Resolution of the 68th Congress of the Serbian National Defense in America
Monastery New Gracanica, Third Lake, Illinois June 27, 2009
The Delegates of the 68th Congress,
Devoted to the goals of the oldest Serbian National Organization in America to which they belong and act;
Faithful to the ideals based on St. Sava spirituality, martyrdom of Kosovo heroes, Karadjordje’s fighters, soldiers in the Liberation wars 1912-1918, Ravna Gora movement 1941-1945 and in Western Serbian lands 1991-1995;
Determined to continue working on protection of basic interests of the Serbian people as a whole and of the Serbian community in the USA in particular
We adopt the following RESOLUTIOIN as a commitment to future work and reflection of our aims.
Main goals of the Serbian National Defense activities in the US are:
- Defending interests of the Serbian-American community, Serbian name and reputation in the US, in particular through contacts with legislative bodies and media.
- Cherish and strengthen the identity of the Serbian community in the US.
- Strengthen versatile contacts with our Homeland by extending assistance to those who are most in need.
- Expand the network of local chapters, increase and rejuvenate the membership of the SND and facilitate objective information of American and world public on the status of Serbs and of Serbian lands.
In the context of immediate challenges to the Serbian community, the problem of Kosovo is the dominant one:
- Serbian National Defense rejects the act of self-proclaimed Albanian quasi-state in Kosovo and Metohija as illegal, illegitimate an immoral.
- SND resolutely condemns US recognition of that creation as well as by other countries as flagrant violation of standards of the international law.
- SND considers Kosovo and Metohija to be inseparable part of Serbia and any new agreement has to be in accordance with the Resolution of the Security Council 1244.
- SND considers the right of Serbia to regain the sovereignty over her sacred territories.
- SND warns that there is no short-term political interest nor material or political compensation, which could justify let alone verify violation the territorial integrity of Serbia. Therefore, SND requests from every future government in Belgrade to resist to any pressure, which could endanger the status of the southern Serbian province as part of the sovereign Serbian territory.
- SND strongly believes that return to the original principles of the Dayton agreement remains the guarantor of “Republica Srpska” survival and that the agreement could be altered only by international community.
SND remains consistent in defending Serbian cause without limitation wherever Serbs live.
- Supports survival of Serbian people in Montenegro.
- Condemns acts of authorities in Podgorica, which systematically create conflicts among brothers.
- Supports the struggle of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral for survival of Serbian Orthodox Church as the only canonic Orthodox Church in Montenegro.
- SND expresses its concern with general crisis of moral values, spiritual heritage and national identity. We appeal to the authorities in Serbia to organize their state based on roots of Serbian tradition and shining heritage of our ancestors, the only source of bringing stability and prosperity to the Serbian state.
- SND in America is of the opinion that the government of Serbia has to call for a REFERENDUM on Serbian entrance to the European Union.
- SND in America requests from the Serbian government to protect Serbian Cyrillic alphabet from systematic destruction.
With regard to 64-anniverasary of the martyr’s death of general Draza Mihailovich, we request one more time the need to reveal the truth on execution of the general as well as on crimes committed by communists against Serbian people and on its territories during the Second World War.
SND in America salutes everybody in our fatherland and in Diaspora who is engaged in clearing up the murder of general Mihailovich, action initiated by the Serbian National Defense in America.
SND remains resolute in its conviction that the lasting peace in the Balkans is possible only if Serbian people receive equal treatment with other nations in the region, including the right of self-determination on all territories inhabited by Serbs for centuries. This principle should remain valid regardless of temporary change of ethnic composition on these territories.
Resolution Committee:
Ilija Lubarda, MA
Velibor Sokovic
Budimir Sajic
