The way it started in a maelstrom of war 60 years ago, a state formation of six republics, including Slovenia, disintegrated in bloodshed in 1991. The war adventures of the former Serbian President Slobodan Milošević, which accelerated the break up of the common state, are being remembered, unwillingly, by the majority of Serbs. However, there are still quite a few people in all the countries that emerged on the ruins of the former Socialist Yugoslavia who do not fail to mark November 29 - the day back in 1943 when the Anti-fascist Council of the People's Liberation of Yugoslavia (AVNOJ), gathered in the Bosnian village of Jajce, abolished the monarchy and laid down the foundations for a new form of government.

This year, the 60^th anniversary of the birth of the Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) was specially marked in Montenegro and Serbia, the only two republics that are trying to maintain a bond with November 29 in the new state formation. A virtual Yugoslavia has been "operating" for some years in the Serbian province of Vojvodina, issuing passports of the non-existing state. Together with the Subotica-based Tito Centre, this virtual state organized a ceremonial meeting and a ball on "National Day". In the Montenegrin town of Tivat, the holiday was marked with the opening of a "general consulate" of the SFRY. On the occasion, "the consul" noted that the devotees of Tito's state have gotten a place where they can meet up and reminisce about the good old times in their once common homeland.

It was a descendant of the last Yugoslav King, Prince Aleksandar Karadjordjević II, who has been reminiscing about the AVNOJ anniversary much more seriously. The new authorities in Serbia have allowed the prince to settle with his family in the Belgrade palace of his predecessors until the issue of succession to the former royal family has been resolved.

Prince Aleksandar II has called for the re-establishment of the monarchy in Serbia and told the public that he is ready to "serve the nation". The prince's idea was supported by the leader of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Pavle, who just like the "crown prince" condemned "the unlawful resolutions" of AVNOJ.

The initiators of the idea for the re-establishment of a monarchy selected a good time to present their idea to the public. Presidential elections in Serbia have recently failed for a third time in the past year, while the Serbian government has lost its majority in parliament, which therefore had to be dissolved, so that an early parliamentary election will be held on December 28.

Nevertheless, Aleksandar II, who since his birth in 1945 and until recently lived in Great Britain, seems to be harbouring vain hopes for the crown. A vast majority of the parties and coalitions competing for deputy seats would never think of sharing power with someone who does not even speak his mother tongue.