Convention

The Convention opened on the evening of September 18 with a cocktail party followed by a program to mark the 800th anniversary of Hilandar and the 80th anniversary of the Salonika front breach in World War I. This was followed by entertainment by FRULA of New York and Balkan Express organized by SUC Washington Chapter president Natalija Djurickovic.

After this non-stop activity, there was a buzz of expectation when the Convention got down to its business sessions on September 19. It was held in a large and gracious reception room of the Ritz Carlton Hotel that had been tastefully and artistically decorated with historical Serbian pictures and banners. After convention chairman Ron Radakovich had called the proceedings to order, the delegates heard reports from President Vojin Joksimovich, Washington representative Jonathan Clarke, and treasurer John Delich.

These reports stressed the progress made by the SUC over the past year. Dr. Joksimovich outlined the range of SUC activities covering Kosovo, Jasenovac, Republika Srpska, and Serbia and drew a generally positive balance. Looking ahead he stressed that the SUC was at a turning point at which it needed to look hard at its internal organization and procedures. This task was vital because of the enormous difficulties facing Serbs in the motherland. Dr. Joksimovich stated: "The reasons these changes to guarantee our organization's future are so vitally necessary go to the heart of the many messages I receive from the Motherland. There the issue is -- in a word -- survival. This places the Serbian Diaspora at center stage. Our compatriots in Serbia are fighting a heroic battle to preserve our national integrity and traditions. Without a viable Serbian Diaspora I seriously doubt that they will make it. In which case there may not be a viable Serbia ready to enter into the 21st century. This puts a sacred responsibility on our shoulders. We must continue to fight for survival of the Serbian nation and to expose the hypocrisy of much western policy. We owe this to the future Serbian generations. The Diaspora needs to be united."

Jonathan Clarke described the activities of the Washington representation in projecting the Serb point of view. He concluded: "We have a base camp. The mountain still has to be climbed. But we now know that it is not hopeless. Thanks to some far-sighted decisions by the SUC leadership, we have the people, policies, and energy in place. With your help, we can make it."

Panel discussions

United States/Serbia/Serbs
Democracy in Serbia
Kosovo
Republika Srpska

Following the panel discussions, Vojin Joksimovich conducted a discussion session with delegates. All the while, Voice of America correspondent and SUC member Branko Mikasinovich was conducting a series of TV interviews for the VOA Serbian service that is seen in Serbia and all over Europe.