To Stay Here, Become Serb
Sydney Morning Herald
Tuesday February 6, 2007
ROBERT JOVICIC has been told he must apply for Serbian citizenship if he wants to continue living in Australia - his home for nearly 40 years until he was deported because of his criminal record.
The Immigration Minister, Kevin Andrews, yesterday set Mr Jovicic a deadline of two weeks to apply for citizenship to Serbia, the country he left as a two-year-old, or face being detained again. However, he assured him that if he complied and "should Mr Jovicic be granted Serbian citizenship, he will not be considered for removal unless he is found guilty of committing further criminal offences". This would be the equivalent of a good behaviour bond, he said of the offer which is a bid to break the stalemate over Mr Jovicic's stateless situation. Mr Jovicic, 42, was brought back to Australia nearly a year ago on compassionate grounds after being deported to Serbia and claiming he had been left destitute and stateless. Mr Jovicic's initial reaction yesterday was to continue his refusal to apply for Serbian citizenship and a spokesman said he was "gutted" by Mr Andrews's decision.
© 2007 Sydney Morning Herald