There is hardly any point in explaining to you how dramatic the situation in the country is. I am deeply convinced that you must know that only too well, because you have spared no personal effort on that plane. In the wake of disastrous international sanctions and NATO’s criminal bombing of first the Republika Srpska and then the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, we are now facing the danger of open clashes in Serbia proper.

The Democratic Opposition of Serbia and I, who participated in the September 24, 2000 elections as its candidate, have offered a rational way out of the crisis - we have suggested a recount to resolve a significant discrepancy between the election results established by the Federal Election Commission and the Democratic Opposition of Serbia and the fact that the central commission’s report teemed with obvious calculation errors. We have also suggested that representatives of friendly countries should take an active part in the recount.

You have replied to none of our proposals. Instead, you have chosen to turn a deaf ear to the election will of more than 2.5 million citizens of Serbia, and proclaim some second round, only because you are not ready to come to terms with the hard fact that fortune is weary to carry one and the same man always and that each and every authority is indeed replaceable, while only the ways in which that is done may vary.

We cannot participate in any runoff, because such a move would make us accomplices to the vote stealing. The election fraud in the first round cannot be annulled by a second, fifth or God knows which round. Quite the contrary, the runoffs would only deepen and augment the vote rigging and I would run the risk of losing the confidence of voters. The two of us are pure opposites. I do not know if you are able to understand how much I care about their trust, how much of a commitment it is for me and how proud of it I am.

Mr. Milosevic, 

I wrote you a letter in the spring of the year 2000 seeking elections. To say the truth, I sought a free and democratic vote at all levels, whereas your elite held the unfree, non-democratic and partial elections. Yet we took part in such elections as well, judging as responsible and honourable people that the fate of the state was more important than election terms. And in such an unfree ballot, the citizens placed their confidence in me. 

Believe me, you had better admit it – for Serbia, Yugoslavia, the people, the Balkans, Europe, but also for each and every citizens of this country, including you and me.

Serbia and this entire nation of ours have had enough of conflicts, suffering and hardship. We deserve better..

Belgrade,  October 4, 2000