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The Gazimestan speech was a speech given by Slobodan Milošević in 1989 on the Gazimestan, the site of the Battle of Kosovo, on the occasion of 600 years anniversary of the battle.

The central topic of the speech was unity among Serbs and necessity of unity among Yugoslav peoples. Topics which the speech covered were: historical disunity among the Serbian people; newly acquired unity; multi-ethnicity of Serbia; prosperity that should follow from the previous two; danger of divisions among Yugoslav nations; new path of unity among nations within the human civilization; necessity for Yugoslavia to follow it; comparison between the time of the battle of Kosovo and today; and dangers that face Serbia on its path to a better society.

Summary

At the beginning of the speech, Milošević mentions the battle and concludes that it is through the play of history of life that Serbia regained its state, national, and spiritual integrity (referring to the constitutional changes which reduced autonomy of Serbia's provinces and strengthened the central rule) at battle's anniversary. He continues by saying that Today, it is difficult to say what is the historical truth about the Battle of Kosovo and what is legend. Today this is no longer important.; what he deems important, however, is that loss of the battle was not only the result of social superiority and the armed advantage of the Ottoman Empire but also of the tragic disunity in the leadership of the Serbian state at that time.

Milošević then continues on the topic of disunity, maintaining that it follows Serbs through history, including the Second World War (referring to conflicts between Chetniks and Yugoslav Partisans, the consequences of which in the historical and moral sense exceeded fascist aggression), and the Socialist Yugoslavia. Disunity among Serbian political leaders meant that they were prone to compromise to the detriment of its own people, compromise which could not be accepted historically and ethically by any nation in the world. However, here we are now at the field of Kosovo to say that this is no longer the case.

After finishing with disunity, Milošević started the topics of unity and Serbian multi-ethnicity: he emphasised that unity in Serbia will bring prosperity to the Serbian people in Serbia, and also to each one of its citizens, irrespective of his national or religious affiliation. Unity and equality to other republics will enable Serbia to improve its financial and social position and that of all its citizens. Milošević notices that in Serbia, apart from Serbs, members of other peoples and nationalities also live in it and that This is not a disadvantage for Serbia. I am truly convinced that it is its advantage.

Milošević then introduced the topic of divisions among Yugoslav nations and their religions, which Socialism in particular, being a progressive and just democratic society, should not allow. He devoted a large part of the speech to these divisions, stating that Yugoslavia is a multinational community and it can survive only under the conditions of full equality for all nations that live in it. However, The crisis that hit Yugoslavia has brought about national divisions, despite the fact that Yugoslavia experienced the worst tragedy of national conflicts that a society can experience and still survive. Milošević hoped that the way out of the crisis are Equal and harmonious relations among Yugoslav peoples, especially as the modern world is more and more marked by national tolerance, national cooperation, and even national equality. He asserted that Yugoslavia should be a part of this new direction that the civilization took.

He then returns to the topic of disunity, drawing comparisons between the time of the battle of Kosovo and today. At the time of the battle, people could allow themselves to be disunited and to have hatred and treason because they lived in smaller, weakly interlinked worlds, today however mutual harmony and solidarity of all the humankind is necessary for its prosperity and ultimately space colonization. He notices that In the memory of the Serbian people, even if from a historical point of view it is not correct, disunity was decisive in causing the loss of the battle and in bringing about the fate which Serbia suffered for a full 6 centuries. This is why awareness of harmony and unity will make it possible for Serbia not only to function as a state but to function as a successful state.

Milošević follows with an oftenly cited and controversial part of the speech: Six centuries later, now, we are being again engaged in battles and are facing battles. They are not armed battles, although such things cannot be excluded yet. Our chief battle now concerns implementing the economic, political, cultural, and general social prosperity, finding a quicker and more successful approach to a civilization in which people will live in the 21st century. He asserts that heroism, of course of a somewhat different kind will be needed to win these battles, as was needed during the Battle of Kosovo. He mentions that during the battle Serbia was defending itself, but Europe as well; and so it is incessantly a part of Europe. In this spirit we now endeavor to build a society, rich and democratic, and thus to contribute to the prosperity of this beautiful country, this unjustly suffering country, but also to contribute to the efforts of all the progressive people of our age that they make for a better and happier world.

Milošević finishes his speech with Let the memory of Kosovo heroism live forever! Long live Serbia! Long live Yugoslavia! Long live peace and brotherhood among peoples!.

Reactions

Initial reports about the speech in foreign media show sharp difference from later ones. The BBC reporter from the Gazimestan highlighted the tolerance of the speech, as did The Independent's, who also noted that the crowd was surprisingly quiet.

Later however, in contrast with these original reports, the speech has been described as stirringly virulent nationalist speech by The Economist; Milosevic whipped a million Serbs into a nationalist frenzy according to the Time; he openly threatens force to hold the six-republic federation together according to a newer piece by The Independent. Later reports are ripe with miss-quotations, and fail to adequately convey the speech or its meaning.

A sentence from the speech that is oftenly cited out of context (for example, by the International Crisis Group) is Six centuries later, now, we are being again engaged in battles and are facing battles. They are not armed battles, although such things cannot be excluded yet. In an immediately following sentence however Milošević states that Our chief battle now concerns implementing the economic, political, cultural, and general social prosperity, finding a quicker and more successful approach to a civilization in which people will live in the 21st century.

Another common misconception (for example, stated in The Times) is that Milosevic uttered his "No one will beat you!" line in the speech. He said that at a completely different occasion.

References

1. ^ Quote from the English translation by the National Technical Information Service of the US Department of Commerce, available at Emperor's clothes.
2. BBC Summary of World Broadcasts; June 29, 1989, Thursday; SECTION: Part 2 Eastern Europe; 2. EASTERN EUROPE; EE/0495/ i; LENGTH: 249 words
3. ^ Francisco Gil-White. "How Politicians, the Media, and Scholars Lied about Milosevic's 1989 Kosovo Speech". {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |retrieved= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
4. ^ The Independent, June 29 1989, Thursday, Foreign News ; Pg. 10, 654 words, Milosevic carries off the battle honours, From EDWARD STEEN and MARCUS TANNER in Kosovo Polje
5. The Economist, June 05, 1999, U.S. Edition, 1041 words, What next for Slobodan Milosevic?
6. Time International, July 9, 2001 v158 i1 p18+
7. Milosevic on Trial: Fall of a Pariah; Newspaper Publishing PLC, Independent on Sunday (London); July 1, 2001, Sunday, SECTION: FOREIGN NEWS; Pg. 21
8. Milosevic on suicide watch in Dutch prison; Times Newspapers Limited; The Times (London); June 30, 2001, Saturday

See also

• League of Communists of Yugoslavia

• Speeches
• History of Serbia