Locals have been keeping their eye on today's session of the European Council, hoping that it will mark the start of accession talks for Serbia to join the European Union. There seemed to be an undue amount of emphasis on the need for things to start today, rather than any other date, so I looked up June 28th.
Turns out that June 28 is St. Vitus day, or Vidovdan, the holiday that commemorates the sacrifice of Serbian martyrs defending their faith in the epic battle of Kosovo on this day in 1389.
But wait, there's more:
Update
It looks like they've received the go-ahead to begin negotiations in January. I think that will make everyone happy. But as I said, I've heard politicians say that "just a green light" is not enough. I don't know what that means exactly.
Update (2)
In a somewhat incoherent article, Prime Minister Dacic says that he is not too satisfied. He wishes the date was sooner, "but anyway, it's a historic day."
Turns out that June 28 is St. Vitus day, or Vidovdan, the holiday that commemorates the sacrifice of Serbian martyrs defending their faith in the epic battle of Kosovo on this day in 1389.
But wait, there's more:
- on June 28, 1914 the assassination of the Austro-Hungarian crown prince, Franz Ferdinand, triggered the First World War.
- on June 28, 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed, ending World War I.
- on June 28, 1921, the Serbian King Alexander I proclaimed the new Constitution of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, known thereafter as theVidovdan Constitution (Vidovdanski ustav).
- on June 28, 1948, the Cominform published, on the initiative of its Soviet delegates Zhdanov, Malenkov and Suslov, in a "Resolution on the State of theCommunist Party of Yugoslavia" their condemnation of the Yugoslavian communist leaders - this happening is seen as the date that marks the final split between the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia.
- on June 28, 1989, on the 600th anniversary of the battle of Kosovo, Serbian leader Slobodan Milošević delivered the Gazimestan speech at the site of the historic battle.
- on June 28, 2001, Slobodan Milošević was deported to ICTY to stand trial.
- on June 28, 2006, Montenegro was announced as the 192nd member state of the United Nations.
Update
It looks like they've received the go-ahead to begin negotiations in January. I think that will make everyone happy. But as I said, I've heard politicians say that "just a green light" is not enough. I don't know what that means exactly.
Update (2)
In a somewhat incoherent article, Prime Minister Dacic says that he is not too satisfied. He wishes the date was sooner, "but anyway, it's a historic day."
Auspiciousness!
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