World No.1 Novak Djokovic has found himself caught up in the world of politics after the Serbian foreign minister mentioned him as a firm supporter of the move to remove Kosovo’s status as an independent state.
Ivica Dacic made the comment during an interview broadcasted on Happy TV, which is a privately owned network in Belgrade. He said that his government should ‘use it’s brands’ more when it comes to diplomacy. Citing Djokovic as one of his examples. He is one of Serbia’s most successful athletes in history and was presented with the Order of the Karadjordje’s Star of the 1st degree back in 2012. The highest honour that can be given in the country.
“Novak always asks what he can do. He looks forward every withdrawal of recognition of Kosovo. Many state leaders asked me about him, and I called him and asked to send tennis balls or rackets with his autograph,” Serbian newspaper Blic quoted Dacic as saying.
Earlier this year Kosovo’s ambassador to Bulgaria, Edon Cana, took a swipe directly at Djokovic over a song he was celebrating to at the ATP Cup along with his other teammates. The song was called “March on the River Drina.” It dates back to World War I, but was reportedly also sung by ultranationalist Serbian forces during the wars relating to the break-up of Yugoslavia. Kosovo has also previously sent a letter of complaint to the UN back in 2008 when a Serbian choir sang that song at their headquarters.
After Cana’s comments, Djokovic’s father swiftly jumped to the defence of his son. Srdjan was born in Kosovo along with two other siblings. There is a complexed argument between Kosovo Albanians and Serbians concerning which group have the rightful claims to the land.
“It is nothing to be ashamed of, we love our people and our country. But we do not hate other people and other countries.” B92.net quoted Srdjan as saying earlier this year.
“You have come into our country and you know that it is our holy land, as Jerusalem for the Jews. Therefore, we will always be with our Kosovo and our people down there and don’t think that something will change in 10, 20, 100 or a thousand years. Kosovo will always be the heart of Serbia.”
In 2008 large protests broke out in Belgrade after Kosovo declared their independence. At the time Djokovic sent a video of support to the protesters in which he said ‘We are prepared to defend what is rightfully ours. Kosovo is Serbia.’ Three years later during an interview with German publication Der Spiegel, he stated that he had no regrets over his actions.
“It is the birthplace of my family and, indeed, of Serbian culture itself,” Djokovic said. “I don’t regret what I did. We want justice, but we just can’t get it.”
Djokovic is the only Serbian tennis player in history to have won an Olympic medal after the breakup of Yugoslavia back in the early 1990s.
