CorD Magazine No.21

IMF & SCG: On the Edge

Who’s Afraid of Ceda?

Pirita Sorsa, of the IMF

Cedomir Jovanovic

Israel: Paying for Peace H.E. Yaffa Ben-Ari, November 2005

www.cordmagazine.com

Issue No.21

interviews opinions news comments events

Stumble, You Might Fall

H.E. David Gowan, British Ambassador in Belgrade

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LAST TRAIN TO EUROPE

Bruce P. Jackson, NGO Transitional Democracies Project

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Rather then being a recipient of European advice, we are trying to get Serbia a seat at the tables of the UN, EU and NATO

NO FAST TRACK FOR SERBIA "As Tony Blair said in a message to Serbia & Montenegro, 'it is now up to SCG to make their case for European integration unarguable.'

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WHO'S AFRAID OF ČEDA?

Čedomir Jovanović, leader of the Liberal Democratic Faction within DS, has an ambition to break away and constitute a new party.

The faction is supported by 1.8% of the electorate with a potential to achieve the five per cent quota needed to enter the Serbian Parliament at the next elections

WALKING ON THE EDGE

Church vs. State

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KEY MOVERS

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ARE WE FAITHFUL TO OUR FAITH?

After decades locked behind closed doors, the institution of the church has spent the past ten years making its glamorous comeback in Serbia. But has this resurrection of faith, and the nature it has taken, been to the benefit or the detriment of both believers and atheists alike?

www.cordmagazine.com interviews | opinions | news | comments | events November 2005

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If the Serbian government had kept its promises, and proven itself capable of managing reforms, the sixth revision would have been behind us

CorD | November 2005

General Lieutenant Colonel Ljubiša Jokić, the new SCG Army Chief of Staff

18 Zoran Stanković, Serbia & Montenegro's new Defence Minister

Director: Ana Novcic Isakovic a.novcic@cma.co.yu Editor in Chief: Tanja Jakobi t.jakoibi@cma.co.y Deputy Editor:Mark Pullen m.pullen@cma.co.yu Art & PrePRESS Director: Milena Matovic m.matovic@cma.co.yu Assistant Designer: Marija Popovic m.popovic@cma.co.yu Editorial: Milan Culibrk, Nina Nicovic, Zeljko Jovanovic, Slobodan Vucicevic, Zoran Knezevic, Aleksandra Sekulic-Stojanovic, Photo: Andy Dall, Stanislav Milojkovic FoNet, Tanjug and Beta Translators: Milos Milosavljevic, Dejan Zubac, Dusan Jelic, Milica Kuburu-Jovanovic, Marija Petrovic Subscription: Tanja Bogdanovic t.bogdanovic@cma.co.yu

Zoran Radic, HP general director for SCG

contents 48

ŠEŠELJ'S SOAP OPERA

The appearance of Serbian Radical Party (SRS) president, Vojislav Šešelj, in the dock of the ICTY somewhat irrationally restored a degree of selfrespect to 'ordinary citizens' (the greatest victims of the transition process) who can watch 'ours' again fighting 'the world' in the name of Serbia

SINERGIJA IN A SUIT

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This year's fifth Belgrade Sinergija (Synergy) was not only a lesson in the latest IT trends in business, but also a lesson in how to reconcile differences for the sake of joint interests. HP Serbia & Montenegro general director, Zoran Radić, explains how the company joined forces with rival Microsoft

40 What do you get when you blend the love of beverages, successful privatisation and investment in marketing? You get the beer industry, a branch of the Serbian economy with very bright prospects

WORLD CUP

Some football forces to be reckoned with, such as Spain and the Czech Republic, have been consigned to the play-offs. It appears, however, that all major contenders will reach next year's finals in Germany, where at least six nations will make their World Cup debuts.

86 WHAT'S MEXX?

BREWING SUCCESS

The Mexx philosophy is inspired by free-spirited, positive thinking individuals who are optimistic and open-minded. Quite simply, Mexx is an attitude, a lifestyle

WELCOMING AUTUMN WARMTH Don't let the chill discourage you from venturing beyond your four walls this autumn. Instead, take the opportunity to explore the wintry wonderland that is Serbia, with the help of CorD and the Tourist Organisation of Serbia

General Manager: Ivan Novcic i.novcic@cma.co.yu Project Manager: Anica Divac, a.divac@cma.co.yu, DusanZugic, d.zugic@cma.co.yu Sales Manager: Gordan Zakula g.zakula@cma.co.yu Office Manager: Ivana Petkovic i.petkovic Printing: Politika AD CorD is published by CMA (Consulting & Marketing Agency), Kneginje Zorke 11a, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro.Phone: +(381 11) 30 87 335, 30 87 066, 244 72 70 Facsimile: +(381 11) 2456 564 E-mail: cordeditorial@cma.co.yu ISSN no.: 1451-7833 All rights reserved © CMA 2004/2005

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CorD | November 2005

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Comment

Theatre of Absurdity To tell the truth, the political elite in both entities in B&H still he nature of Bosnia & Herzegovina ten do not show that they have genuinely accepted the essential prinyears after the signing ciples and standards of the modern world and the process of of the Dayton Agreement Euro-Atlantic integration. It has been going on for years, the could be seen recently dur- painstaking integration of institutions which are essential for the ing the World Cup qualifier state to establish all of the attributes which can line the country played between SCG and up among those countries with a European pedigree.

And there are still two state "entities" within the state, with B&H in Belgrade. Bosnian Serbs who travelled to the bureaucratic apparatus which could hardly support countries Serbian capital to attend the much richer than B&H. Indeed, two thirds of B&H's gross nationVelimir Ilić, match opted to support the State al income is spent on financing local administrations in the boreditor of daily Blic Union team instead of their own oughs, the administrations of two entities, civil service apparatus country and, with Bosnian Serbs in 10 cantons in the B&H Federation, plus the joint institutions in among the Serbian & Montenegrin supporters, and Bosnjaks Sarajevo - the bicameral parliament, the Council of Ministers and packed into the visitors' stands, a 'mini repetition of the war' the Presidency, with all of the associated services.

Simultaneously, the reforms through which the internationwhich still hasn't finished in the minds of B&H citizens took al community is attempting to make B&H an efficient state are place in the stadium itself.

There may have been peace in B&H for a decade, but exposed to daily obstacles as the political elite strives to keep as the war is by no means over…and won't be for a long time many privileges as possible.

Seen through the prism of the Dayton Agreement, and highly to come. The war will not end any time soon simply because the heinous crimes committed by both sides over simplified: the Serbs are against amending the Dayton Agreement the course of four bloody years of conflict are deeply root- because they are afraid that they will lose Republika Srpska and ed in the consciousness of the people; the war will not end the majority of the quasi-attributes of the constitutionality of its soon because within the 'federation' the three ethnic 'nations' continue …two thirds of B&H's gross national income is spent on financing their struggle to secure the 'copy- local administrations in the boroughs, the administrations of two right' on the truth regarding their compatriot victims; the war will not entities, civil service apparatus in 10 cantons in the B&H end soon because nobody will suc- Federation, plus the joint institutions in Sarajevo - the bicameral ceed in bringing to universal justice parliament, the Council of Ministers and the Presidency… all the 'minor criminals'; the war will not end soon because although the Dayton Agreement entity. On the other side, the Croats and Bosnjaks consider Dayton succeeded in bringing an end to the mutual slaughtering as the ballast, but their arguments are different. The Croats are disof Bosnjaks, Croats and Serbs, it did not - and still has not satisfied because they have been thrown into a Federation with - come close to curbing the mutual hatred and establish- the Bosnjaks and, thus, are increasingly more openly struggling ing a genuine political, democratic and open balance for the establishment of a third, ethnically-Croat entity. Dayton does not suit the Bosnjaks, who are the majority, because they between the respective 'nations'.

So, what has the decade of 'Dayton peace' brought to want a state with as many centralised functions as possible.

Nevertheless, the situation is progressing… albeit slowly.

Bosnia? Today's Bosnia & Herzegovina is a national-political theatre of absurdity. Fifteen years ago the most aggressive The leading parliamentary parties of both entities have admitted nationalistic political parties - SDS, SDA and HDZ became coali- that the semi-clandestine negotiations regarding amendments to tion partners in the circus which will not be able to operate for the B&H Constitution have been going on for months. But for the a long time without a professional lion tamer - referred to inter- time being there is only concord on the dialogue.

On the other side, citizens who are not forced to express their nationally as the 'high representative'. In other words, B&H is a country of imposed democracy, the war orphan of Franjo loyalty to the High Commissioner - as is expected from the politiTudjman and Slobodan Milosevic's unachieved hegemony; cal elite - still haven't managed to break free from the claws of nationalism. Because of that, talks about the establishment of the B&H is a state of guardianship.

How else can one describe a country in which the High values of a civil society and the feeling of belonging to one state Commissioner has such wide authority as to be able to place will be timid and will last for a long time in B&H. To those who still did not understand the post-war B&H, the himself above the voters' electoral will and parliamentary procedure, to impose or change laws by decree, to revoke the edifying example could be the recent SCG vs. B&H football decisions made by legal institutions, to dismiss elected offi- mach. The frenetic support given to the SCG national team by cials…? The rationale is always very simple - the High supporters from Republika Srpska - similar to the now traditionCommissioner is the authorised guardian of Dayton and the al support given to the Croatian national team by Bosnian Croats owner of the political umbrella with which he protects the cru- - serves to further illustrate the political analyst's metaphor that "B&H is needed only by the Bosnjaks".• cial regulations of this peace treaty.

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Interview

The Serbia & Montenegro State Union made its next step along the road to European integration on 10th October when EU Stabilisation and Association (SAA) negotiations commenced. Speaking to CorD this month, British Ambassador in Belgrade, H.E. David Gowan, praised Serbia & Montenegro for taking relations with all EU countries very seriously. But membership of the European Union is about meeting standards. Nothing can bypass that requirement.

H.E. David Gowan, British Ambassador in Belgrade

By Mark Pullen; Photo: Mile Bunić

PROGRESS IN SCG'S HANDS Has Karadžić now become the responsibility of mbassador Gowan spoke to CorD about the EU Presidency, which the UK currently holds, internal EU relations and the the Serbia & Montenegro leadership, as opposed to Euro-Atlantic integration aspirations of Serbia & Bosnia & Herzegovina?

Serbia & Montenegro does indeed carry responsibiliMontenegro and the other countries of the Western Balkans.

Addressing potential SCG accession dates, Ambassador Gowan ty for Karadžić as well as Mladić. There is nothing new said that while Deputy PM Miroljub Labus speaks in terms of 2012, in this. Full co-operation will also be needed from Bosnia "the answer comes back to how quickly Serbia & Montenegro can take and Herzegovina. And there are many other requireon the tasks, introduce new legislation, interact with the Commission, ments that need to be met before a SAA can be completand meet the Copenhagen Criteria…" "the determination from us, the UK, and the EU to continue "As Tony Blair said in a message to Serbia & Montenegro, which was read out with enlargement is certainly there, but equally the onus will during the conference held a few weeks ago be upon the candidate countries to meet the conditions." by the Belgrade Fund of Political Excellence's Sonja Licht and Ivan Vejvoda: 'it is now up to ed. These will involve a great deal of hard work in all Serbia & Montenegro to make their case for European integra- areas of government. This will include adjusting legislation unarguable.' The onus does indeed lie with the applicant tion to make it completely compatible with the EU in, for countries to fulfil the conditions contained in the Copenhagen example, trade policy, justice and home affairs, educaCriteria. Full co-operation with ICTY - and that means finding tion policy, environment policy… The EU embraces a Mladić and Karadžić and transferring them to The Hague - is very wide range of fields, and the ability to adopt the acquis will affect nearly every area of government. obviously one of the key conditions that have to be met."

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CorD | November 2005

The date of SCG’s accession “lies in the hands of the government” In other words, the determination of the UK and the EU to continue with enlargement is strong. But the onus to meet the conditions of membership rests with the new candidate countries.

Professor Labus talks in terms of 2012. He has a flow-chart which looks at all of the issues, and all of the bridges that need to be crossed. The answer comes back to how quickly Serbia & Montenegro (assuming that the State Union will remain) can implement these tasks, introduce the new legislation and interact with the Commission. The next test will be how quickly it can complete the work leading to the SAA.

Do you think the Serbian Government could be accused of being publicly aloof?

Not at all. If you are asking, "Is Belgrade trying to ensure that the Serbian public under"…when both Serbia and Croatia are in the European stands what EU membership will comprise and what the essential 'condi- Union you won't notice when you're crossing the tions' are?", the answer is definitely border. It will be as invisible as the borders between yes. The Government is working hard Belgium, France and Germany." in this field, and is being very commuI cannot predict whether or not membership can nicative in trying to put its message over.

It is encouraging that opinion polls show that be achieved by 2012. It would be ver y difficult to a ver y high propor tion of the public is in favour move faster than that, and it may take longer. The answer will lie in the hands of the Government, of EU membership.

Within the Serbian political scene there are elements, Parliaments and the electorate, and the commitnot least the Radicals, that are opposed to the standards ment that they're prepared to make in order to of the EU - and that will probably be opposed to member- make the necessar y changes…

Fast-tracked? I don't think so. Essentially, there is ship. But I think the Government is working hard to make sure that there is wide understanding of the real no short cut.

I should also like to return to the issue of full co-opernature of membership, what this implies, and what the ation with the ICTY. As soon as this is achieved (and I very benefits and the obligations will be. much hope that this will happen soon) it will be very Provided that Serbia & Montenegro can rem- much welcomed by the international community, both in edy the problems of ICT Y co-operation, Kosovo the EU and beyond.

Mladić and Karadžić have been charged with some of the and Montenegro's st atus, and achieving the required st andards, could the countr y be fast- gravest crimes committed in the second half of the 20th centutracked into the EU; what's a realistic date for ry, including responsibility for Srebrenica. When they are sent to The Hague, they will be tried in accordance with the highthe countr y's accession?

CorD | November 2005

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Interview

UK-Led EU The UK's presidency of the EU has been heavily criticised, and the B r i t i s h G ove rn m e n t h a s eve n b e e n accused of being lazy and ineffectual.

How would you respond to such criticisms; and do you think the six-month, single-country presidential term is too short to really effect change?

“I reject the criticism outright! I have already drawn attention to areas where we have made a lot of progress. We are pressing on with a lot of other work.

“During our Presidency we set ourselves three tasks. One has been starting the talks with Turkey, and the meeting on 3 rd October of the General Affairs Council produced a result that was a great success. We hope to make progress on future financing …and the future of Europe is going to be addressed very shortly in an informal meeting of Heads of Government at Hampton Cour t. On the question of whether the current system of individual country presidencies of six-month periods is right or whether there should be a change, that is something which has been looked at in the draft constitution and to which I imagine the European Union may return to again.

“Par t of the job of the Presidency is to take for war d a lot of exis ting por tfolios…and the success of the Presidency is always going to par tly be judged on to what extent a wide range of areas of work are taken for war d.

“Six months, as you say, is a short period of time. I think that the EU has achieved a lot with the present structure of presidencies… There are advantages under the present system, but with a much larger European Union perhaps that's a question that it does make sense to return to.

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CorD | November 2005

est standards of justice. The transfer of Mladić and Karadžić will undoubtedly trigger a great deal of good will and support for Serbia & Montenegro…

Everybody agrees that the future of the Western Balkans lies in the European Union, and everybody agrees that the achieving of requirements and standards is key to realising that goal. But, with Austria backing Croatia and the UK backing Turkey, has it become more important to have a 'big brother' within the European Union to champion your accession?

There have always been particular links between countries in any region. Take, for example, Finland, where I

A good friend can help a country make progress worked in the late ‘90s. Finland had a particularly close relationship, for historic, linguistic and cultural reasons, with Estonia. She also took an interest in Latvia and Lithuania as her neighbours.

But the key issue for any candidate in moving towards membership is going to be the ability to meet standards. Nothing can by-pass that requirement. However, I think it is quite natural, given the way that the European Union has developed, that there will always be particular links and ties between some countries and others...

Each new member is going to bring its own particular perspective to the EU:- a set of interests that may be geographical, cultural or economic. There are going to be ties between existing and prospective members. I see this as being natural and positive. A good friend that has gone through a similar transition can help an individual country to make progress to meet the Standards and requirements of the EU. For instance, Serbia & Montenegro has a very good relationship with the Slovak Republic. But this is not exclusive in any way.

Interview The key issue will be the relationship between the candidate country and the European Union as a whole, all its members and the Commission. But the crucial requirement has to be meeting standards - the Copenhagen Criteria and understanding what the EU is about. Doing this is not simply a question of ensuring there is understanding among ministers, ministries and the political elite. It is also very important to make sure that understanding is more broadly shared‌the work Professor Labus is doing on his programme 'Europe knocking at your door' is very worthwhile because it involves explaining to people, whether they're in Pirot, Novi Pazar, Zrenjanin or Sombor, what EU membership is about and why it will be of benefit and importance to the future of all the population.

CorD: Do you think that the UK has a problem within the EU because of its specific defence relationship with the U.S.?

Ambassador Gowan: "There are different perspectives and there will be different approaches between individual EU members. But you haven't mentioned NATO, and most EU members are members of NATO. "It is easy to look at the differences in perspectives and policies when they arise, but one should also look at what has been achieved through NATO, and the security that that it has provided. Also look at the European Union, where we are developing very important peace-keeping capabilities‌ "From the UK's point of view, we are both very firm members of both the EU and NATO. We were one of the architects of the development of the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy.

We can rightly take credit as one of the countries which has been most active in moving forward the EU's capabilities in this field."

The Western Balkans is rather rushing towards the EU and seeing the Union as a remedy to internal problems. They have yet to reconcile the differences that led to the wars, while Bosnia & Herzegovina and Serbia & Montenegro have unclear, 'temporary' power structures. Do you think that maybe they should concentrate on sorting out their local affairs and then go towards the EU? The two things go hand-in-hand.

Life is not sequential and, indeed, there can often be a synergy. Clearly, an obligation to constructive, good neighbourly relations is an integral part of moving towards the European Union, which is after all a union in which the barriers between member countries are minimal. I have often pointed out that when both Serbia and Croatia are in the European Union travellers will not notice when they are crossing the border. It will be as invisible as the borders between Belgium, France and Germany.

But the answer is that the candidate countries should work on meeting the Copenhagen Criteria and improving their relations with neighbours simultaneously.

Can I say in passing that the British Government is very glad that the question of police reform has been resolved in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This now opens the way for Bosnia to move towards an SAA. The prospect of EU membership has a constructive, positive effect in terms of binding all the countries of the Western Balkans together.

Do you think that Kosovo could perhaps become a EU protectorate in time?

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CorD | November 2005

You are jumping ahead too far in that question. We are now at the stage where Kai Eide's report is completed. The UN Secretary General has recommended that future status talks should go ahead and will probably soon announce the appointment of a status envoy for Kosovo. The Contact Group, of which we are a member, is continuing to play a key role. I do not wish to use words like 'protectorate', as that would prejudge questions about status.

But what is certain is that the European Union will remain very committed to Kosovo.

18 months on, how would you assess the accessions of the 10 new members; and how would you characterise relations between the newcomers and some of the larger, more established countries of the EU, which sometimes appear to be promoting a two-tier Europe?

The new members have adapted and are making a very active contribution. Their entry has certainly changed the shape and chemistry of the European Union, and it will take some time to see how this process works through. The United Kingdom was very supportive of this latest wave of enlargement in 2004, and remains committed to future enlargement.

Taking into account the accessions of the last year and the negative referendums in France and the Netherlands, do you think the EU is suffering from expansion fatigue?

It is difficult to judge that. First of all, the EU clearly remains committed to further enlargement. To illustrate this I go back to the European Council in June, which reaffirmed the Thessaloniki commitment that the future of the Western Balkans is within the European Union. Negotiations with Turkey are about to be started and Romania and Bulgaria will join in 2007.

All this speaks for itself.

I think, though, that if there is a change, it is that while the standards and fundamental conditions of membership remain unchanged (and these are very firmly linked to the Copenhagen Criteria), the enlarged European Union will require complete fulfilment of those standards. There is agreement that all countries aspiring to join the EU must meet the standards of the EU in full. •

Interview Rather then being a recipient of European advice, we are trying to get Serbia a seat at the tables of the UN, EU and NATO, in order for the country to be able to make decisions on security and policies that are made in Brussels. But Serbia has to do deliver a lot, because the West won't wait forever

By Tanja Jakobi; Photo: Andy Dall

LAST TRAIN TO EUROPE he West has been waiting for Serbia more than for any other country in the past few years. The notion that no one waits forever should cause a storm in Belgrade this winter. This is the essence of the concluding sentence of the article of Bruce P. Jackson, President of the Transitional Democracies Project, published at the end of September in Serbia's main national daily Politika.

Little has changed on the Serbian political scene in the last month. At the beginning of October, Serbia felt a sudden, warm (albeit short) breath of fresh air, when the EU agreed to initiate Stabilisation and Association talks with SCG; while ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte left Belgrade half convinced that Hague Tribunal indictees Ratko Mladić and Radovan Karadžić would be extradited.

The warm breeze was closely followed by a chilling wind, when Nicholas Burns, U.S. undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, left Belgrade clearly stating his disappointment with regard to Mladić and Karadžić's status, and announced that negotiations about Kosovo should start in November and December. Burns added that he hopes Serbia will be able to face current challenges, regain an important role in Europe and further develop its relationship with the U.S. Burns' speech echoed much of what Jackson said in a short interview for CorD. Jackson, introduced to the Belgrade public as the head of the international NGO supporting Serbia & Montenegro's membership aspirations of NATO and the EU, and a powerful White House lobbyist, was a guest of the Belgrade-based Balkan Trust for Democracy/German Marshall Fund of the United States.

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CorD | November 2005

Bruce P . J ackson, P resident o f N GO Transitional D emocracies P roject

In the article published by Politika, Jackson harshly criticised Serbia's "political class" for failing to bring prosperity to its citizens; described the SCG Army and the Serbian highend business class as being exploitative, involved in corruption and cynical criminals. Furthermore, he concluded that, due to disappointments fuelled by the failures of democratic changes, Serbian citizens were again becoming obsessed with past historical events, which, according to Jackson, has an almost "psychiatric" dimension.

Jackson said that wherever he works he uses the tactic of harshly criticising as a method of support. "I published articles in Poland's Politika almost every three months from 1995 to 1999," he said.

Jackson has employed the same methods in Ukraine and Albania.

These articles are a tactic akin to a coach's approach to his team: "Unless you shout when the team plays badly, they don't play better. In addition, as an NGO we have to maintain pressure on the government to continue with reforms. It is constructive criticism coming from civil society and it is the greatest motor to better governance that you can provide," said Jackson. "We look for open critiques and open discussion. It is a democratic tradition: France criticises the U.S. and the U.S. criticises France.

This is how the EU and U.S. democracies communicate. Are you suggesting that we should suppress our feelings?"

CorD asked whether the 1999 NATO bombing campaign - still fresh in local memories - makes it possible for a message coming from an American to lose credibility in the eyes of the Serbian pub-

Interview lic. Jackson said that he expects certain reactions to his article. "If there are certain words that you don't want to hear and certain ideas that you are uncomfortable with, then we need to have a little sanatorium in the Balkans for Serbia. However, this is the language of Europe and discussions in Brussels. [In that article] I was merely reflecting on what has been said about Serbia on a daily basis in Washington in Congress, in Paris and in Brussels".

However, if France criticises the U.S. and the U.S. criticises France, this can affect the policies of both countries. Whereas the widespread belief here is that if Serbia criticises anybody or attempts to express points on certain political issues, such as Kosovo, there is no affect whatsoever.

"How do you know? We haven't really tried that yet, have we?" said Jackson. "If Serbia is criticised, shouldn't Serbia have an equal place at the table? That is exactly what we are working towards. Rather than Serbia being merely a recipient of

"I agree that the international community bears considerable responsibility for the ridiculous constitutions and dysfunctional federalisms that have been imposed on this region. However, I guess that the international community will say that after four wars started by Mr. Milošević, that was the only thing we could have done in the emergency room," European advice, we are trying to get Serbia a seat at the tables of the UN, EU and NATO, so that they can make decisions on security and the policies that are made in Brussels."

Returning to his remark about the coach and the team, Jackson gave credits both to Serbian PM Vojislav Koštunica and Serbian President Boris Tadić, but also noted his frustrations. "Until recently they were doing great. However, what frustrates me is that they didn't show up at the UN meeting, due to an internal crisis. Not showing up is not good and Serbia tends to have an excessive preoccupation with its internal problems and its own victimology; the notion that Serbia is a victim of the world and that life was horribly unfair to you," said Jackson. "I've been in Ukraine and in several other countries, and life was also unfair to many of the people in that part of the world. Other people got over it and started to move along their historical path to a stronger and more united Europe. Serbia didn't. We believe that Serbia has to be a part of Europe and that is why we are so frustrated that things are not going as well. Belarus is in [NATO's] Partnership for Peace, but Serbia isn't. This is a little unfair and we think that we should fix it."

Jackson admitted that not all of the solutions the international community made in the former Yugoslavia, especially Bosnia, Kosovo and the current constitutional solution for Serbia & Montenegro, were always the most desirable ones. "I agree that the international community bears considerable responsibility for the ridiculous constitutions and dysfunctional federalisms that have been imposed on this region. However, I guess that the international community will say that after four wars started by Mr. Milosevic, that was the only thing we could have done in the emergency room," says Jackson. "But that was ten years ago, and now we should return to normal politics."

Jackson, who has been coming to Serbia for a year now, is unhappy with the fact that the press and the public rather like to reflect on past issues than on the future. "If you go up to Poland or the Baltic region, they tend to talk about next years' issues; those that will impact on their children and grandchildren: future jobs, future prosperity. It is still surprising to Americans to hear that these issues, which are dealing with the past - past grievances and injus-

Once t his p eriod o f h istory i s o ver, i t c annot b e r ecovered

tices - are 100 per cent of the conversation in Belgrade," says CorD's interlocutor. "I am deeply worried that Serbia is about to miss the last exit to Europe. Once this period of history is over, it cannot be recovered. Europe will be preoccupied with something else and America will turn to some other issues. Life will go on. At the end of the day, Serbia - which was one of the most successful countries in Eastern Europe in, say, 1985 - might end up as a country that is no longer meaningfully a part of Europe."•

Ukrainian a nd S erbian g rievances

"On the question of national character, most Americans who give it a thought think that all Slavic people indulge in an excessive amount of political fatalism, which in our country is regarded as something akin to self-pity.

But Ukraine seems to have a special, private cellar of self-doubt and pessimism. …

By contrast, the grievances of Serbia are understandable, even if they are not forgivable. Belgrade has had a role in starting many of the European wars of the 20th century and has repeatedly paid for it by being destroyed by the Great Powers in the opening days of each conflict. When a student at Belgrade University describes the isolation of Serbian youth from Europe, which persists to this day, and the litany of injustices done to the Serbian people, it is difficult for even the most cold-hearted not to think that life has been unfair to this family of the Southern Slavs." - excerpt from Jackson's article "Post Revolutionary Disillusionment," published in DEN (Ukraine) in September 2005) CorD | November 2005

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Politics

WHO'S AFRAID OF CEDA?

By Ivica Petrović; Photo: Stanislav Milojković

Čeda’s LDF could achieve the required 5%

Expected to top the agenda of the Democratic Party's regular congress in February 2006 is a confrontation with affinities towards the political vision of Čedomir Jovanović, leader of the Liberal Democratic Faction within DS, whose apparent ambition is to break away and constitute a new party. The faction is supported by 1.8% of the electorate with a potential to achieve the five per cent quota needed to enter the Serbian Parliament at the next elections

addiction to hard drugs, as well as due to a chain of mistakes political dead man walking may be a somewhat grim he made in both his political and personal life. On the other depiction of a politician who is only 34 years of age, but this is how Čedomir Jovanović's political rivals see him. hand, people who share his political ideals explain that Jovanović's low political rating was due to an unprecedented "So young and already a pensioner in politics", some add. smear campaign against him and a lot of people who support The situation was not so dire for Čedomir Jovanović just a couple of years ago, however. His meteoric rise from the leader of student demonstrations in the mid- Some say that Jovanović met his political doom because of 90s to Deputy Prime Minister of the Serbian dealings with the underworld and his addiction to hard Government and one of late Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić's closest associates promised an drugs. Those who share his political ideals explain that entirely different career path. What may be hard- Jovanović's low political rating is due to an unprecedented est to explain is how Jovanović ended up in his current situation, devoid of any real influence on smear campaign against him… the Serbian political scene, figuring only as the leader of the him. Jovanović's key problem is that he was not forgiven for Liberal Democratic Faction of the Democratic Party. being the one who practically arrested Slobodan Milošević Explanations vary and depend on the political profile of prior to his extradition to the Hague Tribunal. your collocutor. His rivals will say that Jovanović met his If one took a step back from the context of everyday politics in political doom because of links with the underworld and his which these two camps dwell and asked why someone who is

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Politics accused of a serious breach of the law is not held accountable for his actions, the answer could be that all sides find it very convenient to have Jovanović's case remain a mystery. As leader of the Liberal Democratic Faction, Jovanovic has mounted a serious challenge to the authority of DS leader and President of Serbia Boris Tadić.

Factions are not a desirable occurrence in Serbian politics and Tadic is exerting great effort to diminish Jovanović's influence on his party.

DS faces a regular party congress in February 2006. At the top of the agenda we should expect a confrontation with affinities towards the political vision of Jovanovic and the task would be made much easier for Tadić if his rival was burdened with links to organised crime.

On the other hand, Serbian Prime Minister and DSS leader Vojislav Koštunica does not want to make things easier for Boris Tadić, who is his main rival within the democratic bloc. Jovanović's portrait in the media as a close associate of assassins and criminals from Milošević's era is a perfect ball and chain dangling from the neck of the main rival in opposition. If there was to be an institutional unravelling of Jovanović's dubious past, either by exercising some legal consequences or by some kind of judicial or political rehabilitation, all sides would lose their usual suspect and no one wants to let go of a convenient political instrument in the shape of a culpable Čedomir Jovanović.

For precisely this reason there is a strategy to remind the public at regular intervals of all of Jovanović's real or imagined transgressions and announce his prompt arrest. "Čeda behind Bars Soon", "Jovanović to be Arrested within the Next Few Days", "Čeda Facing Arrest", are some media headlines that aim to immobilise Jovanović in politics and to remind the public what the political leaders of the Democratic Opposition of Serbia were like thieves and criminal associates, that is.

Only, the uncertainty over Jovanović's real or imagined sins has lasted for too long and the first cracks have started to appear.

The media let Jovanović be after he took the polygraph test in mid2004 in relation to the unsolved murder of former state security agent Momir Gavrilović and, unlike former Justice Minister Vladan Batić, passed it.

However, as the political ambitions of his faction grew, the same accusations again became a focus of the media. At this point Jovanović realised that he had little chance of marketing his political ideas as a fac-

Jovanović could muster support among the electorate within the 18-40 age bracket, the biggest abstainer at the elections. This population of voters is also disenchanted with the cohabitation politics between DS and DSS. tion and, accordingly, LDF is presently on the verge of becoming a political party. But even with the status of a faction within a political party, which is quite confusing and unintelligible to most voters in Serbia, the results of public opinion polls conducted by Belgrade-based public surveying agency Strategic Marketing show that LDF can count on the support of 1.8% of the electorate. Not much, one could say, but achieved without the distinct status of a political party with a complete infrastructure and a media campaign to follow. If LDF was to clearly define itself as an independent political organisation and embark upon a serious political campaign, the five per cent of the electoral pie needed to enter Parliament may not be beyond their grasp after all. The question is who would finance such a campaign and give it media representation? The dilemma is not without substance, because when a group of 33 Serbian intellectuals issued a proclamation for new political action in early October this year, which was actually an act of public support to Jovanović, only a few media outlets gave it attention. Among the media that failed to mention the announcement were some liberal media that many consider as being Jovanović's silent supporters.

Some examples of overcoming a negative reputation from the recent past could encourage Jovanović, though. This firstly refers to

Jovanović targeting DS voters politician Bogoljub Karić, by all means one of the most despised figures from the era of Milošević's reign. Nevertheless, he managed to walk the distance from a person whom most Serbs would have liked to see in jail to the third-ranked force on the political scene. He did have the backing of his own TV station and his own considerable wealth, but one should not underrate the common voter's desire to forgive the sins of the past. The significance of novelty on the political scene has to be viewed with certain things in mind. Serbian voters are simply desperate for something "new" in Serbian politics, clearly discontented with a compromised offer on the current political menu.

If they prepare themselves well, LDF could be perceived as part of a new political offer at the next elections. G17 Plus was successful in similar fashion as a new political grouping that was in contention for the first time at the previous parliamentary elections, scooping up a good portion of disenchanted DS voters. Čedomir Jovanović is, naturally, targeting the voting body of the Democratic Party among others, and this is one of the reasons why the potential victim (DS) is getting nervous. Their supporters increasingly describe their actions as feeble and passive and feel that DS leader Boris Tadić has become too entangled in the policy of cohabitation with PM Vojislav Koštunica (DSS). In place of an unconvincing Tadić, DS voters are likely to envision Čedomir Jovanović as the successor of late Prime Minister Đinđic's energy and political vision. This kind of energy and attitude finds positive responses among the electorate, especially its younger members. Some estimates say that precisely this part of the population was the largest abstainer at the elections, hence Jovanović could find a gold mine of support in the 18-40s age group. Regardless of rebellious youthful support, LDF and Čedomir Jovanović will have to offer more than discontent and revolutionary fervour, because they will have to co-operate with some force or the other on the Serbian political scene, whatever outcome the elections produce. • CorD | November 2005

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POLITICS - KEY MOVERS

CHIEF OF WHOSE ARMY? General - Lieutenant Colonel Ljubiša Jokić, the new SCG Army Chief of Staff, will have to wait for the referendum in Montenegro before he knows which territory he is protecting. As military personnel supplied to the State Union by Montenegro, Jokić could have an important role in guaranteeing that there will not be any forcible interference in the political process of defining the scope and resources of national security.

By Saša Radić; Photo Tanjug

he Montenegrin Government supports a very short list of SCG Army generals and one name that dominates the list is that of 47-year-old Ljubiša Jokić, who has, in just three short years, propelled himself from the anonymity of a military professional assigned to tactical duties to the first General - Lieutenant Colonel man of the state union's Ljubiša Jokić armed forces.

Until his promotion to the higher echelons of the military leadership, Jokić was posted at the military airport Golubovci near the Montenegrin capital Podgorica, where he had served since grade four of military school. He was trained to pilot interceptor/bomber aircraft in the 172nd regiment (now brigade) in which he served as First Officer.

Jokić's career path took the usual route of a military pilot - he advanced from the rank of a pilot trainer, through air force squadron commander to the commander of the 172nd brigade. He took over the duties of brigade commander in September 1999, when his unit assumed normal duties after repairing the damage inflicted upon Golubovci Airport by NATO fighter planes and cruise missiles.

There was a peculiar affair at about that time in his unit in which a group of pilots were suspected of mutiny against the high command in Belgrade because they openly talked about disobeying orders in case they were told to operate on Montenegrin territory.

Jokić was reserved regarding both the affair and the pilots who were punished by the high command. At the height of the crisis between Belgrade and Podgorica in December 1999, when a confrontation between military forces stationed in Golubovci and special units of the Montenegrin police force was avoided by a hair's breadth, Jokić once more stood aside. The radical element in the military on that occasion was Luka Kastratović, then commander of the 423rd Air Force Base assigned to provide logistics and secure the airport in Golubovci.

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Soon after the political changes in Serbia, Kastratović was blacklisted by Montenegrin authorities, while, among senior officers, Jokić acquired a reputation as a man that was supported by the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists. Jokić was appointed to Kastratović's former post in December 2002. A base commander post was not one that was likely to rapidly promote him to the rank of general, but the founding of the State Union of Serbia & Montenegro brought new rules - the authorities in Montenegro now had an opportunity to realise their ambitions with the new model of personnel distribution that emphasised a balance between the two state union members.

With the support of DPS, Jokić was promoted to the position of First Secretary of the SCG Army High Command. He, thus, entered the zone of decision-makers regarding the fate of armed forces in Serbia & Montenegro, as well as becoming a key figure in this context through his influence on the President of the SCG Army High Command, and SCG President, Svetozar Marović.

Following a decision of the High Command on 2nd April 2004, Jokić gained the title of General - Lieutenant Colonel.

Jokić then emerged victorious in a face-off with General Slobodan Kosovac, who had amassed a lot of power in the process of planning the reforms of the SCG Army. In March 2005, Kosovac retired and moved to the post of Executive Director of the Defence Ministry as a civilian. He soon fell into disfavour with the authorities and was relieved of his duties by the Council of Ministers on 15th September.

Jokić first assumed Kosovac’s duties as Head of the Sector for Human Resources that oversaw the organising of military forces, personnel policy, conscription, regular military training and education. At the request of the Montenegrin Government, on 6th October 2005 the High Command preliminarily appointed Jokić to the post of SCG Army Chief of Staff and awarded him with a second general's star.

Jokić is now at the helm of an armed force without a clear vision of the future. He will have to wait for the plebiscite in Montenegro before he knows which territory he is protecting.

Only then will we know whether Jokić's assignment will be to lead the Army of Serbia & Montenegro into true reforms or pave the way towards its peaceful dissolution into two separate and independent armed forces. As military personnel supplied to the State Union by Montenegro, Jokić could have an important role in guaranteeing that there will not be any forcible interference in the political process of defining the scope and resources of national security.•

POLITICS - KEY MOVERS

Retired General-Major Zoran Stanković

LIMITED MANDATE

By Saša Radić; Photo: Miroslav Dragojević

Retired General-Major Zoran Stanković, who has become Serbia & Montenegro's new Defence Minister, will find curbing corruption within the army one of his two crucial assignments. Stanković hasn't got much room to operate because the Montenegrins are likely to take advantage of their powers within the army structure to minimize the effects of his expected inquiry into the Montenegrin politicians' involvement in doing business with military equipment producer Mile Dragić. ollowing the resignation of Prvoslav Davinić, the ruling parties in Serbia came forward with Zoran Stanković, a 51-yearold forensics expert and retired army General, as their candidate for the new Defence Minister. According to a number of media publications released in Belgrade, Stanković is expected to help bring Ratko Mladić to the International war crimes Tribunal in The Hague, although the two are bonded by friendship.

Stanković spent most of his career at Belgrade's Military Medical Academy (VMA) as a forensics expert.

During the conflict in the former Yugoslavia, Stanković was in charge of performing autopsies on combat victims, especially those suspected of being victims of war crimes.

Stanković often performed his duties on the battlefronts, close to the confrontation lines in Croatia's eastern Slavonia region and in eastern Bosnia. The nature of Stanković's job inevitably brought him close to the army's secret service, various warlords and General Ratko Mladić, the Bosnian Serb wartime army commander sought by The Hague Tribunal. Mladić allegedly often asked Stanković for favours at the VMA and the fact that the army hospital was the last location Mladić was seen several years ago adds weight to this assumption.

Stanković was often seen with the media during the war years and made a good impression in promoting himself as a top-level expert without any political affiliations. He was promoted to the rank of General-Major at a Supreme Defence Council session in June 2001, although he was a Colonel as the head of the VMA’s Institute of Judicial Medicine.

After the dismissal of Momčilo Krgović and Aleksandar Jovićić (Generals believed to be close to the so-called 'pharmacological mafia) Stankovic became the VMA's head on 15th January 2002. In his new capacity, Stanković showed he was determined to curb corruption at the VMA, particularly the practice thorugh which corruption ringleaders were making huge profits by reselling medicine and equipment that the VMA was able to acquire at heavily subsidized prices. Stanković allegedly received

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death threats over the matter and, accordingly, an anti-terrorist army squadron was assigned to protect him.

Stanković was appointed as an advisor to the National Council for Co-operation with the ICTY, as well as head of the VMA's Institute of Judicial Medicine. These impressive titles, however, turned out to be a smoke screen for the operation of removing him from the position of chief of the VMA. In his address to the media, Stanković qualified his dismissal as victory for the pharmacological mafia within the army. He quickly announced his retirement from the army.

The ruling coalition has placed curbing corruption within the army at the top of the list of priorities of Stanković's mandate as the federal Defence Minister. However, Stanković will have very little room to operate as the Montenegrin authorities are unlikely to relinquish their grip on the armed forces in the coastal republic that has vowed to hold a referendum on independence.

The Montenegrins will surely use their dominant position in the Supreme Defence Council and the Chief of General Staff post to minimize the effects of Stanković's likely inquiry into the involvement of Montenegrin politicians in doing business with military equipment manufacturer Mile Dragić.

The task of co-operation with the ICTY has come down to the Dragić case, where Stanković faces a personal conflict of interest between his friendship with Ratko Mladić and the task of having to pursue his extradition to the international war crimes tribunal, a course of action that would surely see him at loggerheads with conservative nationalists. Radical Party officials have already threatened to go public with evidence they say links Stanković to organised crime, as the new defence minister had been under investigation for his ties to powerful underworld boss Andrija Drašković.

Stanković will probably be the last defence minister with a mandate vested in him by the Serbia & Montenegro state union. He is looking at a six-month term in office with both Belgrade and Podgorica expecting him to merely maintain the status quo and put an end to army-related public scandals. •

Interview

H.E. Y affa B en-A A ri, A mbassador o f I srael t o S CG

PAYING FOR PEACE

By Mark Pullen; Photo by Andy Dall

The total cost of this summer's disengagement of Israel from Gaza equated to $2.3billion, says Yaffa Ben-Ari. "The great risk of the withdrawal from Gaza is that it can be interpreted as a great achievement by terrorists. Indeed, it was declared as such

by Hamas. They have taken the credit and declared that, through their policy of terrorism, they have achieved the withdrawal of Israel, which is not true.

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he disengagement wasn’t done because of the fear of terrorism, but to deal with it from a different angle and challenge the Palestinian Authority to do the job that we have been doing - says Israeli Ambassador in Belgrade, Yaffa Ben-Ari, speaking for this month's issue of CorD.

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The withdrawals from Gaza were highly publicised, internationally praised, problematic, but ultimately successful. How would you gauge Israeli public opinion following the withdrawals?

The whole decision-making and implementation process was democratically done, with the full presence of the media.

So, everyone could see what was involved and how tough a decision it was to take and implement. And it was through a very legitimate debate made in the face of protests...you saw thousands of people out there in the streets prior to the implementation, contesting the decision, trying to cancel it by vocally expressing themselves, but in the end it was a democratic decision taken by both the government and parliament. I think, internally speaking, it was one of the great tests for democracy that passed so peacefully.

Interview There were serious fears that there could be major civil unrest leading to violence…

Of course. You could have seen how greatly justified was the praise given internally to all the police and army forces that were prepared for the implementation of this engagement for months. They were properly prepared, even with psychological training on how to deal with this internal trauma. Imagine that we had to uproot 8,000 people with a majority of children and young; take them out of their homes after four decades of living there and developing their livelihoods. It's even harder for agricultural businesses, farms - when they've invested in, and made such strong mental connections to, the land.

To uproot such a population is like uprooting an old tree.

It's an extremely dramatic action and a very traumatic moment in their lives, as it was an extremely dramatic moment in the lives of Israelis as a nation.

In a way it was a breakthrough with a concept. We never annexed the territories. Let me remind everybody that this territory happened to be in our possession thanks to the war that was waged against us back in 1967. So, in yet another war of defence we happened to move into those territories, mainly for security purposes, but later on because of the ideology. If it's not so precise in Gaza, it's much more emphasised in the West Bank, in Judea and Samaria, because these territories are the biblical lands of the Jewish people, the sons of Israel.

Therefore, to make such a massive u-turn following layer after layer of development [from the historic past and] now in the past 38 years, and to unilaterally disengage in order to give a great chance for peace was, I think, a very difficult decision… it also showed how mature we are, how optimistic we are in our wish for peace and how willing we are to pay the price for that; to take such a decision that is very costly for the people.

Where are these people being resettled?

Some of them are nearby in the area of Ashkelon in Israel proper, which is considered to be the 'green line', and some of them are in hotels. This second group who were wholeheartedly negating the decision and even refusing to think about receiving compensation. Subsequently they were moved to hotels, so the price of resettling them is, consequently, increasing.

‘Negotiations m ust s tart, t error m ust b e s topped’ the other…Negotiations must start, terror must be stopped.

The first phase of the roadmap is for the Palestinian people to put an end to terrorism. This can’t be achieved only by declarations; such as the declaration of a complete ceasefire that was made at Sharm e-Sheikh. It's not enough to make beautiful statements, they have to be implemented by deeds, and the fact is that putting an end to terror means dismantling terror organisations, collecting illegal weapons and stopping the incitement of hatred.

Do you think they're capable of it?

That is the test now. The first question is 'are …Israel doesn't believe in intervention. We wouldn't want they willing?' They have declared that they are, but introanybody to intervene in our conflict or decide instead of ducing Hamas into the political game is unacceptable.

You cannot legitimise the ideology of a terrorist organisaus what should be the end result of negotiations. tion that burns on its flag that their mission is to eradiWhat does Israel now expect from the Palestinian side? cate the state of Israel, since Israel does not have a right to exist. …basically, to remind you, the Sharm e-Sheikh understandAre they capable? The Palestinian Authority now has to ing, agreed on 8th February 2005 between Israel and the reinforce the moderate peace-wishing part of their leadership.

Palestinian authority, details the unilateral disengagement plan, Peace is not only good for Israel, it also benefits our neighinitiated by Prime Minister Sharon with the hope that it will bours. We believe that by negotiating and agreeing and pave the way for the full implementation of the 'Road Map'… bringing an end to the violence, both sides will enjoy greater In order to pave the way for implementation of the road prosperity. Moreover, terrorism has no moral or political jusmap we have to take several commitments upon ourselves. tification because it is premeditated murder of innocents…

The disengagement was one of those. We have also fulfilled Although we are hopeful of a negotiated settlement and peace, other commitments within the Sharm e-Sheikh understandwe still have to be ready to prevent terror, that's why we are coming, amongst which was the releasing of 900 prisoners and the pleting the anti-terror fence, which is not a wall, but a fence of life. giving back of control of several cities. …Israel has given them a free, independent entity. For Wherever it has been erected it has prevented suicide bombers the first time, one and a half million people in Gaza actually infiltrating Israel and committing their horrendous crimes…

have the opportunity to run their own lives. This is a great test because now the responsibility has moved from the Israeli side, who took this brave decision, to the Palestinians.

Now they have to make a choice: are they going to take the route of peace or the route of the Devil? Are they going to be twofaced? They cannot continue nurturing diplomacy on the one hand, whilst continuing with violence and terror on

PM Ariel Sharon - the man who spearheaded the withdrawals - is a highly decorated former military leader and was one of the figures who led the establishing of the settlements. How much has this turnaround impacted on those who have supported Sharon over the years; do they feel that he has turned his back on them?

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Interview As he said in his speech to the UN recently, he was born a farmer and it was only the reality of the situation that forced him to become a fighter. In the '50s he was fighting infiltration from the Gaza Strip, when the first terrorists began attacking Israel proper… He was a major force in the defence of our country, despite wishing only to raise sheep and cultivate the land.

Despite the fact that he represents the general public opinion of the country that wishes for peace, he was ready to take a politically very brave decision. As the one who created the Likud Party, he has created a much broader coalition in order to garner support for this important move…

long as Hamas is being supported by other countries, as long as you have networks of terrorist organisations around the globe, terror will continue in Indonesia, Madrid and London. ...Resolving this political conflict will not diminish terrorism...On the contrary, it can be perceived that if you give in to terror in one location it will reinforce the continuation of such violent struggles to achieve political aims elsewhere.

De-legitimising terrorism everywhere as a means of achieving political goals is a basic element in diminishing terrorism around the world, but it needs much more than the legal, economic and local political security forces' involvement wherever it happens.

What's required is comprehensive, global diplomacy; intelligence and information sharing, making a concerted effort to de-legitimise Hezbollah or such organisations everywhere.

In Europe there is the phenomenon of the radicalisation of the Islamic population. Do you think that if you give them some self-proclaimed political gain you will diminish terrorism? No. You will just encourage it elsewhere.

Jerusalem was never, in 3,000 years, a capital city of anybody but the Jewish people. Therefore, it cannot be anything but the capital of the Jewish people

It could be argued that, ultimately, Jerusalem will be the last obstacle to a full and lasting peace between Israel and Palestine. Will the Palestinian state have to forfeit claims of sovereignty over Jerusalem in order for total peace to be established; can you share the city of Jerusalem?

Could Serbia share Belgrade? The point is that Jerusalem was never, in 3,000 years, a capital city of anything but the Jewish State. Therefore, it cannot be anything but the capital of the Jewish people. It's definitely part and parcel of accepting the fact that Israel has, and will always have, the right to be an independent political entity.

By insisting on acceptance of the reality that this is our homeland and the birthplace of our nationality and our identity, we are not negating the wish for an identity of another nation, but nor should they. Negating Jerusalem as the capital of Israel is negating the very fabric of our nationality.

Jerusalem has been a city synonymous with Israel for our people in the Diaspora for 2,000 years; every day we prayed for Jerusalem. You cannot take away from us the old city of Jerusalem, which is the birthplace of our nation.

Do you think that the problem of terrorism is inextricably linked to poverty?

This is an excuse. We even had one case where the suicide bomber who blew himself up in a cafe in Tel Aviv came from a very well-to-do English family. You can brainwash anybody to commit suicide for their 72 virgins up in heaven. It has nothing to do with poverty.

We still hope that by improving the well-being of the community they will be less welcoming towards such policies of suicide bombers - a tool that was created by Arafat. But I don't accept that poverty is an excuse for murder.

With regard to the Kosovo issue, what conclusions, if any, can the people of this region draw from the EU leaders have suggested that the unresolved Israel- Israeli experience?

Palestine issue, coupled with Iran and Saudi Arabia, repreTerrorism isn’t the way. Any conflict resolution should take the route of negotiations. There is no other way to solve To unilaterally disengage in order to give a great chance for any conflict than to accept the others' right to exist peace was a very difficult decision…it showed how mature in peace and allow for compromise. Moreover, compromise cannot be imposed. It has to be accepted, we are…and how willing we are to pay the price for that negotiated and supported internationally.

It is my personal belief that the internationsents a main source of world terrorism. Does Israel agree al community, as important as they are, are not as important with this assessment and, if so, will the resolving of the con- as the countries in the neighbourhood when it comes to supflict result in a marked decrease in levels of world terrorism? porting compromised solutions. Also, I think reconciliation is I'm afraid we all know that terrorism has become a global possible wherever there are sane, mature people who agree to phenomenon. It's not connected to one regional conflict or accept the reality and wish to live in neighbourly relations. another. Terror will continue as long as the ideology of terrorism exists as a legitimised tool to achieving political gain, as Is Israel involved at all in Kosovo, in any capacity? long as the network of global terror communication and No. I visited Kosovo two years ago, but Israel doesn't financing exists, whilst terror organisations hide behind all believe in intervention. We wouldn't want anybody to interkinds of social and aid organisations that are covering the real vene in our conflict or decide instead of us what should be the cause - terrorism for political gain. end result of negotiations. It's up to us to decide what will be Terror will continue as long as the 'legitimate activity' of the future result of negotiations. Whatever obstacle we have, terrorist organisations continues, with the likes of Hezbollah we will make a decision about it in the hope that others will accepted and supported by countries like Syria and Iran. As support the positive progress towards a peaceful resolution. •

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DEL PONTE AND BURNS EXPECTANT

EU & SCG BEGIN SAA TALKS

ICTY Chief Prosecutor, Carla Del Ponte, and U.S. Undersecretary of State, Nicholas Burns, both visited Belgrade in October, conveying contrasting messages of hope and despair.

After meeting Serbian PM Vojislav Kostunica, ICTY Co-operation Council chairman Rasim Ljajic and SCG Defence Minister-elect Zoran Stankovic (a close friend of Hague fugitive Ratko Mladic) Del Ponte said that she expects Mladić to be in The Hague by year's end.

European Union talks with Serbia & Montenegro on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) commenced in October, with the EU warning these could be suspended for want of co-operation on war crimes fugitives.

Enlargement Commissioner Ollie Rehn said at a 10th October ceremony in Belgrade that this marked the start of a new phase in the relationship, but fulfilling obligations to the international tribunal in The Hague was still a major condition.

Serbian PM Vojislav Kostunica pointed out that Serbia & Montenegro's strategic aim is full EU membership and that the country is fully devoted to achieving it, adding that this is an opportunity that must not be missed.

Rehn congratulated Kostunica on the beginning of talks on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, stressing that there has been great improvement in the process of reform implementation in Serbia.•

U.S. Undersecretary of State, Nicholas Burns

SCG CANCELS SLOVENIAN PRESIDENT'S VISIT

Burns met the Serbia & Montenegro leadership, including Serbian PM Kostunica, Montenegrin PM Milo Djukanovic, Serbian President Tadic and SCG Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic.

According to a B92 report, Burns said that it is up to Serbia & Montenegro to decide between a prosperous future and being the hostage of ICTY fugitives.

A Foreign Affairs Ministry statement quoted Burns as saying that without the extradition of the remaining Hague Tribunal fugitives, Belgrade could not expect a comprehensive relationship with the US, nor membership of NATO's Partnership for Peace programme.

Draskovic told Burns that the main obstacle to extradition of Hague fugitives is the existence of political parties and structures from the former regime, which wanted to return to power and return Serbia to poverty, isolation, hate and new conflicts.

Burns said that the U.S. position on Kosovo is to seek a compromise between Belgrade, Pristina and the international community, in the interests of everyone in Kosovo and stability in the whole region.

Moving on to Pristina, Burns said that the U.S. expects discussions on the final status of Kosovo to formally commence in November.•

Serbian media have widely reported that SCG President Svetozar Marovic cancelled a visit by Slovenian President Janez Drnovsek - scheduled for Wednesday 2nd November - because of Drnovsek's recent statement that independence is the only realistic option for the Serbian province of Kosovo.

According to the cabinet of the SCG president, in a letter to the Slovenian leader, President Marovic wrote that "in the atmosphere that has been created it would not be possible to organise the visit programme". He asked Drnovsek "with best intentions" to understand that the proposed visit was cancelled.

Simultaneously, the SCG Foreign Ministry stated that SCG Assistant Foreign Minister, Miomir Udovicki, presented on Thursday a protest note to the Charge d'Affaires of Slovenia's embassy in Belgrade, Jadranka Sturm Kocjan.

The note stresses that "the state union of the SCG, as well as the Republic of Serbia, cannot and do not want, under any conditions, to accept the declaration of an independent state of Kosovo within Serbia's territory and within Serbia's internationally recognised borders".

The protest note also reads that during the dramatic events in the former Yugoslavia, the international communi-

CorD | November 2005

ty's stance was that only the former republics (of Yugoslavia) could get international recognition of independence, whereas the autonomous provinces of the Republic of Serbia could not. The note also reads that this stance is confirmed by UN SC Resolution 1244.

The Serbian Government's media relations officer, Srdjan Djuric, said that it had been assessed that President Drnovsek's statement on the future independent status of Kosovo was improper, as it related to the internal affairs of SCG. In response, the Slovenian Foreign Ministry said that the whole thing had been a misunderstanding.

Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrije Rupel said that the joint stance of Slovenia's President, Prime Minister and FA Ministry is that the future status of Kosovo must be European - reached in agreement between Belgrade, Pristina and the international community.

SCG President Svetozar Marovic "Our joint stance is that a solution which Serbia would not accept cannot be a good solution", Rupel said in a telephone conversation with his SCG counterpart Vuk Draskovic.

The statement also reads that the Slovenian Foreign Minister said his belief was that the matter had been a misunderstanding that the two countries would resolve.

Belgrade media reported that prominent Slovene diplomat Ivo Vajgl would visit Belgrade soon as the Slovenian President's special envoy. He would try to resolve the conflict and misunderstandings created by Drnovsek's statement.•

ECONOMICS - SCG & IMF

Final account: the IMF Mission and the Serbian Government's July talks ended with smiles, but what will happen in December remains to be seen

WALKING ON THE EDGE Over the next few weeks, Serbian society will endure sleepless nights over the outcome of the sixth revision of the current IMF arrangement. If the government had kept its promises, and proven itself capable of managing reforms, the sixth revision would have been behind us and the new arrangement would either be already signed or in the pipeline

By Tanja Jakobi; Photo: Beta erbian economist Stojan Stamenković, a veteran negotiator with the IMF, still keeps a copy of the material prepared for the one-year standby arrangement signed in the mid '80s between the then Yugoslavia and the IMF. Stamenković, then acting chief of Yugoslavia's mission for negotiations with the IMF, decided not to obey the rule whereby all material should have been destroyed. Exactly 176 members of the Central Committee, once upon a time the highest body in a communist state, had to allow the agreement to be signed. "All copies were stamped 'top secret' and were to be destroyed, but I kept one for posterity," says Stamenković.

Today, the document is hidden somewhere in the dust of the loft at the top of Stamenkovic's house in Zemun.

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Two decades later, Stamenković is again wondering whether the current three-year standby arrangement - the first in Serbia's post-5th October history - will also be consigned to gathering dust.

He is not the only one. The arrangement will expire on 31st December 2005, regardless of whether the Serbian Government fulfils or falls short of fulfilling the criteria set for the sixth and final revision of the extended arrangement signed in 2002.

Although the IMF mission landed at Belgrade Airport five minutes before noon to review the Serbian budget for 2006 and the macroeconomic goals set for the next year, the definite answer 'pass' or 'fail' won't be known before

ECONOMICS - SCG & IMF However, Stamenković believes that the IMF's decision to proclaim a failure of the standby deal would be too harsh a punishment for Serbia. "In case that the arrangement ends unsuccessfully, we might be pressed to repay some $700million, or even $900million, to the Paris Club of creditors. Such an outcome would be detrimental to FDI crucial for the future of the Serbian economy."

There are two main reasons why the standby arrangement is particularly demanding: first, there are huge structural problems and debts inherited from the past and neglected for decades, and second, the current government has repeatedly acted carelessly.

Stamenković considers it as scandalous that the government promised one thing to the IMF at the recent meeting in Washington D.C., then the very next day the parliament HISTORY O F D EBT A ND N EGOTIATIONS

Veteran IMF negotiator, Stojan Stamenković December, when the Board of Directors has to sit and decide whether it is able credit SCG with the successful conclusion of the arrangement.

If the answer is 'yes', it will be the third successfully closed arrangement since October 2000: the first was a short IMF intervention in order for SCG to resume its membership of the IMF; the second was a one-year arrangement, and the third is the current three-year standby arrangement.

If the answer is 'no,' we will witness the repetition of the period of the mid '80s, when the three-year arrangement failed. "I'm almost certain that we're not going to witness the same thing now," says Stamenković, who heads the most prominent group of experts, which has issued many warnings to the previous and current governments regarding macroeconomic imbalances.

Alarm bells rang this summer: according to the original document, the arrangement was set to expire in May and, in the most optimistic scenario, Serbia would already have had another arrangement with the IMF. "Let me remind you that it was the case when we moved from the one-year to the three-year arrangement that one was closed when the other was already negotiated," says Gordana Lazarević, assistant Serbian international economic relations minister and another veteran of negotiations with the IMF. Indeed, this summer, the IMF issued two warnings regarding lack of progress in privatisation of state monopolies and the trimming of budget expenditures. In the latest report available on the IMF website, issued on 22nd July, the mission expressed concerns regarding monetary policy, pensions and energy sector reforms. After many back and forth manoeuvres, the Serbian Government announced the tender for the privatisation advisor for state petroleum company NIS. The national bank tightened monetary policy even further, but inflation remained above the targeted level. The Law on pensions passed through the parliament, but didn't satisfy the IMF.

Up to the early '70s, Yugoslavia was a relatively prosperous country - in accordance with the norms of mid-sized European states - with an annual GDP of between $75 billion and $78 billion. It had low foreign debt (between $4 billion to $5billion), it was solvent, and had a country-rating equal to that of Denmark. In five years between 1974 and 1979, Yugoslavia's foreign debt grew to $21 billion. "The IMF and The World Bank held their annual meeting in New Belgrade's Sava Centre and, while everything looked rosy, we knew that our credit rating was rapidly falling," says Stamenković.

That same year, long-term creditors closed their doors on Yugoslavia, short-term debt spiralled from $600 million to $2.4 billion and in 1981 we were unable to borrow even on the short term and all foreign depositors withdrew their deposits from domestic banks. On 15th May 1982, Stamenković became the chief advisor of PM Milka Planinć, one of the rare reformers in the former Yugoslavia. On 18th January 1983, Yugoslavia signed its first stand still [a pause in debt repayment] and later a one-year standby arrangement with the IMF, followed by the three-year standby arrangement starting in 1984. The foreign debt [later divided between the then nonexistent Paris and London Clubs of creditors] was rescheduled several times, but all arrangements with the IMF were poised to fail due to the Constitution adopted in 1974, which completely disarmed the federal central bank, allowed republics to heavily borrow in the late '70s and disobey any federal government and all stabilisation programmes reached with the IMF. During the Planinć administration, the country repaid a lot of debt, but it suffered from the negative investment rate of 6.5% annually and a negative efficiency of the companies built on the foreign debt. At the end of the '80s, the next and the last reformer in the former Yugoslavia, Ante Marković, [to whom Stamenkovic was also an advisor] found a lot of debt and completely dismantled the federal state. His attempt to achieve the write off of the debt to the Paris club of creditors failed. It was only accomplished a decade afterwards [by the government of late Prime Minister Zoran Đinđic].

CorD | November 2005

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ECONOMICS - SCG & IMF WHAT’S ON THE CARDS? SCENARIO 1: The sixth revision ends successfully. The government doesn't initiate (as it didn't mention yet) negotiations about the new agreement. On top of the already high forex reserves, the government receives relatively significant proceeds from privatisation. If it keeps budgetary spending tight, the government and the national bank have no problems in keeping relative macroeconomic stability. The IMF occasionally sends its mission to check the progress in reforms, but has no substantial power to influence any of the necessary policies.

The (current) government is under constant political pressure, due to its loose support in the parliament, turbulences regarding the extradition of Karadžic and Mladić, negotiations about the new status of Kosovo, and the Montenegrin referendum.

Due to a higher country risk, Standard & Poor and Moody's are prompted to either slightly downgrade the country's credit rating, issue a 'negative outlook' report or put the country on the watch list. Banks in the country either raise or don't adjust downwards their margin as they planned if the next arrangement is in the pipeline.

State export -import banks, such as Hermes, Exim bank, and Sace, which are to evaluate the risk of the country (currently on the lowest level) next January, refrain from any action. The economy's outlook is sluggish.

SCENARIO 2 The sixth revision ends successfully. The current government initiates talks about the new arrangement, but the negotiations go slowly due to the lack of creditability of the government (having in mind difficulties in fulfilling obligations in the previous arrangement), and complicated political situation. The government keeps finances in order, receives technical assistance from the IMF, but again the IMF influence on the macroeconomic policy and unpopular reforms are limited. Due to the looming possibility of extraordinary parliamentary elections and the referendum in Montenegro, the negotiations have no chance of going into full swing before April.

Option A: The government seeks a one-year arrangement, with no financial assistance (unlike the current arrangement) due to a high level of forex reserves. However, it has a possibility of borrowing money from the IMF in case gaps appear in the cash flow, and has more flexibility to model its own strategy, than it would have had under a new three-year arrangement.

Option B: The government seeks a new three-year arrangement without additional borrowing. The arrangement is likely to be reached in the second half of the following year and involves serious commitments regarding cuts in the costs of the administration, both at state and municipality levels, privatisation of SMEs through the efficient process of bankruptcy, spin offs and privatisation of state companies and the implementation of anti-monopoly procedures.

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Chief of the IMF delegation, Pirita Sorsa adopted the Law on pensions with amendments which basically undermined the whole agreement. However, if the amendment to the draft legislation hadn't been implemented, the whole law wouldn't have received SPS support and, thus, passed the parliament, which would have been an equally detrimental outcome. Indeed, to some extent the government has been constantly blackmailed by its minority status, which prevented it from acting as any other government with a four-year mandate would: by initiating severe, unpopular reform cuts in the first two years of its mandate and then turning to a more populist approach before the next elections.

But some other CorD interlocutors point to one more important thing: the government lacked expertise and was utilising the IMF agreement on the lowest level possible; instead of acting intelligently, the government acted as bunch of free riders.

As Kori Udovićki, once an IMF desk economist and later Serbian minister of energy and national bank governor pointed out, the IMF doesn't have an ultimate 'to do' list for governments, so it didn't dictate pension cuts or privatisation of the oil company. …Simply said, the government was at liberty to make much more elegant and less painful cuts, but because it was constantly failing to trim expenditures and break state monopolies (considered as main sources of corruption) the IMF finally asked the government to act boldly in order to meet performance criteria set in July. That is how Serbia ended with probably the least desirable solution: NIS privatisation and a severe reduction in pension expenditure.

Cynics say that a government which was able to miss the carrot won't be able to live up to further challenges, with no carrot in sight. Namely, as Gordana Lazarević notes: "Although we had a number of agreements with the IMF, this is the first one ever in history which has been paired with a significant initial write off (of foreign debt) and has a carrot on its end, and an additional write off (of 15% of the debt to the Paris Club of creditors)" says Lazarević.

Somehow it seems that we (almost) overlooked it.•

ECONOMICS

PAN EUROPEAN PIPELINE

The European Union is campaigning for an oil pipeline from Constanza to Trieste. At the 5th Conference of the Pan European Oil Pipeline (PEOP) held in Belgrade, the pool of participating nations (Romania, Serbia & Montenegro and Croatia) was enlarged to include newcomers Italy and Slovenia.

The EU's interest in building an oil pipeline from the Black Sea port of Constanza to the North Adriatic port of Trieste is not a surprise, bearing in mind the long-term prediction of greater supply over demand on the crude oil market

By Jelica Putniković; Photo: Andy Dall he project to construct a Pan European pipeline has been devised as an economical system of crude oil transport to Trieste, the entry point of the Transalpine Crude Oil Pipeline (TAL) that supplies the oil refineries of Central Europe. There are considerations to extend the pipeline to Venice and link it up with the Italian oil line network.

At the time of writing, negotiations were underway in Italy to establish a development company that would bring the project to its bankable phase. This phase demands that all necessary studies are completed and that rights-of-way permits and international agreements are secured, so that the project can

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be presented to potential investors (oil companies and international financial institutions). The development company has been envisaged as a public-private partnership with the participation of states or their national enterprises.

"Private capital in Italy has already shown an interest in investing in this phase of the project. Namely, this is a preinvestment study that will serve as a starting point in the search for investors and creditors," says Jelena Radun from the International Advisory Board of the Pan European Oil Pipeline Project. Radun adds that a Memorandum on Understanding between all five states (Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia and Italy), which needs to be signed by the Prime Ministers or authorised representatives of all five countries, is in the

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preparatory phase. The draft version of the Memorandum will be sent to the governments of all five countries for harmonisation before signing.

"The Caspian region is rich with newly discovered reserves of light crude, a category of crude oil that is suitable for European and US markets because of the possibility for a greater yield of white derivatives (petrol and diesel fuels).

Demand of white derivatives outstrips supply on these markets. The Caspian region is expected to significantly increase the output of crude oil in the near future, but there are logistical problems to cope with as well. Crude oil is transported over land in all directions from this region, but geographically the nearest major market is Europe. The Old Continent is thus expected to provide infrastructural investments in order to tap crude oil from Caspian reserves," explains Jelena Radun.

A study of PEOP by the Hill consortium also made estimates of the pipeline's capacity.

Preliminary results of the research show that the most realistic capacity is 60 million tonnes. The construction of such a pipeline will require 2.2 billion dollars.

Securing these funds will require major international banks and oil companies to partake in the project, while the latter would act as loan guarantors along with providing funds.

Estimates say that the pre-investment project and the financial plan will take 2-3 years to complete. The construction works themselves should take no more than three years, so the most optimistic prediction would see PEOP ready to launch at the end of 2010.

Caspian oil, along with Russian oil, is transported to Europe via the Black Sea and the very narrow Turkish straits (Bosporus and Dardanelles) where oil tankers sometimes have to queue for more than 20 days to continue their journey.

Studies have already shown that alternative transport routes have to be developed as soon as possible in order to maintain a regular supply of crude oil from the Caspian region.

There are plans for other pipeline routes that would deliver Caspian oil to end users. The advantage of PEOP over three other competing routes (Bourgas (Bulgaria) - Alexandropoulos (Greece), Bourgas - Vlora (Albania) and a pipeline that would run parallel to the Turkish straits) is that the latter face the

ECONOMICS problem of shallow waters at the end point of the pipeline.

Moreover, the end points of each of the three routes are still too far away from the end users of crude oil.

Preliminary analysis shows that the transport of crude oil via PEOP would be cheaper than the alternative routes.

There is also the environmental aspect to consider, since PEOP would reduce the number of tankers sailing into the North Adriatic, because the crude flowing to Trieste would travel over land and not over sea.

Russia and Austria have also shown interest, along with Italy and Slovenia, who have already joined the Interstate Committee for CPOT. This is not a surprise since Austrian OMV bought 51% of Petrom SA, the largest Romanian oil company and thus became the largest oil and gas group in Central Europe. OMV has 16 petrol stations in Serbia and their plan is to build a hundred. They also have stations in Croatia, Bulgaria, Slovenia and Italy. Consequently, OMV is keen to secure direct, reliable and cheaper transport of crude oil.

During the meeting in Belgrade, the representatives of Romania, Serbia and Croatia, who initiated the realisation of CPOT, were informed from Moscow that Russia would support the project. The Russian government, however, does not want

Slobodan Sokolović

increase employment and per capita income (multiplying effect), increase the country's rating in the eyes of other investors, as well as state budget income and give a positive political example of successful regional co-operation, which is Vladimir Repin: "Lukoil has invested around €300million in necessary for further integration.

When PEOP is finalised, Serbia Serbia to date. We are also interested in building a pipeline from will gather profit margins during exploitaRomania to Serbia…Lukoil should have 200 filling stations and tion, while oil companies that process crude oil in refineries in Pancevo and Novi two or three crude oil depots in Serbia" Sad can now count on a 40% reduction in to publicise their interest for the CPOT pipeline. The Russian transport costs and could save up to 30 million dollars. • ambassador to SCG did not attend the Belgrade conference of the Interstate Committee, since he was presented with the whole project a day earlier at Serbian government offices. The Russians received an oral presentation and the complete documentation for the project after which Moscow promised to support it. They also explained that CPOT was not a competitive challenge to the pipeline that is due to connect the Bulgarian and Greek ports of Bourgas and Alexandropoulos, to which Russian President Vladimir Putin gave personal backing some time ago. Experts on economic relations in Russia say these positive signals from Moscow mean that their oil companies will receive instructions to join the CPOT project in the next phase. One could assume that there already has been such a signal considering a statement by Vladimir Repin, General Manager of Lukoil-Beopetrol. Repin said at the First International Energy Fair held in Belgrade in early October that Lukoil was interested in projects that will modernise and privatise the Serbian Oil Industry (NIS) in Pancevo and Novi Sad, as well as in the whole NIS system.

"We have been up-to-date with everything that has been going on and expect the privatisation advisor's report on this Serbian company. Lukoil has invested around €300million in Serbia to date. We are also interested in building a pipeline from Romania to Serbia. We feel that Lukoil should have 200 filling stations in Serbia and two or three crude oil depots," Repin said.

Slobodan Sokolović, Assistant Minister of Energy and Mining in the Serbian Government, agrees that PEOP should urge other major international oil companies to show interest for the privatisation of NIS. Sokolovic said PEOP was also important for Serbia because a project of this magnitude could kick-start the entire economy. This project would bring contracts to local producers (for example, the BTC project brought contracts worth 230 million dollars to local producers over the course of one year),

Interview

BALKAN BUSINESS

Milan Todorović, Regional Director of Icelandic Pharmaceutical Company Actavis

By Tanja Jakobi; Photo: Andy Dall

Despite appearances to the contrary, the Balkan countries undoubtedly constitute a unified market - at least when evaluated in terms of the way people think, conduct business and deal with problems. "But this is not a seamless synergy or a borderless market. We are still a long way from that end," says Milan Todorović, Regional Director of Icelandic Pharmaceutical Company Actavis. "At this level, positive achievements in Romania, Croatia or Albania are practically without effect beyond a 100-kilometre radius", Todorović says, speaking to CorD this month 34

CorD | November 2005

he busy Belgrade office of Milan Todorović, Balkan Regional Director of Icelandic company Actavis, is awash with bare wires and cables and strewn with papers and files. In many respects, this internal arrangement corresponds to the environment in which Todorović conducts his affairs.

Romania, Serbia & Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina comprise the Balkan Region on Actavis's business map - linked though numerous cultural ties and common features, rules and customs in business, and divided by myriad administrative barriers and regulations that vary in each of these national markets.

Todorović has worked in the region for several multinational companies over the past decade and has repeatedly gone down this road. Since early this year, after advancing from Director of Zdravlje - Leskovac (the third largest Serbian pharmaceutical company, which became part of the Actavis group at the end of 2002), to the post of Actavis Regional Director for the Balkans, Todorović has been travelling throughout the region.

"During my business trips throughout the region, after everything that went on during the past ten years, I feel that the situation is as such because of the way people think, conduct their business and deal with the problems that exist on these markets and, in that respect, what we treat as the Balkan

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Interview Region at Actavis I recognise as one market. But this is not a seamless synergy or a borderless market, we are a long way from that," Todorović explains.

What defines a region is that an experience acquired in one place is easily applicable in another with a certain temporal delay - primarily in terms of the pace at which the countries of the region are integrated into the European Union. "Croatia and Romania have gone one step ahead in that respect. Their experience has clearly demonstrated to the pharmaceutically less developed markets in Bosnia, Albania, Macedonia and even Serbia what they should do. What I have noticed from a regional perspective, however, is that these good examples - although spatially only a hundred kilometres away - have no effect on less developed markets", Todorovic says. "From that point of view, a region does not exist.

This spatial range of 100 - 150 kilometres has not been defeated, because, for example, what Croatia has accomplished with reforms in primary health care, and Romania did with advancements in pharmacology, has not even started in Serbia."

Despite all this, Actavis set up their regional headquarters in Belgrade after feeling the pulse of the local environment and especially after Zdravlje's business record following privatisation.

"What we managed to achieve by reorganising Zdravlje and the resulting performance on the market has prompted Actavis to consider a similar strategy in surrounding markets," said the company's Regional Balkan Director. "On the other hand, we have a €40million business in Zdravlje and two inherited export markets - Macedonia and Republika Srpska."

Zdravlje once marketed their products in the whole of the former Yugoslavia, but was squeezed out of these markets, just as Slovenian and Croatian companies lost their Serbian presence. "We have to open up these markets all over again and it will not be an easy task, since there are numerous administrative and non-administrative barriers in the way. There is a huge amount of red tape in the region that prevents the entry of Serbian-made pharmaceuticals to neighbouring markets. The markets of Republika Srpska and Macedonia are open, but those of the Bosnian Federation and Croatia, even Albania and Romania, are much harder to penetrate because their regulations have become more demanding and more harmonised with EU standards," Todorović says.

Countries in the region also vary in terms of obtainable information about market trends. "In several countries, including Serbia, there are no records on the quantities or pace at which var-

Lack of regulations prove a barrier

What makes the situation of Zdravlje different compared to other Serbian drug companies is that its owner is Actavis, a rapidly growing enterprise at global scale, operating in 30 countries around the world. The Actavis strategy is to obtain a good position by acquiring local factories and then market generic variants of pharmaceuticals whose patents have run out on these local markets and beyond. In the last two and half years, however, Zdravlje has not launched a new drug, because "The Law on Pharmaceuticals that was put into effect last year con- following privatisation the company entered a restructuring process that has forms completely to EU norms. The World Health Organisation and only recently come to an end. "We have other EU institutions and NGOs from the pharmaceutical sector are an ideal opportunity to spread in the Todorović says. present in Belgrade and the spirit of reforms thickens the air, but we region", In tangible terms: Belgrade is responsible for marketing five prodare not moving as fast as we should" ucts on the Romanian market and there are three more Actavis factories in Bulgaria. At the same ious kinds of drugs are sold; there is no information on the comtime, the regional centre in Belgrade should market pharmaceupetition, the size of the market, its segmentation patterns or which ticals to other countries from the production centre in Leskovac, deals are potentially lucrative. Inversely, Croatia and Romania have as well as products made in Actavis factories in Malta, Turkey, specialised companies that gather such data. You have absolutely Bulgaria and the company headquarters in Iceland. "It's an 'all no difficulties there in keeping track of sale trends for a certain to everywhere' tactic," Todorović says. drug (generic or branded) at any given time. In Serbia, Bosnia, Although a host of Serbian companies, unhappy with the Macedonia and Albania you are completely in the dark on these way they have been treated in Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia, issues", Todorović says. asked Serbian President Boris Tadić to intervene on their behalf The lack of regulation is one end of the barrier. At the and use his authority to open these markets to Serbian producother end, some markets have taken a different path and ers, Todorović has a different experience. "The times when the while Serbian pharmaceutical companies have been strugfact you were from Serbia meant you were unwelcome on these gling with the cost of drugs for years, in Macedonia, for markets are behind us. I've been to Croatia, Sarajevo, Tirana, example, around 70 multinational pharmaceutical compaSkopje and Bucharest and no one looked at us crossly because nies currently compete in this relatively small market of we came from Belgrade. This may sound like an exaggeration, two million people.

CorD | November 2005

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Interview

but the business community truly standards there is no different than sees the region as a unified market. anywhere else.

Our partners in the region also view There are advantages and disadvanit as such and their companies are tages to being 287 kilometres from willing to do business anywhere in Belgrade. The highway will get you the region." there in no time. On the other hand, The fact that the pharmaceutical although Hemofarm and Galenika are industry, unlike some other sectors of considered major players in most of the economy, has to abide by strict Serbia, in the south they do not have rules and procedures, and that some such a prominent status, since it has countries of the region have already traditionally been Zdravlje's turf. The entered negotiations for EU accesissue of "provinciality" can be viewed sion, with regulations that are adjustfrom another perspective. We have to ed to meet EU standards, means there be realistic and note that no other is no room for politically motivated company in the world entered the discrimination. pharmaceutical market as Actavis did "Some markets are beyond with Zdravlje. A large portion of the Zdravlje at the moment because we public was doubtful after hearing that are simply unable to meet all of their the only bidder for Zdravlje was 'some demands, but there are other markets company from faraway Iceland'.

We are eager to know about quantities where we can compete. Hemofarm "My personal response was that we and types of pharmaceuticals being and Galenika are present in Albania got more than we bargained for. We and the Bosnian Federation. Croatia is have to be realistic and say that no one sold here and the pace at which they inaccessible because of strict regulahas entered the pharmaceutical indusare sold. We also want to be informed tions, but it does not have to stay that try in Serbia the way Actavis did. This about our competition, the size of the way, provided we devise an adequate does not just relate to our industry, but strategy to approach this market," the region and the entire Serbian marmarket and its segmentation patterns, Todorović says, adding that Croatian ket as well", Todorović says. as well as which deals are potentially companies did not have an easy task We can't help but acknowledge that, entering our market either. "In time, although there has been progress in lucrative. While Croatia and Romania all this will change."

Serbia, the pace is slow. "The Law on have specialised companies that gather Things have already changed in Pharmaceuticals that was put into Romania and Bulgaria. Actavis effect last year conforms completely to such data, in Serbia, Bosnia, bought and invested in three factories EU norms. The World Health Macedonia and Albania you're in the in Bulgaria and today they meet all Organisation and other EU institutions necessary standards set by the EU. and NGOs from the pharmaceutical dark on these issues This makes business relations a lot sector are present in Belgrade and the easier with Romania, a country on the spirit of reforms thickens the air", verge of entering the EU. The procedure for registering a new drug Todorović explains, "but we are not moving as fast as we should". in Romania takes nine months to complete, while in Albania, a The law demands that all domestic producers meet EU country that is much farther away from the EU but abides by its standards by 2009 at the latest, only the legislator did not conrules, the procedure takes six months. "There are easier and more sider another aspect of the problem: the low price of pharmadifficult roads to travel in the region, but this depends on the coun- ceuticals leaves the producers without sufficient funds to try where you want to market your products and the country finance an upgrade to these standards. where you want to produce them", Todorović says.

"If the legislators kept strict deadlines it might be the case that The region, even Europe, is not the limit. "A few days ago we every major Serbian pharmaceutical company will have problems with quality levels, or in the worst case, "The times when the fact you were from Serbia meant you some might shut down their operations all Todorović warned. were unwelcome on these markets are behind us. I've been together", A relatively high inflation rate and to Croatia, Sarajevo, Tirana, Skopje and Bucharest and no price regulation could discourage pharcompanies, as well as those one looked at us crossly because we came from Belgrade. maceutical from other industrial branches of the This may sound like an exaggeration, but the business com- Serbian market. For companies that are seeking to profit on local markets, the munity truly sees the region as a unified market." inflation rate is almost equivalent to held talks with Ivory Coast and Nigerian representatives and there profit reduction rates. Price limits on pharmaceuticals prodis a possibility that we'll link up with these markets. The world is ucts are another affect: at this point the annual consumption rate of medicines in Serbia is $30 per capita, although Serbia our oyster, but we have to climb up to get it."

And the world is ordered is such way that defining can't boast that it is a reasonably healthy nation. If there were no limitations on the price of pharmaceuticals that are not on whether something is local, global or provincial depends on the positive list, as is the case in Albania, consumption per your perspective. From the viewpoint in Belgrade, Leskovac is capita would actually be 50 to 60 dollars. a provincial town. Todorović says that you can find provincial "This market simply cannot accommodate a serious level of mentalities everywhere, in the heart of Belgrade, Novi Sad business and this is why the serious players are still missing," and Pirot, hence working in Leskovac and introducing EU Todorović concludes. •

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KOŠTUNICA HEADS SCG DELEGATION TO UN Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica headed an SCG delegation at the UN Security Council session in New York, dedicated to Kosovo, on 24 th October.

Prior to the delegation's departure, the Serbian Government announced that analysis of UN Special Envoy Kai Eide's report on the fulfilment of standards in Kosovo would be soon completed, and also that the position of SCG was protected by UN Security Council Resolution 1244, which guarantees SCG sovereignty and territorial integrity over Kosovo.

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica

"Our ace in the sleeve is of course the report of Kai Eide, who obviously respected the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country", pointed out Vladeta Janković, a senior advisor to PM Koštunica.

"Serbia has an obligation to, and an interest in, preventing the Albanian majority from creating an independent state so that it could continue with the killing, harassment and eviction of the Serb and other minorities in Kosovo", said SCG Foreign Minister Vuk Drašković.

PM Koštunica said that there are three main standpoints: "First, Kosovo and Metohija is a constitutional part of Serbia.

It was like that, and it has to stay like that.

"Second, as a democratic country we fully trust that the Security council of the UN will, with its authority, guarantee that international law, especially regarding the main principle - sovereignty and the territorial integrity and the inalterability of internationally recognised borders of our country - is going to be respected. Anything else would be an unthinkable precedent. Any sort of unwillingly imposed solution or an attempt to usurp our territory would rep-

resent a legal pillaging of international law. It is absolutely obvious that Serbia will never accept any sort of 'pillaging' of that kind.

"However, as ever, we are ready for a compromised solution and that is that the new status of Kosovo should be found in line with existing solutions in Europe...through substantial autonomy of a province within our state," said the Serbian PM. • GERMAN BUSINESSMEN VISIT SERBIA Some twenty representatives of German industrial associations and companies, led by German Committee for Eastern Europe Chairman Klaus Mangold, visited Belgrade in October.

The delegation spoke to Serbian President Boris Tadić, Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Miroljub Labus, Economy Minister Predrag Bubalo, International Economic Relations Minister Milan Parivodić and Capital Investments Minister Velimir Ilić.

Deputy PM Labus told the German businessmen that Serbia needs new investments in order to secure a higher level of competitiveness of its economy, to improve the standards of its citizens, and to facilitate its journey towards the EU. According to Minister Bubalo, the German businessmen showed a great interest in investing in Serbia, especially in the energy sector and infrastructure.• OPINION POLL: WHAT'S CHANGED SINCE MILOŠEVIĆ LEFT? According to the latest public opinion poll conducted by the Faktor Plus agency, almost 57.5% of Serbian citizens believe their standard of living has not changed over the past five years.

According to the results of the poll, conducted on a sample of 1,200 adult citizens, 24.3% of respondents believe they live better than before the democratic changes on 5th October 2000, while 12.7% said they live worse.

According to the survey, conducted between 29th September and 3rd October, 56% of citizens believe that Serbia is economically stable, and around 57% believe it is a legally regulated country.

Approximately the same number of respondents said that the post-5th October authorities had betrayed their expectations and the ideas that had prompted them to rise up against Milošević's regime.

One-fifth of citizens believe pre-election promises have been fulfilled, and just 2.5% of those polled consider that the ideals of the 5th October changes have been fully realised.• "ITALIA A BELGRADO" Some 500 Italian and 1,000 local commercial representatives gathered for a two-day business-cultural event "Italia a Belgrado" (Italy in Belgrade) recently.

Opening the event, Serbian PM Vojislav Koštunica said that last year's visit of Italian businessmen yielded "marvelous results" and that Italy had become Serbia's main foreign-trade partner, with Serbian exports to Italy rising by 120%, and imports by 42%, in the past year.

Italian Ambassador to Belgrade, Antonio Zanardi Landi However, one important issue between the two states that remains unresolved is the issue of the unresolved debt of the former Smederevo steelworks, Sartid, to Italian Duferko Company. Sartid is now owned by U.S. Steel.

Italian Ambassador to Belgrade, Antonio Zanardi Landi, said that he was convinced that the Serbian Government would dedicate time to the resolution of that problem and that the Italian side was hoping a solution would be found in the following months.

Serbian Minister for International Economic Relations, Milan Parivodić, said that the Government was "aware of the gravity of the Duferko issue". He added that he and Minister Bubalo were "working very hard on this problem."• CorD | November 2005

37

ECOMOMICS - IT

Slobodan Radić, HP Serbia & Montenegro General Director

SINERGIJA IN A SUIT This year's fifth Belgrade Sinergija (Synergy) was not only a lesson in the latest IT trends in business, but also a lesson in how to reconcile differences for the sake of joint interests. Speaking to CorD this month, HP Serbia & Montenegro general director, Zoran Radić, explains how the company joined forces with rival Microsoft

By Zorica Žarković; Photo: Andy Dall fter four years of campaigning widely amongst a primarily young Serbian public and acquiring the reputation of being the most visited 'IT party' in the land, the Sinergija information technology forum abandoned its baseball cap, donned a tie and commenced its offensive on the business community for its fifth annual event in New Belgrade's Sava Centre from 12th to 14th October.

The decision to shift the focus to the business community was made by agreement between two of the world's greatest IT giants, Sinergija organiser Microsoft and Sinergija general sponsor Hewlett Packard. The software giants' combined efforts achieved

A

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CorD | November 2005

multiple successes, from the practical confirmation of the name of the event (sinergija (synergy): the combined action of joint forces to greater effect than individual force), to the quality of the content offered and the sophisticated message to the public that competitors are at their most productive when they can find a joint interest.

As with most things in Serbia, IT is not spared from the passion of the fan, especially among the younger generations. Thus, as rivals declare their undying support for Red Star or Partizan, they also line-up irresponsibly behind HP or Microsoft - depending on whether they are supporters of closed or open code systems.

Nevertheless, HP general director for SCG, Zoran Radić, says that his company is "very comfortable in the role of general sponsor of this year's [Microsoft organised] Sinergija", particularly

ECOMOMICS - IT considering that they have been co-operating with Microsoft globally for almost two decades.

Explaining HP and Microsoft's collaboration, Radić says: "We jointly invest money in research teams and we work on certain projects jointly. And, with more than 13 million licences, around 26,000 trained (and five and half thousand certified) engineers, HP is the world's biggest integrator of Microsoft solutions".

The companies' co-operation is intensive in this region too, considering that HP was a participant in events similar to Sinergija which Microsoft organised in Slovenia and Croatia, and is planning one in Macedonia before the end of the year.

These two multinational companies have worked on several pilot projects financed from joint funds. As regards differences in their business philosophy, Radić noted that they are highlighted in those segments in which the companies are rivals on the market, and are reconciled in "those projects for which they estimate, without emotional influence, as being of joint interest".

According to Radić, of greater importance for Serbia is the estimation of both companies that the climate in Serbia has changed and the country is now ripe for the more intensive animation of business clients. That was the basic motive for HP to join this Sinergija as the general sponsor and the reason why the concept was changed to a certain degree, with the focus on lectures of interest to both IT experts and business people.

Accordingly, HP engaged its regional experts who introduced their new concepts which are used throughout the world, such as the significance of the adaptive infra-structure for competition in a dynamic business environment, the importance of managing IT resources on the basis of business priorities, the reorganisation of printing as the basis for a more rational and effective operating, efficient data protection and modern methods to use it…

Additionally, their exhibit hall also presented the latest HP products and solutions for data storing and updating, Integrity servers with the latest generation of Intel Itanium processors, Blade servers, the latest equipment and solutions for printing in large business systems including digital data filing and the safe printing of confidential documents. As the general sponsor, HP provided the desktop and notebook computers, as well as HP Proliant servers for use during the presentation of Microsoft products, practical demonstrations and an Internet corner.

According to Radić, in addition to the contents, Sinergija also set up a new model for business gatherings and the presentation of IT trends instead of classical fairs and conferences "whose models are already worn out".

Asked how much Sinergija represents not only good news for Serbia, but also about Serbia, Radić says it was "good, but not enough for those whose capital we expect to cross our borders. For me that is a painful subject because I can perceive problems directly through the company I work for. The fact that on a global level HP has a turnover of 80 billion dollars does not only tell us about profits, but also that we invest a great deal in development and people. Because money costs, and where does that money go?

HP employs 900 people in Slovakia; in Poland they are establishing a centre to provide support to business clients with 1,000 employees. HP is transferring part of its internal business from Western Europe to Romania and 1,700 Romanians will find employment as a result, and in Bulgaria HP has 300 employees…

45 people manage the company's entire operations in Serbia. They achieve very good results, but that is not enough for a substantial increase in investments if appropriate conditions are not forthcoming.

They achieve very good results, but that is not enough for a substantial increase in investments if appropriate conditions are not forthcoming. How can we invest more if our phones did not work all last week, and we wasted last month solving the enigma as to who is authorised to issue us with the approval to use our company logo? Some companies around us have done that without the approval and nothing happened. And what kind of message are we sending then? That we as a company, whose business imperative is to respect standards, have to break the law or to reconcile ourselves with the fact that our business partners wander around trying to find us?"

Errors are born of Serbia's dominant mistaken impression that 'investments' exclusively mean the building of factories, and everything else is simply the peddling of 'mist'. This 'mist' is what is referred to elsewhere in the world as the development of and in the last decade it is this Slobodan Radić: "How can we invest more if our phones knowledge, that has represented the cornerstone for the did not work all last week, and we wasted last month redirecting of foreign investments globally.

Radić says that this message is important solving the enigma as to who is authorised to issue us for those invited to take their places in the front with the approval to use our own company logo?" rows of similar events. "I do not mean so much "If we analyse the situation in the region we can see that HP the message, which has already become obvious, that IT is unavoidemploys 900 people in Slovakia; in Poland they are establishing able in promoting business competition and the development of the a centre to provide support to business clients with 1,000 whole society. What is much more important is the second one: that employees. HP is transferring part of its internal business from work on the creation of a more favourable climate, which will enable Western Europe to Romania and 1,700 Romanians will find us to take a better position on the investment map, is based on the picemployment as a result, and in Bulgaria HP has 300 employees… ture of investment in the region. Simply said, give us the conditions to "45 people manage the company's entire operations in Serbia. employ people who will sit here, and work for the whole world".• CorD | November 2005

39

BUSINESS - BEER

BREWING FOR SUCCESS ven without the intense advertising campaign promoting a range of beer brands, one would still come to the conclusion that beer has a bright future in Serbia.

"Serbia currently consumes 70 litres of beer per capita each year, which means it has increased consumption by 10 litres per capita in the past three years", says Miodrag Maksimović, President of the Business Association of Serbian Brewers.

This period coincides with the arrival of foreign companies in the beer industry: Inbev (formerly Interbrew) took over the breweries in Nikšić and Apatin; Carlsberg took Čelarevo, and Turkish giant Efes took the breweries in Zaječar and Pančevo.

Local players have appeared on the scene as well, most not ably Rodic MB and Panbeer, who b o u g h t b r e we r i e s i n Z r e nj a n i n , B e č e j a n d Jagodina. The Brewer y in Niš is in the sights of c o n t rove r s i a l b u s i n e s s m a n N i n i , w h i l e Vr š a c brewer y has been bought by Union Market from B e l g r a d e . T h e f a te o f B I P ( B e l g r a d e B e e r Industr y) is in the hands of the gover nment, who own 52 per cent of the company.

E

LOYALTY B EFORE A LL eer has great potential as a product, bearing in mind that 82 per cent of households in SCG have bought at least one beer in the first four months of 2005.

Jelen and MB beer have the widest client base, with almost a third of all households in SCG buying these brands. It is noteworthy that research shows any single household could buy several differing beer brands in Serbia.

Loyalty to one brand can be observed in different ways.

The GfK Loyalty Research Panel uses indicators showing what percentage of the total needs for that category the buyers satisfy by a certain trademark. The greatest loyalty was given to Zaječarsko beer, though it also has a low consumer base (just 7 per cent of the respondent households bought this beer in the research period).

High loyalty (with a small number of buyers) to this trademark can be explained by the trust and acclaim of the brand in the local area, and also by the less active distribution of competing brands.

A similar example is provided by Lav beer, which also has a narrow customer base and high loyalty levels (Lav beer buyers sat-

B

By Rade Repija; Photo: Jelena Mandić & Andy Dall

What do you get when you blend the love of beverages, successful privatisation and investment in marketing? You get the beer industry: a branch of the Serbian economy with very bright prospects.

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BUSINESS - BEER

Maksimović says that although foreign companies have made signif icant investments and provided new equipment, this was not the cr ucial factor that inf luenced the growth of beer consumption. "Before the year 2001, which marked the end of a decade-long stagnation in the consumption of beer in Serbia, our strategy was adjusted to a pauperised market. It didn't matter how the beer would be marketed, just as long as it reached the consumers".

That is why beer was delivered in 0.5-litre glass ‘mason’ bottles that have been out of use in Europe for years. It's also why Efes, who paid €20million for two breweries, invested an additional € 12.7million into sophisticated glass and PET bottling equipment and a system for standardising top quality beer.

The same happened at Čelarevo Brewer y, which Carlsberg picked up for €54million and then pumped in €12million more for equipment, according to Financial Director Peter Winthereik. The plan is to invest additional €47million in the upcoming 5-6 years, mainly into equipment and market development.

The market share of Čelarevo is currently around 15%, but this is the fastest growing brewery in Serbia. "Compared to a year ago, we have grown 30-40 per cent", Winthereik says.

"The first year of privatisation was spent raising the quality of beer, building a distribution network and on marketing, so production growth did not start before mid-2004."

The adver tising campaign built around the slogan "to k ume" (My Man), resulted in the award for the best T V adver tisement in Serbia at the Ad-Eaters Night competition, as well as

a n awa rd f r o m t h e A s s o c i a t i o n o f S e r b i a n Adver tisers for the LAV beer adver tising campaign. "Čelarevo's adver tising budget is around 15 per cent of tot al tur nover, but the ef fects of the campaign were better than those of some other breweries", Winthereik says.

Miroslav Šutić, owner of Par tner Agency, told Blic daily that around the same amount of money was invested into branding Lav and Weifer t beer.

T h e a d ve r t i s i n g c a mp a i g n s a t t r a c te d n e w c o n -

isfy 57 per cent of their needs for beer just by drinking Lav beer).

Jelen is among the top beer brands with a wide customer base. Jelen drinkers satisfy almost half of their need for beer by drinking Jelen alone.

--Methodology: the Household Panel continuously measured the consumption of 'mass consumer' goods in SCG households.

Nothing bought and utilised/consumed outside the household (at work, while travelling, in a restaurant, hotel, in the street, etc.) was included in this research.

Data is collected in such a way that households which are within the sample take everyday records of their purchases, keeping a specific spending diary.

The first year of privatisation was spent raising the quality of beer, building a distribution network and on marketing, so production growth did not start before mid-2004.

Today Čelarevo's advertising budget is around 15% of total turnover, but the effects of the campaign were better than those of some other breweries.

Peter W inthereik

sumers to Čelarevo, while Weifer t consolidated the loyalt y of their own consumers.

Efes provided records showing their cur rent market share was 13.1%, compared to 12.8% at this time last year. The market share of the brewer y in Pančevo in August 2003, before it had been privatised, was 1.8% (ranked 12 th out of 13 breweries) and today it is 7 per cent. The brewer y in Zaječar

CorD | November 2005

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BUSINESS - BEER

had a market share of 8 per cent in August 2004 and now it is 6 per cent. Since December 2003, both breweries spent € 5million each on adver tising. "The ef fect of investment on sales is more than obvious, par ticularly in the case of the Weifer t brand", said Šutić.

"Although these are significant investments into marketing, there could be more", Maksimović says, "because the global standard is to put around 50% of the total turnover into marketing.

Aside from the Apatin Brewery, that had a marketing budget of € 2million even before privatisation, the others had miniscule budgets for this purpose before purchase. This was also because the price of beer was regulated between 1996 and 2001, so that the privatisation of breweries in Serbia started with depressed prices. "Our beer is still the cheapest in Europe", Maksimović says.

So why invest in marketing? Firstly, the producers expect consumption to improve to 90 litres per capita, which is in the rank of mid-level consumer states. In comparison, Ger many’s annual consumption is 120 litres per capita and the Czechs drink 165 litres per capita. Maksimović agrees there is a direct relationship between marketing and sales growth, but adds that these two things should be treated separately. On one hand, there is Rodić MB, who practically created a new brand in 2003 and started with a production capacity of 1 million hectolitres, while on the other we have the Apatin Brewery who leaped from 2 million to 3.5 million hectolitres in a year and is the leader in market investment with a budget of € 10million.

“Beer is a product that is traditionally marketed to the middle-age male population. In Čelarevo, this is precisely the target group of their local brand Lav Beer”, says Winthereik. At Efes they also said their target group were men of 25 to 35 years of age, but other men between 18 and 40 are also included in their marketing plan. However, a sure sign that things are changing is that after strengthening local brands, breweries have started to insert foreign brands for better coverage of the market. Apatin has introduced Becks, Čelarevo offers Tuborg and both are targeting younger consumers with a unisex approach.

Local brands continue to be the backbone of sales. The sale ratio of Lav and Tuborg, for example, is 95:5. We can expect breweries to introduce new kinds of beers, such as non-alcoholic beer, that will attract a completely different set of consumers. The producers expect the gover nment to suppor t them by reducing levies, which are among the highest in Europe. For a hectolitre of beer producers pay € 11 in Serbia, € 7.8 in Ger many and € 7.5 in the Czech Republic.•

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WINTER DRINKING

Leading producers are exerting great effort to equalise beer consumption levels in summer and winter. Previously, the ratio of consumption between winter and summer was 1:4, while it is currently 1:2.5.

Rodić MB commenced their marketing campaign in mid-winter 2003 and many breweries plan to extend their campaign into autumn and winter as well. Their primary concern is that, since the summer was rainy and cooler than usual, the consumption of beer was below standard levels. In Čelarevo the estimate is that consumption fell by 20% because of a cooler summer.

Efes plans to launch a classic advertising campaign for all of their main brands this autumn and winter (Efes Pilsner, Weifert, Pils Plus and Belo pivo), while there are also plans for special night club promotions of Miller Genuine Draft, Efes, Weifert and Belo.

Seeking mercy: Serbian leaders of state and church head for St. Sava Temple after the 17 th march Kosovo-Serb pogrom

ARE WE FAITHFUL TO After decades locked behind closed doors, the institution of the church has spent the past ten years making its glamorous comeback in Serbia. With an expanding flock in a society where 95 per cent of the population had already declared their religious devotion to one domination or another, the church's influence prospered. But has the church channelled its return through trendy politics and unsavoury media frenzies; and has this resurrection of faith, and the nature it has taken, been to the benefit or the detriment of both believers and atheists alike?

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By Zoran KneŞević; Photo: Stanislav Milojković reedom of religion is undoubtedly an intrinsic element of any democratic society. However, analysts have heavily criticised the methods and channels employed by the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) to affect its return to public life.

Over the past ten years the position of the institute of the church in Serbia has essentially changed in comparison to the previous period: religion and faith are openly discussed by all and sundry, more people declare themselves 'believers', churches are being built at a rate of knots, various religious dignitaries are often present in the front rows of the highest state celebrations; church officials make many statements and commentaries regarding essential political affairs, and some of them are apparently directly involved in the resolution of various state issues.

All of the above is primarily a consequence of the fact that religious convictions are not solely regarded as 'a private, individual matter', and the SPC, along with other churches and religious congregations, have been permitted to act freely and publicly. In accordance with the latest data, more than 80 per cent of the Serbian population belongs to the Orthodox Church; hence the standpoints of that church have been publicised more often.

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Society: State vs. Church Milovan Bojić, then a member of Mira Marković's JUL party; they have blessed paramilitary units, including the infamous 'Scorpions', whose members were accused of committing war atrocities in Bosnia. Priests have also misused humanitarian aid sent to refugees in Krajina, Bosnia and Croatia.

The hurried, often emotion-fuelled post-communist reawakening of religion has often seen the beliefs of followers of other religions and atheists seriously undermined and even oppressed without governmental backing. For instance, in 2000 religious education studies were introduced to nursery schools in the western Serbian city of Užice without the permission and consent of the education ministry or the local government's education authority.

"Adults have to understand that children are not toys. If we can achieve such a consensus, and if we would like to live in a civil and multi-ethnic society, we have to take into account parents of children with different religious backgrounds or commitments.

Simultaneously, to believe and to gain religious education is a personal matter and it should not be imposed", says Milica Krstović, an employee of the Užice nursery where voluntary religious education classes were introduced in October 2000 without the knowledge of

MINORITIES P USHED T O T HE S OCIAL P ERIPHERY

Monsignor Stanislav Hočevar, Archbishop of Belgrade: "A great many of Serbia's Catholics belong to national minorities and are poor. Because of their fear that their national identity is constantly under threat, they have not been sufficiently rooted in the society and, as such, have found themselves pushed to the social periphery."

OUR FAITH? "Churches and religious communities were barred from public life. They returned of late, though this was thanks to the citizens and not the government. Although some people feel that the church's public profile is too high, the fact that 95 per cent of the Serbian population consider themselves as religious or belong to a church means that this is normal. Moreover, citizens participate in public life through churches in all democratic societies, therefore that's the case here as well" says Milan Radulovic, Serbian Minister of Religion.

Surveys conducted between the 1990s and the present have shown that religious belief has experienced a resurgence, though no such survey has claimed that people have gone so far as to return to church services. Actually, 'church religiosity' was revived so that a greater number of people would baptize children or marry in church, while 'Slava' - a key symbol of orthodoxy and the Serbian identity - is celebrated on a large scale.

However, no essential changes have taken place when it comes to religious behaviour and true faith in God, nor any other aspect of religious consciousness or zeal.

Of course, there are excesses. Some SPS (Socialist Party of Serbia) priests have blessed casinos, the business premises of criminal gangs in Serbia, the clinic of former Health Minister

the majority of parents. The experimental addition to the curriculum was only abandoned after parents took to the streets in protest.

When it comes to incidents, our interlocutors agree that we have to take into account the mentality of local people who tend to follow 'trends' [the 'religion' of communism included] and spread bigotry at certain levels of society. Many citizens of Serbia also suffer from complexes born of the notion that their state and nation's very existence is endangered.

"We are living in a transitional period with a consciousness and style inherited from the totalitarian past. Since we are lacking serious approaches to the meaning and role of the church and religious communities, occasionally there are inappropriate incidents.

However, this is primarily a question of anthropology', says monsignor Stanislav Hočevar, Archbishop of Belgrade.

Frequent statements of state officials that the 'church is an integral part of society and should be consequently consulted about many important state issues' are considered by critics as being of great danger to the secular character of the Serbian state.

"It is important", says historian Professor Mirko Đorđevic, "to comprehend and accept that the church plays an important role in all contemporary democratic societies.

THEOLOGY T EACHER-TT RAINING

Serbian Education and Sport Minister, Slobodan Vuksanović, has announced that his ministry is conducting specialised training courses for theology teachers.

Vuksanović claims that the need to improve theology lessons in Serbian schools has prompted Belgrade's Faculty of Theology to organise training courses for theology professors.

CorD | November 2005

45

Society: State vs. Church "When we say that the church can articulate its standpoints, it does not mean that the parliament or government or political parties have to adopt them. The Church, as well as other organisations, has every right to express an opinion than can be publicised". However, Professor Đorđevic believes that "the active participation of the church in political life is not at all a desirable development."

According to minister Radulović, "Churches in Serbia have no influence whatsoever on the political decision-making process, although they can indirectly control global political, social and cultural developments, as well as the general orientation of society.

"That influence, for now, is insufficient. However it could be, and I hope it will be, extremely useful, since within the churches, apart from religious and spiritual experience, a huge historical and cultural wealth is concentrated," says Radulović.

Opposing Radulović's view, Professor Đorđevic is of the opinion that the Serbian Orthodox Church was in err when it interfered in politics. He feels it should have stayed away from the field since "neither the church nor the population gained anything as a result" [of church interference]. Moreover, he notes, the church "was always a loser when it associated itself with the power structures".

Politicians are greatly responsible for the position of the Church in Serbia, having consistently manipulated this institution in the recent past to garner public support and votes.

For example, current PM Vojislav Koštunica made a highly publicised pilgrimage to Hilandar Monastery on Greece's Mount Athos immediately after being appointed as president of the then FR Yugoslavia, and former highranking communist officials often attend high-profile religious ceremonies.

"Theology is an indispensable requirement of every civilized country and one of the basic elements, like foreign languages, computers and washing one's face in the morning" - Slobodan Vuksanović, Serbian Minister for Education and Sport The Serbian Orthodox Church believes that, as an institution, it has no involvement in contemporary politics. However, officials note, that does not mean that individual church members are not personally involved.

Bishop Grigorije, Episcopalian of Zahumlje and Herzegovina, says: "the Holy Assembly of Bishops and Holy Synod of Bishops dealt with crucial issues related only to the spiritual survival of the Serbian people, while the behaviour of certain individuals from their ranks which contradicts that standpoint of the Christian church should be perceived as a consequence of their human weaknesses, and not as politics supported by the church".

Certain NGOs, pressure groups, intellectual circles and ethnic and religious minorities often lodge complaints that Serbia is overly pious. These sections of society are of the belief that the Serbian Orthodox Church is acting as another branch of 'public government'. As such, they believe that the Serbian Orthodox Church enjoys an overly eminent position in the society, when compared to other religious bodies. Such a state of affairs, they feel, endangers the rights of religious minorities and atheists.

Monsignor Hočevar says: "We have to differentiate between theoretical and practical levels, as well as official and unofficial avenues.

Wisdom considers it as logical that the 'greater part' of society commands 'greater influence'; influence that is even greater if it is embedded in the social consciousness…The question is whether responsible individuals are area of such a 'psychology of reality' and can, accordingly, provide special conditions to protect minorities.

"I am personally convinced that no one is afraid of the Serbian Orthodox Church. However, certain misunderstandings do occur, largely due to poorly defined standpoints with regard to the past and to society as a whole". •

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SPC I S N OT P RIVILEGED

CorD: Are religious feelings excessively displayed and is the Church's influence misused publicly and politically in Serbia?

Radulović: Religious beliefs are deeply private, and every individual shapes the intensity and Milan Radulović, meaning of faith. In principle, Serbian Minister of Religion every public demonstration of religious feelings that is not religiously inspired, and is false or aggressive, should be considered as excessive. There are sometimes such occurrences in our society. Should we consider that to be a transgression or provocation? Since there is no damage caused by that, such instances should be exclusively handled by the church, rather than social institutions.

CorD: Is the Serbian Orthodox Church privileged in comparison with other churches and religious communities; and, if so, does this imperil the rights of minority religions?

Radulović: The Serbian Orthodox Church is not privileged in any way in comparison with other churches and religious communities in Serbia. Just the opposite, in some media it is exposed to verbal aggression, condemnation, misunderstanding and defamation to a greater extent than any other church or religious community in Serbia.

Attacks against the Serbian Orthodox Church indirectly endanger religious freedom and rights of other churches and religious communities, since such attacks dilute the Church's force and natural obligation as a majority religious community to protect common rights and interests of all believers.

The specific interests of believers, irrespective of their religious denomination, do exist, although they were ignored for decades. Any democratic society is obliged to identify, accept and satisfy those interests. It cannot, however, be achieved if there is an aggressive, intolerant, pretentious and ill-conceived attitude towards the majority religious community, coupled with a tolerant attitude towards religious minority communities.

SOCIETY - ICTY

Morning T V s tar V ojislav Š ešelj, p ictured p erforming b efore t he I CTY

ŠEŠELJ'S

SOAP OPERA

The appearance of Serbian Radical Party (SRS) president, Vojislav Šešelj, in the dock of the ICTY led to an increase in viewing figures for B92's coverage of The Hague and, somewhat irrationally, restored a degree of self-respect to 'ordinary citizens' (the greatest victims of the transition process) who can watch 'ours' again fighting 'the world' in the name of Serbia, while the Serbian Government is doing as its told and accepting IMF conditions.

By Mariana Milosavljevic; Photo: Beta ešelj may well have boosted TV B92's ratings and took up the good fight for Serbian pride on the international scene, but that has nothing to do with the continuing upsurge in SRS's popularity. Indeed, research agencies carrying out public opinion surveys have confirmed that Šešelj's popularity has remained unchanged.

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50-year-old Jovan Janković is a civil technician in a company that's on the verge of collapse. Just a few days ago he and his colleagues received their minimum-wage salary of 10,000dinars (+/- €125) for the month of February! Jovan's wife Jelena, 40, is a professional Russian language teacher who lost her job two years ago when she was pronounced surplus to requirements.

Nowadays she cleans apartments and two private pizza parlours, which keeps her busy until the early evening.

SOCIETY - ICTY This summer the Janković household, which includes Mr and Mrs Janković and their two children, watched B92's daily ICTY broadcasts attentively as Šešelj appeared, first as a witness in the Milošević trial and then as a defendant in his own preliminary hearing. But Šešelj's performance did not become the subject of lively conversation in the Jankovic home. As opposed to the 650,000 or so Serbian citizens who regularly tune in to the live broadcasts of the trial, in the Janković family the Šešelj debate came directly from the factory…

It was while the family was helping out on Jelena's parents' farm that Jovan got a call to return to work at the factory. Upon arrival he found that there was no work to do, but that his colleagues had acquired a black & white TV set and were preparing to collectively watch 'an important broadcast that's not a football match'.

Jovan had been summoned to watch Šešelj appear as a witness at the trial of Slobodan Milošević.

‘He will definitely destroy them'; ‘show them that there are different Serbs from those subservient ones who just nod when receiving orders', one of Jovan's colleagues told him. As a 'punishment' for his statement, the colleague was sent to fetch a few bottles of vodka and rakija for the crowd of employees that had gathered to watch the spectacle. More staff members arrived and soon the factory was packed to the rafters with idle workers drinking alcohol and watching Šešelj perform.

'Such a response!', 'Well done, give them what they deserve', 'We Serbs are just like that!' - were the most frequent commentaries during the broadcast.

During those few weeks Jovan's company registered very little practical activity and, indeed, before 2pm not a finger was lifted in the factory. Back home, his parents only gave attention to their grandchildren in the afternoons (after the broadcasts ended), while Jelena, who had no flats to clean during the summer, spent much of her time visiting neighbours who were glued to the ICTY broadcasts.

"My peers literally screamed with joy when listening to THE H AGUE, A RTHRITIS A ND T ELESHOPPING

Process TV is broadcast between 9.30am and 2pm. Many advertisers avoid presenting commercials in that period, probably due to the unpleasant content of the programme. Therefore, B92 director Veran Matic was correct when he stated that it could have been better for B92, financially speaking, if Latino-American soap operas were broadcast during that viewing slot. In terms of marketing during Process TV, mostly commercials from Teleshop can be seen, as well as those for kosmodisk [a rubber belt that apparently eases back pain] and an electronic device to measure blood pressure made by Prizma from Kragujevac. In addition to this there are commercials related to news, sport news and the weather, which are repeated four times during the programme.

Šešelj shouting, swearing and insulting", said Jelena.

At home, the Jankovićs began commenting loudly on the events of the courtroom with a new, fresh vigour. For a change they didn't talk about financial problems, unsuccessful job searches, how to replace the rusty boiler or dress the children. Lost feelings of dignity and pride began to return. 'They [Šešelj and Milošević], gave them [The Hague Tribunal] a real lecture', they excitedly mumbled during discussions of some tough national questions and conspiracy theories against their nation.

The overall impression is that the whole of Serbia has been glued to TV sets watching the Milošević and Šešelj trials. The hearings were shown on television everywhere - in shops, restaurants, cafes and even parks (by well-off pensioners carrying handheld televisions for themselves and their friends to watch).

Ljubica Gojgic: I would not be too harsh on those who got pleasure from Šešelj's appearance. It remains to be seen, as the proverb goes, who will be the last one with a broad smile Slobodan Đokic, marketing manager of the AGB Nielsen Media Research Enterprise, says that in August every third citizen who watched any TV programme was watching the trial. "The last time we had similar data was some two years ago when one of the witnesses was Croatian President Stjepan Mesić, who testified about negotiations between Tuđman and Milošević in Karađorđevo pertaining to a division of Bosnia and Herzegovina."

Data covering the classifications of viewers of B92's ICTY emissions on 'Process TV' also prove interesting reading. Ivan Mijović, from public research agency Medium Indeks, sazs that Process TV was to a greater extent followed by an urban population - the most regular viewers are aged over 45 and have completed secondary education or higher. Statistics recorded a minor gender distinction, with men following the programme slightly more than women. "The penultimate week of August was almost equal as far as men and women are concerned, however in the last week the male population was more represented, as well as in the first week of September", says Mijović.

Researchers from AGB recorded the greatest number of Progress TV viewers among the unemployed and retired, with the largest viewing group older than 65. The greatest number of viewers came from the Radical stronghold of southern Vojvodina, Belgrade, Central and Southern Serbia.

The Šešelj-Milošević duo rejuvenated and pleased many of their supporters, while many political analysts and NGO representatives started dispatching warnings that not only SRS and SPS supporters, but people with different political orientation would accept the historical interpretation of the Šešelj-Milošević Duo as a truthful account of events. In other words, Process TV failed to fulfil the original role of CorD | November 2005

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SOCIETY - ICTY ensuring that Serbs are informed and faced with the crimes committed during the civil war in the former Yugoslavia in the fist half of '90s and in Kosovo at the end of the decade.

The reform-oriented part of the Serbian public started panicking after Šešelj's testimony that lasted a couple of weeks, primarily due to public opinion research showing that SRS was continuing to gain popularity, even with Šešelj in The Hague. In accordance with the latest surveys, SRS can rely on 30 per cent of votes during some future parliamentary election.

As a matter of fact, the popularity of SRS had increased at a steady rate for quite some time before Šešelj's appearance in The Hague. The party's popularity started to soar in early 2002, thanks to the tough times of transition that had made even the recent past appear rosier than it really was. The average Serbian citizen perceives that during the Milošević (and Šešelj) era, the country stood up against the most powerful world forces, while nowadays the new regime simply follows their orders. The very last among those orders were amendments to the Law on Pension Insurance, upon the insistence of the IMF. Amendments of the law will primarily affect new pensioners, among which the staunchest supporters of SRS and SPS can be found. As much as the time of 'the resistance against the world' was meaningless and harsh, from the current perspective it is considered as a romantic epoch of 'heroic times'.

"The ordinary citizen's perception of Šešelj and Milošević can be better elaborated with reasons that are more irrational than rational", says Jasna Milošević-Đorđevic, director of Medium Indeks' investigating section. She noted that the Serbian public is extremely critical of The Hague Tribunal.

"That trend has remained the same for years.

That is why I believe that not only those who vote for SRS enjoy the appearance of the accused in The Hague, rather we have a greater range of such citizens. They simply feel that those trying to outwit the much-loathed court are heroic. However, this

"Šešelj undoubtedly pleased a large section of the nation, however we should not ignore the other part that deems it proper that he and Milošević reached The Hague. I would not be too harsh on those who got pleasure from Šešelj's appearance. It remains to be seen, as the proverb goes, who will be the last one with a broad smile", says Gojgic.

Agencies actually don’t know how the broadcasting of the trial influenced the electorate, since TV B92 is not a very popular TV station and their broadcasts do not reach the entire territory of Serbia. Additionally, when Milošević and

Slobodan Đokic: …in August every third citizen who watched any TV programme was watching the trial. "The last time we had similar data was some two years ago when one of the witnesses was Croatian President Stjepan Mesić...”

Šešelj appeared in August, it was a season of annual holidays and, thus, no agency initiated deeper analysis of how Process TV influenced the electorate.

Irrespective of the fact that a very small number of viewers follow Process [although it is in fact the most viewed morning broadcast of all television stations], some NGOs from Belgrade sharply criticized TV B92, which has exclusive rights to broadcast live from the ICTY. A debate was initiated regarding the purpose of televising the trial. The calculation was based on a premise that the domestic public would sober itself from the previous wars faster if they watched and listened to their war leaders, currently accused of horrendous crimes, more Agencies actually don’t know how the broadcasting of regularly. In other words catharsis was expected.

Since the planned effect did not matethe trial influenced the electorate, since TV B92 is not a rialize, there are many who would like to very popular TV station and their broadcasts do not reach cease any further live broadcasts of the trials. the entire territory of Serbia … no agency initiated deeper This was also demanded by Belgrade daily 'Danas' in one of their columns, in which analysis of how Process TV influenced the electorate they noted that B92 should accept 'codoesn't mean that they themselves would act in the responsibility for the ideas launched from the Hague courthouse by these two men…’ and that ‘Šešelj's incisame manner as Šešelj, or vote for the Radicals".

Ljubica Gojgic, author and presenter of Process TV dents were borderline scandals - extremism that is an and Hague correspondent of TV B92, says: "To accept a argument in any responsible hand…'

Jasna Milošević-Đorđevic says that it is essential to thesis [that due to the live broadcast the popularity of SRS and SPS increases] is oversimplification of the political inform the public because the previous period proved situation and political reality in Serbia. The popularity of that national cover-ups benefit nobody. "I think that SRS, following their short setback in 2000, has consistent- ceasing live transmissions would have caused a huge ly grown, although Šešelj did not appear in our broadcast revolt. Citizens alone should create their standpoint until August. Milošević has been appearing on the screen towards the most essential items regarding the develfor three and a half years. However, Milošević's appear- opment of a society, as well as for developing critical ances didn't manage to resuscitate SPS and bring them thinking" says Milošević-Đorđevic, adding that back to the political scene - only the current government research from her agency shows no increase in Šešelj's popularity during his testimony in The Hague.• can be thanked for making partners out of SPS.

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CorD | November 2005

CULTURE

ART & HUMANITY The tenth anniversary of the founding of humanitarian organisation Group 484 was marked by the opening of Jelena Šantić Park and the unveiling of a monograph chronicling the life of the famous ballerina and peace activist

Jelena Šantić protests in her own unique way

By Maja Vukadinović; Picture: Goranka Matić, Jelena Šantić Monograph

he newly renamed Jelena Šantić Park is one of the prettiest parks in the Neimar district of Belgrade. Situated at the junction of Južni bulevar and Internacionalnih brigada, the park dedicated to this famous Serbian ballerina and peace activist was opened as part of a series of events marking the tenth anniversary of Group 484 - a humanitarian organisation co-founded by Šantić and engaged in advocating the rights of refugees and IDPs in Serbia.

Group 484 was born in 1995, in the midst of the Yugoslav wars, when a wave of refugees arrived in Serbia from Croatia's Krajina region and people of good will took care of 484 families.

The humanitarian work of Šantić, a renowned ballerina, was recognised in 1996 when she received the Pax Christi International Peace Award. Four years later she suffered her untimely death after losing her battle with cancer.

The new park's opening ceremony was attended, amongst others, by Milena Milošević, president of the Vračar Municipality, and the vice-president of Berlin's MarzahnHellersdorf Municipality, where the first park dedicated to

T

Šantić - Jelena Šantić Friedenspark - was opened in 2003.

Berlin's Jelena Šantić Friedenspark boasts a sign of peace made of flowers personally planted by Šantić when she visited the German capital in 1999 to plead for support to end the then NATO bombing campaign.

Hans Spoelstra, president of Group 484's Berlin-based sister organisation Group 485, said "I am proud that Belgrade itself now has a park under Jelena's name".

As well as being remembered for her humanitarian actions and antiwar campaigns, Šantić also made a strong impact on the domestic ballet scene. Co-operation between the National Theatre - where Jelena performed for many years - and Group 484, has resulted in the publishing of a comprehensive monograph, simply entitled 'Jelena Šantić’.

The monograph introduces readers with all aspects of Jelena's life work.

Professor Ratko Božovic says that the monograph "is not only a story about Jelena Šantić. Rather, it is a story about any one of us during those gloomy times…In our culture we always remember certain people only after they're gone."

Professor Božović emphasises that amongst the myriad false heroes and fake victories "Jelena Šantić was a true heroine of our time".

Recalling the late ballerina's rich artistic expression and fascination with play, Božović noted that Jelena "played with fire" by expressing her rebellious civic spirit and soul for protesting, which led her into her role as a peace activist and fighter against the then "political sensation".

Speaking of Jelena's courage, perseverance and charm, Anna Black - a long-time associate from Holland - said that Jelena's strong personality was as big as a mountain. She also noted that Jelena represented "the very peak of the peace movement".

According to Professor Vojin Dimitrijević, member of Group 484's Managing Board, the procedure to establish a Jelena Šantić Fund has been initiated. This, he noted, should encourage young artists to be socially engaged and peace-oriented. The Fund's award will be bestowed upon artists pledging to fight for peace or approaching artistic expression through social engagement. A competition for the award is to commence soon.

The week marking Group 484's tenth birthday also saw promotions of the book "Ten Years Later", by French authoress Anne Leuile Olivier. Olivier's work is a testimony of the life stories of ten refugees from Croatia, chronicling their lives before, during and after Croatia's Operation Storm. • CorD | November 2005

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World Cup 2006

BIG GUNS, DARK HORSES AND DEBUTANTS

Mixed fortunes for the former Yugoslav republics of Bosnia and Serbia

By Vladimir Stanković; Photo: Stanislav Milojković ancy this outfit: Ratomir Dujković (Ghana), Pavel Janas (Poland), Raymond Domenech (France), Zico (Japan), Jose Pekermann (Argentina), Luis Aragones (Spain) or Dušan Galis (Slovakia), Luis Suarez (Ecuador), Ilija Petković (Serbia & Montenegro), Zlatko Kranjćar (Croatia), Marco van Basten (Netherlands) and Oleg Blokhin (Ukraine). Too many forwards?

You're right. If you're a football expert, you have surely noticed that many of these players are out of position too and that some names do not match the nations stated in the brackets. What is more, they belong to several different generations. No, this is not a CorD all-star team. They are all former high-profile players and now managers who have guided their respective teams to next year's World Cup finals in Germany.

Either Dušan Galis of Slovakia or Spain's Luis Aragones won't be there though, because the two teams meet in one of Europe's three play-off ties. Meanwhile Switzerland take on Turkey, while Norway clash with the Czech Republic in the other two to determine which three European nations will join hosts Germany and 10 others that have qualified automatically.

F

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CorD | November 2005

Some football forces to be reckoned with, such as Spain and the Czech Republic, have been consigned to the play-offs after finishing as runners-up in their qualifying groups. It appears, however, that all major contenders will reach next year's finals in Germany, where at least six nations will make their World Cup debuts

This list of managers may lead one to the conclusion that qualifying for the World Cup finals goes hand in hand with a manager who was a world-class player, but this is not necessarily true. This is a six-of-one, half-a-dozen-of-the-other case, as illustrated by another list of celebrities. Hristo Stoichkov (Bulgaria), John Toshack (Wales), Lothar Matthaeus (Hungary), Blaž Slišković (Bosnia-Herzegovina), Berti Vogst (Scotland), Alan Simmonsen (Luxembourg), Aarie Haan (China), Carlos Alberto (Azerbaijan), Hans Peter Briegel (Albania), Victor Piturca (Romania), Momčilo Vukotić (Cyprus), Johan Krankl (Austria), Otto Rehhagel (Greece), Alain Gires (Georgia), Slobodan Santrać (FYR Macedonia) and Morten Olsen (Denmark), who have all failed to progress to the finals with their respective teams. Some of them were axed early in the qualifying campaign, while others stayed around until the fat lady sang.

However, successful managers who had the reputation of mediocre players are a rarity. The three most prominent are England's Swedish manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, Portugal's Luis Felipe Scolari, who took over after winning a record fifth World Cup title with his native Brazil in 2002, and Carlos Alberto Pareira, now in charge of the defending world champions.

World Cup 2006 Either Trinidad and Tobago or Bahrain will also make history as one of them will advance to the finals for the first time after a playoff over two legs in November, while Uruguay and Australia will meet in a rematch of their 2001 play-off tie when the South Americans won 3-1 on aggregate to qualify for the 2002 event in Korea and Japan.

Should Spain and Uruguay live up to expectations and come out on top against Slovakia and Australia, all the big guns expected to reach the finals will be there. Brazil, the only side not to have missed a single World Cup finals tournament, will make a record 18th appearance. Germany missed the 1950 event in Brazil after they were banned from competing, while the Italians failed to qualify for the 1958 finals in Sweden. Argentina stayed home for the 1970 event in Mexico, Spain's only absence was in 1978 while England missed out on the 1994 gathering in the United States. France won the World Cup on home soil after missing two events in a row - the 1990 finals in Italy and the 1994 event. South Korea, one of the strongest teams in Asia and semi-finalists four years ago on their own turf, will make a sixth consecutive appearance while their bitter continental rivals Japan have secured a third back-to-back participation in the finals.

Croatia have also shown remarkable consistency, having missed only one major event (the Euro 200 finals in Belgium and Netherlands) since gaining independence in 1991. Sweden have also done well to qualify for five of the last six events.

Romania have gone the other way, having missed out on their second successive World Cup finals after qualifying for the previous three. Denmark have also failed after two back-to-back appearances and Russia too will sit this one out after bowing out in the group stage of the 2002 event. Bulgaria have now failed to qualify for two in a row while Scotland and Hungary have continued a seemingly endless run of poor results. Poland, on the other hand, have made it two in a row after missing the 1990, 1994 and 1998 events. Austria have failed to qualify for the World Cup finals since Italy 1990, while Belgium won't be there after five appearances in the last six World Cups.

Ukraine are the only European debutants so far, but they might be joined by Slovakia - should they pull off an upset against Spain and the Czech Republic, slight favourites against Norway. Former Soviet Union stalwart Oleg Blokhin, who has guided Ukraine to their first ever World Cup finals appearance, will have a worthy successor on the pitch in Andriy Shevchenko.

This qualifying campaign has produced a soccer revolution in Africa, where four teams have reached the finals for the first time in their history: Ghana, Togo, Angola and the Ivory Coast Serbia & Montenegro will also make their first appearance under the country's new name, but the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (the final incarnation of Yugoslavia, comprising Serbia & Montenegro) can hardly be called debutants as they took part in the 1998 World Cup finals in France. In addition, the old Yugoslavia did not miss too many events, having failed to qualify for only one played in Europe (England 1966). On the other hand, it qualified for only three events played off European soil (Uruguay 1930, Brazil 1950 and Chile 1962) and missed five (Mexico 1970 and 1986, Argentina 1978, United States 1994, and Korea & Japan 2002). The Czech Republic, who played in the Euro 1996 final and the 2004 semi-finals, have yet to make a World Cup finals appearance as an independent country.

This qualifying campaign has produced a soccer revolution in Africa, where four teams have reached the finals for the first time in their history. Ghana, Togo, Angola and the Ivory Coast have defied the odds to qualify for Germany 2006, while Tunisia have done well to book their third appearance in a row and fourth overall. Nigeria have failed to qualify after three consecutive appearances and Cameroon will also miss next year's event after competing in four successive events and five in total. The two powerhous-

All major contenders have qualified for Germany 2006 es will be joined on the sidelines by South Africa, who reached the World Cup finals in 1998 and 2002 and will host the 2010 event.

Ghana, arguably one of the most talented African nations, have been guided to Germany 2006 by their Serbian coach Ratomir Dujković, a former Red Star Belgrade goalkeeper. Dujković has thus continued a long tradition of managers from this part of the world steering national teams from other continents to the World Cup finals. Another goalkeeper, Blagoje Vidinić, took Morocco to Mexico 1970 and the former Zaire (DR Congo) to Germany 1974, while the legendary Bora Milutinović reached five events with five different national teams. The brother of late Yugoslav stalwart Miloš Milutinović, one of the best-rated European playmakers in his hey-day, coached Mexico on their home soil in 1986, before steering Costa Rica to Italy 1990, the United States in 1994, Nigeria to France 1998 and China in the 2002 event.

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World Cup 2006 He may well make it six in a row after stepping down as the Qatar head coach recently, should any of the 32 teams competing in Germany make a last-minute decision to employ his services.

Even though Israel finished their impressive qualifying campaign in Europe's Group Four unbeaten, having won four and drawn six matches, they failed to advance to what would have been their first appearance as they finished third, behind group winners France and play-off contenders Switzerland, but ahead of Ireland, Cyprus and the Faeroe Islands. Bosnia & Herzegovina also missed out narrowly after staying in contention until their last match against Serbia & Montenegro in Belgrade, which the home side won 1-0 to clinch automatic qualification.

Strangely enough, Portugal have made only three appearances so far (1966, 1986, 2002) and have high hopes of doing well in their fourth World Cup finals. As the Euro 2004 runners-up, Portugal will lead the European challenge, considering that champions Greece have been eliminated after a dreadful start to the qualifying campaign, in which they failed to win any of their opening three matches.

Hardly anyone will disagree that Brazil are the odds-on favourites with aces like Ronaldo, Adriano, Ronaldinho, Kaka and Julio Baptista in their squad. Argentina are also among the top seeded teams, as are hosts Germany for the obvious home turf advantage. The three-time World Cup winners, however, still have a lot of hard work to do as manager Juergen Klinsmann has come under fire from the hostile press for taking an eternity to sort out the tactics and some key positions in the team.

Spain and the Czech Republic have a good chance of doing well provided that they qualify, as do The Netherlands. Former star Marco van Basten has transformed the Dutch into a well-oiled scoring machine and who's to say that they can't emulate the 1974 suc-

World Cup 2006 Qualifiers EUROPE Germany (hosts) Ukraine The Netherlands Portugal France Italy England Poland Serbia & Montenegro Croatia Sweden Spain or Slovakia Turkey or Switzerland Czech Republic or Norway SOUTH AMERICA / OCEANIA Argentina Brazil Paraguay Ecuador Uruguay or Australia NORTH/CENTRAL AMERICA, CARRIBEAN

SCG: not to be underestimated in Germany cess in Germany, when they lost to the host nation in a memorable final, or even go one better and win it.

Italy will probably be as defensive-minded as ever, a strategy that has failed to win the hearts of neutral fans but often bore fruit, never more so than in 1982 when the "azzuri" won their third World Cup title with stunning wins against Brazil, Argentina and Germany.

England are seen by many as the dark horses of the tournament, with a host of young and talented players eager to make their mark, namely the outstanding Wayne Rooney, mercurial midfielders Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, as well as captain David Beckham, who may well be playing his last World Cup at the age of 30.

Serbia & Montenegro? The soccer-mad nation will never settle for being also-rans. However, the lads led by manager Ilija Petkovic have surprised many by merely qualifying for Germany 2006, meaning that getting past the group stage in the tough 32-nation event will be tantamount to overachieving. But even the top seeds will find Serbia & Montenegro a tough nut to crack because scoring against the team with the best defensive record in the qualifying campaign won't be easy. The Group Seven winners have scored 16 and let in just one goal in six wins and four draws, meaning that teams who underestimate their resolve will be shooting themselves in the foot.•

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CorD | November 2005

Mexico Costa Rica Trinidad & Tobago or Bahrain USA ASIA Japan South Korea Iran Saudi Arabia AFRICA Togo Ghana Ivory Coast Angola Tunisia

CULTURE

Dušan Jovanović’s modern, Serbian interpretation of Hamlet, performed at the JDP

Linguistic Dramatics Is it possible to gain an informed understanding of Serbia merely by watching the plays of domestic theatre directors? Serbian directors believe that, apart from the oral one, many other languages exist in theatres and if they are clearly recognisable, the public pushes the language to the background of understanding. However, foreigners living in Belgrade rarely go to the theatre, even when the plays are performed in English.

By Sonja Čirić

nformation listed with regard to nations that are not one's own, but within which one has temporarily resided, always include theatrical productions and performances. By watching domestic plays, one will easily discover which subjects are of importance to the citizens of the place in which one is living. Such productions provide an insight into how these people think, what their habits and tastes are, and what is relevant about their traditions, culture and history. Moreover, when watching domestic productions of foreign plays, one will learn of their openness to the world, the desire to be like, or avoid being like, the outside world; one will learn about their perception of subjects and literature which are not local, and so on.

I

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CorD | November 2005

But, is this veritable bounty of information offered by the theatre truly accessible to foreign residents? Let's assume that you satisfy the main pre-condition to use the theatre, that you know the language (Serbian) well. Yet, do you understand the allusions, for instance, in Dušan Kovačević's legendary Radovan Treći (Radovan The Third), based on one of the most important texts of Serbian contemporary drama, the premiere of which was accompanied by block busting queues in front of Belgrade's Atelje 212 theatre? Or can you understand the atmosphere, the essential elements in the classic contemporary dramas of Aleksandar Popović? Do you understand Jovan Sterija Popović's Rodoljupci, the great text of dramatic tradition staged in the Yugoslav Drama Theatre (JDP)? How do you understand dramas by foreign authors in our theatres?

CULTURE Do the people who create the theatre repertoire take account of the foreigners in the audience? We will try to answer this question by talking to Bitef Art director, theatreologist Jovan Ćirilov, Anja Suša, director and manager of the Duško Radović Small Theatre, Nebojša Bradić, director and manager of the Belgrade Drama Theatre, and Gorčin Stojanović, director and art director of the JDP. "Regardless of the director, while preparing the concept of some festival or theatre repertoire, I always make an effort to establish communication with as great a number of people as possible, including, of course, those who do not speak our language", says Anja Suša. "In that communication, language is the main obstacle, isn't it? For instance, the play, Snow White - no name in the Duško Radović theatre, which was on the official programme of this year's BITEF, is based on language. And, what was very interesting was that foreigners reacted brilliantly even though it was practically incomprehensible to them without a translation. By using this play as an example, I wanted to say that in the theatre, apart from the oral language, there are many other languages. And if they are clearly recognisable the audience pushes the language to the background of understanding. I assert that if the play is staged with skill, understanding is not a problem regardless of the viewer's mother tongue".

The aim of the accompanying Show Case programme (BITEF for Foreigners, as it was unofficially named) of this year's recently concluded BITEF, was precisely to bring Serbian theatre closer to foreign guests. "By presenting plays based on the tradition and influence of BITEF in a form recognisable to them, we also tried to present ourselves to our guests, whilst enabling them to become better informed about us", says festival selector Suša.

According to reactions, performances were close to foreign A new version of Atelje 212’s cult play ‘Radovan III’ attendees, especially the performances of Medeja and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf - plays which have texts that are familiar to them - and those in which language was not the main ele- experience", enables him to understand and enjoy plays in lanment, such as Be a Lady for One Day. But it is impossible to guages which are unknown to him. He supposes that this is the general rule. "I am not certain that you should know every word know how they judge plays.

"They are professionals; many of them are selectors in from Hamlet in order to see Dušan Jovanović's version of some festivals and will not tell you anything about the play, Shakespeare's drama. I do not know a single word of Lithuanian, I whether they liked them and what they liked about them. We can hardly feel that language, but for instance I watched plays will only find out if they invite some of our plays to appear at directed by Rimas Tuminas, the director in the Lithuanian National Theatre, who directed plays from Moscow to England and Germany some festival", says Jovan Ćirilov.

"Even though you can say with 100% certainty that while at festivals without any translation, and I fully understood and felt preparing the play we do not think about what people who do them. I thoroughly enjoyed his Oedipus in Lithuanian, even though not speak our language will think about it, even though the I cannot of course cite all of Tiresia's monologue, but I know theatre always turns to its own surroundings, even though all directors in the world direct their Marin Držić's Skup has won eleven festival awards and plays for their own audiences, in the end it turns is always performed without translation. Those who out that everything is not exactly like that", thinks Gorčin Stojanović. "I could cite a large saw it said: 'I did not understand what they were talking number of JDP plays, especially while Jovan about, but everything is clear to me'. Ćirilov was the manager, which foreigners could watch in their entirety, not just as pictures. From our current enough about that tragedy to enjoy Tuminas's play. What I want to plays, for instance, Marin Držić's Skup (Gathering), directed say is that the sense of theatre is not in the absolute semantic transby Jagoš Stojanović, is one such play. That play has won parency of every detail. The theatre is slightly different. Therefore, eleven awards at various festivals, and wherever they made we who create the theatre repertoire do not in fact take account of guest performances they performed without any translation. foreign spectators, but people who are really interested in theatre That is a play I can absolutely recommend to all foreigners. do not have problems with understanding".

Suša warns that for understanding theatre the spirit of time is more Those who saw it said: 'I did not understand what they were important than the language used on the stage. "I am thinking about talking about, but everything is clear to me'."

On the basis of personal experience, Stojanovic says that the broadest dimension of contemporary spirit, which is not only cul"a combination of general education and theatre viewer's tural, but also political, social and sub-cultural. The theatre is linked to CorD | November 2005

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CULTURE

Nebojša Bradić’s interpretation of Elfriede Jelinek's Little Trilogy of Death the moment and is unrepeatable, the same play is never the same and because of that the theatre has to be aware of that moment and to master it. And if that happens, then it is not important if somebody speaks Serbian, which is less common, or English, which is exceptionally common, because in the theatre there is a different level of recognition, thus if something is exciting then it is exciting, and the language cannot obstruct that."

The repertoire of many of our theatres is based on contemporary European and international dramaturgy, which makes it easier for foreigners to understand the plays. Nebojša Bradić emphasises that it is important for domestic theatre to deal with texts which are actual abroad. This has been a regular practice

see on stage. The same applies to those texts which belong to contemporary British drama: the so-called 'new brutalism' in Sarah Kane and Martin McDonagh's plays is known to foreign audiences, and in the Belgrade Drama Theatre they want to see how we interpret the events they are familiar with.

Finally, the question which perhaps should have been asked at the beginning of this article: how much are foreigners interested in our theatre? Our collocutors said that they see them the most at premieres, when they respond to protocol invitations. They rarely come to regular performances on their own initiative. Gorčin Stojanović emphasises the British Embassy's Sarah Price as a good example.

"She speaks Serbian and was a regular visitor to the theatre. I remember that she saw Mark Ravenhill's “We translated Wings of Lead, the story about the famous Shopping and Fucking several times, and brought Serbian painter Milena Barili, at the request of a foreign com- people from the embassy to watch it. There are many other people who speak and understand pany which wanted to present part of our culture to its Serbian, but I have not seen them rushing to BITEF, not to mention the plays in the regular seaguests. And that was it”, says Nebojša Bradić son. Some time ago I suggested to the diplomaticof the Belgrade Drama Theatre since it was established. This economic corps in Belgrade that we organise plays in English for theatre recently staged the premiere of Elfriede Jelinek's Little them once or twice a month. I do not want to name those diplomats, Trilogy of Death (directed by Nebojša Bradić) and Ken Kesey's but there was no interest in that initiative. We are ready, if desired, to One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (directed by Žanko Tomić), title every play. All is needed is to call us." and at the beginning of next year Amadeus, directed by Alisa Bradić says that in the Belgrade Drama Theatre they simulStojanović, is also expected. taneously translated those plays which they assumed were of Bradić is convinced that those plays are close to the foreign- interest to foreigners into English. "We, thus, made it possible er public. "Elfriede Jelinek's plays have been performed in for them to watch Goran Marković's Pandora's Box, Nicholas Europe for ten years, she has won the Nobel Prize and it is, Wright's Vincent in Brixton and Sanja Domazet's Wings of therefore, natural to present her to our audience. Now we need to find the solution for staging her dramaturgy, which is very Lead. We translated Wings of Lead at the request of a foreign specific and unusual, in order to make it understandable to the company which wanted to present part of our culture to its local audience too. We do not have that problem with foreign- guests and therefore chose this story about the famous Serbian ers. They are more prepared to watch Elfriede Jelinek's play painter Milena Barili, the woman who connects different culbecause they know how she writes and therefore what they will tures and different arts. And that was it." •

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ARTS - LITERATURE & DIPLOMACY

Dušan Kovačević

Miloš Crnjanski

Dragan Velikić

Ambassador Authors According to Vienna, Nicosia and Oslo-based State Union diplomats Dragan Velikić, Svetislav Basara and Vida Ognjenović, professional writers are infinitely more communicative and more effective at acting publicly and relaying messages to the public at large than professional diplomats.

By Jelena Jovanović; Photo: Stanislav Milojković

has unofficially been acting as a representative of Serbian culture for over a decade. Still, he notes, "that is no guarantee that I will make a good ambassador. Nevertheless, my appointment to this post is not coincidental".

According to Ambassador Svetislav Basara, writers are more communicative, better public actors and of more use to the public than professional diplomats, particularly those hailing from the "old school". Basara argues that if the works of a diplomat author are available in the country where they are acting as ambassador they have an added advantage that can boost their impact and ease the extending of their contact base.

ragan Velikić, Belgrade author and SCG ambassador to Austria, received extremely positive critiques of his 1995 novel North Wall, published this summer in German by Berlin publishing house Ullstein. Oliver Jungen, literary critic of Frankfurt's Allgemeine Zeitung, wrote that the only downside of the work was that it had not been made available in German earlier.

Velikić is just one of several Serbian writers who are currently ambassadors around the world. Appointed to the SCG embassy in Vienna this June, Velikić joined fellow writers and diplomats Velikić: "…the likes of Andrić, Dučić, Crnjanski, Rakić and Svetislav Basara (Cyprus) and Vida Rastko Petrović became state officials at an early age and Ognjenović (Norway), who have represented their country's interests abroad were career diplomats. The same is not true for the writers for several years. These diplomatic who are today assuming diplomatic posts" authors were recently joined in the SCG diplomatic corps by the country’s most celebrated contem"Coincidentally, my books are available in Cyprus, in porary playwright, Dušan Kovačević - who was appointed to both Greek and English versions," says Basara. "Moreover, the SCG embassy in Lisbon, Portugal this summer. writers have much better reputations in the outside world The appointing of celebrated authors to diplomatic than they do in our country. That fact opened many doors posts is by no means a new trend in Serbia. During the 20th for me and brought me feelings of affinity which, otherwise, century, such greats as Nobel prize winner Ivo Andric, I wouldn't have enjoyed".

Miloš Crnjanski, Rastko Petrović, Stansilav Vinaver, comeJust like art, the diplomatic call belongs to the sphere of dy writer Branislav Nušić and poets Milan Rakić and Jovan high level communication - considers SCG Ambassador in Dučić successfully navigated the waters of international Oslo, Vida Ognjenović. "The restrictive temple of official diplomacy for the then Yugoslavia. behavioural patterns make the jobs of diplomats harder", Speaking to CorD prior to his departure for Vienna, says Ognjenovic. "Everything else has a wide scope of work.

Velikić said: "it's true that writers are not a rarity in the tra- It is a creative job in a complicated mesh of differing condidition of our diplomatic corps. However, it is often over- tions, directions and influences, in which effectiveness is looked that the likes of Andrić, Dučić, Crnjanski, Rakić and dependent on an individual's personality, character, generRastko Petrović became state officials at an early age and al culture, experience, maturity and evaluative powers. It is were career diplomats. The same is not true for the writers logical that their artistic vocation can only be a big help." who are today assuming diplomatic posts".

Since Ognjenović arrived in Norway the interest of the Velikić's novels, short stories and essays have been Norwegian public in Serbian culture has greatly increased translated in several languages. His works were published and cultural and artistic exchanges between the two counin German and released in Austria in continuity. Thus, he tries has been rejuvenated.•

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CULTURE NEWS November

THE SKILL OF MASSIMO SAVIĆ AT THE TRADE UNION CENTRE

ANDREA BOCELLI AT THE ARENA ON 15th NOVEMBER Andrea Bocelli, one of the greatest modern tenors, will hold a concert at the Belgrade Arena on 15th November to the accompaniment of the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra. The concert will also feature coloratura soprano Annamaria dell'Oste and conductor Marcello Rota. Bocelli is called by many "the fourth tenor", alongside Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras. Bocelli lost his sight at the age of 12, after sustaining an injury during a game of football. In spite of his misfortune, he graduated law at the University of Pisa. In 1994 he made his debut appearance as a singer. Bocelli's rise to musical stardom started with performances of local tunes of the Mediterranean and popular songs of Sicily. The arrangements of his performances include folk versions of popular arias, which liberate the full potential of his voice. The price range of the tickets for Bocelli's concert is 2,000 - 25,000 dinars. The concert is brought to the audience in Belgrade by BIDC Company (Balkan International Distribution Council) under the patronage of the Serbian Ministry of Culture and Belgrade City Council.

QUEEN MARGO PREMIERE AT NATIONAL THEATRE The National Theatre in Belgrade has announced a premiere performance of the ballet "Queen Margo" on 16th November, choreographed by Krunislav Simić. The ballet is a story of love, religious strife and cathartic bloodshed, remembered by history as the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre. A special tone to this world premiere is set by Goran Bregović's musical contribution to Simić's adaptation of the original script, providing a touch of exclusivity to the performance. The authors of "Queen Margo" believe that Bregović's music will rouse the interest of audiences in Serbia and Europe. Krunislav Simić, the laureate of many national awards, will feature at the National Theatre for the first time with this ballet.

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Massimo Savić, Croatian pop star and front man of "Dorian Gray", a popular group of the ‘80s scene in Zagreb, will present his new album "Vještina" (Skill) at the Trade Union Centre on 2 nd November. The record features pin-ups of local scene classics. Savić is a candidate for Best Live Act by MTV Adria that will be awarded at the MTV European Music Awards in Lisbon on 3 rd November. Savić will miss the MTV EMA ceremony because of his concert in Belgrade and Serbian mini-tour, his first after a long time. Although he was told about the nomination af ter already arranging the concert in Belgrade a day earlier, Savić said he would have chosen to appear live at the Trade Union Centre anyway, because he waited for such a long time to stage a performance at this venue. In Croatia I performed in halls similar to the Students' Cultural Centre in Belgrade, but the Trade Union Centre is a place where people are seated and the silence before the concert begins is deafening. There's no fooling around there, you can hear the faintest whisper, and that's a real test for any singer", Savić said, adding that he loved challenges.

CULTURAL CALENDAR November FESTIVAL HITS FEATURE AT CINEMANIA AND MOVE ON TO CINEMA REPERTOIRES The Nektar Cinemania Film Festival (27th October - 2nd November) will screen 26 film premieres in Belgrade and Novi Sad, including world premiere and festival opener "The Legend of Zorro", by Martin Campbell, and European premieres "Doom" (Andrzej Bartkoviak) and "Flightplan" (Robert Schwentke). Organised by Tuck, one of Serbia’s top film distributors, Cinemania also features premieres "The History of Violence", by David Cronenberg, and the latest adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic Oliver Twist,

by Roman Polanski, that recently had its world premiere in Prague. The festival will screen reruns of another 41 movies.

Several films from this year's Cinemania will be distributed on the cinematic repertoire by Tuck in November. Cassern will start screening on 3rd November and Cronenberg's thriller "The History of Violence" is scheduled for 10th November, along with action movie "Transporter 2" by Louis Leterrier. This year's Cannes Festival Golden Palm laureate "The Child" (L'Enfant) by the Dardenne brothers, as well as "Exorcism of Emily Rose", will be available to the audience from 17th November, while Polanski's "Oliver Twist" and John Stockwell's "Into The Blue" will hit the silver screens on 24th November.

THE BELGRADE PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA AND CONDUCTOR DORIAN WILSON - Kolarac Memorial, Friday, 4th November, 8pm Soloist Garry Hoffman (cello) Grand Anniversary Cycle GLOBAL DEEJAYS - Student Cultural Centre, 5th November, Leading electronic music artists will stage a concert entitled "Sound of San Francisco", named after their golden single record.

BELGARDE STRINGS DUŠAN SKOVRAN and conductor Ronald Zollman - Kolarac Memorial, Monday, 7th November, 8pm Soloists: Lidija Stanković (piano) and Gordana Matijević - Nedeljković (violin). Programme: Haydn - L'Isola Disabitata, Mozart Concerto for two pianos E flat major, Willson Concerto for violin and string orchestra, Bartok Divertimento

FINE ARTS 46th OCTOBER SALON - ART THAT WORKS/CATH ME Runs until 17th November - Legacy House, ULUS Gallery, Belgrade Cultural Centre, Site specific projects - Knez Mihajlova and Carice Milice 7 Exhibition: "ON NORMALITY. ART IN SERBIA 1989-2001."

Runs until 7th November, Museum of Contemporary Art PRE-AUCTION EXHIBITON MADL'ART - Madlenianum Theatre and Opera, 4th - 12th November

ST. GEORGE STRINGS - Belgrade City Council Festivity Hall, Tuesday, 8th November, 8pm Vocal ensemble of the Department for ethno music of Mokranjac School of Music, conductor Aleksandar Damnjanović, soloist Aneta Ilić.

Programme: Damnjanović, Bartok, Slavenski, Konjović. Organised by Jugokoncert with MIC SOKOJ

CONCERTS MASSIMO SAVIĆ - Trade Union Centre, Wednesday, 2nd November, 9pm Promoting his latest record "Vještina".

ARVE HENRIKSEN DUO - Main Stage of the Belgrade Drama Theatre, Thursday, 3rd November, 8pm Norwegian jazz trumpeter Arve Henriksen and vocal Jan Bang will stage a concert as part of the recording and production workshop "Art of Life in Sounds", held by Bang from 2nd - 4th November at the High School of Electrical Engineering MUSIC IN SPACE- Students' Cultural Centre, Thursday, 3rd November, 8pm Pianists Ljiljana Borota, Christian Knebel (Germany) and Sandra Stojanovi? will stage a multimedia concert within the "Musica Nova" cycle.

Programme: Debussy, Kurtag, Sisak, Wanek, Schnittke, Holst Pieces for piano solo, 4 and 6 hands

STEVE WYNN & THE MIRACLE 3 - Belgrade Youth Centre, Wednesday, 9th November, 9pm One of the trailblazers of American indie rock and his band will promote their latest release called "Tick…Tick…Tick" en route their European tour.

The album is the final part of his 'Desert Trilogy' that started off with "Here Come The Miracles" in 2001, and continued with "Static Transmission" in 2003.

EVENING OF CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS - Kolarac Memorial, Wednesday, 9th November and Saturday, 12th November, 8pm RTS Symphonic Orchestra, pianists Lidija Bizjak, Sanja Bizjak, Maja Rajković, Ljiljana Vukelja, Vladimir Cvijić (piano concertos), Nevena Popović and Miloš Mihajlović (Carnaval des animaux). Organised by CorD | Novenber 2005

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CULTURAL CALENDAR November Jugokoncert in collaboration with Centre culturel français and RTB Musical Production TENOR ANDREA BOCELLI - Belgrade Arena, Tuesday, 15th November, 8.30pm With: Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, Annamaria dell'Oste (soprano) and surprise guests. www.bocelliubeogradu.com BELGRADE PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA AND CONDUCTOR URS SCHNEIDER- Kolarac Memorial, Friday, 18th November, 8pm Soloist Ilja Gringolc (violin) Conductors' Choice Cycle VLADIMIR MILOŠEVIĆ (piano) - Kolarac Memorial, Sunday, 20th November, 8pm Cycle: Rising Stars. Organised by Jugokoncert STANA KRSTAJIĆ (flute) and OLIVERA ĐURĐEVIĆ (piano) Belgrade City Council Festivity Hall, Tuesday, 22nd November, 8pm Cycle: Musica Nova, Programme: Schulhoff, Milhaud Organised by Jugokoncert BELGRADE PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA AND CONDUCTOR ZUBIN MEHTA (HOMAGE TO HANS SWAROWSKI) Kolarac Memorial, Saturday, 26th November, 8pm Academic Choir "Kolegijum muzikum", RTS Children's Choir.

Programme: G. Mahler: Symphony no. 3 D minor Soloist: Mijam Kalin, alto KSENIJA JANKOVIĆ (cello) and NENAD LEČIĆ (piano) Belgrade City Council Festivity Hall, Sunday, 27th November, 8pm Cycle: Musica Nova, Programme: Milojević, Stanković, Mokranjac, Marić, Radić, Jevtić, Despić, Erić, Trajković BALKAN CHAMBER ACADEMY - Kolarac Memorial (tbc), Monday, 28th November, 8pm Marija Špengler (violin), Graham Waterhouse (cello), Great Britain. Musica da camera Cycle, Programme: Night of Nonets - Spohr, Waterhouse. Organised by Jugokoncert.

EVENING OF DEJANA DESPI? - Kolarac Memorial (tbc), Tuesday, 29th November, 8pm Saint George String Orchestra under conductor Petar Ivanović With: Ljubiša Jovanović (flute), Borislav Čičovački (oboe), Ksenija Janković and Christoff Richter (cello) Programme: Tribute to Stevan Mokranjac, Partita concertante for oboe and strings, Concerto sereno for flute and

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strings, Introduction, coral and variations Mendelssohn's theme for two violoncellos and strings Organised by Jugokoncert

on

FILM CINEMANIA - Sava Centre, Tuesday, 1st November 4.30pm LA VITA CHE VORREI, melodrama Directed by Giuseppe Piccioni. Cast: Antonino Bruschetta, Fabio Camilli, Sandra Ceccarelli, Roberto Citron, Sonia Gessner 7pm WEDDING DATE, romantic comedy Directed by Clare Kilner, Cast: Debra Messing, Dermot Mulroney, Jack Davenport, Sarah Parish, Amy Adams 9pm FLIGHTPLAN, thriller, European premiere Directed by Robert Schwentke. Cast: Jodie Foster, Peter Skarsgaard, Sean Bean, Marlene Lawston, Ina Barron, Erika Christensen 11pm INTO THE BLUE, adventure Directed by John Stockwell. Cast: Paul Walker, Jessica Alba, Ashley Scott, Scott Caan, Josh Brolin, James Frain, Gill Montie Wednesday, 2nd November 4.30pm MINDHUNTERS, action Directed by Renny Harlin. Cast: Val Kilmer, Christian Slater, LL Cool J, Johnny Lee Miller, Eion Bailey, Kathryn Morris 7pm MERCHANT OF VENICE, tragicomedy Directed by Michael Radford, Cast: Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons, Joseph Fiennes, Lynn Collins, Zuleikha Robinson Kris Marshall 9pm L'ENFANT, drama (Golden Palm at Cannes Festival 2005), in cinemas from 17th November Directed by Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne. Cast: Jeremie Renier, Fabrizio Rongione, Olivier Gourmet, Deborah Francois, Jeremie Segard 11pm CASSHERN, science fiction (in cinemas from 3rd November) Directed by Kazuaki Kiriya. Cast: Yusuke Iseya, Kumiko Aso, Akira Terao, Kanako Higuchi, Fumiyo Kohinato, Jun Kaname CINEMATIC PREMIERES CASSHERN, Wednesday, 3rd November, distributed by Tuck Directed by Kazuaki Kiriya, Cast: Yusuke Iseya, Kumiko Aso, Akira Terao, Kanako Higuchi, Fumiyo Kohinato, Jun Kaname Genre: science fiction Synopsis: At the end of the 21st century, after 50 years of

CULTURAL CALENDAR November devastating war between Europe and the Eastern Federation, the forces of the East have emerged victorious and Eurasia is borne. There is no time to celebrate, however, since the planet has been devastated by chemical, biological and nuclear weapons and the population is desperate and weary after half a century of war. The only hope for long-term survival lies in the research of geneticist Dr Azuma and his revolutionary neocellular treatment that restores the body and could regenerate the human species.

HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, Thursday, 10th November, distributed by Tuck Directed by David Cronenberg, Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Maria Bello, Genre: thriller Synopsis: Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen) lives in peace and tranquillity with his wife (Maria Bello) and two children in the small town of Millbrook, Indiana, until one night, when Tom has a premonition that his restaurant is going to be robbed. He takes matters into his own hands and rescues his guests and friends, but kills two assailants in the act. After being declared a hero, Tom's life radically changes overnight and turns into a media spectacle.

TRANSPORTER 2, Thursday, 10th November, distributed

by Tuck Directed by Louis Leterrier, Cast: Jason Statham, Alessandro Gassman, Amber Valletta Genre: action Synopsis: Jason Statham continues his role of former special ops policeman Frank Martin, a.k.a. the Transporter. The stage is set in Miami this time, with Martin working as a chauffer for a wealthy family and their son, whom he unexpectedly grows fond of. The plot thickens when the boy gets kidnapped.

THE CHILD (L'ENFANT), Golden Palm at Cannes Festival 2005, distributed by Tuck Screenplay/Directed by: Jean Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne, Cast: Jeremie Renier, Deborah Francois, Jeremie Segard, Olivier Gourmet Genre: drama Synopsis: Bruno is 20 and Sonya is 18. They live off Sonya's salary and Bruno's petty thefts. Sonya has just given birth to Jimmy, their child. How will Bruno cope with the role of a father against his irresponsible attitude, living a life with no perspective? A father whose only concern is to get money through the scams he can think of.

EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE, Thursday, 17th November, distributed by Tuck Directed by Scott Derrickson, Cast: Laura Linney, Tom Wilkinson, Campbell Scott, Jennifer Carpenter Genre: horror, thriller Synopsis: Emily Rose has horrifying visions, while she starts falling into illness as her body loses strength. A neurologist diagnosed her with epilepsy, but all medical tests disproved this. After her condition gets even worse, a psychologist adds psychosis to the previous diagnosis. When she reaches a stage in which doctors are of no use, her parents seek the help of a priest. Her father Moore decides to perform an exorcism, something he has never done before.

OLIVER TWIST, Thursday, 24th November, distributed by Tuck Directed by Roman Polanski, Cast: Barney Clark, Ben Kingsley Genre: family drama Synopsis: An Oscar-winning team that gave us the "Pianist", director Roman Polanski and screenwriter Ronal Harwood present us with another adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic about the life of an orphan in the streets of XIX century London.

Abandoned in early childhood, Oliver Twist (Barney Clark) is forced to live in a ragged warehouse owned by the ferocious Mr Bumble. In desperation he takes to the streets of London. Alone and penniless, he slowly but surely gets sucked into the crime milieu‌ INTO THE BLUE, Thursday, 24th November, distributed by Tuck Directed by John Stockwell, Cast: Paul Walker, Jessica Alba, Scott Caan, Ashley Scott, Josh Brolin Genre: adventure Synopsis: A tense thriller situated in the ocean depths of the Bahamas teeming with sharks. When a group of young divers discover a plane wreck on the bottom of the sea, their dreams of long-lost treasure look as if they are about to come true. What they do come to realise is that the wreck really does hold a million dollars in cash, but a band of dangerous criminals has set their sights on the loot as well.

THEATRE BALLET "QUEEN MARGO" - National Theatre, premiere, 16 th November, encores 19 th and 22 nd November

CULTURE - MUSIC

From Guča to the World: The Boban Marković Band

LANGUAGE OF MUSIC Serbian world music is an interplay between an oriental heritage, European inflow and, naturally, old Serbian folk music. This mélange of different cultural inheritances and the large number of ethnic minorities living in Serbia are vital components of the country's rich musical tradition. In the next two issues, CorD will present you with the Cyrillic ABC of Serbian world music

By Miloš Mitić & Bojan Đorđević; Photo: Stanislav Milojković ollowing global cultural trends that feature world music as one of the most vital and creative genres, Serbia has experienced a flourishing of home-grown ethno music in the past 6 years. Of course, the history of this genre does not begin a couple of years ago. Just like everywhere else in the world, this kind of music, colloquially dubbed "folk music", took centuries to develop.

Serbian world music is an interplay between an oriental, Arabic heritage (many beautiful harmonies and musical trends became part of Serbian musical culture during the Ottoman rule), European inf low and, naturally, Serbia's native music. From today's perspective, one should value the contribution of one of the most significant Serbian composers, Stevan Mokranjac, a German disciple whose most important composition, entitled "Rukoveti", is actually a collection of folk songs adapted into chorales at the end of the 19 th and beginning of the 20 th centuries.

This mélange of different cultural inheritances and the

F

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large number of ethnic minorities living in Serbia are vital components of the country's rich musical tradition and the diversity of the "musical menu" in this genre. Hence, it is very hard to provide brief contours of ethno music in Serbia or an allencompassing definition of what comprises world music here.

That is why we have organised this guide in the form of an alphabet, for the sake of practicality.

A - ACA, ALESKANDAR ŠIŠIĆ - legendary violin player of the old guard and the first Serbian world music globetrotter. Until retirement, he was the first violin of Radio Belgrade's National Orchestra and played for Tito and a worldwide audience. His virtuosity and abilities in arranging music distinguished him from other notable performers. However, his work had almost fallen into oblivion because his music was not re-published after his retirement.

Fortunately, Aca staged a magical comeback with his album "magic Violin", recorded and released by B92, after which he was showered with a hail of invitations for live performances enabling younger generations to get a feel for his music.

CULTURE - MUSIC B - BOBAN MARKOVIĆ - After winning every possible award at the Guča Festival in Serbia (First Trumpet, Best Orchestra, Golden Trumpet, Master of Trumpet) several times over, a host of wedding performances and contributions to the musical score of Emir Kusturica's films "Arizona Dream" and "Underground", the "King of the Trumpet", as people call him, has turned to conquering the global audience. Boban Marković has made up to 130 performances a year in recent times and in the last 5 years he has released five records for international labels. Aside from putting their audience into a trance at live performances, Marković and his band from Vladičin Han (Southern Serbia) have widened musical boundaries and set new parameters that other bands in Serbia are trying to emulate.

B - BORIS KOVAČ - this multiinstrumentalist and composer from Novi Sad used folk music elements in his early work, described by critics as cassette music and new chamber music. His capital work titled "The Last Balkan Tango" was inspired by the hard times in Serbia during the 1990's. Kovač expressed his creativity through a blend of Balkan music, tango, cabaret, thus inventing a new kind of world music. The success of this record along with live performances encouraged Kovač to continue further down this road.

B - BISTRIK -BILJANA KRSTIĆ was a pop singer for a long time before she started exploring the ethnic music of the Balkans that yielded an album titled "Bistrik", at a moment when the audience in Serbia was mature enough to accept the ethno sound as a distinct culture and not just another variant of the notorious "turbo folk". Biljana Krstić and her band have built a notable international reputation with their first album and contributed to national blockbuster "Zona Zamfirova".

GIFTS F OR C ORD S UBSCRIBERS

"Cord, B92 & RingRing promotions are offering CorD subscribers 17 free copies of a compilation CD featuring the best of Serbian World Music. For more information, please contact our Subscriptions Manager Tanja Bogdanovic on 30 87 066, or via email at t.bogdanovic@cma.co.yu B - BELO PLATNO - this young ensemble from Belgrade plays traditional music with less pop elements than, for example, Biljana Krstić. Their trajectory is characteristic of young bands in Serbia.

They were on the fringes for a long time, not unlike a host of underground punk rock bands, playing the traditional music of Serbia, Macedonia and Bulgaria. They managed to reach a wider audience when the world music scene became popular in 2001.

There are several good ensembles in Serbia who explore traditional music in a similar way.

V - VIDA PAVLOVIĆ - ethnic Romany singer who gained popularity during the ‘60s and ‘70s, but like many others faded into oblivion because she was unable to present the music of her preference in her attempts to make a compromise between popular folk tunes and authentic Romany music. Just when she was about to make a major comeback, after releasing some very good material comprised of old and new songs and after hooking up with pop singer Bajaga, an early death prevented her from joining comeback celebrities such as Saban Bajramović, Ljiljana Petrović and Aca Šišić V - VRANJE - a town in South Serbia, the hometown of Kostana - legendary protagonist of Bora Stankovic's drama. Its geographical position has always made it an estuary of many different

From pop to ethno sounds: Biljana Krstić and Bistrik Band musical styles and ethnicities and even today, the region around Vranje is reputed to have the best brass bands and the most beautiful songs in Serbia.

G - GUČA - an agrarian village in Central Serbia that hit the musical map in 1961 when the first Dragačevo Festival of trumpet players was held with only three participating brass bands. Over time, the event grew to gigantic proportions and acquired international acclaim.

During the Festival days in early August some half a million people visit this small village to relax from the strain of everyday life in seven days of ecstatic partying to the tunes of brass music and a bonanza of food and drink. Trumpet players, such as Boban Marković, have carried the fame of this Festival to the four corners of the globe, but international guests are an important part of the event as well. For everyone who loves a good party, with music, food and drink, Guča is a regular summertime destination.

G - GORAN BREGOVIĆ - when you mention Serbian music abroad, the first association is the name of a guitar player of the once greatest Yugoslav rock band - Bijelo dugme (White Button), who left his career as a rock musician only to gain even more popularity by composing music for Emir Kusturica's movies and later with live performances of his Orchestra for Weddings and Funerals. The music produced by Bregović is actually an excellent arrangement of Romany songs from the Balkans and rhythm, but no one can deny his ability to market his music and the fact that he has opened the door to the international scene to other bands with his work.

D - DARKO MACURA -an artist who can often be seen on the streets of Belgrade wearing unusual garments. He has not received due attention and respect because of an uncompromising attitude on the issue of changes and novelty in traditional music and his individuality that prevents him from co-operating with other musicians and expressing the full potential of his creativity. Thus, his solo concerts and independent label have a special value and significance.

D - DJ SHANTEL - a DJ from Frankfurt stands out on this list of "who is who in Serbian world music". However, during the past four years, DJ Shantel has turned from techno to world music, especially music from the Balkans. His project "Bukovina Club" has a growing army of followers among the younger European population, who enjoy his interpretation of Balkan and Romany music.

The circle of admirers of Balkan music is growing and some are already calling it a boom of Balkan music.

To be continued...

CorD | November 2005

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CULTURE - Literature

WRITER, POLITICIAN, NOBEL WINNER The Swedish Academy declared British writer Harold Pinter this year's Nobel Prize for Literature winner in Stockholm on 13th October. Pinter, who turned 75 this year, received the coveted award after announcing his retirement as a writer. In March, the BBC ran his last drama, "Voices", while "Remembrance of Things Past" is still being shown at London's National Theatre

By Jelena Jovanović

inter made his literar y debut in 1957 with the drama "The Room" and wrote the script for a second drama, "The Bir thday Par ty," that same year. The adjective 'pinteresque' was coined to depict his predominantly dark and demanding style. Pinter's work inf luenced many of his contemporaries, among which were U.S. writers Sam Sheppard and David Mamet.

The Basement, Tea Party and Old Times are Pinter's most famous works from the 1960s. In the

P

Nobel Prize-winning British Writer Harold Pinter

icy. Pinter has criticised events in Iraq, as well as the course of action taken by U.S. President George Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair in that country.

"What worries me, and I am not alone in thinking this, is that the state has become 'nibbled'. The state has become too powerful and repressive. I find this very sad. It's happening before our very eyes," Pinter told the BCC in July 2002.

Last year he won the Wilfred Owen award for poetry for a collection of poems addressing the Iraq war.

Borivoje Gerzić translated and pubPinter used to be classed in the same bracket of apolitical lished Harold Pinter's dramas for readwriters as Beckett and Jonesco before making his viewpoints ers in Serbia. Lapis House published New Dramas collection, containing on Chile known and taking interest in violations of human the Party Time, Moonlight, Highlander rights by totalitarian regimes Language, One for the Road, A kind of Alaska, Victoria Station and Voices 1980s Pinter stuck mainly to single-act plays such as Monologue, while Istar published Moonlight in 2002 A Kind of Alaska, One for the Road and Mountain as part of the "Selected Anglo-American Language. Pinter also authored numerous television Contemporary Dramas" edition. and film scripts, including The Servant (1963), The This year's Belgrade book fair offered a new ediAccident (1967), The Go-Between (1971) and The tion of the first book - eight Pinter dramas, translated French Lieutenant's Woman, based on John Fowles'

by Gerzić and published by Narodna Knjiga Beograda novel of the same name.

(National Book of Belgrade).

Pinter also made a name for himself with angry "I discovered Pinter through Samuel Beckett public protests against the global abuse of power, because his works originate from this theatre of the more precisely over the U.S. and Britain's foreign polabsurd scene, whose forefathers are Samuel Beckett

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CULTURE - Literature and Eugene Jonesco. I liked his pieces when I read them in English," Gerzić tells CorD. "I am not sure what exactly I liked about Pinter, whether it was his ability to play with words in a scene, his characters or his intriguing linguistic set up. The adjective 'pinteresque' appeared in literature and theory to describe the atmosphere or even the intermissions in his pieces, although David Mamet was also known for his intermissions. Pinter and Mamet actually work together and Pinter once said that all intermissions are different."

Apart from being a well-known writer, Pinter is also a prominent intellectual with a political agenda.

He made his first appearance in such a role shortly before Chile's Salvador Allende Government was toppled and the U.S. invaded the country, but his political remarks did not come into the focus of global attention until the mid-1980s.

Pinter used to be classed in the same bracket of apolitical writers as Beckett and Jonesco before making his viewpoints on Chile known and taking interest in violations of human rights by totalitarian regimes, having aimed much of his criticism against the United States and Britain.

"Pinter reacted very strongly to the war in Iraq over the past few years, having poured scorn on U.S. President George Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, as well as their foreign policies. After learning that he was this year's Nobel Literature Prize winner, he said the award had nothing to do with his political engagement," Gerzić says.

Upon receiving the award, Pinter said: "I am deep into art and deep into politics. These two worlds meet sometimes, but sometimes they don't."

"That is so like Pinter and I think it's true, especially in view of the fact that his early works contain no explicit social observations. His first 10 or 15 pieces are based on characters, not related to politics, social issues or economic matters," Gerzić says.

"He delved into those spheres in his own specific way in the second half of his career, although he never changed his dramatic form of expression. This

what Sartre was in the 1970s, the western civilisation's voice of conscience. He will now be expected to react to every human rights violation and every abuse of power," Gerzić notes.

Just like his political-minded contemporaries, Guenther Grass, Vaclav Havel and Ljosa, Pinter intends to lend his support to some like-minded individuals who need it. A while ago he said he was ashamed as a Brit of Great Britain's submissive position to the United States. During the NATO bombing of Serbia in 1999, Pinter criticised Tony Blair for support-

Translator Borivoje Gerzić

ing Bill Clinton and Clinton himself, without ever trying to defend Slobodan Milošević. "He never said Milosevic was innocent, but he underscored that the United States and Great Britain had no right to judge Milošević because they are immoral too," Gerzić stresses. "Pinter makes this point because he has the power to address people on the BBC and thus represents a voice of conscience for an immoral society appealing for morality."

According to the Swedish Academy, "Pinter is one of the most prominent representatives of British drama in the second half of the 20 th century", while German theatre critics said the award During the NATO bombing of Serbia in 1999, Pinter criti- came 30 years late. "Both statements cised Tony Blair for supporting Bill Clinton and Clinton him- are very true because Pinter really is of the five most prominent drama self…"He never said Milošević was innocent, but he under- one writers in the second half of the 20 th scored that the United States and Great Britain had no right century. He may even be among the top five or ten writers of the entire century. to judge Milošević because they are immoral too" Apart from him, we've got Osborne, is so obvious in 'One for the Road'. Pinter's political Beckett, Coward and Orton. The German assessment is reactions in his pieces are not overly emotional, also true because Pinter made a name for himself with which is why his criticism is so convincing and his early works in the 1960s and 1970s, although he had 10 or so very good pieces in the latter stages of his emphatic," says Gerzić.

Last March Pinter announced his literary retire- career," says Gerzić.

Pinter's pieces have rarely been staged in Serbia. ment in order to concentrate on politics. "Pinter is 75; he said that the 30 pieces he wrote were enough and "Return" was played in Zvezdara theatre a few that he doesn't want to do any more. Still, we don't years ago. "His plays are not commercial, meaning know whether he will continue to write or focus only that it takes some courage and effort to offer a on politics. Winning the Nobel Prize will only add Pinter piece to a market saturated with commercial more weight to his political opinions. He has become plays," Gerzić concludes. • CorD | November 2005

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Don't let the chill discourage you from venturing beyond your four walls this autumn. Instead, take the opportunity to explore the wintry wonderland that is Serbia, with the help of CorD and the Tourist Organisation of Serbia.

This month we are helping you to explore the rich traditions, folklore, national costumes, culinary specialities and crafts of Serbia.

To ensure you don't shiver your way through your visit, all the venues recommended have comfortable accommodation, rich fare, traditional hot teas and, most importantly, the comforting warmth of a well-heated furnace

WELCOMING AUTUMN WARMTH KOŠTUNIĆI The village of Koštunići is 25km from Gornji Milanovac and an equal distance from Čačak; 170km from Belgrade via Čačak or 150km via Gornji Milanovac.

The easiest way to reach Koštunići is by car, taking the Ibarska arterial road over Gornji Milanovac. Some of the venues recommended can be reached year-round, but only by gravel-track roads, thus one must drive with caution.

Koštunići boasts the "Ethno-Art" health food complex and refinery, opened in 1997, which also produces rakija (fruit brandy) from plum, quince, apple, pear; and apple vinegar.

Koštunići also has a tourist complex comprising the ethnic house of "Anđelija Mišić", Ethnic Museum "Prodanovića magaza (depot)", Historical museum and Hotel "Milica and Panajota".

Accommodation is available within the households of the ethnic village or in holiday cabins - attractive apartment-style wooden houses, each containing a bathroom and television.

Extra accommodation can be found in the hamlets surrounding Koštunići, just a short walk (300-1,000m) from the village centre.

These houses all include decorative gardens and accommodation is in two bed, three bed and four bed rooms (every two rooms share one toilet and bathroom). The food is excellent and guests Kostunići can buy domestic natural rakUseful information ija and homemade cheese, Household of Stojko Obradović cream-cheese and honey.

Contact phone: 032 844 073 Guests can also prepare their Mobile phone: 063 2146 320 own preserves and jams.

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In the vicinity of the outbuildings there is an old depot, which is now a Museum of Agricultural Tools and a gallery of the Ethno house of "Anđelija Mišić", which exhibits handicrafts and souvenirs. The Ethnic house was named after the mother of famous Serbian Commander in Chief, Živojin Mišić, Anđelija. The company deals in fashion, folk arts and crafts, tourism and ecology.

Four rivers flow through Koštunići, each with its own watermill. Households predominantly engage in production of health food for their household, as well as for guests. You will find it as comfortable as in your own house, maybe even more ...

The Gathering of Serbian Hosts takes place in Koštunići every 28th June. This is when the association of Serbian Hosts gathers people from all over the world wishing to do something worthwhile for Serbia, Koštunići, the people of this area and for themselves. The fun gathering includes a large cultural programme, business manifestations, fashion shows and business meetings.

Travel & Tourism

SIROGOJNO The ethnic village of Sirogojno is 10km from Zlatibor Mountain. Sirogojno, which has been proclaimed a cultural monument of Yugoslavia, spreads over 15 hectares and is an authentic 19th century settlement with residents from the Zlatibor-Dinara region. Within the ethnic village there is an authentic bakery, dairy shop and inn.

The Ethnic village has taverns and apartments with a 28-bed capacity. Every apartment has a living room with a fireplace, tea kitchen and TV set. Guests have the opportunity to prepare their own food in their apartment or they can opt to dine at the village Inn. Every guest is greeted in a traditional way, with a serving of traditional flat bread, salt and domestic rakija. A lunch can be arranged for those going on excursions, as well as for tavern guests - "Serbian dining table" (dishes prepared in the earthenware "crepulja" dish, cooked in a wood-burning stove) or a "Lunch served on grass", in the open, during fair weather, following the principle of self-service from earthenware dishes using wooden spoons.

Visitors to Sirogojno can Sirogojno visit the old cultural monuUseful information ments and natural beauties Tourist organisation of Zlatibor of Zlatibor: Stopić's cave in Jezero bb, 31310 Čajetina Rožanstvo, church in Phone: 031-841-646 Dobroselica, medieval Fax: 031-841-244 church in Karan and the E-mail: toz@ptt.yu 18th century church of St. url: www.zlatibor.co.yu Peter and Paul.

chirp of birds Zeleni Čardaci promise complete Useful Information rest in the nature. http://www.tara-ethnoapartments.com "Zeleni ČarE-mail: taraethnoapartments@yahoo.com daci" can accoPhone: 011-311-9002; 011-311-9196 mmodate up to 20 Mobile: 064-209-1514 people in five apartments within "Žubor" (Gurgle) and "Slavuj" (Nightingale) taverns. Wood and stone as construction materials yield a special warmth. The apartments all include a bedroom, living room, kitchen and bathroom. They also have well arranged heating (floor heating, fireplaces and tile heaters), and are also equipped with all necessary modern conveniences. Ethnographic details render a feeling of warmth. In the yard, there are benches for resting, an open fireplace, barbecue, bakery, area for children's play and animal shelters.

The "Žubor" tavern boasts a club for the exclusive use of "Zeleni Čardaci" guests.

As guests wish, they can opt for dishes prepared in the open fireplace, in earthenware, or to order something from the bakery or beneath "crepulja".

In a small home workshop one can buy domestic preserves and jams, forest fruit juices, dried medicinal herbs and various souvenirs.

"Zeleni Čardaci" are an excellent base for exploring Mount Tara on foot or by bike, following one of the marked lanes. One can pick mushrooms and forest fruits, go hunting or fishing on the nearby Drina, where one can also go rafting. There is also Perućac Lake, where one can swim. Visitors can also hike to the nearby monasteries, Rača, for instance, or go to Mokra Gora and experiences the "Šargan Eight" narrow-track rail crossing.

IVANJICA

ZELENI ČARDACI (GREEN VERANDAS) "Zeleni Čardaci" apartments are situated at an altitude of 1,050m, 195km from Belgrade, 16km from Bajina Bašta and 48 km from Užice.

Located in the Tara National park, the Zeleni Čardaci ethnic cabins offer comfortable accommodation and exquisite food in a beautiful environment.

The complex has been constructed over a flowery clearing surrounded by conifer trees, and the constant gurgle of water and

The town of Ivanjica is situated in southwest Serbia in the area of the Starovlaške Mountains, 224km from Belgrade. Two arterial roads lead to Ivanjica - one from Čačak via Guča, and the other from Užice via Požega, where the nearest train station is located (42 km). Ivanjica was first declared a spa area in 1931, a status that was renewed in 2000.

There are huge possibilities for the development of tourism based on geographic position, altitude (Ivanjica 468m and Golija Mountain 1833m), variegated scenery and mountainous climate; rapid mountain rivers abound with fish, especially trout and chub.

The River Moravica flows through Ivanjica and there are several mineral springs on the municipal territory, as well as Golija lakes Tičar and Nebeska Suza (Bird-man and Heavenly tear).

Ivanjica is surrounded by the mountains of Golija, Javor, CorD | November 2005

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Travel & Tourism Mučnja and Čemernica. Golija is covered by one of the richest and most beautiful woods in Serbia. It has been proclaimed a natural park and is under UNESCO protection as a biosphere reserve.

There is a church in Ivanjica, constructed in 1836, dedicated to Tsar Konstantin and Queen Jelena. Not far from Ivanjica, in the area of the Kumanica settlement, there is a Roman bridge, and in the very town of Ivanjica, on the river Moravica, there is the biggest single-arch bridge in the Balkans. The tourist offer of Ivanjica is completed by numerous cultural-historical monuments: Monument - mosaic, work of Djordje Andrejević-Kun, church at Palibrčki grave, constructed over the grave of the Kosovo hero Boško Jugović.

Special attraction is a satellite station in Prilike and waterfall on River Moravica.

Ivanjica boasts a hotel, "Inex-Park", Institute for prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of blood diseases and the Golija Rest home. There is a second hotel in Golija - the Hotel Golijska reka (Golija River).

The village of Lisa is 9km from Ivanjica, situated on the arterial road Čačak - Ivanjica, via Guča. The village has been nurturing tourism for twenty Ivanjica years. Undulating terrain, Useful information rich in woods and pasTourist Organisation of Ivanjica tures, comfortable accoMunicipality mmodation, varied food Milenka Kusića 47, 32250 Ivanjica and the hospitality of vilPhone - fax: 032-665- 085 lagers make Lisa attracE-mail: tooivanjica@yu1.net tive to tourists. url: www.ivanjica.co.yu In the vicinity there is Hadži - Prodanova Boarding-house Ilija Miličević cave, which is open to Contact phone : 032 838 257 the public.

MEĐUREČJE Međurečje is situated 9km from Ivanjica on the lowest slopes of Golija Mountain, between the rivers Moravica and Nošnica, at an altitude of 550m. The area’s natural ambience is comprised of overlapping meadows and deciduous woods, completed by the Međurečje clear flows of the Moravica Useful information and Nošnica. Both rivers Household of Nebojsa Đokic are alive with creek trout, Contact phone : 063 850 1116 and Međurečje is also E-mail : bobaijela@sezampro.yu known for rearing California trout.

KOSJERIĆ

KATIĆI Katići is situated on the slopes of Mount Mučanj, at an altitude of 1,200m. Maće hamlet is 26km from Ivanjica. It is characterised by neatly arranged yards filled with flowers, houses covered by famous Maćan's plate. The centre of this area is Katići, some 3km from Maće.

Besides natural attractions, this area has cultural-historical monuments, amongst which is Katići Bela Crkva (White Useful information church) in Brezova, menBoarding-house Obradović tioned in Tsar Dušan's Contact phone: 032 873 307, 873 663 Charter (14th century).

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In Western Serbia, 136km from Belgrade and halfway between Valjevo and Užice, lies the small town of Kosjerić. The arterial road passes through the town, which links Podrinje, Vojvodina, in the north, before going on to link Central and Eastern Europe.

This characteristic mountainous area boasts good road connections, with all surrounding villages connected by asphalt roads and equipped with telephones.

The area of Kosjerić is an ideal place for lovers of village recreation, with a great many ethnic villages located in the river valleys, bordering woods, cultivated fields and meadows. In the vicinity there are the famous tourist centres of Zlatibor (56km away) and Divčibare (26 km away).

In the territory of the municipality there is close to a hundred cultural-historical monuments. The 15th century log church in the village of Seča Reka, which has been burnt and rebuilt several times, is one of the most valuable. It achieved its current look during the time of Karađorđe in Kosjerić 1812. In the church there Useful information: are several valuable Tourist Organisation of exhibits: a large number of Kosjerić Municipality icons, "Zlatne dveri" Karađorđeva 66, 31260 Kosjerić (Golden door) brought Phone/fax: 031/ 882 155 from Herzegovina, a chalice E-mail: tokos@verat.net from 1812 and relics url: www.kosjeric.org.yu brought from Sveta Gora. •

CULTURE - BELGRADE ARCHITECTURE

Ornamental details of the former Justice Ministry building

Belgrade is unparalleled in its architectural concept and urban layout; as well as being a remarkable stratification rendered by history. Each era left an indelible trace, says architectonical conservationist Aleksandar Ivanović, head of Belgrade City Museum's Department of Architecture and Urbanism By: Marina Desivojević; Photo: Andy Dall he sky over Belgrade is vast and tall, it is a changing sky, but always beautiful and opulent, a compensation for everything missing in this puzzling city and a consolation for everything that shouldn't be there… - Ivo Andrić, Serbian Nobel Prize Laureate Do you live in Belgrade? If you should ever come here, aside from admiring its beauty, do not miss the opportunity to see the walls of its old fort touching the banks of one of the four rivers of paradise - the Danube, and to know that it is the only city, aside from Constantinople, devoted to the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.

T

It is said that Belgrade is a unique city with three cores.

Two of them, Belgrade proper and Zemun, date back deep into history, while the third, New Belgrade, emerged more recently. The city is stratified by time and history and reminds each of us to nurture the styles and remnants of the past that are an inseparable part of what the city is today.

Belgrade has been called by a number of names and many masters have ruled the city during its many incarnations.

After the Celtic tribe Scordisci founded a fort on the Danube and named it Singidunum in the III century A.D., the settlement was conquered by Byzantium, the Gepidae, Sarmatians, Ostrogoths, Slavs, Avars, Franks, Bulgarians, Hungarians, Turks, Austrians, Germans… Each master gave the city a new name: Singedon, Nandor, Fehervar, Nandor Alba, Alba Graeca, Grieschisch Weisenburg, Alba Bulgarica, CorD | November 2005

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CULTURE - BELGRADE ARCHITECTURE

The main balcony of Krsmanović Palace (Austrian Embassy)

Taurunum and Prinz Eugenburg, a name the Germans planned for Belgrade in 1941 that never came to fruition. Its Slavic name, Beograd, has endured the longest.

The British Encyclopaedia of World Cities records that Belgrade has been the venue of the largest number of battles in history, but is also a city with an abundance of symbolic names: The Hill of Battle and Glory, Contemplation Hill, The House of War, Mysia of Rumelija, The House of Liberty, The Door to the East and the Gate to the West…

Belgrade is also set to join the community of Donau Hansa port cities within the ARGE DONAU project, of which Serbia is an official member.

Most of modern Belgrade was built between the two world wars, during a period of modern architecture that has not been studied enough in Belgrade. Another significant interval in its development was the first half of the 19th century, when a number of local and foreign architects appeared on the scene. Belgrade was built by Jovan Ilkic, Konstantin Jovanović (a world famous name), along with Ruvidić, the Bajalović brothers and Jelisaveta Načić.

There were also many Russian architects in Belgrade who emigrated from their homeland and left a special mark on the city with their work.

"Speaking of styles, there are few buildings that are not, in fact, a blend of several styles. I could only single out the Renaissance and one name of our architecture, Konstantin Jovanović, who was schooled, lived and died in Europe, but created architecture for his country", says Aleksandar Ivanović, architectonical conservationist and head of the Belgrade City Museum's Department of Architecture and Urbanism. He adds: "His [Jovanović's] works are of capital value and clean to the point that they could be included in textbooks of Renaissance architecture. He drew-up the plans

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for the National Bank in Belgrade's Kralja Petra Street."

Architectural styles succeeded each other and when the period of 'Orientalism' ended in 1893, Grand Duke Miloš Obrenović started to drag Europe into Belgrade and finally succeeded in doing so before his untimely death.

The stress on European architectural styles continued into the period between the two world wars, when a number of architects appeared and created entire clusters of European-style layouts that are truly museums under the open sky. One could start by simply mentioning Milan Zloković and Milutin Borisavljević, who did most of their work in the Vračar district.

"Belgrade is unparalleled in its architectural concept and urban layout, as well as a remarkable stratification rendered by history. Each era left an indelible trace; each civilization left its own mark in succession", Ivanović says.

There are people who can create beautiful structures even today, and their knowledge and love of Belgrade is just as great as that of architects who created wonders here in the past. However, it's important to note that each architect was in the service of a patron whose wealth made it possible for ideas to become reality. Sometimes money wins and sometimes talent is victorious. Architecture is a good indicator of how civilised and ‘Europeanised’ we have become. Until then, we should acquaint ourselves with our architectural heritage, which is not to be underestimated in its artistic and stylistic value.

Green tiles on the house of the merchant Stamenković

CULTURE - BELGRADE ARCHITECTURE The arches of the house are pointed, similar to those of classic Gothic castles, and the building had a profound influence on the further development of Zemun.

Captain Misa Memorial, at 1 Student Square, is probably the most significant building of 19th century Belgrade.

Designed by Czech architect Jan Nevol at the behest of an unknown patron, the building introduced a new Romanticist style to Serbian architecture at the time.

The Warehouse in Kralja Petra Street is a typical example of Secession. Rather than being defined purely by adornments, the building was conceptually Floral details of the Society for the Beautification of Vračar built in this style. The structure is not to be altered in any way, "I would like to draw attention to Hotel Srpska kruna merely conserved and cleaned to full shine.

The structure built to house the Society for the (Crown of Serbia), a 19th century building that today houses the Belgrade City Library. It was thoroughly reconstructed in Beautification of Vracar, at 1 Njegoseva Street, is a masterits original form and style, and in its present use can be piece of renowned architect Milan Antonovic. The building is an example of Classical style, without much improdescribed as the jewel of its ambience," Ivanović says.

The house of renowned Belgrade solicitor Marko visation, and boasts one of the best examples of Secession Stojanović, today the building of the Fine Arts Academy, is balustrades at the top of the building, giving the whole an example of textbook architecture with a clean form and structure dynamism. Few cities in Southeast Europe can concept, outlining the entrance to Belgrade's main pedes- show off such a fine piece of architecture. • trian zone - Knez Mihajlova Street.

The British Encyclopaedia records that Belgrade has been the venue of the largest number of battles in history, but also has an abundance of symbolic names: The Hill of Battle and Glory, Contemplation Hill, The House of War, The House of Liberty, The Door to the East and the Gate to the West…

Spasic's Memorial, the building at 33 Knez Mihajlova Street, is a structure of Italian Renaissance.

Merchant Stamenković's house, better known as 'the green tiles' at 41 Kralja Petra Street, was designed by architects Stevanovic and Nestorovic, and is a radiant structure that was the first of its kind in the Balkans.

Aron Levi's house at 39 Kralja Petra Street was the work of architect Stojan Titelbah. The building was the pillar for future work in this branch of modern architecture.

An important building by Jovan Ilkic is Krsmanovic's house at 34 Terazije Street, also known as the Protocol Building and the 1918 Place of Union, which is part of the Serbian cultural heritage and by all of its features represents a valuable gem in Serbia’s cultural treasure chest.

At 28 Terazije Street there is another remarkable building by Dimitrije Leko, who also drew plans for the house that once belonged to the Vuco family and today houses the first McDonald's restaurant in Belgrade.

The house of the Spirta family, the most renowned noble family in Belgrade, is a rare example of neo-gothic style in Europe. There is nothing similar to this structure in Belgrade, Zemun or the wider Balkan region.

An ornamental window of old Protocol House

CorD | September 2005

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Safety above all The new Mercedes-Benz S-Class marks a new high point in Mercedes' long-standing commitment to pedestrian protection. Engineers in Sindelfingen have developed a whole raft of safety features for the luxury saloon, which reduce the risk of injury to pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists in the event of a collision.

"For Mercedes-Benz, pedestrian protection means much more than just complying with the current crash-test regulations. Our primary goal is to avoid accidents in the first place. That is the best, most effective form of pedestrian protection", says Ulrich Mellinghoff, Head of Safety, NVH and Testing at the Mercedes-Benz Technology Centre.

Indeed, test results show that Brake Assist, which was developed by Mercedes-Benz, makes a significant contribution to preventing accidents involving pedestrians. The Active Light System, cornering light function and the new night view assist system

(the latter making its world debut in the SClass) also offer considerable scope for enhancing safety. Ulrich Mellinghoff looks forward to the wider adoption of safety features of this kind: "We welcome the fact that systems like these - and the issue of accident avoidance which is associated with them - are to be included in the future EU directive on pedestrian protection."

The new S-Class builds on the already high standard of safety with additional protective measures. The underside of the bonnet has been designed for programmed deformation and impact-energy absorption in the event of an accident with a pedestrian. A newly developed "yielding" hinge supports the deformation of the bonnet and also helps to reduce injuries to pedestrians and cyclists/motorcyclists. The front wings of the new Mercedes saloon are attached to the upper longitudinal members by means of a special fixing element.

This has precisely calculated rigidity characteristics and is programmed to give way in the event of an impact.

The launch of the new S-Class also marks the world premiere of an enhanced version of Brake Assist: Brake Assist PLUS. This functions as an anticipatory system which provides drivers with even more effective support in critical situations. Based on radar technology, the system scans the area ahead of the vehicle and calculates the necessary brake force assistance if there is a risk of a collision.

The new S-Class first went on sale in September 2005 in Belgrade, only a few hours after the world presentation in Frankfurt.•

New Moment New Dragan Sakan The BeogrAD Festival of Creativity continues in November with the presentation of Dragan Sakan's autobiography, entitled "Best Ideas 1975 - 2005" at Atelier 212.

The book was promoted for the first time at this year's Ideas Campus of the European School of Ideas in Piran (Slovenia) under the patronage of the New Moment New Ideas Company. The book promotion in Belgrade will be followed by presentations across Europe and the world.

The book tells us of the author's past (30 years in creative business), but also about his latest ideas. A multimedia presentation of the book has articles, new ideas, video installations and it is accompanied by an exhibition of paintings.

After the presentation at Atelier 212, Dragan Sakan's private collection of paintings "Pretty New Woman" will be exhibited at the New Moment Gallery of Ideas.

To Dragan Sakan the first and greatest idea is the dream because, as Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams".

A new ear demands new shapes of communication and new kinds of people. "People make business.

The new people feel, think and play. They are storytellers who tell their stories multimedially." To quote Dragan Sakan: "The best advertising does not look like advertising".

A new company for new communications has emerged in Piran, while Sakan has decided that the centre of the new regional network should be in Belgrade - the city of ideas.

"The beauty of Belgrade is in the spirit of Koshava - the spirit of the wind. To put it another way: beauty is absent in a place with no spirit.

Our fate is simple - mud and the stars. The former is our everyday life, if not politics, and the latter, this eternal star-spangled sky above us, is a creation of the spirit. The art of impossible; the spirit of Belgrade."•

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Ana Šekularac's Rooftop Debut In line with its long term dedication to supporting creative industry's worldwide, The British Council staged the festive fashion show of dynamic young designer Ana Šekularac - a London-born designer of Serbian origin - on 19th October.

The event, held at the infinitely original location of the covered rooftop of New Belgrade's Eurosalon Home Market, presented the 2005/06 Autumn/Winter collection of UKbased Šekularac.

In a stylish atmosphere, and with the accompaniment of jazz-funk beats, Šekularac’s collection was well received by the Belgrade public and media alike.

According to the British Council in Belgrade, the fashion show served as an example of how the images of two societies (UK and Serbian) and two cities (London and Belgrade) can be successfully merged through the work of one artist. •

New Growth Targets Set After achieving its 2008 goals ahead of schedule, OMV Aktiengesellschaft, Central Europe's leading oil and gas group, has set new targets for growth until 2010 by aiming for a production volume of 500,000 boe per day and for further expansion of its Refining and Marketing business in the EU accession area. In addition, OMV will run an international gas business marketing 20 bcm of gas by 2010. OMV CEO, Wolfgang Ruttenstorfer, stated:

"Our successful expansion has enabled us to achieve the growth targets set for 2008 way ahead of schedule. OMV has resumed the leadership position in Central Europe and we are committed to further growth in the next five years. By 2010 OMV will be the most successful company in capitalising on the EU 'growth belt' in oil and gas and securing the future supply through a strong upstream position."

OMV intends to build upon continued growth and boost its profitability potential. This means further expansion from mature into growing markets in order to increase its lead on other regional competitors. OMV CEO Ruttenstorfer added: "We will continue to pursue organic growth as well as growth through acquisitions. In Exploration and Production we will concentrate on international opportunities in six core regions, in R&M we will lead the market in the lucrative EU growth belt."

OMV aims to be the best integrated midsize oil and gas company producing a quantity of oil and gas of 50% of its refinery capacity. In the gas business, OMV will produce more than one third of the gas volume sold by the company. In addition the company will keep secured access to petrochemical outlets and hold significant minority interest in international chemical business (Polyolefins, Melamine) with operations in Europe and Middle East, based on proprietary technology.•

Current Account Services Extended In response to great public interest, Raiffeisenbank a.d., Belgrade, has additionally extended the products and services initially offered in the "Product Package" for all clients who open an account with the bank.

The product modifications include cash loan amounts increased and now ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 euros in dinar equivalent. The loan may be approved even before the first salary is paid onto the client's current account, of course, only after the client approves to transfer his/her current account to Raiffeisenbank. The loan repayment term is 62 months.

Apart from this, clients are offered the Visa revolving credit card as an integral part of the package, with a credit limit of up to 5,000 euros. The credit card holder may use it for payments of goods and services up to the approved credit limit, both locally and abroad. The card user is under the obligation to pay just 10% of the funds spent in the preceding period.

Current account overdraft, Visa Electron card, e-banking and the standing payment order are other integral parts of this product package.

E-banking enables the client to follow up movements on all his accounts and to perform payment transactions electronically.

The standing payment order enables the client to settle all his monthly financial liabilities via the bank, that will effect all the previously defined payments on behalf of the client.

The Product Package has this way grown into a fully integrated product and has thus become even more interesting to the broader public. •

CASH LOAN AMOUNTS DEPEND ON CLIENT SALARY LEVELS Client's income

Cash loan amount

Mnthl. repayment instal.

150 - 300 EUR

2,000 EUR

52.88 EUR

301 - 600 EUR

3,000 EUR

79.31 EUR

601 - 1,000 EUR

4,000 EUR

105.75 EUR

exceeding 1,000 EUR

5,000 EUR

132.19 EUR

Effective interest rate: 23.77%

CorD | November 2005

75

New Branch opened Following its dynamic strategy of branch expansion, on 10th October EFG Eurobank officially opened its new branch office on the longest street in Belgrade -King Alexander Boulevard 238.

Aiming to position itself as the Bank of first choice for the citizens of Belgrade's Zvezdara Municipality, it is completely capable of offering all banking products and services to the corporate and retail sectors, from loans - Euro CASH LOAN, savings through Euro STEP, Euro 123, Euro 6, Euro in ADVANCE, credit card Euroline/Dina and Euro SALARY. Accounts for clients receiving their salaries via the bank include privileges such as Euro SCHOLARSHIP, VISA credit card, a palette of 25-year mortgage loans, domestic and international payment facilities, safety deposit boxes and much more.

At the opening ceremony, the Bank distributed its Euro 123 accounts, accompanied with national Dina Cards free of charge to all interested people and passersby.

EFG Eurobank a.d. Beograd was founded in Serbia in 2003 by the EFG Eurobank Group as one of the leading financial institutions and most dynamic banks in SEE region.

Today it has a wide range of banking, financing and other relevant services rendered to individuals, corporate clients and the public sector. EFG Eurobank Group stands among the leading Greek banks with dynamic market shares in the most important sectors of banking products and services, especially in the sphere of cash loans, credit cards, financing of SMEs, investment banking and market capital.

EFG Eurobank Group has expanded its operations to the wider SEE region, in Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Turkey, Serbia & Montenegro and Cyprus. Its strategic alliance with EFG Group in Geneva facilitates the access to European financial markets.

Within Serbia & Montenegro EFG Eurobank Group is present through National Savings Bank (NSB) and EFG Eurobank A.D. Beograd.•

Excellent Results Achieved Austrian Airlines in Belgrade has achieved its best results in recent times.

According to Austrian Airlines Sales Executive Boris Zutic: "For the period January-August 2005 our company in Serbia has produced 33% more revenue compared to the same period last year. We have also transferred 40% more passengers compared to the same period last year.

"Due to the excellent position of Vienna International Airport and shortest transfer connection time of only 25 minutes between flights, we are not surprised that majority of passengers are using Vienna Airport to go further to more than 130 destinations served by Austrian Airlines. Our large and growing network made Austrian Airlines the first choice for travel from Belgrade to Australia, Central Asia, Central Europe and South East Europe. We are one of the top 3 choices for travel to North America, the Far East and the Middle East.

"If you haven’t tried Austrian Airlines yet, it's the right time to enjoy the service, punctuality and hospitality of Austrian Airlines." •

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CorD | November 2005

Municipal President Recognises Progress Activities on Belgrade's most dynamic construction site, Airport City Belgrade (ACB), are continuing to attract a lot of attention on New Belgrade.

The visible daily progress being made on the first two buildings of this project, Serbia's first tailored business park, on Omladinskih brigade has drawn the attention of residents of New Belgrade and prompted President of the Municipality of New Belgrade, Mr. Željko Ožegovic (pictured), to visit the ACB site on 11th October.

During discussions with his host Airport City Belgrade CEO Mr. Gili Dekel - Mr. Ožegovic learnt about the progress being made on ACB the biggest investment in New Belgrade.

Addressing media, Mr Ožegovic expressed his great appreciation for, and acknowledgement of, the importance of large investments such as ACB both to the local New Belgrade municipality and the country as a whole.

"These investments mean the creation of new jobs, which is our top priority," said Ožegovic. He added that such projects were proof that foreign partners recognise the myriad advantages of New Belgrade, which is fast becoming the city within the city [of Belgrade] and the final destination for the majority of foreign companies.

Mr. Dekel expressed his satisfaction with the progress of work on ACB, and said that he expects the first two buildings within the business park complex to be finished during the first half of 2006, thus creating a pleasant working environment for numerous tenants.

He noted that Class A business spaces, which Belgrade is lacking, will become the norm in the city and will satisfy the demands of a growing number of business operators. •

Montenegro Business School Podgorica's Montenegro Business School - founded by Atlas Mont Bank, Fin invest, the Bar Faculty of Tourism, Hotel Management and Trade, and PIF Atlas Mont - was officially opened on 15th September with the first lecture per-

sonally given by Montenegrin PM Milo Đukanović on the topic of "the role of entrepreneurship in the development of Montenegro".

The business school's opening ceremony was attended by Duško Knežević, President of Atlas Group, Janko Gogoć, Dean of the Faculty of Business Studies, Stevan Popović, Dean of the Bar Faculty of Tourism, Hotel Management and Trade, as well as a host of representatives from scientific, political and public life.

The business studies faculty will be opened in time for the 2005/2006 academic year to cater for the first generation of students with majors in marketing and finance. The business studies faculty, together with the faculty of tourism, hotel management and trade, based in the port of Bar, will be part of the Faculties 'Mediterranean' unit of the first private university in Montenegro, of which Atlas Group is the founder.

The Montenrgro Business School will provide university level education in the fields of banking, insurance, accountancy, finance, international education and public relations. The Faculty boasts highly experienced professors and lecturers and will employ a vertical approach to management and teach the most advanced courses that will follow the Bologna convention's - ECTS system All students successfully completing their first year of study will be given the opportunity for an internship in business system institutions and private enterprises.•

Belgrade Marathon Women's Race a Success Following the successful staging of this summer's Belgrade Marathon, company Beogradski Maraton d.o.o. again proved successful in its staging of the Belgrade Ženska Trka (Women's Race), sponsored by WOMEN'SECRET, this autumn.

The 7-kilometre race around the Ada Ciganlija resort lake on 8th October, included some 3,000 competitors, and was accompanied by live music and entertainment.

The race was not merely a fun day out, an excellent fundraiser and a good advertisement for the city of Belgrade, it also proved to be a thrilling contest, with a photo-finish deciding the end result.

The race was won by Kenya's Florence Chepchurui, in a time of 25min, 28.0secs. Second came Hungary's Cristina Papp, in a time of 25min, 28.6secs, and third was Joyse Chepchumba, also of Kenya, in a time of 25min, 54.3secs.

Organiser Dejan Nikolić, director of Beogradski Maraton d.o.o, told CorD: "For us this race was proof that we are back on the stage again. We not only hope, but strongly believe, that this will continue to prove an excellent event for both athletics in general and the city as a whole. "…the event was very well received not just by the competing ladies, but also by all those in attendance and all those involved in the race's organisation.

"We hope that, very soon - in the next few years, this race will have up to 10,000 participants, as is the case in other major European cities."•

77

Performers of the Belgrade opera entertain diplomatic community guests in the Dedinja residence of Austrian Ambassador Gerhard Jandl on 5th October

Professional Belgian confectioners weave their sweet culinary magic at a promotion of Belgian chocolate, hosted by Belgian Ambassador in Belgrade, Luc Liebaut, on 6th October

A scene from the 15th October Sava Centre concert of the Ensemble Orchestral De Paris. The Concert, organised by the society of Bemus, Jugokoncert and the French Cultural Centre, under the general sponsorship of Soceite Generale Bank, included the performances of celebrated conductor John Nelson and pianist Boris Berezovski Deputy Serbian PM, Miroljub Labus, addresses attendees of the 8th October Sava Centre conference entitled 'Four Years of Transition in Serbia'.

The conference, organised by the Centre for LiberalDemocratic Studies, was attended, amongst others,

by Serbian President Boris Tadić and former Privatisation Minister Aleksandar Vlahović

French Ambassador to SCG, H.E. Hugues Pernet, pictured alongside Ms. Jacqueline Reppelin, Director of the Ecole Nationale d'Administration's department for Europe, at a 17th October reception held in the French Cultural Centre to mark the beginning of a Study for the Professional Excellence of SCG Civil Servants.

A scene from the Day of Italy celebrations, which were held in New Belgrade's Intercontinental Hotel on 11th October

68 CorD | September 2005

Performance artist and dancer David Zambrano performs at his workshop in Belgrade's Dom Omladine on 14th October.

Zambrano's modern dance workshop was staged with the support of the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Belgrade and Dom Omladine

Smiling faces all around as Serbian Finance Minister Mlađan Dinkić, HypoAlpe-Adria Banke administration members Markus Ferstl and Vladimir Čupić, and director of the National Corporation for the Insurance of Mortgage Credits, Aleksandar Jović, shake hands to confirm the commencement of a Serbian Government programme for the subvention of mortgage loans for citizens

H.E. Dr. Kim Young - Hee, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to SCG, pictured in national dress at a 4th October reception held in the Hyatt Regency Belgrade's Crystal Ballroom to mark the National Day of the Republic of Korea.

H.E. Antonio Zanardi Landi, Italian Ambassador to SCG (centre), pictured at a 27th September press conference held to announce the festive opening of an exhibition of a collection of modern art of the Italian Foreign Ministry

Hungarian Ambassador to SCG, H.E. Sándor Papp, welcomes guests to the 20th October reception held to mark the National Day of the Republic of Hungary

H.E. Andreas Zobel, German Ambassador to SCG, pictured in conversation with Serbian President Boris Tadić at a 30th September reception held to mark the Day of German Unity (3rd October).

CorD | November 2005

79

French football legend and UEFA vice president Michel Platini congratulates Ivan Čurković, president of Partizan Belgrade and former team-mate of Platini at French club St. Etienne, on the 60th birthday of Partizan in the presence of Serbian President Boris Tadić

H.E. Josep M. Lloveras (centre), Head of the EU's Permanent Delegation to SCG, and Spanish Ambassador in Belgrade, H.E. José Riera Siquier, pictured at the 12th October reception held to mark Spain's National Day

Kits Bernkrant, director of company USSG (SCG representatives of U.S. company Remington), pictured alongside Dragoljub Grujović, Director of Kragujevac-based Zastava Oružje, and Remington President Thomas Milner on 18th October, following the signing of the first commercial contract for the sale of Zastava products on the U.S. market in 2006, worth 3.2 million dollars

Young Belgraders compete in the traditional street race 'Trofej Beograda' in central Belgrade on 15th October

German Committee for Eastern Europe Chairman, Klaus Mangold, discusses investment with Serbian PM Vojislav Koštunica in Belgrade on 20th October.

Mangold was in Belgrade to lead a delegation of representatives of German industrial associations and companies

Blind residents of Serbia gather to mark World Sight Day on 12 th October. Lions World Sight Day was created in 1998 to spotlight the importance of eradicating preventable blindness and improving sight. An increasing number of Lions clubs are using this occasion to collect spectacles, conduct vision and diabetes screenings and plan educational programmes

Serbian State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Vlatko Sekulović, and Agnes van Arden, Netherlands Minister of Development Aid, pictured on 17th October ceremonially opening PSO project SERINNED (Serbian shipbuilding improved by Dutch innovative technology) Serbian Minister of Education and Sport, Slobodan Vuksanović, addresses 4,000 teachers from the length and breadth of Serbia at a Sava Centre teachers' seminar on 23rd October Retired GeneralMajor Zoran Stanković, pictured in contemplative mood in the SCG Parliament following his official appointment to the post of State Union Defence Minister.

Greek Government official Simeon Tsomokos addresses press representatives at a 14th October press conference in Belgrade's Media Centre. The press conference was held to announce the upcoming first session of the newly established Serbo-Greek Business Council, which took place in Athens on 21st October

NEWLY ACCREDITED: Dr. Kim Young - Hee The newly accredited Ambassador of the Republic of Korea graduated from the University of Cologne in 1976, before continuing her studies with a Diploma in Education, Psychology, Sociology and Ethnology (1981) - also from the University of Cologne - and gaining her PhD. in Education, Philosophy and Ethnology in 1986, whilst lecturing at the University of Cologne.

Mrs. Young - Hee joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea in 1991 and was appointed Deputy Director, Western European Division 1, European Affairs Bureau, MFA, Seoul.

Amongst other diplomatic posts, Ambassador Young - Hee has served in Germany as First Secretary for Political Affairs in the Korean Embassy (1992), Councillor for Political Affairs, Korean Embassy in Bonn, Germany (1995), Aide to the Foreign Minister and Senior Co-ordinator for Information Analysis, Office of Policy Planning and International Organisations, MOFAT, Seoul.

Prior to her arrival in Belgrade, Ambassador Young - Hee held the title of Minister, Korean Embassy in the Federal Republic of Germany in Berlin.

The Korean Ambassador to SCG has authored a number of academic works and numerous newspaper and magazine articles. She speaks fluent German, English and Latin.

CorD | November 2005

81

SHOPPING - MOBILE TELEPHONES

Fashionable Phones If you are frustrated by the seemingly endless problems of transition or tiring conferences and roundtables, you might appreciate the Sony Ericsson P910i, which has the option of memorising MP3 files. For the discerning lady, Escada and Louis Vuitton have joined forces with phone manufactures and produced models which make a lasting impression, but can also be used to make phone calls

By Ivica Petrović obile phones are divided into several groups, but this time we will separate them into two: fashion and business. You will be able to carry out the basic operations of planning meetings and other duties even with the models from the fashion class, but if you think that your business obligations are much more demanding, then the best choice for you is one of the mod-

M title:

Motorola V3 Razor Black

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Advertised as the ultimate Motorola fashion offer, the V3 is a serious Quad band phone constructed from special metal alloys. Businessmen will appreciate the robust handiwork and the possibility to operate in the four mobile phone frequencies, which practically means that you won't be left without a signal anywhere around the world. It is equipped with Bluetooth technology, one of the best VGA phone cameras, and the basic package includes software for communication with PCs. What somewhat reduces its attractiveness is the drop in its once high price, but all the same it is still a very interesting phone, since it practically has no rival in terms of both design and technical solutions.

price:

Local price: €250 Envy rating: ***1/2

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82

els from the business class. Phones from this class are distinguished firstly by improved and easier communication with PCs and are in some ways a combination of a mobile phone and a PDA. The list below is one possible review of those which will help you to organise your obligations in a better way, but also design solutions for those who consider them a fashion item.

CorD | November 2005

Siemens SL65 Escada The combination of the exclusive Escada fashion house design and fashion mobile phone is certainly not a bad solution. Models from the famous Escada fashion house can be purchased in Belgrade in its exclusive shops, and now you can combine mobile phones with Escada clothing. The Siemens SL65 Escada is a limited series mobile phone, redesigned in Escada style with the use of precious materials. The decorative chain is made of Swarovski crystal, and the Escada logo of pure silver. Even though it looks like a piece of jewellery, you can actually hold a phone conversation on it!

Local price: €520 Envy rating: *****

SHOPPING - MOBILE TELEPHONES

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Bang & Olufsen Samsung Serene The Danish company whose home audio and video devices have ended up in Contemporary art museums, have joined forces with Korean Samsung to produce this model, to the joy of members of the fairer sex. Especially for this occasion, the Louis Vuitton Company has made a leather case specifically for this model. The Serene is a folding model without an external display, tri-band, VGA camera, the possibility of Bluetooth communication and the ability to send electronic business cards. What is of particular interest is the fact that this model will be compatible with the DECT phones made by the B&O company, and that the mobile phone book will be automatically synchronised with the home DECT phone while it is placed on the specially designed re-charger. However, that's not all: with the help of the engine, whilst charging the Serene will automatically open up when a call arrives! Its only disadvantage is that it looks too much like a cosmetic gadget demanding extra caution in ladies' handbags to make sure you don't end up talking through your powder compact.

Expected price: €1000 Envy rating: *****

Sony Ericsson P910i Sony Ericsson was among the first to offer the market the so-called smart mobile phones. The possibility of installing additional applications, the practically unlimited possibility of communicating with various kinds of PC organisers, touch screen display and the possibility of memory extension, delivered a serious blow to PDA devices. Although the SE 900i model has already been on the market for a while, it remains one of the best smart phones. The multimedia possibilities of this device are also impressive: the recording and reproduction of sound and images as well as the possibility of filing a large number of MP3 files on large capacity memory cards can be useful during those long conferences which deal with the various problems of transition.

Local price: €450 Envy rating: ****

Nokia 8800 The long tradition of successful models from the 8xxx series continues with the Nokia 8800. Instead of titanium, this time Nokia's whizzes used stainless steel with a scratch and impact resistant display. This phone does not open automatically, like some of the previous models, but has a slide which needs to be pulled downwards. Behind the attractive exterior hides a tri-band phone equipped with an SVGA camera, media player, Bluetooth, E-mail client and sizeable memory. By combining business features and a trendy look, all of the models from the 8xxx series have each in their own way succeeded in becoming classics. The Nokia 8800 is a wise choice for all those who want a reliable business gadget with a top design.

Local price: €900 Envy rating: *****

Nokia 9300 Communicator In an attempt to eliminate the main problem of the Communicator series (i.e. its large dimensions) Nokia has succeeded in offering a device which is somewhat bigger than the classical mobile phone, but with the functions of a real mini laptop. Therefore, the Nokia 9300 does not have a built in camera, but on the other hand the list of applications with which it communicates is impressive: Microsoft Office, Outlook, Excel, Power Point, Lotus Notes and Lotus Organizer.

All of this is accessed by a full keyboard, through which it is, of course, possible to send and receive e-mail and type texts in Word. This is certainly a serious device which presents salvation for the overloaded briefcases of businessmen and diplomats.

Local price: €600 Envy rating: ****1/2

CorD | November 2005

83

Techno Talk Panasonic TH42PV500

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Panasonic's slinky new plasma screens have had ordinary Brit folk singing 'Viera!' from their balconies in a faux-Latino fashion. Why this atypical behaviour? Sheer good looks, picture quality, build quality and sound quality. That's a lot of quality.

The PV500 also has some integrated pub-speak. It's HD-ready, you'll tell your cronies, and it has an 8.6billion colour palette. Round the back is an HDMI connection, and hidden underneath - for you early adopters of video Walkmans - is an SD card slot for the recording of MP4 video and the playback of digicam snaps. Trés desirable.

Price: €3,210

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Apple Power Mac G5 www.apple.com/uk

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Meet what Apple claims is 'the world's fastest PC'. The chassis houses a 64bit processor, capable of crunching 4.2 billion times more numbers than the 32bit system.

Apple is offering many versions, with 1.6GHz, dual 1.8, 2 and 2.5GHz flavours available. It holds up to 8GB of RAM and 500GB of hard-drive storage, and a suitably tidy nVidia GeForce FX5200 Ultra graphics card does the polygon-shifting business. The G5 is also a host to FireWire connectivity and more USB 2.0 ports than you can shake an Ethernet cable at, making connecting peripherals easier than with any other desktop machine on the market.

Challengers will come but the G5 has set the bar high.

Price: €2,000

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Small Wonder Toshiba Libretto U100 www.toshiba.co.uk You have to hand it to desktop replacements - they really do pack in the power. Trouble is, they tend to remain desktopbound for all but the superhuman. Which is why we subhumans love the Libretto, with its pin-sharp LED-backlit 7.2in WXGA display, nippy 1.20GHz processor, relatively huge 60GB HD and clever DVD recorder docking station. All we need now is a finger-sharpener.

Price: €2,200

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CorD | November 2005

Techno Talk

Palm Lifedrive www.palm.com This sliver of silver hard-drive liber-palmtop with 4GB of storage is so ridiculously easy to use, and so frighteningly organised, you might as well immediately trowel out the left-hand side of your brain. But as well as telling you when you 'should' post that birthday card, the LifeDrive gulps down 2.5hrs of video. And its peerless Manager software makes dragging-and-dropping a piece of rather moist and tasty cake.

Video performance, however, 0 Memory 4CB doesn't match the best here: stills look great, but swift action is a bit 0 Display 3.7in LCD hazy. Sound is also a bit below par, widescreen, 480x320 pixels needing a bass boost to satisfy - a video solution, yes, but not a com0 Video playback MP4,30fps plete one. Decent but best left for photos (and seamlessly organising 0 Battery life 2.5hrsvideo your previously chaotic life).

Price: €480

Sony NW-E507 www.sony.co.uk Rely on Sony to serve up style, functionality and top build quality. Also to know how to charge for them. The special weapon is the best sound quality here bar none -from Atrac, MPBorFM radio. All virtue, no vice makes Sony a fun toy - and it has a gargantuan battery life, too.

Price: €230

The Vinyl Countdown Numarki DJ

www.sony.co.uk

The iPod makes you feel like a DJ; you can mix playlists, pretend you're scratching with the clickwheel, even create your own podcasts. It's not until you see the iDJ, though, that you realise what a pathetic fraud you are. Essentially a two-channel mixer with 3-band EQ and gain control, it's compatible with all iPods (even Shuffles, via a line-in connector). It will also charge your white friend up, and connect to your computer via USB. Vinyl traditionalists will mock the lack of pitch shift - fight back by showing them the spindle receptacle (aka a hole in the bottom) that allows you to mount the whole thing on a turntable. Bo! Price: €440

Konica Minolta DYNAX 7D

www.konicaminolta.co.uk

Konica Minolta has been unbelievably tardy when it comes to punting out affordable digital zoom lenses, with retailers tending to put together their own lens kits. The 28-100mm bundle here isn't ideal but only costs an extra £100. This is the perfect SLR for those who like their cameras big and chunky. The masses of knobs and dials on the exterior will terrify beginners but experienced users will love not having to faff around with menus. Picture quality is good but not exceptional, though that anti-shake system is handy in low light. The camera's build quality is fabulous, the switchgear is super-solid, and you get a big, fat, 2.5-inch LCD on the back. Even at €1,300 this is a bit of a bargain for a semi-pro camera but our tip is to wait for the imminent arrival of the Dynax 5D/lens kit package.

Price: €1,300 CorD | November 2005

85

Quotes...Quotes...Quotes...

Too Busy to be Sued Citing his ministerial right to immunity, Serbian Finance Minister Mlađan Dinkić said that he will not appear in court to answer the civil lawsuit filed against him by media mogul and Force of Serbia leader Bogoljub Karić for allegedly slanderous comments made by the government official. Dinkić, who said that Karic was Serbia's "demagogue number one" explained that he had instructed his staff to reject any such claims because he is too busy to make numerous court appearances. "I will be available once when I leave this post," said Dinkić.

Serbian Spies Head West Rade Bulatović, chief of the Serbian version of the FBI: BIA (Bezbednosno informativna agencija - Security Informative Agency) said that the Agency is wholeheartedly contributing to Serbia's integration into European structures. Speaking on 17th October (BIA's birthday), Bulatović said: "Accordingly, there is no alternative but to co-operate with agencies like ours".

Left or Right of No Importance The Social-democratic Party (SDP), a left oriented party led by Nebojša Čović, recently joined forces with media mogul Bogoljub Karić's right oriented Force of Serbia Movement (Pokret Snaga Srbije). Čović said that he sees no problem in the contrasting orientations of those two parties, especially bearing in mind that all political parties in Serbia are going through changes. "SDP was already in the government [led by Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica] where that [orientation] criterion was either not respected or wasn't the most important criterion for co-operation," said Čović.

One Čeda, two GSSs Recent news that the Citizens Movement of Serbia (Građanski savez Srbije - GSS) is going to join forces with Čedomir Jovanović's Liberal Democratic Fraction (LDF) caused mixed reactions among the leading members of GSS. Deputy President of GSS Ivan Andrić said that his party colleague, GSS vice president Goran Ješić, was opposed to the possibility of the amalgamation of GSS and LDF. "LDF remains our strategic partner, but we will keep our status as an independent party, as we have done for the past 15 years," said Andrić.

Ride of Death Serbia has to invest around € 300million to secure unsafe rail routes, said Serbian Capital Investment Minister Velimir Ilić af ter f ive people died and three were injured in an accident when a train hit a tr uck car r ying women to work on nearby potato f ields. "Ever y year about 1,000 people die in traffic accidents in Serbia, and approximately 16,000 sustain permanent injuries, "said Ilić.

Political Jurassic Park Miroslav Prokopijević, expert of Belgrade-based independent think-tank, the Centre for Liberal Market, said that the remnants of the old regime are one of the biggest obstacles to reforms in Serbia. "Our system reminds me of Jurassic park," said Prokopijević. "Serbian tycoons are paying politicians to draft laws which are in their interests, and are against liberalisation of the market, because they [tycoons] have no idea how to make money under market conditions," said Prokopijević.

Spinning Opinion "Of course everybody has an opinion about Kosovo, and I have mine. However, we are going to follow EU policy regarding Kosovo," said Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader. "We know what has been going on there. We know the history, but it is our duty and obligation to help the EU, with our experience, knowledge and understanding of mentalities, to find the right solution for Kosovo," said Sanader, before adding, "of course, there is no solution for Kosovo without the official consent of Belgrade."

ANNOUNCEMENT - YDA Join the members of the Young Diplomats Association (YDA) for a night of cocktails, conversation and live music at their November meeting (10 th November)! The YDA is comprised mostly of foreign diplomats along with many private industry and Serbian members that enjoy stimulating conversations in a relaxed and chic atmosphere. We'll be gathering at the infamous "Monument" cafe, located behind the brilliantly refurbished Ministry of Finance on Kneza Milosa. The exact address of Monument is Admirala Geprata 12-14, tel: 3617.254. We'll have half of the bar reserved exclusively for the YDA and there will likely be drink specials on tasty caipirinhas and sangria. Be sure to bring your business card for entry into our prize raff le.

For more information about the YDA, visit the group website at http://groups.msn.com/youngdiplomatsassociation-belgradeserbia, where you'll be able to view pictures from past events, contact the YDA managers or become a member. See you on the 10 th!

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CorD | November 2005

Quotes...Quotes...Quotes...

Bridge Open and Opened and Open Again Instead of ceremonially opening the 'Bridge of Freedom' in Novi Sad, repaired with financial assistance from the EU, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rhen took a walk on the bridge. Within a few days, members of different Serbian parties, represented in the municipality of Novi Sad and province of Vojvodina, ceremonially opened the same bridge several times. During the second unofficial opening Rehn said: "this is an official visit to the bridge, not an official ceremony. I don't mind that citizens of Novi Sad were able to use the bridge several days before my visit."

Illegal Anthem An NGO dubbed the 'general consulate of the ‘Socialistic Federal Republic of Yugoslavia’ (the official name of the former Yugoslavia up to the early '90s) sent a letter to SCG Parliamentary Speaker Zoran Šami claiming that the SCG State Union is illegally using the national anthem "Hej Sloveni," (Hey Slavs). General consul of the SFRJ, Marko Perković, asked Šami to discontinue using the anthem regardless of whether or not the SCG parliament adopts a law on the anthem. The letter, signed by Perković, states: "We ask you to adopt a law which will deem further use and erosion of the anthem 'Hej Sloveni' illegal".

Governor: Do As I Say, Not As I Do "To be honest with you, I must admit that sometimes I even catch myself converting a part of my salary from dinars into euros, and selling them back into dinars three weeks afterwards, of course always paying the hefty transaction costs," admitted National Bank of Serbia Governor Radovan Jelašić. "And then I say 'Oh my Radovan, where was you're your brain?" He advised citizens not to follow his example and rather stick to dinars.

Good Scandinavians a Rarity Asked whether Marti Ahtisaari is to be the main negotiator for Kosovo, SCG Foreign Minister Vuk Drašković diplomatically said 'most probably.' Slightly changing the diplomatic language, Drašković admitted that Scandinavian politicians are not his favourite type of people. "Generally speaking, I don't fancy Scandinavians that much. We are witnessing the rise of the Scandinavian star… one Scandinavian politician is chairing the General Committee of the UN, … Soren JessenPetersen, and the UNMIK chief is also from a Scandinavian country…" said Drašković. However, he gave credit to Kai Eide, the UN Special Envoy for Kosovo [from Norway] for giving an objective report about the Kosovo status.

Poet, Fugitive, Rock!

"Radovan, be aware of cold, flu, coldness…soon the harsh winter will come and it has been said that you are a dangerous type of virus…and when you get sick you, Radovan, are in all of us…I know where you live, Radovan, and where you were born…I am not going to tell anyone about it… those [who are chasing you] don't know that you became eternal, and a rock, and water, and light and this land from which the grass grows.." This is the first verse of a poem about ICTY fugitive Radovan Karadžic in the latest book of poetry written by Čuprija poet Borislav Blagojević. Karadžic’s latest book, entitled “Under the left breast of the century”, was promoted in Požarevac, hometown of Slobodan Milošević and Mira Marković. Officially, no one knows where Karadžic has been hiding for the last nine years.

Naughty DS Mlađan Dinkić, Serbian Finance Minister and G17 Plus official, has accused the Democratic Party of endangering the standby arrangement with the IMF by attending parliament too often and helping the body adopt amendments to the Law on pensions, which are in contrast with the agreement reached with the IMF. "Like never before, all DS MPs appeared in parliament. They did so because they wanted to ruin the Law on pensions and use that law to overthrow the government." Several days afterwards, DS MPs withdrew from the Serbian parliament and faced another accusation, this time from Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica, for undermining the government's efforts to accelerate negotiations with the EU.

CorD and Stubovi kulture (Pillars of Culture) GIFTS TO SUBSCRIBERS H.E. AS Babar Hashmi, Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy of Pakistan in Belgrade, and H.E. Christos Panagopoulos, Ambassador of Greece to SCG, received their free copies of the books 'Final Account' and 'Southeast Europe 2000 - a Serbian View' with the compliments of CorD Magazine and publishing house Stubovi Kulture All subscribers interested in receiving free copies of the two books should contact CorD subscriptions manager Tanja Bogdanovic by telephone, on 3087066, or via email at t.bogdanovic@cma.co.yu in order to receive their copies while stocks last.

Correction In CorD issue 20, page 20 - "Raised on the Kosovo Myth" - the DSS vice president and Head of the Kosovo Co-ordination Centre was mistakenly named as Sandra Raskovic-Ivic, instead of Sanda Raskovic-Ivic.

We would like to apologise to Ms. Raskovic-Ivic for the mistake, and to CorD readers for any confusion caused.

CorD | November 2005

93

ENDLESS IMITATION - Part Two of the trilogy

8th instalment

PIGS DO NOT EAT BANANA SKINS

Photo “Gloria” archive

Tim mothyy Byford for CorD

Having rescued Andrew from an embarrassing situation in a supermarket, Masha's friend and model, Anja Raevsky - an eccentric Russian immigrant - and her lesbian partner Dagmar, bring his shopping to the flat. Andrew is understandably worried how his jealous wife Masha will interpret this... didn't have to say anything to Masha about the afternoon's exploits - Ana and David's account was graphically thorough and I wasn't compromised in the least. On the contrary, I almost emerged a hero.

"The only thing is, I completely forgot to give them the money for the shopping. I'd better dash round to Anja's now."

"No, you'll be having an English lesson after Anja's sitting tomorrow. You can give it to her then. You stink of whisky. Have you been drinking? " "No, I just downed the dregs of Anja's glass before I washed it."

Good grief! This was too much. She was checking up on my every move. I decided I would make my stand immediately.

"I'd rather give it to her today. I wouldn't like her to think I'd forgotten."

"Don't be silly, it can wait until tomorrow."

"No it can't. I'm going to do it now."

"But you don't know where Anja lives. It'll have to wait until tomorrow."

That was it. The knives were drawn. It would be a fight to the death.

"No it won't. What makes you so sure I don't know where Anja lives?"

"Where, then?"

"Where I'm going now. Goodbye!"

I'd done it. I'd shown Masha that I wasn't a wimp. I stormed out of the door and, as the lift wasn't there, I ran down the stairs to ensure I wasn't followed. Of course, I hadn't the faintest idea where Anja lived and anyway I knew she wasn't at home; she was having dinner with Dagmar. But I also knew that Dagmar worked at the National Theatre, which was less than five minutes away, that the National Theatre had a stage doorman and that stage doormen were divided into two categories, those who were amenable and those who were bribable. The National Theatre stage doorman belonged to the former category and was more than happy with the fifty dinar tip he received for giving me classified information, namely that Dagmar had a large and beautiful flat in Kosovska Street.

This was getting exciting. Like something out of a novel.

Detective, spy or romantic, I wasn't sure. Masha would be wild when I returned, but I would have shown her who wore the trousers in our family. And in this case I was 100% in the right.

Well, 95% at least.

"Andrew! I don't believe it! Come in! Anja - look who's arrived!"

The way Dagmar said it, it sounded a bit like: "Look what the cat's brought in." OK, she had reason to be surprised - put out,

I

94

CorD | November 2005

even - as it was obvious that they'd been doing something a little more active and exciting than playing canasta when I arrived. Both were dressed in thin, short housecoats that had probably been hastily donned during the two minutes between my first ring at the door and the moment Dagmar had opened it.

"Sorry if I've come at an inconvenient time, but I forgot to give you the money for the shopping you paid for. How much do I owe you?"

As soon as the words left my mouth I realised how stupid they must have sounded to two women who had quite obviously just been revelling in the delights of each other's body. In her thin, loosely fastened silk housecoat, it was only too obvious just how provokingly flat-chested Dagmar was. She was well into her forties, but she had the body of a teenage boy - and the legs of a nymph. She was only too aware of the thoughts that were flashing through my mind.

"Forget it, dear boy, and come in. There's a lasagne in the oven and a bottle of red wine on the sideboard."

"No, I can't stay. Masha is expecting me. I just came to pay you for the shopping."

"Don't be silly. Masha will understand. We'll give her a ring."

"No, please…"

I wasn't very convincing…

"Don't be silly, dear girl. We'll return him in perfect condition… Look, if you don't trust me, we can forget about tomorrow's sitting… Are you still there? I thought you'd see it my way.

Yes, I do respect you, and I respect Andrew, too… Don't worry, he won't be late home…"

And so the matter was out of my hands. I wasn't the master of my destiny after all. Anja and Dagmar were. I began to think they were a far more preferable master to the Almighty. They most certainly had a better idea of what was best for me at that particular moment. The lasagne was out-of-this-world, the red wine strong, fruity, and complex-destroying and Dagmar was quite the most earthily desirable female of the species I'd met since Susannah. Did she really prefer women to men? I suppose that made two of us.

What would I do if they made a pass at me? Simply remember what I'd been taught. I'd been taught always to eat what was on my plate.

Not to leave anything. Not to offend my hosts. As it turned out, after two helpings of lasagne and the dregs of the second bottle of red wine I couldn't actually see my plate very clearly. I couldn't see anything very clearly. No, that's not quite true - I couldn't see the future very clearly. The present was only too deliciously obvious. Two seminaked women were sitting on the sofa and insinuating that they weren't exactly against the idea of my joining them. They almost seemed to be openly inviting me to join them. What was I to do?

I know I shouldn't have read Masha's diary, but I had to know how she had really felt that fateful evening. Naturally, she'd been furious when I arrived home - at the relatively respectable hour of ten-thirty - and once again I'd been banished to the sofa for the night. On top of that, Masha's quivering thigh, and the demesnes that there adjacent lie were denied me for a further two weeks. But in her diary there was no anger - only sadness and deep anxiety. I learnt that above all she was worried that she would lose me - or rather that Ana and David might find themselves without a father. Masha was a devoted mother and, although she felt quite rightly that I deserved my punishment, she refused to allow what she assumed had happened - and what I vehemently denied had happened - that fateful evening, to in any way prejudice our marriage, or rather our family happiness.

But there were no more English lessons with Anja and I never was invited for an interview with the artistic director of the National Theatre to discuss my idea, inspired by Bob Fosse's Cabaret, for a production of Romeo and Juliet set in the thirties, with Romeo a Jew and Juliet the daughter of Nazi Capulets.

Instead I directed a boring and uncontroversial version of Rumplestiltskin in the Belgrade Children's Theatre with secondrate actors who seemed to be more interested in being active members of the theatre's self-management 'workers' committee' than they were in acting. They used to meet regularly, usually during scheduled rehearsals, to discuss pay levels and working hours, and proved to be as successful in increasing the former as they were in reducing the latter. Self-management in all walks of life was the basis of Tito's brand of communism and the idea of factories, firms and workers' collectives of all kinds being run by the workers and not by capitalist bosses seemed so attractive that it even had members of the British Labour Party dashing over to Yugoslavia to see how it worked. The theory was that if the workers were in charge of themselves they would work hard and responsibly, their own prosperity being synonymous with the prosperity of the firm. The problem was that the emphasis seemed to be on the 'self', rather than the 'management'. Even though Sartre had declared there wasn't such a thing as human nature, the fact that workers couldn't lose their jobs unless they committed a heinous crime, such as drawing a moustache on Tito's portrait, and that they were certain of getting paid whether they worked hard or not, meant that it seemed far more sensible to get paid for not working hard than for flogging your guts out.

Perhaps the only person who actually worked hard was Tito himself, who dashed round the globe at the tax-payers' expense, impressing world leaders with his account of the success of his revolutionary system of self-management and securing huge loans to cover the losses incurred by the same revolutionary system of self-management - and to keep himself in Havanas.

Anyway, after three months and fourteen days of rehearsals and two postponed first nights, Rumplestiltskin finally joined the Belgrade thespian repertoire and I was considered to have achieved the impossible by ridding the Belgrade Children's Theatre of hamacting and the condescending way the so-called actors used to perform in front of children. The name Andrew Beresford once again appeared in the newspapers accompanied by words such as 'magical', 'imaginative' and the somewhat ambiguous 'revolutionary'.

I signed a contract to direct a musical version of Little Red Riding Hood, and then did something truly revolutionary: I flew to England, accompanied for the first time by Masha, Ana and David.

My mother was initially delighted to see her grandchildren her only grandchildren, and likely to remain so for some time, Angela and Peter were both still apparently self-sufficient. My father made some of the right noises, but it was quite clear that he was reserving his full display of pride and affection for when Ana and David reached the age of reason and discretion. On the whole Ana and David behaved impeccably and could hardly be blamed

for their lack of appreciation of one of my mother's favourite proverbs: When in Rome‌ The unzipping of Ana's second banana one breakfast-time was greeted with: "We usually only eat one banana each for breakfast in this country."

And when David started chasing the cat round the garden: "Daddy never used to chase the cats - and if he had done he would have been soundly smacked!"

Of course, my mother was totally unaware that Ana hadn't seen a banana for over a year and that David was simply overcome with joy at actually having a live animal to chase.

When he proudly told his Granny that he'd lost his first tooth just before he came over and the fairies had brought him 20p which happened to be the only British coin I had at the time - he was greeted with: "In this country the fairies only bring sixpence‌" - intimating that not only did Yugoslav fairies spoil children, but that British fairies hadn't yet heard about decimal coinage.

Masha accepted all this in surprisingly good heart, herself establishing a polite but friendly relationship with my mother and a warm and friendly one with my father. Ana and David seemed to assume - quite rightly - that British Grannies were simply different from Balkan ones, and weren't at all offended by her equally correct assumption that Balkan grandchildren weren't exactly Made in Britain. They adored their week in the wide open spaces of Blackthorn Farm, played cricket on the lawn and Poohsticks on the bridge over the stream, and above all adored Granny's cooking, especially appreciating that, while the British seemed to ration bananas, there was no limit to the number of desserts on offer at lunchtime. As for me, I was deeply hurt by my mother's insular mentality and found myself counting the days to our return to Belgrade and to getting back to our normal way of life.

Normal? What the hell is normality? If being normal is conforming to the accepted behaviour of those around you then I was quite definitely abnormal. It was quite obvious that I was not going to conform to the subtleties of self-management - certainly not as it manifested itself in the Belgrade Children's Theatre. Without announcing myself, I attended the fifth performance of Rumplestiltskin and was horrified to find that the actors were once again happily leaping around the stage and pulling silly faces at the audience. I tore up my contract to direct Little Red Riding Hood and decided that I would spend the rest of my days as the loving and faithful consort of an increasingly respected and appreciated Belgrade artist, who already had two exhibitions under her belt, and whose salary at the Academy of Art, on top of the gently rising price of her paintings, was more than enough to keep us all. I convinced myself that it was much better for the children if one parent stayed at home - and why shouldn't it be the father? In man's early food-foraging days, it was largely the women who went out to collect the roots and seeds, taking their children with them. What did the men folk do? They went hunting for animals, but we also know they spent a lot of time painting pictures of the animals they hunted on the walls of their caves. In our family collective, Masha did the hunting and painting, while I collected the roots and seeds from the supermarket and looked after the children. All terribly egalitarian and gender-friendly. And it suited me down to the ground - after all, when I looked back on my life I couldn't be really certain myself whether I was in essence a man or a woman. A lesbian man or a gay woman. Perhaps I was a strange combination - a sort of human dolly mixture. Anyway, whatever I was now, I got on like a house on fire with Ana and David, had a 'satisfucktory' relationship with Masha, and was the apple of my mother-in-law's eye. I don't think Sreten thought much of me though - actually, I think he looked on me as a bit of a wimp, but he wasn't at home all that much, having started an additional practice in Novi Sad. CorD | November 2005

95

Belgrade Directory

Theatres, Music & Museums

THEATRES • ATELJE 212, Svetogorska 21, tel. 324-7342 • BELGRADE DRAMA THEATRE, Milesevska 64a, tel. 2423-686 • BITEF THEATRE, Skver Mire Trailovic 1, tel. 3220-608 • DADOV, Djure Salaja 6/I, tel. 3243-643 • DAH THEATRE, Humska 12, tel. 2441-680 • ISTER THEATRE, Koste Glavinica 7A, tel. 650-757 • JUGOSLAV DRAMA THEATRE, Kralja Milana 50, tel. 644-447 • KPGT, Radnicka 3, tel. 3055-082, 3055-070 • NATIONAL THEATRE (Opera, Ballet, Theatre Plays), Francuska 3, tel. 620-946 • MADLENIANUM OPERA & THEATRE, Zemun, Glavna 32, tel. 316-25-33 • THEATRE ON TERAZIJA, Trg Nikole Pasica 3, tel. 3245-677, 410-099 • SCENA RADOVIC, Aberdareva 1, tel. 323-8817 • SLAVIJA THEATRE, Svetog Save 18, tel. 436-995 • THEATRE ‘T’, Bulevar kralja Aleksandra 77a, tel. 403-570 • THEATRE BOJAN STUPICA, Kralja Milana 50, tel. 644-447 • THEATRE KULT, Bulevar kralja Aleksandra, 77a, tel. 242-860 • ZVEZDARA THEATRE, Milana Rakica 38, tel. 2419-664 CHILDREN’S THEATRES • BOSKO BUHA, Trg Republike 3, tel. 632-855 • MALO POZORISTE DUSKO RADOVIC, Aberdareva 1, tel. 323-20-72 • POZORISTANCE PUZ, Bozidara Adzije 21, tel. 2449-464 • POZORISTE LUTAKA PINOKIO, Karadjordjeva 9, tel. 2691-715 • THEATRE RODA, Pozeska 83a, tel. 545-260 CINEMAS • AKADEMIJA 28, Nemanjina 28, tel. 3611-645 • BALKAN, Brace Jerkovica 16, tel. 3343-491 • DOM OMLADINE, Makedonska 22, tel. 324-8202 • DOM SINDIKATA, Trg Nikole Pasica 5, tel. 323-4849 • 20. OKTOBAR, Balkanska 2, tel. 687-182 • DVORANA KULTURNOG CENTRA, Kolarceva 6, tel. 2621-174 • FONTANA, Pariske komune 13, tel. 602-397 • JADRAN, Trg Nikole Pasica, tel. 624-057 • JUGOSLAVIJA, Bulevar Mihaila Pupina bb, tel. 2676-484 • KOZARA, Terazije 25, tel. 323-5648 • MALA MORAVA, Spasicev pasaz, tel. 623-198 • MALI ODEON, Kneza Milosa 14-16, tel. 643-280 • MILLENNIUM, Knez Mihailova 19, tel. 2623-365 • MUZEJ KINOTEKE, Kosovska 11, tel. 324-8250 • ODEON, Narodnog fronta 45, tel. 643-355 • PALAS SUMADIJA, Turgenjevljeva 5, tel. 555-465 • RODA, Pozeska 83a, tel. 545-260 • SAVA CENTAR, Milentija Popovica 9, tel. 311-4851 • TUCKWOOD CINEPLEX, Knez Milosa 7, tel. 3229-912 • VUK, Bul. Kralja Aleksandra 77a, tel. 2424-860 • ZVEZDA, Terazije 40, tel. 687-320

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CorD | November 2005

CULTURAL CENTRES • BRITISH COUNCIL, Terazije 8, tel. 3023-800 • CENTRE FOR CULTURAL DECONTAMINATION, Bircaninova 21, tel. 681-422 • CERVANTES INSTITUTE, Cika Ljubina 19, tel. 3034 182 • STUDENTSKI GRAD CULTURAL CENTRE, Bulevar AVNOJ-a 179, tel. 2691-442 • DOM OMLADINA, Makedonska 22, tel. 3220-127 • DOM VOJSKE JUGOSLAVIJE, Brace Jugovica 19, tel. 323-99-71 • FRENCH CULTURAL CENTRE, Zmaj Jovina 11, tel. 3023-600 • GERMAN CULTURAL CENTRE, Knez Mihailova 50, tel. 2622-823 • ITALIAN CULTURAL CENTRE, Njegoseva 47/III, tel. 244-23-12, 444-72-17 • BELGRADE CULTURAL CENTRE, Knez Mihailova 6/1, tel. 621-469 • INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL CENTRE - JUBIN, Terazije 26, tel. 687-836, fax. 687-760 • RUSSIAN CULTURAL CENTRE, Narodnog fronta 33, tel. 642-178, 688-300 • REX, Jevrejska 16, tel. 3284-534 • STUDENTS CULTURAL CENTRE, Kralja Milana 48, tel. 659-277 • FOUNDATION OF ILIJA M. KOLARAC, Studentski trg 5, tel. 630-550 • GUARNERIUS, Dzordza Vasingtona 12, tel. 33-46-807 EXHIBITION GALLERIES • GALLERY OF THE SERBIAN ACADEMY OF ARTS & SCIENCES, Knez Mihailova 35, tel. 334-2400 • BELGRADE GALLERY, Andricev Venac 12, tel. 323-8789 • BAZALT GALLERY, Lazarevacki drum 7, tel. 553-689 • PAVILJON CVIJETA ZUZORIC, Mali Kalemegdan, tel. 2621-585 • DOMA OMLADINE GALLERY, Makedonska 22, tel. 3248-202, ext. 25 • THE GREAT GALLERY OF STUDENTSKI GRAD, Bulevar AVNOJ-a 179, tel. 2691-442 • GALLERY OF THE FACULTY OF PORTRAIT ART, Knez Mihailova 53, tel. 635-952 • FRESCO GALLERY, Cara Urosa 20, tel. 2621-491 • GALLERY OF THE GRAPHICAL COLLECTIVE, Obilicev venac 27, tel. 627-785 • GALLERY CHAOS, Cara Lazara 12, tel. 627-497 • GALLERY OF THE BELGRADE CULTURAL CENTRE, Knez Mihailova 6, tel. 2622-926 • JUGOSLOVENSKA GALERIJA UMETNICKIH DELA, Andricev venac 4, tel. 3238-789; Dositejeva 1, tel. 627-135 • GALERIJA-LEGAT MILICE ZORIC I RODOLJUBA COLAKOVICA, Rodoljuba Colakovica 13, tel. 663-173 • GALERIJA-LEGAT PAJE JOVANOVICA, Kralja Milana 21, tel. 3340-176 • GALERIJA-PETRA DOBROVICA, Kralja Petra 36, tel. 2622-163 • SANU GALLERY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Djure Jaksica 2, tel. 3283-490 • GALLERY PROGRESS, Knez Mihailova 22, tel. 182-626 • GALLERY OF THE NATURE MUSEUM, Mali Kalemegdan 5, tel. 328-4317 • MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, Pariska 14, tel. 630-940 • GALLERY STARA KAPETANIJA, Zemun, Kej oslobodjenja 8, tel. 612-023 • GALLERY SULUJ, Terazije 26/II, tel. 685-780 • GALLERY 73, Pozeska 83a, tel. 557-142 • GALLERY ULUS, Knez Mihailova 37, tel. 2621-954 • GALLERY OF THE YUGOSLAV ARMY, Brace Jugovica 19, tel. 323-47-12 • GALLERY ZADUZBINE ILIJE M. KOLARCA, Studentski Trg 5, tel. 185-794 • ZEPTER GALLERY, Kralja Petra I no.32, tel. 328-1414

MUSEUMS CULTURAL&HISTORICAL MUSEUMS: • VUK AND DOSITEJ MUSEUM, Gospodar Jevremova 21, tel. 625-161 • ETNOGRAPHIC MUSEUM- Studentski trg 13, tel. 328-1888 • SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, Kralja Petra 5, tel. 3282-595 • NATIONAL MUSEUM, Trg Republike 1a, tel. 624-322, 438-886 • MUSEUM OF PEDAGOGY, Uzun Mirkova 14, tel. 627-538 • THE MANSION OF DUCHESS LJUBICA, Kneza Sime Markovica 8, tel. 638-264 • THE MANSION OF DUKE MILOSH, Rakovicki put 2, tel. 660-422 • DJURA JAKSIC HOUSE, Skadarska 34, tel. 324-7334 • MANAK’S HOUSE, Gavrila Principa 5, tel. 633-335 HISTORICAL MUSEUMS: • MILITARY MUSEUM, Kalemegdan, tel. 3344-408 • BELGRADE FORTRESS MUSEUM, Kalemegdan bb, 631-766 • YUGOSLAV HISTORICAL MUSEUM, Trg Nikole Pasica 11, • MUSEUM OF BANJICA’S CAMP, Veljka Lukica-Kurjaka 33, tel. 669-690 • JEWISH HISTORICAL MUSEUM, Kralja Petra 71, tel. 2622-634 • SERBIAN HISTORICAL MUSEUM, Nemanjina 24/VII, tel. 3674-057

AMSJ road assistance

987

Ambulance

94

Police

92

Fire Department

93

Belgrade Bus Station

636-299

Belgrade Airport

601-555

Wake-up calls

9811

Humanitarian phone

9862

JAT ticket reservations

311-2123

Long distance calls (international)

901

Phone line Malfunction

977

Information Exact time Information - phone numbers

9812 95 988

MEMORIAL MUSEUMS: • MEMORIAL MUSEUM JOVAN CVIJIC, Jelene Cvetkovic 5, tel. 3223-126 • NIKOLA TESLA MUSEUM, Krunska 51, tel. 2433-886 • MEMORIAL MUSEUM TOMA ROSANDIC, Vasilija Gacese 3, tel. 651-434 • IVO ANDRIC MUSEUM, Andricev Venac 12, tel. 323-8397

Telegrams by telephone Medical Center Emergency Room Whether forecast Central Train Station Chemists,"1. maj", Kralja Milana 9

CITY MUSEUMS: • BELGRADE CITY MUSEUM, Zmaj Jovina 1, tel. 630-825 • ZEMUN CITY MUSEUM, Glavna 9, tel. 617-752 TECHNICAL MUSEUMS: • YUGOSLAV AERONAUTICS MUSEUM, Belgrade Airport, tel. 670-992 • RAILWAY MUSEUM, Nemanjina 6, tel. 361-0334 • AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM, Majke Jevrosime 30, tel. 3241-566 • SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY MUSEUM, Djure Jaksica 9, tel. 187-360, 3281-479 • ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY MUSEUM, Skenderbegova 51, tel. 630-285 • POSTAL MUSEUM, Majke Jevrosime 13, tel. 3210-325 • ARCHITECTURE MUSEUM, Djure Jaksica 9, tel. 187-360, 3281-479

Chemists, "Prima 1", "Sv. Sava"

96 3618-444 9823 629-400 324-05-33 361-10-88, 361-09-99

Chemists, "Sv. Sava", Nemanjina 2

643-170

Chemists, "Zemun", Glavna 34

618-582

Alfa taxi

244-11-13

Alo taxi

3564-555, 063/252-002

Beogradski taxi Beotaxi

9801, 064-12-88-000 970

Ekonomik taxi

397-33-27

EURO TAXI (Lux taxi)

334-47-47

Gold taxi

329-18-18

Lux taxi

328-44-44

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUMS:

Maxiss taxi

• MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, Njegoseva 51, tel. 344-2149, 344-2568 • MUSEUM OF SERBIAN MEDICINE, Dzordza Vasingtona 19, tel. 3245-149

Naxi taxi

215-76-68

NBA taxi

318-57-77

Pink taxi

9803, 488-99-77

ART MUSEUMS

Plavi taxi (Cukaricki)

• AFRICAN ART MUSEUM, Andre Nikolica 14, tel. 651-654 • THEATRE MUSEUM, Gospdar Jevremova 19, tel. 626-630 • CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM, Usce, tel. 311-5713 • DESIGN MUSEUM, Vuka Karadzica 18, tel. 626-494 • CINEMA MUSEUM, Kosovska 11, tel. 324-8250

Taxi Bell Zeleni taxi Žuti taxi

581-111, 9804

3-555-999 9808 323-36-66, 324-25-55 9802

CorD | November 2005

97

COLUMN Inbox To: cord@cma.co.yu From; Pat Anđelković Subject: My life in Belgrade

A PEEK INTO THE PAST "Your teeth are fine," declared Docteur Bonnet, my Parisian dentist, adding rather sarcastically, "Go live happily in Yugoslavia for the next 25 years."

Likewise, upon learning I had fallen victim to Slavic charm and was leaving Paris in early 1977 to live in Belgrade, family and friends cautioned me: "An American in Yugoslavia? But it's an Iron Curtain country! They'll think you're a spy!"

I tossed such Western misconceptions to the wind. I was a seasoned "American abroad," having lived over seven years in France. How different could Yugoslavia really be?

Very. My first impressions of Belgrade couldn't have been less thrilling: gray, gray, and more gray; smoky kafanas, harsh neon lights, dying rubber plants and tablecloths a waiter would simply turn over to hide the stains. Not a pizza stand in sight, and a tomato in winter was an indescribable treat. To my ears, accustomed to Gallic euphony, Serbian sounded as if it should only be spoken by men and then only when arguing. The first word I learned was "Nema."

But I learned to make do with less, and the Serbs smothered me with kindness.

We rented a small studio at an exorbitant price. My next new word was "majstor," since something was always broken. But we had a telephone, a rarity then, and neighbours were always dropping in at odd times to use it.

In 1978 I fulfilled every Serbian husband's wish: a first-born son! No sooner home after a week's hospital stay and Son finally met Father (no visitors, no flowers, nothing had been permitted in the hospital!), than advice was heaped upon me. I was ordered to wrap my son in three ironed diapers, strategically wrapped without pins. Stubbornly, I used one un-ironed diaper fastened with pins. In the street, grandmothers would scold me for using a frontal baby carrier and for speaking English to my son, assuring me he would grow up linguistically confused with twisted legs.

But I gritted my teeth and listened politely, and learned from some of their advice.

In 1979 our daughter was born on an "odd" day when we were not allowed to drive, since the last digit of our license plate was an even number - petrol restrictions. That winter electricity restrictions left entire areas without power for 8-hour periods. Those-in-Power devised a complicated system to calculate a household's kilowatt allowance, depending on the number of family members. Exceed your limit and they'd cut you off. Serbs defeated this proposal by declaring they'd wait gun in hand for the meter reader.

But despite these hardships, Serbs pulled together.

Companies used to allocate employees an apartment based on their number of years of service, marital status, and number of children, and soon we received our first apartment. This was a "Monopoly" system: apartments could be exchanged indefinitely, but not sold for money. We saved on rent and bought our first TV, happily watching both channels.

For six years we four lived very contentedly, albeit simply, in 42 square metres.

Through the early '80's, there was everything one really needed. Visitors from Eastern Bloc countries would hit Belgrade's markets exclaiming, "NescafĂŠ!" or "Wow! Bananas!" During the ensuing shortages, lines formed for limited purchase of laundry detergent, milk, and coffee. Now we began to bring back necessity items from abroad, a harbinger of things to come.

Typically, resourceful Serbs pulled together.

In 1984 visitors flocked to the Winter Olympics in Sarajevo. Years later many fled that same city.

You know the rest of the story: incredible shortages, predictable brain-drain, and mind-boggling inflation. Then all came tumbling down; one conflict after another, and finally the NATO bombing. I remained here. Belgrade had become my home and not once during that time did I have a negative encounter.

More than ever, the Serbs reached out to each other.

Docteur Bonnet's predicted 25 years have come and gone. I've lived through times of abundance and scarcity, inspiration and disillusion, security and uncertainty. Docteur Bonnet would probably be surprised I'm still here - and yes, my teeth are just fine too.

98

CorD | November 2005