting outside on the bench had not been defaced in any way!

What was interesting though was that a) they were playing Serbian music on the PA (Ceca etc.) more than they usually would and b) there was a police guard in the place! The latter is basically a precaution, after all, some of the central McD's got trashed the other night. But the policewoman (later man) seemed pretty bored and mostly keen to work through her pile of free doughnuts!

So again, these things have a habit of settling down very quickly and only flaring up as a result of the provocation of a very small minority.
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SimonJ · Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 2 Location: London, UK

Mark

Thanks for the advice, both re: the current situation and life in general. I'm probably coming down 'sarf' in spring/summer for MA research so I may yet be in touch! See you on proz / KudoZ.

Cheers

Simon

markowe · Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 10:57 pm Post subject: Re: Thanks

SimonJ · Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 2 Location: London, UK

Cheers Mark - if things work out and I come to Serbia, I may have a glut of questions in return for some tetleys or whatever culinary delight you cannot get hold of in Serbia.

Simon

markowe · Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 12:59 pm Post subject:

Laura9654 · Joined: 08 Dec 2007 Posts: 23

Hi everyone

I've now been in Serbia a week, and on the surface at least, it doesn't look as if much has changed in Belgrade. Sure, every McDonalds downtown has been razed to the ground, and there are the odd "Kosovo is Serbia" posters (what makes me laugh is that the Serbian ones have been left intact, while th English translations so helpfully provided have been defaced in some way.

I'll find a more suitable thread to waffle about how my first week has gone!