Regarding the May 24 article "Appeasing Serbia hurts EU": All those who are familiar and informed are well aware that Serbia was subjected to unprecedented international sanctions during the long rule of Slobodan Milosevic. Serbia was eventually bombed in 1999 without the approval of the U.N. Security Council.

At the end of 2000, Serbia was accepted by the world community as an equal and democratic member. Just recently, the third democratic government was formed as a result of the political will of more than two-thirds of the Serbian population. It has been welcomed by European and World leaders as well.

The government of Serbia has, by its regional policies, relations with the European Union, the big powers and the United Nations. On countless occasions, it has proven and confirmed its political maturity and responsibility, in line with the established standards of international relations.

Recently, Serbia has been under increasing pressure to agree to the amputation of a significant portion of its own territory, namely Kosovo and Metohija. No country or nation has ever had to agree to such a demand. Yet we have been advised to demonstrate understanding and give away the heartland and the very essence of our national identity.

Therefore, we regard the suggested prescriptions contained in the article as totally misleading, legally and politically unfounded, highly voluntaristic and, at the very least, bizarre. These "recipes" are aimed at continuing the punishment of all citizens of Serbia. It must be stressed that such "qualifications" for Serbia are not guided by benevolence. It must also be stressed that the assessment and cure presented in the article might be shared by only a few strangely motivated individuals in my county.

ivan mrkic