Serbia, The Essence of Darkness

MEMO

November 2006
Marijo Anne Gillis WAG/NY

My attorney and I had a meeting with Mr. Ivan Vujacic, the Serbian Ambassador to the United States. The meeting took place at the Serbian Mission to the United Nations in New York City. The UN Mission of this poor, bedraggled, war torn and brutal country is housed in a spectacular, pristine, multi - million dollar "mansion" on Fifth Avenue. Originally the meeting was to be held at the Serbian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Ambassador Vujacic, a stately and well mannered gentleman was articulate and gracious. After discussion and negotiation, a meeting was brokered between WAG, our attorney and Mr. Tadich the President of Serbia. The meeting was to be held at the time of the opening ceremonies of the United Nations General Assembly in September of 2005.

President Tadich never entered the US during the United Nations General assembly session for unknown reasons and so I spoke with his representative in the capitol city of Belgrade. I am sad to report that to date, nothing has been done to alleviate the horrible problems plaguing Serbian animals and advocates. I am told by Serbian citizens that the seated government is "ignorant, corrupt and unwilling" to allocate dedication or funding to assuage the animal suffering in Serbia, which is catastrophic.

Ambassador Vujacic told my attorney and I quite candidly: "There are not enough incubators for premature babies" and health care is a shambles, do you expect us to help animals?". (Yet, note that our meeting took place in one of New York City's premier locations and most elegant and expensive properties.)

A mighty miracle of God may be the only answer for Serbia; a country whose history includes some of the most treacherous, brutal battles, ethnic cleansing and outrageous war crimes recorded in history.

Sadly, according to advocates on the "ground" in Belgrade, one of Serbia's major animal rights organizations feasts on personal agendas and informants within the country allege that the principals of the organization may receive kickback from government officials.

It is anyone's guess what reality is in a nation of altered truth, and alleged government dishonesty. The entire situation stinks on ice. Sadly, political rhetoric, empty promises and some rather good coffee turned out to be the offerings at our very cordial meeting.

Untill such a time when the Serbian government takes responsibility and fulfills it'sr moral obligations; a good thing to do would be to pray.

At this moment in time and with the present government and their moral values in position, and I always call a spade a spade; I consider reconciliation of the tragic situation for Serbias animals and her advocates extremely difficult. Unless we, regardless of geographic borders, unite as one voice and protest to the EU.

We must protest, while the Serbian state is undergoing scrutiny during evaluation for entrance into the European Union and until the Serbian government acquieses and implements humane reform measures and punishes those citizens responsible for animal related crimes.

Marijo Gillis/WAG NY

November 2006

The Traingle of Death

A profound reality is becoming visible to the global community. Verbal and written reports, photographs and graphic film give jaw dropping, brutal evidence to the fact that Serbian society in it's relationship with companion and farmed animals parallels that of certain cultures where the live butchering of animals, including domesticated cats and dogs takes place without a flinch or the blink of an eye. ( ie: China, Korea and the Phillipines)

It is a pity that a nation, appearing by it's actions to be ethically obtuse, trying so desperately to allign itself with the European Union and striving to live up to the standards of the rest of the civilized world, fails so miserably.

Serbian animal advocates make daily, impassioned pleas for help that are heard around the world. The scorching lack of interest on the part of President Tadichs' government fans the fire. Serbia, her history of ethnic cleansing and treacherous war crimes and her present day combat fought against the innocent, helpless animals and their protectors may well create a new paradign for the halls of history.