Yugo nostalgic declares his own state

A man who was outraged at the decision to abolish the state of Yugoslavia earlier this week has declared a new Yugoslavia on his own property.

Blasko Gabric from Subotica in northern Serbia is offering citizenship to everyone who is nostalgic for the old Yugoslavia.

He says several dozen have already applied.

The federation was formally abolished and replaced with the new union of Serbia and Montenegro, its two remaining republics.

Yugoslav 'San Marino'

Despite the best efforts of politicians to replace it, Yugoslavia lives - at least in the mind and on the property of Mr Gabric.

YUGOSLAVIA'S RISE AND FALL

He was furious when Yugoslavia was formally abolished, so he has created his own Yugoslavia on the property of his own printing works, with himself as president.

The territory of the new state covers just three hectares, but Mr Gabric is offering citizenship to all Yugo nostalgics who want to join him.

Mr Gabric has ordered four boundary stones from a local mason and he is printing up 30,000 copies of the old Yugoslav flag, including the Communist red star.

Many people here are nostalgic for the old Yugoslavia of six republics, created by Marshall Tito after World War II.

Replacing the rump state of Yugoslavia with the new union of Serbia and Montenegro, has brought back memories of happier times, when Yugoslavia was a powerful and relatively prosperous place.

Mr Gabric said he and others like him were furious that politicians could simply sign a decree and wipe out their history.

However, he has no plans yet to issue separate passports and he believes his Yugoslavia could exist happily within Serbia and Montenegro.

Just like the tiny principality of San Marino, within Italy.