Darko Gavrilović: Boris Milošević showed humanity and the desire to move forward

The President of the Board of Directors of the Center for History, Democracy and Reconciliation from Novi Sad, historian Darko Gavrilović, made a statement to the autonomija.info portal regarding Boris Milošević’s decision to attend the 25 anniversary of operation “Storm” in Knin.

The Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Croatia from the Independent Democratic Party of Serbia, Boris Milošević, showed “the breadth of his humanity” and his sincere desire to move forward in Serbian-Croatian relations.

“In our region, hating another because of differences is daring, but being human is a choice. And by coming to Knin, Milošević showed the breadth of his humanity, but also his sincere desire to move forward in Serbian-Croatian relations ,” Gavrilović told Autonomija.

He added that Boris Milošević, as a political representative of the large number of Serbs living in Croatia, did not wait for a “wink from the side” that would draw his attention to what he should do and say.

“He is not one of those who, from neighboring countries, from comfortable armchairs, speak and give advice on what Serbs should do in Croatia.” He has already taken a risky but I hope, in terms of reconciliation, profitable step. This step sends a clear message to nationalists and populists on both sides, which is: ‘Incited by you and committed by thousands of followers, the evil during the war should be remembered, but so that we ordinary people can learn to forgive each other and build peace. Any different memory deepens the existing one and encourages new evil”, said Gavrilović.

According to his words, the verbal conflicts that “multiply at this time of the year and have been so for a quarter of a century” are only “political drama-conflicts”. From them, everyone in their community, supported by a large number of media, emerges as a winner. And in fact, by stringing insults against the opponent and emphasizing one’s own virtues, a sad play is played out in which severe personal tragedies and “evil fates of rivers of refugees and those killed, whose numbers are measured in hundreds of thousands” are misused.

“Instead of those mentioned verbal conflicts, a culture of dialogue should be developed at all levels, from politics, through the media to science. The goal should be to clarify the opinion through discussion and arguments about the indisputable history of suffering in the wars on the territory of Yugoslavia. To eliminate doubts and prejudices so that we can mutually improve ourselves as individuals and societies”, said Gavrilović.

He added that one departure like Boris Milošević’s departure to Knin means a lot, but it does not mean that the nationalists have been defeated.

“The fight against nationalism cannot be waged by convincing those who hate that they should love, but by giving support to those who love to selflessly share their love,” Gavrilović said.