Belgrade Insight, No. 13

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NEWS NEWS

Friday • June 13 • 2008

9 ISSN 1820-8339

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Weekly Issue No. Nov.June 21 13, - Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008 Issue13, No.Friday, 1 / Friday, 2008

World Court Lawsuits May Damage Trade Lure of Tadic Alliance Splits Socialists Short-term fall-off in trade predicted, as Serbia and Croatia take each other to The Hague.

While younger Socialists support joining a new, pro-EU government, old Milosevic loyalists threaten revolt over the prospect.

Jeremic is left to ponder the ramifications of suit and counter-suit at the World Court Socialist leader Ivica Dacic remains the Serbian kingmaker of Justice in The Hague ruled that it

By Rade Maroevic in Belgrade

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By Vanja Petrovic in Belgrade

ense negotiations on a new government have divided the ranks of theegal Socialist Party, holds moves at which the World the balance the Court, ofbypower both between Croatia and Serbia, to have main blocs andare hasexpected yet to announce awhich short side termthey negative impact on powill support. litical and economic ties between “It looks as if the Socialists will the two neighbours. move towards a government led by Analysts in Belgrade expect rethe Democrats,” Milations to worsenpolitical in the analyst short term though someofmaintain the deterioralan Nikolic, the independent Cention because tre ofwon’t Policylast, Studies, said.both “Butcounsuch tries seekmight progress towards membera move provoke deeper diviship of the European Union. sions and even split the party.” Vuk Serbia’s Foreign Minister, Simultaneous held Jeremic, recentlynegotiations said Belgrade would file a and counter-suit with thenow pro-European nationalagainst accusing it of to war ist blocsCroatia have drawn attention a crimes, after the International Court deep rift inside the Socialists.

This divides “old-timers” loyal

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would hear Zagreb’s accusation of to Serbia’s late president, Slobodan genocide.

Milosevic, reformists want Jeremic and added that thewho countersuit filed before the Court the would party tobebecome a modern Eurofor war crimes committed peanalleged social democrat organisation. against ethnic Serbs in the 1995 After offensive, eight years of stagnation, Croatian codenamed “Opthe Socialists eration Storm”.returned to centre stage after 20 of the 250 seats in Thewinning United Nations’ highest court recently thatelections. it could parliament in theruled May 11 hearWith Croatia’s suit againstand Serbia for the pro-European nationgenocide during the war in the early alist blocs 1990s, whichalmost Serbiaevenly claimedmatched, the ICJ the no Socialists now over. have the final say had jurisdiction onIvan the fate of the country.

Vejvoda, director of the Balkan Trust for Democracy, Nikolic believes the Socialists,told led Belgrade that come both the

by Ivica Insight Dacic, will oversuit to and counter-suit would, for the time Tadic, if only out of a pragmatic debeing, negatively affect economic resire to ensure their political lations between Croatia andsurvival.

Serbia.

“The group ofeffects younger “The economic of Socialists these actions will be only temporary andtowill gathered around Dacic seems be result in a brief standstill,” he in the majority”, Nikolic said, said. adding that these reformists believe the party

POLITICS

Serbia’s THIS government ISSUE and OF parliament areBelgrade failing to adopt the reforms Insight necessary for EU integration, pushIS SUPPORTED BY: ing back the likely date for Serbia’s achievement of candidate status.

Costs Mounting

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conomists are warning that prolonged uncertainty over Serbia’s future could scare off investors, lead to higher inflation and jeopardise prosperity for years to come.

“This year has been lost, from the standpoint of economic policy,” says smile. Stojan Stamenkovic of the Economics Institute in Belgrade. page 5

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We fly for your

Business Insight

Vejvoda said political ties would not to be allowed to suffer because this faces extinction unless it changes. would result in both countries moving However, strong Union. current “It also away from the aEuropean is clear reports in the media that flowsfrom in the opposite direction, led everyone stability in relations,” by partywants veterans enraged by the he said. “Good relations are key to the prospect of a deal with Tadic. region’s progress towards the EuropeMihajlo Markovic, a in founder of an Union because stability relations theseen party,asrecently warned a crisis are a key sign that of a country accepts European if Dacic opts forstandards. the pro-European “This won’t gothe anySocialists’ deeper than a bloc, abandoning “nattemporary standstill because life simural” ideological partners. ply goes on and this can be seen in the a prominent supporter factMarkovic, that Croatia hasn’t imposed visa of Milosevic during Vejvoda the 1990s, is restrictions on Serbia,” noted.

He as added that it wasof intheneither seen representative “oldcountry’s relations timers” in interest the party to wholetwant to stay worsen and that matters were not true to the former regime’s policies, as bad as they appeared, as the suit evenfiled though these almost the was several years ago.ruined “Things Socialists for good. are much more stable than they may seem, however, the media have a tenSome younger Socialist officials dency to exaggerate,” he maintained. have voiced frustration over the continuing impasse within their own

EDITOR’S WORD BUSINESS The takeover of Slovenian retail giant Mercator would be a sign of a radical transformation in Serbia’s economy.

By Mark R. Pullen

Political Predictability

party over which way to turn.

“The situation in the party seems extremely complicated, as we try Page 6 to convince the few remaining laggards that we need to move out of Milosevic’s shadow,” one Socialist OUT & ABOUT Party official complained. week, we explore quaintexperitown “Dacic will eventually side with This Many of us who ahave near the Romanian border.

Tadic in a bid to guide his party into enced numerous Serbian elections the European mainstream, but much rate ourselves as pundits when it of the membership and many officomes to predicting election recials may oppose that move.” sults and post-election moves.

Nikolic agreed: “The question is We feel in-the-know because will the party split or will the ‘oldour experience of elections in Sertimers’ back down,” he noted. bia has shown us that (a.) no single Page 10 the Fearing they might not cross the party or coalition will ever gain 5-per-cent threshold to enter parliamajority required to form a governTHE BELGRADER ment, the Socialists teamed up with ment, and (b.) political negotiations critic, Trencherthe Association of Pensioners and the Our will resident never befood quickly concluded. man, braves the city’s ‘bohemian United Serbia Party, led by business- quarter’.

Even when the Democrats man Dragan Markovic “Palma”. achieved their surprising result at Pensioners leader, Jovan Krkobalast month’s general election, it bic, Palma and Dacic are all pushing quickly became clear that the refor a deal with the Democrats. sult was actually more-or-less the Source: www.daylife.com The reported price is the post of same as every other election result Milivoje Miletic, director of Serdeputy PM, with a brief in charge of in Serbia, i.e. inconclusive. bia’s Bureau for Regional Cooperasecurity the Socialist This is likely to continue as long tion, told for Belgrade Insightleader. that such In addition, the Socialists baras Serbia’s politicians Page form11new actions would certainly haveare negative consequences. gaining for other ministries, includpolitical parties every time they “We know from past experiOUT ing capital investments, Kosovo and disagree GOING with their current party ences that political acts have an efeducation, Belgrade media reported. leader (there are currently 342 regOur team recommend a selection of fect on the economy,” he said. “In Tadic has denied talk of negahorse- events istered parties in Serbia). to political check out this week. terms of Croatia and Serbia, trading with Socialists, maintainDrawn-out negotiations are also tive effects inthe trade were seen after Croatia the independing thatrecognized ministries would go only to the norm. One Belgrade-based ence of committed Kosovo.” to working for the those Ambassador recently told me he Miletic agreed that such negative government’s “strategic goal”. was also alarmed by the distinct effects were likely to have only a temAt the same time, Dacic seems relack of urgency among Serbian porary character but suggested trade luctant to call with politicians. “The country is at a would slow downofffornegotiations the time being.

“There will be no impact on earlier inthe nationalists. standstill and I don’t understand Page 12 vestments the reach lawsuits affect “If webut don’t an will agreement their logic. If they are so eager to further investment,” he warned. with the DSS Radicals, the and parSPORT progress towards the EU and enOverall, tradeand between Serbia ty leadership courage investors, come Milosevic bids how farewell to they the Croatia is likely will to bedecide higher on thisfuture year Savo National team.sharp and don’t steps”, announced, go home at 5pm than last,Dacic although there hasfollowing been a Serbian fall April, following theoff firstsince session of country’s newZaparwork weekends?” greb’s recognition of Kosovo. liament on Wednesday.

Surely the situation is urgent enough to warrant a little overtime.

Source: Balkan Insight (www.balkaninsight.com)

BELGRADE

Despite an ever-dwindling number of Neighbourhood Matters participants in the “anti-regime” protests, the daily marches through Belgrade’s main streets continue without any end in sight. hile the football world watchPage 5 es events unfold at the European Championships in Austria and NEIGHBOURHOOD Switzerland, Bosnia is experiencing a soccer rebellion, led by fans, players anddiscouragement former stars who areFrance, enraged Despite from the holder EU leaders presibycurrent what they see of as the corrupt dency, Podgorica intends to formally of the country’s football association apply to join the 27-nation club in leaders.

December. page 10

Football Rebellion

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Page 7

Source: www.weather2umbrella.com

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Friday, Nov. 21 - Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008

politics

Friday, Nov. 21 - Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008

Serbia: UN Kosovo Plan ‘Not Negotiable’

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elgrade has reached an agreement on the deployment of the EU’s new law-and-order mission to Kosovo, EULEX, and it is not negotiable, insists Serbia’s Foreign Minister.

Vuk Jeremic told state-run television RTS in an interview Tuesday night that an agreement “backed by all United Nations member states” has already been reached, and that no further negotiations would be held, despite the Kosovo government’s rejection of the UN’s so-called “sixpoint plan” for deployment.

Pristina’s main gripe is the UN plan’s confirmation of its Resolution 1244, passed after the conflicts between Serbian forces and ethnic Albanian rebels ended in 1999, which guarantees Serbia’s sovereignty over the province.

Kosovo officials have said they will reject all plans that do not affirm its independence from Serbia, which it declared in February of this year, and which has been recognised by a majority of the EU bloc.

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Belgrade insists that there can be no ‘reconfiguration’ of the current UN Kosovo mission, UNMIK, without the approval of the Security Council.

Serbia also insists on the EU mission recognising a neutral status for Kosovo with no confirmation of Pristina’s unilaterally declared independence.

EULEX is expected to gradually replace the UNMIK administrative mission in Kosovo, which has been in place since 1999, with a civilian mission of police and court officials.

Brussels has announced plans to have the mission functioning in Kosovo by early December.

Rewards for Information on Hague Fugitives

he President of the Serbian Council for Hague Cooperation, Rasim Ljajic, has reiterated that rewards will be paid for information on war-crimes fugitives.

The state is still offering a €1 million reward for information on the location of Ratko Mladic, accused of genocide by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, ICTY. Ljajic told the Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti that €1million will be paid from the state budget to any citizen with information that leads to Mladic’s arrest.

The reward was first announced in October 2007 by the National Security Council.

Information leading to the arrest of Serbia’s other fugitive, Goran Hadzic, will be rewarded with €250,000 Serbia’s main obstacle to its European integration path is to complete the process of cooperation with the ICTY, which requires

Serbia ‘To Blame’ for Slow EU Integration

erbia’s government and parliament are failing to adopt the necessary reforms in a timely manner, pushing the timeframe of its EU integration back continuously, local Blic daily reports.

Even though Brussels continues to insist that Serbia extradites all remaining war crimes fugitives to The Hague before it can progress on the European Union path, Belgrade could do more to act on the necessary reforms, Blic reported recently.

Of the 51 European laws, which must be adopted for Serbia to be considered for EU candidate status, only 9 have been passed thus far. The laws which the government promised in 2007 would be adopted in 2008, are now scheduled to enter parliamentary procedure in the first half of 2009.

Much of the blame is often put on the parliament and the steadfast obstruction of the opposition, however, most of the laws have yet to reach government debate and are still being drafted by its ministries.

Milica Delevic, director of the office for EU integration, told Blic that the laws highlighted by the European

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Jeremic: no further talks

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fter 30 years of production, on November 20, the last Yugo model rolled off the Zastava automotive company’s assembly line in the Serbian city of Kragujevac.

The car featured a sticker reading “good bye, no more.”

Despite its less than gleaming reputation, the Yugo is undoubtedly Serbia’s greatest automotive achievement, having produced almost 800,000 units, making it far and away Serbia’s greatest automotive export.

The first hand-built prototype of the model was built in 1978, representing a break-through in low cost automotive design and engineering, despite is obvious shortcomings in terms of performance and style.

The first production model was built in collaboration with Italy’s Fiat in 1980.

The Yugo broke into the United States car market in the mid-1980s,

Commission’s annual report on Serbia’s accession are key. These laws relate to fighting corruption, and continuing judicial and economic reforms.

The President of the Parliamentary Committee for European Integration, Laslo Varga, told Blic that there is no chance of adopting key laws such as those related to the environment by the end of 2008, adding that at this pace, the parliament may adopt just one more law by the New Year.

Parliamentary President, Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic, expressed optimism and stressed the government’s desire to make good on its election promises of quicker EU integration, but said that it would take time to get all the laws to the parliament.

She said that not only does it take a significant period of time for the laws to be drafted by the relevant ministries but that once they do reach parliament, there are always many amendments proposed to the law, which must then be discussed as well.

Djukic-Dejanovic added that a new set of parliamentary procedures would be proposed in the coming year, in the hope of speeding up the process.

The rumoured amendments to procedures could impose stricter order in the parliament and perhaps even heftier fines for obstruction, in an attempt to prohibit the opposition from using the parliament to bring unrelated issues to the fore.

Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic

the arrest and extradition of both Mladic and Hadzic.

Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb military leader, is accused of genocide, including the murder of over 8,000 Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim)civilians in Srebrenica during the 1992-95 war, while Hadzic faces 14 counts of war crimes allegedly committed against Croatian civilians between 1991 and 93.

Ljajic said that there was no reward for information regarding recently extradited former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, due to the fact that he is not a Serbian citizen and that there was no information indicating that he was hiding in Serbia at the time.

Recently, Serbian police units raided a factory in Valjevo, about 100 kilometres southwest of the Serbian capital Belgrade, in an attempt to intensify the search for the remaining Hague fugitives.

However the mission ended withRasim Ljajic: rewards still available out success.

Brammertz Wraps Up Serbia Trip

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erge Brammertz, the Chief Prosecutor at The Hague tribunal wrapped up a two-day visit to Belgrade, where he met with Serbian senior officials on the hunt for remaining war crimes suspects.

Though Brammertz continued his policy of not giving statements following his visits to Belgrade, Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic’s press office stated that Brammertz expressed his satisfaction with the level of cooperation between the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, ICTY, and Serbia over recent months.

Cvetkovic said that Brammertz was made fully aware of the political will in Belgrade to fulfill its obligations to the UN court. He added that Serbia is optimistic that Brammertz’s report to the UN Security Council on Serbia’s cooperation, due in December, will be generally positive.

Brammertz also sat down with Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic and President Boris Tadic, with the latter stating that Serbia has intensified its search for the remaining fugitives sought by the International Court of Justice.

The End of the Road For Yugo shipping 147,000 vehicles to America and becoming a relative hit.

Produced in the Zastava factory in Kragujevac, 140 kilometres south of Belgrade, the initial appeal of the Yugo in the American market was the low price, coupled with the offer of 10 year/100,000 mile warranties and free maintenance.

Eventually, the car became infamous in the US for its underwhelming performance. Car & Driver magazine once called the Yugo, “The Disposable Car by Bic” describing its gear changes as like “trying to shift a baseball bat stuck inside a barrel full of coconuts.”

It was also voted Car Talk magazine’s worst car of the millennium.

However, the Yugo also managed to spend some time in the Hollywood spotlight, being used extensively in the 2000 comedy starring Danny DeVito, “Drowning Mona.”

The Yugo was also featured in the

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big-budget blockbuster Die Hard 3 and most recently, in the music video for heavy metal band Metallica’s first single frrom their latest album.

Though the Zastava factory has decided to stop producing both the Yugo and Florida models, there is a possibil-

ity that the assembly of these vehicles could be resumed in the Congo.

Fiat recently signed a memorandum of understanding to buy the Zastava plant, which currently produces Fiat Puntos and Opel Astras for southeast Europe.

Loved and hated in equal measure, the last Yugo has rolled off the production line

Brammertz will report in December President of Serbia’s National Council for Hague Cooperation, Rasim Ljajic, said that Brammertz did not impose any new deadlines on Serbia during their talks on Monday, adding that every deadline for bringing the fugitives to justice has already expired.

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belgrade chronicle

Friday, Nov. 21 - Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008

Belgrade’s Parking Woes

By David Galic

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ompared with other major European cities, parking in Belgrade can be a complicated affair, mainly due to the terrible shortage of parking spaces. While there are plans to build 20 new parking garages in the city, the lack of funds allotted for the work has delayed the commencement of any of these projects.

A recent study undertaken by Belgrade’s Traffic Faculty points to the need for 20,000 parking spots by 2021 to meet the demand of residents, visitors and city workers.

However, major infrastructure projects considered to be of greater priority, namely, the Belgrade bypass and the Corridor 10 project, which the government is rushing to complete, have monopolised the available funds.

On-street parking can be frustrating and difficult, not so much because the rules are complicated, but because of the inconsistent way they are enforced.

Parking in Serbia’s capital can seem like a paradox within a paradox. Often, you’ll see double and triple parked cars in residential areas, vehicles parked on tram lines and street corners turned into parking places. This might lead drivers to believe that almost anything goes.

At other times, drivers can diligently follow every rule they know of and still come back to an empty spot on the road where their car used to be.

To add to the frustration it’s difficult to receive a direct answer from city parking officials why a ticket was given or a car was towed, and there are no procedures listed on the ticket for appealing against fines, other than to contest the fine in court “Sometimes I think they are just filling out a quota,” a resident of the Old Belgrade neighbourhood of Dorcol told Belgrade Insight when asked if he knew the rules.

There are five parking garages in the centre of Belgrade, with close to 2,000 available spots, but most of the time, the garages are overwhelmed by the demand, with long queues of frustrated drivers waiting to get in

Parking can be a tight squeeze in Belgrade In the main then, Belgraders are left to find a space on the street.These spots are divided into three zones: red, in which a car can be parked for 60 minutes, yellow (2 hours), and green (3 hours). Once the allotted time has expired, a driver must wait 30 minutes before parking in the same zone again. These rules are in effect from 7 am to 9 pm on weekdays, and until

Parking Zones

Yellow Zone Max. 2 hours, 26.5 din per hour or part Green Zone Max. 3 hours, 21.5 din per hour or part

users. The study also states that cars parked on major city streets hinder the flow of public transport.

Without any concrete solutions in sight, people living, working and inevitably parking in Belgrade, it seems, will just have to “rough it out” until the city decides to invest its time, expertise and money into solving these problems.

Get Your Towed Car Back

Vehicle transportation and maintenance division

Staro sajmiste , Vidin kapija, Ada Cingalija , Slavija

Address: Staro Sajmiste telephone: 011/301-70-70

Communal Order Department

The locations to which the tow trucks take illegally parked cars are the following:

Red Zone Max. 1 hour, 37.5 din per hour

Source: www.streetsblog.org

2 pm on the weekends.

But here too, spaces are severely limited and many drivers park illegally on pavements, in pedestrian zones on corners or on streets where parking is not permitted. In fact, the Traffic Faculty’s study claims, that as many as 77 per cent of parked cars are parked illegally, endangering the safety of pedestrians and other road

Paying for Parking * Buy a parking ticket - may be bought at kiosks. Write down arrival time and put the ticket in the interior of the front windscreen of your car. * Pay by mobile phone - send an SMS with your vehicle number (e.g.

BG123456) to number 9111 - Zone 1, 9112 - Zone 2 or 9113 - Zone 3. * Buy a ticket from a machine - these are situated in key locations in Zone 1.

The department is located at Blok 66, New Belgrade, close to public transportation terminal. All abandoned cars and removed vehicles are stored on its three hectare lot.

Swindlers Fool Belgraders

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here’s a lot of ways to make money in this town, and fooling people is one of them.

Parking attendants may not always be who they say they are. If you pay the wrong person for parking, you are essentially illegally parking. But, you don’t get the short end of the stick in this situation, it’s actually the city’s Parking Service that loses on the deal.

So, how do you know if the person you’re paying for parking is not a con artist?

These tricksters are often well-organised and work in groups, according to Serbian daily Politika. They have been known to attack the real

parking attendants in the past, in order to take over particular car parks.

They always charge regular parking prices, to avoid detection. However, the cash is certain not to reach the cash register.

To keep these swindlers on their toes, always ask for a receipt for your parking, even for a ticket that may be worth as little as 25 dinars Brank Arsenijevic from Belgrade’s Parking Service told Politika that although the organisation doesn’t have enough funds to deal with this problem, they have informed the police and every known parking swindler has been arrested.

belgrade chronicle

Friday, Nov. 21 - Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008

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Small ‘Anti-regime’ Protests Wreak Havoc on Belgrade Traffic

By David Galic

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he patience of already tense Belgrade commuters is being tested by a very small group of protesters taking to the streets daily, blocking major roads at the height of rush hour. These “anti-regime” protests started following the arrest of alleged war criminal and former Bosnian Serb political leader Radovan Karadzic in July, and the protestors have vowed to continue their protests until he is released.

Despite an ever-dwindling number of participants, the daily marches through Belgrade’s main streets continue without any end in sight.

Belgrade Mayor Dragan Djilas told local daily Politika that a handful of protesters blocking major streets daily was not only pointless, but also illogical.

Djilas said that he counted 35 demonstrators marching down the street one day, with a huge banner stretching from one side of the road to the other, and a long line of cars waiting behind them at the peak of rush hour.

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Though the local media has long stopped covering the protests, the organisers, who are mainly hardline nationalist activists, chronicle the events daily on a blog dedicated to the rallies against “the regime of President Boris Tadic.”

Djilas said that the Interior Ministry is responsible for regulating such protests, adding that the ministry needs to find a solution that guarantees the rights of citizens to assemble and protest, whilst at the same time, not inconveniencing the majority of Belgraders going about their daily business.

A Ministry spokesperson refused to comment or issue a press statement when contacted by Belgrade Insight.

Though the route often changes slightly, the protesters never stray far from the centre of Belgrade, passing government offices, the Interior Ministry, and the Office for European Integration – located in some of Belgrade’s busiest streets, Kralja Milana, Kneza Milosa and Nemanjina respectively.

A local taxi driver told Belgrade Insight that the protests have caused nothing but headaches for him and most of his colleagues, regardless of

The protests continue but with ever-dwindling numbers whether or not they support the cause or the right to demonstrate.

He said that his regular route where he can almost always find passengers at this peak time when people are leaving work - is com-

Bagels in Belgrade

he archetypal New York fast food, the bagel, has come to Belgrade at Bagel Park, a restaurant and take-away located in Nusiceva.

Although many associate the bagel with the USA, it has it’s origins in the Jewish communities of central and eastern Europe of the 17th and 18th centuries and arrived in the US with Jewish immigrants only in the early 1900’s.

Owner of Bagel Park, Nenad Blazevski says he enjoyed bagels on his regular trips to New York so much, that he started exploring Europe’s bagel scene. And he was keen to set something up locally which combined the convenience of New York’s take-out bagels with the local desire to sit and linger over food in a café.

US exiles will no doubt be overjoyed.

Bagel Park - a slice of New York in Belgrade

Belgrade Strays Find Happy Home

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Some of the 300 dogs at Kaca Ristic’s home

pletely blocked off for the duration of the rush hour, adding that people opt to take public transport because the traffic jams mean that there’s no advantage to taking a taxi.

Though the intensity of the pro-

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Photo by Andrej Klemencic

ith a lot of love, and a little help from others, Kaca Ristic has opened her home, just outside of Belgrade, to more than 300 abandoned dogs. These strays are happy, well fed, tame and inquisitive.

“This is Decko, and these are Ljubica, Malisa, Dragan, Dobri,” explains Kaca, petting and talking lovingly to them.

“Behind the house I have cats and ducks also, all of them have names and they all live in harmony.” A man helps Kaca with cleaning the yard and feeding. The dogs have plenty of freedom to roam, apart from puppies that are separated from the grown-up Photo by Aleksandria Ajdukovic animals in a special nursery.

http://protestbg.blog.co.yu

Munter to Stay

S Ambassador to Serbia, Cameron Munter, has been offered no position in Barack Obama’s new administration and will remain in Belgrade, a US embassy spokesperson told Belgrade Insight, denying earlier reports in local press.

The Nedeljni Telegraf tabloid reported that Cameron Munter has been offered the post of Deputy Secretary of State in Barack Obama’s new administration and that he would leave his post in Belgrade soon.

Munter, who served as Executive Assistant to the Counselor of the Department of State in the late 90’s, was unavailable for comment but Ryan Harris, the US embassy spokesperson told Belgrade Insight that the report in Nedeljni Telegraf was baseless. She added that the tabloid had refused to reveal their

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tests has dimmed and passers-by have grown almost oblivious of the small group of protestors, drivers continue to suffer at the hands of a small group of people that could easily stage their protests elsewhere.

sources for the story when they were contacted.

Senior US diplomats, based in Belgrade, refused to comment on the story for Belgrade Insight.

Munter, staying in Serbia

Stronger Sentences for Animal Cruelty

erbia’s Organisation for the Respect and Care of Animals, ORCA, is seeking stronger jail sentences and fines for cruelty to pets. Recently, the organisation’s call was endorsed by the country’s Agriculture Minister, Sasa Dragim.

Although Dragim didn’t agree with all of their demands, he did agree that mistreatment, killing, neglect, abandonment of pets, and the organisation of dog fights should become criminal acts. He also agreed that current levels of fines should be increased.

Currently, under Serbian law, cruelty to animals can be punished with a prison sentence. However, it is often the case that the offender is simply fined.

If ORCA’s suggestions become law, the mistreatment and killing of

animals will be punishable with up to five years in prison and the organisation of dog fights will be punishable with up to 3 years in prison.

Also, neglect of pets could lead to a sentence of between 3 months and a year.

It’s a dog’s life for Belgrade’s pets

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business

Friday, Nov. 21 - Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008

Cross-border Expansion may Herald Economic Renaissance A Takeover of Slovenian retail giant Mercator would be a sign of radical transformation of Serbia’s economy.

By Andrej Klemencic in Belgrade

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f Serbia’s Delta can find the funds to buy Slovenian retail giant Mercator in March, it will be a key sign of the ability of Serbian firms to expand into international markets, experts say.

Slovenian business sources have told Belgrade Insight that the sale of a significant percentage of Mercator shares is now being negotiated with Delta of Serbia and another foreign company. They say a tender for the shares might be formally opened in March.

The vice-president of the Slovenian Business Club in Belgrade, Dmitar Polovina, said it was not possible to say whether Delta would be in a position to pay the estimated €400 million sought for the 48 per cent share.

He pointed out that Serbia’s investments in Slovenia and the West were on the rise. “Serbia is undergoing a path of slow expansion into foreign markets”, Polovina said.

In March, Serbia’s Comtrade bought the largest IT company in Central Europe, Hermes Softlab of Slovenia, paying almost €40 million.

This was soon followed by the purchase of the Slovenian food company Sampionka Rence, for which Beohemija paid over €6 million.

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However, “whilst some successful investments were made in the past year, the crisis is currently preventing any future investment planning”, he added.

One exception, however, is the €240 million Delta shopping mall, which is to be built on the outskirts of the Slovenian capital Ljubljana.

Polovina said Serbian penetration of the Slovenian market indicated a real shift in the Serbian economy because the two markets share a mutual economic history.

It was a Slovenian company, JUB, that made the first ‘Western’ investment in the Serbian market after international sanctions on Serbia were lifted, buying land in Simanovci in 2001.

“This was a brave move and thanks to that investment, we now have a trading zone there with an excellent price per acre,” Polovina said.

Matej Rogelj, of the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce, told Belgrade Insight that over 400 Slovenian companies have since invested in Serbia.

“The real number could be much higher because these are just the companies that have registered representative offices in Serbia and their investments can be easily linked to mother companies,” he said. “There are probably many others who are testing the market.”

Delta Buys Transport Company

Serbian consortium led by the Delta Real Estate company has purchased a 57.5 per cent stake in Nis Ekspres, a transport company from the southern city of Nis for €3.27 million, the Privatisation Agency said.

The consortium comprised of Delta Real Estate and Nis Ekspres’s employees was the sole bidder in a tender launched two years ago, the agency said in a statement.

Delta Holding HQ

The new owner pledged to invest €4.6 million to modernise the company, which specialises in commuter transport in Nis, Serbia and overseas.

Nis Ekspres has a workforce of 3,000 and a fleet of more than 500 buses.

Earlier, Delta Real Estate, a part of Serbia’s Delta Holding announced its plans to invest as much as €600 million in the development of retail and commercial buildings in Belgrade and Slovenia.

Rogelj said other factors might key play a decisive role in determining whether Delta would be able to buy Mercator shares.

“Even in the US, the most open economy in the world, big Chinese companies are not allowed to buy whatever they can get their hands on,” he said. “If a government wants to stop a company from entering the country, it will.”

He said Slovenia’s own indecision about opening the market to foreign companies, was creating problems for investors coming to the country. Slovenia had for a long time closed itself to foreign investments, before having suddenly to open up to investors from EU countries. Now it is being asked to accept the sale of its largest company to a company from what it still regards a developing economy.

When asked about feedback from Slovenian companies bought earlier by Serbian firms, Polovina and Rogelj both said the transition appeared to have gone smoothly.

Polovina said the key disadvantage of Serbian firms used to be their own philosophy, which was not orientated towards exports and towards expansion.

In other words, when a Serbian company entered a particular market, it often saw no need to grow much further. In today’s economy, companies can not be run in such a fashion,

Dmitar Polovina Polovina said. Serbia also needed to accept that it did not have a major economy, as the old Yugoslavia had.

It is not a big player.

“Delta, which is Serbia’s largest trading company, had a turnover of a little over €2 billion last year, while Mercator’s was €3 billion,” he said.

“However, Carrefour [of France] turned over €100 billion last year.”

Against that, the impact of Belgrade as a regional trade centre ought not to be underestimated.

“A big American company will not open headquarters in Zagreb, Sarajevo or Sofia but will open in Belgrade, which is a signal to the Serbian economy that now is the time to expand,” Polovina said.

Source: www.mojedelo.com While Polovina declined to offer exact projections for the future on account of the current international recession, Rogelj said companies like Mercator, which are key drivers in regional development, may not be hit as severely as the rest. This was because they mainly sell necessities rather than luxury goods.

Polovina said talk of a renaissance of the Serbian economy was now realistic. As recently as a few years ago, it was virtually impossible to obtain a proper bill in a restaurant, he said.

Now, Serbia has been transformed into a country whose premier company is capable of buying the largest company of Serbia’s most valued trade partner.

Economic Gloom Awaits New Slovenian Govt.

T

he global financial downturn has hit Slovenia at a time when the country is caught between incoming and outgoing governments.

Even though the country boasted a record low unemployment rate in 2008, that news turned bittersweet with the announcement that an estimated 63,500 people would lose their jobs in the coming year.

The news came from Prime Minister-elect Borut Pahor, expected to form the new government coalition on Friday November 21.

He added that construction companies would be among the first to be hit, and that foreign workers, mostly Macedonian migrants, would be the first to be made redundant, local media reported.

Foreign and part-time workers are expected to be the first to go in another ailing sector, the automotive Source: www.skyscrapercity.com industry, in which - depending on the

S

ferocity of the effects of the global financial crisis on Slovenia – some companies may even be forced to stop production altogether.

The textile industry is also expected to suffer significant losses in 2009.

To help lessen the blow of the financial tumble, outgoing Prime Minister Janez Jansa’s government adopted a new package of measures to cut business taxes and offer relief for research and development activities.

Even though the new measures would create a budget deficit, Jansa said that the 2008 budget surplus should be used to help prevent the economy from continuing its slide in the long-term.

Slovenia’s unemployment has been falling steadily over the past few years due in large part to its high economic growth, which peaked at 6.8 per cent in 2007 when it was at

Borut Pahor its highest since the small Alpine country gained independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991.

The country also boasted the highest economic growth in the Eurozone, the group of European Union member states that have adopted the euro as their official currency.

Serbia Secures New €910 Million Loan

erbia has secured €910 million from the European Investment Bank to fund the development of its infrastructure and secure favourable loans for small and medium enterprises, Bozidar Djelic, the Deputy Prime Minister says.

Djelic said that allotment of funds will be managed in conjunction with the Luxembourg-based bank.

“We have an agreement which is satisfactory for the EIB,” Djelic told Serbian media after meeting the bank’s president Philippe Maystadt.

As much as €250 million will be allocated for loans to small and medium enterprises, while an additional €660 million will be used for the development of infrastructure including the key motorway network dubbed Corridor 10, Djelic said.

In past five years the EIB, the European Union’s long-term lending body, has invested €1.2 billion in Serbia.

Djelic’s announcement came after Serbia, on November 14, secured a $518 million stand-by arrangement

Bozidar Djelic with the International Monetary Fund, which will be used to safeguard the country’s economic position.

business

Friday, Nov. 21 - Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008

7

IMF Deal Keeps Serbia Afloat

The government has had to cede key social commitments to secure a $516 million facility from the international body.

By Aleksandar Vasovic in Belgrade

T

he weakening dinar fell to a 30 month low against the euro earlier this week, damaging Serbia’s fight against double-digit inflation, but the country’s central bank and economists remained confident that they will be able to maintain their 2009 inflation target following a sucessful standby deal with the IMF. “The 2009 inflation target remains 6 to 10 percent,” governor Radovan Jelasic told reporters on the sidelines of an economic forum in Belgrade.

“But the exchange rate fluctuation is not making our life easier,” he said.

Jelasic’s remarks came after the dinar, on November 19, sank to 87.80 against the euro, the lowest since May 2006. A day earlier the bank intervened with €50 million in the currency market in an attempt to reverse the dinar’s 2 per cent decline.

“We are not soothsayers so cannot predict what will happen to the dinar today, tomorrow or the day after, but on the basis of our monetary policies and the agreement with the International Monetary Fund, we know that both will create the preconditions for greater medium and long - term stability.” Jelasic said On Nov. 14, Serbia secured a 15-month stand-by deal with the IMF, which allows for a $516 million ( €450 million) fund which can be drawn on in case of emergencies.

The loan will improve Serbia’s international creditworthiness.

After the agreement was signed, Jelasic said he expected the country’s 2009 economic growth to slow down to 3 per cent from the 7 per cent likely for this year. He also said the country’s current account deficit will be cut to 16 per cent of GDP next year from the current 18 per cent.

Jelasic secures loan facility but key social programs are put on hold Meanwhile, many economists said that the stand-by deal would send a positive signal to foreign investors as it demonstrates international approval of Serbia’s macroeconomic policies.

“The authority of the IMF team helped some cuts to be made and this budget to be more restrained, so now the budget deficit forecast has been set at a maximum of 1.5 percent of GDP,” Dusko Vasiljevic of the Belgrade’s Centre for Advanced Economic Studies told reporters.

The first draft of the 2009 budget envisaged a potentially catastrophic deficit of some 5 percent to 5.5 per

cent of the GDP, which would have been potentially unsustainable in the global economic turmoil.

The IMF deal will also force Serbia to adopt a more fiscally restrictive budget and cut spending.

“The stand-by arrangement minimises chances that the government will take risks,” said Milan Kovacevic, a Belgrade-based investment consultant.

He said that Jelasic’s projection of GDP growth “is realistic with the help of the IMF, provided that the intensity of the global financial crisis declines and the country becomes

Source: www.emportal.co.yu more competitive.”

The IMF deal comes with some cost and spending on social programmes is likely to be reigned in.

During the talks with the IMF, the Serbian government was involved in a hot debate with the United Party of Pensioners led by Jovan Krkobabic over proposed freezing of pensions and wages at levels planned for December this year.

Since October, Serbia has increased pensions by 10 per cent, in the process increasing its budget deficit to 2 per cent of GDP, from the previously projected 0.5 per cent.

The government had also pledged to raise pensions in 2009 to up to 70 per cent of the average net salary.

The IMF delegation was adamant that “it cared only about achieving a 2009 budget deficit equivalent to no more than 1.5 per cent of GDP,” an official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The Pensioners’ Party caved in and agreed to a freeze of pensions at December’s level, leaving large sections of their party dissatisfied.

However, government officials have pledged to reshuffle spending to reduce the burden on pensioners.

Companies & Markets Market Watch

I

Zvonimir Petrovic

n the period November 14-20, the Belex15, index of the most liquid shares, was down 86.81 points at 575.19, while the composite index Belexline fell to 1,256.38, down 111.53 points. Total turnover in this period amounted to nearly 1.4 billion dinars, mostly traded on Friday, November 14, – 640.5 million dinars, with turnover in Univerzal Bank of 545.7 million.

Univerzal Bank was the most traded issue of this week with total turnover of 969 million dinars. Far behind in second place was construction company Planum GP, where turnover reached approximately 70 million, with AIK Bank in third place with turnover of 41 million. The total number of transactions over the period was 1,687.

Foreign investors made up 50.1 per cent of the total trades on average with a higher participation in buy transactions.

Government FX bonds realized €640,000 over the period, while the most traded bonds were the A Series, 2010, with turnover of €254 000.

Although on insignificant volume, construction company Ratko Mitrovic recorded the highest gain of 13 per cent in the period November 1420, followed by another construction firm – Planum GP (11 per cent), and transportation company Lasta (8 per cent). In the same period, Metals Bank topped the decliners list sliding 30 per cent, while construction company Napred and Agrobank, were off 27 per cent and 26 per cent respectively.

Many companies reported their first half results for 2008 this week and issued business plans for the second half.

In addition, to improve liquidity and claw back recent price declines many companies bought back shares, but thus far with little positive effect.

Zvonimir Petrovic is an analyst with FIMA Fas Ltd. in Belgrade.

U.S.’ Remington Freezes Weapons Deal With Serbia’s Zastava Remington, the oldest United States weapons maker has frozen its cooperation with Serbian state-operated arsenal Zastava Oruzje, company’s CEO said.

Rade Gromovic said that Zastava Oruzje will not suffer from Remington’s move as the Kragujevac-based small arms producer will undoubtably benefit from the recent rise in the dollar against the euro.

“What happened is that for the time being we have put this cooperation on standby until the global financial crisis eases,” he said.

Without elaborating, Gromovic said “there will be some drop in sales” and added that Zastava Oruzje expects “to resume that cooperation next year.”

According to a draft contract Zastava Oruzje was forecast to export some €1.7 million worth of handguns, hunting and sporting rifles in 2008.

In October 2005, Zastava Oruzje signed a deal with Remington to produce hunting rifles under the Rem-

ington brand and sell them in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Zastava Oruzje also sells its products in Iraq, Afghanistan, Australia and South Africa. €4.7m Profit for Lukoil Serbia in Jan-Jun 2008 Beopetrol, Lukoil’s Serbian operating company, stated that its profits before taxes, interest and debt repayments were €4.7 million for the first half of 2008. This figure falls some 10.6 per cent short of earlier forecasts.

The Belgrade Stock Exchange website reports that the projected profits were not achieved because of reduction in the pace of development of the retail network, resulting from the complicated procedures for issuing building permits for fuel stations.

Lukoil sold 115,000 tonnes of oil derivatives in Serbia from January to June, 27,000 tonnes less than projected.

The company still holds 21 per cent of Serbia’s oil derivative market, however.

Lukoil also imported 13 per cent more oil than it had planned; 255,000 tonnes in the first half of 2008.

Profits for the second half of the year are planned by the company to rise to €6.9 million.

Italians Eye Serbian Clothing Firm Takeover Italy’s Fibest says it wants to become the sole owner of Belgradebased clothing company Ateks by purchasing the 9.64 per cent of the company it does not currently hold.

Fibest is waiting for the go-ahead from the Securities Commission to present its bid for the remaining shares.

The projected income of Ateks for the second half of 2008 is €620.8 million, though earnings for the first half of the year of €507.9 million fell short of plans by €188.2 million.

The current price of one Ateks share is less than €10. Fibest needs to purchase the remaining 113,967 shares to become the sole owner of the company.

Fellow Italian company Fabel owns 95 percent of Fibest.

8

neighbourhood

Friday, Nov. 21 - Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008

Montenegro Risks French Fury Over EU Application Despite discouragement from France, current holder of the EU presidency, Podgorica intends to apply to join the 27-nation club in December.

By Gjeraqina Tuhina in Brussels

M

ontenegro’s leaders insist they will apply for EU candidate status this year, despite the lack of enthusiasm from Brussels, particularly the French presidency, which will receive the application.

“There are lot of criteria to fulfill and perhaps Montenegro does not fulfill all of them,” Mariane de Carne, spokesperson for the French presidency, warned recently.

“It’s a question of whether it is good to submit [an application] when it doesn’t seem to be right,” she said. “But it is up to Montenegro to decide.”

The French presidency made it clear from the start that if there was no positive movement on the part of Serbia, the whole Western Balkans would be left aside during its sixmonth mandate.

This has been born out during the five months that the Elysee Palace has chaired the 27-nation block.

EU diplomats explain that Serbia’s “stagnation” in terms of its EU process is one reason why the French are so unhappy with the application announced by Podgorica.

Serbia signed a Stabilisation and Association Agreement, SAA, with the European Union in late April but members of the bloc have not yet ratified the deal because it is conditioned on Belgrade’s full cooperation with the UN War Crimes Tribunal at The Hague, which includes the arrest of wartime Bosnian Serb general Ratko Mladic.

Montenegro signed an SAA approximately one year before Serbia, and is in the process of implementing the agreement. Albania, which signed the deal in June 2006, is likely to submit its application for EU candidate status in the first half of next year.

Sources in Brussels say Podgorica was openly warned not to undertake such a step before the French EU presidency expired.

EU enlargement is not on Sarkozy’s agenda

Source: http://srpska.etleboro.com

“Paris doesn’t want the Balkans on the agenda of its presidency, and we made this clear to the Montenegrins,” one French diplomat in Brussels told Balkan Insight.

“We told them that if they didn’t listen to our ‘advice’ and decided to submit application, we would consider this as a form of ‘declaration of war’.”

Montenegrin sources have confirmed this version of events, but the leadership has refused to back down, showing their resolve during the last visit of a delegation from Podgorica to Brussels in early November, flagged as their last visit to EU headquarters ahead of an application.

Reports from the Montenegrin capital confirm their intentions to make a decisive move next month.

“We feel ready for the next stage in the process of EU integration, which includes applying to become an EU candidate before the year ends,” Gordana Djurovic, Minister for European Integration, said last week in Podgorica.

A member of Montenegro’s gov-

aware that it will not be easy to find consensus among the 27 member states on this issue.

“To give a mandate to the Commission, we need consensus. We are waiting for the application and then we will try to find consensus,” Juri Kalasikov, member of the Czech Republic’s permanent representation to the EU, said.

Kalasikov warned that for all its goodwill towards Montenegro, the Czech Republic would have to speak on behalf of all 27 members.

According to the procedure, a country wishing to obtain EU candidate status must submit its application in the capital of the EU presidency’s host country.

The presidency afterwards presents this application to the EU member states, which have to unanimously agree to grant the European Commission a mandate to prepare an evaluation, widely known as an “avis”, about the level of readiness of the applicant country.

Western diplomats warn that those countries that dislike the idea

ernment confirmed that although Paris had continued to discourage their attempt to submit an application, Podgorica felt the moment was right because the country had fulfilled the necessary conditions.

“They kept warning us not to dare to do this during the French presidency but our response was always the same: expect us in December,” a Montenegrin official told Balkan Insight.

However, the French side has apparently succeeded in ensuring that the application will arrive as late as possible in December.

With Christmas and New Year holidays looming after the application is submitted, the French side will not be obliged to undertake any procedural step other than passing the paperwork to the next holders of the EU presidency, the Czech Republic, which takes over from January 1, 2009.

The Czechs are happy to make the Western Balkans among their presidency priorities and are not averse to dealing with an application from Montenegro, although they are well

Balkans Survey: Things Go from Bad to Worse Sarajevo _ With the exception of Montenegro and Kosovo, which only recently gained independence, people in the rest of the Balkans seem pessimistic about the economic and political situation.

“The Western Balkans is a constantly changing region that often finds itself in the spotlight. Although its development seems marked by dynamic growth, there is also the difficult legacy of numerous conflicts and crises,” concludes the new Gallup Balkan Monitor report.

The survey showed that only in Kosovo and Montenegro were a majority of respondents optimistic about their country’s future. Pessimism was especially widespread in Croatia and Bosnia, where a majority of respondents saw their country going in the wrong direction. Approximately two-thirds of interviewees in Serbia and Macedonia were not satisfied

with their living standards.

A majority across the countries considered the current economic conditions in their country to be bad and that employment prospect were either the same or worse today than one year ago.

The survey also showed that people across the region have little trust in their political leaders. National political institutions only achieved a low to middle ranking in terms of trust, whereas church, and other religious organisations, came top in almost all of the countries. Kosovo and Montenegro were the only countries where a majority of respondents spoke positively about their government’s performance.

In comparison, dissatisfaction was the most pronounced in Bosnia where over sixty per cent of respondents gave a negative assessment.

In regard to their countries EU accession, respondents in Kosovo

and Albania viewed eventual EU membership positively. Respondents in Croatia and Bosnia – especially within the Serb-dominated entity of Republika Srpska – were the most negative.

In addition to these issues, the survey also looked into corruption, Kosovo`s independence, migration and mobility and other challenges for the region.

With the exception of Kosovo, Albania and Croatia the relative majority of respondents feared that Kosovo’s independence would have a negative impact on the stability of the region.

A clear majority across all countries thought the future of the region would be peaceful. Around one in four Serbs and Macedonians, however, felt there could be another war in the region.

Meanwhile in Kosovo, only 17 percent of Kosovo Serbs said it

would be possible to live peacefully with Kosovo Albanians; of the latter, 72 per cent felt peaceful coexistence was viable.

61 per cent of the Serbian residents said Kosovo’s independence would never be accepted, while a quarter thought this would be possible within 10 years.

The Gallup Balkan Monitor is a multi-year project which is being carried out in seven Balkan countries – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.

The first in a series of Gallup Balkan Monitor reports was conducted among the adult population (15 years and older) across the Western Balkan countries. At least 1,000 face-to-face interviews were conducted in each country in the period September and October 2008.

of Montenegro becoming a candidate country ahead of Serbia will easily find reasons to postpone a decision.

They say many will use the findings of the European Commission’s latest progress report to argue that Montenegro has not finished implementation of its SAA with the EU. The November report described this process of implementation as “smooth” but said further effort was needed. The progress report foresees the possibility that Serbia gets EU candidate status during 2009, but it did not envisage the same thing for Montenegro although the country’s progress report was more favorable than that of Serbia.

So far, the only EU country to openly favour Montenegro’s EU aspirations is Slovenia. “Slovenia strongly supports Montenegro because we think that the whole Western Balkans region should advance as fast as possible towards the EU,” the Slovenian Foreign Minister, Dimitrij Rupel, said in Brussels recently.

However, Slovenian diplomats worry that they appear alone in holding this stance for the time being.

“The atmosphere is not right for Montenegro; it will be difficult to find consensus among the 27 members on processing the Montenegro application and letting the country move forward while Serbia is left behind,” one Slovenian source told Balkan Insight.

This same source said that those countries that disliked the idea of other countries in the region overtaking Serbia in terms of EU processes would use various justifications to block the application.

“Some will argue that Montenegro hasn’t implemented its SAA in full, while others will use the absence of an EU institutional framework for further enlargement”, the same source said. He predicted that a form of “conditional response” by Brussels was the best that Montenegro could expect in 2009.

Gjeraqina Tuhina is Brussels correspondent for Kosovo`s public TV, RTK. Balkan Insight is BIRN`s online publication.

neighbourhood

Friday, Nov. 21 - Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008

9

Macedonia Takes Greece to World Court Skopje _ Macedonia has filed a motion at the International Court of Justice accusing Greece of breaking a UN agreement when it blocked Skopje’s bid to join NATO in April.

“We filed an application to the International Court of Justice. The reason is to protect our rights as envisaged in the Interim Accord,” Macedonia’s Foreign Minister, Antonio Milososki, told the media.

Greece and Macedonia signed the United Nations Interim Accord in 1995. Under the agreement, Macedonia changed its flag and its constitution, and both countries committed to continuing negotiations on the ‘name’ issue under UN auspices.

For its part, Greece pledged that it would not stop Skopje from entering any international institutions as long as it was done under the provisional name of “Former Yu-

goslav Republic of Macedonia” as stated in paragraph 2 of the United Nations Security Council resolution 817.

However, in April, Greece effectively vetoed Macedonia’s invitation to join NATO at the alliance’s summit in Bucharest, arguing that Skopje’s use of the name Macedonia might lead it to make territorial claims over the Greek province of the same name.

Macedonia claims that Greece broke that part of the accord when it objected to Skopje’s NATO invitation.

Skopje is asking the International Court of Justice to determine whether or not Greece, through its state organs and appointed representatives has broken its obligation as stated in article 11 paragraph 1 of the Interim Accord, that it would not block Sko-

pje’s membership of international institutions if it applied using its provisional name.

In addition Skopje asks the court to order Greece to undertake all the necessary steps to fulfill its obligations under the accord.

“It is a good and legitimate move that Skopje has taken ... Greece has obviously broken all its promises.

This has led Macedonia to seek alternatives to the UN ‘name’ talks,” political analyst Nenad Markovic told Balkan Insight.

If the court rules in Macedonia’s favour it would give the country a considerable instrument for political pressure, Markovic says.

Yet President Branko Crvenkovski said he had not been consulted about the move and said that with this act “the Prime Minister (Nikola Gruevski) and his government are

Greek Envoy Backtracks on Kosovo Remarks Belgrade _ Greece’s Ambassador to Serbia, Christos Panagopoulos, argues that the media ‘misinterpreted’ remarks by the Greek Foreign Minister, Dora Bakoyannis, in which she was reported to have said that Athens will soon recognise Kosovo’s independence.

Panagopoulos said Greece has no intention of recognising Kosovo’s independence, and would continue to respect Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over Kosovo.

Bakoyannis was recently quoted by local media as saying that although Greece has yet to recognise Kosovo as an independent state, it would eventually have to face the reality of the situation and do so.

Panagopoulos reiterated that the Greek stance on the issue has not changed, which was confirmed in meetings between Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic and his Greek counterpart Kostas Karamanlis in Athens, he said.

Since its declaration of independence in February of this year, Kosovo has been recognised by 52 countries around the world.

Bakoyannis pictured recently with Prime Minister Karamanlis European Union member states Spain, Cyprus, Greece, Romania and Slovakia - which also have issues with minorities seeking secession within their own boundaries - have thus far refused to recognise Kosovo, supporting Serbia’s stance that such unilateral declarations of independece are contrary to international law.

Serbia continues to mount diplomatic and legal challenges to Kosovo’s declaration of indepence and recently received the go-ahead from the United Nations General Assembly to ask the International Court of Justice for its opinion on the legality of Kosovo’s February independence declaration.

Croatia TV Networks ‘Abuse Human Dignity’ Zagreb _ Croatia’s Council of Electronic Media has filed complaints against all three national television companies for breaking various articles of the Law on Electronic Media.

The complaints are related to breaches of media ethics for which television companies can be punished with a fine of up to one million kuna (€130,000).

The commercial television station RTL is being sued for its celebrity show called “Stars Extra” which according to the Council “insulted human dignity by using extremely vulgar language.”

The Council’s president Zdravko Kedzo refused to specify the disputed language but the Slobodna Dalmacija daily stated that it had to do with its sexual content.

The other Croatian commercial television station Nova TV has been cited for two different programmes.

According to the Council, the show “Moment of Truth” also “insults human dignity by asking the

participants inappropriate personal questions,” while Nova TV’s main news program “Dnevnik” is accused of “abusing a recording of a person in order to illustrate a piece on obesity.”

Croatia’s public television station HTV is charged with “excessive swearing and an inconsiderate approach to underage persons” in its sitcom “Bitange i princeze” (Crooks and Princesses).

Kedzo explained that the purpose of these complaints is to “express general concern about the quantity of inappropriate content, about which the Council is regularly informed by ombudsmen and disgruntled citizens.”

He added that other warnings to media executives had never previously produced results and he therefore “hoped there will be no need to reach for the ultimate penal measure, which is taking away the licences of the television networks.”

Asked by journalists why the Council has not reacted to problems

such as misinformation, the use of hate speech, spreading of ideology and product placement, Kedzo replied that “those issues will be dealt with in the future.”

TV Show ‘Bitange i Princze’

completely taking over the responsibility for the UN talks as well as those for our European Union and NATO integration.”

Speaking to local Sitel Television, the spokesman for the Greek Foreign Ministry, Iorgos Koumoutsakos claimed “we knew that this would happen” adding it was yet too early to comment on the move.

It remains unclear whether it will halt the ongoing negotiations between Greece and Macedonia in New York.

A ruling by the court could take as long as three years.

However International Court of Justice information officer, Boris Heim stated that the country’s decision on whether to comply with the court’s rulings or not is a political question. ”We don’t do political questions,” he added.

Branko Crvenkovski

US Backs EULEX Six Point Plan for Kosovo Belgrade _ US Ambassador to Serbia Cameron Munter says Kosovo officials have been informed of Washington’s support for the UN six-point plan, and Pristina is also urged to back the plan.

Munter said that United States Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried held very direct and detailed talks with Kosovo’s political leaders earlier this week regarding the United Nations plan for “reconfiguring” the international presence in Kosovo, which Pristina continues to vehemently oppose.

The ambassador said Pristina was told that it should take into consideration that an agreement with Belgrade has been reached over the plan and that Washington, which has been instrumental in supporting Kosovo’s efforts to gain independence from Serbia, deems the plan acceptable.

Peaceful protests were held in Pristina on Wednesday in opposition to the so-called “six-point” plan, which Kosovo officials have said they would not back unless it clearly confirmed the independence of Kosovo.

The plan meets the criteria Serbia has insisted on before agreeing

to any changes in the administrative international mission in Kosovo.

Belgrade insists that the plan must be approved by the UN Security Council, maintain a neutral status for Kosovo with no confirmation of independence, and base the new presence on the old UN Resolution 1244, which was adopted in 1999.

Serbia expects a UN Security Council session to be held next week to approve the plan. EU Foreign and Security Policies Chief Javier Solana is scheduled to meet with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on Friday to discuss the plan.

The EU law-and-order mission was envisaged to replace the UN Kosovo mission, UNMIK, with its own police and court officials.

Media in Pristina have quoted EULEX Chief Yves de Kermabon as stating that the mission would not be able to function in the majority ethnic Serb populated north of Kosovo without further coordination with Belgrade on the issue.

The EU plans to have a functional mission deployed in all other regions of Kosovo by early December.

Bosnian Clothes Firm Sells ‘Obama Suits’ Sarajevo _ The global obsession with incoming US President Barack Obama has reached Bosnia, where a prestigious local clothes firm has launched a new line of high-end business suits under the brand “Obama”.

The suits are already selling well in Bosnia, Croatia and Slovenia, local media reported on Thursday, quoting Ahmer Curic, the executive director of Borac, a prestigious clothing company from the central Bosnian town of Travnik.

Borac is one Bosnia’s oldest clothing firms. Before and after the Bosnian war it produced a wide variety of business and other suits, many of them in cooperation with some of the world’s leading designers, such as Hugo Boss, Pierre Cardin and others.

“We chose the name ‘Obama’,” said Curic. “It’s a line of top quality business suits, and naming it Obama was an obvious choice because the president-elect is clearly a very elegant man and one of the few who knows how to wear a suit.”

Curic added that naming one of its top product lines after the new US president was a sign of gratitude to a country that has provided substantial financial aid for Bosnia’s post-war reconstruction and development, thus enabling Borac Travnik to restart its production.

Borac’s initiative was welcomed by the US embassy in Sarajevo.

In addition to financial assistance, the last Democratic administration launched a political and military engagement in the Balkans that was crucial to bringing the 1992-1995 conflict in Bosnia to an end. Because of this American role, many Bosnians have been closely monitoring the latest American presidential elections, and many have been cheering for Obama.

On election night the EU embassy in Sarajevo organised an informal vote among Sarajevo citizens that showed Barack Obama winning with more than 70 per cent support, compared to just 30 per cent for his Republican rival John McCain.

10

out & about

Friday, Nov. 21 - Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008

Venice in Vojvodina

taurant. The town of Ram was first mentioned in 1128. The Byzantines defeated the Hungarians in a battle near the town. The Turkish Sultan Bajazit II built the fortress, vestiges of which have survived, at the end of the 15th century. The fortress has five towers connected with high walls.

It’s shabby and overgrown with grass but there are fine views from atop the walls. Beware of snakes in summertime.

Early History

Fishing boats at Banatska Palanka

Photo by Pat Andjelkovic

It’s not so much Venetian-style canals as bucolic rolling countryside that provides the real draw to this pretty town near the Romanian border.

By Pat Andjelkovic

L

ast week, I took you to Timisoara, often dubbed “Little Vienna in Transylvania.” This week I invite you to venture to Bela Crkva, frequently referred to as the “Venice of Vojvodina.” While in my opinion that’s stretching the comparison, since there is only one canal near Bela Crkva, the town, as well as the entire municipality of the same name, deserve a visit. If Mother Nature is feeling friendly, you will have time to make a trip there in one day if you start early and only take in the town and a couple of nearby spots.

Bela Crkva, meaning “White Church”, lies in a spacious valley of the Nera river, in south-eastern Vojvodina, about 100 kilometres from Belgrade, in the Banat region.

To reach the town, take the road to Vrsac, and then follow the signs. On the east, Bela Crkva is bordered by the Carpathians, and to the west by the Pannonian Depression, the remains of the ancient sea of the same name. Several rivers - the Danube, Nera, and the Karas and the DanubeTisa-Danube Canal, are all at close quarters, as are as many as seven crystal-clear lakes. Bela Crkva has a temperate continental climate, with winter temperatures varying from minus 5 to 10 centigrade, while summer temperatures range from 23 to 35 centigrade. The combination of mountain air from the Carpathian slopes, sunny days, home cooking, and numerous outdoor offerings provide a real opportunity for refreshment and memorable holidays.

The region includes the town of Bela Crkva and a number of villages; Banatska Palanka, Vracev Gaj, Grebenac, Dobricevo, and Kaludjerovo.

Surrounded by beautiful countryside,

filled with picturesque Baroque facades, pretty streets, parks and lakes, Bela Crkva is a respite from the hustle and bustle of big cities and the speed of modern life. In summer, the town holds a Flower Carnival and its fruits and quality wines are famous.

Finally, because Bela Crkva has no heavy industry, there is no pollution, and consequently has been classified as an ‘ecological town’.

Though the town itself was named after the ruins of an old church, there are now four notable churches in Bela Crkva, located close to one another: St. Anne’s Catholic church, St. Peter and Paul’s Orthodox church, the Romanian church, and the Russian Orthodox church of St. John the Baptist. They all date from the 19th century.

prefer private rooms in a house, try Mirjana Lazovic’s accommodation.

You can’t beat the price at 500 dinars per person. For campers, there is a well-equipped campsite nearby.

Since Bela Crkva’s surroundings are a real treasure and the roads quiet, it’s really worth bringing your bicycle.

The hills, covered with orchards in the middle of “flat” Vojvodina, are a surprising sight. Several nearby rivers and lakes and the Tisa-Danube canal, are great for fishing. There’s a popular catfish-catching contest held in the summer every year in honour of a 200-kilo catfish once caught … or so goes a local legend. But wheth-

er or not you catch a fish, you should try the fish soup and fish specialties in one of the restaurants in Banatska Palanka, located on the Danube-TisaDanube Canal, about 10 kilometres from Bela Crkva. I recommend Kod Nese. A friend and I recently shared one pot of spicy fish soup, two different kinds of freshly-fried fish (crispy and cooked to perfection), served with boiled potatoes, warm, soft bread, two salads, mineral water and two cups of coffee. All for a mere 1,200 dinars.

If you would like to visit the ancient Roman fortress at Ram across the water, take the ferryboat that leaves from just in front of this res-

Recreation There’s plenty to do outdoors in and around Bela Crkva, though spring and summer are the preferred seasons. At this time, visitors can swim in the crystal-clear lakes. You can choose between lakes with only wild beaches and nature, and town beaches with many facilities, such as showers, cabins for changing, restaurants, ice-cream parlours, sports grounds, weight-lifting, water polo, and dingys and pedal boats for rent.

The Jezero tourist complex, located by the Town Lake, consists of five large bungalows.

All rooms have their own entrance, bathroom and terrace. The complex includes a restaurant with an outdoor terrace. Just 200 metres away, hotel Turist, with 80 beds, a restaurant, a bowling alley, a tennis court and a basketball playground is a good spot for sports training and recreation. Double rooms are available for around 1,600 dinars. If you Orthodox church gate

Photo by Pat Andjelkovic

Settlements in and around Bela Crkva date from the Iron and Bronze Ages. The area later fell under Roman domination until the middle of the 3rd century, when barbarians, particularly Goths and Sarmats, started invading the south of Banat and the Romans lost control. The Sarmats subsequently established a settlement, and artifacts, such as vessels and ornaments, of their culture can be seen in the Bela Crkva museum. The Avars and the Slavs came along with the Great Migration in the 6th century, but, oddly, few archaeological remains have been found from that period. The Slavs finally settled the conquered territory, while the Avars moved on. Without the Avars’ powerful military force, the Slavs could not resist their powerful neighbours, and southeast Banat fell under Bulgarian control. Later, Hungarians occupied the Bela Crkva area, until 1522 when the Turks invaded Timisoara and became the rulers of the area.

In the 17th century, war erupted between the empires of Austria and Turkey and in 1716 Prince Eugene of Savoy conquered Timisoara and handed it over to Earl Claudius Florimund de Mercy to govern. Earl de Mercy occupied the fortress by the Danube, and Bela Crkva was established as soon as the territory had been liberated from the Turks. Later, Germans settled there, establishing a wealthy town where different trades developed, especially the production of high quality wines. Soon afterwards, Serbs and Romanians also settled, but the majority of the population was German until the Second World War. To protect themselves from the Turks, the Austrians formed a military border and the Wallach-Illirian regiment in 1774. Some of the town’s finest buildings were built at that time and most are still in good condition. The military border was abolished in 1872, when Bela Crkva was united with Hungary again, having been returned to civilian government after years of military rule.

The town’s museum was the first founded in the Vojvodina region, where in addition to its archeological collection, you can admire Bela Crkva paintings from the 19th century. (Unfortunately and inexplicably, the museum is closed at weekends.)

Bela Crkva remained part of AustriaHungary up to 1918 when the area became part of the new Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.

However, the border was divided unsatisfactorily with Romania, leaving Bela Crkva on the very border, while the surrounding forests and cultivable soil went to Romania. Many roads were cut off and markets were lost for Bela Crkva.

Pat Andjelkovic is a teacher, writer and a long term expat.

the belgrader

Friday, Nov. 21 - Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008

11

Dining Out

Campo Di Fiori

The ‘Bohemian quarter’ of Skadarlija has restaurants of all flavours. Some are exceptional. Others, not so good...

By “Trencherman”

“

Go and check out Skadarlija”, the editor said. It seems an innocuous enough sentence, but I suspected it just might be the culinary equivalent of a death sentence. Skadarlija, you see, is in all the tourist brochures. It’s mentioned on Trip Advisor and Virtual Tourist and My Travel Guide. The local tourist office refers to it as the city’s bohemian quarter.

Now, I’ve eaten in St. Marks Square. I’ve eaten in Leicester Square.

I’ve eaten in Times Square. I’ve even eaten in Red Square. And I’m afraid that restaurants in such “key tourist destinations” nearly always have the same things in common. And they’re not good things.

But, I was prepared to give it a go. So, on a chilly Sunday evening, my dining companion and I walked the length of Skadarska, checking out the menus and peering in through windows and doors. And then, we walked all the way back again. By

this time, a little cold and still devoid of inspiration we spotted “Campo Di Fiori”. A youngish crowd seemed to be enjoying their food, so we ventured in.

The restaurant is small and cozy, perhaps 20 covers, with wooden tables and minimal decoration. Although the restaurant was not busy with customers dining-in, they were certainly doing a brisk trade in takeout orders, which was a good sign, and we sat back, ready to enjoy some unpretentious Italian food. In fact, we sat back for quite some time as the waitress on duty seemed to be somewhat disinterested in us.

When - finally - she took our order, we selected some grilled vegetables, and some fusilli with tuna, tomatoes and olives to start. To follow, we ordered steaks, only to be told that there weren’t any. So, we ordered saltimbocca and chicken in a creamand-mushroom sauce. To drink, we ordered a rather pricey and rather pedestrian local sauvignon blanc at 2,100 dinars.

Around us, our fellow diners seemed to be enjoying their pizzas, and to be honest they both looked and smelled good too. We then spent a long time people-watching and making conversation, and, as my dining companion is always good company, this wasn’t such a bad thing. But, nevertheless, we were beginning to

Campo Di Fiori: uninspired cooking at hefty prices feel somewhat neglected by the time the food arrived.

The vegetables had not so much been grilled as, perhaps, lightly questioned. They were fresh, but definitely not grilled. The pasta was uninspiring. Canned tuna, a strangely sweet tomato sauce, slices of canned black olives and a few capers. It was hot, filling and would have made a fine home-made supper on a busy workday, but really wasn’t something that showed any skills in its preparation.

The chicken dish was a generous portion, under a creamy sauce, thickened, it seemed to me, with an equally generous helping of flour. A desultory scattering of mushrooms finished off the dish.

Saltimbocca is a dish made of veal, chicken or pork, lined or topped with prosciutto and sage; marinated in wine, oil or saltwater, says Wikipedia.

Anthony Worral-Thomspon, writing for the BBC, suggests that we might like to include a little sliced buffalo mozzarella. But never have I known Saltimbocca to come enveloped in a thick creamy sauce. Perhaps the chef had made a little too much sauce for my companion and had decided that I might as well have the benefit of it. It was cloying and ensured that the dish tasted of nothing other than the sauce.

Was it pork, chicken or veal? Frankly, I have no idea. Texturally, I’d say pork or veal is more likely, but as for taste, I’m not so sure.

Photo by Quinn Van Valer-Campbell Two uninspiring deserts; a chocolate mousse and a torte, and coffees to follow and we walked from the restaurant feeling that we’d had a proper visitors’ meal out – expensive food, and disinterested service, in a tourist area, in a restaurant where they know there’ll be plenty more tourists along later. Skadarlija does, to be fair, have some good restaurants, which serve up traditional food in a fun atmosphere. This just isn’t one of them.

Price Guide: 2,500 – 3,000 dinars for 3 courses with a modest wine.

Campo Di Fiori Skadarska 11 Tel: 011 3242940

We Recommend Every week we feature a selection of restaurants picked by our team. They give a flavour of what’s out there on the Belgrade restaurant scene and should provide you with a few alternatives to get you out of your dining rut. Our choices may not always have had the full Trencherman treatment but you can be sure that one of us has eaten there and enjoyed it.

Guli

Indian Palace

Klub Zabar

Perfectly located, right on the corner of Skadarska and Zetska, this restaurant has typical Italian food while the interior looks like an upscale night club with black and white furniture and bare stone walls.

As the only Indian restaurant in town, there is not much to live up to. The chef is from India, and the food is authentic, but could do with spicing up, say local Brits. It’s not in the most central location, either, but if you have a craving for Indian food, this is the one to try.

You’ll need to mentally prepare yourself for the prices at this floating restaurant. Serving modern Serbian food, it is very cozy and the wooden walls and decorations make it feel even more intimate.

Diners tired of Serbia’s meatwith-everything obsession may give this a try. The entire menu is geared towards non-meat eaters, so, vegans, vegetarians and others that have seen enough grilled meat to keep going until 2009, will find it worth the trip outside the centre.

Located in the Aleksandar Palas Hotel, this is an award-winning, fancy, establishment that has Spanish music nightly. A popular haunt for “biznismen”, out to impress their ladies. The bar is great for peoplewatching.

Skadarska 13

Ljubica 1b

Kej Oslobodjenja bb

Batutova 11

Kralja Petra 13-15

Verdi

Ima Dana

Saran

Kosava Trattoria

Iguana na Cosku

Located in the centre of town, this classy restaurant has a traditional wideranging Italian menu, and a minimalistic setting. As the name suggests, be prepared to listen to opera during your meal.

Rostilj, cevapcici and pljeskavica are all typical Serbian dishes. In the touristy section of Belgrade, Ima Dana serves Serbian food in a quaint setting with local music to top it all off.

The fish soup here is famous among fisherman on the Danube. The old recipe is still used today. This restaurant is off the beaten path in Zemun, so you can escape the tourists and see a different part of the city while you’re here.

It started out as just another pizzeria but after a while built up its reputation along with its menu. It looks like a rustic Italian home and has not given into the fancy tables and chairs, although their prices suggest otherwise.

Trencherman was nostalgic for Iguana’s old location, menu and prices when he visited recently. But, others believe the new location adds a touch of class to the already accomplished cuisine.

Terazije 5

Skadarska 38

Kej Oslobodjenja 53

Kralja Petra 36

Beogradska 37

Priroda

Que Pasa

12

the belgrader

Going Out

Apartman

By Quinn Van Valer-Campbell

O

ne of my friends told me that “there are no gay people in Belgrade”. Because of this attitude, the gay and lesbian community often does not feel welcome or even part of society here. However, there is one place that is helping to change that way of thinking.

No signs outside indicate that there is a club here under Branko’s bridge, up several flights of stairs to the top floor of the building. It’s in a renovated apartment, hence the name, and is open on Fridays and Saturdays.

The place doesn’t try to fool you into thinking that it’s a real apartment. Once you walk in, you can tell. It’s devoid of any type of decor, for one thing, though each room is a little different. One has a bar, while another has couches and tables and a third is darker and

Friday, Nov. 21 - Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008

more secluded. The biggest room houses the DJ booth and the dance floor.

True to form for Belgrade clubs, there’s no point showing up before midnight. But once people arrive, the music gets louder, the braver ones dance and after a while, more join in and the dance floor is finally full of people enjoying the music and dancing with absolutely everyone. The rotating DJs play a variety of music, from hip hop to alternative to techno and house staples.

So far, so much like a typical club in Belgrade. But the people who frequent it are not girls in high heels with their muscle-bound boyfriends. And it is probably the only place where the lesbian and gay crowd is not only accepted but welcomed. The dance floor is not a place to show off, either. And while all kinds of couples are making out everywhere, no one cares or gives it a second thought. Once you step inside, the whole vibe of the club and the people gets under your skin.

I have gone twice with gay as well as straight friends and both times we had an incredible time. People are really there just to hang out and dance, not to find someone for the night or to impress others. So put on your uncomfortable heels and take your uptight attitude wherever you please, but if you want some real fun, go to Apartman.

We Recommend

Friday

Biohazard

Students Cultural Center, Kralja Milana 48.

Hip hop and heavy metal don’t usually belong in the same sentence. This band, originally from Brooklyn, started yelling to let loose their frustration and anger and found an outlet in both musical genres. They are back and touring together, so if you skipped an anger management class, you might be able to make it up on Saturday with Biohazard.

Tickets available on the door.

Apartman, great music and a relaxed environment

Saturday

Photo by Quinn Van Valer-Campbell

Sunday

Hladno Pivo

St George Strings

Sports Hall, Pariske Komune 20 Mosh pits and hair gel go hand in hand with Hladno Pivo.

They draw their inspiration from bands such as Metallica, the Sex Pistols and the Ramones, so you can begin to get a feel for their energetic music.

For ticket information call 011 2601658

Ilija M Kolarac Foundation Hall, Studentski trg 5 This Belgrade chamber orchestra has performed all over the world. They’ve come back to their hometown, and we suggest you check them out. What started as a group of students in 1992, has become an internationally acclaimed orchestra with many members who perform as soloists.

It’s also a nice thing to do to relax on a Sunday.

Tickets available at Ilija M Kolarac Foundation Hall ticket office.

Monday

Tuesday

Students Cultural Center, Kralja Milana 48.

These two French groups both contrast and compliment each other well, with Jack of Hearts preferring a more subdued and psychedelic style of music, while the male-female duo of The Magnetix specializes in aggressive, low-fi rock. The organizers of the concert, Belgrade’s grass-roots-style underground rock music promoters “Bad Music for Bad People,” stated that the two bands are a couple of the finest France’s bustling garage rock scene has to offer.

Tickets available on the door, or at the SKC ticket office.The bands take the stage at 10 pm.

Living Room, Kralja Milana 48.

Belgrade seems awash with bands lately. This band, however, has a very specialist group of followers. As a ‘screamo’ band from France, their distinctive sound is complete chaos to some and music to others. Most definitely an acquired taste!

Tickets available on the door.

Daitro

Jack of Hearts and The Magnetix

Wednesday

American Experience: Walt Whitman

Dom Omladine, Makedonska 22/IV The life of the famous American poet Walt Whitman is explored in a documentary at the American Corner in Dom Omladine. Whitman is known, among other things, for his book Leaves of Grass and his disputed sexuality. He brought new life to free verse poetry through his interesting personal experiences.

Admission is free.

14th Festival of ‘Autorski’ Films, “View into the world”

Thursday

This festival features works each put together by just one person. It presents films from all over the world, dealing with issues as diverse as racism, sexuality, politics, religion and the search for an inner meaning to the events of the world

Student Cultural Centre, SKC Former drummer of the seminal New York punk rock band, The Ramones, is keeping old hits alive with his new band in Belgrade’s tonight. The concert represents an opportunity both for ageing punks and for new fans too young to have been able to see the band in its heyday to hear their favourite Ramones’ songs live again, Both Marky and his singer Michale Graves spent some time in another influential American punk band, the Misfits.

Tickets can be bought at the door for 1,200 dinars.

November 26 - December 3 Screenings at 10 a.m. midday, 1.30 p.m.

5.30 p.m. & 8p.m.

Tickets available at DKC ticket office, Kolarceva 6.

Marky Ramone

the belgrader

Friday, Nov. 21 - Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008

What’s On

Tuckwood Cineplex Kneza Milosa 7, tel: 011 3236517

CINEMAS Roda Cineplex Pozeska 83A , tel: 011 2545260 Quantum of Solace 18:00, 20:15 & 22:30 Turneja (The Tour) 20:30 Wall E 16:15 Nights in Rodanthe 18:00, 20:00 & 22:00 Jelenin svet (Jelena’s World) 16:30, 18:30 & 22:30 Nim’s Island 16:00 Dom sindikata Trg Nikole Pasica 5, tel. 011 3234849

Ster City Cinema Delta City, Jurija Gagarina 16 (Blok 67) tel: 011 2203400 Body of Lies 12:00, 14:30, 17:00, 19:30 & 22:10 Quantum of Solace 12:10, 13:40, 14:20, 15:50, 16:30, 18:00, 18:40, 20:10, 20:50 & 22:20 Death Race 21:50 Righteous Kill 23:00 Nights in Rodanthe 17:50 & 22:00 Mamma Mia! 13:30, 15:40 & 19:50 Pineapple Express 12:40 & 14:50 Vicky Cristina Barcelona 11:50, 14:00, 16:10, 18:20, 20:30 & 22:40 Eagle Eye 17:00, 19:20 & 21:40

My Picks

Compania de Vinos Every week Rian Harris tells us one of her favourite places to shop.

By Rian Harris

W

ant something besides Plantaze to put in your wine cooler? Check out the selection at Compania de Vinos, where more than 500 different kinds

Righteous Kill

C

an you put Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in the same film and make it bad? If you say no, then please ask director Jon Avnet how he managed to do just that. The duo last came together in the box office success Heat, skilfully put together by Michael Mann in 1995.

One would expect two of the greatest screen actors of our time to have chosen a monumental comeback. How they came to chose a film

CONCERTS One of the finest orchestras in the country will perform classic pieces by Dvorak, Chausson, Saint-Saens and Bartok, conducted by David Stern.

Ilija M Kolarac Foundation Hall Studentski trg 5 November 21, 8pm Tickets available at Ilija M Kolarac Foundation Hall ticket office RTS Big Band Orchestra The best Serbian Jazz orchestra is holding a concert celebrating 60 years of its existence.

Ilija M Kolarac Foundation Hall Studentski trg 5 November 25, 8pm Tickets available at Ilija M Kolarac Foundation Hall ticket office

of wine are on offer in an easily located and well-equipped showroom.

Wines can be found from all over the world, but the Spanish and Portuguese selection is especially strong. Try the 2007 Nazares Tempranillo. At 475 dinars, you might be tempted to pick up a whole case for your next party.

The 2007 Analiva Verdejo is also a good buy. In addition to wine, Compania de Vinos offers liqueurs, champagne, tobacco, coffee and chocolate, as well as a selection of glasses and assorted wine paraphernalia from producers such as Riedel.

A nicely decorated room in the back plays host to tastings and classes. The friendly staff are ready to help recommend something, and best of all, there always seem to be parking spaces out front.

Compania de vino Kaleniceva 3 011-243-6038 www.devinos.net (Serbian only).

with such a poor scenario and let it be directed so badly, is likely to remain mystery.

Righteous Kill is the story of two elderly New York police detectives, trying to solve a series of murders.

The bad guys are being killed and the audience is lead to believe, it is detective Turk, played by De Niro, who is killing them, re-living the spirit of vengeance from Taxi Driver. But Jon Avnet is not Martin Scorsese, nor is the script writer Russell Gewirtz or Agatha Christie.

Since the killer leaves a poem alongside each corpse, two young detectives, who work alongside Pacino and De Niro somehow conclude that the killings are done by someone

ANNUAL EVENTS

Tchaikovsky, tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer.

7th Italian Film Festival

Republic Square 1a November 25, 7.30pm Tickets available at National Theatre ticket office and Bilet Service, Trg Republike 5

Nine contemporary feature films and three documentaries by new Italian authors will be shown.

Tuckwood Cineplex Kneza Milosa 7a November 25 - 29 Screenings at 7pm & 9pm Free entrance 17th International Review of Composers “A hundred miniatures for one, four, eight, a hundred performers”

Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra

Turneja (The Tour) 15:45 Quantum of Solace 16:15, 18:15, 20:15 & 22:15 Righteous Kill 22:45 Body of Lies 17:45, 20:00 & 22:30 Nights in Rodanthe 17:00 & 19:00 Vicky Cristina Barcelona 16:00, 18:00, 20:00, 21:00 & 22:00

FILM REVIEW

By Andrej Klemencic

Quantum of Solace 15:50, 18:10, 20:30, 22:00 & 22:45 Turneja (The Tour) 21:00 Pineapple Express 16:30, 18:45 & 23:00 Body of Lies 15:45, 18:15, 20:45 & 23:10 Vicky Cristina Barcelona 16:00, 18:00 & 20:00 Nights in Rodanthe 15:30, 17:30 & 19:30 Eagle Eye 21:30 & 23:40

13

A presentation of new music. Over five days, more than a hundred new compositions by authors from Europe, North and South America, Asia and Australia will be showcased.

Hall of National Bank of Serbia, Nemanjina 17 Ilija M Kolarac Foundation Hall, Studentski trg 5 November 19 - 24 Free entrance

OPERA

Terazije Theater Earth Ballet directed and choreographed by Joe Alegado, American choreographer and dance teacher.

Terazije 29 November 26, 7.30pm Tickets available at Terazije Theater ticket office and Bilet Service, Trg Republike 5

THEATRE Terazije Theater Gypsies Go To Heaven Musical based on the short story Makar Chudra

by Maxim Gorky.

National Theatre

Terazije 29 November 21, 7:30pm Tickets available at Terazije Theatre ticket office and Bilet Service, Trg Republike 5

Werther

Dah Theatre Research Centre

Hopeless love triangle with the usual tragic ending.

Three Sisters or Round Around Chekhov

Republic Square 1a November 22, 7.30pm Tickets available at National Theatre ticket office and Bilet Service, Trg Republike 5

Dah Theatre presents Ister Theatre’s production, winner of this year’s award for the best choreography. A dance performance in the manner of the Ister Theatre.

National Theatre

Maruliceva 8 November 22, 8pm Tickets available at Dah Theatre ticket office and Bilet Service, Trg Republike 5

Carmen Carmen, is a beautiful Gypsy with a fiery temper. Free with her love, she woos Corporal Don José, an inexperienced soldier. His jealousy leads to murder when Carmen turns from him to the bullfighter Escamillo.

November 26, 7pm Tickets available at National Theatre ticket office and Bilet Service, Trg Republike 5 Madlenianum

CLUBBING Club Plastic Stanton Warriors Djusina 7 November 21, 10pm The Tube

Madam Butterfly

DJ Pookie

Modern staging of Puccini’s Madam Butterfly as a story of a cyber-geisha girl.

Glavna 32 November 21, 7.30pm Tickets available at Madlenianum ticket office and Bilet Service, Trg Republike 5

BALLET

Dobracina 17 November 21, 10pm Anderground Kinetic Vibe Night - Bokee Birthday Party Pariska 1a November 21, 10pm EXPO XXI Belgrade

National Theatre

SNAP live

Swan Lake

Top FM Retro Party 90’s Spanskih boraca 74 November 22, 10pm

One of the most revered classical ballets, by

from inside the police force.

The clear detachment of the film makers from the project becomes an insult to the audience when we are shown two identical scenes of the same man in a red coat walking down the same street in Queens, at different places in the film. Such a hole in editing or basic film-making skills is rarely seen on screen outside of low budget “made for TV” specials.

The two great actors are not in their prime. Perhaps the hackneyed roles of two detectives, that connect Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in this pot-boiler, are not the challenges they should be taking on. This is not to say their acting was terrible. More that there was no material to work with.

This film would have benefited from some of the “noir” and bleak atmosphere of parts of New York City, in much the same way that Neil Jor-

dan, in a little jewel of film-making, The Brave One, led us through some of the most beautifully unpleasant New York scenery ever put on film.

Righteous Kill was not brave enough to pair the darkness of the story with the darkness of the setting, nor to pair the moral dilemma of whether there can indeed be a kill

that is righteous, with the journey into the souls of the leading actors.

If the most memorable moment of a film starring Robert De Niro and Al Pacino is a scene when one of the side characters is not able to spell the name of a Russian mafia member, then perhaps Righteous Kill is a movie experience you could well do without.

14

sport

Friday, Nov. 21 - Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008

Double Joy for Serbia at Shanghai Masters Novak Djokovic and Nenad Zimonjic provided the perfect ending for Serbia at the season’s final tennis tournament in China.

By Zoran Milosavljevic

T

here isn’t a shadow of a doubt that 2008 will go down in history as one of the most successful years for Serbian tennis after world number three Novak Djokovic capped an exceptional individual season by winning the Masters Cup in Shanghai last weekend with an impressive 6-1, 7-5 win over Russian Nikolay Davydenko in a one-sided final.

It came on the back of a tight semi-final victory against French upstart Gilles Simon, who once again shocked the world by beating dethroned king Roger Federer in the group stage ending Federer’s hopes of salvaging something from what has been a miserable season by his standards. For Djokovic, who lifted his first Grand Slam title when he won the Australian Open in January, the success in China could not have come at a better time after he lost three finals following his victory at the Rome Masters back in May. “I ended the season the way I started it, by winning a big event, so it’s a

great boost for the upcoming season,” a delighted Djokovic said after lifting the trophy and picking up a $625,000 (€ 499,000) cheque. “There has been so much going on for Serbian tennis lately and it’s incredible that we have achieved it in such a short period of time,” he added.

Serbia, which still lacks any toplevel tennis facilities, was on the sport’s fringes until Djokovic and the women’s duo of Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic emerged to transform the country into a force to be reckoned with. Djokovic’s exploits in Shanghai came a week after Jelena Jankovic ended the season as the world number one in the WTA rankings, while Ivanovic slipped to fifth from the pinnacle she had briefly occupied after winning the French Open in May. “I think Serbia is getting used to the number one spot so I’ll have to work on that I guess,” Djokovic told reporters in China with a big smile on his face after beating Davydenko. “Probably the fact that we don’t have the best possible facilities gives us more motivation to succeed.” Given half a chance, Djokovic plans to seize the throne of Rafael Nadal at some point next season, but his more immediate objective is to leapfrog Federer into second position in January as he trails the Swiss by only 10 points after their contrasting fortunes at the Masters.

The first priority will be to defend his Australian Open title in January but if he is to oust Nadal, Djokovic will also need to mount a serious challenge to the Spaniard’s clay court domination.

“I believe I have the quality to reach the top spot either next season or in

the next couple of years,” the 23-year old Serb said as he closely examined his supplementary prize, a brand new Mercedes SUV. “I would put the Masters in the same league as a Grand Slam because the world’s best players are in it.”

Just to put the icing on the cake, fellow Serbian Nenad Zimonjic and his Belgrade-born partner Canadian Daniel Nestor clinched the doubles with an emphatic 7-6, 6-2 defeat of Americans Bob and Mike Bryan to grab the year-end number

By Zoran Milosavljevic

F

ew players have reached the 100-match milestone in their international careers and even fewer crowned their testimonial appearances by scoring two goals in their final match for their country.

Savo Milosevic enjoyed the perfect farewell on Wednesday with a brace in Serbia’s 6-1 destruction of Bulgaria and deserved the standing ovation he got from his team mates and fans as he brought his illustrious international career to an end with a total of 37 goals in 102 games for a country that shrank almost as fast as he slotted in the goals over the years.

Ironically, the match against the Bulgarians was his first and last in a Serbia shirt, as all his previous appearances came for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia – later renamed Serbia and Montenegro before the defunct state union fell apart after the 2006 World Cup. Milosevic had not played for his country since but showed glimpses of his lethal finishing as Serbia tore Bulgaria apart with an impressive performance to honour their stalwart.

“I really enjoyed playing with these lads who always looked two

gears ahead of me and I think they have a great future,” the delighted 35-year old striker said after scoring twice to atone for missing two early penalties. “My emotions got the better of me and my concentration dropped when I took the spot kicks but I was delighted to find the back of the net after that,” he added. “This might also be the end of my career as I have one more game left for my Russian club Rubin Kazan but anyhow, it was a great way to hang up my international boots.”

After winning two league titles with Partizan Belgrade in the early 1990s, Milosevic moved to Premier League side Aston Villa where he scored 29 goals in 91 appearances and won the English League Cup in 1996. Since then he enjoyed a largely successful spell with several Spanish first division clubs before joining Rubin where he scored a lastminute winner to hand them their first Russian championship earlier this month.

The highlight of his international career was Euro 2000, where he scored five goals for Yugoslavia to finish as the tournament’s joint top scorer along with Patrick Kluivert of the Netherlands. Never acclaimed as one of the game’s most talented strikers, Milosevic still earned worldwide recognition for his passion and work ethic. Although the Bulgaria game showed in no uncertain terms that he is well past his peak, Milosevic showed snatches of the same zest and hunger that enabled him to stay in

successive victory with Nestor over the Bryan brothers, who gracefully praised their rivals. “I guess we’ve got to tip our hat to them, they had a great tournament and a great year.

We look forward to battling it out next year,” said Bob Bryan.

Serbian fans are expecting more of the same from their tennis heroes next year.

Zoran Milosavljevic is Belgrade Insight’s sports writer and also a regional sports correspondent for Reuters.

A rampant Djokovic was unstoppable in Shanghai

Milosevic Given the Perfect Farewell The former Yugoslavia’s most capped player wraps up his international career in Serbia’s 6-1 annihilation of Bulgaria.

one ATP ranking. “To win the Masters against the Bryans, who have dominated doubles in the last four or five years, well, you couldn’t ask more as an athlete,” said Zimonjic, who will yet again be an important link in chain for the national team as Serbia take on Spain in the first round of the Davis Cup World Group next year. It was also the second major success for Zimonjic this season after he won the Australian Open mixed doubles title with China’s Sun Tiantian and his third

top-level football longer than anyone might have expected. Hence it came as no surprise when Serbia’s captain Dejan Stankovic bowed to him when he was substituted in the 34th minute after drilling in a volley to give his team a 4-1 lead, much to delight of the meagre 6,000 crowd that turned up on a chilly November evening.

“Every player must end his career at some point in time and when I look back at mine, I will be able to say that I have no regrets and that I really enjoyed it,” Milosevic said. “The match with Bulgaria kind of summed it up, there have been ups and downs along the way but that’s football for you.”

Milosevic (left) embraced by captain Dejan Stankovic before the kick-off

Photo by FoNet

Sport on TV Friday, Nov 21: French Top 14 Rugby Union: Bourgoin v Toulouse (Eurosport 2 at 7 p.m.), Paris v Castres (Eurosport 2 at 9 p.m.); Soccer: Karlsruher v Borussia Dortmund (Sport Klub 8.30 p.m.), Argentinean League match (Sport Klub + 00.15 a.m. Saturday) Saturday, Nov 22: Basketball: NLB Regional League – Olimpija Ljubljana v Partizan Belgrade (FOX Serbia 4.00 p.m.); Handball: Hamburg v Red Star Belgrade (RTS 2 at 3.40 p.m.), Zagreb v Pick Szeged (HRT 2 at 5.40 p.m.); Soccer: Cologne v Hoffenheim (Sport Klub 3.30 p.m.), Wolfsburg v Stuttgart (Sport Klub + 3.30 p.m.), Manchester City v Arsenal (RTS 2 at 4.00 p.m.), Nottingham Forest v Ipswich Town (Sport Klub 6.20 p.m.), Bordeaux v Rennes (Sport Klub + 7 p.m.), Real Madrid v Recreativo Huelva (FOX Serbia 8.00 p.m.), Inter Milan v Juventus (Avala 8.30 p.m.), PSG v Lyon (Sport Klub 9.00 p.m.), Argentinean League match (Sport Klub + 9.10 p.m.).

Sunday, Nov 23: Basketball: NLB Regional League: Red Star Belgrade v Helios Domzale (FOX Serbia 12.00 a.m.); NFL: Miami Dolphins v New England Patriots (Sport Klub 7 p.m.), Atlanta Falcons v Carolina Panthers (Sport Klub 10.15 p.m.); Soccer: AZ Alkmaar v Ajax Amsterdam (Sport Klub 12.30 p.m.), Javor Ivanjica v Red Star Belgrade (RTS 2 at 1.00 p.m.), Lazio v Genoa (Avala and OBN at 3.00 p.m.), Various Italian League matches (Sport Klub 3.00 p.m.), Monaco v Le Mans (Sport Klub 5.00

p.m.), Hamburg v Werder Bremen (Sport Klub + 5.00 p.m.), Sunderland v West Ham (RTS 2 at 5.15 p.m.), Barcelona v Getafe (FOX Serbia at 7 p.m.), Slaven Belupo v Hajduk Split (HRT 2 at 8.10 p.m.), Torino v AC Milan (Avala at 8.30 p.m.), MLS Final (Sport Klub + 9.30 p.m.)

Monday: Nov 24: Soccer: Premier League Highlights (RTS 2 at 8.00 p.m.)

Tuesday, Nov 25: Soccer: Champions League – Zenit ST. Petersburg v Juventus (B 92 at 6.30 p.m.), Arsenal v Dynamo Kiev (HRT 2 at 8.45 p.m.), Fiorentina v Lyon (B 92 at 8.45 p.m. followed by news of the day, highlights at 11.30 p.m. and Villarreal v Manchester United delayed at 01.00 a.m. Wednesday) Wednesday, Nov 26: Basketball: Euroleague – Cibona Zagreb v AIR Avellino (HRT 2 at 6.25 p.m.), Partizan Belgrade v CSKA Moscow (RTS 2 at 8.45 p.m.); Soccer: Champions League – Inter Milan v Panathinaikos (HRT 2 at 8.45 p.m.), Bordeaux v Chelsea (B 92 at 8.45 p.m. followed by news of the day, highlights at 11.30 p.m. and Inter Milan v Panathinaikos delayed at 01.00 a.m. Thursday).

Thursday, 27: Basketball: Euroleague – Check www.sportklub.info and www.euroleague.net for live games.

Note: TV channels reserve the right to change their schedules. HRT 2 scrambles Champions League matches, D 3 digital box required. For further details check www.sbb.co.yu

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Friday, Nov. 21 - Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008

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15

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