Essay Contest

My View

By: Maja Dimitrijevic

My name is Maja Dimitrijevic, and I come from a country in Eastern Europe called Serbia. Serbia used to be part of Yugoslavia that had six states and two provinces Vojvodina and Kosovo. As eastern bloc started to fall apart in 1991 when I was born, the Civil War between Croatians and Albanians and Serbian people begun. This war was a war over territorial power and state independence and it lasted from 1991 - 1995 when Dayton agreement was made between Croatian, Albanian and Serbian government in Dayton, Ohio in 1995. This agreement was then formally singed in Paris in Dec. 1995, and put an end to armed conflicts between these states. But in that war a quarter of a million Croatian Serbs became refugees and were displaced from their homes in Croatia. In 1995 Erdut Agreement was signed between Croatia and Serbia and it stated the conditions for returning of refugees back to their homes that were violently taken away.

Barrack Obama's plan is to support actions of Erdut and Dayton agreement that helps Serbian refugees to recover their property, and also Barrack Obama is interested in encouraging talks and dialogues between government of succeeded Kosovo and Serbian government.

Obama's foreign policies are about alliance between United States of America and other countries around the world. His plan is to continue good relationships with Serbia, and he plans to maintain the financial investments. Serbia has unlimited potential in all economic and agricultural fields that are waiting to be developed. At the moment the USA is one of the biggest economic investors, and our Serbian president Boris Tadic supports the Democratic Party because he believes that they have in common goals towards democracy, and by improving both states trade markets they can only improve the current state of economics in both countries. Also Obama is senator of Illinois where he has great support of Serbian community and got in touch with Serbian people who really appreciate him and his ideas.

On the other side we have John McCain's team that doesn't have a clear opinion about the status of Kosovo and further cooperation with Serbia. One of McCain's statements was that he supported humanitarian military actions in Kosovo, which is similar to Barracks thoughts on protecting Serbian Orthodox Churches that represent a big part of our history, and the people that still live there despite of current conditions.

All in all, the main goals of both presidential parties that are running for presidential place, support Serbian alliance with the European Union, which is the main strategic goal for our new formed government and re-elected democratic president Boris Tadic, and at the same time the safest way towards consolidation of Serbian society. Also, both candidates have mutual support for Serbia joining NATO alliance. And both parties want to improve bilateral relations not only with EU as a bloc, but also with individual states that have great potential in developing productive economy.

I think that Democratic candidate, senator Barrack Obama is more interested in improving Serbian-American relations which will affect me directly in near future when I apply for college, and college scholarships that are financed mostly by American government. That scholarship will be necessary for me to continue my education here in the US. Obama's plan is, in my opinion, more precise and more promising for my country improvement in every way. One of Serbia's needs, new work opportunity for many Serbian citizens is more than necessary. Our president Boris Tadic with help of American democratic government will create those new opportunities. American - Serbian relations will be very important in further development of Serbia as a country and her people like myself.