more holidays
Yesterday, was V-E Day, the Day of Victory over Facism, the Day of Europe. To 'celebrate' coworkers and I attended a rally "For Serbia in Europe," or so said the signs. One would think there would be no need for a rally on such a topic; a consultation with an atlas should do the trick, but sadly that is not the case.
The EU has decided to call off stabilization and association discussions with Serbia, due to the government's inability to hand over accused war criminals. Despite this, the EU and Serbian officials are having "working meetings" today, whatever that means.
The rally was satisfying and entertaining, though. My political vocabulary has reached the point that I can understand politicians' speeches. It also helps that they speak slowly. The leader of the Liberal Democratic Party was super charismatic. He took the stage to techno and danced around for a bit. The crowd went wild. His rhetoric was good, a roughly translated exerpt: "the current government gives people hope. It shows that any deliquent can grow up to be president and that the worst student can be minister of law."
After the speeches, we walked around the center waving peace flags and sharing a two-liter bottle of beer. An acquaintance told me of the anti-Milosevic rallies and how much more crowded those were, how much energy there was.
About halfway through the rally and march, I remembered state department advice that foreigners should stay away from political rallies. I am a failure in that regard.
The EU has decided to call off stabilization and association discussions with Serbia, due to the government's inability to hand over accused war criminals. Despite this, the EU and Serbian officials are having "working meetings" today, whatever that means.
The rally was satisfying and entertaining, though. My political vocabulary has reached the point that I can understand politicians' speeches. It also helps that they speak slowly. The leader of the Liberal Democratic Party was super charismatic. He took the stage to techno and danced around for a bit. The crowd went wild. His rhetoric was good, a roughly translated exerpt: "the current government gives people hope. It shows that any deliquent can grow up to be president and that the worst student can be minister of law."
After the speeches, we walked around the center waving peace flags and sharing a two-liter bottle of beer. An acquaintance told me of the anti-Milosevic rallies and how much more crowded those were, how much energy there was.
About halfway through the rally and march, I remembered state department advice that foreigners should stay away from political rallies. I am a failure in that regard.
posted by rachel @ 2:33 PM
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