by Michalis Mitsos

Utopia exists. The proof lies in the 5500 people that have rushed until late last night to respond to the creation of Cyber Yugoslavia.

Demand has been overwhelming, with new applications surpassing 650 a day, and the administrators have been forced to ask possible applicants for patience. The terms under which one can take part in the experiment are only 2: "feel Yugoslav" and visit the website at least 50 times a year so that you keep track of any changes that occur in the continously evolving "Constitution".

The introductory note, which was created by the 152 founding members of Cyber Yugoslavia and can be read at http://www.juga.com/, contains these lines: "This is Cyber Yugoslavia, home of Cyber Yugoslavs. We lost our country in 1991 and became citizens of Atlantis. We have no land, but we have identity, and we are giving CY citizenships and CY passports. Because this is Atlantis, we are allowing double and triple citizenships. This land will grow as our citizens wish. Neither faster, nor slower. Neither more, nor less. For a solid country to grow, even a virtual one, it takes some time.  When we have five million citizens, we plan to apply to the UN for member status. When this happens, we will ask 20 square meters of land anywhere on Earth to be our country."

As it is clearly defined in the Constitution, anyone can be member of CY as long as he/she's not on the "black list". Noone can be president, king or prime minister, nor can he/she inflict his/her own will onto other citizens. On the contrary, everyone can be Secretary.

To be precise, every application for citizenship must contain the name of the desired Secretary title. There are many of them: Secretary for Coca-Cola, Secretary for Mountains, Secretary for the West, Secretary for Ducks, Independence, Babies, Swimming etc.

Every Secretary is equally important. Among those already announced are "Secretary for Good and Proper Behavior On Home Cats" and "Secretary for Those Having Reduced Sexual Desire".

The Flag and National Anthem of CY are chosen by its citizens by public vote.

Official languages are all those that are being suggested by its citizens, as long as the country's Constitution is translated to them.

Private life is absolutely respected and anonymity is guaranteed to whoever he/she wishes for. As for the disputes, they will be arbitrated by Constitutional Court, comprised of 9 Secretaries-Judges. Known and retractable, of course.

Translated to English by Elias Karakoulakis, October 1999.