Letter of Congratulations to the President of the USA

„Excellency, dear President, 

 

Please accept my sincere congratulations for your birthday, with the best wishes for your good health and happiness, as well as for many successes in your responsible duty, to the benefit of your country and all its citizens.

 

Allow me to avail myself of this opportunity to reiterate my invitation to you to visit Serbia, because it hasn’t be done by an American President for almost four decades. Serbia and the United States of America forged their friendship by fighting together in two World Wars, and strong historical relations exist between us. Let me remind you that we mark this year the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Operation Halyard when lives of more than five hundred American and Allied airmen were saved by timeless solidarity and humanity shown by brave people of one small Serbia, in one of the greatest actions of that kind in the World War II.  

 

However, friendship is not something that has been given once and for all; it should be cherished and continuously nurtured. Therefore, I want to confirm my strong will to contribute to the development of political dialogue and strengthening of economic cooperation of our two countries. By coming to Serbia, you would confirm that wish for stronger and richer Serbian-American ties is mutual; people of my country would know to appreciate and respect that. 

 

In striving to bring relations between Serbia and the USA back to the level of true partnership, the way they had been and the way they should be, I am encouraged by a fact that you pay attention to developments in the Balkans and that on several occasions you showed readiness to help in Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, and thereby to resolving centuries-long problem of Kosovo and Metohija.

 

As you already know, Mr. President, interests of not only Belgrade and Pristina are intertwined through the problem of Kosovo and Metohija, but also of different international stakeholders, which makes the respective a source of endless political manipulations and instabilities. No one, however, cares more about resolving this heavy burden than Serbia. That is why we realistically and courageously, with will and faith, started searching for lasting solution that would enable peace, stability, cooperation, economic prosperity and progress on the European path to my country, but to the entire region as well. 

 

I know, as well as all citizens of Serbia, that the USA have special relations with Kosovo and Metohija, seeing it as an independent country they have always supported and helped, particularly though activities of the former Administration of the President William Jefferson Clinton. Following your energetic work, respecting the courage of ideas and openness for different, sometimes also unexpected approach in resolving problems, I am convinced that you would have followed different politics regarding the respective issue. That is why I wanted to ask you to influence Pristina to abolish harmful tariffs for goods produced in Central Serbia, so that the dialogue aimed at finding compromise, mutually acceptable solution could continue.

 

This reminds me of the words of Nikola Tesla, Serbian born American citizen, to whom the world owes so much: “Let the future tell the truth, and evaluate each one according to his work and accomplishments. The present is theirs; the future, for which I have really worked, is mine.”Please accept your Excellency my wishes for celebrating your birthday in peace, as well as my cordial regards and the assurances of my highest consideration.” 

 

Belgrade, 14 June 2019