CorD Magazine No.43 by CorD Magazine

Anatolian issues H.E. Hasan Servet Öktem Turkish Ambassador In Belgrade

Seeking normalisation Mirjana Karanović Actress

Promoting art practically Jovanka Višekruna Jovanović Artistic Director of ArtLink

interviews opinions news comments events www.cordmagazine.com

November 2007 / Issue No. 43 / Price 170 RSD

Seeking champions

Cord, November 2007

26 Politics & diplomacy

The eternal issue

Vojislav Vignjević investigates the main issues dogging Serbia’s EU advancement

Anatolian Issues

Interview: H.E. Hasan Servet Öktem, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Serbia

Seeking champions

UN Resident Representative, Lance Clark, and other important players discuss the transition to normality of persons living with disabilities in Serbia

Business & CURRENT AFFAIRS

Political stability – development key

Interview: Patricia Gannon, Partner, KN Karanović & Nikolic

Seeking normalisation

36 actress

Interview: Mirjana Karanović,

The message & the lesson

CorD investigates the recent Antifascist demonstrations in Novi Sad

Dealing in Dreams

B2B Interview: Stavros Paraskevaides, CEO of DaimlerChrysler SCG and Chrysler Balkan

CorD B2B

Business news summary and CorD Club news

IT BUSINESS

From .yu to .rs

Society

62 68 70

Faces & Places – images of the key happenings of the past month Tales from the Big Plum – Pat Anđelković demystifies Belgrade Ivica’s Edge – An alternative look at trends, fads and phenomena

Culture

72 74

Strength of Creativity - Korean artists entertain Serbia Cult Venue – A look at the ongoing renovation of Belgrade’s Dom omladine

Interview: Željko Tomić, General Manager of OSA Računarski inženjering

76 78

Great possibilities untapped

Software skulduggery

56 58

Dragan Stojanović investigates Vojvodina’s waterways

Promoting art practically – Presenting ArtLink The Rock & The Body – Sonja Ćirić looks at the Museum of African Art’s latest exhibition Culture News & Calendar – a look at what’s ahead in the world of culture

Leisure & Lifestyle Managing Director Ana Isaković, a.isakovic@cma.co.yu Editor in Chief Mark Pullen, m.pullen@cma.co.yu Art Director Darko Staničić, d.stanicic@cma.co.yu Editorial Contributors Tatjana Ostojić, Ivica Petrović, Vojislava Vignjević, Pat Anđelković, Sonja Ćirić, Alex Papke, Danijela Milosavljević Photo Jelena Mandić, Stanislav Milojković, Časlav Vukojičić, Jelena Seferin, Nemanja Savić, CorD Archive, Tanjug Translators Dejan Zubac, Tijana Pejčić, Milica Kuburu-Jovanović, Momčilo Drakulić Editorial Manager Jelena Vignjević, j.vignjevic@cma.co.yu Subscription & Web Ivan Lakatoš, i.lakatos@cma.co,yu

4 CorD / November 2007

Sales MANAGER: Sanja Zimonjić, s.zimonjic@cma.co.yu General Manager Ivan Novčić, i.novcic@cma.co.yu Financial Director Snežana Batrićević, s.batricevic@cma.co.yu Printing Politika AD CorD is published by: alliancemedia Knjeginje Zorke 11b, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia Phone: +(381 11) 308 99 77, 308 99 88 Fascimile: +(381 11) 244 81 27 E-mail: cordeditorial@cma.co.yu www.cordmagazine.com ISSN no: 1451-7833 All rights reserved alliancemedia 2007

88 92 94

Fashion review – Bianco & Nero

DJs on the up - Richard Wordsworth on the Belgrade club scene Karađorđe’s cradle – TOS & CorD present Topola and Oplenac

Comment

Annulment of Family What is the price of kindness and humanity if you are killed by the man whose child’s life you saved with your own kidney a year ago, and then you protected the wife of the very same man, the wife he molested for two decades? Is it better to turn your back on other people’s problems and not care about the screams for help of a woman being abused by her husband; the screams of children assaulted by close family members or the cries of the father mistreated by his drug addicted son? Do will still live in the conviction that “a good beating solves all problems” while at the same time, in not so far off Italy, a man goes to prison for smacking a child once? By Danijela Vukosavljević, Journalist of daily Politika

any such social questions are currently being posed in Serbia after the black wave of violence with tragic consequences, which saw six families struck by tragedy in Serbia in just one week. The reasons for those unusual events are various – ranging from drug addiction, harsh material circumstances, violence and jealousy, to all the anger and intolerance which has been piling up for years. The background of these dark incidents certainly lies in disturbed family relations and a deeply disturbed system of social values. The symbol of the family itself as a sanctuary is these days significantly different in Serbia. It is well known that the system of values was destroyed here during the 1990’s and, thus, that which should represent the murky depths has instead come to the surface of social life.

“ Even though domestic violence experts claim that the outcome of molestation is always uncertain, this tragedy might not have happened if all social mechanisms and authorised institutions had reacted with more urgency.”

The most drastic case of all those events happened on 11th October this year in Mladenovac, where the bodies of the Miletić family – Mališa, his wife Slavica, his son Miloš and his daughter Jelena – were discovered. It was established that Mališa killed the members of his family with a hammer and then committed suicide with a pistol. The motive for this family massacre was not established, and the only thing that is known is that Mališa had mistreated his family for years, and that criminal charges had even been filed against him as a result of that. Somehow after such events, family and neighbours always claim that they knew what was going on. Miletić’s neighbours 6 CorD / November 2007

reported Mališa to the police, and that is confirmed by the fact that this terrible event was discovered when a policeman rang on the door to deliver Mališa a warrant for family violence. The neighbours knew that Mališa mistreated his family, but Mališa also knew that the neighbours had reported him to the police. Because of that this tyrant moved his family from his village, Kovačevac, to Mladenovac, because nobody knew him there, thus he believed that he could beat his wife and children as much as he wanted. Even though domestic violence experts claim that the outcome of molestation is always uncertain, this tragedy might not have happened if all social mechanisms and authorised institutions had reacted with more urgency. In this case, in contrast to others, the neighbours and police did react, but that was not enough to prevent such a tragic event. Perhaps some other mechanisms which would prevent domestic violence should be sought, or at least the existing ones implemented. Anyone who thought that this monstrous event would serve to highlight the increasing problems of family relations and lead perpetrators of domestic violence to take heed from the latest horrible event and think twice before acting violently – at least for the time being – would have been wrong. Rather, the event proved to be a catalyst for a chain of family tragedies in Serbia that occurred as if rolling off an industrial assembly line. In Rajkovac, near Mladenovac, a father killed his own son. On the same day, in the village of Nakrivanj, close to Vučje, a son beat his father to death while the local police patrol looked on in silence. One day later, in New Belgrade, a son stabbed his father, and on the same day in Loznica a former policeman cut the throat of the man who gave his kidney to his daughter. The last in this chain of cruel murders took place in Čačak, where family members killed a young man who just about to reach legal maturity. After everything, are we really, as sociologist Ratko Božović claims, a society with extreme behaviour which annuls the values of life and existence? I hope we are not. But I cannot deny that the poverty on the edge of desperation and the general crisis of the social system has caused all of those tragedies. Particularly because of that, the problem of family violence should not be solved from one case to the next, but systematically, universally and as a team. And whoever makes a mistake should have to bear the responsibility for that. n

CorD Top Ten

Top Female Business Leaders

As women continue to go from strength to strength in the corporate world of Europe, so the fairer sex continue to make it to the top of the male-dominated corporate ladder in Serbia. But when it comes to the achievements of the most powerful women in business – the female rising stars, ones to watch and other women making things happen – it becomes obvious that gender is irrelevant and they are simply business leaders who happen to be female. Just like every other top executive, they are affected by globalisation, competition, technological change and the swings and roundabouts of business. For the November issue, CorD presents its second annual top ten of women in business in Serbia, which again coincides with the publishing of the Financial Times ranking of Europe’s top women in business. By CorD & FT CorD Criteria CorD’s candidates are drawn from women who are professionally active on the territory of Serbia, or whose work has an impact on the Republic of Serbia and its inhabitants. CorD’s candidates are not judged on public influence or media status, but rather on professionalism, academic and technical success, business prowess, potential and comparative accomplishments. 8 CorD / November 2007

1. IVANA VESELINOVIĆ, 46

Vice President of Delta Holding and CEO of Delta M Group

ment of food and beverage production. The year 2007 will also be marked by the opening of the new shopping centre in Serbia – Delta City 67 – a new concept of modern shopping centres.

2. JASNA MATIĆ, 43

State Secretary at the Ministry of Economy and Regional Development

asna Matić was born 1964 in Belgrade, where she graduated Construction Engineering at Belgrade University. She began her career as a steel construction designer and project manager on a variety of industrial facilities and public buildings projects. After five years pursuing an engineering career, Matić received a scholarship for postgraduate study in the U.S., and

vana Veselinović was born 1961 in Belgrade, where she graduated Economics from the Belgrade University. Her first employment was with Delta Holding, where she has been building her career ever since – starting from lawyer, to financial manager, to vice president of the company. She has worked for Delta since the company was founded, and she participated in the creation of the new business policy of Delta Holding. For over 15 years she has been the leader of the Delta M Group, which now has 12,000 employees and is the largest member of Delta Holding, the second-ranked company on the Ekonomist’s list of the 300 Top Serbian Companies. With Veselinović as their leader, Delta M Group outgrew the borders of Serbia in 2007 by entering the Bulgarian, Montenegrin, BiH, Republic of Srpska and Ukranian markets, while it’s also preparing to conquer the Romanian and Macedonian markets. As regards investment, Delta M Group has strengthened its positions in strategic business activities in the areas of agriculture, retail and distribution. In recognition of all of her many business accomplishments to date, Veselinović has been the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions, and is the only female member of Serbian Business Club “Privrednik”. Ivana Veselinović is a married mother of one son – Dimitrije. This Year In 2007 a new factory was opened for the production of bottled water, Aqua Gala, marking a start in the develop-

veloping and transition countries globally. More importantly, the agency was instrumental in attracting a growing number of long-coveted Greenfield investments to the country. This year In May this year she was appointed State Secretary at the Ministry of Economy and Regional Development, in charge of international economic relations, as well as competitiveness and quality infrastructure. 2007 is the year of many awards and recognitions both for SIEPA and Jasna Matić. In June SIEPA received the European Attractiveness Award, alongside Barcelona, Wallonia, and Lille. The prize awarded by the Le Baule Institute, ‘for contribution to making Europe more attractive’ and sponsored by European Commission, Ernst & Young, and Euronews also brought free broadcasting time on the Euronews channel that will be used for the promotion of the Republic of Serbia.

3. GORDANA DOSTANIĆ, 53

Director of the Belgrade ‘BELEX’ Stock Exchange

orn 1954 in the Vojvodina town of Sremska Mitrovica, Gordana Dostanić, graduated from the Belgrade University Faculty of Economics with a degree in finance and accounting. completed two-year MBA studies at the Washington University, majoring in finance and business strategy. Matić worked as a consultant for the World Bank in Washington DC, where she co-ordinated research on digital readiness for more than 20 countries around the world. In 2001, Matić took up employment as an advisor to then Deputy FR Yugoslavia Prime Minister, Miroljub Labus. After the dissolution of FR Yugoslavia, she worked for Booz Allen Hamilton, one of the top U.S. consultancy houses, as a competitiveness advisor on the USAID Serbia Competitiveness and Economic Efficiency Project, where she advised Serbian industry clusters in applying world-class strategies in oder to increase their business competitiveness. Between 2004 and 2007, Matić was Director of the Serbian Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SIEPA). Under her leadership, SIEPA grew to become widely recognised as one of the top investment promotion agencies among de-

In 1992 she took up the post of assistant trading director at the Belgrade Stock Exchange, and in August 2002 she was appointed CEO of the Belgrade Stock Exchange by the Executive Board. Dostanić has been included in many experts teams for the development of the stock exchange business in Serbia and has authored several very important books on CorD / November 2007 9

CorD Top Ten stock exchange practices, the most important being the “Capital Markets” and “Standardization of procedures and regulation in strategy of development of the Serbian capital markets”, amongst others. During her leadership, the Belgrade Stock Exchange has become a member of the International Stock Exchange Association, but her major achievements are certainly the development of the standards and procedure of the Belgrade Stock Exchange, the enhancing of relationships with the partners and clients, and the agreements on co-operation with the largest European stock exchanges. In 2004, the Belgrade Stock Exchange received the EBRD award as the best stock exchange in the region. In 2005 Dostanic was awarded by the Serbian Journalists Club as the “Manager of the Year from the Financial Sector”. Dostanic is a married mother of one son. This year During 2007 the first companies on the stock exchange were listed under the listing “A” (Prime Market). This years also saw the granting of the first international license for index BELEX15, based on which an “Open End-Index Certificate” was issued – marking the first product on indexes under the ownership of the Belgrade Stock Exchange to be listed on Frankfurt and Stuttgart’s stock markets

4. LJILJANA SMAJLOVIĆ, 51

Editor-in-Chief of Politika daily newspaper

orn 1956 in Sarajevo, Ljiljana Smajlović graduated from the University of Sarajevo and received a scholarship to continue her studies in Cleveland,

Ohio, and then a French lycée in Algeria. Smajlović’s first job in media was at Sarajevo daily Oslobođenje, where she gradually advanced to the post of political section editor and later Brussels correspondent. In 1992 she moved to Belgrade, where she joined popular weekly Vreme magazine. She soon received a fellowship from the renowned Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars and moved to the United States once again for a year, continuing to write for Vreme as a foreign correspondent. Mrs. Smajlović specialised in international relations topics, developing an esteemed reputation that led to her being offered the post of foreign editor of biweekly magazine Evropljanin in 1998. Following the tragic murder of Slavko Ćuruvija and subsequent demise of Evropljanin, Smajlović moved to weekly NIN, serving as the publication’s ICTY commentator and later authoring her own column. Soon after the turn of the millennium, Smajlović became executive director of IREX’s (International Research & Exchanges Board) Serbian branch. This American Non-Governmentl organisation focuses on independent media, initiatives for women, support for U.S. scholars, and local alumni programming. In 2005, Smajlović – a married mother of one son – was appointed editor-in-chief of popular Belgrade daily Politika, and in 2006 Smajlović successfully transformed both the editorial concept and the basic design of Politika, which she achieved with the assistance of U.S.-based designer Mirko Ilić. This year In 2007 Mrs. Smajlović became a member of the foreign policy advisory council of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of the Republic of Serbia.

5. MILKA FORCAN, 38

Vice-president of Delta Holding

ilka Forcan was born 1969 in Belgrade and graduated Economics from the University of Belgrade. She continued her education in London, taking her first working experience in the field of marketing. Following her returning to Yugoslavia in 1992, she was employed by the fledgling Delta M. Delta was her first full time job, but she was soon promoted to the position of Financial Director of one of Delta Holding’s subsidiaries. Forcan proved very tenacious in her wish to form specialised departments, 10 CorD / November 2007

such as media relations, corporate social responsibility sector, consumer and client relations… Today, Delta Holding’s PR sector is one of the most prominent PR service providers in Serbia and the wider region. Forcan is also one of the founders of the PR Society of Serbia and is currently the Society’s vice-president. Her voluntary activities include numerous lectures, notably those at the Economics Faculty and Faculty of Organisational Sciences in Belgrade and Novi Sad, Advertising Economists Society of Serbia and the London PR School in Belgrade. In 1998 Milka Forcan was awarded a trophy in recognition of the public representation of her company by the Yugoslav PR Professionals Association. The same organisation decoated her again in 2001 for institutional PR. She was also decorated with the Order of St. Sava Medal. In 2007 she was awarded by the PR Association of Serbia for her exceptive personal contribution in the field of communications, and in the same year the Belgrade Chamber of Commerce named Forcan the Manager of the Year. Milka Forcan is a married mother of a son and daughter. This year During 2007, Delta Holding has enlarged its retail network throughout the region with the acquisition of the greatest retail chain in Republika Srpska (Tropic), as well as the second largest supermarket chain in Bulgaria (Piccadilly). With this last acquisition, Delta Maxi became the first retail company from the region to enter the EU market. Delta Holding continued to invest in its real estate business this year, and the first Delta City Shopping Mall, the greatest in the Balkans to date, will be opened in Serbia by the end of the year, as well as in Montenegro at the beginning of 2008.

CorD Top Ten

6. STANKA ČUROVIĆ, 40

Chairwoman of the Management Board of M-Rodić d.o.o. and Director of Mercator-S

tanka Čurović was born 1967 in Kula; B.Sc.Econ; and one of these days she will find the time to defend her Master’s Thesis at the Strategic Marketing Department of the Faculty of Economics in Subotica, under the theme “Global Diversification as the Company Trend of Growth”.

According to Čurović, M-Rodić’s share of the Serbian market has grown by 8% this year. The company plans to employee a further 700 new employees and increase the number of users of Mercator’s Pika card to 60,000 users. Plans are also in place to increase the company’s market share by an additional 10%. In order to optimise efficiency, this year has seen the entire staff of Mercator-S relocated from Belgrade to Novi Sad in the head office of M-Rodić, thus all activities and a completely new organisation has been established in 2007, which will lead to the higher efficiency of Mercator S.

7. Draginja Ðurić, 52 CEO Banca Intesa Beograd

Čurović has been engaged in the Company Rodić M&B from the very start of the Company’s trade network development. Following the takeover of the majority of Company M-Rodić in 2006, Čurović became Chairwoman of the Management Board of M-Rodić d.o.o. and Director of Mercator-S (M-Rodić and Mercator-S are Serbian Companies in the Slovenian Mercator Group.) Čurović was personally responsible for conceiving the strategic connections of the companies M-Rodić and Mercator-S, as a great success on the Serbian market, and primarily as a chance for all employees – currently numbering almost 3,500 – to work in a powerful business system with clearly defined rules, developed organisation and covering the markets of several countries in the region. Stanka Čurović is a married mother of two children - son Dimitrije and daughter Dunja. This year Headed by Čurović, this year companies M-Rodić and Mercator-S established the M-Rodić Shopping Mall in New Belgrade and the Mercator Centre in Novi Sad. By the end of the year it is envisaged that five more facilities will be opened in Serbia. 12 CorD / November 2007

or the past six years Draginja Đurić has been at the helm of Banca Intesa Beograd. Under her leadership, the former Delta banka became one of the most thriving corporate banks in the country. The business success that the bank has achieved so far is corroborated by many accolades that Banca Intesa has received, like the prestigious award given out by The Banker magazine. In 2007, further from the ranking compiled by analysts from foreign consultancies and Finance

Serbia’ and UNICEF’s ’Schools without Violence’ campaigns. Đurić is also President of the Managing Board of the Association of Banks, President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce Board of Banking and a member of the Association of Corporate Directors of Serbia. In a survey conducted by Blic newspaper, she was chosen the Minister of Finance in the All-Women Government. Prior to coming to Delta banka in 1996, she was the Director of SDK Pančevo. She graduated from the Belgrade Faculty of Economics, and fluently speaks English and French. Draginja Đurić is married and has two children. This year With total assets of over two billion euros, total deposits of €1.25billion and total placements of over a billion Euros, Banca Intesa Beograd has managed to take the number one spot on the list of the biggest banks in Serbia. In the survey conducted by the British magazine Finance Central Europe, Draginja Đurić has been declared “The Banker of the Year” for the fifth time in a row. She was also appointed the President of the Managing Board of the Association of Banks.

8. Maja Gojković, 44 Major of Novi Sad

aja Gojković was born 1963 in Novi Sad, where she graduated from the Novi Sad Law Faculty in 1987. In 1989 she passed her legal bar exam and a year later she became a lawyer in the family law office Gojković. She was an SRS parliamentarian of the Vojvodina Assembly from 1996 to 2000, and from 1991 she was a parliamentarian of the FR Yugoslavia Council of Citizens, and then a parliamentarian of the State Union of Serbia & Montenegro.

Central Europe magazine, Bance Intesa Beograd was declared the best middlesized bank in South East Europe. The bank is also a recipient of the Belgrade Chamber of Commerce award ‘Privredni pobednik’ [’Economic Winner’]. Under the leadership of Đurić, the bank became known for its active contribution to social development as the backer of the National Theatre and the Belgrade Marathon, as well as for organising the Milan Junior Camp and being a partner to ’Our

From 1998 to 1999 she was a Minister of the Serbian Government without portfolio, and in August 1999 Gojković – who is a member of International Union of lawyers – became vice president of the Federal Government. Since 5th October 2004 she has been Mayor of the City of Novi Sad – publicly elected. Gojković is a member of the City Parliament’s delegation responsible for realising the twinning of Novi Sad with the Athens’s Municipality of Iliopoulos. The Novi Sad Mayor has been a member of the Serbian Society for Animal Protection since 1972. She speaks English and German and is an active skier and aqua-biker. This year In July the first Serbia Film Festival was held in Novi Sad. During July and August Novi Sad hosted the World and European Junior Basketball championships for men and women. Investments realised in Novi Sad under Gojković’s leadership this year include: the opening of two new nursery schools and the reconstruction of 11 schools. Meanwhile, the building of the first new school in Novi Sad after 25 years has commenced. Moreover, pre-school waiting lists have been drastically decreased and by the end of the year Novi Sad will host the annual conference Network of Balkan cities. Novi Sad is a winner of the prestigious award “Cosmopolitan Music Capital of Eastern Europe” which is traditionally awarded by Swiss Tourism Awards. Finally, Mayor Gojković has succeeded in renewing much of the city’s infrastructure: the reconstruction of the water and sewage network, water-works system, and traffic infrastructure – including the renewal of the vehicle pool of the Public city’s company with the purchase of 36 new buses.

9, Žaklina Kušić, 44

General Manager of the Publicis Group Serbia and Montenegro

aklina Kušić graduated in Arabic Language and Literature in 1993. She is the partner and founder of SMS Bates Saatchi & Saatchi in Macedonia. As the Managing and Creative Director she quickly built up her reputation on the European market, and the Skopje Jazz Festival is, according to the number of awards received in international festivals, one of the most successful campaigns in the region. In 1996 she established her own agency

tion for judges and is currently working on the dissertation for her doctorate. Since 1995 she has been in managerial positions - the most important of which were: Director of Zepter Insurance, Development Director in Delta Insurance and Director of the Republican Health Insurance Bureau. While director of Zepter Insurance, Vukajlović managed within a short time to lead the Greenfield company with a growth in annual turnover and profit of 300% to the leading position, mostly in the field of life insurance. As the director of the Republican Health

in Skopje and Belgrade and was granted a licence from the oldest European agency for marketing and communications, Publicis. Publicis is today one of the leading agencies in Serbia and Macedonia, and is recognised for its analysis and high standards. Kušić is the promoter of numerous humanitarian campaigns (aid to neglected children and children with arrested development, against violence toward children, aid to the Faculty of Political Sciences, aid to the Contemporary Art Museum, the Belgrade Dance Festival, etc.) She is the founder of the non profit monthly magazine, Yellow Cab, which is a guide to cultural events as well as lecturers at conferences, seminars and open debates on leadership themes. Kušić is also the promoter of the specialised magazine for marketing and communications, MS - Marketing Serbia, as well as the Second Life project “Serbia Under Construction”. Kušić, a member of the Oktobarski Salon Council, is the married mother of one son This year In 2007 Kušić has developed businesses which include her in one of the biggest global agencies in the region. Apart from the Publicis Group in Serbia and Montenegro, which consist of the Publicis Agency and Zenith Optimedia (local branch of the leading international media house) this also includes Publicis Dialog (agency specialised in BTL) and O.B.I.C.O.M. Saatchi & Saatchi.

10. Svetlana Vukajlović, 47

Director of the Republican Health Insurance Bureau

orn 1960 in Belgrade, Vukajlović graduated from the Law Faculty of Belgrade, passed the qualifying examina-

Insurance Bureau, she managed in a short time to transform this institution burdened with a bad image into a transparent institution which operates on the basis of transparency and the fair allocation of funds in the interests of clients. During three and half years of managing the Bureau, this institution went from indebtedness in the amount of almost 20,000,000,000 dinars, to a sustainable financial system which pays all its obligations on time. Vukajlović is a married mother of two children, Anja and Luka. This year The Bureau’s new operating method has made a major contribution to the development of the economy, leaning on the public health services. Also, the scope of business was significantly increased – considering that the Bureau’s funds for medicines, medical materials and medical-technical appliances were multiplied several times. The incomes of 100,000 employees in the public health service, which are paid out of the Bureau’s funds, were increased by 40% in comparison with the previous year. In 2007 Vukajlović was elected the Manager of the Year by the Belgrade Chamber of Commerce. CorD / November 2007 13

FT Top Ten

FT’s top women in European business Now that we’ve seen the women leading the way in Serbia, it’s time to take a look at the pick of Europe’s best; the first ten of the many women who are managing to make it big on the business scene in Europe. A few of FT’s top women in Europe from 2006 have remained amongst the biggest hitters in 2007. However, this year’s list also contains several newcomers who have burst onto the world of European business in a big way in the last 12 months, such as Anglo American Chief Executive, Cynthia Carroll, and Alcatel-Lucent CEO, Patricia Russo. FT Criteria Candidates can be drawn from European Union member states and official applicant countries, plus Russia, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and the Balkan states. They must be based in Europe, but their nationality is irrelevant. Employees of Pearson and companies in which it has a substantial interest are ineligible. Only those with key operational or senior advisory roles are considered. The most important factors include: the candidate’s seniority in the company or division she oversees. Other elements include: the candidate’s influence, contribution to society and significance as a role model for women.

1. Anne Lauvergeon, 48 Chief Executive Officer, Areva

got her first chief executive appointment, at French nuclear fuel suppliers Cogema. Its merger with state-owned reactor maker Framatome created Areva, the world’s largest state-owned nuclear energy group, with 59,000 employees worldwide. In June 2006, she was reappointed chief executive, but Lauvergeon’s strong reputation as both a businesswoman and a politician - Sarkozy himself has twice tried to woo her into his new government - is not in doubt, and she would undoubtedly find a berth somewhere else if she had to move from Areva.

2. Cynthia Carroll, 50 Chief Executive, Anglo American

W L

auvergeon, or “Atomic Anne” as the boss of the French nuclear group is known, is part of the formidable French elite. A graduate of the Ecole Normale Supérieure and the Ecole des Mines, she has an advanced degree in physics. From 1984 until 1995 she worked in various capacities for government energy agencies, and in 1990 was picked by President Mitterrand as his adviser on international economic affairs and foreign trade. He apparently said of her that she knows how to say no and smile at the same time. Lauvergeon, who was famously back at her desk 12 days after the birth of her first child, is on the record as finding quotas to encourage gender diversity ”humiliating”. She has had no need of such assistance. On leaving government in 1995 she took her unrivalled contacts book and joined the investment bank Lazard and then moved on to Alcatel, the telecoms group. In 1999 she 14 CorD / November 2007

hen Cynthia Carroll was appointed chief executive of mining group Anglo American in March 2007, she notched up a number of firsts. She was the group’s first CEO in its 90-year history to come from outside South Africa - she is Amer-

the primary metal division. She also became the first woman to run a major mining company, a key milestone in what remains a male-dominated industry. Born in Philadelphia, Ms Carroll trained as a geologist and spent the first part of her career looking for oil in the Rocky Mountains with Amoco, now part of BP. She spent 18 years at Alcan in various roles, and has moved all over the world with her husband and four children. After six months as CEO of Anglo American, Ms Carroll has already made her mark. She is in the process of selling Tarmac, the group’s building materials division, and recently sold much of Anglo’s stake in AngloGold Ashanti, the South African gold miner. Anglo will now be focusing on its core businesses of platinum, coal, iron ore, base metals and diamonds. Ms Carroll has made several acquisitions over the last few months, including a $1.15bn investment in a 49 per cent stake in MMX Minas-Rio, the developer of a number of Brazilian iron ore projects.

3. Antonia Ax:son Johnson, 64 Chairman, Axel Johnson

A ican - and the first to come from outside the company. Rather than work her way up through the Anglo hierarchy, Ms Carroll was poached from Alcan, the Canadian aluminium producer, where she headed up

x:son Johnson, born in New York and educated in the US and Sweden, is the fourth generation of the Axel Johnson family to head the business started by her great-grandfather in 1873. Ax:son Johnson holds a master’s in psychology and business from the University of Stockholm, a doctor of humane letters degree from Middlebury College of Vermont, and a doctor of civil law degree from Bishop’s University in Canada. Initially concentrating on coal, steel and shipping, Axel Johnson has diversified into

areas including retailing, information technology and real estate. It is now a worldwide operation with more than 15,000 employees and subsidiaries in 30 countries. Ax:son Johnson succeeded her father as chairman in 1982, and runs the company - divided into three independent corporate groups. Ax:son Johnson is also politically active, sits on numerous corporate boards, and is involved with charities. She is also a trustee of the Axel and Margaret Ax:son Johnson Foundation, which supports independent research into the humanities and social sciences. Her values include ”doing business in an environmentally correct and sustainable manner” and ”being in direct contact with people’s everyday lives”. Axel Johnson has now entered a new phase of growth, the company says, and a fifth generation of the company has become involved in the business. Caroline Berg, Ax:son Johnson’s second child, now serves with her mother on the company’s board.

While out on her own, Botín started a private equity fund and a technology consulting firm, but just two years later her father had seen off his Central Hispano co-chair and regained full control of Santander. He brought Botín back into the fold, appointing her head of Banesto - Banco Español de Crédito - the retail bank that had been sold to Santander in 1994. Since her appointment, Botín has overseen expansion, securing Banesto’s position as one of Spain’s biggest banks. Among her goals has been to increase Banesto’s market share in loans to small- and mediumsized businesses, to keep the company at the forefront of technological innovation, and to uphold Banesto’s reputation for being autonomous within Santander. For the first half of 2007, the bank said it had net attributable profit of €390.5m ($550.2m), a 25.7 per cent increase over the comparable period a year earlier. Lending to the private sector increased by 27.2 per cent.

Chief Executive, BUPA

ooding has been running Bupa, Britain’s largest provider of private health and care services, since 1998, and last year won a lifetime achievement award from the CBI for her part in broadening women’s opportunities in business. She began her career at British Airways as a reservations agent in 1973 and rose to be head of cabin services, looking after 10,000 cabin crew. By 1993 she was director of business units. She left

5. Clara Furse, 50

Chief Executive, London Stock Exchange

urse, a veteran in the world of high finance, was appointed as the first female chief executive of the London Stock Exchange in January 2001. She was born in Canada to Dutch parents, and after an itinerant childhood, Furse read economics at the London School of Economics. She

4. Ana Patricia Botín, 47

Executive Chairman, Banesto

otín’s career started with two years of clerical work at JPMorgan in New York, after which she was accepted on to their trainee scheme. She rose to become the youngest vice-president of her intake. After seven years at JPMorgan, Botín joined her father’s company. She was put in charge of investment banking and Latin American expansion, but in 1999 had to resign as part of Santander’s merger deal with Banco Central Hispano Americano:

6.Valerie Gooding, 57

started as a derivatives broker, initially trading agricultural futures, joined Phillips and Drew/UBS (now UBS Warburg) in 1983 and became chief executive of Credit Lyonnais Rouse in 1998. Since taking over at the LSE, Furse – who is said to be disciplined, tenacious and an expert at compartmentalising her life – has expertly steered the exchange through a number of rocky patches. She took over straight after a failed merger attempt with the Deutsche Borse, and then lost out to Paris-based rival Euronext in the battle to buy Liffe, the London futures exchange where she was once deputy chairman. She has subsequently seen off four hostile bidders in the last three years. The latest attempt by Nasdaq ended with the US exchange putting up for sale its accumulated 31 per cent stake in the LSE in August.

in 1996 to join Bupa, which employs over 40,000 staff in 180 countries. Gooding says the lack of a structured career path early on in her career has turned out to be an advantage because it helped her gain experience in different fields. She also attributes her success to persistence, determination and passion for her work. In the midst of her busy schedule, however, she finds time to go to the gym two or three times a week, play tennis and go to a Sunday morning step class. Bupa said group revenues from continuing operations rose by 10 per cent to £2,100m ($4,300m) in the first half of the year, compared to the same period last year, and surplus before tax from continuing operations rose by 47 per cent to £166.0m ($338.4m). The group is a provident, so all surplus is reinvested back in the business. This month, Bupa made its first acquisition in the elderly care sector in Australia, a market it is targeting for significant growth. It is to acquire a controlling stake in DCA Agedcare, the operator of nearly 100 care homes in Australia and New Zealand, from CVC Asia Pacific, the private equity group.

7. Patricia Russo, 55

Chief Executive Officer, Alcatel-Lucent

rior to the merger of Alcatel and Lucent Technologies – which combined French and US telecommunications equipment maker in December 2006 – Russo was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lucent. As one of the founding executives of the company, she helped launch Lucent in 1996 and spent more than 20 years of her career managing some of Lucent’s and CorD / November 2007 15

FT Top Ten AT&T’s largest divisions and most critical corporate functions. The American, who received her undergraduate degree from Georgetown and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University, spent eight years in sales and marketing at IBM before joining AT&T in 1981, where she quickly rose through the ranks. Russo’s tenure as the head of AlcatelLucent, however, is facing testing times as the group undergoes a difficult restructuring programme. The group has issued three profit warnings in less than 10 months, as it

struggles with a rapidly deteriorating market in the US and the integration problems that beset many mergers. But some in the company say management has not been quick enough to make hard decisions, including radical cost-cutting and the elimination of management and operational duplications. Russo last month opened the way for more job cuts, telling Le Figaro, the French newspaper, that the company could cut more of its 79,000 workforce than the 12,500 planned under its merger cost-savings programme. But evidence that the group was losing business with AT&T to rival Ericsson was another disappointment and Russo is under pressure from French-based directors over the group’s management. Russo has defended her record, saying that there was no question of her departure. However, some observers say Russo’s position is looking increasingly wobbly and the apparent tension at the top of Alcatel-Lucent is likely further to unsettle investors, who have seen their shares battered. By the end of the month, Russo is to present an emergency restructuring plan to her board and lay out where research and sales efforts should focus.

Turkey’s biggest industrial and financial conglomerates, Sabancı Holding. Sabancı has a degree in business administration, and was president of Sabancı’s tyre and tyre reinforcement materials group for five years. She took over as chairman after her uncle Sakip died in 2004. He chose Sabancı as his successor ahead of his brothers and other male family members. Sabancı Holding is the parent company of the Sabancı Group, composed of 70 companies. Sabancı Holding’s main business units include financial services, automotive, tyres, cement, food and retailing, energy, textiles and some other smaller businesses. Sabancı Holding has controlling interests in 13 companies listed on the Istanbul Stock Exchange. The company said it had recorded a net profit of TL616m ($518m) for the first half of 2007, representing a 93 per cent increase over the same period of the previous year. Sabancı is studying several options for new investments, including acquisitions in these three fields, particularly in eastern Europe.

9. Annika Falkengren, 45

President and Group Chief Executive, SEB

alkengren joined the Swedish financial institution SEB as a trainee in 1987 after graduating from the University of Stockholm. After starting in trading and capital

8. Güler Sabancı, 52 Chairperson and Managing Director, Sabancı Holding

abancı is the first woman to head a major Turkish corporation. She began work at her family’s tyre factory in Izmit 28 years ago and now presides over one of

16 CorD / November 2007

markets, she moved quickly up through the ranks, including global head of trading and head of merchant banking, before being appointed chief executive in November 2005, when she became SEB’s first female head in the group’s 150-year history.

Her appointment has fascinated and occasionally titillated Swedish society: the business elite admires her rise to the top, while her decision to have her first child two years ago, just before she became CEO, enthralled the popular press. Since taking over, Falkengren has concentrated on the basics: integrating operations, getting costs down and rebuilding core profitability. The bank’s operating profit for the second quarter of 2007 was SKr 4,554m ($699m), an increase of 17 per cent compared with the corresponding quarter of 2006 and 10 per cent better than the previous quarter. Falkengren has also been trumpeting organic growth plans in Ukraine, Russia and Germany. But market rumours that SEB is considering buying the government’s 20 per cent stake in rival Nordea, the Nordic region’s largest bank, continue to make the rounds.

10. Monika Ribar, 48

President and Chief Executive, Panalpina

ibar, who joined the Swiss logistics and transport group’s head office in 1991, has held several positions within the group’s controlling, information technology and global project management departments. From 2000 to 2005, she was the Chief Information Officer of the Group and was a member of the executive board. In 2005, she was chief financial officer and in October last year was appointed chief executive. The Panalpina Group is one of the world’s leading suppliers of forwarding and logistics services, specialising in intercontinental air freight and ocean freight shipments. It operates a network of about 500 offices and employs over 14,000 people globally. Under Ribar’s leadership, the group has continued to see fast growth over the first six months of the year, and has increased its market shares in the air and ocean freight markets and in logistics activity. The company recently announced a share buyback programme for up to 5 per cent of its total share capital, but is still looking for potential strategic acquisitions.

Politics

The ICTY remains the main issue dogging Serbia’s EU advancement

The eternal issue

The technical round of negotiations regarding Serbia’s first formal agreement with the European Union (the Stabilisation and Association Agreement -- SAA) has been completed. This is good news because it shows that, unlike during the previous government’s mandate – when relations between Brussels and Belgrade stagnated somewhat – the work of Koštunica’s latest cabinet is seemingly moving the country towards European integration. The bad news, however, is that the lack of complete co-operation with The Hague Tribunal (ICTY) still remains a stumbling block, because both the initialling (planned for early November) and the signing of the SAA (predicted to happen by year’s end) depend on Serbia transferring the remaining indictees, most importantly General Ratko Mladic. By Vojislava Vignjević ith appeals from Slovenian PM Janez Janša and Italian PM Romano Prodi calling for Serbia to be (more or less) “given a break”, it appears that decisions relating to Belgrade’s EU advancement continue to prove complicated, if not divisive, for Brussels. Does this mean that Serbia could see the SAA signed early and, thus, receive the official status of EU candidate by the backdoor? Hardly, at least according to the way things stand at present. First, though, let’s recap the Slovenian and Italian appeals. In his letter to European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, PM Janša called for Serbia to be made an EU candidate as soon as possible. “We must prove to Serbia that our support of the European perspective of that country is genuine. With the fulfilment of the necessary conditions, Serbia could be granted the status of a candidate within several months, during the first half of 2008 at the earliest” reads the Slovenian premier’s letter. Prodi sent a similar message to the EU in mid-September, in which he stated that “the time has come to put on the agenda the odds of Serbia becoming a member of the EU and a gradual abolition of European visas for Serbian citizens”. According to the Slovenian PM, granting the status of EU membership candidate to Serbia should not be conditioned by the process of determining the future status of the breakaway province of Kosovo. The urgent official response coming from the European Commission stated that Serbia will become an EU candidate as soon as it fulfils the required conditions and takes the required steps – including, as highlighted for emphasis, unconditional co-operation with the ICTY. This very issue was addressed in midOctober when Del Ponte told EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg: “I confirm that the situation today is better than it was a year ago. However, it is still too slow and not yet sufficient…I cannot give a positive assessment of full co-operation until

18 CorD / November 2007

Ratko Mladić is arrested and transferred to The Hague,” said the ICTY chief prosecutor, adding that she was convinced Serbia has the means to locate and arrest Mladić. As a result of Del Ponte’s briefing, the EU has held off initialling the new premembership association agreement, but EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said that Del Ponte’s latest findings will be taken into account when she returns from another visit to Belgrade, scheduled to take place at the end of October. According to Goran Svilanović, former SCG foreign minister and current official of the Stability Pact for South East Europe, the initiative of the Slovenian PM is a testimony to the new policy of the EU towards Serbia, which is seeing Brussels engage the former Yugoslav state in European integration plans, as opposed to the former policy of leaving Serbia on the sidelines. Svilanović thinks that the EU, besides the solving of the status of Kosovo, must put forward a parallel offer for the stabilisation of the region: “This initiative is only the first in line that the EU must conduct with the aim of stabilisation. These are: the liberalisation of the visa regime, candidate status and the beginning of accession negotiations and financial help to all the countries of the region. We need initiatives like that, regardless of the final decision regarding Kosovo’s status, because with them EU membership begins to sound like a certainty,” says Svilanović. Dusan Lazić, a member of the Forum for International Relations, emphasises that Janša’s initiative is a sign that there is good will for the hastening of Serbia’s EU

The visa facilitation agreement will have great importance for the Serbian business community, which will be able to find partners far more easily

advancement. However, he insists, there are no shortcuts on this road; Serbia must fulfil its obligations. Without completing co-operation with the ICTY, Serbia cannot hope to sign the SAA because the initiative isn’t a sign of EU lenience when it comes to Serbia’s co-operation with The Hague. “The initiative shouldn’t be seen as a kind of compensation for the possible independence of Kosovo, because Kosovo’s status and Serbia’s EU accession are two separate processes. This is about supporting Serbia so it can move more boldly towards the EU and Partnership for Peace [NATO programme],” says Lazić. Lazić, however, also feels that the EU should take into consideration the chances of an upcoming decision on Kosovo’s status and offer Serbia incentives to opt to continue pro-European reforms. “Within the EU they are aware of the complexity of Serbia’s international problems, but also of certain political options that are opposed to Serbia’s eventual EU accession. This is why Janša’s initiative is important, especially if we take into consideration that Slovenia will preside over the EU from the beginning of next year”. A tangible example of liberalisation came in September, when Serbia and the EU signed agreements on visa facilitation and readmission (to come into force on 1st January ’08). This marked an important step towards the Schengen ‘White List’ for Serbia, but provides the most benefits for its citizens -- 70 per cent of whom (according to the latest polls) have declared their support for European integration. According to the agreement, students,

The hope and expectation of the nation for a more energetic approach to the EU is compelling the Serbian Government to speed-up fulfilment of its ICTY obligations

Even if a shortcut were possible when it comes to initialling the SAA, it is hard to imagine that the same would happen when it came to actually signing the SAA

Serbia’s accession is supported by Slovenian PM, Janez Janša, and Italian PM, Romani Prodi, but not by the ICTY’s Carla del Ponte

scientific professionals, journalists, those seeking specific medical care, businessmen and others will be able to travel to European Union countries more easily. Serbia’s eventual inclusion on the so-called Schengen “White List”, will equate to the complete abolishment of travel limitations within the EU for the citizens of Serbia. This, according to the most optimistic announcements of pro-European ministers in Serbia, should happen by the end of 2008. The fact that Serbia signed the agreement on visa facilitation with the EU at all, coupled with the fact that it was signed in the name of the Government by Minister Dragan Jočić (of the increasingly outwardly pro-Russian Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS)) can be considered a very important and positive move in the right direction following a period of waywardness. Namely, over recent months a section of the political elite, led by PM Koštunica and his DSS party establishment, have been paying little heed to mass domestic popular support for European integration and, instead, have seemingly been endeavouring to eradicate the Euro-optimism of citizens by moving the priorities of foreign policy to other parts of the world, mainly Russia. The fact is that the visa facilitation agreement will have great importance for the Serbian business community, which will now be able to establish contacts and find partners far more easily. Many of Serbia’s manufacturers of various goods, including wine, meat and sugar, are set to see many great possibilities open up for them on the markets of the 27 countries of the EU. The benefits of the agreement will apply to many segments of society but, most importantly, this is the first real step towards providing ordinary Serbian citizens a sense of connection to the countries of the European Union.

Tanja Miščević, Director of Serbia’s EU Integration Office, considers the agreement on visa facilitation and readmission as being more important than the SAA, which doesn’t bring any great tangible benefits. However, as mentioned at the beginning, the extent of Serbia’s progress all comes back to co-operation with the ICTY; ultimately, it is the hopes and expectations of the nation for a more energetic approach to the EU that is compelling the Serbian Government to speedup the fulfilment of its obligations to The Hague Tribunal. Even if a shortcut were possible and Brussels was prepared to “let us slide” when it comes to initialling the SAA, it is hard to imagine that the same would happen when it came to actually signing the SAA, i.e. virtually receiving candidate status without transferring Mladić to The Hague. Needless to say, the knock-on benefits of the SAA are great – both for the citizens and for the whole country. The fact is that

achieving the status of EU candidate will see Serbia get more resources from the Union’s funds. How much? Well, if the Romanian president (who told Serbia’s President Tadić that Romania received €36billion from Brussels’ funds dedicated for stabilisation and association, up until it joined the EU) is to be believed, then the amount could be more than substantial. n

DEKOR CENTAR BABIĆ

FINAL PHASE CONSTRUCTION WORKS DANILA BOJOVIĆA 19a BEOGRAD tel/fax: 011 39 71 547 / November 2007 19 e-mail:CorD dekorcentar@beotel.net

DIPLOMACY

H.E. Hasan Servet Öktem, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Serbia

Anatolian issues After almost five years resident in Belgrade, Turkey’s Ambassador to Serbia is coming to the end of his term. And so, with PKK terrorists attacking Turkey and Sandžak’s religious and political leaders attacking each other, CorD spoke to H.E. Hasan Servet Öktem about his time in Belgrade and one of the issues currently dominating the international news media. By Mark R. Pullen; Photo: Jelena Seferin & CorD Archives roviding a brief assessment of the developments he’s witnessed since arriving in Serbia in January 2003, Ambassador Öktem tells CorD: “Politically, I don’t think there’ve been too many changes in terms of progressing towards the EU and being a part of Euro-Atlantic structures. The big problems are the same as when I arrived: ICTY indictees are still at large – the most important ones at least – a question mark remains over Kosovo and the EU SAA has yet to be initialled and when it will be signed remains a mystery. “Economically, however, I have seen much progress in the country. The main

20 CorD / November 2007

macroeconomic figures are getting better, inflation is decreasing, the privatisation process is going well, foreign investment in the country is at a satisfactory level, and the salaries of the average people in Serbia have been getting better and better. “So, to sum up, in the economic field I will give the Serbian Government a positive mark, but in the political field I would say that the country has not been successful.” n Do you think the fact that things are going well economically is allowing the government to get away with political shortcomings, i.e. citizens with more money are less likely to pressurise the government?

r I think we could establish such a parallel. We could hypothesise that if the people of Serbia had less money in their pockets then the reaction to political failings would be stronger. Now we see that standards of living are getting better in Serbia, and perhaps this is why the people are not pushing the government so hard to take them closer to Brussels. n Are there parallels to be drawn between the transitions towards EU integration of Turkey and Serbia? r I think these are two very different examples. I sincerely believe that we have done very well in Turkey in the economic field. Turkish macroeconomic indicators

Sandžak sadness At the end of my five year-term here, I have to say that I am very sad about the political rift between the two Bosniak leaders – Minister Ljajić and Mayor Ugljanin. It is unfortunate that they are permanently quarrelling… In addition to that we now have another rift between Sandžak’s two main religious leaders. I am sure that there are many political elements to this conflict. According to the Turkish understanding, a religious leader should firstly be a religious leader and not a business or a political leader. The duty of a religious leader is to mediate and help to find a compromise if two political leaders are in conflict. A religious leader should not support one or the other. It is a religious leader’s duty to always set an example for believers through his style of life, his family and his way of living. cause transition towards the EU is Turkey’s modernisation project, envisaged by the founder of the republic, Atatürk. So, when we become an EU country we believe that we will have done well to respect Atatürk’s foundations.

are very positive and the only major problem is the deficit of the current account, which is too high but still isn’t alarming. Apart from that, inflation has gone down, Turkish exports have reached the high level of US$100billion, last year foreign investment in Turkey reached US$20billion and this year they are set to be even higher. So, Turkey is doing very well in the economic field. We are happy and the business community is happy. In the political field, however, we are dissatisfied with talks on Turkey’s EU accession. Our accession talks started at the same time as Croatia’s, but the Croatians have now left us well behind and we are not happy with the pace of development. There are two obstacles hindering us: first is the fact that the EU public has enlargement fatigue and does not want to hear anything about expansion of the Union, and the second problem is that Greek Cypriots are placing political obstacles in our way. The Turkish public is frustrated because EU countries are supporting the political obstacles created by the Greek Cypriots. As a result, support for EU membership within Turkey has fallen greatly – from a consistent level of 70 to 80 per cent, down to 35 or 40 per cent. This is not good, primarily be-

n Do you think the EU is guilty of sending mixed messages – on the one side they say that a country has to boast acceptably reformed laws, markets and standards in order to become a member, but then they let Bulgaria and Romania join when, with all respect to them, they clearly have not achieved those standards; they say that Serbia will probably have to have fixed borders (i.e. Kosovo status defined) before becoming a full member, but then they let Cyprus become a member when it clearly still has internal territorial disputes? r Frankly, these are all very mixed messages. However, I think Serbia should avoid comparing its accession efforts to those of Bulgaria and Romania. Those two countries applied for EU membership ten or more years ago, at a time when political conditions were different and the aim of the EU was to include all former communist countries. As such, the political atmosphere was very favourable for these former communist countries. Now this is over and done with. All of those countries, Cyprus included, were very lucky, but now a new page has opened. Trends in the EU are now different, and although there was opposition to the ac-

cessions of Bulgaria and Romania, the EU had committed itself to accepting them and it wanted to close that chapter. When we talk about the conditions of today, it is important to note that in five years it will be more difficult, and in ten years it will be even more difficult. Thus, Serbia should use the opportunity to become an EU member as soon as possible. If they do not become an EU member alongside their neighbours, they will soon see conditions deteriorate and relations become more difficult. While the train is at this station, Serbia has to jump aboard with the neighbouring countries or it will face tougher conditions. This happened to Turkey. We first applied for membership in 1963, and had the chance to become a member alongside Greece [joined 1981] and Spain and Portugal [joined 1986]. We were almost at the same station, awaiting the EU train, and these three countries

DIPLOMACY jumped aboard while we were still discussing the merits of membership for Turkey. So we missed that opportunity and now we are paying the price. The atmosphere in the EU has now changed fundamentally and public opinion in the EU is alarmingly negative towards Turkish membership. n How concerned are you about EU public opinion re, Turkey’s membership? r I am told that only 10% of the Austrian public back our membership bid. Now, frankly, we have difficulties understanding why this is so. President Sarkozy used the Turkish factor during his presidential election campaign to deepen the French public distance to Turkey. I can understand German opposition. We have three million people living there, and they are very specific Turkish people from the rural areas, who have kept their traditional values and live in Germany in the same way they live in Turkey. It is said by many in Turkey that these people “fly directly from Anatolia to Munich without seeing Istanbul”. As such, the Germans living in communities with them have some understandably mistaken views about Turkish people and Turkey in general. And again Austria. I can understand them opposing our membership to the extent Germany does – 60 to 70 per cent, with one main political party (in Germany’s case the Social Democrats) firmly and sincerely supporting Turkey’s bid – but 90 per cent opposed and all parties rejecting Turkish membership! That’s extreme. n Why do you think this is? Is it really about the history; a misunderstanding of what Turkey’s about; the neighbourhood or people being intimidated because of Turkey’s size? r I think there are two main factors determining opposition to Turkey’s membership. Firstly there is the issue of Turkey’s population of around 75 million, and the fact that in 20 or 25 years, if we join, we will be the most populous country in the EU. I think

that that demographic perspective of Turkey does frighten some EU countries. The second point of opposition relates to Turkey’s geography, i.e. Turkey’s closeness to the Israeli-Palestine conflict and its borders with Iraq, Iran and Syria – three countries that are not exactly appreciated by the Western World. Iran is heavily criticised for its nuclear programme and its support of Hamas and Hezbollah; Iraq is a mess since the war, and Syria is also frowned upon by the West. So, I think that a lot of the EU public do not want the Union to border those countries. What is important is for the EU public not to think about the membership of Turkey as of today. In ten or twenty years, when Turkey would become a member of the EU, the conditions and circumstances will have changed. Maybe there will be a very peaceful Middle East and a prosperous Iraq. At that time perhaps the Turkish economy will be better than those of some larger European Union countries. EU public opinion should not think of Turkey joining tomorrow, but rather when the conditions have changed. n Speaking about those conditions, we have to address the issue of the ongoing PKK attacks on Turkish soil. How is Tur-

Institutional barriers Sometimes I’m very satisfied with my contacts with the Serbian authorities, but sometimes I find myself facing a wall that I can’t get over or around no matter how loudly I speak. For example, we have the Turkish International Co-operation & Development Agency [TICA], which works in the same way as USAID or the Japanese agency JICA. TICA is working very well in neighbouring Balkan countries and we sought authorisation from the Serbian authorities to establish TICA here back in 2005. However, after two years we have not yet received that authorisation. TICA would bring finances here and invest for the benefit of Serbian people. I think the Serbian authorities are concerned that if TIKA came here it would only help the Bosniaks of Sandžak, but I have explained to them that it would help all people, including the Bosniaks of Sandžak. Sandžak and southern Serbia are the least developed areas of the country, and if TIKA brought help to the people of Novi Pazar, it would also bring help to the people of Raška. 22 CorD / November 2007

key hoping to overcome this issue, what would be the goals of intervention and how can we establish long-term peace in this area? r Firstly, we know that the PKK’s camps are located in northern Iraq, that they’re getting logistical support through Iraq and that there are around 3,000 or 4,000 armed PKK terrorists. First of all, we must be clear that this is a terrorist organisation – not only according to Turkish criteria, but the EU, the U.S., the UN and NATO have all accepted that this is a terrorist organisation. From their bases in northern Iraq, they are carrying out incursions into Turkey and attacking Turkish troops and civilian targets before fleeing back into Iraq. This situation is unacceptable and, much in the same way the international community is attempting to dismantle and crush Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, Turkey wishes to destroy this terrorist organisation that is killing our people. PKK has been responsible for the deaths of more than 30,000 Turkish citizens over the last 20 years. We are asking that either Turkish military personnel be allowed to enter Iraq as a friendly force in order to crush the PKK, or that the regular Kurdish-Iraqi formations under Talabani & Barzani and the U.S., as the occupying power, do this job themselves. We are asking not to be treated as a hostile force by the regular Kurdish-Iraqi and U.S. forces, so we can go in, do this job that we need to do, and get out. Unfortunately, the responses coming from the U.S. are unsatisfactory, and Talabani and Barzani are not acting in a friendly manner by tolerating PKK terrorists. You may be aware that the Turkish authorities have found American arms in the hands of PKK terrorists. Accordingly, we complained; we asked the U.S. “are you really selling arms to a terrorist organisation that is attacking Turkey, your NATO ally of 50 years?” They apologised and assured us that they have never supplied arms to the PKK, which they recognise as a terrorist organisation. Now they have launched a

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DIPLOMACY military investigation to find out how the arms they gave to their allies – Talabani & Barzani forces – have found their way into the possession of the PKK. The Turkish public is now furious and people are on the streets protesting daily.

interests, but this does n Are these infranot mean that they are structure projects and supporting the PKK. improved standards This pro-Kurdish party is helping to counter the neither deploring nor delong-held goal of an infending the PKK in gendependent Kurdistan in eral. refuse to confirm Turkey? n The U.S. military don’t intend to go up that PKK is a terrorist orr The majority of the to northern Iraq to sort the PKK out for ganization. The EU poliKurdish community themselves? ticians are also advising are comfortable to stay r No. Their strategic interest is to have DTP leaders to distance within Turkey, because very friendly relations with the Kurdish from PKK. When the Turkey is doing very forces under Barzani and Talabani in north- PKK carries out these atwell economically and ern Iraq, and Barzani aspires to be the leader tacks this party is deplorpolitically. When Turkey of a future independent Kurdistan. ing them and expressing becomes a member of concern. the EU, which is the aim n What do you think the PKK’s immediOn 22nd July we had of all Turkish citizens ate objectives are? elections and this party – including the Kurdish r The aim of the PKK is to draw the Turk- won 22 seats in the Turkcommunity – any talk of “ I believe that both the ish Army into mounting a large-scale, ish Parliament, which a separate state will end. Turkish and Serbian long-term invasion of that part of Iraq. The means that around 10 to Besides, creating a sepaauthorities have to PKK thinks that if large numbers of Turk- 20 per cent of the almost rate Kurdish state within ish troops stay in Iraq for three, four, five 10 million Turkish citiTurkey would not serve encourage more Turkmonths, then relations between Ankara and zens of Kurdish origin any purpose in terms of ish business people to Washington will deteriorate, as will our re- are supporting this party. improving standards of come and invest here lations with the EU and with Kurdish-Iraqi The city of Diyarbaliving or furthering intein Serbia.” leaders Talabani and Barzani. This would kir is believed to be the gration. result in Kurdish-Iraqis becoming hostile centre of the Kurdish towards Turkey, which is exactly what the region in Turkey; a kind n Do you think this PKK wants. of headquarters of Kurdish interests, and a PKK action could affect Turkey economiThey are proving very successful in pro- place where the PKK is also present. cally, in terms of tourism, trade, industry, voking Turkish public opinion. In the last At the last elections, Kurdish MPs of etc.? two weeks they carried out two major at- DPT got 50 per cent of votes in Diyarbakir, r If you have instability somewhere, it will tacks and we lost almost 50 people and, as while the Justice and Development Party of course affect the economy. However, a result, the people of Turkey are furious. (AKP) of Prime Minister Erdogan got 40 let me underline that the Turkish economy However, I’m sure the government will act per cent of votes. Prior to this, no Turkish and the Turkish tourism industry are not with restraint and will not fall into the trap political party had been able to win more so weak and will not be deeply affected by laid by the PKK. than 10 or 20 per cent of votes there, but the these isolated incidents in the south of the AKP got 40 per cent because they have been country. According to forecasts, this year n How much support do the PKK enjoy caring about the Turkish citizens of Kurdish economic growth will reach 6%, we will among ethnic Kurds in Turkey? origin. have had a 10 to 15 per cent increase in the r There are many Turkish citizens of KurdThey are building roads, schools and number of foreign tourists visiting Turkey. ish origin. They are located mostly in the hospitals; standards of living are being im- Interestingly, the only two countries with a east of the country, but also in big cities proved, etc. The PKK – who only speak and decreasing trend of visitors to Turkey are in western Turkey. One of Turkey’s politi- bring nothing – are worried by this trend and Serbia and Macedonia. There has been a cal parties, [the Democratic Society Party are trying not to disappear by reinforcing 10 per cent decrease in the number of visi– DTP] is advocating Kurdish aims and their presence through terrorist activities. tors to Turkey from Serbia and Macedonia, defending Kurdish political and economic which is a direct result of the new Bulgarian visa regime that affects the buses bringing Encouraging investment Serbs and Macedonians to Turkey. To conclude, I would say that the PKK In the political field, Ankara and Belgrade are on good terms and have offered each will not have a major affect on our econoother support in many areas. However, in the economic field I am not satisfied. Formy and will not affect tourism. At the end eign trade is at an acceptable level for us. Last year the volume of trade between Serof 2007 the GDP per capita in Turkey will bia and Turkey reached U.S.$300million, and this year it will hit around U.S.$350million. be around US$6,000 It is only important Unfortunately, when it comes to Turkish investments we have only EFES. Turkish that we ensure the PKK does not succeed investments are lacking here. There are significant Turkish investments in Serbia’s in provoking the Turkish Government and neighbouring countries, but the Serbian authorities and the Turkish Embassy have to the Turkish people into doing something enquire jointly about the low level of Turkish investments here. . rash. If we can control our anger, these I believe that both the Turkish and Serbian authorities have to encourage more PKK attacks will not yield any results for Turkish business people to come and invest here. To do this we need the conclusion them. And, in the same way that we are of a free trade agreement that we have been pushing for since 2002, and – in terms supporting the international community’s of the Serbian visa for Turkish business people – we need the Serbian authorities to efforts to crush Al Qaeda and Taliban facilitate visits by not requiring a visa for Turkish business people who already have a forces in Afghanistan, we are hoping for valid Schengen visa in their passports, which is already done by Slovenia. I have made support of our need to crush the PKK in enquiries, but am currently being ignored by Minister Jočić’s office. northern Iraq. n 24 CorD / November 2007

SOCIAL AFFAIRS

Seeking champions The UNDP Country Office in Serbia has been a global champion on the issues of persons with disabilities. As Lance Clark explains, on the basis of the new UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the mission here has endeavoured to really drive the process of taking this issue on as one of the UNDP’s corporate global priorities. “With the support of the Serbian Mission to the UN, we got included in the strategic plan for 2008 to 2011, and through a writing campaign we got the head of the UNDP to announce that the issue of persons with disabilities is one of the organisation’s corporate global priorities.”

By Mark R. Pullen; Photo: JELENA SEFERIN his month CorD speaks to Lance Clark, UN Resident Representative in Serbia and Head of the UNDP Country Office, Gordana Rajkov, Member of the Serbian Parliament, Ivanka Jovanović, Executive Director of the DPO Umbrella Organisation, and Damjan Tatić, Legal Expert at the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, about the ‘transition to normality’ of persons living with disabilities in Serbia, and how CorD readers can get involved by becoming champions of this cause themselves. Gordana Rajkov has been an activist on disability issues for over 20 years. However, she recently widened her commitments by becoming a Member of the Serbian Parliament. Explaining what motivated her to become an MP, Rajkov explains “I believe you have to deal with politics if you are working in the public sector, because whether you’re involved or not, politics will influence your life. I think people with disabilities and the Disability Movement have to co-operate with every politic option, regardless of whether they come from the government or the opposition, in order to try to get the best solutions for disabled people. “I personally didn’t have a dream, to become a parliamentarian. I have been working in the Disability Movement for more than 20 years. Working as an advocate, I co-operated with a number of people in the ministries and the parliament’s commissions. This was particularly the case last year and the year before, when the law on the prevention of discrimination against people with disabilities and the poverty reduction strategy paper in Serbia were developed. Just by chance, a number of politicians relevant to these disability issues all came from the same party: G17 Plus. I assumed that that was the reason why, prior to the election, they invited me to be on their list as an independent (non-party member) expert in the disability area, and I saw it as an opportunity to put disability issues higher on the political agenda. “Having in mind the experience we had with them, coupled with the fact that this party advocates European values and stand-

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Lance Clark, Resident Representative, UNDP Serbia

ards, I can say that things are progressing in the way we would like. Moreover, their strategic aims – reducing unemployment, empowering young people, etc. – are goals that Disability Movement is interested in.” n Having spent 20 years in this field, how would you assess the way progressive

governments here have addressed disability issues? r “A huge difference has been seen in the last ten years. Back in 1997 in Serbia, the medical approach to disabilities was absolutely dominant; disability was seen as an individual problem and the only way that the state accommodated the needs of the

disabled was through separation, institutionalisation and “special” benefits. The people were not given a chance to be included in society. Back then the state didn’t see the need to remove the obstacles that society created. “Now we are in a sort of transition stage, in the sense that most public servants now accept a new and innovative approach to disability. Politicians all agree that people with disabilities have rights and that they should have the chance to exercise those rights; they see the responsibility of the state to create an environment that is inclusive for all. Accordingly, now we have the very important legislation needed to realise that, such as the law on the prevention of discrimination against people with disabilities. Interestingly, Serbia doesn’t yet have a general discrimination law: this law was brought in first because disabled people are really seen as being discriminated against. As such, I think that at the level of principles and the legislation, I think we can now be really satisfied. “Now I think we are heading even further in that direction. For example, at the moment the law on the professional rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities is already in the drafting phase. This will prescribe even more detailed measures and opportunities which have to be provided in order to allow people with

Social tragedies Gordana Rajkov, Member of the Serbian Parliament: “Even today, in rural areas and even in cities, people feel ashamed to have a person with disabilities in their family. I know families who would never take their children for a walk in the park simply because they are ashamed that they have a child with disabilities. The second factor leading to social invisibility is the practical obstacles. You can’t get out into the community because there are steps, roads, public transport can’t cope with wheelchairs, etc.” disabilities to be employed. “When it comes to the implementation, however, things are unfortunately not so good in practice. There is a huge gap between the strategy, the legislation, and what’s happening in reality. We can be sure that there’s no question about our rights, but we have to fight to get the opportunities to exercise them. Now we need a number of additional pieces of legislation, backed up with the mechanisms (including financial means and monitoring) to use them. As an example, according to the legislation and strategy, local communities should encourage initiatives that would help provide social services and support to help disabled persons live normally, gain employment, receive home help, personal assistance, etc. But that’s as far as it goes; there’s no followup to the legislation and nobody is asking “okay, but how will that be done; how will local communities be motivated to achieve that and where will they find the money?”

“That’s where we are now. As I say, I think we are heading in the right direction, but we would like to see change happening more quickly.” As well as championing their own interests in parliament, people with disabilities are also fighting for their rights through a network of citizens’ organisations. Ivanka Jovanović is executive director of the recently formed DPO Umbrella Organisation. Explaining the work of the organisation and the efforts of the disabled community, Jovanović says: “In Serbia there are different methods of organising disabled persons; ways of representing their interests more efficiently. In order to better represent our interests and ensure our human rights, we understood that it would be much better to join forces and form an umbrella organisation to represent a united movement of disabled persons in Serbia. Thus, on 22nd June 2007, Serbia became the third country in the region – after Macedonia and Alba-

SOCIAL AFFAIRS organisations, but it will unite them. Moreover, the national organisation comprises so-called traditional organisations that together gather people with certain kinds of disabilities, then interest groups of the disabled, so-called “cross-disability organisations” made up of the organisations of disabled people’s legal guardians. “Our main goals are to represent our collective rights and interests before government decision makers, primarily concerning the protection of human rights and improvement of the position of the disabled in Serbia through introduction and implementation of both international treaties, Gordana Rajkov, Member of the Serbian Parliament as well as European nia – to form a national umbrella organi- and UN standards. That also means fighting sation. The founding of the DPO Umbrella prejudices and participating in the internaOrganisation was part of project activities tional movement, as well as strengthening within the CARDS project, and was finan- the member organisations of the national cially supported by EDF (European Dis- organisation on the basis of joint values.” ability Forum).” n What can disabled persons’ organisan What specific activities are you en- tions do to help ordinary people feel the effects of the UN Convention? gaged in? r “We actually had three main project ac- r “The national organisation has 11 ortivities: the first pertained to compilation ganisational member-associations, and and passing of the Strategy for Improve- organisations like the Association of the ment of the Position of Disabled Persons Blind, Association of the Deaf, etc., are in Serbia, which our government adopted included in the Organisation because they on 28th December 2006; the second activ- have their networks in local organisations. ity pertained to formation of the Umbrella There are over 400 organisations included Organisation, and the third activity was re- in the associations, and that is a formal netlated to compilation of the national report work because it has been registered. on the status of disability in Serbia. Because all three activities have been successfully implemented, we have put a full stop to that part and in a way confirmed our leadership position in the region.

n What is the significance of the umbrella organisation for persons with disabilities? r The national organisation was primarily formed in order to represent a united disability movement in Serbia and to represent both the general interests and interests of public importance that are common to all disabled persons in a unified and organised way. This in no way means that the umbrella organisation will replace individual 28 CorD / November 2007

“In terms of influence, we aim to effect quality of living among the disabled -- primarily at the political level through representative work. Serbia has a significant number of laws relevant to persons with disabilities and in many areas we are ahead of other countries in the region. “As Gordana noted, we have passed the law on the prevention of discrimination against people with disabilities despite there being no general anti-discrimination law in Serbia. This is something we at the Disability Movement consider as our success. The weak point is that parts of those laws are either not implemented or are not completely harmonised with the United Nations’ standards, general European standards or, most importantly, the Convention that we have to sign within the next week or two.” Damjan Tatic is a legal expert at Serbia’s Ministry of Labour and Social Policy. Insisting that the new UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will prove highly significant for Serbia, Tatić says: “people often forget that the human rights and fundamental freedoms that are guaranteed by international treaties also belong to people with disabilities. However, people with disabilities often face various barriers to enjoying those rights. They were overlooked in the implementation of those treaties, and that’s why the new UN Convention is so significant. It is the first human rights document that is aimed exclusively at people with disabilities. “Work on the Convention started in 2001, at the initiative of Mexico, and it was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 13th December 2006. The aim of the Convention is to promote, protect and ensure full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for persons with disabilities. Moreover, it helps to build the visibility of people with disabilities. Prior to this, rights were set out in the form of declarations, or one would have to look hard within generalised treaties to find where it applies to disabilities.”

Seeking support Lance Clark, Resident Representative, UNDP Serbia: “we really need support, particularly from the European countries – considering that Serbia has really committed itself to the EU accession process. Here the standards set by the European Commission are extremely important when it comes to showing persons with disabilities what the possibilities are. I think that some of the donor countries really don’t understand how big this population is and how much support is needed. Again, it is the invisibility that’s a problem. The most comparable population to persons with disabilities, in terms of numbers and indicators of poverty and education, is the Roma population. But they can be seen on the streets, while – because of the lack of access – many people with disabilities are trapped in their homes and the donor countries are not aware of the extent of the problem. The other area where we are seeking support is from the business community. It’s really important for us that we work with businesses on the employment side, in order to show them that a person with talent who happens to have a disability can really be an asset to a company.”

n This Convention is yet to be ratified by the Serbian Government, but surely that’s just a formality? r “Not necessarily. There are two steps. First of all the Convention was adopted unanimously, so Serbia was also in favour of it – this is logical since Serbia was the regional leader in the process of drafting this convention in the region of Southeast Europe. After that the Government has to sign it which, in terms of international treaties and conventions, means that it expresses its willingness to make that international treaty part of its internal law. This should hopefully happen within the next few weeks. As for ratification, one should look at current legislation and see how much is harmonised with the Convention. Some laws can, of course, be harmonised after ratification, but some of the most crucial ones should be done before or at least simultaneously with the ratification by the Government… “What is very important is the whole concept of mainstreaming. This is very significant because the law on public procurements has to be amended to spell out that anything funded from public resources has to be accessible to all citizens – every object, programme, service and facility has to be accessible to everyone. In that respect, the role of the international community in

example, Internet sites would be accessible to visually impaired people. So there are numerous laws and bylaws that need first to be adopted, and some procedural laws that need to be amended.” Finally, CorD spoke to Lance Clark, Resident Representative, UNDP Serbia, about this important issue and the work continuing to improve the situation for people with disabilities in Serbia and elsewhere.

Ivanka Jovanović, Executive Director of the DPO Umbrella Organisation

Serbia is very important, because everybody who shows good will and brings funds to Serbia to help the process of transition should make sure that those funds are not inadvertently used to create inequalities. “A major blank exists when it comes to the law on public information, which says in a generalised way that public information has to be available to people with disabilities, but it doesn’t say how. So bylaws and regulations have to be adopted along those lines. These bylaws should specify how, for

n Why is the United Nations currently so concerned about the subject of persons living with disabilities? r “This Convention has had some additional effects in terms of drawing attention to the problem. Disabled persons organisations globally, including in Serbia, have really worked hard to get this Convention passed and, in the process, elevate the profile of the issue. Also, once you have a Convention it really gives you a lever that you can use to drive change within a country itself. It’s also interesting that this month (October) we have the UN Week and this year the theme for the country team here will be social inclusion, of which persons with disabilities are a key component.” n What evidence leads us to think that this is an important issue globally?

SOCIAL AFFAIRS r “The statistics are quite striking. An estimated 600 to 650 million people around the world are living with disabilities, and if you start looking at the measurements on things like poverty you’ll see that the poverty rates are something like three or four times higher among persons with disabilities. Meeting the Millennium Goal of cutting poverty in half by 2015 can’t be done unless we address poverty among persons with disabilities. If you look at things like education, you will see the same kinds of problems. “Here in Serbia the numbers are also quite striking. In terms of education, less than half of those with disabilities are making it through primary school. We can start talking about employment programmes or SMEs, but how are you going to do that for somebody with a third grade education in Europe in the 21st century? We really have to start somewhere at the very beginning.” n I remember when I was a kid back in the UK, at one point every establishment – right down to the corner shop – was forced to facilitate disabled people by widening their aisles, fitting ramps, etc. Can this really be achieved in Serbia? r “The key components of this can be broken down in a number of different ways, but for me the four most critical ones are fundamentally: prevention, education, access and employment. In terms of prevention, a number of disabilities can be prevented by better health care measures. Rather than focusing on whether a kid has a disability that should keep him out of the classroom, the health care system should be more focused on prevention in the first place. “The area of education is particularly crucial. This is an issue of resources, which is what’s implied in your question, i.e. ‘can only rich countries afford this?’ I think a country like Serbia has the resources at the level we’re talking about. Opening access to every building in the country might come with a hefty price tag, but we could start by ensuring access to key facilities like education centres and government services. “In terms of inclusive education, getting that last five per cent into full education might prove very expensive, but if the initial goal was to get half the people with disabilities through secondary school, I think we would be setting a target that can be achieved without a massive price tag.

Damjan Tatić, Legal Expert at the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy

It’s about shifting the focus in a reasonable fashion.“At the other end, I think employment issues are an especially interesting challenge.” n How much could the CSR policies of CorD’s readers contribute to that? r “Here we really need to engage that part of your readership that’s in the business community, and corporate social responsibility is a key component here. During the last couple of weeks I had a conversation with National Bank of Serbia Governor Radovan Jelašić, who expressed his great concern about this. We were discussing how he can ensure that the NBS’s new building is fully accessible to persons with disabilities, and how he can then go ahead and employ people with disabilities. Interestingly, at a conference recently held by the Ekonomist Magazine, Cisco Systems was there discussing an interesting problem they encountered regarding employees who had become new mothers but wanted to continue working from home. They figured out that they had the technology available to facilitate that, and this can also be done for persons with disabilities. Indeed, it’s cheaper to give a person a laptop than it is to build them an elevator. We think the National bank could work with Cisco to apply their technology and become a pioneer in this domain.” n How would you assess the current situation and living standards of people with disabilities in Serbia? r “I think the good news is that the country has some champions who are really moving

“Nothing about us without us” Gordana Rajkov, Member of the Serbian Parliament: “The importance of having a person with disabilities in the parliament is, first of all, the visibility: ensuring society can see disabled people actively participating. But it is also about putting into practice the motto of the Worldwide Disability Movement: “Nothing about us without us”. In other words, you can’t do anything regarding people with disabilities without having those people included in the whole process. In that sense, it is important to have a disabled person in the major legislative body of the country.” 30 CorD / November 2007

this issue forward. With no modesty, I would say that the disabled persons’ organisations here in Serbia are much better developed than in most countries. Here you have people who can really speak up and champion this issue. But there are also people in the government who are championing these goals – look at Minister Ljajić, for example. And even before he came in, the Labour and Social Policy Ministry has been championing this issue for some time. Minister Dinkić is looking at laws on employment and how employment can be made stronger for persons with disabilities; the Infrastructure Ministry is setting aside resources to tackle this issue. So I think it’s an issue that’s managing to cut across party political lines and gain a lot of support. That’s the good news. “However, if you ask what the requirements are to move this issue forward, you’ll see that what’s required are resources and technology, as well as addressing political will and mentality issues. I think we do have the resources. I think living in Europe in the 21st century ensures that the technology is there too. However, I think political will is divided: there are champions of the cause, but there are also a lot of sceptics that have to be brought along as well. I think the key here is changing the mentality that can drive the political will forward. I was struck today when reading something that a member of my own staff had written about the importance of the UN supporting the “weak population”, including the elderly, refugees and persons with disabilities. It struck me as crazy to class persons with disabilities as “weak”. If we look at Damjan, who has overcome so many obstacles to make it to where he is today, it is obvious that he is far stronger than the average person on the street. We’re not looking here at some sort of charity. Rather, it’s a question of lowering the barriers that these strong individuals have to overcome in order to realise their own capacities.” n

Corporate Women

Political stability – development key Patricia Gannon, Partner, KN Karanović & Nikolic

With the intention of bringing some western spirit to the legal profession in Serbia, Patricia Gannon – together with her colleagues Dejan Nikolić and Dragan Karanović – established the Karanović & Nikolic law firm back in 1995. As Patricia explains looking back, it was difficult in the beginning, but today – when the improvements made are tangible – she would be unable to decide to give it all up to return to her native Ireland. By Tanja Ostojić atricia Gannon has spent 12 years getting used to life in the Serbian capital. As she explains: “In Ireland I met some Serbian lawyers at an international meeting of young professionals. We became friends and I came to see what it was like in Serbia. At that time the situation in Serbia was completely different to today. I

32 CorD / November 2007

arrived during Milošević’s time, during sanctions – when the general situation in the country was terrible. “On the other side, my husband had fantastic friends and we had an excellent time; we went out and everybody was very kind and welcomed me. I was shocked but amazed at how people were trying to lead a normal everyday life in

spite of everything. I felt that I could live in Belgrade because of the spirit here. After one year we got married and I committed myself to living in this country. At that time I arrived from Brussels, where I had been working for the European Commission DG Environment. “We opened the office in 1995 with the idea of specialising in corporate law,

Serbia lacking Irish contingent “I recently had dinner with the new Irish Ambassador. We do not have an Embassy here. The ambassador used to be in Budapest, but is now in Greece and comes every two months. Our policy is that we do not open embassies in every country. If there are potential connections and business activities, then embassies get opened slowly. Around 30 people from Ireland live in Serbia. Some stay here for a long time, and some come and stay for a short time if they travel with work and we all know each other. I would like to see more people from Ireland here, particularly artists, people from the cultural sphere, the theatre. because that did not exist on the market. I graduated in law from Trinity College Dublin and trained in a Dublin law firm that had around 70 lawyers. The second company I worked for had around 250 lawyers. Dejan Nikolić, Dragan Karanović and I opened this office together, though we did so at the worst possible time. At the beginning we had very few clients due to the political situation at the time.” Explaining Karanović & Nikolić’s own transition, Patricia continues: “Since then things have changed a lot and nowadays I think that we are on top with regard to legal services in Serbia. We have 45 lawyers in three offices in the region, in Belgrade, Banja Luka and Podgorica. I have been a partner in the company from the beginning, I concentrate on training, marketing, client development, strategy and business development. We are a local company, but we do make an effort to work like a foreign company, primarily because of our clients – three quarters of whom are foreign companies. “As with all organisations which develop quickly, our next goal is internal reorganisation, so that senior associates can take over part of the firm management. That is the problem in small companies or law office s- missing middle management which is lacking in Serbia and needs time to be developed. Because of that we have engaged a HR function, because we want to be more understanding of our people. Regarding the future, I am very optimistic, and we are moving forward.” n What did Serbia look like to a foreign businesswoman when you arrived? r It was completely different to now. I came from a country in which both men and women work. I studied in order to work, and I always thought that I had to work. In spite of having small children, I wanted to work for myself. When we started to work together, we soon realised that that was a successful combination. At that time I was the only foreign lawyer, or foreign woman, who worked here. I took advantage of that chance. Now I see more and more women in good positions and think this is important for Serbia.

n Have you worked in any other countries apart from Ireland? r I worked in Brussels in the European Union for a year. Then in America, in California, and in Germany, in Munich, for a year. I am not a feminist, and when I work I do not think about the fact that I am a woman, but I do my job and I expect everybody to take me seriously. I never thought about how I would be accepted, but I was very well accepted here. For instance, for the last two years I have been the only woman on the American Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors. That functions without any problem, and I never expected my colleagues to behave differently towards me. I always wanted to be self employed I did not want to be employed somewhere specially. That means however that I simultaneously have major obligations at work but also with my family and home. However, I think that is the same story all over the world. There has to be a balance between those obligations. Sometimes it’s not easy, but on the other side I am independent, which is important. In Serbia you can succeed when women have well paid jobs. What should be changed to encourage that is the educational system and ultimately the way of thinking. People here have great potential, but sometimes I feel they lack ambition or confidence to achieve. I believe it is completely okay for a woman to be ambitious.

n You have two children. Do you encourage independence in them too? r I have a son, Luka, who is 12, and a daughter, Mila, who is 10-years-old. I do encourage them to be independent, but I have to say that it is easier to do that with my daughter than my son – from basic things in the house, to their going and coming back from training by themselves. I would like them not to expect everything from their parents. I am the eldest of five children, and that was absolutely normal in Ireland at that time. When you have five children there is no chance of each one getting everything. Families in Serbia have fewer children and each enjoys equal importance. I have always believed that children should not expect to get everything they want. Grandmothers and grandfathers are more actively involved in the upbringing of children here and they spoil them a bit, but that is what happens in difficult economic circumstances when you cannot pay somebody to look after them. The situation in Serbia today is better in the sense that women are better paid I think than before and, thus, can pay somebody to look after their children. However, there are families who do not live well and it is wonderful that they have help from grandparents. I do not know today any grandmother in Ireland who looks after her grandchildren full time as

Corporate Women they used to, this sort of help mostly comes from outside the home. In the last ten years Ireland has experienced economic growth and nowadays everybody works and earns well. There grandmothers and grandfathers are not prepared to look after the children as before, they’d rather go and play golf! n What do you think about the economic situation in Serbia? r Are we on the right path? We are, and I notice growth each year. However, I would like to see more high profile corporations coming to the market. From talks with business people, I would highlight two reasons why foreigners should come to invest in Serbia. The first reason is the market, because a market of eight million people is worth the investment; the second reason – and the most important one for the future of Serbia – is to use Serbia as a centre for production of goods for export. I have been listening to how important exports are for the past ten years. Because of that, I think that the next step for this country is certainly connected with growth of highly profiled profitable industry. That does not mean production of primary agricultural products, because you cannot develop a country on that. I am happy when I see that more and more Serbian companies are spreading around the region and, indeed, it is because of that that we have moved out into the region too – in order to follow our clients. It is good for Serbia to have a positive impression in the neighbourhood. Things in Serbia are much better today than they used to be, but my impression is that Serbia is still not aware that there is big competition in the region. I think that people here still look from the perspective of the past, when the country was much more advanced than neighbouring Romania and Bulgaria. But that is history, and politicians have to understand that this is a race in which everybody has to catch up, to have a good and stable economy, specialised industries; to

“ The most important thing for investors is stability. Investors can come even with a risk that they will not find appropriate staff, provided they know that the situation will not chane...” compete and have a market that is open to new companies. Ultimately, the focus should be on education and training, but with a goal and strategy as to why all that is being done- not in a vacuum. Ireland was on the brink of national bankruptcy in the mid 1980s. We had high taxes, and public spending was out of control, the World Bank wanted to give aid to Ireland. When I graduated there was over 20 per cent unemployment. As was traditional, all my friends left for England in search of work. Then the administration realised that there were serious problems and that something had to be done. Two successive governments managed to curb public spending because they realised that there is no chance of a policy being instantaneously effective and I believe this was the key to the turn around in the Irish economy.

Gannon’s belgrade highlights n What do you like the most about Belgrade and Serbia? r The sun, for a start. In Ireland it rains for three quarters of the year and that is a catastrophe. The weather changes every day, a bit of rain or sun, a bit cold and a bit of heat. I could not live in a country with such a climate again. In Serbia we have a good way of life. We do work a great deal, but we have good friends, we can go out, go to the Ada for sports, out of Belgrade, to the mountains for skiing. I come from an island and for me it is fantastic that you can sit in a car and drive all around Europe. From Ireland you always have to go by boat or plane. Regarding food, I am a vegetarian and ten years ago it was difficult to find food for me, but now it is much better; the choice of cafés and restaurants is much better and I no longer have to spend half the winter eating only bean-soup! I have friends who are foreigners, but I like to have friends from Serbia. If it is possible, half and half is the best ratio because if my friends are diplomats they leave after three or four years. Other Belgrade highlights for me include theatres, concerts, live music, gyms, bicycling by the river, sailing on the rivers etc. 34 CorD / November 2007

It is very important to maintain an economic policy over the long term. Only then do you see results. Political instability does not suit anybody. In Serbia we have a situation where the first thing politicians do when they get to power is to make changes to the system. It is not good to make new laws all the time. I tend to ask myself why this is being done (is it simply because of EU pressure?) and what will be achieved by that? We have some good laws and some which are not good enough, but the most important thing is simply that laws are respected throughout the market. The most important thing for investors is stability – both political and financial. Investors can come even with a risk that they will not find appropriate staff, provided they know that the situation will not change for the worse in the next year. That is the most important thing and I think that many things still need to be done regarding those problems. n Is there any special connection between Serbia and Ireland? r Singidunum could be one of the reasons. A dun is a fortress in Irish. The Celts passed through these areas long ago. As far as I am concerned, our special connections lie in the fact that both nations are crowned with warmth and generosity. The people in Ireland like to live exactly like people live here: we like to sing, drink, go to pubs, and it is the same here. Both nations like to talk and joke. In Ireland sport is very important, the same as in Serbia, but there we play golf and rugby and ride horses, while here tennis, basketball and other sports are currently popular. When I get into a taxi and the driver realises that I am a foreigner and from Ireland he says that we are similar. I often think about that similarity. We were also in bad situations: colonialism, terrorism, famine, civil wars – and all this fairly recently. All my life we have had problems with Northern Ireland. We always lived with political problems in our country and we got used to that. n

CURRENT AFFAIRS

Seeking normalisation “National identity cannot be to the fore today. People can only be patriots if they give their best to the country or society in which they live through the quality of their work, behaviour, decency. For me, these people – who shout and think that to be a good Serb means to beat, kill or in any way harm a person of another nationality – are anti-Serbs; they are enemies of this country.”

By Žarka Radoja; Photo: JELENA SEFERIN hampion of the Serbian acting scene, Mirjana Karanović, is one of the most renowned actresses on the territory of the former Yugoslavia. Her roles in over 50 films and myriad theatre shows are recalled fondly by generations. Her passionate portrayals of female characters, such as the illiterate Petrija who endured a tough life in Petrijin venac [Petrija’s Wreath] or Sena in Emir Kusturica’s film Otac na službenom putu[Father on an official trip]. However, her latest role selection, that of Albanian woman Hava in the film Mirush, has seen her targeted by the Serbian tabloid press. This is not the first time that Karanović has been targeted in such a way. She was the victim of similar attacks when she played the character of Esma, who endured rape by a Bosnian-Serb soldier in the film Grbavica. However, this time (unlike during the Grbavica ‘affair’) the public condemned the media attack and were joined by the Serbian Ministry of Culture and the country’s two journalism societies. During the break between rehearsals for the new theatre show „Barbelo o deci i psima“ and whilst awaiting the start of shoot-

36 CorD / November 2007

ing of her new film „Ovde i tamo“, CorD spoke to Mirjana Karanović about patriotism, culture and “normal” people. n Do you feel free in Serbia? r I don’t feel particularly free. My idea of freedom is a little bit utopian and idealistic, which makes it very hard to realise. When I talk about freedom here, I think about the personal feeling of an actress whose face is recognisable and who, thus, finds it impossible to hide. On the street I am never anonymous; I know someone will recognise me, say something, notice me and comment…I am much more freer in places where no one recognises me, but there are less and less of those places. I lived for some time in other countries, due to work, and what I liked there is neatness and certainty, because those are so-

cieties in which rules exist. It feels good when trains are precise, where everything is clean, where people are treating you nicely. However, there were many things that prevented me from feeling free there, because I am used to living here. I realised that it’s nice to change a country or a city for some time, but I am now old enough for it to be hard to accept changing where I live now. In Serbia I feel free and I don’t at the same time. Perhaps I’m even freer here than I would be in some other country to fantasize of some island where I would be far away from all people and all problems. That is my vision of freedom, but it’s hard to imagine that it will ever be achieved, although who knows... n How did you react about the news regarding your role in the film Mirush,

Handling nerves

Selecting roles

Balkan mother

That first step in front of an expectant audience awaiting something nice is a burden that one has to be committed to.

It would mean absolutely nothing to me if I played the best role in the World with a bad director or at a bad theatre.

A woman who is emotional, strong and can suffer all kinds of difficulties through life and still carry that burden.

which saw you vilified by one Serbia tabloid – considering that this is not the first time that papers like that have attacked you with arguments about patriotism and the betrayal of your people? r I have lived through talks like that for 17 years now, from the beginning of the ‘90s and Slobodan Milosevic’s regime. This is nothing new. Maybe the only thing that’s new is the time in which this is going on. However, considering that a few years ago I endured the same fortune because of my role as a Muslim woman who was raped by Serbs during the war [in the film Grbavica], it could be said that I am used to it. The difference is that this time the public’s reaction was the strongest. I am glad that that public is awake a little bit. The Ministry of Culture also reacted, which pleased me. I didn’t have support like that regarding Grbavica. In that case individuals reacted and everything ended there. The negative reactions of people I don’t know or respect cannot stress me. I don’t personally know the people who criticised me for my roles in the films Mirush and Grbavica and they don’t mean a thing to me, nor do I appreciate or respect them. I have learned not to react. If I were to pay attention to all kinds of comments I would emigrate. n Fellow actor Vojislav Brajović is the new Serbian Minister of Culture. Do you think things are now changing in a good way, even a little bit? r After many years, I have a feeling that someone wants to do something with their mandate. The present Minister wants to create something during his time, and that is obvious. Earlier, many ministers of culture saw their mandate simply as a chance to employ their friends or adulate some influential people. That is very often the case in this country, because positions are divided depending on party orientation and not professional competence. I think that the acting profession had luck because Voja Brajovic engaged the Democratic Party a lot. It is very hard for an artist to be politically active and to stay connected to the art world. n What do you think about cultural politics in Serbia? r There is no politics of culture in the way there is politics in all other branches. In this society many things need to be ordered and improved in order for us find the best way to develop. In Serbia many thing are incomplete; everyone struggles on their own

“ I cannot agree with the notion that there is simply a public consciousness that we need to feed with whatever it is they want and like.There are many ways to influence them. For many years a certain relationship towards other people – the abandoning of politeness – was being created, and now it is hard to displace it.” however they can and however they know. I have a feeling that everything depends on the good will and positive energy of those who hold the most important positions in the state and institutions. That is why cultural policies are not generally planned or implemented as part of a proper plan with a vision. In culture it’s more difficult to achieve tangible results, more time is needed; more long-term investments are required in order for us to one day see results. Culture cannot develop overnight in a country where so many citizens is illiterate – by that I don’t simply mean basic literacy, but rather people who are not attending cultural manifestations, don’t generally read, etc. All that is connected to culture and the question is how much that culture is available to the common folk in provincial Serbia. Here, unfortunately, cultural penetration is very low level and; with the exceptions of centres of culture like Novi Sad and Belgrade, everything else is highly neglected. People have become passively and actively depressed, alienated from all that does not relate to pure survival or generating income. They have narrowed their field to a very limited circle of interests. On the other hand, taste has been drastically

for

changed. When I was a young girl, it was important to be an individual, to be original in every way, but today the goal is to be the same as everybody else, to fit into the mass. For me, that is sad, but such is the time in which we live. n How did we get to this point? r I think there is one active and planned influence on people. I cannot agree with the notion that there is simply a public consciousness that we need to feed with whatever it is they want and like. There are many ways to influence them. For many years a certain relationship towards other people – the abandoning of politeness – was being created, and now it is hard to displace it. When I was a young that kind of behaviour was considered rude and newspapers like that did not exist. Today we have television programmes lacking even one decent person, selected representatives of the people behave like simple peasants; like uncouth people without basic cultural values. That then spreads to others – first to the media and then to common people. That is what this society needs to change. I cannot manage very well in this period. I can only relate to the new generations coming through. History teaches us that when a new value system is established and becomes generally accepted, then up and coming young and creative people tend to rebel against that. I don’t know if I will live to see that happen in this country, but I believe it will happen. That is inevitable.

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CURRENT AFFAIRS we would have a decent reception and that is that. However, I received an ovation; people were standing and applauding for a long time and afterwards they were approaching me, congratulating and speaking to me in Serbian. Now it is very hard to talk about how I felt and to talk about the possibility that the two communities down there can communicate. I believe and I know that the time for that will come. I don’t know how long this situation of tension and intolerance, fuelled by both sides, will last. But even if it takes 100 years, something will eventually start to happen. We live next to each other – that is unavoidable. We can’t all move away or make them all move away. Scene from the film “Grbavica”

n What does it mean for you to be Serbian woman? r I was raised in a manner whereby it is most important to firstly be a good person. Nationality is important, but it is far from the most important thing in life. First of all I am citizen of the World, and then a Serbian woman. National identity cannot be to the fore today. People can only be patriots if they give their best to the country or society in which they live through the quality of their work, behaviour, decency. For me, these people – who shout and think that to be a good Serb means to beat, kill or in any way harm a person of another nationality – are anti-Serbs; they are enemies of this country. I cannot accept that people like Ratko Mladić, who ruined the spirit of this nation with their acts, can be heroes who are protected here. One day, school children learning history will receive a more normal picture about the whole situation. I know that it is hard to accept, because throughout history the Serbs have always been on the side of good; this is the first time that they have committed evil deeds. Unfortunately, that is true. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t lots of good things about our people. n You were one of the first public figures to condemn the siege of Sarajevo during the ‘90s. In 2001, just after the fall of the Milošević’s regime, you actually visited that city for the first time. And since then you have consistently returned. How do you feel there today? r When I first arrived in Sarajevo I walked through the streets and looked around those hills where those people had shot from. I was out of my mind. I remember that it was a sunny day. People were sitting in coffeehouses, laughing like nothing happened, like they hadn’t been living in hell only a few years earlier. While I still couldn’t understand how it was possible for us to find 38 CorD / November 2007

“ I know that it is hard to accept, because throughout history the Serbs have always been on the side of good; this is the first time that they have committed evil deeds. Unfortunately, that is true. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t lots of good things about our people.” ourselves in the medieval situation of a city under siege at the end of the 20th Century. My first contact with Sarajevo was unreal. I felt burdened by Belgrade, my own city; although I couldn’t prevent the war from happening, I was still ashamed of the things that some of my fellow citizens had done. It is hard for me. I feel guilty and I am sorry about that. However, the way that the people of Sarajevo received me left me speechless. My colleagues were great, but so were the people on the street who approached and greeted me. Since then I go there all the time; I act at Kamerni Teatar and I have shot two films there: Grbavica and Go West. Playing there made me a part of that city; I gave it one wonderful part of myself and that is the most I could do. I made it my great personal mission to bring those two cities closer using myself. I am encouraged to think that there are many people, from both sides, who think in the same way as I do. If others don’t want friendship, at least good people should keep each other close and hang around among themselves. n You visited Priština with Sarajevo’s theatre. What kind of memories did you bring from there? r I expected everything other than what actually happened. I didn’t expect that something bad would happen, but I thought that

n Many media people refer to you as “The Mother of the Balkans”. This is reminiscent of your first major role, the role of Petrija in the film “Petrijin venac”. Do you think that that role determined your professional career? r In some ways, yes. Although I have played many different roles, Petrija is the prototype of a Balkan mother; a woman who is emotional and strong and can suffer through all kinds of difficulties through life and still carry that burden on her back. Here, all women were forced to live a life like that, but times have changed and, accordingly, changes appeared within society as well. n Is there any role that you would like to play but have never had a chance? r I have played the roles I wanted to play. I don’t care about the role as a role, I care for all together. It would mean nothing to me if I played the best role in the World with a bad director or at a bad theatre. I cannot separate a role from the context in which that role is based, from the whole concept. I don’t even make a list of all my roles, I don’t think much about that. n At the moment you are working on two theatre shows in the Yugoslav Drama Theatre. Do you still have butterflies in your stomach before stepping on stage in front of an audience? r For some old plays I don’t have butterflies, but for the new ones I have. That is always big uncertainty. You invest so much into something and there is always a fear that people will reject it. That first step in front of an expectant audience that is waiting for something nice to happen is, of course, a burden that one has to be committed to. But, in the end, you don’t know if you’ve fulfilled their expectations or not. That uncertainty lasts quite a long time, because you know if the play was a success only after the second or third performance. Butterflies, in that way, are absolutely unavoidable. n

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Italian Foreign Minister in Belgrade ate October saw Italian Foreign Minister, Massimo D’Alema, travel to Belgrade to meet Serbian President Boris Tadić and Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica. President Tadić discussed bilateral relations, the situation in the region and Serbia’s European perspectives with the Italian Foreign Minister.

In his talks with D’Alema, PM Koštunica urged Italy to respect the Security Council’s obligatory Resolution 1244 which guarantees the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia and which at the same time guarantees essential autonomy for the Albanian national minority in the province of Kosovo. D’Alema opened the Italian stand on the Belgrade Book Fair. The honorary guest at this year’s fair is Italy. Jeremic and EU Ambassadors in Belgrade id October saw Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić meet with the Ambassadors of EU member countries in Belgrade. In the first of a series of meetings to be held once a month, they discussed the second most important subject in Serbia,

i.e. approach to the EU. The Serbian Foreign Minister requested political support from the EU member ambassadors for the urgent initialling of the Stabilisation and Accession Agreement and its signing by the end of the year. Environment for Europe Conference his October saw the staging of the 6th ministerial conference, “Environment for Europe 2007” in Belgrade. The conference, organised by the Serbian Ministry for Environmental Protection with the support of the UNDP, gathered representatives of 54 countries and several international organisations and was formally opened by Serbian President Boris Tadić. “This conference is one of the most important events in Serbia since the democratic changes in 2000” said Tadić, adding that the issue of the environment should be treated as an issue of the highest priority because “respect for nature is respect for ourselves”.

Popular Mayor of Belgrade remembered enad Bogdanović, Mayor of Belgrade, lost his battle against serious illness on 27th September. He was 54. Bogdanović, born in Belgrade in May 1954, graduated from the Belgrade University, where he received his Masters. He went on to workin the telecommunications sector for more than 20 years – in the employ of companies including GTE Telecommunications, El Pupin and FrenchYugoslav company Alcatel. He joined the Democratic Party (DS) in 1992, and was appointed head of the party’s Zemun board in 1993, moving on to become the Democrats’ a vice-president for the capital city. From 2000 until 2004, Bogdanović occupied the post of the Belgrade Assembly Executive Board president. In October 2004, he was elected mayor of Serbia’s capital. Friends, colleagues and even opponents described Bogdanović as a moderate man who carefully deliberated, but was also energetic and precise. He was the author of more than 15 expert and scientific works, and was also the winner of the award for ’The most European project in 2005’ for projects to update and gentrify the Serbian capital. Bogdanović leaves behind his widow, Dragana, daughter Milica and son Matija. Bogdanović will be remembered as a one of the most capable and efficient politicians and managers in Serbia, and the man who deserves the accolades for Belgrade’s status as the city of the future of SE Europe. Speaking about the loss, Deputy Serbian PM, Božidar Đelić, highlighted that it was tragic loss for the Bogdanović family, the city of Belgrade and the whole Serbia. Ðelić insisted that Mayor Bogdanović’s work and enthusiasm will never be forgotten.

Chairman of the conference, Serbian Environmental Protection Minister, Saša Dragin, expressed his satisfaction that Belgrade had been entrusted with the organisation of this important event. Alongside representatives of other countries, Minister Dragin,

Deputy Serbian PM Božidar Ðelić, and Agriculture Minister Slobodan Milosavljević, participated in a promotional bicycle ride in front of the Sava Centre prior to the formal opening of the conference. CorD / November 2007 39

Current Affairs

Antifascist demonstrations

The message & the lesson The antifascist demonstration, organised by nongovernmental organisations in Novi Sad on 7th October, was attended by around 5,000 people who peacefully warned of the possibility of reawakening the ideology of “blood and evil”, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, racism and religious and national intolerance and hatred. The demonstration provided more than a clear message that such a risk does exist in Serbia and that it should be fought against regardless of how benign, marginal and sporadic it might appear at first glance. By Vojislava Vignjević he 7th October demonstration in the Vojvodina capital had been prompted by the plans of neo-Nazi organisation, Nacionalni Stroj (National Order), to organise a rally on the very same day (the birthday of Nazi leader, Himler) under the slogan “Unity of Serbia”. The Nacionalni Stroj event was banned by police, but local constabulary officers didn’t manage to prevent around 50 members of that non-registered organisation from throwing stones at the antifascists who were walking to lay wreaths at the spot where 12,000 innocent citizens were killed during the Second World War as a result of the Nazi pogrom. Nacionalni Stroj’s leader – the so-called “fuehrer” – Goran Davidović, was arrested along with his supporters, the same ones who, two years ago, physically attacked professors who participated in the Novi

40 CorD / November 2007

Sad Philosophy Faculty’ debate about antifascism. A group of Slovak and Bulgarian Nazis, who had come because of Stroj’s intention to make an international rally, were also among the extremists arrested. This issue was transferred to the parliamentary benches and the epilogue was surprising: the Parliament did not condemn the Nazis but, with a change of subject, marginalised everything so that it turned out that Nenad Čanak, who before the rally had called on citizens to use sticks to get rid of the Nazis if the police failed to react (obviously using figurative expressions in order to encourage the citizens of Novi Sad), is just as much of a “fuehrer” as Davidović himself. Aligrudić (DSS) and Nikolić (SRS) went one step further with their open demand that Čanak’s Vojvodina League of Social Democrats and Čedomir Jovanović’s Liberal-Democratic Party be banned be-

cause they are “extremist parties”. The polemic continued in the media. Some newspapers supported the thesis about the harmfulness of right and leftwing extremism (fascism and antifascism) by marking Čanak and Jovanović as being just as dangerous as the fascists. The intended public warning of demonstrators – who do not connect the reasons for fascistic appearances in society only with the post war syndromes and increasing pauperisation of citizens, but primarily with the equalisation of Partizans and Četniks, the rehabilitation of fascist collaborators Nedić and Ljotić, and the removing of antifascism from the education and school curriculum through the marginalisation of the antifascist struggle in Serbia during the Second World War – passed almost unnoticed. For the protagonists of civil Serbia, Novi Sad’s cloudburst of racism, intolerance and xenophobia on the part of Nacionalni Stroj was not an isolated episode, but rather the reflection of a state in which society has lost its compass; where society lacks the courage to face its own past and refuses every criticism of its own chauvinism and evil practice expressed in the wars which took place in the former Yugoslav states. They emphasise that today’s Serbia is ashamed of its antifascism and that the unstrained glorification of the role and actions of people such as Bishop Nikolaj Velimirović (the Church rehabilitated him), Milan Nedić and Dimitrije Ljotić and the forced and historically unconfirmed equalisation of Partizans and Četniks stems from that. Two years ago, Professor Vojin Dimitrijević warned that the inappropriate,

most often ignorant reactions by the administration to such phenomena, the glorification of quislings, the declaration of criminals as national heroes, the flood of books and publications with fascistic, Nazi and anti-Semitic content, enforces the impression that the acting of ultra nationalistic groups is socially acceptable. The impression is even stronger when we take into consideration the fact that such groups have if not open, then hidden support from some parts of society, especially some educational institutions, right-wing political parties, parts of the army leadership and the Church oligarchy. The Serbian Constitution bans the spreading of religious, national and racial hatred and intolerance, but Serbia does not have appropriate responses to Nazi or other extremist behaviour. Neo-Nazism and fascism are strong forms of discrimination, and such a provision does not exist in any law in Serbia. In order to discriminate against such behaviour and to sanction it in an adequate way, it should be defined as the committing of a criminal act. Therefore, legal experts think that the Constitution is insufficient and that an anti-discrimination law should be adopted. The Liberal-Democratic Party has submitted the draft of such a law to the Parliament for adoption, and we should remind you that two years ago the Vojvodina Assembly requested a ban on Nazi and clerical fascistic organisations and groups (apart from Nacionalni Stroj, others include Obraz (Honour), Skinheads, Krv i čast (Blood and Honour), Rasni nacionalisti (Racial Nationalists) and Pokret 64 županije). Saša Gajin, of the Centre for Advanced Legal Studies, claims that the Constitution is not enough. He emphasises that fascism has to be determined by law as the most serious form of illegal acting and that the punishment will be high: “We do not have such a formulation of this kind of discrimination in any law and, to put it briefly, without that we cannot know that this is a serious criminal act”.

Opposing extremes

Legal shortcomings

Positive legacy

Aligrudić (DSS) and Nikolić (SRS) made an open demand that Nenad Čanak’s Vojvodina League of Social Democrats and Čedomir Jovanović’s LDP be banned because they are “extremist parties”

The Serbian Constitution bans the spreading of religious, national and racial hatred and intolerance, but Serbia does not have appropriate responses to Nazi or other extremist behaviour.

Serbs were the victims of fascist and Nazi pogroms, and Serbia was on the side of the antifascist coalition. Many gave their lives for that and ensured Serbia’s honourable place in the history of WWII.

G17 Plus vice president, Ivana Dulić Marković, says that her party will do everything to put the law against discrimination on the Parliament’s agenda and that the political will is needed for its adoption. President of the Vojvodina Assembly, Bojan Kostreš, reminded us that the Vojvodina Assembly’s initiative from 2005, which requests a ban on those organisations which the police placed on the list of clerical fascistic and neo-Nazis (including Nacionalni Stroj and Obraz), has been recommenced. Even though they do not enjoy big support, Nazis all around Europe are propagandising their ideology in a very aggressive way. However, this issue is regulated in a different way depending on the country. The Federal Constitutional Court in Germany confirmed the ban on Nazi gatherings, and the state implements all available means to repulse neo-Nazism, hatred against foreigners and radicalism, and financially supports projects for the struggle against neo-Nazis. In Hungary the establishment of extremist organisations is allowed because the laws are very liberal. The state reacts only when group members provoke disturbances or start spreading national, religious and racial hatred. Only the branch of the German “Blood and Knife” branch in Hungary was banned by the court. In Great Britain there are several movements which have the status of neo-Nazi organisations and most of them are connected

to the nationalistic British National Party, which is a legal political party with seats in parliament. This party’s gatherings are generally not forbidden, but the administration closely monitors its leaders’ statements in public appearances. In the Czech Republic neo-Nazi gatherings are banned, and only the courts can revoke those bans. Finally, it should be emphasised that countries with the determination to join the European Union have to nurture antifascism, because the very basis of modern Europe was built particularly on antifascist foundations. That considers that the fascistic evil which caused the enormous tragedy to mankind that was the Second World War and the Holocaust, are never forgotten, and to react promptly to the slightest incident of extremist type, because the sensitivity of the society and state to even those marginal Nazi-fascistic appearances is the real sign that it nurtures antifascism – something that is never questioned anywhere in the World, not to mention in Europe. This could be one of the messages from the Novi Sad demonstration, but also a message to domestic politicians highlighting the danger and risk of equating fascism and antifascism. After all, Serbs were the victims of fascistic and Nazi pogroms and Serbia was on the side of the antifascist coalition. A large number of people gave their lives for that and ensured Serbia’s honourable place in the history of WWII. n

BUSINESS

CorD B2B Interview

“ A Mercedes client is buying a dream. When that three-pointed star is in front of your home or in your garage, you feel you have actually accomplished something; you’re showing the world that you are successful.”

Stavros Paraskevaides, CEO of DaimlerChrysler SCG and Chrysler Balkan

Dealing in Dreams After studying automotive engineering in Germany and the UK, Stavros Paraskevaides – the current CEO of the company soon to be renamed Mercedes-Benz Serbia & Montenegro and simultaneously CEO of new company Chrysler Balkan – returned to his native Greece to pursue a career in the automotive industry; a career that he describes as “one of the best jobs in the world, because I do what I love and get paid to do it”. By Mark R. Pullen; Photo: Časlav Vukojičić ecalling his early career days in the mid-1980s as a technician in a small Greek garage and then a young technical trainer for Toyota, Paraskevaides explains that the market of Greece in the 1980s was much like the current market he finds himself on: “In those days the market was very tough. In a way, Greece at that time was a lot like Serbia today – a market of similar size, a population with similar financial difficulties and it was tough to find a decent job.” Describing his first real chance to progress in the industry, Paraskevaides says: “In 1989 I got a break with the Inchcape Group, who was establishing a new Toyota distributor in Greece. They were seeking a technical trainer aged 30 to 35, but my Dad – who’s always been an inspiration to me – encouraged me to apply, de-

42 CorD / November 2007

spite the fact that I was only 23.” n Did they take you seriously, being a trainer at such a tender age? r That was the biggest challenge. I had to explain things to men who were 50-yearsold and had 30 years of experience. Those people didn’t believe that I had anything new to tell them. My then boss, who has now been a friend of mine for 20 years, told me simply to prepare myself well, ignore the comments, stick to the facts and not let them side-track me with demeaning comments. I combated their contempt by concentrating on systems and mechanisms that I knew they didn’t know in depth, and tried to explain route causes in layman’s terms. The breaking point came a month later when an older guy started vocally questioning my methods – if I said white he would say black. So I simply let him speak. I sat down at one of the empty desks and

said “as you seem to know this stuff better than I do, I kindly invite you to share your knowledge with the entire group of technicians here, and I’m also willing to learn.” I think everybody then realised that that guy was just being obnoxious. That was the last time I had any problems with those technicians. Interestingly, almost 20 years later I still see a lot of those guys if I stop into a Toyota workshop in Greece, and they still compliment the way I explained things in the most simplistic way. Progressing to after-sales training manager, Paraskevaides went on to get his first corporate opportunity from the then CEO of Toyota in Greece, Dr. Athanasopoulos – a man he describes as “a great personal mentor. “He invited me to become the network development and customer-care manager. He said to me “you’ve got about seven seconds to make that decision”. I have learnt that opportunities fly by and

“ There are some big advantages about working on a market like the Serbian one. This is an evolving market and one has the ability to take a lot of personal knowledge and apply it.”

you’ve got to grab them when they pass. In this instance I grabbed that chance and proved so successful that in 1995 I was approached by a consulting firm and asked if I was interested in joining one of the biggest automotive groups in the world.” And so he joined Mercedes-Benz. After sceptically accepting the position of sales and marketing director for commercial vehicles, he held the post for four years and during that time the company went from selling approximately 280 units in Greece to selling around 1,300 units. Paraskevaides explains his next move, which took him even further from that small Greek garage where it all began: “In 1999 I moved on to Mercedes-Benz USA; I went from a company with 150 employees to one employing around 1,500”. His challenging time in the U.S. saw him head a team looking at the future trends of automotive trading during the Internet boom; investigating the feasibility of launching the Smart brand in the States during a period when the sales of SUVs and large vehicles was booming, followed by the complete contrast of leading the networking strategy for the $400,000-a-unit luxury Maybach and, finally, centrally organising all the sales of Mercedes-Benz USA immediately after the September 11th attacks, when the market collapsed overnight and he was chasing a target of 215,000 units. Eventually, late in 2003, Paraskevaides decided to go back to Greece – principally because of his children. “I wanted them to grow up in the Greek culture, which is impossible when you live in another country –

especially the U.S., where the environment is extremely multicultural. A lot of people, including my then CEO, told me that I was committing career suicide by leaving the biggest, most profitable market in the world to go back to Greece. I explained that although my career is extremely important to me, my kids are more important. My boss was very understanding, and with his help I managed to get a function back in Greece. In February 2004 I took up the post of Business Development Director of Mercedes-Benz Greece, responsible for overseeing pretty much all operations and helping the development of the brand…” It was at the end of last year that he got a phone call inviting him to become the CEO of DaimlerChrysler SCG. “As I said earlier, chances in life fly by and you must grab them.” n Do you find the Serbian market less alien than the American one – considering what you said earlier about the Greek market of the ‘80s resembling the Serbian market of today? r “I am lucky to have spent the last 18 years working for two really great organisations – probably the two most successful car companies in the world. If you work for such organisations and are willing to learn, you have tremendous resources available. And I think I have learnt to tap those resources to the extent that no market is alien to me now. That said, I think that actually the American market was the most comfortable because everything there is structured. As I’m an engineer by training, I have learnt to work and think in a structured way. However, there are some big advantages about working on a market like the Serbian one. This is an evolving market and one has the abil-

ity to take a lot of personal knowledge and apply it. You can try and test new things and – as is a necessity in cultures like this one and my own, which are similar – you have to be creative and flexible in order to survive.” n How difficult was it for you to give up the hands-on side of the business for the corporate side, and do you miss it? r “I always miss the engineering side. My love affair with cars has seen me build and race cars (at an amateur level). Even today, at least once a week I feel the need to smell the oil and the gasoline of the workshop downstairs and, to the amusement of some of my colleagues, I go down there and engage in technical conversations with the technicians about the operating systems of the engines. “However, I knew that if I wanted to advance professionally I would have to leave the technical department, because that side of the business is always in the background. Unless you are in research and development, you can’t really go anywhere. If you’re in the technical de-

CorD / November 2007 43

CorD B2B Interview

partments in Greece or Serbia (and not in Stuttgart, Munich or Michigan), your career stagnates…” n Turning attention to current operations, Daimler and Chrysler recently split. What prompted that decision and what effect will it have on your company’s operations and product offer here? r “What prompted the decision was the fact that at some point Mercedes-Benz decided to focus again on its core strengths and values… When your resources are disbursed and you have to deal with too many different brands and markets, it becomes really difficult to focus. “We learnt a lot during the nine years we were together with Chrysler. We learnt a lot from Chrysler about manufacturing and efficiency in the first years of production; we worked on a lot of common technical solutions and will continue to do so because Mercedes-Benz remains a shareholder of the Chrysler Group (with a 20% share) and we still have significant joint projects. “Here in Serbia the company will soon be renamed ‘Mercedes-Benz Serbia and Montenegro’, and on 1st August we created a new company called ‘Chrysler Balkan’. So, we will now have two companies focusing on their own brands. I am currently the CEO of both companies, which is part of the agreement between the two manufacturers, and we will continue to sell and market the Chrysler Group products. We will also continue to invest in the Chrysler brands and Mercedes-Benz Serbia and Montenegro will continue to own the Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge sales and service operations in the city of Belgrade. As such, I am sure that the cus44 CorD / November 2007

VALUABLE LESSONS We learnt a lot during the nine years we were together with Chrysler. We learnt a lot from Chrysler about manufacturing and efficiency in the first years of production; we worked on a lot of common technical solutions and will continue to do so because Mercedes-Benz remains a shareholder of the Chrysler Group (with a 20% share) and we still have significant joint projects. tomers will not feel any negative change and, on the contrary, they will see an improvement because, as mentioned, each company will be concentrating on its own brands.” n The Chrysler brand is still something different and perhaps exotic on the European market. But, even after all these years, Mercedes remains the ultimate status symbol for many in Europe. Why do you think that is? r “First of all, in the past the Chrysler brands were focused exclusively towards the Americas. One of the reasons for the original merger was that Chrysler was trying to get a foothold on the European markets and was looking to get a piggy-back on the Mercedes-Benz network, which they did. As a result, the international operations of Chrysler have proved extremely successful: they started from about 40,000 units a year, this year they will exceed 200,000 units and next year they are projected to sell around 400,000 units. That

was why the new owners decided that the international operations would continue to function in a similar fashion. “As for Mercedes-Benz, I think everybody associates German manufacturing and technology with perfection. For years Mercedes-Benz displayed the absolute technical excellence. The brand was built on the core values of engineering excellence, safety, comfort and luxury. Now we see an evolution that includes exclusive styling and, most importantly, customer appreciation. This means offering the kind of services that convince our customers that we truly appreciate the fact that they trust us. It’s also about being the modern manufacturer with the longest-standing history – one that dates back over 125 years. The reputation was built by constantly being at the forefront of automotive excellence. “Mercedes-Benz is an iconic brand and it is a tremendous responsibility for us to ensure it remains such. Being a luxury brand means that the expectations are huge. There are no excuses for shortcomings; the margins of error are minimal. If someone has paid €120,000 to buy an S-Class, they expect the vehicle always to be perfect; even if it has covered half a million kilometres and is eight years old, if it breaks down a customer will come and say to us “how can this be – it’s a Mercedes?”. A Mercedes client is buying a dream. When that three-pointed star is in front of your home or in your garage, you feel you have actually accomplished something; you’re showing the world that you are successful. The most important part of ensuring a client’s expectations are met and exceeded are the people, because it is people that make the difference.” n

VIP’s 060 Prefix ollowing its prepaid offer, mobile operator VIP has started with the sale of post paid services with the prefix 060. Users can choose from a million offered telephone numbers free of charge, including so-called golden numbers. For a limited period, VIP is offering popular mobile telephones for only 1 dinar for each tariff. What is needed is to sign the contract for a 24-month period and receive

VIP CEO Alexander Sperl

a positive report from the Crediting Bureau, which is provided immediately electronically at the premises where the sale is made. ProCredit increases capital y carrying out the sixth share issue to ProCredit Bank’s current shareholders - ProCredit Holding, Commerzbank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development – ProCredit Bank has increased its issued capital by five million euros. All shareholders subscribed shares in proportion to their participation in the issued capital, which now amounts to €29.6million. In May ProCredit Bank was reregistered as a closed stock company, thus the distribution of shares was completed within the circle of the current shareholders. Dörte Weidig, Chairperson of the Executive Board of ProCredit Bank in Serbia, stated: “In this way we have assured the additional resources which we plan to invest in small businesses in Serbia and, thus, contribute to the development of the country in which we operate. “Apart from that, the shareholders structure was changed in August. Namely, Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau (KfW) transferred ownership of its shares in ProCredit bank to ProCredit Holding and

in Banja Koviljaca.” In addition to regular actions that will see employees raise the support and funds necessary for children’s life and work on a daily basis, several special programmes have been initiated. During the summer break, 17-year-old boys from the Home will have an opportunity KIDS RULE to participate in training at the child sent the following letter to DaimlerChrysler workshop in Belgrade, the President of their country: aimed at acquiring skills that might “Dear Mr. President, please pass a law secure their living in the future. The according to which safe transportation every child should of the children have a mum and from the Home a dad.” Until such has been secured a law is passed, through donated taking care of use of the parentless children Mercedes-Benz is the task of each VITO passenger of us. van, which will DaimlerChrysler take children to Serbia and spend time with Montenegro has the Company defined a concrete employees, tour Stavros Paraskevaides, CEO of strategy to help the service shops, DaimlerChrysler SCG (right) children without or visit toys shop parental care. “It where they will was really difficult to make a choice and select their New Year’s presents. decide who, out of many in need, should DaimlerChrysler Serbia and receive the most attention and funds,” Montenegro employees would like to DaimlerChrysler Serbia and Montenegro see the law adopted as that child has CEO Stavros Paraskevaides told us. requested, but even if that does not “We have made a decision and initiated happen, their actions are still sending concrete activities and donations the message that we do not need a law to support the children of the Vera to show that we care about our future – Blagojević Youth and Children’s Home the children

at the same time increased its shares in ProCredit Holding”. Greenfield investments lacking articipating in Serbia’s 7th Economic Summit, the standing International Monetary Fund (IMF) representative in Serbia, Harald Hirschhofer, expressed his expectations that economic growth, stimulated by the growth of foreign investments mostly directed towards telecommunications and banking, will speed up by the end of the year. However, he added that the level of greenfield Harald investments is still Hirschhofer insufficient. Hirschhofer announced that a mission of the IMF will soon visit Serbia to discuss risk factors with the country’s representatives. He emphasised that the main risks refer to

foreign demand, which is increasingly growing, while the domestic offer is decreasing, as are loans to citizens. According to him, the IMF’s message to the Serbian Government is to maintain macroeconomic stability with a firm monetary policy in order to control inflation. Hirschhofer added that the independence of the central bank, “which does its job very well” is very important. Director of the World Bank office in Serbia, Simon Gray, pointed out the need for the more significant use of good opportunities and big untapped resources in Serbia in a wise way, and not just to satisfy domestic consumption. Gray warned that the funds from the National Investment Plan should be invested more in projects of a sustainable nature. Croatian Agrokor targets 1/5 of Serbian market he goal of Croatian company Agrokor is to take over up to 20 per cent of retail sales in Serbia, says company vice president Ljerka Puljić. “Agrokor’s mega-market chain,

CorD / November 2007 45

BUSINESS

B2B

Growth in all business segments n the third quarter of 2007, Piraeus Bank has achieved outstanding business results and growth in all business segments compared to 2005, when it commenced operations in Serbia. The key indicator of Piraeus’s successful business operations is the increase in total assets to €523.1million at the end of September 2007, with a growth rate of 420.1%, compared to €100.6million in late 2005. Piraeus Bank has placed credits in the market totalling €379.9million, which represents growth of 531.1%, compared to €60.2million in late 2005. Piraeus bank approves consumer loans for purchasing goods and services for all purposes. Repayment periods are in accordance with product type, with NIR from 10% (EIR from 10.51%), while for cash loans with a repayment period up to 24 months (NIR from 10% and EIR from 12,05%), mortgage loans, indexed in CHF or EUR, with a possibility for insurance

moment to merge those two companies. The possibility of their meeting again and talking about merging in some forthcoming period has not been ruled out.

Idea, currently holds five to six percent of the market in Serbia, and the real consolidation is yet to come,” said Puljić, adding that in the last five years 10 of the strongest companies have taken over 60% of the market in Croatia and that a similar process will take place in Serbia in the following two to three years. Agrokor wants to participate in the process of the

B2B Column: BALKAN TALKING By David Dowse

Chinese Lessons

46 CorD / November 2007

Fly Sky Europe to Belgrade udget airline Sky Europe is planning to open regular lines for Ljubljana, Zagreb, Skopje, Kiev and Belgrade. The company is introducing new flights in order to compete with the Austrian national airline, AUA, because so far only this company has flights from Vienna to those destinations. Representing the Sky Europe strategy, company CEO Karim Makhlouf said that his company wants to discontinue the high price monopoly for business trips to eastern European countries, which the AUA has held so far. Makhlouf emphasised that his company guarantees that the cost of each ticket for business people will certainly be under that offered by AUA.

with the National Insurance Mortgage Corporation, have most favourable nominal interest rates starting from 3.95% and EIR from 4.27%. In September 2007, Piraeus Bank operated in Serbia through a network of 40 branches and sub-branches (45 by the end of the year), and employed 500 banking experts. With an aim to improve overall business operations and enlarge its offer, two new business companies, Piraeus Leasing d.o.o. and Piraeus Rent d.o.o., started operating. These Companies were founded by Greek bank “Piraeus Bank” S.A., as well as “Piraeus Real Estate”, company which will start operating within the year. division of the market in Serbia and “we objectively think that our company’s position is just behind the first player on the Serbian market [Delta Holding],” said the Agrokor vice president. Commenting on giving up the merger with Delta Holding, Puljić said that after the first round of negotiations the owners concluded that it is not the best

verybody knows that China is an emerging superpower of awesome potential. The numbers alone are mind-blowing; their implications literally enormous. When I visited that boiling cauldron of humanity (and sadly, too often inhumanity) some years ago, I was struck by many things. Not least of them was the

Telenor revenue up elenor increased its revenue by 13.41% in third quarter of 2007 in relation to the previous period, and made total revenue of 8.1 billion dinars. Average revenue per user has grown by four per cent, while the index of average minutes per user has grown by 5.37%. Stein-Erik The company Vellan has increased its

incredible contrasts to be found at every turn. At a gleaming new airport, where I was handling sensitive public relations issues for a Swedish client with a major contract to install the latest, laser-guided aircraft docking systems, I looked away from the photo shoot to see a line of around

New Audi A4: sportiest midsize saloon udi opens up new horizons. The A4 is a sporty car with superb presence on the road; it takes Audi forward into a new dimension on the midsize car market. The engines that power the saloon, both TDI and sparkignition, come in all cases with direct fuel injection and combine effortless power with high efficiency. The dynamic running gear and the use of many technologies taken directly from the large-car category are evidence of the brand’s lead in technical knowhow. The new Audi is a new way to drive. It will reach the market at the end of November 2007. In its design, the new A4 reveals its sporty, progressive character: taut and dynamic in its outlines, it speaks the language of technical perfection. With an overall length of 4.70 metres,

the saloon has a substantial, powerful road stance and offers its occupants ample space in an interior full of light. The workmanship is typical of an Audi – quality with no compromises. The controls can be backed by the extra refinement of innovative assistance and multimedia systems. In the safety area, the brand with the four-ring emblem sets new standards: the coordinated action of the airbags and front seat belt force limiters protects the occupants even more

effectively. The new Audi A4 is being introduced with a choice of five engines, their power outputs ranging from 105 kW to 195 kW. The four-cylinder petrol engine, like the diesels, is turbocharged, and both types of engine have direct fuel injection. All the engines, with their supremely refined flow of power, make the A4 a pleasure to drive and, thanks to their high efficiency, consume distinctly less fuel than the previous versions.

number of users by 118,000 in relation to the previous quarter – by which the total number of users increased to 2,841,000. This pertains only to users that have generated revenue in the previous three months, which represents the strictest method of calculation. Telenor’s share of post-paid company service users increased to 20.9%. “Growth of revenue represents a

result of constant growth of the users’ base, combined with increased average utilisation. Besides being in line with our assumptions, those numbers confirm the growth of the Serbian economy in the growing business environment, and they show that Serbia is edging ever closer to European Union standards. Including this quarter, the total investments of Telenor in Serbia this year have reached almost

6 billion dinars. Besides those visible results, one should stress that Telenor has also employed more than 300 new people from the beginning of its operations, as well as that it has invested significant funds in training, marketing and organisational development,” says SteinErik Vellan, CEO of Telenor d.o.o. At the global level, preliminary data for the third quarter of 2007 show that

200 men, women and children sweeping the 5km runway by hand, with brooms. When I asked one of my Chinese hosts to comment on the apparent contradiction between laser technology and broomstick, he simply commented, “How else would those people eat?” I learned yet another important lesson in suspending my Western, capitalist judgement. In Belgrade, I also found many contrasts. One can pay for parking by SMS – something one cannot do in London – but in order to use cable internet it is necessary to queue at the ISP’s office and pay in cash. Just one of so many examples. Contrast, contradiction. The Chinese economic miracle is built on two simple but devastatingly effective realities: the people learn very quickly, and they work incredibly hard. But their learning is selective. The Chinese know better than to blindly embrace every aspect of Western culture. They choose carefully,

take what they want, and leave the rest, without a shadow of embarrassment, and certainly no apology. Foreign investors rightly and increasingly view Serbia as an important emerging market in Europe’s back yard, and an excellent place to base a regional operation. The future can and should be bright here. And as the country blossoms, there are lessons to be learned from the Chinese, even if Serbia may be smaller than most Chinese provinces. Let’s take privatisation. Generally, it brings

better service, better value for taxpayers and more opportunity. But a blind, unquestioning acceptance of the concept is dangerous. Even in post-Thatcher, post Blair UK, there is still serious debate about the wisdom of introducing a profit motive into safety-sensitive areas like trains and most alarmingly of all, air traffic control. Some things really are best done by the people, for the people. Serbia should look carefully at what it wants to adopt from the West, and be clear about what it prefers politely to decline. Rampant materialism, drugs, crime, obesity, hypocrisy… the list is all too easy to compile. If the generally superb level of education to be found in Belgrade is anything to go by, Serbian people are well equipped to address the challenges of the future. The great hope for this country is that its bright young people continue to be discerning in their cultural, political and economic choices. CorD / November 2007 47

BUSINESS

B2B Telenor’s revenue has grown by 12 per cent, compared to the third quarter of 2006, reaching a total of 26.5 billion Norwegian Crowns. Gasprom interested in NIS epresentatives of the Russian company, Gasprom, led by one of the company directors, Aleksey Miler, recently held talks in Belgrade with Serbian President Tadić and Prime Minister Koštunica about the privatisation of the Serbian Petrol Industry and the construction of a gas pipeline through Serbia. “As a unique complex project related to the company’s participation in the privatisation of NIS, Gasprom is considering the development of a gastransporting system within the ‘Southern Stream’ project and the possibility for underground gas storage to ensure the distribution of gas to Serbia and the possibility of gas transit to the third countries,” reads Gasprom’s statement. During the negotiations, the parties considered the perspectives for the development of a joint Russian-Serbian company, Jugorosgas.

Serbian food in Cologne ome 16 Serbian food producers will present themselves at one of the biggest international food fairs, Anuga 2007. The announcement made by the Serbia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SIEPA) states that the following companies will present their products on the Serbian national stand at the fair in Cologne: Agranela, Aroma, Marni, Foodland, Medoprodukt, Arex, Igda, Pionir, Art-Ival, Agrograf, Ulixes, Atle,

Raiffeisen banka sponsors Bryan Ferry concert egendary British pop singer Bryan Ferry held a magnificent performance for the Belgrade audience at the sold-out Sava Centre in early October. Raiffeisen banka, the sponsor of the event, decided to support the concert this year again after the exceptional atmosphere created by Ferry’s performance in Belgrade last year. The concert was part of Ferry’s European tour promoting his new album “Dylanesque”, a collection of Ferry’s covers of Bob Dylan’s greatest hits. The euphoric Belgrade audience also encouraged him to play old hits

FIC President succumbs to illness fter a short difficult illness, Budimir Boško Kostić, highly respected President of the Foreign Investors Council and Deputy President of the Managing Board of Raiffeisen banka a.d., died on Friday 26th October. Between 2001 and 2005 Kostić had held the post of President of the Managing Board of Raiffeisen banka a.d., and prior to that – from 1997 to 2001 – he was General Manager of City Trade and Finance Ltd., London (CTF). Between 1989 and 1997 he held the post of General Manager of AY Bank Limited, London, and from 1983 to ’89 he was President of Investbanka, Beograd. Mr. Kostić was Vice-President of the Executive Board Association of Belgrade bank, New York, from 1979 to ’83, which followed 16 years (1963 to ’79) as President and General Manager of Progres, Beograd. Kostić began his professional career in 1961 with company Elektrosrbija, Beograd.

Strela, ITN, Sicoberry and Udruženje hladnjača Srbije (the Serbian refrigerated warehouses Association) The national pavilion, under the name Taste Passion, will be divided into two units – Delicatessen Food, Fine Food and Frozen Food. “At the last fair, in 2005, Serbian companies signed seven contracts which resulted in exports of five million euros and this year we expect their presentation to be even more successful,” stated SIEPA. The promotion of 16 domestic

48 CorD / November 2007

of his former band “Roxy Music”, as well. The album “Dylanesque” was released in March this year and received very positive reviews. Ferry’s extraordinary performance, accompanied by his band of top musicians and the vibrant reaction of the audience, made this concert a night to remember.

companies at this five-day event will be financed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Industry, and was organised by SIEPA for the second time, with the technical support of the German organisation for technical co-operation, GTZ. Porr included in the concessions he Serbian Government has unanimously approved Porr’s inclusion in the concessions company for the construction of the Horgoš-Požega motorway. Serbian Infrasteructure Minister Vleimir Ilić stated that this move ensures the last dilemma regarding concessions for the Horgoš-Požega motorway has been resolved, since all of the required decisions have been made. “Austrian PORR has also been included in the concessions company and now there are no more problems. The concessions can start,” said the minister, expressing his expectations that the work will start by 1st March next year at the latest, as is predicted in the concessions contract. The holder of the concessions for the construction of the Horgoš-Požega motorway is the Spanish company FCC, which was given this job together with the Austrian company Alpina in the international tender concluded in November last year. The Serbian Government signed the contract on concessions for the construction of the Horgoš-Požega motorway with the Spanish-Austrian consortium on 30th March, but in mid September the FCC requested the approval of the Serbian Government to give half of its concession rights to PORR from Austria. In doing so the FCC only technically got out of the consortium

because Alpina, whose owner meanwhile became the FCC, remains within the company. Budget in the black he Serbian Budget surplus for the first nine months of this year amounts to CSD 37 billion, according to Finance Minister Mirko Cvetković. “The budgetary income was 422 billion and expenditure totalled 385 billion” said Cvetkovic, emphasising that even if we exempted the income from the sale of the third licence for mobile telephony – amounting to CSD 25 billion – the budget would be in ‘plus’ to the tune of 12 billion dinars. The budget Mirko Cvetković for this year predicts total income of CSD 581.8 billion and expenditure of CSD 595.5 billion, i.e. a deficit of CSD 13.7 billion, which is around 0.5% of GDP. For the next year Cvetković announced that they will have to predict around CSD 65 billion, around €800million, to pay off matured debts to foreign investors, such as the Paris Club, and pay off of the old hard currency savings. According to Cvetković, the Ministry of Finance is trying to keep the budget deficit as low as possible. He stated that the wages of the budget’s beneficiaries are high and that they do have a big influence on consumption and inflation. The pay-out for budgetary beneficiaries, in the amount of CSD 152.9 billion, is the biggest item in this year’s budget expenses.

Serbia in WTO by the end of 2008 peaking at a recent press conference, Economy and Regional Development Minister, Mladjan Dinkić, announced that the next round of World Trade Organisation (WTO) expert level negotiations, will be held in Geneva in November, and that this should mark the next step for Serbia towards WTO membership. Dinkić noted that the Serbian Government has adopted an action plan on regulations which should be changed in order to harmonise with the WTO regulations. He has also adopted the revised offer for custom taxes on goods and services, in order to be prepared for the negotiations.

SMECA & Kontrollbank found joint company MECA and Austrian’s Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG (OeKB) have founded a joint financial services company – OeKB d.o.o. za finansijske usluge. SMECA holds 49% and OeKB - via their specialised affiliate OeKB Südosteuropa Holding Ges.m.b.H. (OSEE) – holds 51% o. The company will collect credit and payment information on Serbian companies. This information will then undergo a professional credit assessment by specialists and result in credit decisions which can be directly used by credit insurance companies for coverage in the insurance contracts in the shape of so-called “credit limits”. “One of the advantages of our local presence on the market is that the international credit insurers will have better access to so-called soft facts. Such soft facts have a growing importance in a profound credit assessment,” says Mrs. Lidija Vasić, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors.

Public auction for Genex conomy and Regional Development Minister, Mladjan Dinkić, recently announced that the first public auction of company Genex and the International CG will start by the end of December this year. “The Serbian Government has adopted a social programme for the employees of those companies, according to which those employees who apply for voluntary redundancy by 31st October will be approved €250 for each year of service”, stated Dinkić. The minister said that if they do not decide within that time limit, employees will be approved €100 per year of service. A total of 70% of the International CG, established in 1999, is owned by the state, and the company owns the Hotel Beograd and the Genex Impuls Hall in Belgrade, as well as the Grand Hotel and Konaci in Kopaonik.

By special agreement the new company will also provide this information to the leading credit insurer on the world market, the French-German Euler Hermes-group and its subsidiaries worldwide. “We feel a growing international market demand for insurance of Serbian risks and information,” says Helmut Altenburger, General Manager of OSEE. “The Serbian market will profit from this cooperation because foreign trade partners and their credit insurers will have fresher and more precise information on their Serbian trade partners,” says Dimitrije Stamenović, Managing Director of SMECA. Next to credit insurers, local Serbian factoring companies and banks are in the scope of the potential clients of OeKB d.o.o. za finansijske usluge. In the midterm the company also plans to take up debt collection services out of court. In addition to their position as Austria’s ECA (Export Credit Agency), OeKB has been involved in private credit insurance since1993 by holding a majority share (initially 54%, today 51%), in Prisma – a private credit insurance company founded in 1989 in co-operation with Euler Hermes Kreditversicherungs-AG, Hamburg. Real estate out of reach erbert Preclik, Representative of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce in Belgrade, says that the main reason for the lower than expected economic growth in Serbia is the political situation. Noting that there were practically nine months of stand-still after the Parliamentary elections, Preclik added that not only has Herbert Preclik privatisation has been dormant during that time, but numerous legal reforms have also been overlooked. One of the unimplemented reforms that he considers as the biggest obstacle

CorD / November 2007 49

B2B discouraging investors is related to amendment of the the Real Estate Law. Preclik explained that foreigners can still only lease urban city land for 99 years, and that the small amount of properties which can be found on the free market are controlled by the Serbian oligarchy and are too expensive. According to Preclik, foreign investors are facing many obstacles, including huge bureaucracy, extensive corruption and insufficient legal security. Simultaneously, the Vienna journal ‘Prese’ points out that investors operating in Serbia for a longer time are obviously satisfied, because 75 per cent of foreign companies plan further investments in this country. Otherwise, Austria is seen in Serbia as one of the biggest investors, with investments totalling around €3.5billion. Source: Tanjug Telekom Slovenije buys Aneks from RS fter taking over the internet provider Blic.net, Telekom Slovenije purchased 70% of the shares in Aneks from the Republic of Srpska. By taking over Aneks, Telekom Slovenije entered what is currently the biggest alternative provider of fixed telephony in RS. Telekom Slovenije will pay €3.33million for the majority stake in

GREEK AMBASSADOR OPENS ALPHA BANK SPORTS’ PANORAMA uring the last seven years, Alpha Bank has continued to educate, inspire and amuse young people and sports lovers all around Greece through the travelling road show entitled Alpha Bank Sports’ Panorama. This unique and entertaining event left Greece for the first time in order to continue its touring through Serbia. Under the slogan “ An adventure that shouldn’t be missed” during the month of October Alpha Bank Sports Panorama took place in the central city squares of Belgrade, Novi Sad, Zrenjanin and Niš and captured attention of more than 40.000 sports lovers of our country. Best described as the unique educational sporting manifestation, Alpha Bank Sports’ Panorama was officially opened in Belgrade on October 6th by His Excellency, Mr. Christos Panagopoulos, Greek Ambassador in Serbia, in the presence of Mr. Panagiotis Vlasiadis, President of the Executive Board of Alpha Bank in Serbia, and

Telekom Slovenije continues to expand regionally

Aneks, and the new Aneks owner will simultaneously enter the ownership structure of Blic.net, with 30% of shares, announced Telekom Slovenije. Telekom Slovenije is planning to merge those two companies into one from 1st January, and Telekom Slovenije will have 70% of the shares. Telekom

50 CorD / November 2007

Mr. Goran Kreclović, Secretary of the Sports and Youth Secretariat of the City of Belgrade. Amongst numerous attendees at the opening ceremony were the highest officials of the Alpha Bank Group from Greece, Managing Director, Mr. Demetrios Mantzounis and Executive General Manager Mr. Christos Giampanas. Alpha Bank, which was the official bank of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, launched the Alpha Bank Sports’ Panorama in 2001. The manifestation turn to be a huge success in its inaugural year and performed full- force-ahead ever since.

Slovenije’s strategic goal is to become the first provider of alternative and advanced telecommunications services in the aforementioned area, with a 30% share of the market. Elyria founds investment fund lovenian investment company Elyria has founded a company for managing investment funds, Ilirika, in Belgrade. Ilirika received an operating permit and started establishing an open investment fund in Serbia, which would operate as a growth fund with predominant investments in shares. Slovenian Ilirika manages ten funds in the domestic market, they have three funds in Croatia, and a month ago their first investment fund was founded in Macedonia. Ilirika also has in its composition brokers’ houses in Slovenia, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Macedonia and Romania. Source: Beta

Four million for Srbijanka he new owner of factory Srbijanka, Bulgaria’s ‘Medija svjat’, has invested four million euros in starting production in the factory. Milojko Pantić, Deputy General Manager of Srbijanka, said that after sales of the plant and the greatest part of Srbijanka’s property to the Bulgarian company for 330 million dinars in April this year, all that remains is to sell warehouses and a small plot of land in the vicinity of Valjevo, for which the Privatisation Agency has announced a tender.

New Xerox software esearchers from Xerox Corporation have recently presented software technology that can link text and pictures – marking a step ahead in the way information from the Web and paper are processed. Until now, nobody succeeded in finding an efficient mix of those two types of content. Xerox’s new software technology significantly improves the basic jobs from the field of document management, like downloading information from a database, or automatic file retrieval. The result is more complete browsing and modernisation of business processes. Xerox’s processing programme

“Bulgarian company Medija svjat changed the name of the Valjevo factory into New Srbijanka, invested in starting plant operations and purchased 5,000 tonnes of fruit for processing,” pointed out Pantić, adding that exports to the West European market have also started and that so far they have exported frozen fruit and fruit concentrate worth around a million euros. Pantić announced that the new owners plan to invest from two to 2.5 million euros in equipment and expansion of production before the beginning of the next fruit processing season. Source: Beta Indians invest in Inđija ndian company Embassy Group plans to build its first technology park in Europe in Inđija. Mlađan Dinkić, Economy and Regional Development Minister, owner of the Indian Embassy Group, Yitu Virvani, and Goran Ješić, Indjija Mayor, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the Building of a Technology (IT) Park in Inđija. Embassy Group plans to build its first technology park in Europe in Inđija, and that on an area of 270 hectares. In the first year of the project it is planned to construct around 25,000 square metres of business space and employ around 2,500 workers. According to plans, in the first five years the business space will be increased tenfold – to 250,000 square metres – and employment will also be increased tenfold – to around 25,000 workers. In that way the greatest Greenfield investment in Serbia shall be implemented. Expected investments are at least US$600million, and expected exports will be worth at least two million dollars a year. Source: Tanjug

also manipulates text, Xerox’s programme visual elements, can for hybrid selection identify photographs, has recently enabled automatically match improvements in them with the written the field of artificial text and then enrich the intelligence and visual elements with pattern recognition, additional information as well as advantages using hyperlinks to in computerised databases, like that image recognition and of Wikipedia. The accessibility of great other application can many hybrid contents. be in Xerox picture For more processing centres, information visit www. where the company xerox.com/innovation; can scan and digitalise contact: Albert Tedeev, documents in order Xerox Regional to create for its client Manager, Bulevar Xerox’s Grenoble HQ safe, accessible and AVNOJ-a 48-b, 11070 searchable information repositories on Belgrade. Tel: +381 11 212 98 79, Fax: the Web. +381 11 212 98 80 Serbia ratifies CEFTA Agreement he Serbian Parliament has ratified the new Central and Eastern European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA). CEFTA provides for the abolishment of customs limits for industrial and agricultural products in the countries of the region, the latest until 2010. The Agreement provides for liberalisation of public procurements and stronger attraction of investments into signatory countries, whilst also increasing the chances of appearing on the European markets with preferential treatment. The Agreement enables export to third-party countries for products made of components from different CEFTA countries. There are certain rules that should be applied to all public companies from 1st May 2010. All member countries should provide non-discrimination in the

public procurement system by that date. The CEFTA Agreement was initially signed on 19th December 2006 by Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Serbia, Montenegro and UNMIK on behalf of Kosovo; 137 MPs in the ruling coalition voted for ratification of the Agreement, while the MPs from the opposition Serbian Radical Party didn’t participate in the voting process. Source: Beta Hochegger in Belgrade eading Public Relations and Public Affairs agency Burson-Marsteller and Austrian PR agency Hochegger/ Com, represented by Peter Hochegger and Roman Geiser of Burson Marsteler (pictured), signed an exclusive affiliate contract in Belgrade for nine Central and

Peter Hochegger and Roman Geiser of Burson Marsteler CorD / November 2007 51

B2B

Super strength LAV 7 launched

ctober saw Carlsberg Srbija launch its latest beer from the Čelarevo brewery – “LAV 7”, the first domestic beer on the market with a higher rate of alcohol. Speaking at the beer’s presentation, Carlsberg Southeast Europe and Carlsberg Srbija CEO, Dr. Isaac Sheps,

product to the market, and owing to its specific features, we expect LAV 7 to accomplish best results on the markets of Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia & Herzegovina.” Commending Carlsberg Srbija’s innovation, Miodrag Maksimović, President of the Association of Breweries of Serbia, said: “Lav 7 is the only domestic beer with such a high rate of alcohol, and I think that it will promptly become a favourite Carlsberg Srbija’s Isaac Sheps & Miodrag Maksimović, among President of the Association of Breweries of Serbia consumers who said: “Carlsberg Srbija aims to maintain know how to recognise what is best…” said Maksimovic. quality in satisfying the sophisticated Lav 7 contains 7.2% alcohol and tastes of its consumers. LAV 7 is 16.2% extract, which makes it the another addition to our diversified strongest beer on the local market. It and high-quality product portfolio… is offered in cans, 0.33l glass (nonFollowing the launch of Holsten and refundable bottle) and 0.5l (refundable Budweiser-Budvar beers this year, we bottle). wished to add another high-quality

Eastern European countries (CEE). Following Budapest, Sophia and Zagreb, this year their office in Belgrade has very successfully started its operations. Hochegger Serbia is already co-operating with important clients, like VIP mobile, Lufthansa, Merkur insurance, Dr. Oetker, Bayer Schering and others. Most successful companies in 2006 he greatest profit in Serbia in the last year (that of 5.8 billion dinars) was recorded by company Telekom Serbia. In the publication of ‘Business and Finance’ magazine, ‘Business Top 2006’, in which operations of the biggest Serbian companies has been presented, ThermalElectric Power Plant Nikola Tesla (TENT) from Obrenovac came in second with profits of 10.2 billion dinars, and the third place was taken by national petroleum company Naftna industija Srbije – NIS, with seven billion dinars of profit. Total revenues of the Serbian companies were last year 4.798 billion dinars, which is a 33 per cent increase in relation to 2005. Meanwhile, total expenditure was 4.677 billion dinars – up 29 per cent on 2005. As published, the biggest revenue in 2006 was made by NIS, 257.4 billion dinars, and in the second place was Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS), with 69.8 billion dinars of revenue.

52 CorD / November 2007

“On the list of the leading 500 companies of Central and Eastern Europe, there are six Serbian companies”, said Deloitte Belgrade Office Manager Dragan Đuričin. NIS is in 22nd place, and Delta Holding, which is the second largest company in Serbia, is ranked 83rd in the region, and 49th according to its size amongst private companies. The list is populated by US Steel, EPS, Telekom Serbia and Srbijagas. Ðuričin added that amongst the 50 greatest banks in the region there is no bank from Serbia, while DDOR Novi Sad, and Dunav Insurance are amongst the biggest 50 companies in the region’s insurance sector – ranked 39th and 41st respectively. One of the owners of EKI Investments, Aleksandar Vlahović, stated at the presentation that more than 30 per cent of the property belongs to public companies. He stressed that without the privatisation and restructuring of public companies there will be no enhanced efficiency and competitiveness of the Serbian economy. Vlahović, former head of the Privatisation Agency in the DOS government, stressed that caution was needed to prevent turning state monopolies into private ones and that, accordingly, it is necessary to form independent regulatory bodies.

Co-operation continues s a continuation of the exceptional business co-operation and experiences from last year, Srbijagas and the MOL Group signed a contract in Budapest at the end of October. According to the contract, MOL Group is prepared to provide Srbijagas with between one half

Miloš Milanković, CEO of Srbijagas, and Benjamin Lakatoš, Director of MOL Group’s department for gas trade and business development

and one million cubic metres of gas per day from its own resources, in the case that the need for natural gas is greater than the maximum daily availability of Russian gas. The contract will come into effect from 1st November 2007 and will run until 29th February 2008. Recapitalisation in 2008 ubmes Bank shall double its capital at the beginning of 2008 by issuing ordinary shares worth around €40million. The biggest shareholder of Jubmes Bank, with 21.1% of shares, is the Republic of Serbia. As stated in Jubmes Bank, the price, as well as the start of subscription and payment for the 11th issue of shares, will be published later. The fixed assets of Jubmes Bank are currently around €35million, and the decision on recapitalisation of Jubmes Bank has been passed on 18th October at an extraordinary General Meeting. Jubmes Bank (Yugoslav Bank for International Economic Co-operation), was founded in 1979 as a specialised financial institution for refinancing and insurance of exports. In 1997 it was transformed into a commercial bank. Source: Beta

€40million to be invested in BIP ollowing a successful privatisation, the new management of BIP will invest at least €40million in the company over the next five years. The new major stock holders are the Alita consortium from Lithuania and United Nordic Beverages (UNB) from Sweden.

AQUA GALA HAS THE BEST AD he commercial for water Aqua Gala, produced by Saatchi & Saatchi Agency and directed by Igor Kušić, has been proclaimed the best advertising spot of summer 2007. This recognition was awarded by the Association of Economic Propaganda Operators of Serbia (Udruženje ekonomskih propagandista Srbije UEPS), at the official award ceremony held on Wednesday, 3rd October on the boat “Metro on water”. Recognition for the best commercial break was received by Delta Holding vice president Milka Forcan, who also

The new management’s goal is the revitalisation of BIP operations and achieving of the market leadership position through the widening of the product portfolio and investments in the company infrastructure. In order to achieve this ambitious goal, they are planning to solve the problem of the company’s poor liquidity, the restructuring of the liabilities, the reorganisation of sales and marketing and the co-ordination of the expenses structure with the situation on the market. Source:B92, Tanjug EFG offers entrepreneurs €100million urobank EFG Savings Bank has approved €100million of credit to small companies and entrepreneurs in Serbia in less than two years. Eurobank EFG Group is among the leading banks in the countries where it operates, like Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia. Đorđe Petrić, Manager of the Eurobank Directorate for Small Businesses of EFG Savings Bank in Serbia, says that the Bank has started approving start-up credits for specialised professions, like physicians, dentists, veterinarians, and

also for architects, designers, lawyers and accountants. According to Petrić, those start-up credits are approved with a payment term of 10 to 25 years and an interest rate of 10 to 16 per cent annually for loans indexed in Swiss francs and euros. EFG Eurobank approves credits covering up to 100 per cent of costs for opening an office, equipment and working capital, stated Petrić. Source: B92 Spar in Serbia? ustrian trade chain Spar is interested in entering the Serbian market, according to the Serbian Ministry of Trade and Services. Spar has more than 1,000 outlets in Austria, over 500 in Italy and around 280 in Slovenia, Hungary, Czech Republic and Croatia. It employs 25,000 workers. According to the statement of the Ministry, Minister of Trade and Services, Predrag Bubalo, spoke with the Spar directors Karl Bumberger and Karl Adamek. Source: Beta

Grocery retail chain, Spar, could enter the Serbian market

Milka Forcan and Igor Kušić

received a special gift for Novak Đoković – a tennis racket cast in gold which was made for him and the winners by the Goldsmith shop Miljenović. With an official dinner and Danube cruising, attendees also marked the 47th birthday of UEPS, who announced more important activities in the new autumn/ winter 2008 season. IMF’s appraisal of Kosovo ccording to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) appraisal, the economic situation in Kosovo does not lend itself to sustainable development. The IMF thinks that, because of the low level of industrial production and exports and the lack of direct foreign investments, Kosovo is not capable of supporting itself. The economic possibilities and the business climate in Kosovo came to the fore after Serbia’s Deputy PM, Božidar Djelić, stated that the Serbian delegation had presented the proposal for the solution of Kosovo debts in Washington, according to which the amount of US$215million of remaining debts to the World Bank should be returned or deducted from the country. According to the IMF, the basic elements of Kosovo’s economy are an unclear income structure, an enormous foreign trade, almost nonexistent production, more than 80% of goods are imported and the basic tax income comes from customs taxes and excise from administrative points. The IMF completed the projection of the recovery of the economy in Kosovo between 2000 and 2006, which was based on the assumption that the province’s GDP would grow at an annual rate of 10%. That did not occur. The World Bank published information stating that since 2004 the average GDP rate in Kosovo was 4.3%, but in 2001 was 21% because of the big influx of donations from abroad. Source: Tanjug

CorD / November 2007 53

BUSINESS

New domain name for Serbia

From .yu to .rs There are no official statistics, but it is estimated that slightly over 50% of the 37,000 ‘.yu’ registered domain names are currently active. From the start of 2008, those wishing to access Serbia online will find themselves using a new suffix.This is because the ‘.yu’ domain will be consigned to the vaults of internet history and replaced by the local term for neighbouring Republika Srpska – ‘.rs’.

By Zorica Nikić longside the decision to retire the ‘.yu’ domain, a decision was also taken to give responsibility for the handling of local domain names to an NGO entitled “Register of national domain names of Serbia” (RNIDS). The Register’s functioning is approved by the Internet Corporation for assigning names and numbers, along with the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) and the U.S. Ministry of Trade, which have obliged the RNIDS to complete the ‘net transition’ from ‘.yu’ to ‘.rs’ by 30th September 2009. With the collapse of the former Socialist Yugoslavia, each emerging nation applied for a national domain name. Thus, Croatia (‘.hr’) and Slovenia (‘.si’) received their appropriate domain names soon after independence, while the war years gave birth to yet more former Yu domain names – Bosnia = ‘.ba’; Macedonia = ‘.mk’. The last republics to apply and receive new domains were, naturally, the last two countries to reject the

notion of Yugoslavia. In mid-September this year, Montenegro officially signed the domain name register with its suffix ‘.me’, and now Serbia will finally lay the ‘.yu’ domain to rest. According to Slobodan Marković, member of the Managing Board of RNIDS, priorities will exist during the registration of the ‘.rs’ domain. “During the first few months, the possibility to register the ‘.rs’ domain will have groups of priority users, like existing owners of ‘.yu’

DOMAINS – PAST & PRESENT Currently, 227 domains are in use on the worldwide web. There are also domains which have been issued but are not in use. These include ‘.gb’ (Great Britain ),which was never popular, ‘.sr’ indicator for Surinam (wanted abbreviation for Serbia), ‘.iq’ – Iraq, ‘.sj’ – Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands (Norway), ‘.um’ – United States Minor Outlying Islands, ‘.bv’ – the uninhabited Bouvet Island (Norway). New domains currently coming into use include East Timor ‘.tl’, the European Union ‘.eu’, the Republic of Serbia ‘.rs’, while – besides ‘.yu’ – other top-level domains no longer being issued include ‘.ax’ – the former state domain of Finland, ‘.cs’ – domain which was reserved for the Union of Serbia & Montenegro and was formerly used by Czechoslovakia, the ‘.eh’ domain of Western Sahara and the ‘.kp’ indicator of North Korea. 54 CorD / November 2007

domains – state institutions, owners of protected trademarks, owners of business names and others. Owners of existing domains will have to register their domain in this period, because after that all remaining domains will be put up for free sale. The procedure of domain registration will be maximally simplified, as will conditions for solving any disputes that may arise.” Marković estimates that the cost of registering an ‘.rs’ domain name will range from zero dollars (when offered within some web hosting packages) to five or ten per dollars (U.S.) per year (when both are offered individually). So, the cost will be very similar to the prices of existing ‘.com’, ‘.net’ and ‘.org’ domains. Are statistics of active domains available; would it be possible for a company to register as the owner/provider of a domain name and then resell it; will the ‘finders keepers’ principle apply? There are no official statistics, but it is estimated that slightly over 50 per cent of the 37,000 ‘.yu’ registered domain names are currently active. The most important change is that Serbian domains will no longer be free, as was the case so far. Rather, the price will be determined by the market. RNIDS will sign contracts with authorised registers for domains, actually with those companies which want to be ‘dealers’ of domains. They will buy packages with a high number of domains at a fixed price and then they will themselves determine the price for end-users. It is assumed that these will mainly be internet

IANA IANA – The Internet assigned numbers authority – is an international organisation which has assigned unique addresses to all computers on the network since 1972. At the beginning there was a number which raised other possibilities and, accordingly, from 1984 the system of domains ‘Domain Name Server’ was developed. Domains were commercialised in 1991 and since then each user has been able to register its unique address on the internet. service providers who will – perhaps even for free – provide domain names within their hosting packages. Anyhow, the price of domains should not be more than the price of ‘.com’ or ‘.org’, which is around U.S.$10 per year. So, domain ownership will now be available to private persons and foreigners who have residence permit in Serbia. The news is also the possibility to register top-level domains – sites which will use only the ‘.rs’ suffix without a ‘.co’ or ‘.org’ prefix. Some companies, like American company Namezero.com Inc, (owner of over 500,000 domains) earned huge amounts by selling domains. Serbia is not the only state which is changing its domain. Preregistration also occurred in the former USSR states, where the cancelling of domains lasted almost 10 years; Great Britain cancelled ‘.gb’ and today uses ‘.uk’ and the former Czechoslovakia is now ‘.cz’ and ‘.sk’. ICANN want to decrease and simplify the number of domains, but also to unify the

network. Lately the most sought after domains are those related to the European Union – ‘.eu’. But there are also preparations for those who use Cyrillic and other letters, other than the Latin alphabet. On the internet there are around ten million registered German domains (.de), two million French (.fr), and around one million Italian (.it) domains. In just one year, the EURID sold 2.5 million ‘.eu’ domains, thus making the ‘.eu’ domain the seventh most popular suffix in the world and the third within Europe – after Germany’s ‘.de’ and Britain’s ‘.uk’. The registration of the ‘.eu’ domain for individuals and companies officially started in 2006. Most interest for this domain is coming from the Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain and Italy, largely due to the fact that there are no longer many good names available under the toplevel ‘.nl’, ‘.de’, ‘.uk’ and ‘.it’ internet domains. During the first week of registration, more than 1.5 million ‘.eu’ domains were registered. The catchiness of the highest state

domain plays a crucial role when making a choice regarding the abbreviation. Users of the internet from Portuguese and Romanian speaking areas are massively interested in the ‘.eu’ suffix simply because ’eu’ means ‘I’ in those two languages. However, registration of ‘.eu’ is only valid for inhabitants of Europe and companies registered on the Union’s territory. The ‘.yu’ abbreviation had its advantages because it was easy to remember, was associative, and RS is a little complicated to pronounce, while the domain for Montenegro has certain potentials – imagine a site like www.youlove.me Regardless of the theoretical cheapness of reregistering domains from ‘.yu’ to ‘.rs’, companies, societies, individuals and all those who will start with changes of the highest state domain should consider the associated expenses which will be incurred as a result of reregistering domains. Namely, all logos, titles, company memos, state institutions, and other organisations and individuals who have registered ‘.yu’ domains will have to be changed according to the new registered domain. However, all the direct and indirect expenses of reregistering will be worth it for those who are the first and will manage to secure themselves a top-level domain name without a ‘.co’ or ‘.org’ prefix. n

CorD / November 2007 55

I.T. INDUSTRY

Software Interview: Željko Tomić, General Manager of OSA Računarski inženjering

skulduggery Have you ever been tempted to buy illegal software? If you did, and you bought it, it wouldn’t be a big deal in Serbia. Until recently, it was acceptable to use illegal software here and one wouldn’t have had a guilty conscience as a result.Today the situation has changed somewhat, but it is still far from perfect.

his month CorD discusses the legalisation of software in Serbia with Željko Tomić, General Manager of OSA Računarski inženjering – the authorised distributor of companies Autodesk, Océ and Kern for the markets of Serbia and Montenegro. n Do you think that any talk about piracy in Serbia has ended before it really began? r It is less and less so, because this talk about anti-piracy activities is gaining con56 CorD / November 2007

tinuity and no longer has the character of occasional campaigns, but is an activity that’s understood as a need in all spheres – from the country’s approach to the EU, to very specific benefits for the country and its economy. n You once stated that Serbia has the potential to be a strong country in terms of software development. What did you mean by that? r There are a lot of people from Serbia who are achieving incredible results

abroad by working with software. Also, good results are achieved by domestic companies that are making software. Only the right environment is needed and the support from the state to achieve tangible results that will show the comparative advantages of Serbia. Those are the two questions that have to be connected: anti-piracy, as an activity for the protection of intellectual property, and the potential for the development of the domestic software industry. If in general we’re not doing anything about the

protection of intellectual property, then we’re cutting the branch we’re sitting on, because if we don’t respect the rights of others, others won’t respect our rights either. To get the true effects of the software development in Serbia and the sale of that software on the Serbian and foreign market, we must fight for the protection of intellectual property and copyright. n By that you mean the violation of copyrights of the big world companies. What’s the present situation in Serbia in that sense? r I have to say it’s getting better and better. The world’s large software companies protect their rights in a very organised fashion through BSA (Business Software Alliance), which operates on all the markets of the world, including Serbia’s. That organisation has very good results in Serbia. It is working with us and the representatives of other world companies and it has its own programme of operation. The most important thing is that BSA has a preventive programme of operation through which potential violators or users of pirate software are warned concerning what is bad about it or what the advantage of the use of legal software is. The point is that when someone buys something on the street for 20 euros, and that actually costs 4,000 euros, that someone is going to ask themselves why they should buy the original at all. That’s why we should work on education above all. The easiest thing is to punish someone, but we should also teach them why they shouldn’t do that. Another thing I want to emphasise is that Serbian firms, precisely because the rate of piracy is so high, are acting pretty loosely. In all the companies, you can find the latest version of all the possible software on their computers. The latest version that just got out hasn’t even cooled yet, but you can already find it in

Piracy rates Official rates of piracy in 2004 (BSA data): Serbia and Montenegro 81% USA 21% EU average 35% Croatia 58% Slovenia 51% Rate of piracy in Serbia and Montenegro in 2006 (BSA data): 75% If the rate of piracy in Serbia decreased by just 2.5% in the period from 2006 to 2009, the effects would be as follows: • 1,812 new jobs • GDP increase of US$420million • Additional tax revenue of US$63million

Recognising brilliance OSA has launched the Petar Damjanović Award in the area of mechanical engineering design with the help of the Autodesk software. The late Petar Damjanović was one of the founders of this company and a pioneer in the area of the Autodesk software, as well as the author of the first book about its application. The Award is being given in two categories: I category – employees in companies that do designing – €5,000 is the award for the best work done with the help of the Autodesk Inventor; II category – for students, the award is €1,000. Serbia, regardless of whether you need it or not. So the recommendation of BSA is to first make an inspection of the real needs, because perhaps a slightly older version of some software is doing a complete job for your company, so why in the world would you pay for some latest version of one of the programmes. Of course, if you’re stealing it, if it’s for free, then it’s best to have the latest one. So, the education of the market is very important. Nobody would think of going into a store, putting a computer under his arm and walking out, but software theft goes without saying. n Fines tend to have an effect in Serbia; it seems that it is so in this case too. r Unfortunately, it is so. Since the legalisation of software is something completely new in Serbia, the police and judiciary needed to be educated. A great part in realising this was played by BSA and AmCham’s IPRC (Intellectual Property Rights Committee), which greatly contributed to the legalisation of software in Serbia. What is also important is that, besides the market inspectorate, the tax inspectorate will also be joining in the near future… Huge taxes would flow into the state’s coffers if everything that represented piracy entered the country legally. n There have been plenty of real actions. How many raids, convictions and settlements have there been? r The legalisation of software in Serbia is no longer empty talk; instead it has achieved solid results and continued activities. n What does the whole process, from report to punishment, generally look like? r At the BSA website you can send an anonymous report that someone is using illegal software. BSA will then, according to its information and in co-operation with the companies whose software is being used illegally, decide and assess further actions – whether there’s going to be a spot-check on that company or not. So, the aforementioned tax inspectors will also do the job of checking whether legal software is being used or not.

n Your company is a representative of Autodesk – a piece of software being used by 4.5 million people in the world. What’s the interest for it in Serbia? r The interest is one thing, but the reality, which may even sound contradictory, is that the illegal software market did a great job for us at one point, because everyone has been using that pirate software and today they only know how to work with that. So our job is about getting the software over from illegal flows to legal ones. Generations of engineers are working only in Autodesk software. Back in 2002, Autodesk gave a donation with the commercial value of €10million to all the universities in Serbia. At that time, all faculties with a need for the Autodesk software could apply to the Ministry of Education and they all got it for their use. Unfortunately, some of these pieces of software ended up on shelves and were never used, some ended up in private property and, because of that, Autodesk will be very careful in future donations that the software from a donation really gets used for educational purposes. n How do you see the future of the industry’s development in Serbia? r We just returned from a meeting with our foreign partner in Prague, where we developed a strategy until 2012. I’m trying to explain to our partners that long-term plans aren’t easy in Serbia, that we are still a country with a lot of possibilities, but also many risks. I’m explaining to them that the environment is what it is and that it is hard to predict the risks within it. We plan to maintain the growth we have in all three areas of our work (Autodesk software; our domestic software UniDocs; specific hardware – Océ printers, production printers and wide format devices like plotters, scanners, copy machines and machines for automatic inserting and conversion). I am convinced we will succeed in this. Strategically, our accent is on UniDocs, the domestic software, where next year we’ll try to expand and solidify our sales network, not only in Serbia, but in the surrounding countries too, so that we can become a stable exporter of domestic Serbian intelligence. n CorD / November 2007 57

INFRASTRUCTURE

Great possibilities untapped According to official data, 50,000 hectares of arable land are being irrigated at present, while it is possible to irrigate a total of 510,000 hectares in Vojvodina alone with the water from the Danube-Tisa-Danube Canal (210,000 in Bačka and 300,000 in Banat). As such, only ten per cent of the full capacity is being used.

By Dragan Stojanović he complex of twelve canals of the hydro system Danube-Tisa-Danube (DTD), which runs a total length of 690 kilometres, 600 of which are navigable, intersects most of Vojvodina and plays a diversified role in the life of the population of the Province. Farmers benefit directly because they irrigate their fields from the DTD Canal, but also the canal takes away the excess water collected after heavy rains or spring thaws, which stops the riv-

58 CorD / November 2007

ers from swelling and causing devastating floods throughout the Vojvodina plains. The DTD is used for the transport of merchandise and the passage of tourist vessels, but the canal’s water is also used by numerous factories. All the cited advantages of this water system are only partially – one could even say insufficiently -- used. It’s not just that without the necessary investments the treasure that Vojvodina possesses is not being used to its full potential, but due to

a lack of careful maintenance it is slowly being destroyed. One of the acute problems of this waterway is pollution, followed by the low intensity of traffic, as well as the canals not being navigable for tankers carrying more than 1,500 tonnes or having a girth of more than 2.1 metres. There is, however, some good news. Much larger amounts of money have been coming from the state budget during the last few years. Investments in the DTD have doubled compared to 2004. From the 170 million dinars ploughed into Vojvodina’s waterways three years ago, investments have now gone up to 354 million dinars. All this, DTD controllers predict, will enable the speedier resolving of the numerous problems of this canal of vital importance. The question is how fast it is being revitalised and how much is being lost as a result of the failure to fully utilise its enormous potential. “A statement about the Canal and its importance for the life of the population is not a mere phrase, which is shown by the fact that before the first canals were built – during the Austro-Hungarian rule – more than half of Vojvodina’s territory was covered in swamps and during heavy rains an even larger area was under water,” explains Stevan Ilinčić, manager of a sector of the Hydro System DTD. Part of the DTD Canal’s resources, on the other hand, are simply unused. Ilinčić, however, says that there is a simple expla-

nation for this: “had there been any market reasons for the expansion of the Canal’s business capacity, and had there been any need for the irrigation of larger arable surfaces, it would have happened”. Still, if the state had invested in the expansion of the Canal and the building of smaller canals leading to remote fields, crop yields would have been much bigger. The theory that “Vojvodina can feed the whole of Europe” is by all means not unsubstantiated (though this sentence has lost some of its sense and weight due to excessive use), but no work has been exerted to make it into a reality. According to rough estimates, for the Canal to be included in the fourth category of navigable inland waterways, which is up to the European Union standards, it would take an investment of 100 million dollars, one tenth of the sum needed to build it all again (digging the canals and building the entire infrastructure would cost 800-900 million euros today). The farmers who haven’t dug smaller canals to get the water from the bigger one should invest money and enable constant field irrigation, but the state is asking them to pay for using this resource. However, very few farmers can afford to do this without help from the state itself, which from the looks of it isn’t too interested, and this would enable more favourable (under better conditions) loans for the farmers and by that, in the long-term, help the development of agriculture, but also the society in general. According to official data, 50,000 hectares of arable land are being irrigated at present, while it is possible to irrigate 510,000 hectares with the water from the DTD Canal (210,000 in Bačka and 300,000 in Banat). As such, only ten per cent of the full capacity is being used. Besides irrigation, the canals are used to drain the excess water from the Danube and the Tisa – rivers whose water level increases after heavy rains and spring thaws in the Alps or Carpathians and endangers the settlements of Vojvodina. Every year this drainage protects around one million hectares of land and also the structures on it. If there were no canals, Vojvodina would be turned into a big marshland (swamp) impossible to live in, say the experts.

Shaping waterways The construction of the canal system Danube-Tisa-Danube started in 1957 and ended in 1977. During the 20 years of construction, 125 million cubic metres of earth were excavated. Just to illustrate, it is worth noting that 179 million cubic metres of earth had to be excavated during the construction of the Panama Canal that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. During those two decades, all associated infrastructure was built: 17 ship locks in total, 25 dams, with the purpose of redirecting excess water, four major pumping stations and the largest structure on the Canal – the dam on the Tisa: the construction of which saw the whole project completed.

The original project predicted the possibility of transporting seven million tonnes of goods through the Canal every year, but since its completion that limit has never been reached. Right after the construction was completed in 1979, 4,213,000 tonnes of merchandise were transported. That was the greatest flow of goods in the history of the Canal. The smallest quantity was transported in 1993 (457,000 tonnes), while last year vessels using the DTD carried a total cargo of 835,000 tonnes. “The Canal was once used to transport agricultural products, wood and other construction materials, but with the expansion of road transportation lorries have taken over most of this. Only a part of construction material is being transported now, agricultural products are almost not transported at all, so only a small part of the potential is being used”, says Ilinčić. The construction of the DTD Canal was the biggest investment in Europe at the time, and the whole project promised great possibilities for the development of the economy

Pollution problems

Problematic deposits

Investments on the up

One of the acute problems of this waterway is pollution, followed by the low intensity of traffic, as well as the canals not being navigable for tankers carrying more than 1,500 tonnes

The biggest problem is clearing deposits. Traffic is disabled in certain parts, since the depth of the Canal is just half a metre… seven million cubic metres of deposits must be cleared

Investments in the DTD have doubled since 2004. From the 170 million dinars ploughed into the Vojvodina waterway three years ago, investments have now gone up to 354 million dinars.

and agriculture in Serbia. However, those in charge are facing a problem today that doesn’t leave much room for hope. The biggest problem is clearing away the deposits. Traffic is disabled in certain parts, since the depth of the Canal is just half a metre. During the past 30 years, 12 million cubic metres of deposits have accumulated, while only five million have been cleared. Because of irregular clearing during the economic crisis of the 1990s, seven million cubic metres of deposits remain to be cleared. A total of two river-going dredgers are regularly clearing the Canal, but that’s not enough to finish the whole work in a short time. “Beside the usual deposits coming from the Danube, the Tisa and smaller tributaries, we have a problem with numerous polluters. We have registered 300 polluters in total, who not only create deposits by releasing waste water but also contaminate the environment”, says a displeased Ilinčić. In some parts of the Canal, plant and animal life has been completely destroyed, but Ilinčić states that an action plan was signed with most of the companies and the pollution should be greatly reduced in the next five years, most of all, by buying filters. In recent years, cleaning rivers and canals has been one of the main tasks of EU countries concerned about ecology, and by now most of the rivers have been completely cleaned. This task is yet to be seen as a priority here in Serbia, let alone activated as a practical task, which will require the engagement of all the levels of society: most of all the state, but also the individual who can help a lot by contributing just a little. n CorD / November 2007 59

SOCIETY

Rome Welcome’s Kosovo’s

Lost Generation The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Rome recently hosted the children of the Branko Radičević Primary School from Cernica, a Serbian enclave in Kosovo.The visit set a precedent, as no Western European country has so far been a host to the Serbian children of Serbia’s troubled province of Kosovo.

By Biljana Telecki he festive visit of these Serb youngsters to the Italian capital was the brainchild of popular Italian journalist and writer Maria Lina Veca, who is known for her superb efforts regarding issues relating to Kosovo, her efforts to draw attention to the plight of the ethnically Serb minority in the province and, foremost, her attempts to highlight the poor living conditions of Serbs trying to survive in Kosovo’s enclaves. The Village of Cernica is surrounded by Gnjilane (a U.S. controlled zone). This region has long been known as little more than an insignificant card in the deck of major power players. In the 19th century there was

60 CorD / November 2007

a song that went :”Oj Gilane pušta Varoš, zar za tebe Nema radost, dodje Srbin pa se vrati, a Gilane jos da pati...” (Hey Gnjilane, empty town, is there no joy for you. Arrives a Serb and then returns, and still you suffer). Unfortunately, the new millennium has failed to bring any new joy to this troubled region. The Cernica enclave is a unique interpretation of Hell on Earth. The Serbian minority of this ethnically-Albanian village live out their lives and perform their daily duties in an area of just 200m2, which is surrounded by barbed wire and patrolled by armed NATO troops. To play and run, the Serbian children of Cernica can take advantage of a

small concrete yard with a basketball net. As teacher Ivana Kostić explained to us, the primary school that the children attend is actually a barn that has been “converted” into a working school space. There are almost no conditions for standard school education. Making this situation even more unfortunate is the fact that Cernica actually boasts a new, extremely well-equipped contemporary school that, along with everything else in Kosovo, is deemed to be ‘multiethnic’, but it is not recommended that the Serbian population attend the school because of the associated safety risks. Besides the daily losses of the most elementary human needs of electrical power and water (lasting up to20 hours-per-day), the main element that the Serb minority is lacking in Cernica is an adequate rule of law that would secure their freedom of movement. Since 1999, seven murders have been committed in Cernica (all the victims were

“ The Cernica enclave is a unique interpretation of Hell on Earth.The Serbian minority of this ethnicallyAlbanian village live out their lives and perform their daily duties in an area of just 200m2, which is surrounded by barbed wire and patrolled by armed NATO troops.”

Serbian). Amongst those murdered was the four-year-old son of School Principal Ljubiša Petrović, who was cruelly murdered before the very eyes of members of the international military forces tasked with ‘policing’ the province. The primary goal of the project – that has seen the young pupils of the Branko Radičević Primary School finally leave their barbed-wire enclave and meet their young Italian peers – is to raise the awareness of the public regarding the real situation on the ground in the various Serbian enclaves in Kosovo, and to draw much-needed attention to the everyday breaches of human rights in Kosovo in order to achieve solidarity for the protection of those children: the younger generation of Serbian inhabitants who have to survive on the territory of Kosovo as the province’s majority seeks to achieve their own sovereignty. With the assistance of the Serbian Ministry for Kosovo & Metohija, the Rome City Municipality, the Arca di Pace project, the embassies of the Republic of Serbia to Italy and the Holy See, Aniene County authorities and the headmaster of the Eduardo De Filippo School Centre, Maria Lina Veca succeeded in organising and realising the two-week visit to Rome

of the pupils from Cernica. After a gruelling trip north and west, the children arrived in Rome, escorted by Councillor Milo Durutović of the Serbian Ministry for Kosovo and Metohija, and Nenad Stojanović. They were met and welcomed by the complete representative office of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Italy, as well as numerous representatives of the Serbian Diaspora resident in Italy. The children appeared in a row, holding each other by the hands, two by two. Rome welcomed these 35 children warmly. They appeared to lack the typical tiredness that

“ Besides the daily losses of the most elementary human needs of electrical power and water (lasting up to20 hoursper-day), the main element that the Serb minority is lacking in Cernica is an adequate rule of law that would secure their freedom of movement.”

is normal for children of that age. Instead of appearing tired, they seemed only to express the gritty expressions of youngsters whose childhoods have been burdened by a difficult life. After some time spent in the Embassy with refreshments prepared for the young guests, a child started crying. However, she did so in silence – trying not to be noticed... This act is typical of Serbian children from Kosovo, dignified and controlled! Their visit programme included numerous excursions in the vicinity of Rome and many other different activities. The children participated in the Conference “Lost Kosovo”, which also included the photographic exhibition of Marie Line Veca – organised by the Associations ‘Together for Athos’ and ”Rinascere onlus”. Speakers at the conference included former Ambassador Miodrag Lekić, former Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Italy, Milisav Savić, and Professor John Lindsay, one of the world’s foremost experts on orthodox iconology. The solemn ceremony of socialisation with their Italian school peers took place in the small town of Assisi, within the international “Peace is Made at School” manifestation. This event was based on the initiative of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Italy. A Fraternisation Charter was signed by Italian Minister of Education Giuseppe Fioroni, a representative of the Italian school, the principal of the Cernica School and the UNESCO Secretary for Italy. The most important part of this document is that fraternisation between these two schools has been written into a formula: ROME-ITALY-KOSOVO-SERBIA, and the UNESCO Secretary General, Koichiro Matsuura, handed over his congratulations in writing. After a liturgy and lunch in the Russian Orthodox Church in Rome, the children bid farewell to their newfound Italian friends and departed to return to the barbed wire normality of life in their Kosovo enclave. n CorD / November 2007 61

Faces & PLACES

11th October saw the formal opening of the Telenor d.o.o. headquarters and operations centre in Belgrade. Pictured admiring the hi-tech facility is Jan Edvard Thygesen, Head of Telenor’s Central and Eastern European operations.

The British Ambassadorial Residence played host to the festive presentation of four British companies – Arup, EC Harris, Mace and Scott Wilson – on 17th October. The four companies are all leading British infrastructure and consulting firms. Pictured here is the presentation of company Mace.

Mmd celebrated their fifth anniversary in Serbia on 4th October at the British Ambassadorial Residence. Pictured, left to right, are Aleksandra Radetić, Mmd Director of Public Relations, David Dowse, Mmd Regional Manager for South East Europe, and H.E. British Ambassador Stephen Wordsworth. 62 CorD / November 2007

Hotel IN provided the venue in late September for Austrian Airlines’ presentation of its new management team for Serbia. The event also saw attendees introduced to the company’s unique Web Check-in service. Pictured are Lukas Negedly, new Austrian Airlines Country Manager for Serbia, and Boris Žutić, Austrian Airlines Sales Executive.

Corina Coman, Director of the French Cultural Centre (FKC) in Belgrade, and Jasna Stojković, FKC Public Relations officer, address guests – including popular caricaturist Predrag “Korax” Koraksić (first right) – at the opening of an FKC exhibition of the works of renowned French children’s books illustrator, Rebecca Dautremer The exhibition is set to run until 10th November.

Diplomats of the Republic of Korea in Belgrade – left to right, Second Secretary and Consul, Kim Joong-Chul, First Secretary, Byun Ji-Hyun, First Secretary, Ahn Eun-ju, and Ambassador, H.E. Dr. Kim Young-Hee – pictured at a Hotel Continental reception marking Korean National Day on 3rd October. The festive reception included a mini-concert of Korean tenor Lee Hun and Serbian mezzo-soprano Jadranka Jovanović.

Predrag Bubalo, Serbian Trade & Services Minister, Božidar Ðelić, Deputy Serbian PM, and Rastko Petaković, Associate of law office Karanović & Nikolić (KN), pictured addressing attendees at the launch of KN Competition’s Focus on Competition Yearbook 2007.

Late September saw the French Embassy host a reception to mark the start of operations of COFACE Credit Management Services d.o.o.: the new Serbian subsidiary of leading French company Coface, which offers credit insurance and credit management services worldwide. Pictured, left to right, are H.E. Jean-François Terral, French Ambassador to Serbia, Martina Dobringer, Chairwoman of the Board of Coface Austria & Coface Central Europe, and Radovan Jelašić, Governor of Serbia’s central bank, the NBS.

Korean Ambassador, H.E. Dr. Kim Young-Hee, (right) and Vojislav Brajović, Serbian Minister of Culture, pictured at a 27th September press conference to announce the performance Line of Life by the Seoul Ballet Theatre. This unique performance was jointly hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, the Serbian Ministry of Culture and the National Theatre in Belgrade.

H.E. and Mrs. Wolfram Mass welcome Japanese Ambassador in Belgrade, H.E. Tadashi Nagai, to a 4th October reception marking German Unity Day. CorD / November 2007 63

Faces & PLACES

Left to right: Crown Princess Katherine, Crown-Prince Alexander Karađorđević II, H.E. Ambassador & Mrs. Kire Ilioski – pictured at a festive Hyatt Regency reception marking Macedonian Independence Day.

Mrs. Jennifer Brush, Minister Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, pictured on 17th October addressing attendees of the celebration marking the first anniversary of the opening of American Corner’s Dom omladine centre in Belgrade. Also pictured are Darijan Mihajlović, Belgrade Culture Secretary (first left), and Milan Lučić, Director of Dom omladine (second from left).

Belgrade’s ‘Progres’ Gallery hosted an exhibition with a difference on 19th October, when it presented the traditional food and local wares of the southern Serbian town of Vranje under the title “Feel the tradition of old Vranje”. Pictured amongst the many visitors sampling the cuisine of Vranje is Belgrade’s resident Highlander, Duncan Dunlop (centre). 64 CorD / November 2007

Pictured at the 1st October reception marking the Independence Day of Cyprus, are (left to right) Zoran Vujić, Assistant Serbian Foreign Minister and head of the MFA’s Directorate General for NATO and Defence Affairs, H.E. Michalis Sarris, Minister of Finance of the Republic of Cyprus, and the host, H.E. Homer A. Mavrommatis, Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus in Belgrade.

Around 3,500 members of the fairer sex participated in the annual Women’Secret Ženska Trka (Ladies Race) around Ada Ciganlija’s Savski Lake on 6th October. The fun and competitive event – complete with valuable prizes provided by sponsors Women’Secret, Reebok, Štark and Hello – was won by top Serbian distance runner Olivera Jevtić.

Left to right: Serbian Defence Minister, Dragan Šutanovac, Serbian President, Boris Tadić, and Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff, Lt. General Zdravko Ponoš, pictured on 8th October during a snap tour of the ground force zone around the southern Serbian municipality of Medveđa, which borders the breakaway province of Kosovo.

Takis Arapoglou, Chairman and CEO of the National Bank of Greece (NBG), pictured on 2nd October at a Yugoslav Drama Theatre reception marking NBG’s acquisition of Vojvođanska Banka a.d. Attendees were also addressed by Deputy Serbian PM Božidar Ðelić.

The Hellenic Ambassadorial Residence provided the setting for a 24th October reception to celebrate the upcoming Sava Centre performance (30th October) of the ballet Zorba the Greek. Pictured, left to right, are ballerina Gordana Simić, ballet dancer Konstantin Kostjukov, and H.E. Ambassador Christos Panagopoulos.

NEWLY ACCREDITED H.E. Wolfram Maas, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany Born 16th January 1950 in Engers, Wolfram Maas studied Mathematics and Economics from 1968 to ‘75, before going on to prepare his PhD. thesis (’75 to ’79). Between 1979 and ’81 he undertook higher level training for service in the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and – after a year based in Germany – he received his first foreign posting at the German Embassy in Washington DC (1982 to ’85). From 1985 to ’87 he was stationed back within the Ministry, and from ’87 to ’88 he served as an official in the Bundestag. In 1988 he travelled to Kingston, Jamaica, to take up an embassy posting he held until 1992, and after a further three years back within the Ministry he took a professional sabbatical (1995 to ’99). In 1999 he took up a posting in New Delhi, India, before taking a second period of official leave (2001 to 2004). Prior to his recent arrival in Belgrade, Ambassador Mass was a Delegate at the Standing Representative Office of the OECD in Vienna. CorD / November 2007 65

REGION

Female

focus Investigating the emancipation of women in Montenegro

Many professions that have traditionally been considered man’s only work in Montenegro have now become open to female professionals. It has almost become rude, not only in the media, but in everyday free conversation as well, to call a woman who’s doing managerial work a manager. No, she is a manageress. The same goes for the Serbian word meaning a female journalist, female psychologist, etc., a woman working in a ministerial position is not a minister, but rather a ministress.

By Ilija Despotović everal women-led non-government organisations have combined forces with the Montenegrin Government Office of Gender Equality to lead the way on this issue by asking for gender equal language to be made official by the new Constitution of Montenegro. Even some politi66 CorD / October 2007

cal parties have supported them on this. The women in Montenegro, therefore, are getting out of the kitchen, house, family circle, in increasing numbers and coming directly to the public scene, trying to change not only their status and male attitude towards them, but the general relationships in society as well. In so doing, they’re not just

taking on the typical humanitarian jobs like, let’s say, an engagement in the Red Cross or other such charitable organisations, but they are entering other areas of public engagement also. There are more and more successful businesswomen in Montenegro, for example. In Podgorica, moreover, there is even a special social club. Its name is unusual – “Ona, a ne neka druga” [Her, and not some other”]. This is a specific place for night life for, of course, mostly female clientele. There’s live music in this club. Each night a different band performs. The club is open each evening except Sunday and can be entered only by those who have a reservation. But it is not easy to find. The club organises events like birthday celebrations or hen nights for women. For the process of general female emancipation, which, of course, is becoming of our contemporary age, their participation in politics has the greatest significance. However, right now only eight per cent of the MPs of the parliament of Montenegro are women, despite the fact that the percentage of women in the total population is greater than that of men. Some political parties like, for example, the Social-democratic Party of Montenegro (one of the two governing parties) has somewhat more women in its ranks, but also more of its women representatives in political institutions.

Women’s non-government organisations have stood up against what they see as various ways of discriminating against their gender. State institutions, for example, have been criticised because in the census forms women had to identify themselves according to their husband or even their father. The sudden “feminisation” of Montenegro is a process that’s following the general transition of the society, but is also a result of the fact that the education of female children does not stop with elementary school or high school, as was the case not so long ago. Many young women are studying at university, and not just at the faculties which are traditionally seen as a preparation for a “woman’s” calling. Almost equally with men, the women in Montenegro are studying technical sciences, whilst also occupying more and more places within the teaching staff at universities. The reasons for the increased “feminisation” of the Montenegrin society should, by all means, be looked for in the negative side of the influence of the transition on the family here. Under the influence of change, and especially of existential hardships, the family becomes less and less compact. In a great number of cases it is no longer “the warm retreat” in which all its members feel safe. In Montenegro, for the last decade or two, there has been a decreasing trend in the number of new marriages, whilst simultaneously an increasing number of divorces. Women are getting married later than before, more and more often after their thirtieth year. The number of those who don’t want the marriage to be the model for their life is not small either. According to information from NGO “SOS Hotline for Women and Children Victims of Domestic Violence”, every fourth woman who comes to that organisation for protection is divorced. It is exactly in the families with divorced spouses, as it turns out, that domestic violence happens more often. “Women’s Safe House” is the most active organisation in Montenegro when it comes to protecting women from domestic violence, but also from sexual abuse. According to this organisation, their shelter

The sudden “feminisation” of Montenegro is a process that’s following the general transition of the society, but is also a result of the fact that the education of female children does not stop with elementary school or high school, as was the case not so long ago. – intended for women victims of violence – never has any free spaces. According to their data, violent behaviour is not the specialty of men, nor are they all brutes, but women and children are most often affected by it. There are an increasing number of cases of children beating their parents, parents beating their children, mothers-in-law beating their daughters-in-law and vice versa. In a few months during a year, according to police data, over 200 felonies, qualified as violence in the home or family community, are recorded in Montenegro. Sexual abuse within the family is also not as rare as one would expect. A Montenegrin family is, judging by all this, behaving according to the traditional pattern only when viewed from the outside. Only recently, mostly thanks to female NGOs, more troubles and problems within the family are being revealed, which have until now often been hermetically sealed, without any public insight, of course, and without any kind of adequate protection by the society or the state. It is also worth noting that the state doesn’t have the best mechanisms for protection against domestic violence. Even the experts in that field, as it is said, are approaching this rather stereotypically, recognising only persons with a mental illness as being offenders. According to the experts, there are at least two types of family aggressors – those with antisocial disturbances, who are also known in their environment as violent, and those who are normal to the public, socially adapted, but are tyrants within the family. The women themselves have different views concerning “the women’s issue” in Montenegro. Member of the Montenegrin parliament, Doctor Ljubica Džaković, is president of the Parliamentary Committee for Gender Equality. She doesn’t agree

Worrying trends?

Political disparity?

Social Progress?

There are an increasing number of cases of children beating their parents, parents beating their children, mothersin-law beating their daughters-in-law and vice versa.

Only 8% of the MPs of the parliament of Montenegro are women, despite the fact that the percentage of women in the total population is greater than that of men.

Montenegrin women are today emancipated, free, free-minded, but are perhaps less protected from the society in public than their great grandmothers were.

with the opinions often provided by female. However, Džaković advises women to dedicate more time to their own family and house. Because of statements like that, she became, so to speak, a victim of constant criticism by multiple female NGOs, who have made numerous demands for her to resign from her post. State Prosecutor of Montenegro or, in the local media, “prosecutor-ess”, Vesna Medenica, says that the position of women in Montenegro is no weaker than that of men. According to her, women who have the will , for it is not enough to have only the desire, can achieve their goals. For the vice president of the Government of Montenegro, Gordana Ðurović, every woman is a life story of her own. She also thinks that the success of a woman depends on “how each one copes”, but also “how each one fights”. By general conviction, it has never been easy for a woman in Montenegro. Still, as some travel writers noted as early as the nineteenth century, the woman was much more respected here than one would assume. French travel-writer Viala de Somier wrote in his work “Historical and Political Journey to Montenegro” that the men of Montenegro feel sincere love towards their women. They are ready for anything in order to avenge the slightest insult and have the highest respect for others’ women. “Therefore, breaking up a marriage is almost unknown to them. They have kept this purity of custom even in the army,” writes Somier. He quotes the words of a man he talked to, a Montenegrin who admitted that foreigners had no idea of the power the women in Montenegro had over their husbands and, generally, over the men in the family. Somier names examples of young men being boycotted by other young men just because they promised a girl that they would marry her, but then reneged on that vow. Today’s Montenegro is no longer even close to that glorious tradition of respecting the woman, in any way, regardless of the fact that it lived in the conditions of near slavery. Montenegrin women are today emancipated, free, free-minded, but are perhaps less protected from the society in public than their great grandmothers were. Therefore, it is left to them to determine the measure of their own freedom, but also to protect themselves as well. n CorD / October 2007 67

society

Tales from the Big Plum

PUBLIC TRANSPORT Ah, public transport! Despite skyrocketing fuel prices, few Belgraders choose to relinquish the spontaneity and freedom of their four-wheeled personal space for public transport or, more aptly in most cases, mass transit (and “mass” it is). The same goes for expats, too, but sooner or later we’re all bound to have to use a bus, tram, trolley bus, or taxi. Public transport is the part of city life we love to hate, and we’d love the system even more if it weren’t for all those people using it.

passengers either. The “I got here first-I was fasterelgrade’s Public Transport System, or GSP Better luck next time” attitude prevails. It’s quite (Gradski Saobraćajno Preduzeće “Beograd”), common to see young people slumped on their seat, with its 120 or so lines, almost fell apart during the staring blankly out the window, pretending not to Milošević years, but it’s up and running again … sort see an elderly person, pregnant woman, or someone of. with a small child hovering nearby. Years ago I was Not so long ago, ancient, smoke-spewing buses one of the first women to wear a frontal baby carrier. rumbled their way along Belgrade’s streets, often Once when I squeezed a crowded bus sheltering my crammed to bursting point, doors wide open with son with my arms, a (seated) woman remarked to her passengers hanging onto door handles, or other companion, “Oh, look. How handy. She doesn’t have passengers, for dear life. Even those inside risked to sit down!” Don’t expect most passengers or the life and limb, for it wasn’t a rare occurrence that a driver to be the least bit tolerant if you have a service tyre would explode, seriously injuring or even killing dog either, even though properly identified animals in one instance a poor soul sitting inside on the seat By Pat Anđelković are now allowed on buses, trams, and trolleys. The above it. Trams and trolleys were hardly better and rule so far is, no animals, even muzzled or in a occasionally derailed or frequently became unhooked carrier. from their power lines. Inside of both wasn’t much better – In any case, public transport isn’t expensive, at least for broken plastic seats covered with graffiti that mirrored the outsiders. Tickets can be purchased from the driver, but are scribbling on the walls, litter everywhere. Few commuters paid, much cheaper when purchased at a kiosk. Still, working Serbs and even an honest passenger often couldn’t punch his ticket; it was all but impossible to weave one’s way through the throng of are always complaining that tickets or their monthly passes cost too much, the system doesn’t work, and that the buses/trams/ passengers to reach the machines.

Don’t expect chivalry: The “I got here first-I was faster-Better luck next time” attitude prevails. It’s quite common to see young people slumped on their seat, staring blankly out the window, pretending not to see an elderly person, pregnant woman, or someone with a small child hovering nearby. After Milošević was ousted in October 2000, several European countries like Sweden, Switzerland, and Austria, along with far-away Japan, donated some of their used buses and trams which, according to anyone’s point of view, were nothing short of luxurious in comparison. These were an eyecatching, motley crew of sundry colours, sporting travel posters from their respective countries, and advertisements for beer and chocolate. The Japanese saw far enough ahead to impose one clever stipulation: their donated buses must be washed every day or back to Japan they go! So far, they’re clean, and GSP seems to have been inspired to keep their other transport reasonably tidy. Oddly enough, tram and trolley drivers still aren’t required to wear a uniform and often look downright tacky, and many smoke while on duty. Most are totally insensitive to the welfare of those aboard, often stopping just long enough to let a young, spry passenger leap on or off, and not worrying a bit about poor grandpa teetering up and down the aisle or steps. For that matter, don’t expect much chivalry from the 68 CorD / November 2007

trolleys never arrive on time. Mind you, although you can often find a map of a given bus’s route at most bus stops, there’s never a schedule posted anyway, so who really knows when they’re supposed to come? In any case, you can get from here to there fairly easily, especially if you’re not in a hurry. And if you’re not in a hurry and are just somehow enjoying the ride on a rare, not-so-crowded bus, you might even be entertained by a group of bedraggled gypsy children, one of whom will probably make a reasonable attempt to play a grimy accordion, another who’ll belt out some semblance of a song, while a third goes around the bus begging. Be kind; at least they’re trying to do something for their dinar. Serbs out to beat the system (and they always are) and who love the adrenalin rush from the thrill of eluding a hefty fine, try to cheat by holding an already-punched ticket in hope that the controller won’t look too closely. (Actually it’s “controller’s’,” since they usually travel in pairs or threes for security reasons, dressed in plain clothes.) For me, being a controller on public transport rates right after working as a telemarketer, who takes

One of the buses donated to Belgrade by the government of Japan (on condition that they are cleaned on a daily basis!)

A metro’s been on the city’s drawing boards (seemingly forever), but who knows when it will be fully operational, so in its place for the moment there’s only an underground train (Beovoz) that passes through the city and links several outlying areas. But no surprise, it frequently runs late. verbal abuse but at least doesn’t also risk bodily harm from a heated confrontation. Cheating is easier when the bus is packed, since controllers (or even passengers getting on and off) can hardly squeeze through the crowd. (But watch out for pickpockets at rush hour. They’re ever-present, come in all shapes, ages, and sizes and are really nimble-fingered.) When asked to show their tickets, some devious Serbs are very creative with excuse making. In addition to the usual “I left my monthly card at home,” and “but I’m just going one stop,” I’ve overheard some whoppers: “My aunt had a heart attack and I’ve got to get there as fast as I can,” (and he’s taking the bus?) or “I’m over 80. Why should I have to pay?” If you’re in a hurry, take a taxi, which rove the streets in abundance. There are often endless lines of bored taxi drivers waiting, smoking, reading “Skandal” and “Kurir” at taxi stops. Their rule is to take the taxi that’s next in line, but technically you don’t have to. Taxi drivers display true esprit de corps when one of their own has been attacked, robbed, or even murdered, by driving through the streets honking and shouting in protest for a more intense police response. If you’re worried about getting ripped off because you’re a foreigner, my experience is that taxi drivers are fairly honest, except for the lot that hangs out around bus/train stations and airports. (At the airport, beware even of those who wear

“official” ID cards and seek clients inside the terminal.) Better to call a taxi through its company’s dispatcher or ask for a fare quote before you start out, and hope the driver will stick to it. Bus/tram/trolley drivers don’t have to wear uniforms, but there does exist at least a dress code for taxi drivers. Like other regulations here, these are sometimes ignored, but in theory a driver must be either clean-shaven or with a neat beard and/or moustache (at least the men…), and must wear clean clothes. Shirts and undershirts must be worn – no sweat suits, shorts, or only sleeveless undershirts, and drivers are required to wear dress shoes, sports shoes, or sandals. See how many exceptions you can find, especially in the summer. In any case, taxi drivers will be of two kinds: those who smoke and those who don’t. Check before you get in. By the way, a metro’s been on the city’s drawing boards (seemingly forever), but who knows when it will be fully operational, so in its place for the moment there’s only an underground train (Beovoz) that passes through the city and links several outlying areas. But no surprise, it frequently runs late. All in all, if you don’t have your own car or want to save it for weekend planned rural pursuits, swap it for the perils of Belgrade’s inexpensive public transport, which is sure to spice up your daily urban commute. n CorD / November 2007 69

society

Ivica’s edge

Downtown living Major capital cities have become gradually less attractive locations for living and, accordingly, the citizens of many of the world’s capitals have fled to the tranquillity of leafy suburbs. However, Belgraders – and would-be Belgraders – continue to resist that trend, despite the fact that central Belgrade has become increasingly unbearable for daily life.

f you are lucky enough to live in the centre don’t live in a village! of Belgrade, a whole spectrum of interesting We could say that the city administration is possibilities are open to you. You can walk to there to sort everything out. Unfortunately, the almost all of the city’s theatres and many city Belgrade City authorities are doing everything galleries; in the centre there are also numerous to make life in the centre even worse; instead book shops and record stores, although of improving the quality of life with a series of admittedly fewer now than there were, and the measures, the city’s heads have spent recent years leading fashion boutiques are also there. There continuing the bad practice of constantly adding are parks, cafes, bars and clubs, etc. Indeed, new contents to what is already a shaky and there are lots of reasons to live in the centre of inadequate infrastructure. Instead of emptying the Belgrade – provided you are interested in cultural city centre of unnecessary surpluses, the practice life. If not, then there are many, many more is to place every event you can imagine exactly By Ivica Petrović reasons not to live in downtown Belgrade. there. If you want to organise a day cycling, it Listing the reasons not to live in the centre of has to be in front of the National Theatre; if you the Serbian capital would take up too much space. Let’s just want a rollerblading day, it has to be in front of the National say that the smog, traffic chaos, cafés under your windows, Theatre. If you organise any promotion, which includes car alarms, unbearable neighbours, stray animals, rubbish and playing basketball, rolling in big transparent balloons, or a squealing water pipes are still not enough to turn people away skateboarding competition, it is of course organised so as to from buying overpriced and ill-equipped flats in the centre. stop the traffic in order to contribute to the already unbearable During this summer there was a great deal of talk about traffic chaos. the invasion of Montenegrin real estates buyers interested There are comic moments too: the recent marking of exclusively in the city centre. Anything that is not close to Mozart’s jubilee turned into an unbelievable mixture of Hotel Moskva or Knez Mihajlova Street is unattractive to classical music and the promotion of Serbian traditional these buyers. Of course, these people shouldn’t be judged cuisine; therefore customers sitting in Konj were listening for their relatively clever investments – because the majority to Mozart while the smell of burgers and grill engulfed of that real estate was not purchased for living purposes, but them. The plaza at Republic Square is also a popular spot rather to be rented out as business premises. In that sense, for organising free concerts. This year an “improvement” this trend can be seen as positive: the narrow centre nucleus was made with several music beer festivals being held at is becoming more and more a business centre, where one Kalemegdan Fortress, the spot which at night is reminiscent of lives only if absolutely necessary. That said, the business the stenography from horror films, which again contributed to buying trend remains insignificant in Belgrade and the city’s the unbearable crowds in the centre. old town remains relatively far from portraying the picture When we add to this horror the fact that one young man, of a business hub akin to those of other world metropolises. a lover of rock and roll music, ended his life with a fall into New Belgrade, that blocked, structured city across the river, a bear cage, new questions emerge. For instance, why is the is taking over the mantle as the country’s top business centre, Belgrade Zoo located in the very centre of the city? Or, aren’t but that is another story. there any spacious fields for concerts out of town, somewhere In many ways, it is understandable why people are rushing were young people can have fun knowing that the only to live in the centre. The first important thing is that it allows dangers they are exposed to are rolling in the mud if it rains. you to sell your car immediately and, thus, save vast amounts Something about organising open air festivals could be learned of both money and patience. For those without a car, moving from our English colleagues. to the centre will put an end to the “pleasure” of using public After the tragic accident at the Belgrade Zoo, it turned transport, which is also another story. However, you will not out that nobody knows who has jurisdiction over this place. be able to have any influence over various other problems, That case in some way illustrates the chaos which exists such as that of building contractors who wait to paste notices in the hierarchy of responsibility regarding the important of upcoming housing-business premises with the message that issues concerning a metropolis. Therefore, it is not surprising if you miss the greenery that’s about to be destroyed then you that the outside tables of summer cafés are put up wherever should go and live in a village. So, when you get a good breath anybody deems suitable, and it also comes as no surprise of smog; when you manage to avoid a freak on rollerblades; that every initiative to change longstanding bad habits tends when you open windows only in the case of an emergency to fail. When the initiative to restrict the working hours of and are lulled to sleep by the sound of techno music and car restaurants and cafés was launched, this proposal encountered alarms, you can console yourself with the fact that at least you numerous criticisms and was soon forgotten. The unfortunate 70 CorD / November 2007

When you get a good breath of smog; when you manage to avoid a freak on rollerblades; when you open windows only in the case of an emergency and are lulled to sleep by the sound of techno music and car alarms, you can console yourself with the fact that at least you don’t live in a village!

people living next to Dorćol’s cafés expected, in vain, that some administrative measure would help them get a proper night’s sleep, and all they were left with was the ability to arm themselves with patience and ear plugs, or move to a village. The initiative to limit the access of vehicles to the city centre had no better luck. Lots of world metropolises are trying to prevent the kind of traffic collapses that Belgraders know all too well, as well as to reduce emissions in the city. But Belgrade’s approach to this problem is too relaxed. Apart from the fact that a public debate on this issue has not yet started, we could immediately hear claims that “it is not time for the realisation of such an idea” and that “it will be

considered later”. In Serbian political vocabulary, that means never. It is unknown what the real problem is: who is going to collect the entry payments, where the check points are going to be, or whether the City is simply aware that it does not have sufficient logistical capacities and expert knowledge to implement such an idea. If, therefore, you think that the city centre has beautiful cafés, you will, in the foreseeable future, have to enjoy a mixed smell of cappuccino and petrol. You have to admit that this is a unique pleasure: there isn’t a single city centre café with a garden in Belgrade where you couldn’t put your drink on the bonnet of a car parked right next to your table. n CorD / November 2007 71

CULTURE & DIPLOMACY

Korean artists show Serbia the delights of a different world

Strength of Creativity The participation of Korean artists in the cultural life of the Serbian capital is more apparent than ever this autumn. Apart from the regular Taekwondo Championship and films – which are already a traditional part of the offer of any larger festival – the first prize at the 48th October Salon was shared by Korean artists Chun Sung-Myung and Kim Hyun-Soo, and only a day before that the Seoul Ballet Theatre from Korea was performing on the Main Stage of the National Theatre in Belgrade.

By Žarka Radoja; Photo: Časlav Vukojičić he cultural activities and successes of visitors from Korea are manifestations of the co-operative goodwill of the Serbian Ministry of Culture. And, with the future visits of Korean artists already planned, it seems that this trend is set to endure. As well as facilitating the visits of artists to Belgrade, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea and the Korean Ministry of Culture and Tourism is also sponsoring these events. According to First Secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Belgrade, Ahn Eunju, co-operation between the two countries is good, but she hopes it will be

intensified even more. “We wanted to present ourselves to the Serbian cultural scene, to exchange experiences with your artists. Our cooperation so far has been excellent; professionals from the fields of culture and the media have shown great interest for our artists’ performances. This is why we would love to have as many Korean artists as possible coming to Serbia. Right now, we are working on bringing traditional music and dance troops from Korea here, for which there’s always interest in this country,” explains Miss Ahn. The Korean First Secretary is pleased with the reaction of the audience to Korean

“Line of Life” the Korean Way Five ballets are united under one common title, “Line of Life”. The first of them, entitled “1x1=?” speaks about the unpredictability of human emotions, and the dancers dance to the music of “Yello” and “Daft Punk”. The second ballet, “Spring”, is a part of Jeon’s cycle about the four seasons of the year. The choreography was made to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and is performed by a young dancing couple. The third part (“Hope”) is about Korean travelling troupes. It was inspired by traditional folk songs and shows the hopes and dreams of ordinary peasant folk. The fourth segment is “Tango for Ballet”, inspired by Argentina and the music of the famous Astor Piazzolla and, of course, dedicated to woman, but this time from the Far East. “Asian women are commonly perceived to be quiet and reserved. That 72 CorD / November 2007

is why I wanted to show the passion of Korean women, for they are passionate, but they don’t show it. I put on tango music for them and said: ‘Dance like men! Show your feelings!’” says Jeon. The fifth and final part, (“Mask”) was inspired by the mask dance from various parts of Korea and by the works of the great painter Edward Munch. The mask has a strong influence in Korean culture and helps release the emotions of everyday life like: love, fear, horror, loneliness, envy… The Seoul Ballet Theatre was founded in 1995 and, to date, has won a whole series of awards in its country. These have included the Korean Artistic Award for the ballet “Spring, Stream” (2005), Choreographer of the Year award by the choice of “Momm Dance magazine” (1998), as well as the Award for the Best Dance Production in Korea (2003) for the Ballet “Snow White”.

artists, and thinks that the Serbian audience is very curious as to the art of the Far East: “Korean art is interesting for the Serbian audience because it comes from a completely different world with its own tradition and cultural heritage. We are trying to develop good co-operation with people from the cultural domain because our experience so far shows that cultural events connect the audience, the artists and the countries themselves in an excellent way”. Ahn hopes that more Serbian artists will soon have the opportunity to visit Korea, and this October saw Serbian ethno group “Sanja Ilić & Balkanika” make a small tour of South Korea.

Meeting of Modern and Traditional

Last year, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea organised a performance of “Arirang Fantasy” by the Daejeon Metropolitan Dance Theatre, which presented the traditional Korean dance to audiences in Belgrade and Novi Sad. The response was brilliant, and it was expected that similar events would be held for this year also. Thus, it was now the turn of a completely different dance theatre. The Seoul Ballet Theatre offered audiences in Serbia a unique combination of Korean traditional dance and classical and modern

European ballet with the show “Line of Life”, comprising five dance pieces created by famous South Korean choreographer James Jeon. The Seoul Ballet Theatre is an excellent example of efforts at realising cultural exchanges through dance. When asked how this combination of European classical ballet and Korean traditional dance came into being, Jeon told media that his countrymen liked ballet very much and that there was a long tradition of classical ballet in his country, but also that it was one of the ways to bring the beauty of classical ballet closer to the part of the general audience that preferred the traditional dance. “We are trying to create a new and original face for Korean ballet, and I think that we’ve succeeded in that, because we are currently one of the three largest ballet companies in the country, and our members are trained in both classical and modern ballet.”

Global Expansion of Korean Art

Korean art has been experiencing a worldwide expansion for some time now, which is indicated by the fact that more and more Korean galleries are being opened outside of the country. Besides the classical art forms, there is also an increase of

Last year, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea organised a performance of “Arirang Fantasy” by the Daejeon Metropolitan Dance Theatre, which presented the traditional Korean dance to audiences in Belgrade and Novi Sad. interest in art photography, video material and installations in Korea, all of which have found buyers as far a field as the U.S., where a work of the artist Ce Uram was sold for a significant sum. That is also the reason why New York’s Vidfon Gallery opened its office in the Republic of Korea, and also why their participation in this year’s October Salon is very important. CorD wrote in its previous issue about this visit of Korean Artists to the greatest annual exhibition in Serbia. So this time we will take a look at an article about Korean art recently published in daily newspaper “Politika”, which was written by Kim Boggi, a critic for magazines “Art in Culture” and “Art in Asia”. While explaining the state of the Korean art market, which has witnessed a veritable boom in the past 15 years, both inside Korea and out, Kim notes that the increase in demand is positive on one side, because it means investing in works of art. “It is another question whether the buyers know the true artistic value of the work,” writes

Kim Boggi, insisting that Korean buyers will need a lot of wisdom in order to find the balance between the market value and the true artistic value of a work. Koreans cherish their tradition also in Taekwondo, a martial art founded in Korea and considered an art form in that country. In Serbia, Taekwondo is more than a sport, a martial art connected to a certain way of life. In order to bring it closer to the public and fans of the Asian arts here, the Korean Ambassador to Serbia, Dr. Kim YoungHee, has been sponsoring the Taekwondo Championship since 2006. The competitive championship also offers attendees the chance to witness the skills of the top Korean Taekwondo masters. Ahn Eunju explains that for the next year numerous Korean cultural visits are being planned. Plans include the visit of a traditional music group to Belgrade. Then there are the festivals of the film d’auteur and FEST, which definitely won’t go by without the leading names of Korean cinematography, such as Kim Ki-Duk. n CorD / November 2007 73

CULTURE

CULT VENUE

“If we hadn’t received a million dollars from the U.S. Government, we almost certainly wouldn’t have been able to resolve the problems of Dom omladine.” By Sonja Ćirić t was late last year when the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade announced that the American Government would donate a million dollars to the institution deemed to be most in need of financial assistance. They suggested that this should be the City Emergency Medical Service or Dom omladine Beograda [Home of Youth of Belgrade], but decided that it would be up to Belgraders to pick which of those two institutions should receive the funds. A special page for voting was set up on the website of the Belgrade City Assembly, and SMS voting was also facilitated. City TV station Studio B also actively participated in the whole action. Voting closed on 14th January this year and during a live Studio B television show – in the presence of then U.S. Ambassador Michael Polt and late Mayor of Belgrade, Nenad Bogdanović – the winner of the race was announced as

74 CorD / November 2007

Dom omladine. Dom omladine Beograda (DOB) is an important culture institution of Belgrade. In the last decade it was the most visited city house of culture after Sava Centre. On average, the annually programmes of Belgrade’s youth home are visited by between 400,000 and 450,000 people. “If that is added to the other visitors coming from time to time because of the Beopolis book store, Internet café and other contents within the building, it is clear that an institution with such number of visitors must periodically work on its adaptation and recovery,” says lawyer Aleksandar

Đukić, DOB’s secretary. “If we hadn’t received a million dollars from the U.S. Government, we almost certainly wouldn’t have been able to resolve the problems of Dom omladine”. Since its construction 43 years ago, Dom omladine has never been subjected to a major reconstruction. According to Ðukić “only partial investments in equipment were made, for sound and lights, and last year we reconstructed the Stands Hall on the first floor and the adjacent room. Since then the American Corner started to operate there. This reconstruction was also completed using a donation: the American

“ …a combination of social dialogue and important musical events, coupled with the serious work of the gallery on discovering new talent, was the recipe for Dom omladine to become the cult venue in the city.”

According to Ðukić, DOB plans to rename Pogon Hall as Sala Amerikana, in honour of the U.S. donation. It is expected that all these works will have been completed by April next year.

Embassy granted 60,000 dollars.” Plans include the regeneration of the building’s façade, reconstruction and adaptation of Pogon Hall on the first floor, the remodelling of the open terrace on the flat roof above the hall – to make it an open summer stage – and reconstruction of the plaza in front of the building’s main entrance on Dečanska Street. According to Ðukić, DOB plans to rename Pogon Hall as Sala Amerikana, in honour of the U.S. donation. It is expected that all these works will have been completed by April next year. Construction of Dom omladine began in 1961, and the centre was officially opened in 1964. During the construction period, Ivan Stambolić [assassinated former Serbian president], at that time Youth Representative and still a student of the Law Faculty in Belgrade, was appointed manager of the DOB. According to Đukić, DOB staff recently had “a lovely encounter with one old gentleman, now in his 90s, who was construction supervisor during the construction of the building and has a crystal clear memory of that time. He says that the initiative to construct Dom omladine stemmed directly from the political structures of the City of Belgrade at that time, and that it was actually part of the general state initiative that all major cities in the former Yugoslavia should have one representative youth hall, or Home

of Youth as they called it in some places.” Ðukić continues: “All those institutions were later used for an abundance of activities and central celebrations of the Day of Youth, reception of the youth baton, on the occasion of Tito’s birthday and related programmes. However, that wasn’t the basic purpose of those institutions, although it is beyond doubt that the creation of the socalled youth homes infrastructure throughout the country both supported and served the Day of Youth, which was more than a niche holiday at that time.” Due to its ideal location in the centre of the city and good infrastructure (three halls able to accommodate 200, 800 and 1,200 people), Dom omladine became the venue for the most qualitative youth programmes. Đukić recalls that Yugoslav Rock ‘n’ roll literally originated in the halls of Dom omladine. Performers like Siluete, Crni Biseri, Džentlmeni and many other popular vocalinstrumental ensembles entered the Belgrade masses relentlessly during the second half of the 1960s in the Dance Hall on the first floor. DOB’s platform programme also became a very important programme for the building. At that time, and especially after 1968, DOB’s provocative platform programme was often met with nervous and irate reactions from the authorities. Programme editors were suspended and the State Security Service often invited employees for “informative interviews”. Former staff members, as well as some of the older current employees, still recall those troubled times vividly. In an institutional sense, DOB became a serious house by the beginning of the 1970s, with the commencement of the Belgrade Jazz Festival. From the very beginning, the jazz fest was a very well envisaged manifestation that stemmed directly from the American Newport Jazz Festival. Đukić says: “this actually meant that literally all performers that would play the original Newport Festival would then come to Belgrade. So literally all the greatest jazz artists have passed through the Dom omladine, and that manifestation was one of the recognisable symbols of DOB.” Dragan Ambrozić, Programme Editor of Dom omladine, recalls that in the early seventies the Dom’s stands were also very attractive for the domestic public: “at that time Dom omladine became a cult venue due to public and panel discussions organised by the Board for Freedom of Speech

and Human Rights (which had writer and politician Dobrica Ćosić among its members) and the founding Congresses of the Democratic Party, Resistance movement Otpor and Talk about Anarchism.” “Besides that,” Ambrozić continues, “Dom was an alterative FEST cinema venue for years, where the most daring things were played during the midnight programme… And it had an excellent discotheque! During the ‘80s, important domestic concerts were held. Bands like EKV and Džoni Štulić played a couple of nights in a row. So, a combination of social dialogue and important musical events, coupled with the serious work of the gallery on discovering new talent, was the recipe for Dom omladine to become the cult venue in the city.” At the beginning of the crisis of the 1990s, the Belgrade Jazz Festival ceased to be organised. However, just three years ago – thanks to the current city authorities and the current management of Dom omladine – the Belgrade Jazz Festival was resurrected. This year, the 23rd Belgrade Jazz Festival was held from 24th to 29th October. However, because of the temporary closure of Dom omladine due to its reconstruction, the festival took place in the halls of the Theatre on Terazije, Kolarac University Hall, Dom Sindikata, Bitef Art Café, Rex and the Sava Centre. Ambrozić explains that Dom’s regular stage and gallery programmes are currently postponed because that part of the building still hasn’t been reconstructed. However, Ambrozić announces, after the reconstruction Dom omladine will again have a programme that ranks among the best of similar culture centres in Europe. “The essential, key progress should be for Dom omladine to serve the community as a networking channel for new cultural and social initiatives around the world.” For instance, as is now planned, “it would be good if similar festivals in the vicinity (Belgrade, Sarajevo, Zagreb and Skoplje) could be closely linked, in order for some artists interested in performing at several festivals to be more easily brought to our city, with a significant decrease of their costs. If such collaborations prove positive, one should think about some kind of Balkan Jazz Association, like IJFO, with projects where we would jointly participate. The period of major summer festivals should be used to establish new contacts and to listen to the jazz pulse of Europe. We should also promote our festivals in big world shows. n CorD / November 2007 75

Culture

Promoting art

practically “The idea of cultural openness and co-operation with the world is entirely in harmony with a general idea of reintroducing this region to European and international trends.”

rtLink is a non-profit association of artists, which was founded in 2004 with the goal of bringing together and supporting the creative work of younger generation artists from various areas of art, and then exposing them to the attention of renowned cultural institutions and the public in the region,” explains pianist and Master of Art, Jovanka Višekruna Janković, Artistic Director of ArtLink. n Could you tell us something about the mission of ArtLink? r The main idea behind this linking is the creation of a modern vision of cultural policy for Serbia that would allow for a promotion of the best individuals, most authentic art work and projects both within the Serbian society and internationally. With its partners and associates, ArtLink has implemented a number of projects accomplishing significant cultural exchange and co-operation with artists and cultural institutions from the region and beyond. The idea of cultural openness and cooperation with the world is entirely in harmony with a general idea of reintroducing this region to European and international trends. It is clear that a special interest exists for authentic forms of artistic creativity from this region, providing an excellent basis for ArtLink, through its projects, to present this artistic potential beyond the region’s boundaries.

n Does ArtLink organise any specific major events aimed at increasing re-

Jovanka Visekruna Jovanović, Artistic Director of ArtLink

gional collaboration through art? r Summer Art School is an artistic event with a pronounced international character. It serves to unite and link artists of different professions through some form of art event. Such an event provides a possibility for an active intercultural and intergenerational exchange of ideas and experiences

of young artists and their mentors, as well as for the presentation of artwork itself (through concerts, exhibitions and other performances). The idea is to establish a forum for meeting in one place between the already established and mature artists of different profiles, and up-and-coming artists at

Coming soon from ArtLink: “Light in the circle” The circle stands for the enclave, the closed space, but also for the union and collective work of the children who live in these Kosovo enclaves. Light stands for the hope that those children represent, for the relief the project brought to the enclaves and for photography. The project’s aim was to organise a series of photography workshops for the children of Velika Hoča and Orahovac in Western Kosovo. These small territories, still inhabited by Serbs, are narrow enclaves which are almost completely iso76 CorD / November 2007

lated from the surroundings and constitute the largest ghetto in modern Europe. These workshops have been introduced by a session of games and improvisations, during which the children familiarised with creative ways of expression and with the essence of the photographic language. The exhibition with children’s works will be shown in Belgrade, where the children are invited to come, before being shown to the community back in Kosovo. A catalogue will be printed together with the exhibition. The exhibition will be offered to cultural

centres in the Balkan area and abroad. The project was implemented by Jacqueline Haener, professional photographer, author and teacher, originally from Switzerland, who has lived in Belgrade for the last three years. Jacqueline’s work includes the book “Moja Srbija”, a visual exploration of the country, and numerous humanitarian and artistic projects. The project is supported by the European Cultural Foundation, Norwegian Ministry for Foreign affairs and Ministry for Kosovo of Serbia.

Nemanja Stanković,this year’s Most Promising Young Artist Nemanja Stanković, cellist, was awarded the Most Promising Young Artist prize by ArtLink Belgrade on 21st June this year. The decision to award the prize to Nemanja was made by jurors Biljana Zdravković, Bojan Suđić, Ivan Tasovac, Ljubiša Jovanović, Dušan Jovanović, Mirjana Lazarević and Jovanka Višekruna Janković. Nemanja Stanković (1989) is currently a third year student at the Faculty of Music in Belgrade, under the tutelage of Professor Sandra Belić.. He is the winner of numerous top prizes, awards and recognitions at national and international competitions and festivals, among which are the First and Special prizes at Peter Konjović Belgrade, First prize at the International Music Competition in Liezen, Austria in 2000 and the Third prize at the International Music Competition Antonio Janigro Poreè, in Croatia.

He participated in numerous master classes of famous cellists, such as Natalia Gutman, Misha Mayski, Gary Hoffman, Mark Kosower, Jan Vogler, Rudolph Leopold, Ivan Kučer, Ksenija Janković, Aleksander Bailey, Stanislava Apolin, Imre Kalman, Mark Levin.. Nemanja made his debut at the BEMUS Festival in Belgrade in 2005.

Participating in numerous international projects and Summer schools, Nemanja was received different recognitions, such as the Most Successful Participant of the Baroque workshop in Gmunden (Austrija), the concert appearance as one of the most successful soloists at the concert of the Albert Eckstein Foundation in November 2005 and the cello leader in the European Youth Symphony Orchestra, under conductor Igor Koreti. In summer 2007 he performed at Cello Fest in Belgrade with distinguished cellists Mineo Hayashi and Mark Kosower, as a soloist with Youth orchestra NORBAL at ArtLink’s International Summer Art School in Belgrade and with the orchestra Czech Soloists in Reihenau, Austria. Nemanja is a member of the St. George Strings Orchestra and regularly performs with the Camerata Serbica, Sinfonietta and RTS orchestras.

the beginning of their careers, in order to link-up and co-operate. The young artists receive professional advice during interaction through master classes, joint workshops and lectures. These budding artists are given an opportunity to individually improve work on their own projects and improve their skills, whilst simultaneously – in unison with their colleagues – participating in the creation of joint art projects, presentations and public performances. During the course of the School, the “Most Promising Young Artist” is selected and subsequently promoted and supported with the help of Audi. n What is the Most Promising Young Artist Award? r One of ArtLink’s most important goals, and certainly one of the reasons for its founding, is the promotion of talented young individuals from this region. Serbia, as well as the whole region, has a notable artistic potential which is worth investing in and promoting through its presenting on a broader international scale. For the purpose of presenting the best individuals and ascertaining support for their further work, ArtLink established an annual award – “The Most Promising Young Artist”, which is being awarded for the third time this year. It was my great pleasure, on behalf of the Artistic jury, to present the award in 2007 to young cellist Nemanja Stanković. The year’s selection and award were realised and presented thanks to the general sponsor of the selection, AUDI company, which – having recognised the quality and

Last year’s Most Promising Young Artist, violinist Stanko Madic, pictured accepting his statuette from Audi director Slobodan Pešić. This statuette is presented to the Most Promising Young Artist each year. It is a work of sculptor Milica Danilović, fashioned upon the prize winning design by Ivan Radović, which was selected at the competition for the best visual realisation of the Prize in 2006.

the importance of this project – made its realisation possible by supporting it financially. AUDI rewards the winning artist with a stipend, while ArtLink provides the artist with a CD recording opportunity, concert performances and organises a variety of promotional events for the artist throughout the year. Highly valuable endorsements and support have been received from the City of Belgrade, RTS Symphonic Orchestra, Jugokoncert, Kolarac Foundation and the

Faculty of Music in Belgrade. This award is dedicated to young artists, as is as the “International Summer Art School – Summer ArtLink”, which ArtLink organises every summer. Young artists are offered an opportunity to broaden their knowledge and gain new experiences through contacts with renowned international artists, and to present their work through public performances and appearances in the media to a wider audience, the lovers of art and the donors who support the arts. n CorD / November 2007 77

Culture

THE ROCK

AND THE BODY At the Museum of African Art A comparison of two seemingly different forms of creative African artwork, cave painting and body decoration, confirms the theory that drawing and painting are the oldest forms of communication and the human need to express oneself. By Sonja Ćirić frican art is going through two processes: the blossoming of contemporary art and the exploration, interpretation and evaluation of folk art and the artistic past. The current exhibition at the Museum of African Art in Belgrade “Primary Art – Rock Paintings, Body Paintings”, authored by Nataša Njegovanović-Ristić, belongs in this second process. Firstly addressing notions of ‘primary art’, Ristić explains that so far the term used in Serbia has been “primitive art” which has more or less the same meaning. “We are talking about societies and art forms in their beginning. When Europe discovered the beauty and value of African art in the past century, it was classified as primitive art, which has a derogatory ring to it. So at the beginning of this century the term “primary art” was adopted. But then there was the question of why one would treat in the same way, for example, prehistoric creative artwork with African sculptures created in, say, the nineteenth century. As such, a decision was reached through consensus that primary art should denote prehistoric art,

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and that it shouldn’t be used at all when speaking about art of a later date. This exhibition, however, was called Primary Art without hesitation, because the displayed exhibits were made during prehistoric times. This exhibition refers to the paintings of the Neolithic and the even Paleolithic periods. The focus of the exhibition is the art of the so-called “flat medium” of Africa. Since ancient times, Africans satisfied their need to express feelings and visions through drawings and colours on rocks and human body. “This practice goes back into the distant past, which is evidenced by the cave paintings and engravings found in the Sahara, eastern and southern Africa,” says Ristić. “The Sahara, with hundreds of thousands of engraved drawings and painted rocks, represents the greatest Neolithic complex of paintings created during the period from 7,000 BC to 0 AD. The Sahara’s largest outdoor museum in the world provides us with an insight into the spiritual life of the people of that time; their racial origins, as well as the everyday objects of their material culture. Thanks to their skill in painting and in-

telligent use of painting materials and the surface itself, the artists of the Neolithic Sahara, besides accomplishing sophisticated and expressive visual effects, managed to create in their works a kind of chronicle of prehistoric Africa. The paintings are an important testimony about the geological and climatic changes that altered this region which had rivers, lakes and savannahs, but which was turned into the largest desert in the world. The engravings and rock paintings show us that large animals, like the elephant, giraffe, rhinoceros and crocodile, previously dominated the Sahara. At one location, around 200 engravings of elephants have been preserved! After that, we have the cattle period, from 6,000 to 1,500 BC, which is represented by images of men with herds, cattle in their habitat, meaning that the domestication of cattle had already started by then. Large animals slowly disappear from the art after that, while horses and carts emerge, until finally only the camel remains and endures to this day. At the same time, the paintings of people show African social life. They reveal their clothes, customs, ac-

Thanks to their skill in painting and intelligent use of painting materials and the surface itself, the artists of the Neolithic Sahara, besides accomplishing sophisticated and expressive visual effects, managed to create in their works a kind of chronicle of prehistoric Africa tivities, battles, masks. All the colours are mineral and are preserved to this day. Of the exhibits dating from the earliest period, the period of the ‘buffalo’ (7,0005,000 BC) we will single out the engraving “Buffalo with a Spiral”. The artist painted a realistic picture of an animal with amazing horns shaped like a lyre, with spirals coming out of the painting. Ristić insists that this is “a superior work, and it is logical to ask oneself if they had any role models, whether there had been any art that predated this. The same question might arise when looking at any other engraving of that time... However, since no document older than these has been found, it is considered that these artists had no role models”. The painting of the human body, which was brought to perfection on the African continent, existed in parallel with rock and cave painting. “Temporary body decoration (painted), which stayed on the skin for a limited period, and body decoration through permanent means (carving and tattooing) was practiced by all of the African communities during such a long time period that by looking back one could get an impression that all of the members of these communities were involved in certain body transformations. The body itself was treated as an art form – body as a sculpture or body as a painting into which inexhaustible imagination and creativity were invested”. During the Paleolithic era, scarification, i.e. carving the decorations permanently into the flesh, was done in the same way as the rock engravings of the more recent Neolithic era, and with the same tools: sharp, pointy metal objects, knives, daggers, nails and similar tools. Undoubtedly, this process is extremely painful. Why did the people of Africa suffer it voluntarily? “The permanent body decoration was motivated by the sexual drive and the need to stand out from the group. Each piece of skin decoration had not only an esthetic meaning, but also a semantic one – the drawing is both a painting and a text,” says Ristić. “For example, by scarification of the face, each child got a sort of an identification and protection, so

people knew from which tribe a man came no matter where he might find himself. In this way, three parallel incisions on the cheek of a beautiful girl, symbols of triple horned bovines, mean that she is from the Dinka tribe, a shepherd-herding folk from Sudan. Body decorations are also a way of attracting the opposite sex. Thus we see the scarred back of a young woman belonging to the Jombe people from Congo as a fascinating artwork. This is a sculpture, but also a message; a way of drawing attention and attracting. The more the body was decorated, the more desirable the woman was, and the closer she was to fulfilling the primary task of her existence: marriage and motherhood. Undecorated female bodies were undesirable, the community made fun of those girls, it rejected them. This was obviously a good enough reason for girls to endure the great pain of scarification”. The other form of permanent body decoration among the African people is the tattoo. “It is a simple, most often black or dark blue, drawing on the surface of the skin. The tattoo is the closest thing to an artistic expression, considering that it provides the ability to form fine lines and detailed drawings. The meanings of the painted motifs more or less coincide with the symbolic nature of scarification. People dedicated a

large portion of their time to personal appearance and the human body was treated as a canvas. A painted face and body is a symbol of beauty and physical attraction. For the Nuba people of Sudan, the human body is the utmost artistic form, and the painting of the body is a male prerogative in this society from the ages of fifteen to thirty-five – the age when a man is in his prime in terms of strength and beauty. They painted themselves every day, meaning that each day they turned their body into a new painting. The way they apply the paint, the combination of ornaments and drawings, the composition – all contain elements of modern painting, and that is what fascinates anyone who sees them. Until recently despised in civilized societies, body art seems to be corresponding successfully with the present fashion trends as the ideal image in the search for the original identity of the modern man”. The comparison of the two seemingly different forms of creative work within this exhibition at the Museum of African Art in Belgrade, the cave painting and body decoration in the African continent, confirms the theory that drawing and painting are the oldest forms of communication, and the oldest mediums used to satisfy the human need to express one’s artistic sensibility. n CorD / November 2007 79

FASHION

Interview: Sabrina Tonti, Chairlady of Gruppo Intimo Italiano

Creating Top Brands “We bring our products and employ native labour to represent us and to participate in developing our brand here. That is a very interesting combination,” says Sabrina Tonti. This year saw Tonti both celebrate four decades of her company’s existence and open her first boutique in Southeast Europe – in Belgrade.

By Žarka Radoja y the end of this year Belgraders will be offered another exclusive place for shopping in the city centre, where they would be able to shop for items hot off the catwalks of Rome, Paris, Moscow, London… Directly from the Fashion Week in Milan, collections of world brands of women’s lingerie like “Pepita” and “Tata” companies, from “Gruppo Intimo Italiano” from Pistoia and “Argentovivo”, “Bacirubati” of Bologna Company “Gruppo Arcte”. It was with the opening of this exclusive boutique in mind that the Chairlady of the company Gruppo Intimo Italiano, Sabrina Tonti, visited Belgrade. Tonti came upon the idea of opening her first boutique in this part of Europe in Belgrade, thanks to her acquaintances with Serbs in Tuscany. “In business, a good contact provides the foundation, and I was lucky to meet the right people. When I first came to Belgrade I was very surprised. I didn’t expect to find such an atmosphere. After that I came a couple more times, and we’ve started to co-operate. The first boutique has been opened in the year when my company celebrates 40 years of its existence. I think that it speaks sufficiently about my opinion about your country. I see that there are many Italian brands here, and because of that I feel at home, not as though I’m in some foreign country. Bearing in mind that other companies have been established here for longer and are working well, I am sure that we can expect success in the market.” Describing similarities between the two nations, Tonti says: “Serbs are close to Italians; we understood each other well, both when we have fun and when we work. I am sure that we can meet somewhere halfway – we bring our products and engage native labour to represent us and participate in developing our brand

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here. That is a very interesting combination,” says Tonti. Company Gruppo Intimo Italiano was founded in 1967 by Roberto and Carla Tonti, who placed a completely new product on the fashion market of that time - the indoor dressing gown. In only three years they became Italian market leaders and Carla achieved the reputation of the Queen of Dressing Gowns. Now Sabrina Tonti and her collaborators have brought the company’s vast experience to Belgrade; experience gained during four decades operating on the world’s fashion catwalks and amongst leading fashion creators. “This is top fashion that is intended for all those who value quality. We do not expect large sales, but I am sure that it would be more than good, because in this country there are people who know what the world market is and also know our place in it. We want customers who recognise quality, because in that way they shall also recognise our brands; buyers who want to be nicely dressed even when they go to bed, or when they’re at home in leisure variant,” explains Tonti, stressing why her brand “Pepita” is called the “Queen of House Wear” and why it has made such a major breakthrough in the market in only five years. “My collection isn’t only sleeping apparel. It is an attitude! We do not make pyjamas – that is the story for something cheap; we’re a part of the woman’s world when she wants to be nicely dressed at home, and when she opens the door she wants to know that she looks good in

Sabrina Tonti – The lady behind the brand The History of Sabrina Tonti and the “Pepita” trademark starts almost three decades ago, when this young Italian lady went to be educated in New York. In the big metropolis she met Roberto Mitrotti, owner of a major chain of clothing shops and also a major theatre screenwriter and artist. Tonti became the manageress of Mitrotti’s biggest shop and, as she confesses, she has learnt the most important thing in her opinion from Roberto: the art. In 1989 she decided to return home to Italy in order to dedicate herself to the family company dealing in production of clothes for the home, but which was at that time lacking innovations, regurgitating the same old models and monotonous colours. So “Pepita” was born: a line of pyjamas of joyful colours, which quickly reached record levels of sales. At the beginning of the new millennium the company passed an important decision when they decided to concentrate on retail instead of wholesale. In a certain sense, Sabrina has conveyed her own cosmopolitan mentality to the entire company. The Gruppo Intimo Italiano now consists of a team of individuals who combine the qualities of the typical family-run enterprise with those of the most advanced business concern. house wear. “Pepita” is our main brand. We started five years ago, wishing to offer something new to the market. When we went to the shops with the first collections, something desired but unexpected happened: in only five years this brand found its way to the buyers and today it is present in over 700 shops in Italy alone. “The brand “Tata” is intended for the woman who likes herself; who is ambitious, attractive, who lives life at full pace,” with those words Tonti explains why one of the brand faces for that line is Paris Hilton. Besides busily performing her function in “Gruppo Intimo Italiano”, Sabrina

Tonti is also Vice-Chair of Italian Fashion School “Polimoda” and President of the Toscana Fashion Industry Association. Polimoda is home to names like Donatella Versace and many other great Italian creators. In Pistoia, the place of the origin of Tonti’s company, almost the complete Italian lingerie industry has been concentrated. “We have a great reputation in that field, not only in Italy, but worldwide. The companies which are there are owners of good trademarks. Lots of effort has been invested in that, but we mostly work on product preparation. We try to find young people that are educated and creative, in order to share with them the secrets of the trade, and to get new ideas from them. Therefore, it is very important for us to have opened up the Polimoda school of top design, which should become one of the most influential schools in that field in the world,” explains Tonti, adding that she hopes that some young Serbian designers shall also be interested to study at Polimoda. “I am looking for someone who is creative and diligent. It would be interesting to watch how the market develops, the growth of our brands here, but also to have people who live our ideas and develop them.” Boutique “Bianco & Nero” in Belgrade is only a start. Concluding by explaining the company’s ambitious plans for the region, Tonti says: “In the next few months, a boutique of male underwear is also expected in Belgrade, and then expansion heads towards Novi Sad and other bigger cities in the country. We plan to open five boutiques. Moreover, we plan for Serbia to become a base for our further expansion in the region and other countries of the Southeast Europe.” n CorD / November 2007 81

Culture News

Festival as an Anthology n the shadow of the big Belgrade festivals -- BITEF, BEMUS and FEST -- for the 16th consecutive year the Serbian capital is this November hosting the International Tribune of Composers. This festival will introduce the latest achievements of modern Serbian and foreign composers of artistic music. This year’s 16th Tribune will be of a retrospective nature. From 23rd - 27th November, at the Belgrade’s Philharmonic Hall, the best Serbian soloists, chamber ensembles and orchestras will perform more then 50 compositions of 43 Serbian and 10 foreign composers, which were featured within the programme during the past 15 years of this festival. That is why this year’s tribune is called - A View backwards; therefore, it is a unique anthology of modern music. “The goal of the programme of Tribune is to confirm the potential which undoubtedly exists among composers who are coming from our environment and who are still working here. I remind that at the Tribune, during the past 15 years, 107 domestic composers participated and 348 of their performances were seen. Thanks to potential like this, it is possible to direct the attention of institutions and ourselves towards the importance of modern music and by so doing influence culture in wider way, particularly regarding the preservation of national identity, but also its continued maintaining and creativity,” says composer Ivan Brkljačić, selector of the Tribune.

UNICEF Annual Child Reporting Award he UNICEF office in Belgrade has announced a Tender for the Annual Award for the Best Media Reporting on Children and Children’s Rights. The Tender is open until 5th November and the goal of the award is to stimulate qualitative and ethical reporting in written and electronic media on the topic of children and children’s rights in Serbia.

This year’s 16th Tribune will be of a retrospective nature

Respecting the important role of the public media in the shaping of public opinion, the UNICEF Office in Belgrade, in co-operation with the Belgrade Media Centre, will grant the award for

dissemination of information and materials of social and cultural interest for children, aimed at informing the public as much as possible with regard to the status of children and children’s rights in the Republic of Serbia. Book Fair Honours Italy Serbian dramatist Dušan Kovačević formally opened the 52nd International Belgrade Book Fair on 22nd October, with the introductory speech of Swiss-born Italian authoress Fleur Jaeggy. During the week-long Fair, which ran until 28th October, around 800 publishers from 21 countries presented themselves. Guest of Honour country at this year’s Fair was Italy, which presented on its stand the works of modern Italian writers and especially pointed out the aspect

of European integration. The guest of honour at the Italian stand was Italian Foreign Minister, Massimo D’Alema, who presented the publication “Thinking about Europe. Two years from integration on the pages of Italianieeuropei magazine,” organised by the Foundation under the same name. The discussion “Europe today: perspectives for the Balkan countries” was also held during the annual book fair, and among the participants were journalist, historian and diplomat Sergio Romano and Massimo Nava, an expert on International Issues who writes for “Corriere della Sera”, ex-Yugoslav Ambassador in Rome, Miodrag Lekić and Political scientist Milan Pajević. The guests of the Belgrade Fair were also some of the most famous writers from Italy. Amongst them were Claudio Magris, one of this year’s favourites to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, and Croatian writer Predrag Matvejević, who lives and works in Italy. Publishers from 21 countries presented themselves at the Fair (Italy, U.S., Switzerland, UK, Croatia, Japan, Portugal, Angola, Brazil, Greece, Canada, Iran, B&H, Montenegro, France, Poland, Austria, Russia, China, Germany), and the programme covered more than 200 promotions of editions, talks, roundtables and discussions. For the first time this year, the EUNIC programme has been held, within which the united Cultural Centres of the European Union countries with a seat in Belgrade have been presented - Italian Culture Institute, British Council, Austrian Culture Forum, Goethe Institute, Cervantes Institute and the French Culture Centre. For the first time this year, the annual award “Dositej Obradović” was awarded to a foreign publisher for a continuous and clear contribution to promoting literature from Serbia. The winner was Vienna-based publishing house Lojze Vizer.

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Minister Brajović, Ambassador merola & Italian Minister, Massimo D’Alema,

CorD \ .OVEMBER

¨©

Culture Calendar

POP, ROCK & JAZZ CONCERTS Kosheen

National Theatre – Premiering in November Director: Vladimir Vasiljev Conducor: Johanes Harnait Carmina burana Imperial Russian ballet SAVA CENTRE Grand Hall 9th November, 8pm

(USA) Music from – Star Wars, Schindler List, Jurassic Park, Batman, Evita Pavle Aksentijevic, vocal soloist / spiritual music

Ballet Stars of the Bolshoi Theatre (Moscow) SAVA CENTRE Grand Hall 30th November, 8pm

Student Cultural Centre (SKC) 3rd November Dža ili BU

Student Cultural Centre (SKC) 9th November Joe Cocker

CLASSICAL MUSIC Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - LONDON SAVA CENTRE Grand Hall 10th November, 8pm Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra Kolarac Institute, Great Hall 2nd November Miguel Gomez-Martinez, conductor Eduardo Fernandez, guitar Programme: J. Turina: La procesion del Rocio J. Rodrigo: Fantasia para un gentilhombre for guitar and orchestra J. Brahms: Symphony No. 3 Blandine Rannou, Harpsichord

Kolarac Institute, Great Hall 6th November, 8pm Evening of Ivan Jevtić Wind Quintet RTS and soloists Kolarac Institute, Great Hall 15th November, 8pm Conductor - Manfredo Smit (Brazil) Katarina Jovanović (soprano), Rita Kinka (piano) Kolarac Institute, Great Hall 20th November, 8pm Nikolaj Znaider (violin), Robert Kulek (piano)

Belgrade Arena 9th November Maceo Parker Dom Sindikata 11th November Aleksandra Radović SAVA CENTRE Grand Hall 11th November, 8pm ABBA - Arrival SAVA CENTRE Grand Hall 14th November, 8pm Joshua Redman trio jazz saxophone SAVA CENTRE Grand Hall 18th November, 8.30pm The Swingle Singers / London

SAVA CENTRE Grand Hall 20th November, 8pm BALLET Don Quixote -- Ballet Ensemble of Belgrade National Theatre 84 CorD / November 2007

City Assembly, Main Hall 8th November, 8pm Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra Kolarac Institute, Great Hall 9th November Peter Leonard, conductor Rascher Saxophone Quartet Programme: A. Vrebalov: Orbits P. Glass: Concerto for saxophone quartet and orchestra J. Sibelius: Symphony No. 2 Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra Kolarac Institute, Great Hall 16th November Thierry Fischer, conductor Jasminka Stancul, piano Programme: D. Shostakovich: Ballet Suite No. 1 L. van Beethoven: Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 1 B. Britten: Sinfonia da Requiem J. Massenet: Scenes Dramatiques MAGIC FILM MUSIC -Symphony Orchestra RTS Kolarac Institute, Great Hall 7th November, 8pm Conductor - Antonia Hoy Wilson

Kolarac Institute, Great Hall 22nd November, 8pm Programme: Beethoven, Brahms RTS BIG BAND Kolarac Institute, Great Hall 27th November, 8pm

ANNUAL EVENTS International Composers Tribune 23rd to 27th November Ceremonial opening of the Tribune Belgrade Philharmonic Hall, 23rd November, 6pm Chamber ensemble, conducter Biljana Radovanović Programme: works of Božidar Obradinović, Goran Kapetanović, Jovana Stefanović, Jasna Veličković, Tanja Milošević, Isidora Žebeljan and Killian Schwon (Germany). Concert of Belgrade Philharmonic, conductor Premil Petrović Belgrade Philharmonic Hall, 23rd November, 9pm Programme: works of Anja Đorđević, Soeppe Pohiola (Finland), Vuk Kulenović and Ivana Ognjanović. Concert of RTS Symphony Orchestra Belgrade Philharmonic Hall, 24th November, 8.30pm Conductor: Bojan Suđić Programme: works of Milan Mihajlović, Louis Andriessen (Holland) and Vlastimir Trajković. Concert of chamber juncture and soloists Belgrade Philharmonic Hall, 24th November, 6pm Programme: works of Ljubica Marić, Ian Wilson (Ireland), Irena Popović, Vladimir Tošić and Aleksandra Vrebalov. Monographic Promotion – 15 Years of the International Composers Tribune Ethnographic Museum in Belgrade, 24th November, 7pm Editorial and presenters: Dr. Vesna Mikić and Mr. Ivana Ilić Concert of RTS choir, conductor Milan Nedeljković Belgrade Philharmonic Hall, 25th November, 11am Programme: works of Aleksandar Vujić, Mirjana Živković, Svetislav Božića, Srđan Jaćimović and video projection of pieces of Vladan Radovanović and Ivan Božičević. Concert of chamber junctures and soloists Belgrade Philharmonic Hall, 25th November, 6pm Programme: works of Zoran Erić, Srđan Dedić (Croatia), Miloš Petrović, Slavko Šuklar (Slovenia),

Toru Takhemitsu (Japan) and Karlheinz Stockhausen (Germany). Concert of the Ljubica Marić String Orchestra, conductor Rade Pejčić, and wind quintet of the Belgrade Philharmonic Belgrade Philharmonic Hall, 25th November, 8.30pm Programme: works of Rajko Maksimović, Vojin Komadina, Ivana Stefanović, Dejan Despić and Milana Stojadinović-Milić. Concert of chamber junctures and soloists Belgrade Philharmonic Hall, 26th November, 6pm Programme: works of Miloš Zatkalik, Konstantin Babića, Nataša Bogojević, Milica Paranosić, Zlatan Vauda, Dušan Radić, Luciano Berio (Italia) and Dušan Kostić. Ceremonial closing of the Tribune Belgrade Philharmonic Hall, 26th November, 8.30pm Concert of ensemble Stringers of St Đorđe, conductor Biljana Radovanović Programme: works of Srđan Hofmann, Svetlana Savić, Aleksandar Obradović, Ivan Jevtić and Ana Mihajlović. A view to the future Belgrade City Assembly, Ceremonial Hall, 27th November, 8pm Chamber orchestra of Music school Mokranjac, conductor Vladimir Milić Programme: works of Stevan Mokranjac, Ivana Stefanović, Dejan Despić, Ivan Brkljačić and Zoran Erić, under selection of Vladimir Milić. Festival of Documentary and Feature Films `Free Zone` Belgrade Cultural Centre, 9th to 14th November www.freezonebelgrade.org French Festival of Documentary Films Sava Centre, Cinema Sava 21st to 25th November

American Corner Feature films Adults

Every Monday at 4:30pm (5th, 12th, 19th, 26th November) Children

Every Wednesday at 5:00pm (7th, 14th, 21st, 28th November) Documentary films 7th November - American Cinema: Film Noir

“Film Noir” takes viewers on a dark journey to the underside of American life. This program explores how the genre, reaching its peak in the 1950s, reflects the pessimism and paranoia that were the signs of the times. 14th November - American Cinema:The Star

Stars can be a studio’s greatest asset and a crucial factor in box-office success. This program reveals how Joan Crawford and others achieved and maintained star status. 21st November - American Cinema: Film in the Television Age

In 1946, half the country was going to the movies. The same year, television networks began daily broadcasts from New York City, forever changing International Festival of Ethnological Film Ethnographic Museum, Belgrade 14th to 18th November

the face of American cinema. This film examines how a new era of motion picture entertainment grew out of the arrival of television on the scene and also how television was influenced by the movies. 28th November - American Cinema: Romantic Comedy

Romantic comedies often indirectly reveal truths about the battle of the sexes. Featuring some of cinema’s most glamorous stars, the romantic comedy uses mild slapstick and witty repartee in bringing its star-crossed lovers together, while challenging our ideas about men and women. PANEL DISCUSSIONS I Saying I Speak on Good English

Improve your English by learning how not to make common everyday mistakes. Thursdays (8th & 22nd November) at 5.15pm American Corner Co-ordinator: Timothy Johnston. Conversation hours

Fridays (2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th November) at 5pm Co-ordinators: Pat Anđelković, Milan Cile Marinković – Drawings

ART EXHIBITIONS Tierri Nectu – Seventh Art

Janet Rude, Katherine Woznicki, Tommie Ann Višić & Milica Randejlović. Conversation for Kids

Tuesdays (6th, 13th, 20th, 27th November) at 4.30pm Conversation for primary school pupils who want to improve their knowledge of English Programme co-ordinator: Jamie Weiler Teen Conversation Hour

Tuesdays (6th, 13th, 20th, 27th November) at 6pm Programme created for all young people who want to improve their language skills. Programme co-ordinator: Jamie Weiler English Conversation for Women

7th November at 4pm For intermediate or above English speakers who would like to discuss contemporary social issues to improve their English conversation ability. Co-ordinator: Cathy Nemmert Idioms & Slang Hour

Thursdays (1st, 15th, 29th November) at 5.30pm Learn the “other” side of the English language. Co-ordinator: Jamie Weiler Cast - Nebojša Glogovac, Mirjana Karanović, Jasmina Avramović, Nikola Ðuričko, Ana Sofrenović, Jelena Ðokić, Goran Sušljik, Toni Laurenčić, Marko Baćović, Nikola Rakočević. FILM CINEMANIA 31st October to 8th November Belgrade – Sava Centre Novi Sad – Arena Cinema

Look Into The World – International Festival of Authorial Film Belgrade Cultural Centre 27th November to 4th December

PANEL DISCUSSIONS Comic Book Meetings

French Cultural Centre 12th to 28th November Exhibition of photographs (portraits of actors, film directors and other authors of the Seventh Art - Film). The exhibition is part of the Month of Documentary Films

Belgrade City Library, Atrium Gallery 15th to 30th November Exhibition of drawings from various periods of Marinković’s creative work.

Serbia & Great Britain – Cultural Links from the early 20th century Sanu Gallery, Ðure Jakšića 2 Exhibition authored by Snežana Toševa, curator of the Science and Technology Museum

THEATRE PREMIERES BARBELO (About dogs and children) Yugoslav Drama Theatre New play by famous Belgrade playwright Biljana Srbljanovic Director - Dejan Mijac

French Cultural Centre 30th November, 6pm Presentation of the fourth (latest) volume of `Yugoslav Tetralogy` by Enki Bilal CorD / November 2007 85

Culture News Belef Seeks Suggestions he Belef Centre has published an invitation calling for individual suggestions for programmes for the Belgrade Summer Festival in 2008. The Belef Centre is the Executive Producer of the International Multimedia Festival BELEF, which is held every summer during July and August in Belgrade, covering visual, theatrical and musical programmes. The published invitation to artists pertains to a collection of individual programmes from the aforementioned fields.

British writer Doris Lessing, winner of the 2007 Nobel Prize for Literature

The applicant should deliver a completed form with basic information (name, address and author’s CV); description of the competing programme, and the list of programme participants. An application form can be downloaded from the website www.belef.org, as well as over the counter at the BELEF Centre in Ilije Garašanina Street no. 24 in Belgrade. The deadline for delivery of the proposals is 5th December 2007. All received proposals shall be discussed by the BELEF Commission. Nobel Prize for Literature Awarded ritish writer Doris Lessing is this year’s winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature. Doris Lessing, who turned 88 on 22nd October, made her debut in 1950 with the novel “Grass Sings”, and among her most important books is also the semi-autobiographic serial - three novels “Children of Violence”. Other works of Doris Lessing include “The Golden Notebook”, “Memoirs of a Survivor” and “The Summer Before the Dark”. The annual award for literature, presented by the Swedish Nobel Academy, is considered to be the most prestigious literary award that a writer can get. The Academy stated that this year’s award went to Lessing because her books have succeeded, in an epic way, to transmit womanly experiences. Besides a financial award of £763,000, Doris Lessing also received the golden medal and an invitation to hold a lecture in the seat of the Royal Swedish Academy in Stockholm.

86 CorD / November 2007

The formal Nobel award ceremony will take place in Stockholm on 10th December – the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death. L’Oreal Paris Cinemania he premiere of the film “The Fourth Man”, by Belgrade Film Director and Screenwriter Dejan Zečević, formally opened this year’s fifteenth L’Oreal Paris Cinemania on 31st October in Belgrade’s Sava Centre. This traditional film show is held until 7th November in the Sava Centre in Belgrade and from 1st to 8th November in Novi Sad’s Arena Cinema. L’Oreal Paris Cinemania will see the domestic premieres of 23 new films, mostly of Hollywood production. The public shall be able to watch films such as “The Cowardly Murder of Jessie James by Robert Ford”, which brought

the award for best male lead to Brad Pitt at this year’s Film Festival in Venice, “Invasion” with Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, the musical “Hair Spray”, with John Travolta in the role of an obese lady, and other blockbuster hits. L’Oreal Paris Cinemania will close with the political thriller “Clay Pigeons”, directed by Oscar-winner Robert Redford and starring Tom Cruse and Meryl Streep in the leading roles. The Serbian public will be able to see this movie two days before its American premiere. The popular Cinemania event also has a parallel programme featuring 46 greatest hits that have been played in domestic cinemas this year. Tickets for the L’Oreal Paris Cinemania can be obtained in Sava Centre, Billet Service and Mammoth Mega Store.

Actor Nikola kojo - from the film “the fourth man”

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LEISURE

DJs on the up By Richard Wordsworth

t was a good summer to be young in Belgrade. Trundling back from Novi Sad after the EXIT festival in July with all the perks of Belgrade in the summer time to look forward to; the bustle of the centre and the serenity of Kalemegdan in the hot sun; the blissful evenings relaxing and dancing on the splavs on the river; cramming in to see the Chilis or the Stones in concert; the beer festival (both of them)... For three of four months the city was an idyllic, sun-baked break from the grey winter world of parkas and double thick socks. But that’s over now. The days are getting shorter, the skirts are getting longer, the splavs have closed down and the street-side cafes have started packing up their outdoor tables, chairs and revolving ice cream freezers. What to do? Where to go? Dismayed with the possibility of a winter nightlife hibernation, I went on a search to find someone with the answers - the people behind the scenes who make their names and paycheques on the back of the city’s party atmosphere. Our people on the inside If you were a part of Belgrade’s nightlife this year and didn’t hear about Urban Forces, you soon will. “We play in Exile in summer, because the people there care about music. But in winter we play a lot in Plastic.” Maky explains, “and this year we’ve been asked to play in Andergraund, which is cool because it’s one of our favourite clubs.” The DJs I’m sitting with are Maky and Damjan, part of Belgrade DJ collective Urban Forces, arguably one of the most important groups on the city’s vibrant club

scene, and they don’t seem at all disheartened over the encroachment of the winter months. Over the summer they played together frequently on the splav Exile on the Sava River bank in New Belgrade to hundreds of satisfied clubbers, and the partnership between them and the club is so strong that it was even the venue for the group’s official first birthday party this year. If anyone could give me the lowdown on how to live it up in Belgrade this winter, as well as an insight into the workings of the city’s scene, these were the people to do it. Humble beginnings As we chat in the cafe on Trg Republike over a coffee, they recount their story to me in charmingly broken English. Before moving to Belgrade, Damjan was organis-

Attracting attention

Funding flights

difficult start-up

we invited a DJ from Germany to play on the same night as us. Everybody came to see this foreign DJ playing in Serbia, and then they saw us too.

promoters have talked to us about playing abroad…They say they will pay us for the performance, but not for our flights and accommodation.

It’s difficult to start DJ’ing in Belgrade. There aren’t many people who can, or want, to teach you. There aren’t many DJs, and most are dated

92 CorD / November 2007

ing his own gigs while his friend printed up the flyers advertising them, and Maky couldn’t even play this time two years ago. They had to start – pardon the pun from scratch. “It’s difficult to start DJ’ing in Belgrade. There aren’t many people who can teach you, or who want to teach you. There aren’t lots of DJs, and many of them are old fashioned and still play the same music as they did ten years ago,” Maky says. The growing fame in the city’s club culture they now enjoy didn’t fall in their laps. After Damjan moved to the capital and taught Maky how to mix, the duo started organising as many gigs as possible to promote themselves and get their names and music heard, and caught a lucky break when they met the owner of Exile last year. “We were organising our own parties on Exile in November 2006, when the club is usually closed.” explains Damjan. “He [the owner] made money from the bar and we invited our friends to come. Our first party only had thirty people. We organised seven nights that winter and played every one of them for free. Our biggest party was the sixth, with still only about 130 people.”

It’s who you know The Urban Forces list of what’s hot when it’s cold - get a taste of their music online before you head out: Urban Forces - www.myspace.com/urbanforcesteam DJ Maky - www.myspace.com/djmakyuf DJ Damjan Eltech - www.myspace.com/djdamjaneltech Marko Nastic - www.myspace.com/djmarkonastic Milos Vujovic - www.myspace.com/djmilosvujovic DJ Rahmanee - www.myspace.com/djrahmanee CODEX - www.myspace.com/codexkernel Plastic - www.club-plastic.com Andergraund - www.andergraund.com Planet Bigz - www.myspace.com/planetbigz

Rising stars How things have changed in such a short space of time. Gone are the days of having to invite guests by word of mouth - now whether playing together as Urban Forces, or separately as DJs Maky or Damjan Eltech, their names are in the big print on the promotional flyers and posters. “Promoters have talked to us about playing abroad, in Croatia, even in Germany and the UK,” says Maky, “but money is a problem. They say they will pay us for the performance, but not for our flights and accommodation.” Not that they have much time to spare at home, though. New opportunities to play out come and go all the time, and as the city’s music venues attract bigger and bigger acts from abroad, the spots at the top clubs are ever more hotly contested. As Damjan explains, the scene gets more competitive each year: “It has changed quickly. The first real club only opened here in ‘96. It was called Industria and had room for one hundred people.” The contrast between that and the country which today draws over ten thousand westerners to its summer music festival couldn’t be sharper. Tomorrow’s heroes “[Starting out] is difficult, especially when people don’t know you,” Maky says. “Peo-

The Belgrade club scene is unforgiving for fledgling djs

ple here who we play to will only come to your club if they’ve heard your name before - they don’t want to try something new.” This apathy of the public towards new performers is the biggest problem with the city’s dance scene, they tell me. In comparison to the west, electronic music is still a lot less commercial in Belgrade - many DJs promote themselves on online community sites like MySpace rather than through agencies, and many of the top clubs have only just started to invest in their own websites. Making a name for oneself in the city’s party culture requires playing out as much as possible, some luck and a few guerrilla tactics: “We invited a DJ from Germany to play on the same night as us in August. Everybody came that night to see this foreign DJ playing in Serbia, and then they saw us too. People see “from Germany” on the flyers and all want to go.” The trick worked, but the difficulty of becoming a player in the Serbian dance world is something Urban Forces are addressing for others as well: “We organised a competition to find

the best DJ in Belgrade with Exile a few months ago.” Damjan recalls. “We had many DJs playing one after the other and judges to pick a winner.” So who are the names to watch out for this winter? “Marko Nastić.” they both say, together. “He started DJ’ing at fourteen and he’s twenty six now - he’s one of the best in Serbia.” In addition, they recommend the winner of the Exile competition, Milos Vujović, and both he and Nastić played at the DJ SUPERSTAR stage at this year’s EXIT festival. They also plug fellow Exile residents Rahmanee and CODEX, two of the country’s hottest drum and bass acts. They’re equally candid about the city’s three top winter clubs; the multi-levelled Plastic, the eponymous Andergraund, built in the cave underneath Kalemegdan, and one-time newspaper printing press Planet Bigz on the opposite side of the Sava from the Exile-Freestyler-Sound collective (Bulevar Vojvode Mišića). So, break out your most stylish stripy mittens and thermal underwear - it’s going to be a long winter. n CorD / November 2007 93

Leisure & Lifestyle

94 CorD / November 2007

Karađorđe’s

cradle This month, CorD and the Tourist Organisation of Serbia invite you to take a trip into the history of Serbia with a trip to Topola and Oplenac.

ith its position at an important historical crossroads, every part of Topola is seeped in the history of the region – tales of uprisings and revolt leaders, kings and vagabonds are deep in the foundations of the area; stories of monasteries and churches, famous wines and vineyards, tasty food and hospitality, linger in the air and refresh the soul. Welcome to Topola!

Šumadinan heart Topola, the cradle of the Karađordjević dynasty, is a town in the heart of the Šumadija region of central Serbia. According to legend, the town originates in place where four roads met; a place of meeting and waiting, where a large poplar tree sprouted out and branched off, which in time gave the name to the whole settlement. Topola’s Oplenac, the hill on which the town lies, is named after the crooked trees which grow on it and were used to make “oplen” [part of a cart]. The Oplenac Forest Park is a national reserve. It covers close to 87 hectares of woodland (pine, oak, European ash, linden and Pančić’s spruce). The Municipality of Topola is one of seven municipalities in Šumadija County. Covering the northern part of Šumadija, Topola is 80km from Belgrade, 220km north of Niš, and 280km south of Subotica. It spreads over an area of 365 km2 and is home to 25,292 inhabitants. Fertile land and a moderate continental climate benefit agriculture, which is the leading industry. Fruit cultivation is given special attention in Topola, while wine growing is considered an extraordinarily important activity. Kings’ construction Topola was at the centre of the Serbian state at the beginning of the 19th century. Here Ðorđe Petrović, aka Kara(Black) Ðorđe constructed his town; and it was here that Karađorđe’s grandson, King Petar I Karađorđević, opted to construct his Foundation. As such, Topola is rich with historical monuments. The Church of Sveti Đorđe (Saint

Karađorđe’s town was constructed between 1811 and 1813 by Karađorđe Petrović – the leader of the First Serbian Uprising.

George) in Oplenac represents a facility of authentic beauty and refined aesthetics. Constructed as a temple and mausoleum of the ruling Karađorđević family, it dominates the scenery and blends with its refined looks, as well as due to the construction

material used for its construction, which whiteness contrasts against the green forest around it and the blue of the sky, representing perfect harmony. Another Topola gem is Petar’s house, constructed in 1912 with the intention of serving as a house for a priest. Wishing to oversee the construction of his Foundation as much as possible, King Petar decided to relocate to this house. Today it is a museum gallery with topical exhibitions related to the Karađorđević dynasty. Besides King Petar’s house, visitors should take time to explore the King’s villa and Queen Marija’s villa, which members of the Karađorđević royal family still use to this day. Karađorđe’s town was constructed between 1811 and 1813 by Karađorđe Petrović – the leader of the First Serbian Uprising. CorD / November 2007 95

Leisure & Lifestyle

The complex has been preserved to this day and guests can still visit the restored castle with tower, church with belfry and the former school that today houses the Radoje Domanović National Library. In the castle there is a standing exhibition of the personal belongings of Karađorđe and authentic weapons from the First Serbian Uprising, amongst which is the original Karađorđe cannon, known under the name “aberdar”. The Church of Presvete Bogorodice

(Holy Mother of God), known in folk language a Karadjordje’s church, is a single nave construction with the basis in the form of a written cross. Constructed from rough stone, it has a tile roof and next to the western portal a one storey high belfry tower has been erected, also from stone, which simultaneously served as a protection tower. Karadjordje’s church is a specific historical monument and proof of the violent events that occurred in the Topola area. The House of Karadjordjević has placed

Useful information Tourist organisation of “Oplenac” Topola Kneginje Zorke 13, ž 34310 Topola, Serbia tel/fax:034/ 811-172 www.topolaoplenac.org.yu 96 CorD / November 2007

a commemorative plaque in the church, complete with the names of the warriors from this area who died in the Balkan wars of 1912 and 1913. The centre of the fortified town is dominated by a recently erected Karađorđe monument, a work of Petar Palavicini. At the foot of Rudnik Mountain, Topola offers visit to orthodox medieval monasteries. One of the exceptional monasteries here is the Nikolje female monastery constructed in 1425, which still today houses rich spiritual life. Oplenac vineyards From the Romans to Despot Stefan, from Karađorđe to King Petar, vineyards have been integral to this area, and wine-makers and good wines have appeared frequently. Once upon a time, every Topola host had a vineyard and for the Patron Saint and every other celebration he brought his wine

The King’s cellar in Topola has two underground cellars

The Church of Presvete Bogorodice (Holy Mother of God), known in folk language a Karadjordje’s church, is a single nave construction with the basis in the form of a written cross.

to the table. Vencac vineyard co-operative, King Petar’s cellars, King Aleksandar: famous wines, even sparkling wines, came from this area to the tables of the best Belgrade, Vienna and London restaurants. Until a couple of years ago, Oplenac was forgotten in the wine world, but times change and Topola is regaining the status of the Serbian wine capital. The King’s cellar in Topola has two underground cellars with a constant temperature of 8 degrees. In the cellar 99 large barrels have been lined up, each with a capacity of 4,000 litres of wine. They were last filled 20 years ago. The cellar and the vineyards surrounding it are in the renovation phase. Accommodation options Hotel “Oplenac”** once the King’s Foundation home opened in 1934, this served to accommodate and receive guests to Topola

and Oplenac. Its architecture is reminiscent of Byzantine castles. Today the hotel Oplenac has around 100 beds in double bed and three-bed rooms. The hotel has a seminar hall, summer garden and souvenir shop. The national restaurant in the vicinity of the hotel offers guests a rich choice of dishes from the national cuisine in the pleasant environment of Morava-style Serbian houses. CHALLENGING THE SENSES Topola and the surrounding area represent an oasis of calm. The Oplenac forest is an ideal place for rest and return to nature. The vicinity of this picturesque town offers fresh air and good food, and visitors will return from this journey richer. The terrain of the Topola municipality is extraordinarily rich in mushrooms: some say that it is the richest in the world. The most represented are the Boletus mushroom, Cantharellus cibarius, champignons, Lactarius deliciosus Fr., morel, beech mushroom and Amanita Caesarea. Truffles are also found occasionally. One can also find medicinal herbs, such as Klamath weed,

yarrow, centaury, linden, thyme, cornelian cherry and many others. ATTRACTIVE FESTIVITIES Topola is visited annually by more than 100,000 tourists, and one lure is the festivals of the area. There is still another opportunity to discover the Topola tradition, the spirit of the people and their way of life. Each year since 1958, Topola has hosted the Oplenac grapepicking festival on the second weekend in October. This manifestation, known locally in Šumadija as simply the Topola Fair, coincides with the staging of the fair “Gathering of Handicrafts of Serbia”, which is a republic review of the most successful performers of the original national creations from Serbia. As Topola expands, so expands the tourist offer. Also spreading is the good word about the hospitality and culture of the Topola people, refined gastronomy, good domestic spirits, and authentic souvenirs. The message is that Topola should be visited, primarily sensed and experienced each time anew. n CorD / November 2007 97

HOW TO…

…Get published?

Are you a budding writer? Do you feel like you have something interesting, insightful or humorous to say about the Serbs or Serbia? Popular B92 blogger Nicholas Comrie is seeking contributors for the book “How to Understand Serbs”, to be published by B92 Samizdat. For more information or to offer material, contact Nick directly at comrieinbelgrade@hotmail.com

CROSSWORD Solve this crossword puzzle and test your Serbian – the clues may be in English, but the answers should be entered in Serbian

…Book tickets online for all events?

It is now possible to book and pay for tickets for all kinds of domestic events via the internet at www.tiketservis.com. This site provides full listings of all upcoming events and tickets can be paid for by credit card and delivered to your home or office anywhere in Serbia.

…Get food delivered day and night?

Fancy some take-away food, but not sure where and what you can get? Check out the website www.donesi.com. This innovative site, available in both English and Serbian, lists restaurants by type of cuisine and provides details of the menu on offer, including prices, location, delivery zone and working hours.

…Find party caterers with a difference?

When organising any kind of party, function or reception, hiring the services of a quality caterer is an important element, allowing you to save time, relax and enjoy your celebration. However, finding something original, creative and slightly exotic is even more important and is no mean feat in Belgrade. But fear not, the team at Iguana Restaurant are here to cater for your alternative catering needs for any event – from children’s parties, christenings and family celebrations, to weddings, seminars, office parties and official receptions. Contact Iguana, Bozidara Adžije 30, on 011 2443383 or 063 7448690.

…Install broadband cable internet?

…Find an English-speaking dentist?

Sick of being unable to explain just how much your tooth hurts to your Serbian dentist? Why not try out the services of dentist Katarina Gačić, a fluent English speaker. Contact Katarina on 064 3390527 or via email on katarina_gacic@hotmail.com

…Make yourself understood?

Find yourself frustrated by your inability to say simple things in Serbian? Here at CorD we are endeavouring to make your stay in the region a tad less alien by providing a few simple phrases that will help you make yourself understood: èS hould I go left, right, straight on or back the way I came? èD a li bi trebalo da idem levo, desno, pravo ili nazad odakle sam došao? è I ’ll be back in five minutes/half an hour. è Vraćam se za pet minuta/pola sata. è I ’m a vegetarian. Lamb is not a vegetable. è J a sam vegiterianac/ka. Jagnjetine nije povrće. è What do you do for a living? èČ ime se bavite? è I had the right of way. Do you have insurance? è J a sam bio/bila u pravu. Da li imate osiguranje? è I ’m sorry. I sneezed while the traffic light was changing. è I zvinjavam se. Kinuo/la sam dok se promenilo svetlo na semafor. è When does the bus to Novi Sad depart? èK ada kreće autobus za Novi Sad? 98 CorD / November 2007

HORIZONTAL: 1. the capital, 2. a person who restores, 3. science of light; name of … Karenjina, 4. a sporting score; car sign for Nikšić; latin preposition (from), 5. French harbour in the English Channel, name of German-born NBA player, … Nowitzki; vehicle symbol for Italy, 6. symbol for nickel; saying for a bad move in chess, 7. land measurement (100m2); Asura, 8. floor in a room; tangent (abb.), 9. notice to beware; car sign for Poland, 10. symbol for sulphur; strength; isthmus on the Malacca peninsula, 11. symbol for tantalum; vehicle symbol for Leskovac; a kitchen bowl of sheet metal, used for roasting, 12. a phone call; on the left side, 13. a machine used for cooling a room, 14. paying in advance for a done deal (plural) VERTICAL: 1. gas combined with butane used in the home; the inside part of a coat, 2. part of an animal’s body that wags (plural); American journalists’ association (abb.); name of a British actor … Guinness, 3. name of American actress …. Williams; Serb holy land on Halkidiki, personal pronoun, 4. British chess player Michael … ; a thousandth of something; vehicle symbol for Tunisia, 5. movement of water along a river, Serbian positive word; hypothetical citizen of the moon, 6. plough a field; symbol for nitrous; dragon, 7. on top; decoration on the head of a rooster; area meant for building a house, 8. the name of our first actress, … Rine; an ideal geometrical picture; to damn someone, 9. value in money; symbol for argon; mountain pass, 10. biggest peninsula in the world; city in Pakistan Solution - horizontal: prestonica, restorater, optika, ana, poen, nk, ab, avr, dirk, i, ni, paceraj, ar, asura, patos, tg, opomena, pl, s, sila, kra, ta, le, pleh, alo, nalevo, ventilator, akontacije Solutions - vertical: propan, postava, repovi, ap, alek, ester, atos, ono, stin, promil, tn, tok, da, selenit, oranica, na, ala, na, kresta, plac, ita, krug, kleti, cena, ar, prevoj, arabija, lahore

Is your Internet connection too slow? Help is at hand from Serbia Broadband, which is now providing fast and reliable cable internet connections. 24-hour, phone-line-free connections available, as well as cable television with extra Pay-per-view options. A modern call centre, equipped with over 60 lines, is available anytime on 011 3305252.