Michael Djordjevich
His Excellency Ban Ki-moon
Secretary General of the United Nations
New York, the United States of America
January 17, 2013
Your Excellency,
It was indeed gracious of you to apologize to the Bosnian American Community for its wrongly understood message of a song at the recent Serbian New Year concert at the United Nations. Nonetheless, we are confused as to why an apology was needed and what this imbroglio is all about.
The song – "March on the Drina" – was composed during World War I, when Serbia steadily resisted Austro-Hungarian and German invasion. Anyone who impartially listened to the introductory address by the current President of the General Assembly of the United Nations, Mr. Vuk Jeremic, could not have twisted or misunderstood the true meaning of the ending message that preceded the song.
He called for good will among people and peace and was looking toward the future, toward overcoming divisions of the past and living in harmony. It was in this context that the song was played and dedicated to peace among all people.
Your Excellency, this is how the Serbian-American community and its many friends have understood the intent and substance of the message.
We hope you do too.
With best regards,
Michael Djordjevich
President
Studenica Foundation
San Rafael, California
Your Excellency,
It was indeed gracious of you to apologize to the Bosnian American Community for its wrongly understood message of a song at the recent Serbian New Year concert at the United Nations. Nonetheless, we are confused as to why an apology was needed and what this imbroglio is all about.
The song – "March on the Drina" – was composed during World War I, when Serbia steadily resisted Austro-Hungarian and German invasion. Anyone who impartially listened to the introductory address by the current President of the General Assembly of the United Nations, Mr. Vuk Jeremic, could not have twisted or misunderstood the true meaning of the ending message that preceded the song.
He called for good will among people and peace and was looking toward the future, toward overcoming divisions of the past and living in harmony. It was in this context that the song was played and dedicated to peace among all people.
Your Excellency, this is how the Serbian-American community and its many friends have understood the intent and substance of the message.
We hope you do too.
With best regards,
Michael Djordjevich
President
Studenica Foundation
San Rafael, California
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If you would like to get in touch with me, Aleksandra, please feel free to contact me at heroesofserbia@yahoo.com
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