Born in Yugoslavia, Novak Djokovic would love for the country to exist again.
– In my wildest dreams, that would be the ideal scenario – said the greatest tennis player of all time in an interview for the American magazine GQ. – I would say that is the perfect scenario. Why not? If we all speak the same or very, very, very similar language. We understand each other perfectly.
Nole then lists more similarities:
– If you look at our national costumes, music, games, food. The same! Just different words to describe it. That’s why I’m an advocate for us getting as close as possible. And is it possible to become the same country again? I don’t think it’s realistically possible. But nothing is impossible. That’s why I say that if we prove that we have the same roots, the same history, that we come from the same tribes, then maybe it would move people.
Nole is aware that talking about the renewal of Yugoslavia can provoke comments of varying intensity.
– I’m not sure, I probably doubt that possibility myself. But it would at least bring people closer, and I would like to see more peaceful and friendly relations in the region. Cooperation. Because now every summer, when those big dates approach, all those anniversaries of wars, they just remind everyone of it. And the media and politicians continue to insist on it, louder and louder every year. And so it’s completely impossible to get closer. We’re just moving further away. I’m not saying people should forget. It’s very difficult to ask that of people. That must be remembered, the victims must always be remembered, but is that how we move forward?
The magazine journalist points out in the text that the idea of reviving Yugoslavia is quite popular in Serbia, but not in other former republics. He also gives an overview of the recent history of SFRY and reminds us that many consider Serbia to be the biggest aggressor in the wars of the nineties.
FOLLOW US:
Djokovic explains his roots and why he is always very kind to all the nations that made up Yugoslavia.
– I have always been a pacifist towards all people and nations in the region. Because we were once the same country. My mother’s family is completely Croatian. She was born in Belgrade, but they are all Croats. On my father’s side? Montenegro and Kosovo. I was born in Serbia. I have always treated everyone the same. My position is that if we were once together, if we have so many cultural similarities, traditional similarities, language… why wouldn’t we focus on those things?
He is aware that not everyone thinks that way.
– When I publicly cheered for Croatia during the 2018 World Cup, many in my country, even the highest government officials, criticized me. But for me, it’s pretty simple. First, I have family from Croatia. Second, that’s how I feel in my heart. How can I cheer for someone who is farther from me than someone who is my neighbor and with whom I not only have family ties but also many similarities.
From all this, the desire to bring the former republics closer together emerges.
– One hundred percent. That’s the whole idea. I understand that we are different countries today. But I hope we could understand that we have a lot in common, historically and culturally, and that might bring us together as one nation again.
READ MORE:
“NOVAK WASN’T ALLOWED TO SEE AN ORTHODOX PRIEST”: Details emerge about Novak’s ordeal in Australia!
Source: Sportklub, Photo: Eichenholz/ATP Tour