CorD Magazine No.53

RUSSIA IS ON SERBIA’S SIDE H.E. Alexander V. Konuzin Ambasador of Russian Federation

GROWING MARKET Jasna Matić Serbian Minister of Telecommunications and Information Society

WHAT CAN I DO FOR SERBIA Tomislav Nikolić Leader of Serbian Progressive Party

interviews opinions news comments events www.cordmagazine.com

October 2008 / Issue No. 53 / Price 170 RSD

Money Talks

CorD, October 2008

34

42 ECONOMY

54 CURENT AFFAIRS

SOCIETY

WHAT CAN I DO FOR SERBIA?

LIBERALISATION WELCOME

HIGH ROLLERS

10

25

76

Interview: Tomislav Nikolić, leader of the newly formed Serbian Progressive Party

MLADIĆ ON HIS WAY

14

Relations of Serbia and Europe in a view of CorD’s Dragan Bujošević

RUSSIA IS ON SERBIA’S SIDE

16

Interview: H.E. Alexander V. Konuzin Ambassador of Russian Federation

GROWING MARKET

22

Interview: Jasna Matić, Serbian Minister of Telecommunications and Information Society

SEVASTOPOLJ ENIGMA

28

Political consequences of the war in Georgia By Ljubodrag Stojadinović

BELGRADE AS A CHALLENGE

54

Jadranka Štrum Kocijan, Deputy Head of Mission Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia

MANAGING DIRECTOR Ana Isaković, a.isakovic@cma.rs EDITOR IN CHIEF Vladan Alimpijević, v.alimpijevic@cma.rs ASSOCIATE EDITOR Richard Wordsworth, r.wordsworth@cma.rs CORPORATE EDITOR Tatjana Ostojić, t.ostojic@cma.rs ART DIRECTOR Zlatko Jovanović, z.jovanovic@cma.rs DESIGN ASSISTANT Tatjana Radojičić EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Dragan Bujošević, Ljubodrag Stojadinović, Sonja Ćirić, Mirjana Vujović, Ilija Despotović, Rade Ranković, Dejan Jeremić PHOTO Stanislav Milojković, Časlav Vukojičić, Dragan Milošević, CorD Archive, Fonet TRANSLATORS Snežana Rakić, Dejan Zubac, Milica Kuburu, Momčilo Drakulić EDITORIAL MANAGER Tanja Banković, t.bankovic@cma.rs ADVERTISING SALES Marija Urošević, m.urosevic@cma.rs, Marija Savić, m.savic@cma.rs, SUBSCRIPTION Maja Reljić m.reljic@cma.rs EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Sanja Zimonjić, s.zimonjic@cma.rs

6 CorD / October 2008

Interview: Branko Radujko, CEO of Telekom Srbija

WHY INFLATION IS NOT A GOOD THING

34

Dr Miroslav Prokopijević, economy expert

PRIORITIES – INFRASTRUCTURE AND REGULATIONS

38

The Foreign Investors Council (FIC) has presented its latest, sixth edition of the White Book

INABILITY TO FACE THE PAST

42

A leading Nazi hunter Efraim Zuroff, head of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, was on a visit to Belgrade

WAITING FOR PRIVATIZATION

80

The new Serbo-Croat language

GENERAL MANAGER Ivan Novčić, i.novcic@cma.rs FINANCIAL DIRECTOR Ana Besedić, a.besedic@cma.rs PRINTING Politika AD DISTRIBUTION Futura Plus CorD is published by: alliance intrenational media 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.rs www.cordmagazine.com ISSN no: 1451-7833 All rights reserved alliance international media 2008

Serbian sport in globalization

SUCCESSFULLY RECOUNTED TRAGIC COMEDY

62

Belgrade International Theatre Festival: 42nd time

BOTH ‘OURS’ AND ‘THEIRS’

66

DO YOU SPEAK MONTENEGRIN?

46

When the Grand Casino Belgrade opened in 2007, it was the beginning of not only a new lease of life for the dilapidated Hotel Yugoslavia

Interview: Nebojša Bradić, Serbian Minister of Culture and Media

JAZZ EMOTIONS

72

Belgrade Jazz Festival

AUTUMN HOLIDAY IN THE COUNTRY

86

Recommendation for village households

FOODY’S OASIS ON THE DANUBE

88

Restaurant Review – Šaran Zemun

TECHNO TALK

90

Micro Machines & sleds

COMMENT

Vladan Alimpijević, CorD’s magazine Editor-in-Chief

Money Talks Publishing company alliancemedia and the editorial office of CorD magazine marked the fifth anniversary of CorD’s existence with a reception at Dedinje’s Club of Parliamentary Members on 17th September. The event was an excellent opportunity for members of the government, foreign investors, domestic businessmen, ambassadors, media representatives and other dear guests of ours to meet. The reception, entitled ’Back to Business’, was formally opened by our honoured guest, Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković.

W

e hope that in the last 52 issues we have at least partly accomplished our mission of promoting democratic and free market values.

Every month we invest great efforts in trying to communicate relevant opinions and the viewpoints of the most influential people – those who are also the most responsible for the creation of a new political, economic and cultural environment in Serbia.

We have promoted social responsibility, democracy, the protection of human rights and the freedom of movement of people and goods. It is up to you to determine whether we have succeeded in this.

A few days ago, President Tadić addressed parliament and said that, corruption aside, populism and demagogy were the biggest adversaries of the young Serbian democracy. Analysts from the renowned Financial Times warn that greed and fear are modern day threats to capitalism. When opening the Zagreb Fair, President of neighbouring Croatia, Stjepan Mesić, outlined a new, greater role for the state in defending economic growth and social stability in the era of post-neoliberalism. So, after the era of statesmenclerks, the countries of the world now need leaders with a vision.

In the wake of recent events on the U.S. financial market, the mantra that says that the state is stupid, but market is smart, is seriously jeopardised; or at least the politicians would like it to be.

The state, its administration and holders of executive power are definitely no longer just night guards of the system, as taught by the obsolete economic doctrine of liberalism. The process of alternative allocation of financial and political power, i.e. the state’s role in encouraging competition and restraining greed, remains the imperative at the beginning of this century. Hence, consensuses and compromise, setting priorities and behaving responsibly when making decisions in the society’s private and state sector are very important. Risky behaviour, just like taking care of a person’s health, is no longer the generator of success and change. For that matter, efficient decision making and the readiness to make corrections are important. Polyvalent communications. The holders of not only public functions, but also commercial managers, have a great responsibility in this world, especially for the most vulnerable and poorest groups.

Truth, sacrifice and curiosity are still above power and wealth.

Of course, we are not commending the craziness of state planning 8 CorD / October 2008

or efforts made to abolish the market. However, nobody can relieve the elite from their responsibility to develop the global society.

Not everything can be commercialised. Unprofitable areas should be financed by the state. So, it does seem strange that the U.S. is now covering the losses made by the private sector, i.e. the mistakes made by massively overpaid managers with salaries amounting to millions annually. If it weren’t for that intervention - ultimately to be paid for by U.S. taxpayers - the power of politicians would have collapsed. For years, Serbia’s political elite has been resisting the notion of separating the state from the economy. Generations of politicians have been building their power on public enterprises, their losses, hiring and profit. The state is trying to reject what is not profitable, i.e. science, education and culture.

Now most of our parties are democratic, and everybody approves of the European corpus of values and the modern protection of humans and their rights. Now, when we have reached an agreement about many things, the most difficult questions that need to be answered are the following: Can we live better; who distributes the people’s wealth and how? We are not talking only about the market here. We have the state also.

The inefficient, costly state is present where it doesn’t need to be and not present where it is supposed to be. It is enough to take a look at what is happening in sports (you can read about this subject in the latest issue of CorD), the privatisation of public enterprises or the country’s energy strategy.

Not even the most cynical of people believed back in 2000 that, come 2008, Serbia would still not be granted EU candidate status, and its citizens would still be queuing up to get visas. Even with the new government, Serbia is troubled by problems akin to those in the countries of the region, while it has some that are only endemic to Serbia. Even the former leader of Serbia’s biggest opposition party, Tomislav Nikolić (who we interviewed for this issue of CorD), believed that in 2008 we were going to be closer to the EU. Europe is not like Ithaca, with lost sons returning after centuries of wandering around. The time has come for us to have a better life. If that doesn’t happen, we have only ourselves to blame. It is no consolation that other nations have bad governments too. That’s why, in this world, money talks.

INTERVIEW

Tomislav Nikolić, leader of the newly formed Serbian Progressive Party

What can I do for Serbia?

During almost two decades of involvement in politics, MP Tomislav Nikolić has never been given as many accolades and heard so many words of praise for him from his political opponents, foreign diplomats and journalists

BY VLADAN ALIMPIJEVIĆ PHOTO FONET

F

ollowing the eruption of a media affair in the wake of his public rift with Radicals ICTY-defendant leader Vojislav Šešelj on the issue of Serbia’s future in the EU, CorD spoke to the former Radical front man. With wide praise still ringing in the break-away Radical’s ears, we initially asked him to comment on those accolades and determine whether he believes his political adversaries from the democratic block really want him to survive in politics?

Our conversation is regularly interrupted by the ringing of telephones. Journalists and activists from the new political party being put together by Nikolić are constantly calling. At one point, Aleksandar Vučić, former Secretary General of the Serbian Radical Party (SRS), calls. We are talking in the offices of Nikolić’s caucus in the Serbian Parliament. So, what about those accolades?

“I’ll accept praise from those who accept democracy,” Nikolić says.

So, you do accept compliments from Tadić or Đilas?

“Well, I don’t know whether I accept them.

I think they gave them to me on purpose, in order to reduce our political influence. Of course, they know that we are democrats. If we weren’t, we would still be in the Radical ranks. If I were not a democrat, I would have tried to change the approach and activities of the Serbian Radical Party during these last five years. I would like us to become acceptable to those people who used to be afraid 10 CorD / October 2008

of us. But I certainly like to hear praise from the people whose democratic orientation I am sure of, even if they are not on the same political platform as we are. Don’t expect this party, the Serbian Progressive Party, to ever act in an undemocratic manner. owever, I am not alright with the British Ambassador praising me at a time when former friends are accusing me of being a

British spy. Now, the whole of Serbia knows who I really am (laughs).

Before I receive any praise, I would like the people first to see what we are going to do on the Serbian political scene.”

I remind Nikolić that, in the eyes of the media and analysts, he was never a typical member of the Serbian Radical Party.

He was always more open and less prone

to making militant and nationalistic statements. He never talked about Serbia’s state borders being along the lines of Karlobag, Ogulin, Karlovac, Virovitica (a reference to Greater Serbia) The president of the new Serbian Progressive Party (SNP) responds by insisting that he has been a disciplined member of SRS for the past 18 years. According to him, this meant complete adherence to the party’s programme, supporting the party ideology and making public appearances which are in no way differed from the official party stance. “Every normal and serious individual would try to preserve at least some of his integrity in such an environment,” Nikolić points out, refusing to admit that he is different or possesses a different mentality to that considered to be an SRS quality, which certainly doesn’t sound like Vojislav Šešelj.

“We led the party without any conflict, even when I wasn’t too happy with our activities. It was only when I came to the position of leading policy and Šešelj had to follow that conflict started,” Nikolić insists.

Aside from the party’s harsh nationalist ideology, in the beginning SRS was clearly positioned on the right-wing – you advocated liberal capitalism and defended capitalist interests. However, once you took over the active leadership of the party it slid into populism and brought the social demands of the poorest people to the forefront. Is this the essence of your conflict with Šešelj?

“We advocated a free market and privatisation of public enterprises, but following the conflict in Croatia, and later in Bosnia, we dedicated ourselves to taking part in the war and neglected all other facets of political life. We ruined our political ascension wittingly, to a certain extent, when we entered the government of Slobodan Milošević in order to defend Kosovo and Metohija. Our role wasn’t a particularly memorable one, and so we were completely squeezed out of the political scene after 5th October.“Our new ascension started in 2002, when we became aware that the society was at a juncture that made the choices of the people crucial.

Europe’s offer tipped the scales in the 2000 elections: ‘$4billion is waiting in Hungary; change the government, bring a democratic one, and sanctions and blockades will be lifted; capital is coming, investors are coming, the state is getting it together.’ The citizens couldn’t resist such an invitation. Afterwards they realised how rigorous

Nobody in SRS had a bad word to say about my policy of cooperating both with the East and West, although Šešelj had a different opinion. these European laws were – the laws which have been imposed on the Parliament and Serbia by all governments, from Đinđić’s to the current one. This is why we placed an emphasis on social issues, since many promises made by the new government had been left unfulfilled. SRS kept everything that was national, in the sense of the Republic of Serbia’s nationalism and love for the country, but it also turned attention to the problems of everyday people.Unfortunately, DOS (Democratic Opposition of Serbia) didn’t use the opportunity to further develop relations with the West, and was not allowed to cooperate with Russia. Eight years after the upheaval, aside from the problem of Kosovo, the country’s main problem is now the living standard of its citizens.

Nobody in SRS had a bad word to say

Proposal to Tadić

W

about my policy of cooperating both with the East and West, although Šešelj had a different opinion. When you are in such position, there is nothing you can object to. Who is the biggest European ally? Russia! And vice versa, of course. What do we need to do? To say that we are going to shun them?

Even SRS has travelled the road from an EU

hat can I do for Serbia as the President of SNS? I can ask Boris Tadić whether he has problems with Čanak and Dinkić about implementation of the arrangement that I signed with Putin. Boris, are you scared that the Government will collapse because of that? Are you scared that you won’t get support in the Parliament? Here, prepare a set of laws which regulates relations with Russia and a set of laws which will show the EU that we can fulfil their standards and we will vote in favour of them. But, after that, he would have to dismiss the Parliament. This is what we can do, i.e. adopt needed laws and secure a government majority for their adoption prior to elections.

“I am not leading a group of people who couldn’t take it any longer back there so they formed a government with Boris Tadić. What I want to do is show the citizens that intolerance is not necessary; that the only things we should argue about are election ideas.

opponent to being just an amendment away from accepting the path towards the EU. This is called adjusting. We cannot be stuck in trenches without ever moving an inch.”

So, nobody wanted to be associated with the Radicals after 5th October.

What will the so-called coalition capacity of SNS be like? Who can you cooperate and form coalitions with, now that Šešelj is no longer here to stop you?

“Although I often refuted claims that nobody wanted to be associated with us, I knew that that was the truth. At a meeting of the SRS leadership, when I was thrown out of the party, I said that even if we’d had 40% of votes we would not have made it to power, since all other parties would assemble around the ’yellow ones’ [parties of the socalled Democratic Block]. The Democrats have formed a coalition without us now, but if they needed more votes in the Parliament they would have got them.

In the future, Serbia will have two political blocks and they will alternate in power – on one side there is DS, and on the other is SNS or the coalition of parties assembled around us.”

Or around DSS and the Radicals?

“I am not sure about that. If they are strong enough maybe that will happen, but I think that our time is coming. We are going to be ready to cooperate with everybody, but CorD / October 2008 11

INTERVIEW

we aren’t going to form a coalition with the Democrats at the national level.”

You will not have anything to do with the ’yellow ones’ after all?

“Serbia doesn’t need that.”

When we mentioned that there was a similar large coalition in power in Germany, Nikolić noted that Germany was in a specific situation and that the coalition of the two biggest parties would be a step back from democracy to a one-party-system.

I don’t even want to imagine such difficult times for Serbia, when everybody should be included in one government. We are going to compete with the ideas and will control each other,” Nikolić explains, adding that when it comes to the municipal level cooperation is possible with everybody and SNS headquarters will not meddle in that.

“For the first time this year, following the order from The Hague, we refused a DS offer to share power in two municipalities.”

Speaking of power, you have years of experience both in power and as an opposition leader. You were a minister and a prisoner. Why is the governance of Serbia developing more slowly than is the case in neighbouring countries?

“During the 1990s, the EU burdened Serbia with wars. They were unjust towards Serbs and every other nation in Europe had more rights than us. Croatia illegally imported arms and all Serb rights were neglected. The U.S. was at the helm of this policy. Serbia had to go to war, but these wars did not stop us. We didn’t have Russian support back than. Yeltsin and the West introduced economic sanctions. We were bombed because of Kosovo, but we were absolutely in the right. They sent all our prominent people to The Hague. This created an image that we are savages and murderers, and that everybody else was an innocent victim of Serbian aggression.

In 2002 we got a bad government.

This government played with the West and thought that joining the EU was just around the corner. The EU was just like a big river,

rate was like Bulgaria’s? Nobody.

“This government doesn’t know how to lead us to the EU. This government is so heterogeneous. We would join the EU much faster if we had more solid cooperation with Russia. If we had used the advantages of this cooperation, Europe couldn’t have waited to have us as its member. Who do we belong to? West? Russia? Ourselves? We don’t have an identity of our own.”

all you needed to do was move your arms a bit in order to swim. Serbia still drowned in this big river. I do understand that EU members have open borders and joint laws, but

In 2002 we got a bad government.This government played with the West and thought that joining the EU was just around the corner.The EU was just like a big river, all you needed to do was move your arms a bit in order to swim. Serbia still drowned in this big river.

Serbia is still not a member. How can somebody open everything that is ours to Europe, when Europe is not opening to us?”

Well, Europe reduced its customs duties on our goods and gave us preferential treatment a long time ago. We have also been given the most financial assistance in the last eight years – more than any EU country.

“Yes, I know that and I understand it. But what is the exit strategy here? Is our strategy to become poor again? Who would have the right to be a Euro-sceptic, doubting the European values, if everybody in Serbia was employed, if we were already in the EU, if we travelled freely and our unemployment

Dobrica Ćosić Looking back, are you sorry now to have caused Dobrica Ćosić to step down from the position of the country’s President?

“I have great respect for that man. He offered me some advice in writing today (September 24th) and if I’d known that he would be coming to Parliament I would have postponed the press conference. I’ll certainly get in touch with him later, but nothing about our relations will change. Ćosić entered politics with good intentions. I remember that he had a tough time in the Parliament back then. Imagine a writer being called up to lead a country. Milošević suggested him, we accepted and he became the President. He was relieved of this duty after surrendering Prevlaka. I think that this job should be left to politicians.

I am convinced that Dobrica Ćosić is a great man and a great writer, a great mind, but he failed to run the former Yugoslavia properly and I don’t owe him any apology for that.”

12 CorD / October 2008

In your opinion, when are we going to join the EU; the latest date is 2014?

“The problem is not in The Netherlands and its stance. The problem is in us. I insist on someone drawing a graph and outlining the prerequisites for us to join the EU. The Government can meet these prerequisites, but there are a couple that it just cannot – i.e. for the democratic Government to ask the Parliament’s support and for Serbia to present Europe with the agenda through the Parliament, and not Dinkić or Đelić.

In that case, there would be no blackmail or deadlines anymore. Eight years after the

political changes, we are not a step closer to Europe. This is something that the Government promised the people. Judging by the level of bribery, crime and corruption, we might never join it.”

Isn’t it a utopian dream to believe that most EU countries and the U.S. will change their stance on Kosovo and that Kosovo will be returned to Serbia one day? That does sound unrealistic.

“I think that the process could be stopped and regulated by negotiations. The solution is not division of the territory, but rather an economically sound Serbia which invests in Kosovo. The part of Kosovo with a mostly Serbian population should be developed in such a way that their neighbours will think twice about what they actually gained by becoming independent, i.e. to start looking for a job in Serbian communities. Serbia needs to prove that it can develop Kosovo and Metohija, and enable the people there to have a good life. Nobody can deny Serbia this, not even the large privately-owned companies.

If we secure a good life, not even the U.S. will be able to object to a very wide autonomy for Kosovo within Serbian borders.

“Economic prosperity eliminates conflicts. The culprits belong in prisons. And why should we fight because we belong to different nationalities? This is not the century of revolutions.

POLITICS

Serbia and Europe

Mladić on his Way Most of Serbia is in favour of the country joining the EU, however, the issue of Kosovo’s independence and cooperation with the Hague Tribunal could tarnish this show...

BY DRAGAN BUJOŠEVIĆ

M

oving towards the European Union, Serbia is once again faced with an obstacle called Ratko Mladić, but when The Netherlands and Belgium refused to unblock the trade agreement, it was clear that things were going to change pretty quickly.

Days before his departure for Brussels, Božidar Đelić, a Government member in charge of the issues, was spreading optimism left and right, claiming that official Brussels would unblock the agreement. However, the officials in the Serbian Foreign Ministry did not share his optimism, i.e. they were more inclined to believe that the Dutch will say ’no’ rather than Solana and Rehn ’yes’.

The optimism, even unjustified, could not harm Solana and Rehn in any way. On the contrary, since the Serbian public is not too fond of those two, they aimed to create an impression that they are friends of Serbia, unlike The Netherlands. Đelić’s optimism was mocked by certain media and, in the eyes of an average Serbian citizen, it was interpreted as a proof of yet another needless opposition coming from the Dutch. You see everything would have been over already if it hadn’t been for their rigid stance – this is what most voters in Serbia think. The reason for such thinking could be found in the fact that Serbian citizens believe that ever since the former Yugoslavia disintegrated, The Netherlands has always behaved in a manner detrimental to Serbia. At the beginning of the 1990s, The Netherlands was one of the harshest proponents of Yugoslavia falling apart.

At the same time, 90% of Serbs were the fiercest defenders of the country’s survival, which, to be honest, was created just after the First World War, following the wishes of then US President, Woodrow Wilson who wanted to create a ’Slavic barrier’ to the German penetration of the Adriatic re14 CorD / October 2008

gion. Serbia also blames The Netherlands for not doing much to prevent the war crimes committed in Srebrenica, which is something that the leader of the Bosniaks in Bosnia and Herzegovina often talk about, i.e. for shifting the blame solely to Mladić and Serbia. If no citizen of the Netherlands is tried in front of the Hague Tribunal because of the aforementioned events in Srebrenica, many people in Serbia (as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina) will consider that the pinnacle of injustice and cynicism. The fact that many of them think that this will never happen does not change the opinion that The Netherlands is both to be blamed for Srebrenica and being unjust towards Serbia (and Bosniaks).

After Radovan Karadžić’s arrest, an average citizen of Serbia found it difficult to understand why Ratko Mladić has now become a ’prerequisite’. Isn’t the arrest of the first President of the Republic of

Serbia enough proof that the new Serbian Government can and will find and arrest the remaining Hague defendants?

An average Serbian citizen doesn’t know that The Netherlands sees Karadžić’s arrest as proof that Serbian secret services have been hiding Karadžić (and Mladić and Hadžić) and that they have no reason to believe the current Serbian Government, since both DS and G17 were also in the previous government. Hence, it is much easier for this citizen to accept a laconic explanation given by Boris Tadić that The Netherlands’ decision was motivated by internal political issues. Maybe this served as an anaesthetic to the Serbian public and public opinion generators who missed their chance to link the Dutch ’no’ to Serbia’s initiative in the UN for the International Court of Justice to ascertain whether Priština’s decision to declare independence was legal and the Serbian refusal to cooper-

OPTIMISM

HAGUE

TADIĆ

Đelić’s optimism was mocked by certain media and, in the eyes of an average Serbian citizen, it was interpreted as a proof of yet another needless opposition coming from the Dutch

Why Ratko Mladić has now become a ’prerequisite’. Isn’t the arrest of the first President of the RS enough proof that the new Government can and will find and arrest the remaining Hague defendants?

Despite a small group of Euro-enthusiasts criticizing Tadić, his statement is still hopeful for an average voter, implying that he needs to be a bit more patient and everything will soon be just fine.

ate with Eulex in Kosovo. There are many political analysts in Serbia who could provide extensive proof that the EU was actually standing behind the Dutch refusal and that this was a figurative cane used to discipline the Government in Belgrade to cooperate with EULEX in Kosovo, and finally, a counter-measure against Serbia wanting world justice in the case of Priština’s independence. For some reason, these arguments have not been loud enough to reach the public, regardless of the fact that the Euro-sceptical analysts are still quite influential in certain media.

Despite a small group of Euroenthusiasts criticizing Tadić, his statement is still hopeful for an average voter, implying that he needs to be a bit more patient and everything will soon be just fine. ’The wind in the back’ of this idea was also provided by Ollie Rehn, who suggested that Serbia should start unilaterally implementing the agreement.

Political Belgrade is still optimistic. Completely ignoring the Dutch ’No’, Deputy Prime Minister, Mlađan Dinkić is joyfully speaking of Serbia starting with an immediate implementation of the agreement, albeit unilaterally. He has also shown a basic lack of understanding of the point of view expressed by the Serbian Minister of Agriculture who said that Serbian agriculture could not be exposed to the ’EU game’ if no EU funds were available to it.

During unofficial negotiations with officials in Belgrade, it was quite obvious that we were expecting The Netherlands to change its opinion. Both Euro-enthusiasts and Euro-sceptics are, however, less optimistic. Čedomir Jovanović and his Liberal Democratic Party will try to persuade the 30th Conference of the European Liberals to appeal to The Netherlands to say ’Yes’.

Jovanović also held talks with the representatives of Dutch Government during which they reviewed a possibility of him and his party guaranteeing that Serbia would find and arrest Mladić and Hadžić.

The man who arrested Slobodan Milošević

Serbian Radical Party (SRS) was torn in two, and the public was under the impression that the reason for that was the difference in opinion that Vojislav Šešelj and Tomislav Nikolić had of the Stabilization and Association Agreement. The people in the EU really don’t care what is the real reason behind the rift among the Radicals, but they do care about the fact that individ-

President Boris Tadić talking to Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković ual members of SRS, whether pro-Šešelj or not, will have to think about Europe in a different way now. This member will no longer be able to equate Euro-enthusiasts with the so-called Serbian traitors. On the other hand, once Nikolić forms his own party on October 21st, he will be able to make a difference between each member of SRS individually when it comes to the issue of whether Serbia should join the EU or not. He will have to demonstrate that he hasn’t abandoned the radical policy towards Kosovo and The Hague, hence every difference will have to be proven in relation to the EU. Further from this, the Euro-sceptic block in Serbia will boil down to SRS and

The Dutch ’No’ came at the time of a dramatic aberration on the Serbian political stage would be a guarantee enough for the Dutch political elite and public. But, the problem is that he, as the opposition, doesn’t have much control over the government. Hence, the Dutch were thinking about LDP being included in the Government of Serbia.

It is quite certain at this moment that this would not suit Jovanović or Tadić, or the relations within Serbia’s political scene.

The Dutch ’No’ came at the time of a dramatic aberration on the Serbian political stage. The strongest opposition party, the

leaving the DSS coalition, and even this will not stop Koštunica from refusing to negotiate with Europe, until Europe provides him with a reply to a well-known question. The most important thing is that Ilić’s departure will reduce DSS to a political margin.

The Radicals will be fiercer in opposing Europe. However, they will be faced with

DSS. While being made the opposition, Vojislav Koštunica’s party failed to promote its stances among the political audiences. There is no reason to believe that their usual sluggishness, academic generalization and sublimity of their views will vanish overnight. However, this will not stop DSS, similar to some kind of a sect, to continue repeating their mantra about the EU, although they are well aware that the official Brussels will never reply to it. There is a good chance of Velimir Ilić

three problems. First, further from Nikolić and Aleksandar Vučić leaving the party, they lost the best presenters of the party agenda in public. Even those who despised this radical duo, had to admit that they possessed a political, oratory and media talent. Secondly, the radical extremism, softened by the abovementioned talents of Nikolić and Vučić, will now be even more visible and hence unacceptable to the majority of people in Serbia. If they want to have a decent number of people listening to them, they will now have to forget their own arrogance and boorishness. Finally, their stance will depend a lot on the whimsicality of Vojislav Šešelj, who is prone to turning his political stance upside down overnight.

Surveys show that not all people who voted for DSS and SRS have identical viewpoints of Serbia joining the EU, like Koštunica and Šešelj. Almost 45% of DSS and 39% of SRS voters favour Serbia joining the EU. This proves that the majority of Serbia favours Europe. Although most of Serbia is pro-EU, the issue of Kosovo’s independence and cooperation with the Hague Tribunal could tarnish this show. Although the EU needs a stable and advanced Serbia, the Union will probably keep the issue of Serbia joining the EU, and cooperation with the Tribunal and Priština’s independence separate as much as possible.

CorD / October 2008 15

DIPLOMACY

INTERVIEW H.E. Alexander V. Konuzin, Ambasador of Russian Federation

Russia is on Serbia’s side The global energy crisis began escalating in the middle of lat year. And, since the transfer of power from Putin to Medvedev went so smoothly, Russia’s global influence has been ever increasing. For Serbia, which failed to achieve EU candidate status, relations with Moscow have a special significance.This summer, a new Russian Ambassador arrived in Belgrade

BY ELENA VASILJEVA VLADAN ALIMPIJEVIC PHOTO STANISLAV MILOJKOVIĆ

W

e spoke to Ambassador Konuzin during the visit of Russian minister Sergey Shoigu and while a large group of Russian investors was visiting Belgrade. In an open, impromptu interview for CorD magazine, Ambassador Konuzin underlines that Serbia’s aspirations to become an EU member are not in conflict with the policy of further developing relations between Serbia and Russia.

Political analysts from Belgrade talk of the tendencies of Western diplomats in Belgrade to divide Serbian politicians into pro-European and pro-Russian groups. How justified is this division from your point of view, as the Russian representative?

16 CorD / October 2008

Unfortunately, in my professional career, even in such a sensitive profession as that of a diplomat, we often come across that stereotypical way of thinking, inherited from the times of conflict between the Western and Eastern block. It seems to me that it is incorrect to divide Serbian politicians into these two camps, so to speak.

Such mechanical divisions reflect a codependent view of an individual who is influenced by external factors.

We are trying to continue our tradition and we are not going to meddle in Serbia’s internal affairs. We believe that your political elite are called to reflect national interests in the sea of variety, and they have to be held responsible for their actions by the Serbian people.

Is Belgrade’s official orientation towards fast European integration jeopardising your country’s interests in the region?

I will reiterate: Russia is not allergic to the fact that the Serbian authorities want

EU

KOSOVO

GAS

Russia is not allergic to the fact that the Serbian authorities want the country to join the EU. We can say that this aspiration has its natural and historic logic, and that it is a sovereign choice that Belgrade has made

When it comes to the Russian approach to the issue of Kosovo, nothing has changed.

We are ready to provide assistance to Belgrade in opposing further disintegration of your country

When devising the route that the South Stream gas pipeline is going to take, we were faced with many options. Russia chose the ’Serbian version’.This is a political decision and a friendly gesture towards a brotherly nation

H.E. Ambasador Konuzin and CorD’s Editor Alimpijević the country to join the EU. We can say that this aspiration has its natural and historic logic, and that it is a sovereign choice that Belgrade has made. Aside from certain complications that we’ve had lately, and which are not our fault, we are also open to establishing straightforward and pragmatic relations with the EU; relations that will be on an equal footing. This thesis has a pragmatic significance. It doesn’t apply only to the Russian side, well, as far as we can conclude from the discussions held in Serbia

gian officials in South Ossetia, the Russian Government is not giving up its intention of developing normal relations with the U.S. The situation in this area does not depend solely on us. I am sure that political wisdom will prevail. As the saying goes, the ball is in the Russian court.

With regard to the EU and our joint future on one continent, we are still open for continuation of the dialogue. It would be wise if the influential international factors, which definitely include the EU, were to

We see no need for NATO to expand any further. On the contrary, the propagation of the North Atlantic Alliance further East (i.e. towards Russian borders) and filling up of the remaining ‘geographical voids’ will only bring more tension and cause doubt as to the real purpose of such a trend. about the issue of protecting the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as respecting the dignity of Serbs.

How serious is the fact that relations between Moscow and Washington are strained, and in which way does this problem reflect on relations between Russia and the EU? In addition to the difficulties we have in communicating with Washington, which has worsened by no fault of ours following the unacceptable behaviour of Geor-

form individual stances regarding global events. That would provide us with a guarantee for the creation of an efficient and balanced security system on the basis of multi-polarity. This is one of the Russian foreign policy principles, as stated recently by President D.A. Medvedev.

Do you foresee any changes in the attitude of the Serbian authorities regarding the county’s integration into NATO? Russian scepticism on the issue of fur-

ther NATO expansion is well documented.

We see no need for NATO to expand any further. On the contrary, the propagation of the North Atlantic Alliance further East (i.e. towards Russian borders) and filling up of the remaining ‘geographical voids’ will only bring more tension and cause doubt as to the real purpose of such a trend.

Of course, it is not in the Russian tradition to dictate to somebody how to behave, but I see no need to hide our evaluations.

As far as I know, Belgrade is building its stance on the basis of the existing decision about the country’s military neutrality.

What are Belgrade’s chances of joining the EU and, at the same time, defending its territorial integrity in Kosovo?

I am not sure I am the right person to estimate Belgrade’s chances of joining the European Union. Generally speaking, we are not only talking about deadlines here, but also about conditions for integration. I doubt that the citizens of Europe are united on their view of how to harmonise Serbia’s legitimate aspirations of preserving Kosovo within Serbian borders and denial of this right by 21 EU countries. Brussels providing a statement that these two issues are not linked in any way is probably not sufficient enough.

What is your view of the speculation that Moscow could soon withdraw from the policy of defending Serbia’s CorD / October 2008 17

DIPLOMACY

faced with many options. However, Russia chose the ’Serbian version’. This is a political decision and a friendly gesture towards a brotherly nation.

Speculation about the implementation of the agreement was motivated by the interests of foreign competitors, which is not in line with the national interests of your country. It is a well known fact that Russian experts have already started to elaborate on specific details of this project.

Russia will be consistent in implementing the complete intergovernmental treaty, and I expect Serbia to do the same.

Your predecessor warned on several occasions that Russian capital in Serbia is faced with more obstacles than Western capital. How relevant is this at the moment?

I don’t want to shift the blame comsovereignty?

You used the right word – speculation.

When it comes to the Russian approach to the issue of Kosovo, nothing has changed.

We are ready to provide assistance to Belgrade in opposing further disintegration of your country. We are actively sticking to this course with the end goal of preserving Serbia’s integrity. We are on your side and on the side of international law.

Has NATO’s attitude towards Kosovo facilitated Russia’s approach to the Georgian issue and Moscow’s recognition of independence of the two autonomous regions of that country?

NATO’s attitude towards the problem with Kosovo didn’t make anybody’s life easier. We should remember the sad events of 1999. I think that we should not draw a parallel between Kosovo and its illegal declaration of independence, and the events that happened in the Caucasus.

They are of a different nature and have developed under completely different circumstances. All I can say is that a lack of concern for the international legal norms in the case of Kosovo, and the propagation of legal nihilism also by NATO, just prompted the irresponsible Saakashvilli regime into barbaric action against the people of South Ossetia.

We were not speaking in vain when we said that the forced separation of Kosovo from Serbia created a dangerous precedent for other unresolved issues in different parts of the world. Still, the situation in each and every one of them is developing in line with its own logic.

What are Russian economic interests in Serbia? Is politics involved in any way?

Russia considers Serbia to be its key partner in the Balkans. Our trade and eco18 CorD / October 2008

nomic cooperation is not conditioned by political events, but by mutual adherence to Russia and Serbia’s interests.

Once the Intergovernmental treaty on cooperation in the oil and gas sector came into force, new possibilities were created.

This creates a future, both for Serbia and Russia, for the development of a strategic

I think that we should not draw a parallel between Kosovo and its illegal declaration of independence, and the events that happened in the Caucasus.They are of a different nature and have developed under completely different circumstances partnership in a critically important area for your industry. Implementing the joint oil and gas plan will be an important step not only towards increasing the security of energy supplies, but also for international integration into the Russian gas supply system on the European market.

An important area is also the further liberalisation of trade between our two countries. Development of trade and investment needs adequate credit and financial guarantees. The first steps have already been taken – one of the biggest Russian banks, Bank of Moscow, began its operations in Serbia.

Is the agreement on the sale of NIS and construction of the gas pipeline through Serbia in any danger?

I would like to remind you that when devising the route that the South Stream gas pipeline is going to take, we were

pletely onto the Serbian side. Russian capital was faced with many bureaucratic obstacles – inexcusable delays in the implementation of projects, the lack of a business culture, the influence of external factors, etc. There was also the negative impact of global evaluations. Russian companies also have problems. The most important thing is to strengthen the atmosphere of mutual trust in implementing bilateral projects and carrying out the obligations that we undertook. We need to be flexible, i.e. to recognise a need to include additional partners, if necessary.

Western analysts sometimes belittle Russia by saying that the country’s newly acquired power is based on Europe’s dependency on Russian gas and oil. Prime Minister Putin warned recently that that dependency was mutual. How do you view your country’s

4HE NEW 6OLVO 8# WITH CITY SAFETY We’re raising the already high bar of Scandinavian design even higher. Of course, being the safest Volvo ever only adds to its appeal. City Safety comes standard, which means the XC60 will apply its own brakes to avoid a low-speed collision.

Now that’s what we call functional design. It’s the ďŹ rst Volvo to stop trafďŹ c. And itself. All for you, from Sweden with Love.

Kdakd# [dg a^[Z

( ) % #) # %

*** )# )# %& %& # )# $ #! ' & % "' *** $ #! ' )# )# %& #! %

DIPLOMACY

economic development and is Russia facing the recession that is knocking on the door of the U.S. economy?

Russia’s development is fast, which, of course, is not only the result of favourable prices of energy products in the world. Without an appropriate social and economic state policy, we would achieve nothing. In 2003, we had a mid-term goal of doubling the gross domestic product.

Various estimates say that we are going to attain this goal by the end of 2009 or in the first quarter of 2010. Last year our economic growth was 8.1%. This year, we are already over 8%. We do have problems with the inflation rate, but many other European countries also have this problem.

In 2007, the net influx of foreign capital to Russia amounted to $81 billion.

This year, foreign investments are also high. Only in the first half of the year, they amounted to $46.5 billion.

We have a double budget surplus and a positive foreign trade balance. Our gold and currency reserves are growing and currently stand at $500 billion. According to this indicator, Russia takes third place in the world, after China and Japan.

Moreover, the population’s revenue is growing. In the first half of this year, realterm growth was over 7%, while real salaries grew by almost 13%. So, the Russian economy is relatively stable and has very good prospects.

Renowned U.S. magazine Vanity Fair included Prime Minister Putin in its list of the most influential people in the world. One of the found20 CorD / October 2008

ers of Google, Sergey Brin, takes the number three spot. Has Russia embraced capitalism or is capitalism the Russian way?

An interesting question. I don’t fully understand putting the Prime Minister of Russia, Vladimir Putin, in the same category as Sergey Brin, who does have Russian background but is a U.S. citizen.

Actually, what I want to say is that we are living in a globalised world and, accordingly, we need to abide by certain rules in order to continue growing and advancing our interests.

which was forced to massively intervene in the private financial sector. Still, we are in the same situation, just like most other countries, and they all have their national peculiarities.

You arrived to Serbia this year.

What came as the biggest surprise to you here?

I was very impressed with the feelings of love and respect that Serbian citizens have towards Russia and Russians. I was pleasantly surprised by the demonstration of warmth when Russian people are

Our gold and currency reserves are growing and currently stand at $500 billion.According to this indicator, Russia takes third place in the world, after China and Japan. Moreover, the population’s revenue is growing. In the first half of this year, real-term growth was over 7%, while real salaries grew by almost 13%. So, the Russian economy is relatively stable and has very good prospects What about capitalism in the Russian way?

In my opinion, capitalism is of no nationality. Otherwise, we would be talking about capitalism in American, German, French or Serbian way. In Russia, we develop market relations with a strong social orientation. We have our own peculiarities when it comes to our economic development, the place that our economy takes in the international distribution of labour, availability of natural resources, geography and so on. Every country is specific in its own way. Sometimes, you need to be unconventional, like the U.S.

mentioned. I am very glad that Serbs are not only respecting what Russia does, but are also proud of it. When Russians have it tough, Serbs feel a deep compassion. I appreciate this richness of Serbo-Russian human relations that took centuries to build.

Have you found a location in Belgrade or Serbia that you are particularly fond of?

I like to visit the Russian Church in Belgrade. I like to walk along the beautiful Sava and Danube piers and stroll in your green parks. When I am at Kalemegdan, I can see space above the horizon.

INTERVIEW

Jasna Matić, Serbian Minister of Telecommunications and Information Society

Growing Market „Liberalisation in the fixedline telephony sector is just one of the trends along our EU path and one of the inevitable events that will follow.“

BY TATJANA OSTOJIĆ PHOTO MARKO RUPENA

A

ccording to the data from the Republic Telecommunications Agency, the revenue from telecommunication services in 2007 is higher by 13% in relation to the previous year and it amounts to close to €1.47 billion.

The telecommunications’ revenue had a 4.7% share in the national GDP (while in 2006 this percentage was 5.6). Looking at individual services, the revenue from the mobile telephony had the highest share in total revenue in 2007, i.e. 57%, while the share of KDS was the lowest.

Serbian Minister of Telecommunications and Information Society, Jasna Matić announces that, in 2008, the Serbian telecommunications market will grow by 9%, and will generate the revenue of €1.65 billion.

True, this growth is somewhat higher than the EU one, but we should bear in mind that the Serbian market is smaller and that the growth of domestic economy is higher than in developed countries. Currently, the telecommunications market takes from 4% to 5% the Serbian GDP which is more than in the EU and this confirms a dynamic growth recorded in the last several years. In order to harmonize Serbian regulation with the EU one, and due to the fact that the Law on Telecommunications was written back in 2005, passing a new law is in now order. All of these are the reasons for an interview with Jasna Matić.

Recently, you have announced that the Serbian telecommunications market will grow by 10%?

Estimates say that the Serbian telecommunications market will grow by 10% and this is somewhat lower than before.

Our market is still not mature enough, like other markets, but is getting closer to this maturity. The 10% growth is higher than the one in the EU countries. This increase also shows that this is an exceptionally dynamic branch and a sector that is recording a high growth here.

22 CorD / October 2008

Since the current Law on Telecommunications was written in accordance with the EU Directives from 1998, is this law going to be changed any time soon?

With regards to the Law on Telecommunications, we are still thinking whether changing that law in order to optimize the situation on the market would be enough of the reason to start with a very tiresome, complex, complicated and long lasting of

passing legislation Parliamentary procedure that writing a new law is. Bearing in mind how the Parliament functions at the moment, we are still to decide whether we are going to go for it or not. I do agree that there is a need for the law to be changed to some extent, and we are currently going through a phase of evaluating whether there are enough reasons to start with this procedure, bearing in mind the Parliament’s work, which we all know what it is

like at the moment. Especially because we are planning to pass a Law on E-Communications next year, which will completely cover this sector and replace the Law on Telecommunications. This is something that we are contemplating at the moment.

However, representatives of Telenor and SBB think that the Law on Telecommunications needs to be changed?

Yes, they do. But, you know, with the parliamentary procedure as it is at the moment, the question is when will that happen, i.e. whether the whole thing is justified or not. For now, we are analyzing the situation and trying to forsee the end result.

Even if we forward the changes to the Law to the Parliament, we don’t know when is it going to be included in the parliamentary agenda and what will be the after-effects.

What is your timeframe for passing the Law on E-Communications?

Our plan is next year. This law would regulate our market and harmonize our laws with the next phase of changes in the European Union, since the current Law on Telecommunications was harmonized with the EU directives dating back from 1998.

With the new law, we would catch up with the level from the period 2002 - 2003.

If the new law will be up to the EU standards from 2003, will the legislation be able to follow the growth of telecommunications market?

In other branches, we are lagging behind the EU even more. It is no small feat to harmonize laws. We should not forget the crisis that we, as a country, went through and how much time we vasted while other countries used the time wisely.

Now, we need to be clever about certain things. Some things can be put aside for time being, some not.

Will the operators be able to give their remarks and suggestions about

the new Law on E-Communications?

All laws have to be subjected to a public debate. Generally speaking, in a democratic society, especially in our sector, there is no intention of jeopardizing business operations of large or small operators. What we want to do is to have an appropriate legislation to regulate their operations, and to move forward towards the EU standards, which is our goal.

When can we expect TV to be digitalized?

Digitalization of television should be carried out by the year 2015, and that is our obligation towards the EU. It would be good if this process lasts a little bit longer since our neighbouring countries will implement it much faster, and ’jeopardize’ our broadcasting space, so to say.

By the end of spring next year, we are go-

Fixed-line and mobile telephony

B

y carrying out a comparative price analysis of the fixed-line telephony in Serbia, we can see that the prices here are lower than those in the neighbouring countries – the Republic Telecommunications Agency’s report from 2007 says. The revenue from the fixed-line telephony was reduced from €426 million to €414 million, while the investments have grown significantly, from €62 million to €166 million. What is also noticeable is that the penetration in the fixed telephony grew from 36% to 38%, and the digitalization level went up from 88.6% to 93.3%. The revenue from fixed-line telephony was quite improved, jumping from €581 million to €839 million, with the similar trend seen in investments – they grew from €103 million to €210 million. The penetration in the mobile telephony recorded an exceptional growth of 112.7%, i.e. the number of mobile telephony users now stands at 8.4 million. Also, a full competition was reached, so, in addition to introducing new services, there was a visible cut back on the price of mobile telephony services. Also, a new service – 3G, was introduced, which, among other things, enables fast Internet and TV signal transfer.

ing to create a strategy covering the process of digitalization, together with an appropriate action plan in order to carry out this process successfully, since all of that is quite new to us.

In addition to the aforementioned laws, you have announced passing of the Law on E-Documentation and Law on E-Government?

The Law on E-Document and Law on E-Government is something that we also need to do. We have adopted the Law on E-Signature and we expect it to be applied come this autumn.

As one of more frequently mentioned lapses is implementation of the Law on E-Signature?

That’s true. We are nearing the end of this process and the law will start to be implemented soon. Once this happen, the Law on E-Documentation and Law on ESignature would constitute a harmonized legal framework and become a completely legitimate matter. When it comes to the Law on E-Government that is a long way off, but it would be good for the state to start implementing E-government. If that happens, efficiency and transparency will be better, we are going to be more accessible to the citizens and businesses, and this is a global trend which should come here too.

Also, changes to the Law on Postal Services are announced?

The situation with the Law on Postal Services is similar. Generally speaking, CorD / October 2008 23

INTERVIEW

we are trying to harmonize it with the EU trends, with the rules applicable in the World Trade Organization and, in this way, we are raising the level of compliance in the postal services sector. In order to develop that sector further we need to build an infrastructure, i.e. to increase the availability of telephony and the Internet, as well as make these services more popular with the people. In addition to good roads and railway, we need a good telecommunications infrastructure, a good network of optical cables and a possibility for the whole Serbia to have an access to telephone services and the Internet. The current situation is that 40% of Serbian citizens use fixed-line telephony services, while the access to the mobile telephony is 110%, which is higher than in most transitional countries.

Will the National Post Office remain state-owned?

It will remain state-owned. The number of services offered solely by post offices is being gradually reduced, and we are opening up that market. Other countries that are due to join the EU have gone through the same process, and that is something that we are doing now.

When can we expect the fixed-line telephony to be liberalized?

Liberalization in the fixed-line telephony sector is just one of the trends on our EU path and one of the inevitable events that will follow. It could happen even faster than expected. We are currently negotiating with all market actors, as well as an independent regulation body, in order to devise a sequence of steps needed to generally liberalize telecommunication services, including the fixed telephony, Voip, WiMax and similar. Telekom is a large and successful company and the company has become a big and successful regional ’player’. I think that they can manage the competition in fixed telephony pretty successfully, just like they managed it in the

mobile telephony, which just helped them in becoming an even better company without endangering their operations. In order to develop that sector further we need to build an infrastructure, i.e. to increase the availability of telephony and the Internet, as well as make these services more popular with the people. In addition to good roads and railway, we need a good telecommunications infrastructure, a good network of optical cables and a possibil-

Internet and KDS

A

ccording to the data from the Republic Telecommunications Agency, the revenue from the Internet services in 2007 grew from €26 million to €59 million (a 122% growth). The penetration of Internet also grew and now stands at almost 17%, i.e. the number of the Internet users is in the range of 1.27 million, while the realistic number of the Internet users is two, or even three times higher. It is especially worth mentioning that the penetration of broadband services increased from 1.6% to 7.8%. This growth relates to the ADSL and mobile Internet (3G) connections. KDS operator reported that the company’s revenue doubled. This growth is explained by the increase in the number of cable TV and Internet subscribers, but also the higher price concering the distribution of radio and TV programme. The total number of subscribers currently stands at 671,000. The value of the basic telecommunications service package (TV, fixed-line and mobile telephony) in 2007 was 4.7% of an average monthly salary, while the extended package (TV, fixed-line and mobile telephony, Internet and KDS) took 12.7% of an average monthly salary.

24 CorD / October 2008

ity for the whole Serbia to have an access to telephone services and the Internet.

The current situation is that 40% of Serbian citizens use fixed telephony services, while the access to the mobile telephony is 110%, which is higher than in most transitional countries.

One of frequently asked questions is privatization of Telekom?

If we are talking about privatization of Telekom, we need to have a telecommunications market development strategy.

In this way we are going to optimize the process, i.e. maximize the revenue from the IPO, and, at the same time, ensure an optimum development of the market. This is not the question of only the first or only the latter element, but an optimum mix of both elements. Undoubtedly, this will be the first time ever that company from Serbia is going to float shares at an international stock exchange and this is very important since it will be a measure of how attractive and credible we are on the international market. Aside from that, it is also important to ensure an unobstructed development of our market.

INTERVIEW

Branko Radujko, CEO of Telekom Srbija

Liberalisation Welcome

“The company is constantly modernising and being reorganised in order to reach the business standards of modern global companies.”

BY TATJANA OSTOJIĆ On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Telekom Srbija’s operations, you announced that the company was ready for market liberalisation. This, in your opinion, came as a surprise to certain officials?

Actually, I said that such a stance of Telekom’s management could come as a surprise, since it is logical that you would defend a monopoly if you have one. It is 26 CorD / October 2008

true that such messages are being sent by Telekom for the first time ever, but we are convinced that the complete liberalisation of the information and communication technologies, ICT, market will bring benefits to the end users and society as a whole, which, in turn, means benefits for the biggest company on that market.

We are convinced that competition in fixed-line telephony, just like in the mobile telephony, will provide a new incentive for the additional advancement of our business operations. What is really important in the environment of serious competition is that prices are determined by the market instead of being defined through certain administrative decisions, as the case is at the moment. Anyhow, we should see a dynamic growth in the value of the com-

plete ICT market in Serbia.

The prevailing opinion is that Telekom earns the most from its fixed-line telephony, since we have no competition in that sector. This is not true, since fixed-line telephony comprises 60% of the company’s revenue structure, and is almost nonexistent in the profit structure, while the main generator of profit is actually mobile telephony, which has been exposed to pretty serious competition. In that respect, we could say that the process of moving from a position of monopoly and administrative prices to that of a free and competitive market and market prices has a revolutionary importance for the further development of Telekom Srbija.

At the same time, if we are talking about Internet prices, we expect a reverse proc-

ess. We expect the market game to lead to a drop in the price of Internet use, maybe not as much as is envisaged at the moment, but still sufficient enough to secure the dynamics of the so-called internet-isation of Serbia. In conclusion, we believe in a free market and we think that the best prices are those which are formed on a free market.

Telekom has chosen the privatisation advisor. However, certain announcements suggest that the state will probably remain the owner of a 51% stake in Telekom. In your opinion, what is the realistic date for Telekom to be privatised?

Company Telekom Srbija is a closed shareholding company with two shareholders: the Republic of Serbia, through its public enterprise PTT (Postal Services), owns 80% of shares, while OTE Company, jointly owned by Deutsche Telecom and the Greek Government, has 20% of shares. The state has made certain decisions with regard to the further privatisation of the company. So, some of the shares will be allocated to Serbian citizens, some to the company’s current and former employees, and the plan is also for some shares to be floated on the stock exchange via an IPO. In that respect, the Privatisation Agency has invited a tender, on behalf of the state as a major shareholder, for the selection of an advisor to write an IPO strategy. This advisor, if selected, will have to propose when, how, where and how many shares should be offered. All I can say is that preparing for the IPO is a very serious and demanding job which takes time. This is all I can say. If you ask me whether the state will hold onto its controlling interest in the company, I have to say that that is not under my jurisdiction of that of the company management’s. This is something that shareholders will decide about. Of course, I do have a personal opinion about this issue, which I have presented to both shareholders.

Some are saying that Telekom could be the first Serbian company to float its shares on the London Stock Exchange?

Yes, the Economy Minister said recently that Telekom would be the first state-owned company to float its shares on the London Stock Exchange, and that only privately-

Liberalisation In your opinion, when can we expect liberalisation of the fixed-line telephony sector?

This is an issue for a regulatory agency and the Government, i.e. the relevant ministry, bearing in mind their precise jurisdiction. So, it would not be appropriate for me to give a more detailed forecast. Still, I hope that liberalisation will happen sooner rather than later. owned companies could do that before Telekom. I presume that that will happen.

The company is constantly modernising and being reorganised in order to reach the business standards of modern global companies. The experience that we have gained by working outside Serbia, and the fact that the great Citibank has come to Serbia because of Telekom, is especially important. Another important fact is that OTE’s accountant has been taking care of the company’s finances for years, since this company has extensive experience and knowledge acquired from other global companies. If you take these and other factors into consideration, than we can conclude that Telekom is the state-owned company that’s best prepared to do something like this.

Telekom is one of the few state-owned companies that are also present in the region. Could you evaluate your operations in the region and tell us of your further plans in that direction?

We are extremely satisfied with our business operations in Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro. The results

Future plans

I

n the forthcoming period Telekom Srbija intends to continue: Modernising the company, rationalising business processes with growing efficiency and productivity, cost optimisation.... Turning to consumers and their needs; developing a comprehensive offer (voice, Internet, entertainment...), developing broadband access, converging the fixed-line and mobile telephony network, introducing new technologies (IPTV, VideoOnDemand...), conquering new markets and strengthening the regional brand.

achieved by Telekom Srpska are really exceptional, with the company expanding to other entities in Bosnia & Herzegovina, while in Montenegro, M-Tel d.o.o. has broken all records. In less than a year since the company was founded as the third mobile phone operator, its market share now stands to over 20%. We see room for additional growth on these markets, and we are reviewing possibilities for new acquisitions in the upcoming period.

What is your overall assessment of Telekom’s business operations?

Last year, which saw the emergence of strong competition on the mobile telephony market, the company’s profits were reduced by 22% in relation to 2006. This year, this trend stopped and if there are no further complications with the Dinar exchange rate we are going to have not only a substantial growth in operating profits, but also in net profits in relation to last year. By the way, I became the CEO in mid-February, i.e. seven months ago, and I would like to outline the most important results achieved by the company during this period – a trend of reduced profitability was stopped, the first ever strategic plan for the company’s operations was adopted and covers the period of the next five years, we have reorganised the company based on a technological convergence and integrated offer, and we have continued to conquer new technologies.

Our strategic plan was prepared together with a renowned foreign consultancy which provided guidelines for us and helped us look for additional room to grow and develop.

CorD / October 2008 27

POLITICS

Political consequences of the war in Georgia

The Enigma of Sevastopolj If he were alive, Joseph Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili, known to his friends and enemies as Stalin, would be one hundred and thirty today. Yet, he is still a superstar in some countries that grew out of the collapse of the Soviet Union

BY LJUBODRAG STOJADINOVIC PHOTO: FONET

O

General Secretary of NATO Jaap de Hoop Scheffer 28 CorD / October 2008

f course many priests were shocked by such an open blasphemy. With his style of governing, Vissarionovich is a better candidate for a devil than a saint, but a myth sometimes survives in spite of mass suffering. As Stalin himself famously said: ``The death of an individual is a tragedy, the death of millions is only a statistic.`` While the idea of beatification of ``hazjanin`` still existed, the war in Georgia, in his native country, has begun.

In Gori, recently demolished by Russian tanks, Vissarionovich was born and in Tbilsi he studied under orthodox priests.

It was much later that he became ``the glorious sun of mankind``, which seems as good a proof as any that God moves in mysterious ways.

There are records and accounts that tell us that there have been riots, for various reasons, in Georgia before, while Stalin was still in power. But he pacified the masses in the best way he knew how: in blood, with no mercy, with no public explanations of his Unitarian endeavors, and with no regret.

Do contemporary rulers of Russia have at least something of Stalin`s charisma? It is very difficult to draw such parallel, although there are many political analysts who would try. It is said that the modern Russian Stalin consists of two halves;

Putin and Medvedev, and that such a Frankensteinian political figurehead functions quite well. This is apparent to all who have been following the recent conflict in Georgia, a conflict which is quickly giving new insight into Russia’s understanding of real power.

Putin himself chose Medvedev for his successor. Before that, ``Dima`` was a successful manager. Putin was chosen

by Boris Yeltsin. Before that, Vladimir Vladimirovich was a KGB agent. A good agent and judo black belt who served with the intelligence services in Germany, and who knows the psychology of the West very well. A leader who both fascinated and disappointed his partners. A dictator who succeeded in dignifying his firm hand with political and economic success-

es and “lifted Russia up” after the crisis of Yeltsin’s final few years in office.

At the end of his second term in office, Putin himself declared that he had

rest of the suspicious world and got on plane and flew to attend the opening of the Olympic Games in Beijing.

At the time, Mikheil Saakashvili, the

Putin himself chose Medvedev for his successor. Before that, “Dima” was a successful manager. Putin was chosen by Boris Yeltsin. Before that,Vladimir Vladimirovich was a KGB agent, who served with the intelligence services in Germany, and who knows the psychology of the West very well no intention of making changes to the Russian constitution in order to secure a ‘lifelong reign’ as president. He knew how to keep a firm grip on the country from the position of prime minister as well. He let Medvedev wrestle with the

PUTIN

SAAKASHVILI

At the end of his second term in office, Putin himself declared that he had no intention of making changes to the Russian constitution in order to secure a ‘lifelong reign’ as president. He knew how to keep a firm grip on the country from the position of prime minister as well.

President Saakashvili attacked South Ossetia with no care taken over avoiding civilian targets, a concern that should be at the heart of all modern conflicts. At the dawn of the Games that was a sensation.

Russian reaction could have been expected.

president of Georgia, made a wise decision: to pacify the separatist areas of his country. And if not by force, how else?

He might have at least consulted with his advisors about the practicalities of provoking such a comparatively strong military power right on his own borders, but if he did, it seems that he received their approval to begin and accept whatever happened next. It must have been apparent to everyone what a dangerous move these actions would be politically, but no-one appears to have stood up to him and told him so.

If Saakashvili had gone on his own, counting on ``post festum`` support ( that is also quite possible too ), he certainly did rely on the Games in Beijing. Who would have pay attention to Zakavkazje and its

CorD / October 2008 29

POLITICS

Whether president or prime minster, Vladimir Putin is always in charge atavisms while the whole world is watching up to then unseen holiday of the opening of the Olympics! The path between damnation and glory is quite narrow.

It is worth remembering that the Russian army has a shaky track record of success at best. Their war in Afghanistan is a good example of this, with disastrously under-trained troops fighting battles in a war zone they were neither equipped nor prepared for. The losses were ``unacceptable`` and final results showed that the intervention had been a horrendous mistake.

It couldn’t be said that they fared much better in Chechnya. Military actions brought terrorism to the centre of Moscow, and military commanders were pitifully slow in learning new ways of fighting a guerrilla army. Even recently, the approach of the Russian military in conflict zones has been to seize victory through strength of numbers, rather than through intelligence gathering and tactical superiority.

Only five years ago Putin made a sharp change in Russian military philosophy.

Strategic nuclear units and aircraft gained a new recognition. After the disaster of the Kursk submarine, a serious refit of the navy began and some time later similar reforms began in the inland army. New exercises and strategies were adopted by Generals to ensure the Russian military was prepared to react swiftly to rapidly changing combat situations around the world.

New commanders were instated, completely independent of the archaic military ideology. Around 30 so-called ‘mobile divisions’ were formed, with the total of 100,000 soldiers and over 5000 armoured vehicles trained and equipped for rapid deployment. Units are distributed over trouble spots and are kept in a state of readiness that enables them to react instantly to perceived threats.

Saakashvili attacked South Ossetia with no care taken over avoiding civilian tar-

The efficiency of the Russian troops was astonishing, at least compared to how they had performed previously. In only two days Russian troops expelled the Georgian troops towards Tbilisi and took control of Gori, the place where Stalin had been born gets, a concern that should be at the heart of all modern conflicts. At the dawn of the Games that was a sensation. Russian reaction could have been expected.

Perhaps Tbilisi had hoped that Moscow would not retaliate because of its relationship with the West. But it seems that not all Russian soldiers were watching the Olympics. The enjoyment was interrupted for Vladimir Putin as well as he flew from Beijing towards Georgia by a special plane.

In the meantime, Medvedev issued the order for a sharp intervention against Saakashvili. According to some estima-

The war in Afghanistan

I

t is worth remembering that the Russian army has a shaky track record of success at best. Their war in Afghanistan is a good example of this, with disastrously under-trained troops fighting battles in a war zone they were neither equipped nor prepared for. The losses were ``unacceptable`` and final results showed that the intervention had been a horrendous mistake.

30 CorD / October 2008

tions, in the first stage of the conflict three enhanced brigades were involved: two for expelling Georgia forces from Ossetia and one unit of the same rank for “exploiting of effectiveness” – Russian military speak for guarding the territory. A smaller detachment of about 7,500 soldiers was later sent to helping in Abkhazia.

The efficiency of the Russian troops was astonishing, at least compared to how they had performed previously. In only two days Russian troops expelled the Georgian troops towards Tbilisi and took control of Gori, the place where Stalin had been born one hundred and thirty years ago, although the significance of this was lost on many of the young Russian soldiers, who know little of Stalin other than the image of the man with the moustache whose politics are still being used to solve wars in his former empire.

Putin returned from Georgia to Moscow to convey his impressions to the president in person. Leaving the Games and going to the war, having returned to the Kremlin, Putin preserved the coolness of an intelligence agent. Dimitri Medvedev may technically be in charge, but Vladimir Vladimirovich has the charisma of his political father.

In the role of concerned prime minister who has returned from the Games and to help his nation he sat opposite Medvedev, who politely asked: “I would like to hear your opinion about everything.”

Putin`s opinion was that the president had made the correct decision to send troops immediately and that that had given the results they needed, and that in terms of a military engagement it was now all over.

The war in Georgia could have led to some awkward questioning about the new distribution of power in the Kremlin. Has Medvedev, as a decisive supreme commander, overtaken Putin in political importance? It seems that there is no jealousy amongst the strong leaders of Russia, or if there is they do not show it in public. Even if there is some kind of competition over strength then perhaps it is a good thing – a government constantly striving to do better.

So called ‘Russian progress’ is a popular topic of conversation in Serbia. The interest grew out of the ‘natural friendship’ – or forced brotherhood – that the two countries have supposedly shared forever. However, when Serbia was hoping to cash in on this friendship during the 1999 bombings, Yeltsin was so weak he didn’t

POLITICS

even raise his voice in protest.

Even then there was much talk of ‘Russia’s progress’, a phenomenon that should bring a powerful friend to Serbia.

However, as we have seen in the past, the Russian-Serbian friendship is based mostly on folklore and declarative support of principles without ever being strong enough to make any kind of real difference in the political arena.

The comparison between the war in Georgia and the Kosovo situation is a perfect example of the above statement. Russian support for Serbia with regard to Kosovo was symbolic and sterile, and after Georgia, perhaps hypocritical as well. So the question for Belgrade now is whether to continue pursuing this friendship with Russia by offering Serbian support for the Russians in their struggle with the separatist regions of Georgia, or to side with the West. vvvIf Serbia does not support it, it will lose the one friend who has the power to raise its voice in favour of Belgrade. If Moscow did protest about Kosovo, however, it would be wildly contradicting its apparent stance toward separatist nations that it is displaying in Georgia.

Serbian diplomats remain mostly silent about Georgia, perhaps thinking it wise to keep quiet on this one. An announcement, full of general points and cautious formulations, has been issued. It was a totally empty approach towards a crisis that has a lot to do with Serbia and its positions, without even considering the global impact of what could grow into a second world war.

Of course, the threat of real cold war in today’s world is slim. The Kremlin knew 32 CorD / October 2008

that perfectly well when they went into Georgia, being perfectly able to judge the responses of Brussels and Washington; a game of sharp words and mumbled half threats in lieu of any serious resistance.

Still, Russia wanted to show publicly at least a few aspects of its foreign policy. The first one is its policy to defend its interests by military means. The second is to use military forces with efficien-

the arms race between East and West.

Nowadays something like that is impossible. Russia is able to exploit undreamt of natural resources on its territory and sea surface and is also able to develop its military force under better and better economic circumstances. Their goal is to create a powerful defensive force that would make attacking Russia unthinkable, and while there are still aspects that are far below standard, such as the land army, for now Russia can compensate with its ability to launch nuclear strikes as a last resort. There is nowhere on the planet that a Russian ICBM cannot reach. Two years ago Putin promoted the newest generation of these rockets with multiple warheads (each of them has an autonomous control system) against which any antirocket defence system is useless.

American intelligence agents ascertained themselves that Putin’s stance was not a bluff, but that did not discourage them from going ahead with their plans to build anti missile defence emplacements in the NATO countries on its borders. This state of affairs would be incomprehensible to Stalin. He would not be able to recognise this world even the most loyal USSR satellites of his time have been allied to the West for many years. His Georgia is a close friend with ‘American imperialists’ and his hometown Gori is under military control of Russians.

But perhaps the most pertinent question Stalin would ask were he here today,

The comparison between the war in Georgia and the Kosovo situation is a perfect example of the above statement. Russian support for Serbia with regard to Kosovo was symbolic and sterile, and after Georgia, perhaps hypocritical as well. So the question for Belgrade now is whether to continue pursuing this friendship with Russia by offering Serbian support for the Russians in their struggle with the separatist regions of Georgia, or to side with the West. cy and speed that will give them an operational advantage. The third is to do all that with no regard for possible reaction of any other world powers and or partners. The fourth is to send a strong signal of warning to everybody of a possible crisis of interests in the future, most notably those of Krim and Sevastopol. The fifth is to show that Russia is ready for co-operation, but only if it decides the terms.

The West fears that Russia is getting stronger and has fewer and fewer means to influence that. In most important stages of the cold war members of the western alliance had ideological advantage, and it is considered that destruction of the Communist block was made possible by completely draining it economically through

would be that if Ukraine becomes a member of NATO in 2017, exactly one hundred ears after October Revolution, would the naval base at Sevastopol be in the hands of West?

Is that imaginable at all? Who knows?

Many things so far have seemed unimaginable, yet they have happened. Russia is poised to become the biggest naval force in the next decade with the war fleet of unspeakable strength. It is difficult to believe that Russia will give up Sevastopol under any circumstances. In nine years, Putin and Medvedev will be at full political maturity and the Russian army may be the most powerful in the world.

Would you give up Sevastopol, if you had such power?

POINT OF VIEW

Dr. Miroslav Prokopijević, economy expert

Why Inflation isn’t Good The budgetary deficit in Serbia shows that the fifth democratic Government is facing a difficult choice: to fulfil pre-election promises or to face the truth.

President Tadić warned at the end of September that, in addition to corruption, the biggest enemies of the democracy in Serbia were populism and demagogy.

His Democratic Party is the main holder of power in Serbia. By saying this, is the President sending a warning message to the Prime Minister, his coalition partners or himself?

BY DEJAN JEREMIĆ PHOTO STANISLAV MILOJKOVIĆ

O

ne of the leading Serbian independent economy experts, Dr Miroslav Prokopijević, talks for CorD about the economic and financial crisis looming over the country.

According to the latest data coming from the National Bank of Serbia (NBS), the end-of-year inflation rate should be in the region of 9.6%. Is that a realistic percentage or is it ‘attuned’?

When has NBS ever managed to foresee the exact end-of-the-year inflation rate? From the year 2000 till today, I’ve ‘beaten’ NBS 6:1 if we are talking about inflation rate predictions. The only time they beat me was in 2006 when they carried out a more extensive ‘sterilization’ of money. This year, the economy experts close to the Government predict that the inflation rate will be above 12%. I hope 34 CorD / October 2008

that it won’t go over 15%, and even if it doesn’t it will still be the highest or second highest inflation rate in Europe.

You say that large public spending and huge state and local self-government administration are the main reasons behind such inflation, while the Government keeps on insisting that the price of energy products is to blame.

If they had the vaguest idea about the economy, they wouldn’t be saying that.

The Netherlands and Germany also buy oil and food at the global market, and they have the inflation rate of 3.0% and 3.3% respectively. The inflation in the so-called Euro zone is 3.8%, and all of these countries are buying oil and food from other countries. So, if you are using oil and food as an excuse, that is really silly. This ex-

cuse is used to cover up a huge increase in public spending in order to buy social peace, i.e. votes. And once they do that, they give up on carrying out any reforms whatsoever and instead use the time left to amass their personal fortunes. So, this is the picture you get – public money is being splurged which leads to the inflation taxes, the voters pay for it and the politicians get rich through being susceptible to corruption while in power. And they still have the nerve to talk about oil and food being the reason for high inflation.

DINAR

REFORMS

COMPANIES

I have never said that the realistic value of the Dinar is 100 or 150. I am sure that the Dinar is overrated, so in the case of free trade, its value would significantly drop.

Maybe it would be 150 or 200 or even higher, but the truth is that it is overrated

It is important for reforms to be deep, quick and consistent.

Using somebody else’s experiences does not help, since the constellation of interests is different in every country, , and that is what dictates the shape of the reform

The politicians are using these companies for their own and their party financing, as well as for finding jobs for their party colleagues.

All of these companies have surplus workforce, and often hire cousins, politically like-minded people or social welfare cases

How will higher pensions affect the budget and inflation?

We don’t need to look into a crystal bowl to see what is going to happen – that will increase the inflation rate, and it only remains to be seen by how much.

What usually happens is that during its first term year, the Government usually makes pretty unpopular moves. What does the fifth Government, after the October 5th political upheaval, still need to do?

The time of serious reforms has long gone, together with the first Government. Since we didn’t start reforms then, we should forget about serious reforms now. It would be really ridiculous if I were to say that serious reforms were expected from the fifth Government. All governments, with the exception of the first one, are directed by interest groups and serve the purpose of their members getting rich. So, the serious reforms are no longer and the only thing that we expect when it comes to these politicians is to steal less and to do something useful once in a while, at least by accident or because they are made to do so by the EU or IMF. That is if they are not too busy with corruption!

What are reforms going like bearing in mind that large public enterprises have still not been privatized? And why is the deadline for their privatization being constantly postponed for another year?

Privatization of public companies hasn’t even begun in a serious manner, including the public utility companies. The reason should be found in strong interests that are present in this area.

First of all, the politicians are using these companies for their own and their party financing, as well as for finding jobs for their party colleagues. Secondly, all of these companies have surplus workforce, and often hire cousins, politically like-minded people or social welfare cases. Thirdly, the managers in public enterprises cannot find employment in privately-owned companies since they don’t have proper qualifications or the know-how. Fourthly, certain aspects of the social policy are being implemented via these companies. This is the reason why their privatization is being postponed, which is detrimental both to the transition process and consumers.

What economic concept do you suggest: the Irish (the Socialists won there recently) or Estonian?

There is no special concept suitable for only one country. It is important for reforms to be deep, quick and consistent. Using somebody else’s experiences does not help, since the constellation of interests is different in every country, and that is what dictates the shape of the reform.

We have given up on the Law on Privatization, as well as on the auction and tender concept and we are using direct bargains now. What is gained by that and who is benefiting from it?

This is breaching the Law on Privatization, and the winners are our politicians who are given an opportunity to take a fee and the companies that are being sold, since they are offered under price.

Three tenders for the Smelting and Mining Basin Bor (RTB Bor) have failed. What now?

We need to invite a tender with only one condition – whoever offers more money will get the company, regardless of how high the bid is going to be. We don’t need to bother with investment and social programmes. Investments are the thing that new buyers should deal with, and the social programme is the state’s business.

Can the partnership concept of the state having 30% and a partner 70% bring good results?

Worldwide Moving & Secure Storage Relocation Services Local Office Moves Fine Art packing Pet transportation 50 years experience ISO 9001:2000 FIDI – FAIM Accreditations

Belgrade@interdean.com www.interdean.com CorD / October 2008 35

Whith you every step of the way....

POINT OF VIEW

That is much better than somebody becoming a holder of controlling interest or the state owning it all. But the complete sale is the best thing to do.

The energy treaty with Russia received the majority of votes in the Parliament, but it seems that this is not really a condition-free sale and there are no clear clauses about the future owner having to invest.

Nothing is clear about this treaty, and I’m not sure that we are going to come to it. Basically, this is a bad agreement, since Serbia will be held a 100% prisoner with respect to 1) gas supply, 2) gas pipeline transport and 3) reserve storage. In addition to that, NIS is going to be sold under price. The Russians have started to blackmail us even before the contract was put together. Allegedly, they said that if Serbia did not sell NIS, there wouldn’t be any gas. These are bad manners by a bad regime and these manners will become apparent in the future. Serbia needs to buy gas from Russia via the existing pipeline and certainly connect to the Nabucco gas pipeline, which will transport gas from Iran. If possible, together with Bosnia, Montenegro and Albania, Serbia should look for gas from Africa, via Italy and the Adriatic Sea. Prokopijević offers a severe criticism of Serbia’s central bank What is the point in re-evaluating NIS? Probably to provide some sort of argument for the Serbian side that the company is worth more than €400 million for 51%.

Of course, an estimate is just an estimate, and the price is something that would be presented at a tender sale.

and Electric Power Industry of Serbia (EPS), could earn much more than the initial €1,000.

During the last three months the Serbian Dinar appreciated in relation to Euro. What is the realistic value of

When has NBS ever managed to foresee the exact end-of-theyear inflation rate? From the year 2000 till today, I’ve ‘beaten’ NBS 6:1 if we are talking about inflation rate predictions.The only time they beat me was in 2006 when they carried out a more extensive ‘sterilization’ of money.This year, the economy experts close to the Government predict that the inflation rate will be above 12%. I hope that it won’t go over 15% What is your opinion on allocation of free shares to Serbian citizens and how much will they be worth?

This is a good move. It encourages trading with shares among ordinary citizens and strengthens the position of stock exchange trading. I am not sure that the value will be in the region of €1,000, since the investment climate in Europe, the Balkans and Serbia is bad so the value of companies is going down. But those who hold onto their shares for several years, especially the shares of Telekom 36 CorD / October 2008

the Dinar, because some say, including you, that the Euro is worth 100 Dinars?

I have never said that the realistic value of the Dinar is 100 or 150. This is the issue that can be determined only by the market. Let the NBS allow free trading in Dinars and then we shall see in Vienna or Frankfurt what its realistic value is. I am sure that the Dinar is overrated, so in the case of free trade, its value would significantly drop. Maybe it would be 150 or 200 or even higher, but the truth is that it is

overrated. During the last four years, the Euro in Serbia lost 40% of its value. The policy exercised by NBS is a crazy one, it only accumulates inflation rate which will emerge once trading in Dinars abroad is liberated. Everything that has been ‘saved’ on the inflation rate has its price, and we are going to have to pay for it – all at once or bit by bit.

The fact that the Dinar grew stronger did not help much the citizens who took out loans with a foreign currency clause since the banks have subsequently raised the interest rates. Is this making of a new crisis?

When the Dinar grows stronger in relation to the Euro or other foreign currencies, this is usually short term, so traders and bankers don’t take that into consideration (which increases their profit). The interest rates are growing because of the situation on loan markets outside Serbia and due to high interest rates by NBS on Dinars (albeit justified because of the high inflation). Both citizens and companies will plunge into crisis if there is a sharp drop in the value of the Dinar in relation to the Euro or other currencies, since they are going to have to spend more Dinars on repaying loan instalments.

ENVIRO offers everything needed for furnishing

Our qualiďŹ ed staff and architect are at your

interiors with premium products of the most

disposal for selecting items from collections of modern

renown brands, even to the most discerning clients.

and classical furniture, furniture for exteriors, as well as accessories.

exlusive furniture showroom

A Bulevar kralja Aleksandra 17 T/F + 381 11 / 32 41 275 W envirointerior.com E ofďŹ ce@envirointerior.com

ECONOMY

FIC’s White Book

Infrastructure is Priority Stability and predictability remain the main prerequisites for attracting foreign investors

BY TATJANA OSTOJIĆ

T

Prime minister Mirko Cvetković give a spitch at opening of FIC discution 38 CorD / October 2008

he Foreign Investors Council (FIC) has presented its latest, sixth edition of the White Book, a publication that provides information about the business climate in Serbia and gives recommendations for improving business conditions in certain sectors. “The idea behind the White Book is for the book to serve as the basis for a dialogue between the Government and foreign investors about the ways in which to advance the general business climate and increase competitiveness of Serbia as an investment location. The latest edition is putting emphasis on three pillars of development: infrastructure, real estate and construction and workforce. Improving reforms in these areas would significantly influence general conditions for doing business in Serbia” the Council says.

In the foreword, Stein-Erik Vellan, President of the FIC, says that foreign investors do not need special treatment, but equal conditions with other market players.

Vellan points out that stability and predictability remain the main prerequisites for attracting foreign investors. “Predictability does not depend solely on government strategies, but also on the way in which laws are applied. A more efficient administration and less complicated procedures would significantly advance conditions for doing business”, Vellan said, adding that he was sure that the current Government was capable of directing Serbia toward reform.

In his address to those who came to the presentation of the White Book, Serbian Prime Minister, Mirko Cvetković outlined that constructing the infrastructure was one of the main orientations of this Government, and that the Government pri-

orities were finalizing the construction of Corridor 10 and modernizing the railway corridor 10. The Prime Minister also announced the so-called ‘regulatory guillotine’ which should lead to a better business environment for foreign investments.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Mlađan Dinkić has expressed the readiness of all government members to listen the Council’s recommendations and said that those recommendations were relevant and useful. The Deputy Prime Minister also outlined that in the following period the Government would especially encourage export production in three economic areas – the car industry, telecommunications and ICT.

Harmonization of the National Markets “Looking back at the last year, in a rather general way, we can note several important events, which will undoubtedly have a strong impact on the Serbian business environment.

Firstly, regional free trade agreement CEFTA came into force, opening a much wider market and providing better opportunities for growth. While full harmonization of the national markets stays ahead, first year of implementation sends a clear signal of positive effects on the economic development.

After lengthy period of negotiations, Serbia has signed the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union. In its essence, this free trade agreement paves the way for further introduction of international standards and common mechanisms to the domestic market, thus strongly contributing the predictability of the business climate.”

Clear Economic Policy The foreign business community awaits formulation of a clear economic policy, which would provide basis for economic outlook of the future period. This is the milestone of predictable business environment, crucial for attaining and attracting for-

L. A. Herren General Manager BAT SEE, Stein-Erik Vellan CEO Telenor and K.Thulin HR Telenor eign investments. Let us reiterate some of the measures which would support maintaining of macro-economic stability, such as introducing prudent public spending, amending the fiscal policy, 8reshaping the anti-monopoly and public procurement legislation, adapting advanced securities market regulation. The new Government should conclude the privatization process of socially-owned enterprises, and revive the strategy of privatization/restructuring of state-owned public enterprises. However, the economic policy should not be constricted solely to macro-economy, but rather entail a broad spectrum of measures tackling the real life conditions for doing business.

Investment and business climate In giving their view of our investment and business climate, the Foreign Investment Council pointed out to the fact

FIC recommends

I

t is necessary to speed up the process of harmonizing our legal regulations with those in the EU in order to increase legal security when doing business or investing. The following are of special importance: bringing order into ownership and legal relations especially when it comes to land plots and construction, introducing competition in the area of infrastructural and utility activities and launching privatization (partial or complete) of public enterprises which operate in these areas, creating prerequisites for a liberated market ‘game’ on an orderly market at which all players have equal treatment and where monopolies have been adequately regulated, reforming Serbia’s education system and harmonizing it with the needs of the country’s economy, encouraging development of applied sciences through adequate financial support and more intensive cooperation with foreign research institutions, balanced development through higher efficiency of the local self-government in construction of regional infrastructure which is exceptionally important for the arrival of foreign investors, and the Government of Serbia simplifying legal regulations through applying methods stipulated by the ‘regulatory guillotine’.

that the inflation rate in 2007 reached double digits, 10.2%. They also outlined the huge foreign trade deficit, which, according to them, was the main reason behind the payment and balance deficit, as well as the high unemployment rate of 18.2%.

“Aside from the growth of the domestic product and productivity, other macro-economic indicators show that transition, primarily economic restructuring, still hasn’t entered its mature stage, i.e. taken the stable course” the FIC says in the White Book.

Since Serbia’s sustainable economic development will depend on the foreign money in the upcoming period, and since the money from the privatization will be reduced, the authors of the White Book think that it is necessary to create a stimulating environment for increasing greenfield investments.

Infrastructure In the White Book, in a part which pertains to infrastructure, the Foreign Investors Council pointed out to remaining problems in this area which relate to lack of a development strategy for infrastructural systems, verified by techno-economical analyses in real conditions with the implementation deadlines that should be adhered to.

They also mentioned the lack of proper documentation concerning planning, town development and land, which are the basis for further construction design and building works. Also they pointed out to the lack of precise deadlines for implementing investments, the existing and future locations not having proper infrastructure and a difficult and unpredictable road which an investor should take in order to make his busiCorD / October 2008 39

ECONOMY

ness facilities functional. In addition to the aforementioned, they outline a complicated and long administrative procedure for connecting the facilities to the infrastructure system with many city and the republic services being included in the process.

The Council recommends that the lack of domestic accumulation of capital in the area of infrastructure to be resolved by finding new models of including foreign investments in reconstruction and upgrading necessary infrastructural systems and facilities, to intensify construction of new and completion of already started strategies and development plans in line with the realistic possibilities of domestic and foreign capital, as well as to create construction and design documentation in a more efficient manner strictly adhering to the deadlines, since these documents are considered the basis for construction activities.

Other two pillars A general remark given by the Foreign Investors Council about real estate and construction is that, during the last two years, very little has been done in these areas.

According to the FIC, this is a sensitive area, and the relevant regulation is of crucial importance in creating favourable and attractive investment and business environment in line with the accepted international regulations and proceedings. A clear nationwide political consensus is needed, which will be than properly applied.

When it comes to the workforce, the White Book points out to several problems – starting from the employment termination period, hiring foreigners, the way in which salaries are calculated, excessive paperwork and others. The Council thinks that additional cutback on labour expenses is needed, like reduction in income tax and tax free reve-

Panel discution (from left to right): S. Milosavljević, O. Dulić, J. Matić, M. Dinkić, B. Begović, S. E.Vellan, I. Sheps, G. Navarro and L. A. Heeren nue through cutting back on contributions for social insurance. The FIC is of opinion that foreigners should be given freedom to invest their capital in the local economy

Labour Law “The new Labour Law unnecessarily imposes an obligation on the employer to respect a notice period of five workdays when cancelling an employment contract during a trial period; There are several issues regarding employment of foreigners which create serious problems in practice: Temporary employment for foreigners, limited to one year, has proven to be especially problematic since in practice this period has proven to be insufficient; Obtaining business visas and temporary residence permits is an excessively complicated and time consuming process; Each transfer of funds abroad by foreigners entails gathering a large number of documents and evidence that need to be submitted to the bank; Pursuant to the current law, the calcula-

Telecommunications

I

n order to develop the telecommunications sector and establish a competitive telecommunications market, one of the core prerequisites according to the FIC is for the regulation to be predictable. Hence, in the White Book, the Council recommends further development of independent and competent regulatory bodies, preparing sub-legal acts which regulate telecommunications in line with the appropriate standards, conditions and procedures outlined in the EU, developing the interconnection regime in line with the EU standards as soon as possible bearing in mind the number of operators and service provides currently present on the Serbian market, developing regulatory frameworks which should encourage development of the broadband services which in turn will help the society in bypassing the digital gap, encouraging development of alternative infrastructural needs, liberalizing internal infrastructure and creating an alternative infrastructure to be used in all kinds of electronic services, and focusing on telecommunications and radio broadcast. They also recommended liberalization of the international network passages in order to open the way for the competition, introducing general provisions and guidelines in order to eliminate cross-subsidies in this sector, invest further efforts in restructuring or privatization of state-owned telecommunication companies, amending the telecommunications tariffs in line with the expense-based price infrastructure and the best practice cases as suggested by the EU regulatory bodies with the application of the principles stated in the Law on Telecommunications.

40 CorD / October 2008

tion of salary is more complex than the previous calculation; The Law unnecessarily burdens the employer with the obligation to pay special benefits to employees for the compensation of food expenses, holiday compensation and work experience. This form of reward or special benefits has no relation to the employee’s work performance. This could result in a counter effect whereby the employer can manipulate other components of the salary, especially the basic one which can be reduced to the minimum, particularly as the law obliges the employer in making these payments as of 01/01/2006 without stipulating terms or minimum amounts.

Furthermore, the special listing of these payment categories, as well as special payroll lists, additionally complicate the procedure; Salary compensation for absence during sick leave, national holidays, annual leave, paid leave etc is calculated on the basis which represents the average salary in the three preceding months (Articles 114 and 115). This is a particularly impractical provision because in cases of high one-off payments in one month (such as annual bonuses) the compensation of salary for the three following months could be substantially higher than the salary itself if the employee had not been absent; According to the current provisions of the Labour Law, the employer’s claim against an employee can be withheld from the salary only after obtaining a Court’s decision, in cases previewed by the Law, or with the employee’s consent. This makes it impossible for the employer to realize small claims without acquiring first the employee’s consent in order to avoid initiating an unnecessary and costly legal procedure; Generally, the employment related paperwork and records that should be kept with each employer are overly voluminous; printing of number of copies of various docu- LABOUR 27 ments for minor issues (such as granting of an annual leave) and keeping them on records is required by the law and in practice;”.

aaa O\]^OLKXU \] 2\]^O ZRYXOÈ (

" ! " ! !! " ! % "#

A\_O ]_ZZY\^ PY\ cY_\ L_]SXO]] NO`OVYZWOX^ 2\]^O /KXU 6X^O\XK^SYXKV 1O]U DS^R ^RO 2\]^O /KXU K] cY_\ ZK\^XO\ cY_ WKc LO ]_\O ^Y RK`O PY_XN ^RO ^\_O YXO PY\ cY_\ L_]SXO]] NO`OVYZWOX^ 6X Y\NO\ ^Y LO KLVO ^Y KNN\O]] KVV YP cY_\ L_]SXO]] XOON] aO RK`O O]^KLVS]RON ^RO 6X^O\XK^SYXKV 1O]U K ]_ZZY\^ KXN SXPY\WK^SYX MOX^\O ^KUSXQ MK\O ObMV_]S`OVc YP MY\ZY\K^O L_]SXO]] 0_]^YW ^KSVY\ON ]YV_^SYX] PY\ VYKX] KXN Q_K\KX^OO] ObZO\^] KN`SMO PY\ ]O^^SXQ _Z K ]_L]SNSK\c Y\ NYSXQ L_]SXO]] SX VYMKV WK\UO^] K] aOVV K] Z\Y`SNSXQ XOMO]]K\c L_]SXO]] MYX^KM^] ARO]O K\O YXVc K POa YP Y_\ SXObRK_]^SLVO ]O\`SMO] :KUO ^RO PS\]^ ]^OZ DS^R ^RO 2\]^O /KXU

SOCIETY

Interview: Efraim Zuroff, Head of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre

Inability to Face the Past The biggest problem in this region, and I am talking about all of post-communist Europe, is the failure and inability of society to face the past - to face the crimes committed during the holocaust

A

leading Nazi hunter Efraim Zuroff, head of the Israeli Simon Wiesenthal Centre, was on a visit to Belgrade because of actual situation regarding three war criminals who are responsible for killing thousands Jews, Serbs and Gypsies during the Second World War. During the visit, Zuroff urged Serbia to seek the extradition of three war-crimes suspects and blasted Austria and Hungary for failing to help bring two of them to justice. He was helping Serbia provide evidence against Milivoj Asner, who lives in Austria, and Sandor Kapiro of Hungary. In a conversation with CorD magazine, Zuroff talks about ‘relativisation’ ( relativizacija zločina) of war crimes in post-communist countries, antinazism and what the future of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a human rights organisation that protects Jews, might be after the last surviving Nazis pass away.

Serbia will ask for extradition of Sandor Kapiro, who is living in Budapest.

He is accused of killing between 1.300 and 3.000 Jews, Serbs and Gypsies in Novi Sad racia during the WWII, and throwing them under ice of the river Danube. It is estimated that he is responsible for deaths of 4,000 people. Is there any chance for Serbia to get him on trial?

I am not sure, but the very fact that Serbia is doing this will help perhaps to put him on trial in Hungary. He is living in Budapest as a free citizen and we have been trying for two years to put him on trial. Kapiro, 94, was convicted by Hungarian courts but never punished for his 42 CorD / October 2008

Leading Nazi hunter, Efraim Zuroff alleged role in Hungarian forces’ killings of some 800 Jews and 400 Serbs in the wake of the Nazi occupation of Yugoslavia. He escaped to Argentina and when he wanted to come to Hungary he asked in the embassy if he was wanted for any crimes. They told him no, so he went home 1996. He had been living as a free citizen for ten years in Budapest before we found out who he was and started collecting evidence against him. But when we found

evidence we started to have problems with Hungarian government and justice department. Those problems are still plaguing our efforts today.

Because of examples like the case of Milivoj Ašner you say that Austria is a haven for war criminals. What is the major problem with Ašner and Austrian government?

Ašner is wanted for WWII atrocities

against Serbs, Jews and Gypsies in Croatia. Austria’s Justice Ministry said this year that it is reviewing a request from the Centre to make a fresh assessment of Ašner’s physical and mental state and prove he is suffering from dementia as experts have ruled in the past. Ministry spokesman Thomas Geiblinger said to me that without a new evaluation declaring him physically and mentally fit, the hands of Austrian government are tied. But the British tabloid The Sun published a picture of Ašner watching a soccer match in the Austrian city of Klagenfurt. Critics contend Austria is sheltering him.

The USA has announced that it will strip U.S. citizenship from Peter Egner, who is suspected of involvement in killing Jews, Serbs and Gypsies in the Nazi camp Staro Sajmište in Belgrade. Peter Egner allegedly served in a Nazi unit that killed 17,000 civilians in Serbia during World War II. Do you expect that the USA will ever extradite Egner to a Serbian court?

We didn’t help the U.S. justice department in this investigation; they discovered him by themselves. This summer, the U.S. Justice Department asked a federal court to revoke Egner’s American citizenship, saying he had served as a guard and interpreter with the Nazi-controlled police in Belgrade. Egner is now 86. I think there will be no problems for extradition because the USA can’t prosecutes him.

A few years ago the Serbian parliament gave the same rights to partisans and chetniks. There are similar problems in Croatia where ghosts of the ustasa regime are still very much alive and present in political and public opinion. How does one stop this?

The biggest problem in this region, and I am talking about all of post-communist Europe, is the failure and inability of society to face the past - to face the crimes committed during the holocaust.

It is important to remember that the level of collaboration with Nazis in this part of the world, with the exception of Serbia and Poland, was the worst that there was. In other words, in every single country Nazis found collaborators. But, they didn’t kill Jews.

In Eastern Europe the local population participated in mass murders of Jews. In Serbia and Poland there was non of that because Nazis considered Poles sub-human, so they didn’t incorporate them in to mass murders.

Because all of this area was under communism they are not in a position to honestly face their past. If in a book about the holocaust in Lithuania it is writed the bourgeoise Hitlerite fascists murdered peace-loving Soviet citizens, what are we supposed to think? In truth, German and Austrian Nazis worked with Slovenian collaborators to murder Jews, but that isn’t what is said.

But then came indignance, democracy and being told they must face the past. How can they do it? Put their own people to trial?

Write the truth in history books? Of course not. This is very serious problem and once when we are finished with the remaining Nazis we are going to direct our attention to this issue, in other words the battle is moving from the courtroom to the classroom, to the public arena.

From the moment I heard that Milanovic was going to visit the site of the Bleiburg massacre I said it was a mistake. I didn’t know what his reasons were, but I said that that was a terrible idea and would give legitimacy to people who don’t deserve legitimacy.

Many people were outraged by the visit.

In Croatia many are draw parallels between the biggest Nazi camp in former Yugoslavia, Jasenovac, and Bleiburg.

What are your thoughts on this?

That is a big problem. Croatia is a society split in a half. You have one half fighting against ustasa and other half who were ustasa. And right now you have a battle going on in that country to decide what kind of country Croatia is going to be. Is it going to be liberal, democratic Croatia which faces the past, admits to its past and crimes, and is turning over a new leaf? Or will it be a country living with the nostalgia of NDH (Independent state of Croatia, ustasa country). I was very involved in getting Dinko Šakić put on trial, I think that was one of my biggest achievements, and that trial was the big and important trial to show the people we think they deserve support. But there is no question that it didn’t eliminate the people who feel nostalgia for ustasa.

But after he died in summer this year he was buried in an ustasa uniform.

Yes, but remember this was not an official funeral in any way, this was not done by the government, this was done by the family and that is good news. The bad news is that you have priest Vjekoslav Lasić who has the incredible nerve to get up there and say that Sakic violated some of God’s commandments but is still a model for all Croatians. So what is any normal person supposed to think? Šakić is a mass murderer, he himself committed murders

The president of Social Democratic Party in Croatia, Zoran Milanović, went to the Bleiburg memorial on Sunday the 14th of September. He told me he wanted to pay tribute to all the victims. Bleiburg is a place where partisans killed thousands of ustasa and other Nazi collaborators but the latest history books teach us that there were also many civilians killed during the Bleiburg massacre who were against new communist authorities. Still it is a place for ustashas to mourn their victims. Is this an example of the ‘relativisation’ of crimes during the Second World War that you spoke of earlier?

CorD / October 2008 43

SOCIETY

and helped commit other murders. And this is a model for all Croatians? This is a guy who made a memorial mass every year for the head of NDH, Ante Pavelić, until we stopped it and he was sent away and now he is back for Šakić’s funeral. The terrible thing is that until I wrote to president Mesić, no one said anything. So Croatia is had to wait for me? Who am I? No one realises that we have to fight against this?

Mesić is antifascist and he does the right thing but if so many people think Šakić is great then something is wrong.

Are you having problems with Croatian or Serbian authorities during your search for Nazi war criminals?

Working in Croatia is much harder. But president Mesić and president Tadić are my friends and I have good relations with them. Serbian society is much more supportive than in Croatia, because Croatian society has all sorts of different people who are against what I am doing and for them I am enemy. A group of Croatians in Australia has threatened to harm and even kill me if anything happened to Ašner, but not only me, also the people who helped me in Croatia, Zoran Pusić and Vesna Škare Ožbolt. In Latvia, Estonia, any country in which I am involved in war crime prosecutions, you always have many media outlets baying for my blood.

You recently gone to Chile to look for Aribert Heim, also known as ‘Dr. Death’, even though his daughter reported his death years ago. Do you now how many Nazis are still alive?

Hundreds, the math is very simple. The mass murder Jews in Europe happened in at least 20 countries, in every single country there was collaborators and many of them were very young. Today they live longer, so many of them are still alive. I think hundreds.

And what is happening with the investigation of Dr. Death? You were in Chile two months ago, weren’t you?

Dr. Aribert Heim is number one on the Wiesenthal Centre’s list of most wanted Nazis. He worked at the medical section of the Mauthausen concentration camp, Austria. Medical staff later testified that he killed a young Jewish man simply because he “needed his head because of its perfect teeth.” He proceeded to boil the head while harvesting organs for experimental use. Heim would be 94 today and we have good reason to believe he is still alive. We found checking accounts with 2,000,000 euros in cash, stocks and bonds in his name. If he were dead, his children could have claimedthis money. Since they have never done so, he is probably alive.

44 CorD / October 2008

The Most-Wanted Nazis List Dr. Aribert Heim - Location unknown - Was a doctor in Sachsenhausen (1940), Buchenwald (1941) and Mauthausen (1941) concentration camps. Murdered hundreds of camp inmates by lethal injection in Mauthausen. He disappeared in 1962 prior to planned prosecution; current whereabouts unknown but strong evidence that he is still alive.

Ivan Demjanjuk – USA - Participated in mass murder of Jews in Sobibor death camp; also served in Majdanek death camp and Trawniki SS-training camp. Denaturalized in USA; ordered deported from USA; He is facing extraditon to Germany or Spain.

Dr. Sandor Kepiro - Hungary - Hungarian gendarmerie officer; participated in mass murder of over 1,300 civilians in Novi Sad, Serbia. Discovered in 2006 in framework of “Operation: Last Chance”; was originally convicted but never punished in Hungary in 1944 and indicted again, in absentia, in 1946; Hungary refused to implement his original sentence but has opened a new criminal investigation against him which has not yet been completed more than a year after its initiation.

Milivoj Ašner – Austria - Played an active role in persecution and the deportation to death of hundreds of Serbs, Jews, and Gypsies as Police chief of Slavonska Požega, Croatia. He was also discovered in 2004 in the framework of “Operation: Last Chance” and indicted by Croatia. In 2005 Croatia requested his extradition from Austria; Austria refused, ostensibly because Ašner held Austrian citizenship.He had lost his Austrian citizenship; Austria announced that in the wake of the media reports that Ašner is really healthy, he will be examined again by Swiss expert Dr. Marc Graf.

Soeren Kam - Germany - Participated in the murder of anti-Nazi Danish newspaper editor Carl Henrik Clemmensen; stole the population registry of the Danish Jewish Community to facilitate the roundup and subsequent deportation of Danish Jews to Nazi concentration camps, where many were murdered. Kam was indicted in Denmark for the murder of Clemmensen, but a German court refused to approve his extradition to stand trial in Copenhagen. At the request of the Wiesenthal Center, the Danish judicial authorities are conducting an investigation of his role in the deportation of those Jews.

Heinrich Boere – Germany - Murdered three Dutch civilians as a member of the Silbertanne Waffen-SS death squad. Boere was sentenced to death in absentia in Holland in 1949 after his escape to Germany. Germany until recently refused to extradite him or prosecute him; in April 2008 he was indicted in Germany for his crimes.

Karoly (Charles) Zentai – Australia - Participated in manhunts, persecution, and murder of Jews in Budapest in 1944. He was discovered in 2004 during “Operation: Last Chance;” Hungary issued an international arrest warrant against him and has asked for his extradition from Australia in 2005; In August 2008, an Australian court ruled that Zentai can be extradited to Hungary, which will take place when the Minister for Home Affairs signs the extradition papers.

Mikhail Gorshkow – Estonia - Participated in murder of Jews in Belarus; denaturalized in USA and under investigation in Estonia.

Algimantas Dailide – Germany - Arrested Jews murdered by Nazis and Lithuanian collaborators. He was deported from the US and convicted by Lithuania, which has hereto refused to implement his sentence of imprisonment.

Harry Mannil – Venezuela - Arrested Jews and Communists executed by Nazis and Estonian collaborators. He was cleared by investigation in Estonia and barred from entry to US

Heim has already been convicted in absentia for hundreds of murders. Tips as to his whereabouts have reached the Wiesenthal Centre from Austria, Germany, Uruguay, Spain, Switzerland, Chile and Brazil over the years.

to do so are the major obstacles of the final prosecution of Nazi war criminals. I’ve given 2884 names to various governments but to be perfectly honest, some of them were already dead by the time we found them.

What is the major problem in bringing them to justice when you discover them?

Prosecutors in different countries has opened 202 new investigations over the past year. The new investigations have tripled in the last year, but the number of convictions is down and we face serious political problems in many different countries. The absence of political will to prosecute or devote the energy and resources

What is the future for Simon Wiesenthal Centre?

15 years ago we stopped making this such an important issue. Most of the work of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre is fighting against anti-Semitism and fighting against Islamic terrorism. The fight against antiSemitism of course continues whether or not Nazis are still alive. But if there is one living Nazi we have to pursue them until they are brought to justice.

REGION

The new Serbo-Croat language

Do you speak Montenegrin?

Montenegrins have shown once again that in crucial moments they can be very energetic, very successful in defending the general (national) interests, but also immediately fail to preserve what has been won through the ‘battle’

BY ILIJA DESPOTOVIĆ

I

n many respects, this is what a post-referendum situation is like. Almost two years ago, when it was the case of ‘to be or not to be’, the country voted in favour of becoming sovereign. But, for the most part, this could remain only on paper if not put into practice. The new Constitution guarantees adhering to the referendum will of the citizens. However, one of the core constitutional stipulations, the one with regard to the state symbols, is being ignored. Montenegro’s country flag is not accepted in all of its municipalities.

The situation is even worse with the Montenegrin language. Aside from the Constitution, the Montenegrin language is almost not mentioned in everyday communication. Instead of the words ‘Montenegrin language’, you are more likely to hear ‘our language’, while the school books still say ‘mother tongue’ which is a byword for all constitutionally recognized languages so everybody can think of their own language when the term ‘mother tongue’ is used.

These days, an attempt in standardizing the Montenegrin language has been almost mocked. The Council for Standardization of the Montenegrin language, founded at the beginning of this year, has performed the task given by the Government, i.e. to provide the Montenegrin language grammar by the beginning of school year. The task was to write the grammar rules and an appropriate dictionary. In the words of the Council’s

46 CorD / October 2008

representative, Branko Banjević, the Council has finished its work on the grammar. The proposal was submitted to the Ministry of Education and Science at the end of August.

At the same time, the public was awash with controversies surrounding the Council’s work, as well as those pertaining to the proposed grammar rules.

Although a 13-member-Council for Standardization is politically and professionally inclined towards affirmation of the Montenegrin language, it came to light that the Council was split over the grammar principles and certain other issues. After the document sent to the Ministry was adopted, nobody was clear whether it was a proposal, draft or just a report about the grammar put together by the Council for Standardization.

Banjević claims that the proposal to reform the grammatical system was accepted by 10 out of 13 Council members, while other members claim that no voting took place and that the minority who were against the grammar sent to the Ministry, outnumbered the supporters.

Most Council members have undoubtedly adopted the grammar rules, i.e. to standardize the so-called ijekavian speech, to obey the rule “Write as you speak, read as you write”, to keep the existing standard four-accent system, to adhere to the Serbo-Croatian grammar if concordant with the contemporary Montenegrin language practice, as well as not to let the Montenegrin language become archaic or contain local words, dialects and provincial terms.

CONSTITUTION

STANDARDISATION

NEW GRAMMAR

The Constitution says that this is an official language, while the Serbian, Croatian, Albanian and Bosniak languages are defined as ‘the languages in official use’

Montenegrin desk is a fictitious one not only because the Montenegrin language does not exist, but also because this language hasn’t been standardized as yet

What will happen with the grammar nobody knows.There is no doubt that this is a very sensitive situation, so the Ministry of Education will be in no rush to practically apply the new grammar

The Council members, just like some other linguistic experts in Montenegro, are not bringing into question the quirks of the Montenegrin language, or the need for it to be standardized. A university professor teaching national literature, Novak Kilibarda says that all former Yugoslav nations, who spoke almost the same language, i.e. Serbs, Croats and Bosniaks, have standardized their languages, in line with their language’s specific features and national name, all except Montenegrins. Kilibarda goes on to say that if Montenegro does not resolve this language issue, it will be left without ‘its starry sky’.

Kilibarda also says that Montenegrin literary language has been always more ‘mature’ than any of the aforementioned languages.

Even the Serbian language reformer, Vuk Karadžić, made his name by writing in a language which he, a long time ago, took from his Montenegrin predecessors, according to Kilibarda.

A Council member, publicist, writer and journalist, Rajko Cerović also thinks that there was a pre-Vuk Karadžić tradition in Montenegro of writing in the national language as a standard linguistic practice in literary, diplomatic, state and religious activities.

To illustrate this, both Kilibarda and Cerović use the example of the two famous men from the Petrović dynasty – the epistle of Petar the First and ‘Gorski vijenac’ (‘The Mountain Wreath’) by Petar Petrović Njegoš.

A literature professor, Bosiljka Kankaraš reminds people that the famous linguistic expert from the University of Belgrade, Mihailo Stevanović, back in 1951, pointed to the fact that the syntactic richness of the language spoken in Njegoš’s homeland (or Njegoš’s language) has never been attained in the literature of Serbs, Montenegrins, Croats and other nations who speak the same language.

Also, a Serbian writer called Ljubomir Nenadović is often quoted on the issue of the Montenegrin language. In his famous letters from Montenegro he wrote from Cetinje that “the language Montenegrins use to speak and write is much different to the language

Education in a new Language: Montenegin alphabet

ard of it “is just a political project”. These are the words of Dr Jelica Stojanović, a professor at the study programme for Serbian language and South Slavic literature at the Faculty of Philosophy in Nikšić. She thinks that the formation of the study programme for the Montenegrin language and South Slavic literature at the same faculty is just a form of political manipulation.

This year, both study programmes enrolled 15 students. But Stojanović also says that the Montenegrin desk is a fictitious one not on-

The syntactic richness of the language spoken in Njegoš’s homeland (or Njegoš’s language) has never been attained in the literature of Serbs, Montenegrins, Croats and other nations who speak the same language used in Novi Sad or Belgrade” and that “if such development continues, in a hundred years’ time these two languages will be as far apart as Spanish and Portugese”. This quote is often accompanied by a remark that political intervention, directed at Montenegro, has stopped this process all together.

Of course, there are completely different opinions, such as the standpoint that there is no such thing as the Montenegrin language and that an attempt in trying to make a stand-

ly because the Montenegrin language does not exist, but also because this constitutionally accredited language hasn’t been standardized as yet. What is it exactly then that the students at the Montengrin language desk are studying? Stojanović asks. “It also follows that there are no Montenegrin linguistic experts either.” she says.

With regards to the Montenegrin language grammar which is currently being ‘held prisoner’ in the Ministry of Education,

the biggest novelty is codification of the ijekavian voice change in the case of letters of t, d, c, s and z, as well as extending cyrilic and latin alphabet by two letters. According to the available information, the conflict in the Council for Standardization of the Montenegrin Language came about because members could not agree on how wide they should go in the application of new graphemes, phonemes and lexemes. A Council member, Dr Rajka Glušica, advocates using doublets and letting the individual context decide when what will be used.

Also a Council member and a linguistic expert, Tatjana Bečanović (who speaks ekavian) lodged the strongest complaint after the grammar had been submitted to the Ministry of Education against the logic of, as she put it, “the Montenegrin purists”. She says that by standardizing the language they are trying to make a ‘new language’ of it (which she doesn’t contest), which would be similar to foreign languages, especially to Serbian. By calling some Council members “überMontenegrins”, Bečanović refused to accept the doublet case form, the so-called Montenegrin accusative which is ‘identified’ with the locative.

What will happen with the grammar in the administrative and political sense, nobody knows. There is no doubt that this is a very sensitive situation, so the Ministry of Education will be in no rush to practically apply the new grammar. The Montenegrin Education Minister, Sreten Škuletić says that this school year everything will be done as it has been before, in keeping with the old grammar system and the Serbo-Croatian dictionary.

According to the 2003 census, close to 170,000 citizens of Montenegro use the Montenegrin language. By declaring themselves speakers of the Montenegrin language, they primarily wanted the language they speak to be named after their national nomination (although the number of those declaring themselves as Montenegrins is much higher), just like they wanted to have their own Montenegrin Orthodox Church. Without a doubt, few of them want the Montenegrin language to be burdened with novelties, with the exception of standardizing the words that are already in widespread use.

At a scientific congress, the Montenegrins were presented with an idea of separating their language from the Serbian one, just as the Norwegians and Danish did. When these two countries went separate ways in 19th century, everybody called the former Danish-Norwegian language in line with their national name. Then writers who were Norwegian but wrote in the Danish language are today considered the Danish writers in Denmark, and Norwegian in Norway. There is even something called ‘the joint literature’. But then again, those countries are not the Balkans.

CorD / October 2008 47

B2B

NEW INVESTMENT

BY U.S. STEEL

U

. S. Steel Serbia plans to invest at least $100 million in construction of a galvanization line, and this investment will lead to creation of 50 new jobs and hiring at least 225 workers on constructing this facility. The facility should be finished in 20 months’ time, and the works will begin immediately after acquiring nedeed permits and approvals.

KBC SELLING ITS SHARE IN NLB BANK

B

elgium-based financial group, KBC plans to sell its share in Nova Ljubljanska Banka (NLB) to the British investment fund, Apax. KBC owns 34% of shares in NLB, bought in 2002 for €435 million at the time of Prime Minister, Anton Rop. Back in 2006, KBC announced leaving NLB after the current government of Janez Janša refused the possibility of KBC, as the strategic investor, of increasing its share in NLB to over 50%. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) sold its 5% share in NLB to a Slovenian investor this year.

Source: Seebiz.eu

AWARD TO PIRAEUS BANK GROUP

P

iraeus Bank Group has been awarded the Business Process Excellence for Enterprise Architecture Management. 2008 BPE award was presented by the leading company for business process management programs – IDS Scheer that has been awarded many times by Gartner for their software accomplishments.

The awards ceremony took place at the annual international Process World conference held in Berlin and organized by IDS Scheer, for the purpose of presenting the practices and latest developments in BPM issues, where Piraeus Bank Group presented its Enterprise Architecture and the methodology for its implementation, thus drawing a large audience.

The distinction rewards Piraeus Bank Group’s effort to handle business process management in an integrated way, by following modern trends, according to which the representation of an organization’s Enterprise Architecture provides the basis for further specialized projects of automatization and productivity improvement. Moreover, within the framework of an international organization such as Piraeus Bank Group, the Enterprise Architecture development ensures the uniform and effective operation at Group level and supports the international development strategy.

Piraeus Bank Group has recorded a remarkable business success in the first half of the year 2008. Total assets in late June 2008 reached 51.5 billion euros, which is a growth rate of 38%, compared to 37.5 billion euros in late June 2007. Total capital reached 3.3 billion euros, which is a growth rate of 77%, compared to 1.8 billion euros at the end of June 2007. Piraeus Bank Group currently operates through a network of more than 800 branches in Greece, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Egypt, Ukraine, Cyprus, UK, USA and Russia.

NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN IMF AND NBS START

GERMANY ON CORRIDOR 10

G

erman Government is interested in modernizing the railway Corridor 10 in Serbia – said Minister Mlađan Dinkić.

He added that the works on modernization of that corridor were due to start in the year 2010 and pointed out that the future collaboration between Deutschebahn (German railways) and Serbian Railways on modernizing and designing the railway Corridor 10 had been already agreed. „It has been agreed that the first phase of preparing the relevant projects will commence in the following 12 to 14 months“ – Dinkić said. The Minister also said that he expected the agreement between German and Serbian railways to be signed soon, pointing out that Serbia had been given close to €600 million in donations by Germany during the last eight years, which is the biggest contribution made by any foreign country, and that the new investments were expected to be made. Dinkić talked to the representatives of Volkswagen too and outlined that that car maker would be given the same subsidies as FIAT. Source: Tanjug 48 CorD / October 2008

tioned segments. He also said that it would be good for Serbia if the IMF concluded a binding arrangement without extension of a loan. „This would give Serbia better conditions for getting funding from abroad, and would help in a macro-economic dialogue with the European Union“ – the Governor said.

Source: B92, Beta

THREE OFFERS FOR STARA PLANINA

T

he Governor of National Bank of Serbia (NBS), Radovan Jelašić confirmed in Belgrade that negotiations with the IMF’s technical mission have started. Jelašić reiterated that he was in favour of concluding an arrangement with that financial institution. „The arrangement that Serbia would conclude with the IMF would not include new loans, since our foreign currency reserves are substantial and amount to close to €10 billion“ – Jelašić said. He added that concluding the arrangement with the IMF also depended on the Government of Serbia, and outlined that the new arrangement would be beneficial for the stability of prices in Serbia and would guarantee macro-economic stability. The talks will be held within the framework of the postmonitoring programme, and the main topics will be fiscal policy and structural reforms. Jelašić added that IMF’s representatives would give Serbia certain recommendations to be applied in the aforemen-

T

hree companies have expressed interest in building the Jabučko ravnište tourist centre on the Stara Planina (The Old Mountain). They are Austria-based Immorent, a part of Erste Group, Serbian Energoprojekt Holding and German company Juril – said the State Secretary for tourism in the Ministry of Economy, Goran Petković. He added that all of the above mentioned companies have experience in real estate and building hotel chains, and have also provided proofs of their financial standing. The tender for construction and management of the Jabučko ravnište tourist compound on the Stara Planina was released on September 16th in the Politika daily and Financial Times. Petković said that the state required the bidders to be financially sound, possess adequate experience in similar in-

vestment projects in the last five years worth at least €150 million, as well as have experience in running hotels and marketing. The future owner will have to set aside at least 14% of its annual profit on the account of using the property that is owned by the state of Serbia. The tender documentation can be acquired for €10,000, and will be available to interested parties from September 23rd to October 7th. The deadline for submission of bids is November 7th.

ABD INVESMENT

A

BD has commenced preparation works for the construction of a shopping mall, a luxury hotel, and garages at the location in the Rajićeva Street, near Kalemegdan. This modern complex will be comprised of the shopping mall, the downtown first five-star hotel with the capacity of 240 hotel units, and underground garages. ABD will invest around EUR100 million into this project and several hundred people will be employed in the shopping mall and the hotel. “For Ashtrom from Israel and ABD, the project in the Rajićeva Street represents one of the most significant projects implemented by the group which provided huge resources and investments and dedicated due attention to it. We believe that diversity of this modern complex will satisfy the needs of both the local population and numerous tourists, visitors of the capital city,” said Meir Avital, a partner and a representative of Ashtrom.

GRUNDFOS INVESTMENT IN SERBIA

D

anish Grundfos, the world’s largest pump manufacturer, is investing heavily in Serbia. The investments will amount to €75 or €80 million in the coming years with Grundfos establishing a new factory close to Belgrade. „We are experiencing extensive growth in Central and Eastern Europe and this is the reason why we are now establishing another factory. Serbia is interesting as it has good locations in comparison to other growing markets, including Russia, and, in addition to that, the country is going through a positive political and economic development.

Serious talks are being held regarding the country’s candidacy for the membership in the European Union set for 2009“, said Knud Krægpøth, Senior Vice President responsible for international production in the Grundfos Group. Grundfos purchased 15 hectares of land in the town of Indjija, 42 kilometres north of Belgrade. On this site, the new factory will start to be built in 2009 and will employ 350 to 500 production staff. The factory’s location will also serve as a logistics centre, close to the E75 motorway leading directly to Hungary.

BETTER INVESTMENT CLIMATE

I

nvestors are interested in investing in real estate, IT and production of consumer goods – said the President of the US Chamber of Commerce in Serbia, Dejan

Cvetković. He said that the reason for this growing interest could be found in an investment climate, which was now better than prior to the May parliamentary election, as well as in a higher level of predictability of the direction that Serbia was taking. Cvetković added that foreign investors found it much more important that 25 out of 27 EU members recently provided their support to implementation of the Interim Trade Agreement with Serbia, than The Netherlands preventing the agreement from being implemented. According to him, this support gives a clear indication to foreign investors that the EU sees Serbia as their member. The US Chamber of Commerce in Serbia will be focused on promoting Serbia as an investment location in order to attract more investors to the Serbian market, he said. The participation at the New York Investment Forum, that will take place on September 24th, will play an important part in that role – he said. Ten countries with the biggest investment potential will also take part in the Forum. Dejan Cvetković pointed out that Serbia’s bad image still represented the biggest obstacle in attracting foreign investors and outlined that we needed to increase our marketing levels and promotion of Serbia, as well as include Serbian Government in the process. Source: Beta

TOP 500 IN CENTRAL EUROPE

S

eventeen Central European countries have found their place on the list of the top 500 companies. The list was compiled by the experts from Deloitte & Touche and it includes seven companies from Serbia.

Judging by the total revenue in 2007, Petroleum Industry of Serbia (NIS) took the 20th place, Electric Power Industry of Serbia (EPS) 79th, Delta M 106th, PTT

“SCHOOLS WITHOUT VIOLENCE” – DONATION BY RAIFFEISEN BANKA

S

chools without violence – towards a safe and supportive environment for children is UNICEF’s project implemented in different countries, as well as in Serbia. Deeply concerned with all kinds of fast-growing violence against and among children and young people in Serbia during the last decade, UNICEF, together with the local authorities in charge of education, reacted with the initiative that seemed as the only appropriate way to reduce school violence.

The project is a joint project of UNICEF, the local community, citizens and corporate donations and is carried out through “school adoptions”. Raiffeisen banka’s donation will help a primary school “Matko Vuković” in Subotica to join this valuable programme.

Following the positive results achieved by similar UNICEF projects in several other countries, the project is now conducted in 126 elementary schools in Serbia. Through several phases, the program provides school children and their teachers with a set of necessary conflictmanagement skills, knowledge required to maintain the spirit of tolerance among the children, and skills of negotiating and mediation among peers. The program includes not only children and teachers, but also parents and the local community.

From left to right are representative of Raiffeisen Bank from Subotica, Dragica Lazarević, manager of school in Subotica, where the applied program, Mary Crnkovic and Darko Novakovic, a representative of UNICEF’s.

CorD / October 2008 49

B2B

Serbia 112th, Telekom Srbija 155th, US Steel 170th and Srbijagas 253rd place. In addition to the TOP 500 list, 100 strongest banks and insurance companies were also ranked. The criteria were bank assets and registered insurance premiums respectively. Among 100 top banks, there are Banca Intesa (78th place), Komercijalna banka (84th), Raiffeisen Bank (85th) and Hypo Alpe Adria (89th place). The two biggest insurance companies in Serbia were among the top 50 insurers – Dunav osiguranje took the 36th place and DDOR Novi Sad is the 40th in the region.

IGH ACQUIRES 50% OF ZAGREPČANKA

Z

agrebački holding has accepted the offer from IGH to buy an ideal half of Zagrepčanka, worth €46.5 million. Holding and IGH will jointly implement the project of construction of a commercial complex in Zagreb’s Heinzelova Street. Ingra and Miroslav Mišković’s United Europe submitted lower bids.

SPAR IN SERBIA

A

ustrian retail chain, Spar and car parts manufacturer, Magna Steier are coming to Serbia soon – the Austrian Embassy announces. „I don’t know the exact date of SPAR’s arrival, but it will be soon. This is a done deal. In addition to SPAR, several other large Austrian auto manufacturers are coming too“ – said the Trade Attache in the Austrian Embassy in Belgrade, Andreas Haidenthaller. He points out that in addition to Magna Steier, several other car and truck parts manufacturers have expressed interest in doing business in Serbia. Haidenthaller reminded that Magna was one of the parties interested in purchasing Zastava. He adds that the fact that Italian FIAT bought Kragujevac-based Zastava does not mean that the Austrian company is no longer interested in coming to Serbia. „On the contrary, they and many other auto-companies want to do business here“ – said the newly appointed Trade Attache in the Austrian Embassy in Belgrade, Andreas Haidenthaller.

Source: Biznis

CONTRACT WITH FIAT

A

contract with Italian FIAT and Kragujevac-based Zastava was signed on September 29th in the premises of the Serbian Government. The ceremony of

50 CorD / October 2008

ON THE FURNISHING MISSION

S

impo Line is a company for furnishing all types of interiors- hotels, business, residential and various public structures. It is part of the Simpo Company, which is the largest manufacturer of furniture and interior furnishings in South East Europe.

In Simpo Line we have united all enterprises dealing with furnishing- from planning, technical development, manufacturing, transport, to installation. Due to our advantages, we have a much greater capacity Hotel Four Seasons, Cyprus than any other regional company in this field. There are no limitations regarding choice of materials: all that is available in world centers is made available to us through our representative offices abroad, as well as through our numerous business partners.

In the last three years, Simpo Line has successfully completed a great number of projects in Serbia and abroad- from the Mediterranean to the North Sea, due to which it has claimed a reputation as a quality, flexible and dependable partner. Over 60 business premises and hotels prove this. Exclusive hotels such as the Intercontinental in Qatar, Four Seasons in Limasol, Klass K Designhotel in Helsinki, Clarion in Stockholm and Park IN in Berlin are just some that bear the signature of Simpo Line. In Serbia, Hotel IN, hotel M and hotel Sumadija in Belgrade, Prezident on Mountain Zlatibor and VODA VODA in Banja Vrujci are a few to be mentioned.

Simpo Line has established itself as a leader in the furnishing sector by combining expertise with a passion for creating interiors of premium quality and exquisite atmosphere.

Providing clients with comprehensive service is one of our major goals, reached through every furnishing contract which Stevana Prvovenčanog 58, 17500 Vranje we successfully implemented, Tel: 017 414 809, Email:office@simpoline.co.yu and which we take a step furwww.simpoline.com ther with every new one. signing of this contract, which covers the biggest investment ever made in the Serbian car making industry, was attended by FIAT’s CEO, Sergio Macchione, Italian Foreign Minister, Franco Frattini, Serbian President, Boris Tadić, as well as the Serbian Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Mirko Cvetković and Mlađan Dinkić respectively. The Italian company and Serbian Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding on April 30th, 2008 stipulating strategic cooperation and joint investment in the Kragujevac car factory, Zastava, on the basis of which the Italian partners are going to invest over €700 million. The Memorandum also envisages setting up a joint venture company, with 70% of the company being owned

by FIAT and 30% by the state of Serbia.

The Memorandum also stipulates the beginning of production of two new FIAT car models in Kragujevac, as well as increasing the production from the current 12,000 to 300,000 vehicles a year. The Government of Serbia plans to invest around €300 million in the Kragujevac infrastructure.

Source: B92

GAZPROM BANK ACQUIRING OTP BANK?

R

ussian Gazprom Bank is being mentioned as the most serious candidate for the acquisition of OTP Bank’s branch in Serbia. This would create the financial logistics for the energy treaty between Russia and Serbia – a Belgrade daily reports and adds that the National Bank of Serbia said that no bank had submitted a request to buy OTP Bank in Serbia as yet. Back in August, OTP’s management in Hungary announced that the bank would sell its divisions in Serbia and Slovakia if being offered a good price, in order to facilitate further development.

The talks about Gazprom Bank arriving to Serbia date way back, with Univerzal banka from Belgrade being mentioned as the Russian bank’s ’main target’ for acquisition. There are several other parties interested in buying OTP Bank in Serbia, in addition to Gazprom Bank, but this information will not be made public until the negotiations are over. According to certain me-

dia, the talks have already began in Sofia.

The speculations are rife that OTP Bank could be sold for an amount ranging from €200 to €300 million. OTP Bank officially came to Serbia on May 21st, 2007 by buying three Serbian banks – Niška banka, Zepter banka and Kulska banka, for which they paid over €160 million. Source: Blic

LIBERALIZATION OF GROUND TELEPHONY AS OF 2009?

this should change by introducing competition to the ground telephony sector.

The new operators should bring new services, not yet seen at this market. YuBC Company has submitted a request for a permit to become a ground telephony operator almost two years ago. The need to protect Telekom Serbia prior to its privatization is often cited as one of the reasons behind postponing introduction of competition to this sector. Telekom Serbia’s CEO, Branko Radujko, thinks that there is no need for that. „There is no need to take an extra care of Telekom’s interests. We are going to find our way around and maintain the dominant market position even in most liberal of conditions“ – Radujko says. According to the State Secretary in the Ministry of Telecommunications, Slobodan Laketa, the market liberalization and the sale of Telekom are parallel and linked procedures.

Source: B92

TO IMPLEMENT INTERIM AGREEMENT

S

erbian Minister of Telecommunications announced that the ground telephony market would be liberalized next year.

Close to 200,000 people in Serbia are still waiting to have phone lines installed, and several thousands of them have the socalled ’dual telephone numbers’. All of

S

erbia should start implementing the Interim Trade Agreement with the EU – Serbian PM, Mirko Cvetković and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Mlađan Dinkić say. The Government of Serbia is reviewing a possibility of unilaterally implementing the Interim Trade

Agreement with the EU, as recommended by the high EU officials in Brussels – says Prime Minister, Mirko Cvetković and adds that he is convinced that the agreement would be unblocked soon. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Mlađan Dinkić said that Serbia should do everything in its power to adopt EU standards and, by doing that, get closer to the European Union.

Cvetković and Dinkić are both of the opinion that economic challanges that Serbia is facing are reducing a high deficit of the current payment balance, cutting back on public spending, lowering the unemployment rate and attracting foreign direct investments.

Source: Beta, Tanjug

„TO BE CAREFUL WITH TELEKOM“

S

erbian Economy Minister, Mlađan Dinkić says that the state needs to be careful in privatizing large public enterprises like Telekom. Although domestic economy is still not feeling the negative effects of the global financial crisis, the state needs to carefully pick a moment to implement the IPO for Telekom. In addition to the privatization, Serbia is expecting a large influx of foreign investments. Dinkić says that the conditions for their arrival, i.e. political and

ADVANCE SALE OF VOLVO XC60

G

rand Motors, the exclusive representative of Volvo cars for Serbia, launched its advance sale of the new XC60 model, currently the most appealing Volvo vehicle. This is the first Volvo model joining the crossover group. XC60 combines comfort, features and versatile use of conventional limousine, aggressive sports car and roomy estate car.

According to some technical solutions it is incomparable to other series cars. Firstly, this is the first vehicle equipped with new safety systems (City Safety), with automatic braking which activates without driver’s intervention, at speeds under 30 km/h, stopping new Volvo if it gets too close to a car driving in front of it. According to its interior design too, its equipment, acceleration, maximum speed and cost efficiency it ranks among top models of its class.

Volvo XC60 debuted in early March, at the car show in Geneva. The European dealer network will be activated in the beginning of autumn, and Serbia is among first markets both in the region and the South-East Europe where it is possible to order the new model in advance, which, as the connoisseurs claim, will be one of Volvo’s booms with respect to its technical features, design and sale.

Volvo’s debutant XC60 is 4,628 mm long, 1.891mm wide, 1,672 mm high and the span between axles is 2,774 mm. It is driven by two 2,4 litre five-cylinder diesel engines of 163 or 185 HP, including one three litre six-cylinder petrol engine of 285 HP. Depending on the engine, from 0 to 100 km/h it develops speed in 10.5, 9.5 or 7.5 seconds and maximum speed of 195, 205 or 210 km/h.

CorD / October 2008 51

B2B

DREAM CAR

W

e have defined a very clear goal in the market of Serbia and the market of Montenegro: we want the driver of Mercedes to enjoy his dream car`, said Mr. Milovan Devic, after greeting the quests at the Maybach and S-Class Event, on Monday, September 15th.

In front of the White Palace in Belgrade, Mercedes-Benz Srbija and Montenegro and the hosts of the Event, the royal family Karađorđević, made real the automobile magic that has started back in1886.

In front of the White Palace, surrounded by the breathtaking ambience, three the most exclusive models of passenger vehicles in the world were parked: S-Class, its coupe CL–Class and of course, the Maybach, A vehicle with style and leading functionality which makes everyone’s head turn; abundance of space and comfort and

extraordinary safety - Mercedes–Benz S–Class, the real example that responds to all these demands.

Based on the S-Class the most exclusive coupe in the world was created: CL-Class or as described by the experts: “the absolute top of the luxury coupes.”

Exceptional performances and design leave no one indifferent. The unmistakable line of exclusiveness and style, peaceful surfaces and expressive strength in combination with materials of the highest quality such as wood, aluminum and leather are flirting with all the senses. `And in the end, or should I say, in the beginning... Maybach – the car for passionate lovers of something exceptional, of style, power and prestige`, said Mr. Milovan Devic, and continued: `Hand made all the way to the last detail, every limousine is unique and provides the owners with a chance to enjoy the fulfill-

ment of the most exclusive demands`.

As it was always the case with Maybach, the demand of a customer is what everything is measured upon. This car is created and it is the result of the exchange of ideas between the client and the Maybach’s designers. The variety of choice of details made of wood, natural stone, fiber, leather and accessories of exceptional final processing, represent the basis for the endless personalization of the vehicle. The result is the limousine of exceptional value that represents the reflection of style and the finest wishes of the owners.

With the selection of vehicles and the surrounding, Mercedes-Benz Srbija i Crna Gora have managed to show yet another level of enjoyment that they are able to offer - the overall felling of perfect harmony, elegance and technological superiority.

economic stability, have already been met. „We have are given another chance in the following period, as a result of Serbia being the only country in Europe that has free trade agreements with the EU, Russia and CEFTA. We are trying to conclude the same arrangement with Ukraine and Belarus too.

We shall do our best in trying to become a destination for production of work and export“ – Mlađan Dinkić said. Aside from Telekom, the shares of other Serbian companies are due to be floated at the London Stock Exchange next year, with a tender for the sale of Galenika invited, followed by the sale of NIS. Source: B92

have an easy and efficient communication, any time and any place, just like the global mobile telephony trends make it possible – Director of the Commercial Affairs Directorate in Telekom Serbia, Vladimir Lučić said. Today, MTS has 5.3 million users, which spend 10 million minutes talking on the mobile phone and send 15 million text messages a day. „As the company that is the regional leader in the telecommunication sector, Telekom Serbia is proud of the results achieved by the Mobile Telephony of Serbia. I would like to point out our arrival to the Montenegrin market, which is the biggest greenfield investment ever made by our company and, also, the arrival to the market of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This regional expansion made it possible for us to create a network of friends which now stands at 7 million users. We believe that, in the future, we will continue to be alert to new challenges, and together respond to them in a successful manner, just like today“ – Branko Radujko, CEO of Telekom Serbia said. Today, MTS has a market share

of 62% in mobile telephony services, is the first company to start providing 3G services, and it covers 92% of the territory and 98% of the population in Serbia.

TEN YEARS OF MTS

F

rom the moment the Mobile Telephony of Serbia (MTS) was founded ten years ago, the company has set a task of making the latest solution in this sector available to its users, i.e. to make it possible for our user to 52 CorD / October 2008

FIVE YEARS OF U. S. STEEL

U

.S. Steel Serbia marks five years of operations in Serbia.

U.S. Steel Corporation was founded in 1901.

After almost a century of existence, the Corporation is now one of the five biggest steel producing companies in the world. In November of 2000, U.S. Steel Corporation started to expand its business operations in Europe by acquiring an iron processing plant in Košice in Slovakia, only to invest in Serbia three years later by purchasing a similar plant in Smederevo.

Soon after this acqusition, U.S. Steel d.o.o. became the biggest exporter in the country and one of the biggest generators of the regional economic growth.

Samsung TVs awarded

EUROPEAN ECO-LABEL

S

amsung Electronic’s LCD TVs have been acEU Eco-label credited with the European Eco-label ‘flowhe EU Eco-label er’ in recognition of their best-in-class environ‘Flower’ was esmental performance. tablished in 1992 and The Samsung new line-up of LCD TVs, is an official certifithroughout 4, 5, 6 series from 32” and up, were cation scheme to help externally assessed by independent body, SIS European consumers to Eco-labelling, and certified as meeting the offiidentify quality prodcial Eco-label criteria. These criteria take into acucts that are less harmcount all aspects of the TVs’ environmental imful to the environment. pact - through production and use to end-of-life.

In addition, Samsung’s innovative ‘Crystal Design’ technology in the 6 series which suggests the natural beauty of crystal, exhibiting subtle shifts in color gradation, omits the use of conventional coloured paint sprays and therefore avoids the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can have negative health impacts.

As the world’s largest TV maker, Samsung believes that state-of-the-art technology and eco-design can go hand in hand and places a high priority on environmental performance – from phasing out target chemicals, to extending the durability of its products and improving recyclability.

“The TVs’ eco-credentials are combined with Samsung’s reputation for high-performance, quality and innovation and the achievement of the label is symbolic of Samsung Electronics’ commitment to incorporate environmental criteria into product design”, said Kyungshik Lee, Vice President of Product Marketing at Samsung. “We are committed to not only making the best TVs in the world, but the best TVs for the world.”

For more information, please visit www.samsung.com

T

AS OSIGURANJE BECOMES OPERATIONAL

A

S osiguranje (AS Insurance) has been founded by Adriatic Slovenia Insurance Comany from Koper, with the core capital amounting to €5 million. The National Bank of Serbia issued an operating licence to AS osiguranje in January this year. The company offers all kinds of non-life insurance premiums. In the fol-

lowing two years, AS osiguranje plans to conquer at least 2% of the insurance market in Serbia. Currently, there are 21 insurance companies in Serbia, and, at the end of June this year, their total insurance premiums amounted to RSD28.7 billion, i.e. €364 million, which is 19.4% higher than in the same period last year.

Another A-list business premise coming soon

RENT A PREMISE AT THE ADDRESS OF SUCCESS

I

n the close proximity of the hotels Hyatt and Continental, in Block 20, company CA IMMO will open an A-list business building at the beginning of next wekk called – The Sava Business Centre, containing over 20,000 square metres of office space.

Ten years of experience in real estate investments in South and South East Europe, made it possible for Austria-based company, CA IMMO International to currently implement 26 projects, with the market value in the region of €700 million. After investing in Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia and Russia, as of last year this company has been present on our market too.

The company chose an attractive location in Novi Beograd, Block 20 to be more precise, to make its first investment in Serbia. The three bridges nearby enable a fast commuting to all parts of the city and

country, and the close proximity of the airport provides an effortless connection with foreign countries.

Deputy Project Manager of The Sava Business Centre, Mr. Miloš Srejić says that the building was built in line with the highest EU standards.

We have used technics and standards which our company applies all over the world, since we are eager to assist

Belgrade’s development and its positioning as an important trade and business centre in the region. The architects hired on this project designed a very interesting facility, and we did our best to secure modern technical conditions and functional solutions which will please both foreign and domestic tenants. We have chosen a slogan –’The Address of Success’ and we are investing a lot of effort into making the Sava Business Centre becoming just that.

A high level of finishing touches and the fact that the space provides a lot of savings, makes it possible for tenants to start using this facility pretty quickly. Raised floors enable a simple and flexible layout of work stations. The smallest office space stretches across 200 m2 and the biggest across 2,700 m2.

The employees will be able to eat in a restaurant that will prepare 1,000 fresh meals a day.

CorD / October 2008 53

CORPORATE WOMAN

Jadranka Šturm Kocjan, Minister Plenipotentiary, Deputy Head of Mission Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia

Belgrade as a Challenge

‘‘I had known there was going to be a lot of changes in Serbia and it is very nice to follow them. It is never boring and it is very dynamic. Now I can see it is even more dynamic than I had expected. But being in Belgrade is like being at home.’’

time at school. Teaching is a wonderful profession. Every day I would go to work with joy. Sometimes nowadays I miss that ambience because I think that adolescents are very interesting age group.”

BY MARIJA SAVIĆ PHOTO MARKO RUPENA

You didn’t think about a career in politics?

No. I didn’t think of a career as a politician. In Koper, I had been known as the leader of Pedagogy Workers Association for eleven years. At elections in 1992, when Slovenia started its way towards independence, I was asked to become a candidate. I accepted but I did not think I had any chance of succeeding at all. However, I was chosen and I was a member of Slov-

J

adranka Šturm Kocjan was born in Postojna but at the age of four, together with her family, she moved to Koper. She grew up in Koper and is tied with this town, its people and sea, by her beautiful memories. In this town she completed her primary school and grammar school education and gradu-

54 CorD / October 2008

ated in psychology and pedagogy from University of Ljubljana. After she had returned to Kopar again, she had no plans to step into the world of politics and diplomacy after fifteen years of being a successful teacher and headmistress of the grammar school. ‘‘I have always wanted to work with people. That’s what I wanted when I was a schoolgirl,’’ says Mrs Kocjan. “That is why I chose psychology. And I had a great

enian parliament for one mandate, which was a very, very nice experience for me and specially to get more knowledge how the state is working.

After that mandate you continued to be engaged in politics?

After that mandate I was employed in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I was consul general in Trieste and afterwards the head of office for Slovenians abroad.

And now I am here, in the embassy in Belgrade.

Does your knowledge of psychology help you in diplomacy?

Yes. Very much. That is one of my better skills. Psychology is a science that deals with behaviour, communication and society but also with non-verbal communication and it all helps me a lot.

However, being engaged in diplomacy has been a privilege reserved for men for a long time. Are there still prejudices against women diplomats?

What is your experience like?

Personally, I haven’t had problems but generally speaking I think there still are some prejudices. Women don’t have equal chances to work, either in politics or in diplomacy. That can be seen in the fact that in the world, there are not many women in government. Until women get on top positions in society, like men, there will be no possibility for equality as it should be.

Do you think the world would be a better place if women governed?

Better… I don’t know whether it would be better. It would certainly be different. I would sincerely like for it to be divided.

One half of the responsibilities in life, politics and ruling should be taken over by women and the other half by men. There should be equality. I’m sure that the best results we can get only working and decided together men and women.

To what extent are women present in the politics of Slovenia?

To a very small extent. Out of ninety members of our parliament, eleven are women… What do you call in Serbian fe-

Professionally speaking, Belgrade is a great challenge for every diplomat. I had known there was going to be a lot of changes in Belgrade and it is very nice to follow them. It is never boring and it is very dynamic. Now I can see it is even more dynamic than I had expected male members of parliament?!

You see, we don’t always have words for feminine gender. It is rarely used. That is what I have noticed in Serbia as well.

For many professions that women are more traditionally involved in there are also no feminine forms of same word.

And how are things in Slovenia?

In Slovenia we have such words and they are used. It has been regulated by the law so whenever it is necessary feminine or masculine forms of the word are used.

However, only twelve percent of the par-

CAREER

WOMEN

DIPLOMACY

I didn’t think of a career as a politician. In Kopar, I had been known as the leader of Pedagogy Workers Association.

At first elections, when Slovenia started its way towards independence

Women don’t have equal chances to work, either in politics or in diplomacy. That can be seen in the fact that in the world, there are not many women in government

Who wants to be engaged in diplomacy should have wide education, have some basic skills of rhetoric,communication, very good listening ability,professionalism, spontaneity

liament are women and out of fifteen ministers in the government of Slovenia only three are women.

Do women have to be in possession of some special traits or skills so as to be engaged in diplomacy?

Criteria for both women and men are same. I think that a person that wants to be engaged in diplomacy should have wide education, have some basic skills of rhetoric, communication, very good listening ability, professionalism, the ability to analyse information spontaneity, foreign languages and diplomacy, of course. These I think are some of the basics.

In one year your mandate in Belgrade finishes. What were your first impressions like when you arrived?

Had you been to Serbia before?

Yes, I had been to Serbia. I have relatives here so we had been seeing each other often. They had been visiting us and we had been visiting them so I had seen Serbia before. But I had not come for eighteen CorD / October 2008 55

CORPORATE WOMAN

When I am in Kopaonik for instance, or when I go to Zlatibor or Stara planina, I feel very at home, as if I were in the Slovenian mountains. I like going to the mountains very much and Kopaonik and Zlatibor are not far away. I like skiing too.

years until I came this time on business.

When you came again after so many years what did you notice first?

I noticed that the atmosphere remained the same. Belgrade is known for a specific positive energy and I felt nothing had changed on that matter. When it comes to the city itself, Novi Beograd had been built a lot and that surprised me very much. But all the beautiful things that I had had in memory had remained the same.

Is there anything that you miss?

The only thing that I miss is the sea. But then there are the Sava and the Danube, wonderful Ušće, Ada Ciganlija, which is a wonderful beach… There is no big difference. And it is not only about Belgrade.

The whole of Serbia is beautiful. I have seen the whole of Serbia and I can say it is a wonderful country. And excellent is your food and “roštilj”, of course!

You fitted in easily, didn’t you?

I didn’t have any problems with that. I often talk about that with my new colleagues from other embassies. Nobody had problems. People here are very open, they want to help. Belgrade is an open city of good people. It is very nice to come to Belgrade.

What was your family’s reaction to your decision to move to Belgrade and how were things for them?

We were all very happy to come to Belgrade and we all feel good about it.

I had a chance to choose between Paris and Belgrade and there was just no hesitation in my mind, not even for five minutes. That was a spontaneous and quick decision. I have a husband and two sons. My younger son is twelve, he attends an international school. He is in the seventh grade. He feels great here.

We spent this summer holiday in Slovenia. After a month he already asked: ‘‘When are we coming back?, When are we coming back?’’ He is settled here.

My elder son has graduated from the University of Sport in Ljubljana but he is here too. He enrolled University of Sports Physiotherapy in Belgrade and he fitted in well.

You say you could choose between Paris and Belgrade and that you spontaneously and quickly decided to come to Belgrade.

What made the decision so easy?

First of all, professionally speaking, Belgrade is a great challenge for every diplomat. I had known there was going to be a lot of changes in Belgrade and it is very

nice to follow them. It is never boring and it is very dynamic. Now I can see it is even more dynamic than I had expected. But being in Belgrade is like being at home.

Thanks to God my parents are still alive,

Belgrade is known for a specific positive energy and I felt nothing had changed on that matter. When it comes to the city itself, Novi Beograd had been built a lot and that surprised me very much. But all the beautiful things that I had had in memory had remained the same and I also wanted to be close. I wanted to be able to sit in the car and reach home in five hours.

Would women be more active in politics if they had better support of men?

Of course they would be more active in politics if men took over a part of family responsibilities. They go hand in hand.

And I see that the younger generation in Slovenia has changed on that matter very much. A great number of men support their wives in their having career.

Is there a corner in Serbia that particularly reminds you of Slovenia?

Private and Professional Is it difficult for a woman like you to combine private and professional duties?

Every woman that works I think has problems, no matter whether she works in a bank, in a shop or as a hair-dresser. Work always has to be combined with family life but diplomacy is more challenging because there are no ordinary working hours. You never know when you are going to come back home and then in the evening have to go out again for dinners, receptions, events etc. If one doesn’t have support of their partner, which I, thank God, have, it is difficult. I leave home at eight in the morning and in the evening I come home and I know that everything will be done. My husband helps me with everything to do with the young child - he goes shopping and he likes to cook very much so when I come home everything has been taken care of and that is a great help.

56 CorD / October 2008

And finally, one less feminine and more diplomatic question: In what direction will future relationship between Slovenia and Serbia go?

In the right direction, towards European Union. We all want this pro-European government to be as successful as possible until the end of this mandate. It’s very pos-

itive that the stabilization and association agreement has been ratified in Skupština and I think that citizens’ decision to join the European Union is the right decision.

We in Slovenia are glad that Serbia too will become equal member of the Union and that the whole region, in a European sense, will be together again.

After a hard day?

Whenever I have an opportunity I go to Kalemegdan or Ada Ciganlija or Avala. I like Ada particularly. Every Saturday and Sunday I go there. I ride a bicycle, walk a bit, run… Whenever I have free time I go there. Apart from that, I live in Dedinje and that area is known for its beautiful parks so I have the option of going for a walk there too.

What is, in your opinion, Belgrade culture like?

Belgrade culture is exceptional. I think that having Philharmonic, Sava Centre and theatre repertoire one simply doesn’t know what to chose. The offer is topnotch. I am delighted.

I like going to the cinema but I like theatre best, the Philharmonic and of course, walking through the city and Ada.

FACES & PLACES

CorD Editor-in-Chief, Vladan Alimpijevic, and Serbian Prime Minister, Mirko Cvetkovic, pictured at the MP’s Club on the 17th September reception to mark the 50th edition and fifth anniversary of CorD magazine.

PM Cvetkovic used the opportunity to invite foreign investors to come to Serbia, promising that infrastructure will be improved and regulatory legislation will be simplified by the end of his mandate.

Honoured guests and VIPs, including Cypriot Ambassador Mavrommatis, Crown-Prince Karadjordjevic and French Ambassador Terral, pictured at CorD’s anniversary reception

H.E. Aleksandar Konuzin, Russian Ambassador to Serbia, is wlecomed to CorD’s anniversary party by corporate editor Tatjana Ostojic 58 CorD / October 2008

Establisher and owner of CorD magazine, Branislav Novcic, and Serbian, PM Mirko Cvetkovic, pictured at Dedinje’s MP’s Club on 17th September

H.E. Christos Panagopoulos Greek Ambassador in Serbia, Dimitris Frangetis CEB of Piraeus Bank, Miroslava Nešić Bikić Marketing & PR director of Piraeus Bank, Georgios E. Lychnos C.E.O. Smart Interbank Services

Ms. Hanan Khaled Zoghbia, Counsellor and Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. of the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, welcomes Serbian Trade Minister Slobodan Milosavljeic to a 1st September reception marking the 39th anniversary of Libya’s 1st September Revolution.

To mark the culmination of the first S.E.N.S.E. Seminar to boast a group of participants from Serbia, the Polish Ambassador in Belgrade, H.E. Maciej Szymanski, hosted a reception at the embassy on 16th September.

Eduardo Hector Moguel Flores, Chargé d’ Affaires a.i. of the Embassy of Mexico in Belgrade, hosted a festive reception at Belgrade City Hall on 16th September to mark the 198th anniversary of Mexico’s declaration of independence.

CorD / October 2008 59

FACES & PLACES

Italian Ambassador to Serbia, H.E. Alessandro Merolla, decorates Professor Dragoljub Micunovic, Sonja Licht and Dr. Jovan Ratkovic, with the Star of Italian Solidarity at the Italian Embassy in Belgrade on 16th September.

Mobile Telephone Serbia, MT:S, held a festive party with live music on 20th September in downtown Belgrade, to mark the 10th anniversary of their operations

Slovakian Ambassador to Serbia, H.E. Igor Furdik, chats with Goran Svilanovic (centre) and U.S. Ambassador, H.E. Cameron Munter, at 4th September reception to mark Constitution Day of the Slovak Republic.

60 CorD / October 2008

Macedonian Ambassador, H.E. Aleksandar Vasilevski, hosted a reception at Belgrade City Hall on 8th September to mark the independence day of Macedonia.

H.E. Ambassador Stephen and Mrs. Nicole Wordsworth bid a fond farewell to Korean Ambassador Kim Young-Hee at her farewell reception on 12th September..

A scene from the 5th anniversary party of American company U.S. Steel Srbija at Belgrade’s Usce Tower.

Ambasador of Swtzarland, H.E. Vilhelm Meyer, made farewell reception at hotel Zira on 18rd September Malaysian Ambassador to Serbia, H.E. Ching Hong SAW, and Mrs. Jenny Saw, hosted a reception on 2dn September on the occasion of the 51st anniversary of the National Day of Malaysia.

To mark the third Finance Seminar, organised by Meridian Bank Credit Agricole and SIEPA, French Ambassador, H.E. Jean-Francois Terral, and Francois Drion, President of the Executive Board of Meridian Bank Credit Agricole Group, held a ceremonial dinner reception for more than 300 VIPs on 23rd September.

On the occasion of the Indepedence Day the Ambassador of Ucraina H.E. Anatoliynyk made reception at the crystal ballroom of Hyaat Regency hotel on 15rd September CorD / October 2008 61

CULTURE

Belgrade International Theatre Festival: 42nd time

Bitef’s Tragic Comedy

The title of this year’s BITEF central programme – ’Tragic Comedy – Tragedy of Our Time’, speaks about the view that this large international theatre festival has about the contemporary world and theatre

BY SONJA ĆIRIĆ

J

ust recently, on September 29th, one of the most renowned international theatre festivals in the world and trademark of Serbian culture – the 42nd BITEF – ended. Although it is still early to fully analyze and review the event, it seems that this was one of the best BITEFs ever, i.e. the impression we had during the festival proved to be true.

According to the BITEF selector, Jovan Ćirilov, the only person who has been with the Festival since its very beginning, BITEF has long become a piece of our existence as well as a European way of life – it is independent and specific. Surveys carried out among this year’s audience show that the festival has become almost a habit, something that we are sure is going to happen every September, something that launches a new theatre season...

The title of this year’s BITEF central programme was ’Tragic Comedy – Tragedy of Our Time’. BITEF’s titles, of course, are not devised to refer to every staged play, but to show BITEF’s view of the contemporary theatre and the world. The Festival selectors, Jovan Ćirilov and Anja Suša, chose ten plays for the central programme – plays that are representative of new tendencies in theatre, which is, after all, the main reason why BITEF exists. According to Anja Suša, ever since the 1960s, there have been no major directions in the world of theatre, i.e. everything was boiled down to impressionable authors and their innovations. However, regardless of that, what we were able to see during BITEF was new and relevant for the world of theatre at this very moment. We are going to talk about this year’s plays further below.

The novelty of this year’s BITEF was one of the accompanying programmes called ’The Truth about Theatre’. Envisioned as a round table discussion aimed at searching for the truth in theatre, the programme was corroborated with two docu-theatre plays

62 CorD / October 2008

From Latvia we had ‘Sonya’, a play based on Tatyana Tolstoy’s work, directed by Alvis Hermanis questioning how much the theatre was really capable of overcoming the strength of a true event. A play called ’Are you Happy?’ was co-produced by Belgrade’s Centre for Cultural Decontamination and Hetvennm Theatre from Amsterdam, while the play entitled ’Truth in Translation’ was a joint co-production by the US Colonnades Theatre Lab and South African Market Theatre, both based on true events. Other programmes were more of a traditional nature: ’BITEF on Film’ is the oldest and it takes place every tenth time. Also, this

year, there was a screening of movies dedicated to the large Chaplin family, followed by a programme called ’Polyphony’ dedicated to theatre for children, and problems associated with growing up. There were also several plays by amateur and professional theatres, with the play titled ’Who do you belong to, Peter?’ by a group called ’Wizards of Oz’ (from the Belgrade County Jail) attracting most attention.

The biggest side programme – Showcase – was a presentation of national plays in BITEF’s manner. The Director of BITEF,

Domestic BITEF Performances

A

t this year’s BITEF, Serbia was represented by three plays: ‘Brecht – the Hardcore Machine’ directed by Andras Urban and produced by the Kosztolany DezsoSzinhaz Theatre from Subotica, Sophocle’s ‘Oedipus the King’ directed by Vida Ognjenović and staged by the Belgrade National Theatre and a spectacle called ‘Don Giovanni’, based on the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the libretto of Lorenzo da Ponte, directed by Bojana Cvejić and produced by Jugokoncert and the Belgrade Fair.

1

2

3

4

Scene from the play: 1. Persians 2. Lack of Space 3. Baby Drama 4. Plus ou Mois Infini Nikita Milivojević says that Showcase was needed for many reasons. „My experience tells me that if you are a guest, you always want to find out more about the domestic theatre scene rather than find out whether they play Shakespeare or Molliere. Some of the plays could be seen at other festivals too, so BITEF is a good chance to offer our guests something that we consider the most interesting in our theatre. In a sense, I think that Showcase was a success of last year’s festival and we were serious in preparing it. We have envisioned it to last only three days, as a special section, and we have invited people who are directly engaged in selling plays to other festivals (rather than critics) to see it. We have also prepared a special catalogue covering only the Showcase. You could have seen it at the Avignon Festival. To be clear, I am not talking about the quality of the plays, the choices that selectors made, the opinions that guests have – this is a different subject all together, but I am talking only about what we’ve done in order to make this part of the programme at least as interesting as the central one.

The result of all of this was that all the Showcase plays were really well attended and we even made money from selling tickets which, in the beginning, seemed almost an impossible feat to me!?

In order for the Showcase to establish itself and yield more results, we still need to do a lot, although it all depends on the plays we offer“ – he says. This year, the following plays were selected to be shown at Showcase: ’Urbi et Orbi’ directed by Andras Urban, ’Rules of Conduct in Modern Society’ by Anđelka Nikolić, ’The Šopalović Travelling Theatre’ by Tomi Janežić, Andras Urban’s ’The Collection Centre’ and a play called ’Female Bomb’ by Bojan Đorđev.

Following an unwritten rule, the beginning and end of BITEF were reserved for hit plays. This year, BITEF started with a play CorD / October 2008 63

CULTURE

’Lack of Space’ (Platz Mangel’) is a co-production of two Swiss theatres – Rote Fabric from Zurich and GmBH from Basel called ’More or Less Infinitely’ (’Plus ou Mois Infini’) by the 111 Company from Tolouse, directed by Phil Soltanoff, which was a really impressive spectacle. This play is a typical example of a type of theatre which is a combination of dance, mime and acrobatics with nonverbal actor expressions. ’More or Less Infinitely’ is the third part of a trilogy that occurs in space, i.e. the line in this case. With a really impressive play of lights, the artists, who took the roles of actors, dancers and choreographers at the same time, were light on their feet performing elements of circus-based choreography. The US director, Phil Soltanoff, says that the freedom of association, sampling and combining different forms and techniques were his primary guidelines in the approach towards the play.

In the same fashion as the opening, BITEF ended with a big play called ’The Persians’ (Die Perser) by the Deutsches Theatre from Berlin, directed by Dimiter Gochev. The play was declared the biggest event of the season last year in Germany, with German critics writing: „Excellent actors are playing the tragedy of the defeated, so present in the contemporary history, using defeat to determine a tragic future of their own people.“ Dimiter Gochev is one of the most striking European directors, and although he is not young, he has exceptionally fresh ideas. According to the critics, the Deutsches Theatre is unparalleled when it comes to making classics contemporary, especially in the case of an64 CorD / October 2008

Sophocle’s ‘Oedipus the King’ directed by Vida Ognjenović and staged by the Belgrade National Theatre cient Greek tragedies, so every single play of theirs is a lesson on how to do it properly.

One of the most attractive and unusual plays ever seen on BITEF was ’Baby Drama’ by the Unga Klara Theatre from Stockholm, directed by Suzanne Osten.

This was a play for babies, between 6 and 12 months old, as well as their parents.

Babies watched the actors who were wearing baby masks and reconstructing the act of babies being delivered in order to bring closer to them the senses of the world. They also showed how children fall asleep with music, taught them how nice is to have a bath in a plastic tub or eat by the table. The parents were sitting behind the babies, with soft chairs next to them in case they need-

ed to calm down any crying babies. Unga Klara is a special section of the Stockholm City Theatre, founded by Suzanne Osten with the aim of working with children and youngsters. Osten made quite a revolution in the children theatre with this. The play staged at BITEF certainly belongs to that revolution.

A musical / scenario project called ’Lack of Space’ (Platz Mangel’) is a coproduction of two Swiss theatres – Rote Fabric from Zurich and GmBH from Basel.

This is an excellent play by a famous director Cristoph Marthaler and is a story about members of the upper class who are trying to reach serenity, health and a golden future but end up in hell. It all happens in an exclusive mental hospital, with the music of Gustav Mahler and Johanes Sebastian Bach playing in the background. Also, there was a play called ’Stifter’s Things’ (’Stifters Dinge’) by Theatre Vidi from Lausanne, Switzerland, directed by the great Heiner Goebbels, a star of the contemporary European theatre. In his words, this is a sound and visual installation which invites the audience to observe and listen.

This is a story about a forgotten German writer Adabert Stifer, who lived at the beginning of 19th century, and is created with the help from a piano without a pianist and a theatre without actors. In short, a Goebbels spectacle.

From Latvia we had ‘Sonya’, a play based on Tatyana Tolstoy’s work, directed by Alvis Hermanis, a recipient of the last year’s prestigious award called ‘Premio Europa’ which was also given to our Biljana Srbljanović. ‘Sonya’ is a realistic story about loneliness, alienation and rejection, and hence is very susceptive. Belgium and Austria were represented at this year’s BITEF by a play called ‘Maybe Forever’ by the Danmaged Goods Theatre and ‘Mumbling Fish’ directed by Meg Stuard and Philipp Gehmacher, a play which was written in only five days which these two authors spent in a dance studio.

They showed a very provocative play about transience.

Serbia was represented by three plays, which speaks volumes about the position that our theatre has on the contemporary European theatre scene. The first one was ‘Brecht – the Hardcore Machine’ directed by Andras Urban and produced by the Kosztolany DezsoSzinhaz Theatre from

’Baby Drama’ by the Unga KlaraTheatre from Stockholm, directed by Suzanne Osten Subotica. This is the third Urban’s play at BITEF, while the other two we mentioned in the Showcase section. In this play, the Director deals with Brecht’s theatre philosophy, plays with light, recites a text, speaks to the audience through the distancing effect and tells a story of truth, hypocrisy, justice and lost faith in people. Then, there is Sophocle’s ‘Oedipus the King’ directed by Vida Ognjenović and staged by the Belgrade National Theatre. This is a modern view on a famous ancient Greek drama where King Oedipus is actually a victim of his own delusion that he can rule over others. ‘Oedipus the King’ is a contemporary response to an ancient, mythological curse found in this part of the world. It searches for answers to the question of what makes a person so intoxicated with his own intelligence and power, exclude himself from

BITEF in numbers

T

his year’s BITEF had ten carefully selected plays in the central programme, 20 in accompanying programmes, 80 guests and close to 500 participants from Austria, Belgium, Armenia, Denmark, Finland, Brazil, Bulgaria, France, Germany, the USA, Russia, Sweden, Italy, Hungary, Turkey, the Great Britain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Latvia, and Switzerland.

the possibility of feeling guilty and living in the illusion that he can not only rule over people, but also his nature and sub nature.

The third play coming from Serbia was a spectacle called ‘Don Giovanni’, based on the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the libretto of Lorenzo da Ponte, directed by Bojana Cvejić and produced by Jugokoncert and the Belgrade Fair. The play was full of sensations, from barely noticeable to impressive ones. It provoked the audience to search where and how the voices, sounds and plot appear and change.

In numbers, this year’s BITEF sums up to this: in addition to ten plays in the central programme, there were 20 others in accompanying programmes, 80 guests and close to 500 participants from Austria, Belgium, Armenia, Denmark, Finland, Brazil, Bulgaria, France, Germany, the USA, Russia, Sweden, Italy, Hungary, Turkey, the Great Britain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Latvia, and Switzerland.

As mentioned in the beginning, the 42nd BITEF just finished and although it is still early to thoroughly review it, it seems like this year the organizers did a remarkably good job.

CorD / October 2008 65

CULTURE

Interview: Nebojša Bradić, Serbian Minister of Culture and Media

Both ‘ours’ and ‘theirs’ atre in Kruševac, and held same posts in the Belgrade theatres like Atelje 212, National Theatre and Belgrade Drama Theatre. His plays - and he has directed over 70 of them in Serbian, Bosnian and Greek theatres – have won numerous awards. The award for the best theatre manager is probably the most relevant among his qualifications for the post of the Minister of Culture.

Both the Ministry of Culture and Nebojša Bradić have a complex and exceptionally important job to do in culture and media, to mention only changing the laws in both areas.

“One nation’s culture becomes a basis of each individual culture when it confirms and expresses the identity of the nation it belongs to and when it connects to global cultures.”

66 CorD / October 2008

BY SONJA ĆIRIĆ

J

udging by the reactions from the public, appointing theatre director Nebojša Bradić as a new Serbian Minister of Culture was the right thing to do. Mr. Bradić has an extensive experience in managing culture institutions. He was the Director of a the-

The beginning of July, right after you became the new Minister of Culture and Media, you posted a text on the Ministry’s website which many understood to be a programming document, an essay about priorities and the way in which the Ministry is going to conduct itself. Bearing in mind that this text has not been translated as yet, would be kind enough to tell CORD readers which development direction should culture in Serbia take?

Culture has a special place among small nations, especially those that don’t hold much economic or political influence in the world. Such nations do not have a lot of manoeuvring space for promoting their own identity. However, culture is a discipline in which they can take part. The number of Serbian artists and the quality of their achievements, top experts and their work, as well as the general level of our culture institutions and the personnel they employ, guarantee that Serbian culture is able to compete with even with most developed environments.

Bearing that in mind, our Ministry plans to provide special assistance and encourage new cultural events. The emphasis will be put on both smaller and larger campaigns in culture. We are ready to become very proactive in organizing cultural events whether as partners and co-producers or as somebody who can offer logistical help. Anyhow, we are not going to be passive observers of the

Minister Bradić joins other Serbian ministers in giving their oath to Serbia events which we back up. By doing this we are not only going to take on the obligations, but also the responsibility for improving the quality of cultural life in our country.

Although you define the Ministry of Culture as the ministry of continuity, it is quite certain that you are going to have to do a lot of work to bring some order to our cinematography, cultural heritage, and publishing to name just few. All of this depends on the budget. What are you hoping for?

The Ministry of Culture has certain means at its disposal to help institutions, projects and individuals. These means are not that big, but sufficient to encourage the best to reach high goals in culture. What the Ministry of Culture expects in return is results. Those engaged in culture are expected to succeed whether here or abroad.

The results of Ministry’s investments will be analyzed, evaluated and ranked in every so often, and those people who are advancing our general level of culture and promote Serbia abroad will be awarded and encouraged to achieve further successes.

Those who were not successful will not have these privileges.

At ‘Vuk’s Congress in Tršić you spoke about the existence of the national and international identity of a small nation like the Serbian one. Is the coordination between these segments one of the key elements leading towards Europe?

not immune to them. The answer we have is not ours or theirs, but both ours and theirs.

One nation’s culture becomes a basis of each individual culture when it confirms and expresses the identity of the nation it belongs to and when it connects to global cultures.

We keep hearing that Serbia should and needs to become a part of Europe,

There is a fear in small nations that their jeopardized identities will vanish. Because of this fear, they usually reject the new, and there is a climate of suspicion and accusations.The issue of ‘ours’ and ‘theirs’ becomes apparent in the situations where transitional processes are offering various way of identification There is a fear in small nations that their jeopardized identities will vanish. Because of this fear, they usually reject the new, and there is a climate of suspicion and accusations. The issue of ‘ours’ and ‘theirs’ becomes apparent in the situations where transitional processes are offering various way of identification. These issues appear in everyday life, in the media, and even culture is

IDENTITY

PORTAL

HIGH GOALS

Culture has a special place among small nations, especially those that don’t hold much political influence in the world. Such nations do not have a lot of manoeuvring space for promoting their own identity.

We are currently preparing an agenda of cultural institutions and events, and after that, within the Portal Serbia, we are going to establish a better communication and promote networking within our culture.

The Ministry of Culture has certain means at its disposal to help institutions, projects and individuals.These means are not that big, but sufficient to encourage the best to reach high goals in culture.

and what we can achieve politically and culturally. What is your opinion?

Serbia has a great potential since it has exceptional achievements in the area of literature, film, theatre, visual arts, music and cultural heritage. Sometimes that is not visible enough so our Ministry wants to actuate and support a good quality presentation of the achievements made by Serbian culture in the world. We are currently preparing an agenda of cultural institutions and events, and after tha t, within the Portal Serbia, we are going to establish a better communication and promote networking within our culture.

During the first few months at this post, you met with many ambassadors and representatives of foreign countries.

Have you agreed on any concrete ways of cooperating? Are you going to try to establish the cooperation with those countries that we haven’t cooperated so far?

We have already launched projects which CorD / October 2008 67

CULTURE

Even before actor-ministers, Serbian theatre had a stable position in the Serbian society. Taking into consideration what I’ve seen so far, I think that my predecessors defended the general interest in the whole culture, not only in one of its segments.

You have announced three laws pertaining to the media: the one about providing information, radio broadcast and public service. How can these laws make media adhere to basic principles of exercising moral responsibility when providing information?

The goal of these laws is to bring order to the media. Their application in the cases when the professional and responsible conduct is not applied will affect the changes made to the media situation which is, at the same time, the cultural situation.

In your recent interview for a Belgrade weekly, you’ve said that the state could not own the media. What does this mean to the media?

The EU standards do not allow the state to own the media. This means that, in the upcoming period, a consistent privatization of media will be carried out which will take into account the media in the languages of ethnic minorities. include various partners from European countries, aside from our artists and institutions. Success achieved by these projects will be a good guarantee and encouragement for making further steps. Our Ministry will provide support to the projects of international cooperation and will endeavour to secure additional funding. We have new bilateral agreements and regional cooperation programmes ahead of us, as well as those with other European countries. These documents are currently being prepared or will be signed soon and they will facilitate future communication and exchange. We are convinced that contacts in the culture are much easier to establish than political or economic contacts.

The reports coming from your Ministry show that you are in a different city every single day. These are places that not many ministers visit. What is the situation with the culture outside Belgrade?

The situation is not great, but I do believe that in Serbia we live in today there are enough mature culture workers and dedicated followers of Serbian culture who should be awakened, moved and given back the hope despite the fact that we are lagging behind the rest of the world in many areas. Because of this we in the Ministry chose team work and initiated a series of talks with many culture workers, leaders and politicians all over Serbia, searching for team players who will be capable of putting the tasks together and 68 CorD / October 2008

dealing with them. We want to establish a sustainable partnership at different levels – the republic, provincial, city and municipal - a partnership that will build a decentralized system, but also take care of general interests in culture. With a lot of work, enough time and dedication, this will not be idealization, but a system that works.

During history there were various forms of relations established between the state and culture – some of your best plays talk about this. How would you describe the current relations? Which one exerts stronger influence? Can culture influence the state at all?

The information that the world gets about Serbia is extremely important.

Many think that only we are to blame for being recognized as a country that is constantly at war. Does the Ministry intend to change the image we have in the world by launching certain projects?

We have a state that has been at many wars, underwent many trials and hasn’t been always able to eliminate the unfortunate effects of social development. Hence, the culture is really important - on one side, as a way of fighting for the better lives of our citizens, as well as a part of a campaign for repairing our country’s image. I believe

The EU standards do not allow the state to own the media.This means that, in the upcoming period, a consistent privatization of media will be carried out which will take into account the media in the languages of ethnic minorities Despite some sceptical people who doubt the power that artists and creators have, I believe that culture can exert influence and does influence the state.

In the year 2000, then ministers of culture mostly came from theatrical background. This is, of course, a coincidence, but we could not help but thinking that theatres benefited the most from this coincidence. What do you think about that?

that new projects and programme actions of our Ministry will contribute to fixing Serbia’s image.

You are a journalist-friendly person who tries to respond to our requests.

How can journalists ’repay’ the Ministry and by that indirectly help your work too?

Your interview is a visible contribution.

Thank you.

PANTHEON 5.5 TM

Business operating system

5.5 koraka da iskoristite potencijal svojih podataka u svakoj delatnosti Više o PANTHEON-u na web stranicama www. datalab. co.yu

Šta PANTHEON može da uradi za Vas?

Datalab SR d.o.o. , Bul.Dr.Zorana Đinđića 4a, Beograd

| design: www.studiomars.si

PANTHEON je poslovno-informacioni sistem koji sadrži sve u jednom, a koji Vam omogućava:

Klient | Server

MS SQL MS Windows

Oracle - Linux ili MS Windows

Windows Vista

Windows XP

Windows 2000

Windows 95/98/ME

Linux

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

5.5

Da znate šta se dešava u Vašem biznisu, Da Vam posao bude lakši, Da brzo rešite problem, Da izaberete sistem koji Vam odgovara, Da se proširite internacionalno, Da budete jedinstveni.

Najbolje vreme za kupovinu Informacionog Sistema?

Trenutak kada Vi i Vaša kompanija shvatite da treba da idete napred.

Datalab SR d.o.o.

Bul. Dr. Zorana Đinđića 4a, 11070 Beograd t. 011 214 01 83, f. 011 214 67 27 info@datalab.co.yu , www.datalab.co.yu

CULTURE CALENDAR

In cooperation with the Ohrid Summer Festival an Sava Center Joy of Europe

5. October Belgrade Arena

ANNUAL EVENTS 24th BEMUS- Belgrade Music Festival

OPENING Friday, October 3rd Sava Centre at 20.00 Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor Mark Gorenstein Johannes Moser, violoncello Zoran Erić: Between the Acts, farse – episode for the orchestra (commissioned by Bemus) Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No.1 Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 in cooperation with The German Embassy and Sava Center Saturday, October 4th Kolarac Hall at 20.00 I Virtuosi di Paganini & Ingolf Turban, violin Tartini, Sivori, Paganini, Ysaÿe Sunday, October 5th Kolarac Hall at 20.00 Blechschaden Brass Ensemble Artistic leader: Bob Ross October 6th Kolarac Hall at 20.00 Violinist David Garrett Milana Chernyavska, piano Beethoven: Sonata for violin and

piano G Major op.96 Beethoven: Romance F Major op.50 Grieg: Sonata for violin and piano op.45 c minor Tuesday, October 7th Kolarac Hall at 20.00 Ebène String Quartet and violoncellist Maja Bogdanović Mozart: Divertimento K 138 Debussy: Quartet Schubert: Quintet In cooperation with the French Cultural Center 70 CorD / October 2008

Wednesday, October 8th Kolarac Hall at 20.00 Duško Gojković, jazz trumpet & Duško Gojković Summit Octet Thursday, October 9th Kolarac Hall at 20.00 Budapest Festival Orchestra Conductor: Ivan Fischer Christianne Stotijn, mezzosoprano and Robert Dean-Smith, tenor Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde Beethoven: Symphony No.4 Friday, 10th Sava Center at 20.00 BORIS EIFMAN BALLET

Don Quixote (Minkus) Russian Hamlet (Beethoven and Mahler) In cooperation with Sava Center Saturday, October 11th Pinocchio Puppet Theater

at 11.00 & 17.00 Bastien und Bastienne, music play with puppets Based on Mozart’s opera Libretto adapted and play directed by: Nikola Zavišić Choice of music and music improvisation: pianist Sonja Lončar Puppets designed by: Filip Jevtić Sets designed by: Jovana Tokić In cooperation with Pinocchio Puppet Theatre Sunday, October 12th Kolarac Hall at 12.00 ETHNO CONCERT Groups from Serbia MOBA, Ukraine DREVO, Russia RUSSKAYA MUZIKA and Latvia TRYS KETURIOSE Free entrance Sunday, October 12th Sava Centre at 20.00 JACQUES LOUSSIER TRIO In cooperation with the French Cultural Center and Sava Center Monday, October 13th Atelje 212 at 20.00 LE POÈME HARMONIQUE

Venezia, dalle strade ai palazzi Music of early 17th century

(Monteverdi, Manelli...)

Directed by: Benjamin Lazar In cooperation with the French Cultural Center Tuesday, 14th and Thursday, October 16th Yugoslav Drama Theatre at 20.00 Isidora Žebeljan:

Every October Belgrade is the host to children from all over the world, who sing, dance, and above all, hang out together and have fun. They stay at their Belgrade peers` homes.

The festival `Joy of Europe` has been taking place in Belgrade since 1969. This year, for the first time, a gala concert `Joy of

„The Marathon“

(Serbian premiere) Isidora Žebeljan Orchestra Conductor: Premil Petrović Jowita Sipp, soprano, Karin Goltz, alto, Marcel Beekman, tenor, Walter Raffeiner, tenor, Marco di Sapia, baritone, Andreas Jankowitsch, baritone, Robert Pertl, baritone Stage Director: Nicola Raab Libretto based on motives of Dušan Kovačević’s play „The Marathon Runners…“ written by: Borislav Čičovački, Milica Žebeljan and Isidora Žebeljan Co-production with the Bregenz Festival and Neue Oper Wien October 15th Atelje 212 at 20.00 Entr’acte Created, directed and performed by: József Nagy Composer: Akosh Szelevenyi In cooperation with the French Cultural Center Friday, October 17th CLOSING Sava Center at 20.00 Stevan Hristić: „The Ohrid Legend“, concert performance and movie RTS Symphony Orchestra and Choir Conductor: Bojan Suđić Ballet choreographer on film: Iskra Šukarova Film directed by: Miloš Đukelić

Europe 2008` will be organized at Belgrade Arena.

The 33rd gathering of children of Europe called ` We are all here together` is scheduled for 5th October 2008. Children from 20 countries have accepted this year`s invitation to bring their music and dance to `Joy of Europe`. They will come from Belarus, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Bulgaria, Check Republic, Greece, Italy, Cypruss, Hungary, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Sovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Turkey, Montenegro, Spain, Norway, and the host country, Serbia ROCK, POP Thin Lizzy

Dom Sindikata 4. October, 20 00

Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band who formed in Dublin, Ireland in 1969. The band were

led throughout their recording career by bassist, songwriter and singer Phil Lynott, and are best known for their songs “Whiskey in the Jar”, “Jailbreak” and “The Boys Are Back in Town”, all major international hits still played regularly on hard rock and classic rock radio stations. As well as being multiracial, the band drew its members not only from both sides of the Irish border but also from both the Catholic and Protestant communities.Their music reflects a wide range of influences, including country and traditional Irish folk music, and psychedelic rock but is generally classified as hard rock or heavy metal Alicia Keys

Belgrade arena 11. October

Nine-time Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys returns with her long-awaited third studio album, As I Am. Within 10 hours of being serviced to radio, Alicia first single, “No One,” became one of the fastest moving and highest charting single on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Punctuated with rich powerful vocals, Alicia’s vocal muses can be felt on songs ranging from the anthemic “Superwoman” and powercharged “Go Ahead” to the mistyeyed ballad “Like You Never See Me Again” and the soulful “Sure Looks Good To Me.”

rounded by family and friends. He remains the most high profile loss from the disease in the entertainment world and the news shocked fans throughout the world. As a tribute Bohemian Rhapsody / These Are The Days Of Our Lives was released as a double A-sided single to raise funds for the Terence Higgins Trust. It entered the UK chart at No. 1, where it stayed for five weeks, raising over Ł1,000,000 for the charity and Queen became the first band to have the same single top the uK charts twice. In December of that year Queen had 10 albums in the UK Top 100.

ART ONE CENTURY OF COMIC BOOKS

Retrospective exhibition of French and Belgic comic books In cooperation with the National Center for comics from Angulem ĐORĐE ANDREJEVIĆ KUN

With Spain in the Heart

MUSEUM OF APPLIED ARTS

Exhibition - Learning Art- Making Art Collection of children art (1958- 2008) 43. Children October Salon , Anastas Gallery 1. October- 23. October

Galleries A and B Dusan Petricic was born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia and graduated from the Belgrade’s Academy for Applied Arts.

His illustrations or editorial cartoons regularly appear in “The New York Times”, “The Wall Street Journal”, “Scientific American” and “The Toronto Star”. He is the co-author/illustrator of over 30 children’s books published in North America and Yugoslavia. Petricic was a professor of illustration and animation at the Belgarde’s Academy for Applied Arts and Sheridan College, Oakville, Canada. For his work he was awarded at the numerous International Exhibitions and Fairs: Tokyo, Amsterdam, Belgrade, Leipzig, Moscow, Budapest, Ankara, New York, Toronto, Skopje… Since 1993 he works and lives in Toronto, together with his family.

Exhibition of Japanese Ceramists- Nimi Takatoshi and Ito Hitoshi, participants of the manifestation Marble and Sounds, Aranđelovac, 2008

Museum of Applied Arts Žad Gallery 15. October- 22. October 17. October at 12 00 Lecture- Contemporary Japanese Ceramic, Nimi Takatoshi

QUEEN & PAUL RODGERS

Belgrade Arena 29. October Queen formed in 1971 and in 1973 signed their first recording contract for EMI. That year they released their first album, QUEEN. The same year saw their first major UK tour, and in 1974 they released QUEEN II as well as making their first UK headlining tour.

They made their first US tour, and in November released SHEER HEART ATTACK which was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic.

On 23rd November 1991 Freddie Mercury announced to the world that he had AIDS and the next day he died peacefully at his home, sur-

ily, in Germany, but conducted most of his education in Berlin and Belgrade. He was a graduate of the “Belgrade Academy of Art”. He further studied in Italy (1926-1928) and Paris, France (1928-1929).

The inventory of his work lists some 300 paintings, among them the monumental as well as the small and intimate. More than 60 are in museums in the country and abroad, about as many are owned by government institutions and enterprises, and the rest are in private collections. Over 1000 drawings are listed; most of them are in museum collections.

The few surviving complete, firstprint sets of Blood-soaked Gold and For Freedom are owned by museums in Belgrade. He has three mosaics, one at the War Memorial in Ivanjica, a second on the façade of a public building in Kragujevac, and the third at the Holocaust Museum in Paris.

Djordje Andrejević-Kun died on January 17, 1964, in Belgrade.

Exhibition under the patronage of Spain Embassy in Belgrade Djordje Andrejević-Kun (1904, Breslau, Germany - 1964, Belgrade, Yugoslavia) was a Serbian painter of great renown.

He was the designer of the Coat of Arms for Belgrade as well as flag of Yugoslavia and reputedly designed all the coats of arms of the Yugoslav Socialist Republics.

He is frequently cited as one of known Yugoslav painters.

Kun was born in Serbian fam-

Exhibition presents various art works by children from the age 5- 15. The main topic of this collection, fortmed in 1958, is childhood and various topics which relate on it. (toys, animals, family life, games, ilustrations of fairz tales, myths, children stories...

Children October Salon was formed in 1964 and has been annual manifestation of the Museum of Applied Arts for more than 4 decades.

Dušan Petričić AUTOBIOGRAFIKA

Retrospective exhibition Museum of Applied Arts, October 2008

LECTURES

French Cultural Center, Knez Mihajilova 31 October, 18 00 Europe and Women

Noel Lenoar, former French Minister for European questions and president of the UNESCO’S International Comitee for bioethics Two books by Ana Vujovic

Education in France Contemporary French Culture French Cultural Center, 2.

October, 18 00 In cooperation with Association for cultural cooperation SerbiaFrance CorD / October 2008 71

CULTURE

BELGRADE JAZZ FESTIVAL JAZZ EMOTIONS

BY: ŽARKA RADOJA

T

he 24th Belgrade Jazz Festival will take place from October 24th – 27th, 2008 in the Hall of Kolarčeva zadužbina and Dom Sindikata, under the title Jazz Emotions. Over four days, citizens of Belgrade will be able to see excellent jazz musicians like Patricia Barber, Jon Faddis, Biréli Lagrène, Stefano di Battista and many others.

In the words of the festival organizers, the main feature of this year’s jazz festival is rich diversity in style and exceptional artistic value, as well as an ambition to present to the domestic audiences a review of the current happenings at the global jazz scene.

“The slogan of the first festival was ‘Tradition and Futurism’. Our idea was to approach both old and young fans of jazz. The slogan of the second festival was ‘Belgrade – the Jazz City’ since we wanted to spread our wings all over the city, and the slogan of the third festival was ‘Strictly jazz’ after which we were branded as an event having a special importance for the City of Belgrade which led us to feel completely assured that we didn’t need to make unclear commercial compromises. After we had finalized these important things, this year we decided to enjoy ourselves, hence the slogan of this year’s festival is ‘Jazz emotions’, since we final-

ly can surrender to the emotions brought on by jazz, to recognize the beautiful in the contemporary jazz and to present it to the jazz lovers in our country”, the festival’s Art Director Vojislav Pantić explains.

The most important difference between this and previous festivals is the accompanying programme, which, this year, is going to be at the level of the festival’s central programme.

This year, the Belgrade Jazz Festival will take part in a celebration of a great jubilee – 60th anniversary of Serbian Radio and Television’s Big Band. A legendary trumpet player, Jon Fiddis will play on the occasion. He is considered the last great successor and a pupil of the legendary Dizzie Gillespie who performed at the first Belgrade Jazz Festival back in 1971.

Jon Faddis will play together with the Big Band and his quartet. He is considered one of the greatest trumpet players in the world, and his speciality is performances with the Big Band orchestras. According to Pantić, there is a chance of Faddis holding several workshops for the pupils of the Stanković Music School.

A day after that, on October 25th, one of the greatest talents of the European jazz, the Italian saxophone player, Stefano Di Battista, will play his compositions in an unusual retro-contemporary atmosphere created by the organ, trumpet and drums.

The third day of the festival will see the

THE FUSION OF JAZZ AND BRAZILIAN STYLES The band called Zuko 103 will be performing at the festival for the first time.

The band was promoted by Mitar Subotić – Suba. Their music is a fusion of jazz and Brazilian styles. Than, we have Marcus Valle, one of the representatives of Bossa Nova and many others who will walk the citizens of Belgrade through the latest jazz melodies this autumn.

72 CorD / October 2008

performance of one of the greatest jazz pianists of today, American Patricia Barber, who is coming to Belgrade to promote her new album, ‘Cole Porter Mix’. The most important French jazz musician in the last 15 years and the only authentic successor of Django Reinhardt, the greatest Manouche swing musician ever, Biréli Lagrène will close the festival. As Vojislav Pantić announces, this time around, Biréli will be playing with a solo saxophonist, which will be a special treat.

In collaboration with the Israeli Embassy, this year’s festival is bringing young Yaron Herman. “Just like the previous years, by bringing Yaron we are trying to explore the new scene, which is relatively unknown even to jazz professionals. The media say that he is the next Keith Jarrett, and we hope that after performing at our festival he will be recognized by other leading jazz festivals in the world, which would not be the first time that the Belgrade Jazz Festival has

discovered new talents. We had Avishai Cohen, who was included in the main programme of the JazzAvvienn Festival in France only after a year. Than there is Ravi Coltrane, who performed last year, and this year made it to the cover page of Downbeat magazine, the most influential jazz magazine in the world. There is also Dave Douglas, who performed at our festival two years ago and this year he will play in Sarajevo and Zagreb. It seems that we have managed to suggest and announce important events”, Pantić says.

The chance for young musicians to prove themselves at the Belgrade Jazz Festival has been increased by the collaboration between this festival and Mezzo Channel, which will record a piece about the festival and broadcast it on its cable channel.

EUROPEAN CULTURE HERITAGE DAYS

T

he event called “The European Culture Heritage Days” was held in Belgrade from September 12th – 21st, a traditional event that presents cultural heritage in this area. The event called “Belgrade Aromas” offers various free programmes to Belgrade citizens from Belgrade tour guides, seeing the interior of important institutions and locations in the city, as well as visiting many cultural sites outside Belgrade, including exhibitions, concerts etc.

“The European Culture Heritage Days” was founded by an initiative from the European Council and with the help of the European Community back in 1991, and it soon became an important link in a complex and significant process of introducing European cultural heritage to citizens in order to facilitate its better understanding, despite cultural and linguistic barriers.

The theme of this year’s event was “Cultural Heritage as an Expression of Cultural Diversity” and its goal was to represent the significance of the European spiritual realm. “The European Culture Heritage Days’ event is held in 40 European countries and has been held in Belgrade since 2002.

OCTOBER SALON

A traditional international art exhibition – The October Salon – will take place from September 26th to November 9th, under the title “Male Artist – the Male Citizen, Female Artist – the Female Citizen”.A formal opening will be on September 26th at

“LOVE AND OTHER CRIMES” The Belgrade premiere of Stefan Arsenijević’s award-winning movie “Love and Other Crimes”, with Anica Dobra in the leading role, took place at the Sava Centre on September 17th, and was accompanied by an interesting multi-media exhibition in the Belgrade department store in Knez Mihailova Street which showed the reasons behind making this film.

The world premiere of “Love and Other Crimes” took place at this year’s Berlinale, and following the Berlin Film Festival, Arsenijević’s first long feature film was given several awards at national and international festivals. Recently, the film made it to the short selection for the European Film Academy Award.

The movie was filmed on the basis of a screenplay which Arsenijević co-wrote with Srđan Koljević and Bojan Vuletić, and is based on a true story about a woman in her late thirties who stole a large amount of money and vanished forever from the country. The film shows the last days of the heroine in one of the blocks in Novi Beograd, as well as her bidding farewell to friends and everybody who was an integral part of her life. The situation is then complicated by a man – a petty criminal, ten years her younger, with whom she falls in love, played by Vuk Kostić.

Milena Dravić, Feđa Stojanović and Hanna Schwamborn also play in the film.

he Museum “25. May” in Belgrade.

The 49th October Salon’s Art Director Bojana Pejić said that this year’s exhibition will show artistic practices that had been called “art in context” for decades. ”Since the beginning of the 1990s until today, contextual art, both on the international and Serbian art scene, has constituted itself as an important part of artistic production, hence the exhibition will show works that deal with various “contexts”, placed on the same comparative platform” – she said.

Bojana Pejić also added that the motto of this year’s Salon was originally en-

The exhibition that opened apropos the Belgrade premiere shows the creative possibilities of the film industry and production in the realm of visual and applied arts. The project is guided by poetics, sensibility and the world of Arsenijević who, in cooperation with Dušica Dražić, put together an exhibition of the works of renowned artists, including the photography director Simon Tansek from Slovenia, the official film photographer, Biljana Ristivojević Bizić and set designer, Volker Schaefer, who is known for his work in the French film “The Fabulous Destiny of Amelie Poulain”.

One part of the exhibition is stills from the movie, and the exhibition also encompasses a huge print with a panoramic view of Novi Beograd hanging on a wall, which visitors can photograph or be photographed , resembling a scene from the movie. Also, “a wall of impressions” was put up, just like the graffiti on the walls of Novi Beograd. A special wall was dedicated to mail boxes with the names of the leading actors, to whom visitors were able to leave their messages.

The exhibition was opened until September 22nd, only to be later moved to the shop windows of the Mitić Department Store in Knez Mihailova Street.

visaged as a question – “Do we need art to tell us what we don’t want to know?”.

In addition to the exhibition at the Museum “25. May”, other exhibitions will be shown in the Art Gallery (Likovna galerija),KCB’s Artget Gallery, the Danube Public Bathroom, as well as at the Kontekst Gallery and the Graphic Collective Gallery.

The Jewish Municipality, Belgrade University’s Rectorate, the Belgrade Association of Psycho-Analysts and Dah Theatre will host the side programmes and exhibitions.

CorD / October 2008 73

CULTURE

EXHIBITION ’SERBIA – THE DANUBE RIVER BASIN’ OPENS The photographic exhibition by Dragoljub Zamurović entitled - “Serbia – The Danube River Basin” – and a presentation of a photo-monography of the same title were held on September 19th, at the Sava promenade in Kalemegdan.

The exhibition of 45 stills of the Danube River and its confluents, as well as areas through which the Danube runs in Serbia, will be opened on October 15th. The organisation called Kulturakt is in charge of putting the exhibition together.

Dragoljub Zamurović was born in 1947. After graduating from the Faculty of Architecture, he received his Masters Degree at the Belgrade Faculty of Applied JAPANESE WRITER OPENS THE BOOK FAIR

T

he International Book Fair in Belgrade will be opened by Japanese writer Ikezawa Natsuki, announced the Japanese Ambasssador to Serbia Tadashi Nagai.

Ikezawa Natsuki (1945) is a novelist and an essay writer, as well the recipient of the Japanese literary award Akutagawa, in

Arts. He is the recipient of numerous awards from around the world. Zamurović is the author of several photo-monographies like “The Gipsies of the World”, “Kazakhstan”, “Međugorje”, “Kazan”, “Serbia, Life and Customs”, “Vojvodina”, “Sarajevo”, “Montenegro” and the phototypical issue of Sarajevo’s Hagada.

Under the pseudonym of Art Zamur, back in 1988, Zamurović collaborated with the French agency Gamma Presse Images and his photographs were shown in the biggest world magazines like Time, Newsweek, The New York Times, Stern, Paris Match, Figaro, Geo Europeo, National Geographic, and Life.

addition to many other awards – said Mr. Nagai at a press conference in the headquarters of Japan Tobacco International Company (JTI) in Belgrade.

In JTI’s headquarters, Mr. Nagai and JTI’s Director General for the Western Balkans, Cristian Cring, signed a donation amounting to €20,000 covering Japan’s participation at the 53rd Book Fair in Belgrade.

This year, Japan is the honorary guest

MILENA BOGAVAC AWARDED

This year’s Borislav Mihajlović Mihiz Award for dramatic creation went to young Belgrade writer Milena Bogavac (26) following a unanimous jury decision. The Award, which is comprised of cash, an art piece, a diploma and the printing of a book of selected dramas, will be formally handed to the recipient in Mihiz’s birth place, Irig, on October 17th, the writer’s birth date.

The award has been given out since 2005 by the Borislav Mihajlović Mihiz Foundation and Serbian Library in Irig, and is sponsored by the Executive Council of Vojvodina and the Serbian Ministry of 74 CorD / October 2008

Culture. Writer Ferenc Deak, director Kokan Mladenović and theatre expert Svetislav Jovanov comprised the jury. The latter was also the jury president.

In explaining their decision, the jury pointed out that Milena Bogavac’s dramatic opus “strikingly singles her out because of her rich sensibility which reflects the spirit of the times, but also because of her original aspiration towards a radical expression, which expresses the spirit of contemporary theatre”.

The jury also said that in her plays “North Force’” “Red”, “Dear Dad”, “Gamma Kas” and others, she managed to present herself as our “most abstract and direct, mostly elitist, but definitely most engaged drama writer”.

Milena Bogavac is the recipient of several other awards, and her dramatic plays have been translated into many languages, included into anthologies and presented at festivals in Avignon, New York, London....

of this event, and the money will be invested in the country’s stand at the Fair, which is envisaged as a small Japanese garden, as well as in preparing side exhibitions, lectures and a film programme which will be presented prior and during the Fair, i.e. from October 20th – 26th.

In Belgrade Fair’s Hall XIV, an exhibition of posters about Japanese architecture will be shown, and there will also be a lecture about the popular Japanese writer Haruki Murakami, whose books were released in the Serbian language by the Belgrade publisher Geopoetika.

Also, an exhibition of Japanese ceramics and textile was announced, as well as a workshop of Manga comic books and the screening of Japanese films in the Museum of Jugoslovenska Kinoteka (Yugoslav Cinemateque Museum) in Belgrade.

A monography called “The Kaizen Management” will also be presented at the Japanese stand. This is a book which is a key to Japanese business success, and, when translated, the word “kaizen” means “continuous advancement”.

SERBIAN CANDIDATE FOR THE OSCARS The film entitled “The Tour” by Goran Marković is the Serbian candidate for the 81st Academy Award, in the category “Best Foreign Language Film”.

Nenad Dukić, a member of the Academy of Film and Sciences Presidency, said that the Expert Committee had made this decision by majority vote, choosing between 12 movies from contemporary Serbian production. The jury members, i.e. the members of Committee, were: Ružica Sokić, Marko Babac, Miki Stamenković, Kornelije Kovač, Predrag Popović, Radoslav Zelenović, Zdravko Randić, Milan Jelić, Tamara Miletić, Milan Špiček and Dejan Vražalić.

The famous Serbian director Goran Marković, who made this movie based on his own screenplay, said seven months ago that he had finished the greatest and most complicated project of his career. The film was shot last winter, mostly in Republika Srpska and was produced by Testament Films from Belgrade and Balkan Film from Banja Luka.

The cast includes the following: Tihomir Stanić, Dragan Nikolić, Mira Furlan, Josif Tatić, Gordan Kičić Jelena Đokić, Slavko Štimac and Svetozar Cvetković.

The film talks concerns a group of Belgrade actors who,

in 1993, during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, were touring the Serbian Krajina.

Embarking on a tour and unaware of the reality in the war ravaged territory, the actors end up in the heart of the conflict, wandering among the front lines of Serbian, Croatian to Muslim forces. Their naivete, which puts them in the worst of situations, is actually what saves them in the end.

The film premiered at the recent Montreal Film Festival where it was awarded by film critics of FIPRESCI as best film, while the jury gave Marković the best director award. ”After Montreal, the film producers were contacted by three distributors from the USA, including Sony Pictures Classic, one of the leading distributors in Hollywood. So, there is a chance of “The Tour” being shown at cinemas worldwide, which is the most important thing for a film” – Marković said, and announced that the film would be shown at dozens of other festivals, including London, Montepellier, Cairo, Thessalonika etc. The Belgrade premiere is scheduled for October 8th, in the Sava Centre.

THE FESTIVAL ‘THIS IS MY TOWN’

A

festival organised by Belgrade DJs entitled “This is My Town” took place at Tašmajdan stadium from September 18th to September 21st, as a promotion of hip-hop culture, the Belgrade street art scene, healthy life and environmental protection.

Every night, from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., the most important DJs of the Belgrade scene were presented, with the likes of Buca, Stole, Dovla, Dušan Kačarević, Marko Nastić, Dejan Milićević, Marko Milosavljević and others.

Just prior to the festival and with the help of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, an event called “Youth Action for Belgrade – We Want Flowers, Not Garbage” took place, with artists, environmental enthusiasts and activists, together with employees of City Greenery, planting flowers at various locations in Belgrade in order to raise awareness among young people about the importance of environmental protection.

The festival also promoted street art –Belgrade graffiti masters and skaters, as well as a fair called “The Adventure Fair”, which was a presentation of extreme sports and people who play these sports in Belgrade.

CorD / October 2008 75

LEISURE & LIFESTYLE

HIGH ROLLERS When the Grand Casino Belgrade opened in 2007, it was the beginning of not only a new lease of life for the dilapidated Hotel Yugoslavia, but also the arrival of a new era of glitzy and glamorous entertainment for Belgraders. With three restaurants, two bars and a host of gambling opportunities, the Casino has become a social centre for those looking to kick back to live music, fashion shows, fine dining and a roll of the dice.

Mark Banks, the new General Manager of Grand Casino Belgrade

BY RICHARD WORDSWORTH PHOTO ČASLAV VUKOJIČIĆ

T

his month, CorD met with Mark Banks, the new General Manager of the Grand Casino Belgrade, to talk about the Casino past and present, his experience in the gambling industry and Belgrade’s future as the gaming centre for the Balkans.

Who comes to play at the Casino?

Compared to your current player base, what do you want your clientele to look like in the future?

At the moment the majority of people who play at the Grand Casino are people already familiar with the type of games we have on offer, either locals who have experienced similar games previously here in Belgrade, or perhaps abroad, or foreign guests who are already familiar with international style casino gaming.

One of our goals is to increase familiarity with the games on offer amongst a broader cross section of society and to 76 CorD / October 2008

show people that playing games in a casino environment is simply another form of entertainment.

It should also be understood that Grand Casino Beograd is much more than a casino, and is in fact a complete entertainment facility, where people from all levels of the social strata can come to eat, drink party and play. The three main restaurants we have were designed to cater to all pockets and tastes. Future clientele, therefore, will hopefully be all those who have an interest in having a good time in interesting and lively surroundings.

What are the future plans for the Casino’s development? Where do you see the Casino in five years time?

The casino will continue to develop in line with consumer demand, tastes and expectations and in five years time I expect Grand Casino Beograd to be the premier entertainment venue in Serbia.

How will the Casino change when the Kempinski hotel opens in 2011?

Grand Casino Beograd can only benefit from having such an illustrious and luxurious hotel in the vicinity and we are sure that the casino would bring added value to the hotel business as well. These businesses are complementary and we can only look forward to having the hotel as our neighbour and close business partner in the future. We very much look forward to a fruitful cooperation between the two ventures.

As the first proper casino in Belgrade, what difficulties have you had to overcome in this first year? How was the casino greeted by the people of Belgrade?

Grand Casino Beograd was a huge project. Total floor area has 9,000 square meters and 5,500 square meters of guest area. The plan was to open this object in phases. It was an extremely challenging task to make Grand Casino Beograd fully operational: not only in terms of the construction, but it was also recruitment of the educated personnel, training, and food

and beverage selection that took us time.

It was important that to be very satisfied with the results at the end: nowadays we employ 500 people, mostly local staff, which means that Grand Casino Beograd is one of the major employers in the region.

One of the major, and quite unforeseen, barriers to achieving success in this venture has been the need to combat the negativity of many people in Belgrade with regard the name ‘casino’. This is not something we can do overnight, and no amount of advertising will be enough to convince people that we are different in every aspect from the casinos that existed in Belgrade before our arrival. We will therefore have to be a little patient and rely on peer references in order to break the negative connotation attached to the word ‘casino’ here in Belgrade. Basically, the more people that visit Grand Casino and enjoy a positive experience, the more the message will spread and we will slowly be able to change the perception of ‘casinos’ here in Belgrade for the better.

We are developing a package which will give novice gamblers the opportunity to play the games of chance virtually for free. Simply by buying our special “Eat & Play” package, guests will receive a 3 course meal, followed by an introduction to the games on offer and tokens to play with. Details of this offer will be released in the near future, and we are confident this will prove to be a big hit with those people wishing to experience the full casino atmosphere but who are perhaps a little unsure as to how to go about it.

Tell us a little about the restaurants in the casino. Where do you find your

Big casinos like those in Vegas or Atlantic City are famous for offering

What we are trying to do here is to emulate the Vegas model by adding music, theatre and outstanding restaurants to the casino theme chefs, your musicians and what goes into designing one of your restaurants?

We have three restaurants and two bars.

CHAMELEON restaurant does not require registration to the Casino. The food offered is based on Italian and French cuisine. At GINGER, chefs from Asia are in charge of a wide array of food based on Asian cuisine: Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese… DIVA Restaurant is one of the best restaurants in Belgrade.

This restaurant has an exceptional offer of over 150 domestic and international wines and boasts a head chef who worked for many years along side Jamie Oliver, but at affordable prices when compared to other restaurants in the same category, the Diva boasts a head chef who worked for many years along side Jamie Oliver. So we have wide range of cuisines, nice ambience and an excellent music programme. We try to bring in the best musicians, both local and international. Some of them are true music stars, such as Vasil Hadzimanov, Severina, Bebi Dol, Ana Sofrenovic, Nada Pavlovic and many others.

How should novice gamblers start playing at your Casino?

“comps” to high rollers – free rooms, meals, limousines etc. – to keep them coming back. What can the Grand Casino offer its players and high rollers as loyalty bonuses?

Actually all customers are important to us, which is why anybody actively engaged in gambling, whether on the tables or on the machines, is offered a free bar, just like in Vegas. Hot and cold canapés are also offered at regular intervals for all players.

Furthermore all players can benefit from our loyalty scheme, which allows play-

ers to collect points while gambling, which can then be exchanged for meals in our restaurants or even for gifts such as watches, pens and lighters from famous luxury brands such as Cartier, Rolex, Mont Blanc and Dupont. Mobile telephones, cameras and jewellery are also very popular choices amongst our loyal players as rewards.

Of course, just like in Vegas, there will be players who by their volume of play would expect to be treated differently to the majority of our players. For these select few we have private gaming tables and an increased food and beverage offer compared to standard players. We do not offer any services for players outside of the casino, although this might change once the Kempinski Hotel is operational.

The casino business has lots of different connotations, with everything from glitz and glamour to seediness and crime. Is this something you have to accept, or are you trying to distance your business from the Vegas image?

In many ways what we are trying to do here is to emulate the Vegas model by adding music, theatre and outstanding restaurants to the casino theme.

I have previously mentioned the negative connotations regarding the word ’casino’ here in Belgrade, but I am confident that over time we will be able to overcome this perception.

At present I think the major negative connotation to be tackled within Europe is the misconception that casinos breed

HUGE PROJECT

PRIVATE GAMES

SERBIAN STAFF

Grand Casino Beograd was a huge project.Total floor area has 9,000 square meters and 5,500 square meters of guest area.The plan was to open this object in phases. It was an extremely challenging task to make Grand Casino Beograd fully operational

Just like in Vegas, there will be players who by their volume of play would expect to be treated differently to the majority of our players.

For these select few we have private gaming tables and an increased food and beverage offer compared to standard players

We have tried to take full advantage of the local talent available, and have some wonderful Serbian staff in many senior positions.

However, due to the nature of the business, we have had to recruit experienced foreign professionals in several specialised areas CorD / October 2008 77

LEISURE & LIFESTYLE

problem gamblers. We deal with this kind of issues by fully facing up to our responsibilities. The great majority of casino guests, more than 95% according to studies in the United States, enjoy gaming as entertainment, but we provide support to any of our guests who feel that they may be developing such a problem. We provide literature on the subject, helping people to identify the signs of such a problem developing, we provide details for obtaining professional assistance with such a problem, and we also offer all guests the opportunity to exclude themselves from the casino for a period of their choosing – either 1 month, 3 months, 1 year, or lifetime exclusion.

Once a guest has made such a request it cannot be changed under any circumstances. Bearing all this in mind, we feel that our casino provides a far safer responsible gaming environment than the many other forms of non-controlled gaming that exist elsewhere in society.

What can you offer serious gamblers and high rollers who visit your casino?

What do you have in the way of high stakes rooms, tournaments etc.?

Grand Casino Beograd is the perfect setting for exciting gaming with its choice of 25 tables (American Roulette, Blackjack, Casino Stud Poker, Texas Hold’em Poker, Three Card Poker and Punto Banco) and over 200 of the latest slot machines. The casino also incorporates new gaming products and innovations into its gaming mix, such as the Mystery Jackpot recently introduced on all slot machines at the venue, which offers players a chance to win up to a million Dinars with just a 1 Dinar bet, and is already causing quite a stir. A separate VIP gaming area is also

Mark Banks company in the world. However, due to the nature of the business and the lack of real experience in the international Casino environment here in Serbia, we have had to recruit experienced foreign professionals in several specialised areas; such as gaming table managers, slot machine managers, casino surveillance managers etc. This is standard practice for any casino company when entering a new market, however, over time, as local staff gain ex-

With a new luxury Kempinski hotel scheduled to open in 2011, it seems that the future of Belgrade’s biggest gaming establishment is bright available for high rollers, where they can play for higher stakes than on the main casino floor. In the future we expect to be running regular poker tournaments, and also plan to hold high level international poker tournaments.

What are the previous experiences of the staff behind the casino? As the first casino of its size in Belgrade, where have the managers, the dealers etc. come from?

We have tried to take full advantage of the local talent available, and have some wonderful Serbian staff in many senior positions who would be an asset to any 78 CorD / October 2008

perience and knowledge, the foreign staff will be replaced by local workers.

Tell us a little about your average working day at the casino.

One of the nice things about working in such a large, new project, in an environment that is totally new, is that each day tends to be different to the one before.

In general I start the day by reading the many reports generated from all the different departments throughout the night.

Sometimes one or more of these reports will require a response. The many facets of the project require constant analysis of the data they produce on a daily basis,

which tends to take a fair amount of time.

Meetings are invariably a necessary part of the day, whether internal or with representatives of other companies, government bodies or even charities. Working for such a large multi-national company such as Casinos Austria International also means there will inevitably be reporting requirements to fulfil.

I don’t want to make it sound like it is all work and no play though. Socialising is a large part of my function and it is something I enjoy doing, whether here in the casino at one of our excellent restaurants or outside on the lively Belgrade social scene.

This, more than paperwork, tends to be the main reason for my late return home many nights of the week.

If you were to plan the perfect evening’s entertainment for a group of people celebrating at the casino, what would it involve?

The perfect evening would include a nice dinner with friends in the restaurant one feels most comfortable in, followed by a few drinks whilst listening to some good live music. This would be a good enough evening - to top the night off properly, however, the adrenaline rush produced by participation in gambling followed by a small win would make it the ‘perfect’ evening, and one that would not be forgotten in a hurry.

INTERVIEW

July 2008 125

SOCIETY

Serbian sport in globalisation

Waiting for Privatisation

The success of Serbian tennis is not the result of systematic investment

Serbia has about three times more inhabitants than Jamaica.The athletes from this poor Caribbean country won 11 medals at the recent Olympic Games in Beijing.

Mostly in athletics. Serbia still thinks that it is a superpower when it comes to team sports 80 CorD / October 2008

BY MILOVAN MILIČKOVIĆ PHOTO FONET

I

n order to find out why is that not true, we are going to follow the money trail.

Do Serbs like sports or do they like the feeling of being successful at it? How much do we worship the winners, and how much do we trash the losers? How much do the media influence optimistic expectations of athletes and our nation? How much are we

investing, and how much are we getting in return? The fact remains that, just like any small country, we are forced to create generation after generation of team sports players. However, is there a widespread consensus on this issue? Is everybody accepting of this fact? It seems not.

In order to find the ‘culprits’ and start winning again, Serbian soccer clubs and national teams keep on changing their coaches. Just before any competition, the newspapers are full of euphoric headlines,

statements and hopes, only to be followed by great disappointments. You can think that we are the most talented nation at team sports. Although we don’t have a sea to help us with water sports, you can think that we are European Brazilians when it comes to soccer and Balkan Harlem Trotters in basketball, but in truth we are just another small country where new ideas, carefully thought out strategy and patience are not that popular with the public and are underfunded, especially when it comes to sports. We cannot even ‘borrow’ the likes of Kukoč, Pančev, Šimenc or Luka Modrić from our ‘brotherly republics’. We are left to our own devices. Are we finding our way around?

Every sports fan remembers the old days when from Monday to Wednesday he had to endure the torture from his colleagues and friends if his team lost to the underdogs. Then, come Thursday, he and his like-minded friends start devising strategies about which team should play, what the line-up should be and how to conquer the opposing team. Then, on Sunday morning, he wakes up all electrified with a beer in one hand and a sense of excitement, and he puts on his lucky shirt, wraps a scarf around his neck or puts on a jersey of his favourite club and heads towards the stadium. He meets with his friends, pushes his way into the stadium, which is chock full, and sits on his seat. Come 25th minute of the game, his team receives a goal, he gets up, claps and cheers for them. His team loses, but that doesn’t matter. The most important thing was that the game was good, that his team was fighting and that he believed they were going to win.

What is the situation like today? There is a quite an interest shown, but that interest is expressed in odds and statistics like 1, X or 2 at bookmakers. The stadiums are empty, and some seats feel the weight of supporters only when the teams like Bayern, Milan, Real or recently Fenerbahche, come to play. The last three games of the national soccer team at the Marakana stadium were seen by only a few thousand people, and the Soccer Association is still

Match Borac Ajax: Serbian football clubs are too weak for European scene managed via a so-called ‘circular system’ just like the former Yugoslav Presidency.

The national basketball team is at the very beginning and it needs our support.

Water polo and volleyball teams are entering a phase of not so good results, which is quite normal after huge successes they had had in the last ten years and bearing in mind that certain players in the national team are going to withdraw from active playing. The club scene is a different story and issues here are also different. Who manages the club, who is going to become an owner, when will the privatization hap-

considered authorities in their field and are the most trophy winning solution around.

According to our interlocutor, a young soccer expert and the former FC Red Star coach, Aleksandar Janković, this is where the benefits end: “The problem is that people in Serbia have lost faith in soccer and everything related to it, while that is not the case with basketball. In soccer, the relations at all levels are pretty murky. The championship, affairs with the Soccer Association, the use of terms like ‘regularity’ and ‘closed games’ are things that you cannot find anywhere else in the world. We

In order to find the ‘culprits’ and start winning again, Serbian soccer clubs and national teams keep on changing their coaches.

Just before any competition, the newspapers are full of euphoric headlines, statements and hopes, only to be followed by great disappointments pen, whether or not the state will help the clubs, how to keep players in the team…

And what about results?

Just recently, one of our two most popular team sports appointed two experienced ‘dogs’ as coaches. These are the two people with the best possible reputation. One of them has led three of the biggest Spanish soccer clubs, while the other was exceptionally successful in leading our national basketball team. Both are

PRIVATISATION

EMPTY STADIUMS

It seems that everybody is waiting for the upcoming privatization, but judging how fast the state administration works and the interest shown for this issue by the public, this will not happen any time soon. Privatization of clubs is far from being legally regulated, and is the main topic of conversation only when clubs go through a crisis and privatization is mentioned as one of the options

The stadiums are empty, and some seats feel the weight of supporters only when the teams like Bayern, Milan, Real or recently Fenerbahche, come to play.

The last three games of the national soccer team at the Marakana stadium were seen by only a few thousand people, and the Soccer Association is still managed via a so-called ‘circular system’ just like the formerYugoslav Presidency

have come to the point where 10,000 people at the game between Serbia and Faroe Islands is satisfying, while 20,000 people in the Belgrade Arena is considered a normal thing” Janković says.

NO IDEA, NO CONCEPT After five years of refusing to work and five years of being without work, Radomir Antić has finally accepted the position of the national soccer team coach.

At the time when he was offered the same position, he refused due to the situation with the Soccer Association. People in the Association are now more or less the same, but he accepted their offer this time around. In order to appoint Antić at this position, the Association had to give up on Miroslav Đukić. Đukić is a young and talented coach who wanted to give back the game to the team, but the Serbian Soccer Association cared more about restoring the nation’s faith in the team which is very reminiscent of the similar situation back in the beginning of the 1990s when, in orCorD / October 2008 81

SOCIETY

der to restore the nation’s faith in the state, Slobodan Milošević appointed Dobrica Ćosić as the President of Yugoslavia, as a man to be trusted. It comes as no surprise that Antić was greeted as the Messiah. The media made a big fuss about it and now all that is left to do is to play football. Last summer, FC Red Star’s coach, Zdenek Zeman was met in the same way. When last season Aleksandar Janković was practically chased away, in only five games Zeman managed to muster one of the biggest losses in the club’s history. Two draws in the pre-qualifications for the UEFA Cup, failing to win the game with Cypriot Apoel, losing three games in the championship without a single scored goal and deserving the very last place on the table.

The result – new management, new coach.

Despite the initial big expectations, the national soccer team’s start was a sloppy one.

Beating the Faroe Islands left a pale impression, and, as expected, France won in the next game.

“The problem is that a lot of personal stuff is being brought into soccer. By replacing Đukić, we have degraded the position of a coach. Đukić was replaced without ever coaching a single game.

This is the situation, and some are not looking for a change in order to replace a coach”, Janković says. “The position of the national team’s coach is something very difficult to attain in the world. He needs to go through a lot in order to become a coach. What we need to do is if we choose to do something, we need to back it up. We need to create continuity, earn respect, and the coach that we select needs to have our unequivocal support.” Janković mentions the FIFA Day in Goeteborg, where, among others, national teams of France and Sweden played. Regardless of the fact that they scored badly at the previous European Championship, they came to the tournament with the same coaches.

Janković thinks that our soccer lacks two things. “First is a conceptual way of thinking, and second, a lack of ideas about how to work. In this country we just don’t look ahead.” Janković says. The same is not true of all our sports. If we look at basketball and water polo, Partizan has intro-

Football is still the most popular sport among children applying this way of work, Partizan has won the Serbian basketball championship for seven years in a row and regularly takes part in Euroleague where it has had quite a few noticeable results. It seems that Partizan’s water polo players are going to be perennial champions of the state in the absence of other sporting clubs that can assemble strong players with the main aim of winning the title of the European club championship. The coach of the national water polo team and Partizan water polo club, Dejan Udovičić, has an interesting view about the way in which these two teams work: “Everything is planned with a certain goal in mind. The coach is given absolute, unequivocal support and everything is taken care within the club confines.

Neither I, nor Dule Vujošević, reveal our

It seems that Serbia has no intention of investing in Serbian sport and probably all they are going to provide are insufficient premiums, or, just like in the case of swimmer Milorad Čavić, an apartment duced a way of operating which is carefully thought out, studious and is obviously bringing results. Those players that need to be sold are sold, but year after year the same team structure and the coach are kept.

A lot is invested in young players who have a free passage to the strongest teams. By 82 CorD / October 2008

sob stories to the newspapers. The key issue here is whether the people are backing you up or not. It is really not enough to say: “I’m backing you up. I support you.” This needs to be seen in action. When Nikola Lončar or Milan Gurović left BC Partizan you didn’t hear a single bad word coming

from the club. Did Alex Ferguson go into a detailed explanation why he let Beckham go? Does Arsen Wenger do that, and bear in mind that he hasn’t won the title for two or three years now?” Udovičić says. The new management of FC Partizan applied the same principle for the first time and almost made it to the Championship League.

On the other hand, BC Red Star keeps on changing players every single year, and coaches are replaced even more frequently.

A lot of money has been invested and every year the club is announcing that it will take the title. FC Red Star changes almost an entire team each year, in addition to changing coaches. The team has undergone an overhaul that is rarely seen. The new, now already the former management led by businessman Toplica Spasojević, changed almost 50% of the team and brought in a coach from abroad. We have already mentioned their results, and the coach has been sent on his way.

Football fans are anxiously awaiting October for the game with Latvia in Belgrade, which could be decisive in the qualifications for the European Championship. If anybody has seen these two teams playing, then it is perfectly clear why are we dreading the game. Our game is sloppy, slow and lacks tactics and in the

game called football we should score with our heads. If something goes wrong in October, will anybody remember headlines like; “Krstajić: It is realistic for us to go to the Mundial”, “Serbia aims at number one spot in the group”, “Antić: Serbia is like Arsenal”? I seriously doubt it.

despite good games and nice play?

What if the public starts liking the winning situation in the basketball too much? What if the next season’s European Championship becomes solely about each of our young basketball players just having to take home a medal? How to restrain journalists and ‘sport lovers’ in Serbia IS LONDON 2012 TOO FAR AWAY? who expect everything at this very Dušan Ivković has been appointed the moment? What will happen if they coach of our national basketball team for forget what Ivković said at the beginentirely different reasons. After several ning of this article and the whole stofailures in European championships, try- ry about the London Olympics? And ing different coaches, losing the title of the what if our national team manages to world champion and finally, failing to go achieve a moderate success? What if to the Olympic Games in Beijing, the ‘cult they take the fifth, sixth or, God forof the national team’, so to speak, was lost. bid, lose the game for the third place?

Although, it was very clear that players Will the young players have to feel were the only ones to blame - the ‘world this mixture of anger and disappointstars’ who could not agree who should ments like their predecessors? Are have the ball and who should throw it – we going to change the coach again? are sad proof that the chemistry that was Or players maybe? so recognizable among basketball players Water polo and volleyball teams has simply vanished. are in for a great generation swap.

Ivković-invited young players, who are The players that won many med- New coach of FC Red Star Cedomir Janevski still subordinate in their teams, created a als in the past are withdrawing. good atmosphere and the results are alVujasinović and Savić, the two main cogs apartment. Domestic companies are lurkready visible. “It is possible that the player in the water polo machine over the last ing behind the corner, waiting to use the roster will cause some to frown. I absolute- ten years, whose charisma and knowl- privatization to enter the clubs, while the ly trust this team and I promise that their edge led their team to medals, are going sponsorships from foreign companies are game will be a good quality one. We need to leave the team soon. Nikola Grbić and dependant on playing safe and having huge to go back to the system we had when our Gerić both announced that they are leav- media promotions resulting from quite moderate investments, judging by global After five years of refusing to work and five years of being withpractice. Some of the most recent examout work, Radomir Antić has finally accepted the position of the ples are Telenor and VIP Mobile sponsoring the Serbian Olympic Committee. national soccer team coach. At the time when he was offered It seems that everybody is waiting for the the same position, he refused due to the situation with the Socupcoming privatization, but judging how cer Association. People in the Association are now more or less fast the state administration works and the the same, but he accepted their offer this time around interest shown for this issue by the public, this will not happen any time soon. national clubs gave players who became ing the national volleyball team. Also, the Privatization of clubs is far from being leaces in the national team, and, unfortuissue of the coach is still hanging in the gally regulated, and is the main topic of nately, we don’t have them at the moment“, air. Younger generations are coming and conversation only when clubs go through Ivković said after releasing the player ros- they will need time to understand that the a crisis and privatization is mentioned as ter for the European Championship quali- big names are gone and that they will have one of the options. For now, there are only fications. And what is the goal? “We can- to do everything by themselves. They have few clubs backed up by foreign companies not regain the ‘cult of the national team’ - the potential, they have the knowledge, but (Carlsberg – ČSK Čelarevo and US Steel we still need to create it in order to play in order to do something bigger they will – Smederevo) and there is a desire to have an important role at the London Olympic need to go through a lot of competitions, more of such companies coming to differGames, via Eurobasket in Poland, the games and exercise a lot of patience in or- ent regions in Serbia and investing in local World Championship in Turkey, and the der to achieve the success of the previous teams. “Foreigners in Serbia find it diffisecond Eurobasket in Latvia”, Ivković re- generations. cult to understand Serbian mentality, but plies. The fact that there were no availaonce everything starts moving forwards, ble seats in the Belgrade Arena three times WHAT YOU GIVE IS WHAT YOU GET the enthusiasm shown for sports by people in a row at games which traditionally do here is something that you cannot find anIn the end, we come to maybe the most ywhere else”, Janković says. “If that hapnot attract much attention is testament the ‘cult of the national team’ slowly coming important question, and that is whether in- pens, the progress in Serbia will be much back. Spiteful people would say that the vesting in Serbian sport - something that faster than in other countries, as the inwe used to call our biggest export product terest shown by companies for investing in reason for this was that the tickets were free, but free entrance alone would never in the 1990 – is really worth it. It seems Serbian sport is closely linked to the pothat the state has no intention of doing so tential of the people living in Serbia. If fill up whole sports halls.

The question is this: what if one of the and probably all they are going to provide they see that we can, that we give, then we main ‘virtues’ of the Serbian mentality – are insufficient premiums, or, just like in can expect to get something in return.” It’s impatience – rears its ugly head in spring the case of swimmer Milorad Čavić, an worth being patient.

CorD / October 2008 83

FROM THE WORLD PRESS

REVIVING A CULTURE ONE TUNE AT A TIME

B

y Andrew Gilbert, Globe Correspondent September 19, 2008 The Serbian Gypsy band Kal is on a mission to save Romani culture from kitsch, discrimination, and assimilation.

In addition to jaw-dropping musicianship, the seven-piece combo’s primary weapons in the fight against marginalization are rock ‘n’ roll attitude and dogged resistance to stylistic ghettoization.

“I strongly feel my national identity, that’s my origin,” says Kal’s founder, guitarist and lead vocalist Dragan Ristic, speaking from his home in Belgrade.

“But I’m also living in the 21st century.

I strongly reject the stereotype of Roma music, that it has to be traditional. There is another road on which Roma music can be developed, a place for new Roma culture in contemporary Europe.”

Ristic launched the band in 2004 with his brother Dushan, who has since moved to California but continues to run the Amala Summer School, a Romani cultural organization in their home village of Valjevo, Serbia. At least the fourth musical generation in the Ristic family, the brothers were weaned on Gypsy pride by their father, a pioneering Roma educator.

But they also absorbed lots of contemporary music, from Leonard Cohen and Iggy Pop to Manu Chao and B.B. King.

In founding Kal, the Ristics sought a disparate cast of players, including accordionist Dragan Mitrovic, violinist Djordje Belkic, bassist Branko Isakovic, percussionists Neat Junuzi and Vladimir Stojkovic, and Vladan Mitrovic on accordion and vocals.

While grounded in Balkan Romani cadences, the band draws on an international palette of styles, incorporating flamenco guitar arpeggios, Middle Eastern rhythms, surf rock licks, and keening Turkish clarinet lines.

84 CorD / October 2008

“We’re partly Roma musicians from the suburbs from Belgrade, and partly professional players from different Belgrade rock ‘n’ roll bands,” Ristic says. “These are two different worlds that wouldn’t meet if there wasn’t Kal.”The band first made a splash in 2006 when its self-named album on the German label Asphalt Tango shot to the top of the European world-music charts, an unprecedented accomplishment for a Balkan Roma ensemble. A good deal of Kal’s appeal flows from its high-energy performances and dramatic stage shows.

In many ways, Kal is an extension of Ristic’s love of theater. A respected producer, he left Belgrade for Budapest in 1999 and founded the award-winning independent Romani theater company Vareso Aver (Something Else).

“In our concerts around Europe I see a lot of young Roma people, and this is one of the important goals,” Ristic says.

“We are able to show this new generation a way they can express themselves as Roma.”

tual trust and also engage themselves in mutually beneficial economic cooperation, he added.

Chen conveyed to Sutanovac Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie’s greetings and good wishes. Chen left Beijing on Wednesday afternoon for an official visit to Serbia and Norway. He said that bilateral relations between the two countries have grown steadily in recent years and remarkable achievements have been made in the political and economic exchanges and cooperation between the two sides.

China appreciates Serbia’s valuable support on many issues such as Taiwan, said Chen. He added that China respects Serbia’s internal and external policies as well as its chosen path of development.

Chen said he hoped the two armies would continue to strengthen their exchanges.

BARROSO URGES REWARDS FOR SERBIA

J

SERBIA PLEDGES TO STRENGTHEN MILITARY TIES WITH CHINA

B

ELGRADE, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -Serbia is keen to strengthen traditional friendship with China and enhance bilateral military ties, said Serbian Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac on Saturday.

Sutanovac made the remarks when meeting with Chen Bingde, chief of the General Staff of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China. Sutanovac spoke highly of the relationship between the armies of Serbia and China, which, he said, is witnessing a good momentum of development. The two armies enjoy political mu-

osé Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission urged European Union member states to reward Serbia with expanded trade ties for capturing Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader charged with genocide.

But Serbia must arrest two more fugitive suspects from the wars of the 1990s and accelerate domestic reforms in order to move any closer to membership in the bloc, Mr Barroso said after meeting Serbia’s president in Brussels.

“If everything goes according to plan, and if all conditions are met, it would be possible to give candidate status to Serbia in 2009,” Mr Barroso said.

“But this is not a commitment. It depends on Serbia, it depends on the conditions on the European Union side.”He doused suggestions by Serbia’s government about becoming a candidate country by December.

A high-level Serbian delegation headed by the pro-EU president, Boris Tadic, visited Brussels on Wednesday to press for closer relations along with swift EU visa liberalisation for Serbian citizens.

Mr Barroso responded with cautious optimism that Belgrade could soon meet the 27-member bloc’s conditions – including catching the former Bosnian Serb army commander, Ratko Mladic, and former Croatian Serb political leader, Goran Hadzic.

But some member states – especially the Netherlands – remain doubtful about Serbia’s co-operation with the United Nations war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

The tribunal’s chief prosecutor, Serge Brammertz, is to travel to Belgrade on September 10 and brief EU foreign ministers on September 15. He insists both fugitives must be brought to trial in The Hague.

Member states must all agree for the bloc to even activate the trade provisions in Serbia’s conditional EU pre-accession agreement, signed in May to boost the pro-EU side in parliamentary elections.

Serbia’s pro-EU faction formed the new government on July 7 and announced Mr Karadzic’s arrest in Belgrade two weeks later.

“We’re doing everything possible to find Mladic and I promise that we’re going to continue our co-operation with the tribunal,” Mr Tadic said.Yet political turmoil has also slowed Serbian economic reforms for the past two years. Parliament began debate on Wednesday on ratifying the EU Stabilisation and Association Agreement.

AUSTEN CALL FOR SERBIA!

A

USTEN BARROWCLOUGH is about to play international rugby league – for Serbia!

The 18-year-old from Netherton flies out on Sunday for a week’s training camp in Belgrade ahead of an eight-team European Championship tournament to be held in the C zech Republic, just outside Prague.

After that, he’s been invited to join up with the senior Serbian squad for the Euro Med Cup, when they play the Lebanon in Beirut and Russia in Belgrade after a warm-up match against the New South Wales Universities from Australia.

Barrowclough, a hooker or half back who is playing at stand-off for Newsome

Panthers open-age side – he has come through their Under 17 and 18 ranks – qualifies through his late grandfather, Peter Novakovic, who came to England from Serbia shortly after the Second World War.Barrowclough first heard of the possibility of an international call-up back in February.

He has no idea how they found out about him, although he did have a brief spell with the Halifax Academy last season and there are a couple of Serbian players at the Eastmoor Dragons club in Wakefield.

A trainee surveyor who was previously a student at Honley High, Barrowclough could come up against any of the home countries in the Prague event as it features England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales as well as France (the favourites), the Czech Republic, Serbia and the Euro Celts.

Barrowclough previously played rugby union for Huddersfield YMCA, has represented West Yorkshire at union and the Kirklees Service Area at rugby league.

GERMAN POLITICIANS WARY OF US FINANCIAL RESCUE PLANS

G

erman politicians are skeptical about a $700 billion US bailout of markets and of calls to take similar measures as Chancellor Merkel criticized Washington for failing to implement stringent market controls.

A growing chorus of German politicians questioned over the weekend whether the unprecedented US rescue package meant to inject liquidity into the financial system would help to stem the crisis which has sent world markets into a tailspin.”I have doubts whether that method is really the most clever one,” Michael Meister, deputy parliamentary leader of Chancellor Merkel’s conservative Christian Democratic Party (CDU) told business daily Handelsblatt.

Meister suggested that the $700 billion bailout by the US government could lay the fundaments for the next crisis.

He compared it to the massive slashing of interest rates by the US Federal Reserve in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of Sept 11, 2001 which he said had sowed the seeds for the current turbulence in capital markets.Much like Chancellor

Angela Merkel, Meister urged more regulation of financial markets. It is important to think about measures such as banning speculation on falling shares rather than using taxpayers’ money, Meister said.”I don’t think it’s appropriate that we use taxpayers’ money in Germany to intervene in the markets,” he added.

On Sunday, Sept 21, US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson called for other nations to set up similar rescue plans.

He did not provide further details, but US financial authorities have been working closely with their counterparts in Europe and Japan over the past 10 days to prevent a collapse of the interwoven global financial system.

“We have a global financial system and we are talking very aggressively with other countries around the world, and encouraging them to do similar things, and I believe a number of them will,” Paulson said on the ABC program “This Week.”

Referring to Paulson’s comments, Joachim Poss, deputy parliamentary head of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the junior partner in the ruling coalition, said Germany would not do the same.

“The Americans can’t make Germany accountable for their failure and their arrogance,” Poss said. “A similar rescue package is neither planned nor needed in Germany,” he added.

The sweeping Bush administration bailout plan follows a bruising week that transformed Wall Street with Lehman Brothers’ failure, the agreed sale of Merrill Lynch & Co and a government takeover of ailing insurer AIG. It foresees the US Treasury buying up bad mortgage-related debts from financial institutions to try to head off a disastrous credit freeze that could pull down economies around the world and stem the worst financial storm since the Great Depression.

On Saturday, German Chancellor Merkel told a meeting of conservative politicians in Linz, Austria that it was irresponsible for the US to let major banking and credit institutions operate with too little government oversight. “It cannot work like that on an international level,” Merkel said.

Merkel said that she had tried to win support for greater transparency and regulation on international markets at the G-8 conference last year, but that governments including the US did not heed her.

Germany had expressed fears that hedge funds could threaten the stability of the financial system through their heavy reliance on borrowing to finance risky trading strategies. It has also raised concerns about private equity funds.

CorD / October 2008 85

LEISURE & LIFESTYLE

CorD and the TOS Recommend

Autumn holiday Recommendation for village households.The greatest things that Serbia can offer tourists are its clean and perfectly preserved natural landscapes, its numerous monasteries, historic monuments, the warmth and friendliness of its people and its heavily laden tables.

BY TOS

D

ifferent regions have different specialties on offer. In Vojvodina there are farms, in the western part of Serbia there are vajati, and in Eastern Serbia there are the Morava style houses.

Farms are mostly grouped in the North of Bačka, around lake Palić and lake Ludoš. ’Flower Farm’ in Palić is certainly to be recommended. It offers activities on these famous excursion resorts and gastronomically speaking it is known for its Backa specialties, its fine wines and its famous bands of tambura-players. The other group of farms is near Čenejski road. In this group of farms, ‘Farm 137’ is certainly interesting. It looks just the way it looked one hundred years ago. Apart from good food, they offer horse riding as well, and if you want to experinece the endlessness of the open plain there is no better option.

Guests at ‘Fruit Farm’ (Senta) on the banks of Tisa and Cveja`s farm near Begeč can visit Fruška Gora which is known for its monasteries (there are seventeen of them) and vineyards. For tourists who come for one day it is interesting to see the wine cellars in Sremski Karlovci, Irig and Erdevik, etno house in Jazk and Maradik and the ‘Perkov’ farm in Neradin, not far from the monastery Grgeteg.

Since the film director Kusturica de86 CorD / October 2008

signed a town made of wood, small touristic villages started emerging in Serbia, together with vajati that have been turned into interesting tourist resorts. One of the first was erected on the banks of Drina – ‘Etno Village Vrhpolje’. It was meant for people who like to be by the river, and the owner has good co-operation with the organisers of numerous regattas on the river so that visitors can go rafting along the Drina as they wish. There are also the remains of the fortress of Soko nearby, and the Sveta Trojica monastery. The host will organise lunch for you on top of the Bobija mountain from which the lights of Belgrade can be seen at night.

Vajati of the family Lukovic ‘Gostoljublje’ in Mionica near Kosijerić are suitable for couples with small children. The host organises excursions to Divčibare, Zlatibor and etno vilage Sirogojno, Mecavnik, all according to the wishes of the guest. Christmas and Easter holidays organised by them are remembered for a long time. Very high level of services (including an open-air swimming-pool) is offered by villa Milica in Trudelj on Rudnik and Three Oak Trees in Takovo village Klatičevo. One can even rent a whole house to themselves in the orchard of Jevtovic in Leušići. These rentals

are ideal for small groups of people who want a complete rest unspoiled by even the presence of a host.

The Rudnik and Takovo areas, together with Zlatibor people, are the most developed providers of village tourism. The Zlatibor area is synonymous with tourism in Serbia, especially the rural areas.

As Zlatibor itself (which used to be called ‘King`s Waters’, then later ‘Partisan’s Waters’) became Mecca of the top-level tourism, rural tourism moved to Sirogojno, Gostilje and Mačkat. The household of Zoran Milić from Sirogojno will certainly host you in a traditional way. The house is near the very etno-village ‘Sirogojno’, which will, together with the traditional

food, show guests the way of life of the area as it was many years ago. There is a waterfall Gospilje nearby that provides a wonderful view, especially in early spring when the snow melts. On your way towards Zlatibor you should certainly drop by the village Zlakuša, known for its pottery trade. In the village, there is the ‘Terzića yard’, an etno household with beautiful museum items. Apart from the yard and local potters, one’s attention is attracted by the impressive arch of the Podpećka cave.

As some of them have fishing ponds the visit can end with a nice lunch.

Zlatar, Golija and Javor are usual destinations for village tourism and the area of Prijepolje seems to be developing in that direction too. If you wish to spend your holiday in a real wooden house with a fireplace then you should be guests at the Obradović household in the village Katići in Ivanjica. The house situated under the Mucanj Mountain, at the spring of the river Grabovica. St Nikola church is also nearby.

Apart from the rafting along Lim and a few ways of sailing down the river Drina, The Merry Descent down the river Ibar down to Kraljevo is also interesting, as well as sailing down the Uvac, the Morava, the Tisa and the Danube.

Perhaps the descent down the incredibly winding flow of Svrljiški Timok would be most interesting of all that have been mentioned but the adventurers of Eastern Serbia prefer high mountain peaks to rivers. That is why Kučajske mountains, Stara Planina, Rtanj, lake Vlasinsko and lake Đerdap are the tourist favourites of the area. Stara Planina is mentioned as a future skiing centre but it is equally interesting as a refuge of untouched nature, an area with colourful meadows, together with unseen canyons and fantastic waterfalls that go down cliffs that can be as high up as eighty metres. Some villages have preserved their appearance that they have had for hundreds of years. It is true that members of the society are not too

Kamena Gora and Sopotnica

K

amena Gora and Sopotnica will soon be the most popular rural tourist destinations in Serbia. Apart from the beautifully preserved natural scenery this area is adorned by the river Lim that is most suitable for rafting. Erratic rapids, narrow cliffs and many monasteries that can be seen from the boat are the reason why people are visiting Polimlje more and more often. Going down the river has become a constituent part of the touristic offer of Serbia. young but tourism seems to be introducing changes. When you arrive in the village Balta Berilovac you will feel all the mysticism of this area. Lake Zavojsko and the villages near Visočica on the Pirot side were full of tourists last year and it was similar on Knjaževac side. The Kučajske Mountains were proclaimed a national park because great parts of the mountain are protected due to their exceptional beauty and great jewels of Serbian architecture, including the Manasija monastery and Ravanica monastery. One of the most picturesque parts of South Kučaj is the village Lisina in the yard of which is the waterfall Veliki Buk.

CorD / October 2008 87

LEISURE & LIFESTYLE

Restaurant Review – Šaran

Foody’s oasis on the Danube

Nestled down on the Danube bank, below the oldest and most authentic part of Zemun, Gardoš, lies Šaran, a fish restaurant, with over a century of tradition. In the old days, Šaran was a popular kafana, serving just simple food.

BY JELENA MICKIĆ PHOTO ČASLAV VUKOJIČIĆ

T

he menu and drink list, by today’s standards, were very modest. Fresh fish, directly from the river, were either fried in oil or made into fish chowder, which guests would then wash down with brandy or cheap wine on cold winter or hot summer days. This basic refreshment was just enough for its first guests, the Danube fishermen and local small

88 CorD / October 2008

shop keepers. If we look back at the traditional staple diet in this region, it does not really include fish. Our tradition of consuming fish, and I mean only fresh water fish, is mostly related to the period of lent, when meat, otherwise so favourite in our daily diet, is omitted.

Being a meeting place for the locals and the centre of vibrant local social life, Šaran was a place popular with ordinary people, bohemians, free sprits and all others who were connected by the mutual love for

the Danube and Zemun. Saran has always been a landmark, sort of an institution associated with Zemun. Nowadays, Šaran is a very popular fish restaurant with families, couples, business people and tourists.

During its time, this place has changed many owners and clientele too, but what keeps its reputation is a good choice of fish dishes prepared traditionally or with a twist. Some all time favourites, fish chowder and perch Orli, are now joined by new signature dishes such as carp with prunes and caramelised onion or perch with mlinci (pasta tatters). As in many things in this part of the world, where different traditions, cultures and influences clash and cohabit in happy or bitter marriage, the widely accepted simple recipes for fish cooking

came from southern Europe. Ask any serious fish food lover for a good fish chowder recipe, some might be happy to share their secret with you, a healthy combination of many different fish, a cauldron on an open fire, hot paprika to your taste and when it’s done you can enjoy it with a glass of Riesling wine.

Now, let’s talk about our choice of food that night. For starter we were served with balls of garlic and herbs cream cheese spread and whole grain and white bread rolls. It was just the right amount of garlic, to give the cheese flavour, but not to ruin your breath. Then we ordered shopska salata, which came as a medium size portion, the vegetables chopped in chunks and blandly seasoned so you can add your own seasoning according to taste. My personal preference is for thinly sliced vegetables in my salads, as it is more delicate on the palate, but it seems that everywhere you go in Belgrade these days, it is always served roughly chopped.

For the main meal, my companion chose a fried trout stuffed with button mushrooms on a bed of rice, while I went for carp with prunes and caramelised onion. I’ve noticed on many occasions when in restaurants, people usually tend to stick to what they already know and like. I decided to be a bit bold that night, but to be completely honest, I love prunes.

My companion’s trout was fried just right as for it to have a crispy golden skin outside, and to stay soft and deliciously succulent inside. The button mushrooms went well with the fish, not overpowering the taste. That trout was definitely the star of my companion’s plate, whereas my fat

lady had sung her song. Served in a clay pot, my carp was firmly tucked in the bed of big, meaty, soft prunes, topped with caramelised onion. I’m one of those people who can eat sweets any time of day or night and although my dish was very tasty and well prepared, I have to say the sweet coating and the prunes did not do the favour to the fish any favours, as the sweetness overpowered all the other flavours on my plate.

If you prefer seafood, there are many dishes to taste. Personally my favourite, which I have tried on several occasions before, is grilled sole stuffed with salmon, served on a bed of chard with grilled polenta. For non fish lovers there is a moderate choice of pasta and meat.

As I’ve mentioned there is a tradition of consuming freshwater fish in these parts, but have to say that eating sea fish and sea food is still considered a novelty here in general, which is related to the influence of especially Mediterranean cuisine. A good fish dish needs an excellent culinary companion to go with it and I can think nothing better than wine. Šaran can be proud of its extensive wine list which includes some of the finest Serbian and former Yugoslavian wines, a selected range of Italian and French and some new world wines too. You can even have a taste of Bermet, a desert wine, locally produced in Sremski Karlovci, which owns its fame to the fact that it was served on the Titanic.

If you intend to walk off your meal by strolling along the Danube or walking up and down the cobbled stone alleys of Gardoš, then diners can fuel up further with a choice of Šaran’s desserts - chocolate and fruit cake, baklava, apple pie, chocolate mousse, tiramisu and seasonal fruits.

In nice and warm weather you can enjoy your food outside, in the restaurant’s big ground floor garden, where a tamburica orchestra performs live every evening or for secluded and intimate moments, there is a top terrace for you.

The restaurant’s interior is more overwhelming, with wooden tables, darker decor and a warmer feel to it, for colder days and nights. Šaran is popular with clientele from all walks of life. Early booking is advisable, especially for larger groups. The service is unobtrusive and professional. Parking your car near the restaurant can be difficult, so park it in the neighbouring streets and leisurely walk to Šaran while enjoying the local sights and sounds.

CorD / October 2008 89

TECHNO TALK

Pocket Rocket: Nokia N810 Price: €325 This über-cellphone has tons of tech goodies shoehorned into its dryhumpable brushed metal body. Our faves? The slide-out keyboard, Skypefriendly cam, and GPS. The downside of being the smallest model in this contest? A puny keyboard that makes typing a challenge. “Writing this ssnetences would take foreverr if i bortherd with spelling..” That attitude is what also makes him a great editor. The bright four-inch screen was surprisingly easy on the eyes, but choppy vids were a bummer.

It won’t totally replace a laptop, but it’s amazing for its size.

Specs: 400 MHz processor; 2 GB memory, expandable to 8 GB; 4:05 battery life

The Swinger: Fujitsu U810 Price: €680 This combo tablet-notebook is more flexible than a Romanian gymnast thanks to its swivel touchscreen. A full version of Vista helps you complete your TPS reports from the road. Or jail. Double-mapping gives the keys a big surface area, and the tester claims scribing an e-mail to us from Lucy’s bar was easy. We’ll take his word for it because he left it there when he stumbled home. Choppy playback of a hazy Hall & Oates video improved dramatically after switching off Vista’s performance-marring extras. But “the tinny speaker is a killer.”Whether you’re doing real work or not, it’s a road warrior.

Specs: Intel 800 MHz processor, 1 GB RAM, 40 GB HD, 5:15 battery life

Sexy Beast: Sony UX Price: €1700 Its slick sliding-screen design looks like a Sidekick on a Bondsian ’roid binge, while inside there’s a full-on Vista-powered PC with a major case of shrinkage. It boasts two cams—one for video conferencing, one for shirtless Facebook pics. After booting up to a foreboding “Error Recovery” screen, then waiting more than two minutes for Vista to load, intern Blaine McEvoy connected to a network in an airport bar.

More bad news: The machine crashed twice.

It’s a fashion accessory: chic and sleek, but painfully slow.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Solo processor, 1 GB RAM, 48 GB solidstate drive, 3:25 battery life

Geek’s Choice: Asus Eee PC Price: €270 About the size of the hollowed-out hotel room Bible you keep your weed in, this lappy’s flash storage slims it down to less than two pounds. Plus, a Linux-based OS keeps the price point to four bennies. The stripped-down OS makes start-ups quick: Associate editor Jesse Will was stealing a signal in a minute and a half, then used the included Firefox browser to check out mihummel.com—seriously, we checked.

She ain’t much of a looker, but she’s cheap and can cook.

Specs: Mobile Intel Celeron processor, 512 MB RAM, 4 GB internal storage, 3:31 battery life 90 CorD / October 2008

Illuminated Mouse Pad Price: €18 The designer mouse pad with 4 USB ports Simply connect to your computer with the supplied USB cable (2.0). An LED light immediately frames your pad and bathes it in a spheric blue – a fascinating eye-catcher on your desk (even in daylight). You can quickly and conveniently connect additional devices via the 4 builtin USB (2.0) ports. Functions with optical mouse and ball mouse.

The special gliding surface guarantees fast and precise cursor control.

Generous, black contact surface: 28 x 22cm, height 0.5cm . Compatible with Windows 98, 2000, ME, XP and MAC OS.

Satellite Radio Weather Station Price: €56 4-day weather forecast via satellite Always up to date – from the Swiss Meteotest weather centre.There is no comparison to forecasts from standard weather offices which only examine local air pressure. This weather station receives the latest, professionally compiled weather data and detailed 4 or 2-day forecasts for 90 regions in Europe. No PC, TV or radio necessary. Data is simply broadcast to your personal weather station via the radio signal of the National Meteorology Institute in Mainflingen, Germany, and via the HBG station of the Swiss Federal Office of Meteorology. The weather station measures 12.2 x 15.5 x 4.4 cm (W x H x D).

Utili-Key® Price: €12 Extremely handy – and only the size of another key What looks like a simple key is, in fact, an extremely handy minitool. Just fold the little helper apart – and it’s ready to open packets, packaging, bottles, it cuts plastic, cardboard and cords. It also screws in slottedhead and Philips-head screws.

A tool you will use often and will always carry with you.

Folded it measures 7cm x 1.9cm , open 11.4 x 1.9cm . Only weighs 14g Made of rustproof stainless steel. Patented.

Minox Macroscope Price: €160 The good quality monocular as handy as a pocketknife Quality from Minox. 8x magnification, even at a close range up to 14”.

Measuring only 92 x 57 x 44mm and weighing a mere 150g, you can always have this quality monocular to hand. Due to its size it is much handier than binoculars.

Everything is instantly razor-sharp with the patented Quick Close Focus. Even at a distance of 1m, the 8x magnification spans a width of 110m. Unlike conventional monoculars, even objects at a close range of up to 35cm are magnified 8 times.

So you can observe the deer at the edge of the woods and, with a quick twist of the focusing ring (less than 360°), admire the butterfly on the flower before you. Porro prisms provide great image quality, even in poor light.Waterproof to 5m.

Quicktionary TS Price: €160 The Quicktionary TS simultaneously scans, recognises and translates – more than 1.2 million words.

Translates from English to German and French and vice-versa.

Scan the text section with the Quicktionary – and the translation immediately appears on the LCD display. A super fast language computer, which can be handled as easily as a text marker with state-of-the-art scanner technology. Now with touchscreen display. Weighing in at only 130g the handy, ergonomically shaped scan translator can be easily manoeuvred. The highly developed scanner (resolution 400 dpi) transfers the read word into the memory. At the same time it appears easily readable on the neat 61 x 20mm LCD display (resolution 208 x 65 pixels) – and then simultaneously delivers the corresponding translation.

You can also use the Quicktionary like a dictionary to look up related words. Measures 16.3 x 3.8 x 2.3cm (L x W x H).

CorD / October 2008 91

TECHNO TALK

Ditch that big wooden toboggan, and head to the hills with one of these five rides.Skiing and snowboarding are fun, but we’ve done them to death. We went looking for other ways to make use of our health insurance this winter, and these awesome sleds are what we came up with. Just be warned: These aren’t the crappy snow discs you had when you were 5.

Zipfy Price: €25 Why it’s awesome: The Zipfy, inspired by Bavarians and their crazy love of riding down hills on shovels, is a great choice for recreational sledders. The concept is simple: Sit down, grab the handle and go. There are no moving parts, so you’ll have to lean to turn. But since you’re always going feetfirst, you don’t have to worry about plowing your head into a knotty pine. At less than 6 pounds, the Zipfy is easy to carry uphill, but die-hard riders in Europe have taken to using a helicopter to get up the mountain, which seems a bit extreme for a $40 sled. Zipfy.com

Hammerhead Sled Price: €200 Why it’s awesome: The Hammerhead is built for versatility for those weirdos out there that only want one sled. It weighs in at less than 10 pounds and uses two skis on a pivot in the front for precision steering and high-speed carving. The mesh seat and aluminum rails make for a comfortable, but durable ride, whether you’re bombing down a hill or dragging a corpse through the woods on it. Sadly, as the Web site points out, it does not have any cup holders and the weight cap is 200 pounds.

Hammerheadsled. com

Airboard Freeride 180-X Price: €250

Mad River Killer B Sled Price: €70 Why it’s awesome: Kneeling on a regular sled is like an invitation from the snow to your face. But the Killer B is built like a wakeboard, which makes it much more stable and faster than a sled has any business being. A strap and two grooved pads keep your legs in place, and a specially molded body makes for awesome handling. Plus, you don’t need a boat to pull you. Weight limit is 250 pounds, and excludes people that are too fat to kneel.

Madriverrocket. com

Why it’s awesome: These babies might be kind of hard to get here in the US, but crafty importers will be impressed with the Airboards luxurious ride. It opts out of fancy suspension for good ol’ lung-blown air, which translates into less maintenance and an ultra-light weight. You don’t have to worry about pooping it because of its durable nylon coating, which is great unless you try using it naked. Airboard.com

AluRunner Price: €400 Why it’s awesome: The AluRunner is made from high-grade aluminum and has a built-in shock like the one you’d find on a full-suspension mountain bike. It has 165 mm of travel (that’s about 6 3/4 inches), which can eat up bumps from rocks, ice blocks and novices that happen to be between you and the bottom of the hill. When you’re done sledding, the whole thing flattens down to less than 7 inches and stores in a handy carrying bag that’s a heck of a lot easier to carry around than your snowboard gear. Just be sure to note that the max capacity is 220 pounds, so try not to have too many hot chocolates before hitting the slopes. Proidee.co.uk

92 CorD / October 2008

Bluetooth Watch Price: €99.99 Well, ring my bell. This magical device not only appears to be a wholly accurate timepiece, but excels at alerting one to incoming calls to one’s mobile telephone. Excited? Well, read on for complete temporal illumination.Using the latest in Scandinavian wireless technology that’s Bluetooth to you and me - simply pair the watch with your Bluetooth-enabled telephone and, bingo, it’s a match made in heaven. Never again will you miss an incoming call, text or MMS. An in-built display relays the Caller Line Identification data, telling you who’s calling.

And it gets better still. Knowing that you can’t bear to be separated from your moby - it’s got your life on it, after all - the latest proximity sensing system will trigger a vibration in your watch whenever it’s more than five metres from your phone. All of which could be a touch embarrassing when you’re in company and your left hand starts to twitch uncontrollably. Don’t worry, you’ll say with a knowing glance, “that’s just my telepathic timepiece”.

Digital Photo Frame Keyring Price: €11.99 Now this is just getting silly. There was a time that a single rolled-up black and white photograph of one’s ladyfriend, stuffed into one’s military tunic or greatcoat was all that a chap needed to be reminded of his true love. Now, as well as matching his-andhers bathrobes, towels, tattoos and assorted partnership paraphernalia, one is now compelled to carry round multiple images of one’s babe.

But where to store them? This is the stuff of confusion among post-modern men, metrosexual and otherwise. Now at last there is salvation with the invention of the digital photo frame keyring, an object of breathtaking beauty and oriental manufacturing precision.A tiny 1.1-inch full colour LCD display panel linked to an in-built 4MB memory chip does the business, enabling an average of 56 pictures to be stored in complete safety and security, in a compact but bijou 96 x 64 pixel format. An in-built 3.7V lithium battery is all it needs to stay in tip-top form, while everfaithful USB 1.1 technology takes care of the data transfer in a trice.

Radio Controlled Sumos Price €19.99 Konichiwa, gadget-san. And welcome to the temple of other-worldly delights, where one’s objective is to say a few prayers, throw some sand around, bow now and again, and heave a 25-stone elephant of a man about while staying on one’s feet...

Ah yes. There’s nothing quite like a dose of Sumo to quicken the heart.

Not even wrestling on World of Sport on a Saturday lunchtime came close. And, let’s face it gentlemen, WWF is all theatre and no trousers (literally). So, for real men, in real, blubbery, sand-kicking action, one has to turn Japanese. These two robosumos are remotely controlled for your pleasure, and, being remotely controlled, can go head-to-head at high speed, while you stand well back. Doing battle on a fold-out ring - cunning and dexterity, rather than brute force and ignorance, may well be the order of the day.

The sumos’ gigantic feet could prove your most valuable weapons, as these plates of meat can be used to devastating effect - tripping, flipping and getting in all manner of inconvenient places.

Bow low in respect. And then let blubbery battle commence.

SIM Card Backup Keyring Price: €4.99 The key to not being a victim of crime is to have the last laugh. This is where the SIM Card Back-up Key Ring comes into its own. Let us demonstrate: Your mobile phone is snatch whilst you are enjoying a few drinks out with your friends. ‘How very unhandy’, you think to yourself. In usual circumstances you may proceed to get angry. You may weep. But on this occasion, you have the SIM Card Back-up Key Ring attached to your keys. On it you have cunningly backed up all the names, addresses, emails, and telephone numbers of all of your friends and colleagues that were stored on your mobile. There is no need to despair that your mobile phone is gone. You just transfer back all these details, quickly and easily, once you have a new SIM card using the SIM Card Back-up Key Ring.

CorD / October 2008 93

HOW TO...

…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.

CROSSWORD

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

…Go skating?

If you find your desire for skating frustrated by the salt and grit laying on Belgrade streets this winter, why not visit one of Belgrade’s skating rinks and enjoy warming refreshments while you skate the day away? Belgrade’s Olympic-sized skating rink at ‘Hala Pionir’ is open to the public year-round, and also stages ice hockey events and figure skating competitions. During the winter months, the fresh air skating experience is provided at the romantic setting of Kalimegdan fortress. Situated beside the basketball and tennis courts, Kalimegdan’s skating rink is open throughout the winter months and offers skating to music, as well as a snack bar.

…Visit the Royal residence?

Ever wondered how the royals live? Now you can see for yourself. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Aleksander Karadjordjevic and family welcome visitors to Belgrade’s Royal Palace for tours and to view the artistic treasures of the residence. Those wishing to visit need merely contact the Palace Information and Press Department on 011 3064 000. Find out more information at www.royalfamily.org.

…Hire a limousine?

Luxury transportation is available from Limousine Service. With their luxurious, stylish and glamorous vehicles, Limousine Service will ensure an unforgettable ride for those choosing to hire one of their cars. Make reservations by email, fax or phone. First-time riders should visit the centre in person with valid ID. Subsequent trips can be booked 48-hours in advance over the phone or via email. Contact Limousine Service on 063 1235555 or visit them online at www.limoservis.co.yu.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

…Get emergency car repairs or roadside assistance?

…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: Is this your responsibility?

Da li je ovo vaša odgovornost?

Where was this manufactured?

Gde je ovo proizvedeno?

Is there a hotel in this town?

Da li postoji hotel u ovom gradu?

I would like to buy some milk and cheese? Želeo bih da kupim mleko i sir?

When does the train to Zagreb depart?

Kada polazi voz za Zagreb?

Serbia has great nightlife, if you know where to look Srbija ima dobar noćni provod, ako znate gde da ga potražite 98 CorD / October 2008

HORIZONTALLY: 1. All keys on a instrument, 2. A kind of fine cheese, 3. Feudal estate in the Turkish Empire – event that takes place each year, 4. River in Russia – the confluent of Ural – ancient Slav – symbol for Potassium, 5. Symbol for metre – a type of parasitic worms, 6. Island country in Europe – Albanian Telegraphic Agency (abbreviation) 7. One of a number of successive payments – the first name of Zagreb’s actor Lasta, 8. Serbian Revival Movement (abbreviation) – above, below, 9. The first name of Serbian folk hero Rajić – symbol of the Russian Rubel, 10. Symbol of ampere – ethnic group in IndoChina – a demonstrative pronoun, 11. The first name of the British statesman, Chamberlain - ditch, entrenchment, 12.

Russian actress – Serbian actor of older generation, Predrag.

VERTICALLY: 1. Serbian actor, 2. The surname of Zoran, the film director – type of pike – night bird (plural), 3. Socialist Party of Serbia (abbreviatiion) – suburbs of Birmingham, England – welded spot on a metal, 4. Symbol for Tellurium – a sheep from Andrić’s short story – the first name of chess player Marić, 5. River in Banat, Zlatica – an Old Testament song of religious nature, 6. Ink – a predator bird – personal pronoun, 7. Uncle (affectionately) – a village near Trebinje – cheerful Irish and Scottish dance, 8. Ancient measure for land – a port in Greece – a measure of weight, 9. Small town in Župa near Kruševac.

ANSWERS: keyboard, Imperial, Has, annals, Or, Ant, K, m, ascaris, Ireland, ATA, Sven, SPO, beneath, Tanasko, r, a, Lao, To, Neville, trench, Ija Savina, Ćeramilac.

If your car breaks down while you are driving in the city, or even in the countryside, you are best advised to contact the ’International Touring and Information Centre of the Automobile Association of Serbia & Montenegro’. If you happen to be a member of this organisation, or similar affiliated foreign organisations, you can receive special terms. All relevant information can be obtained 24-hours-a-day by calling 9800 or 24 19 555, or via the website at www.amsj.co.yu.

Author: Branko Polić

%#+ #% "'% & ! # - #"#! 1"#&' $#)# " " (" ) %- " " 1 " ($#'% %#+ %( 1 ' 1 .'

& %& %#+ #% "'% ! !# (0"#&' .' !$ " #$ % " & " % " !#"# %#!" # (! " ' #%! ' %- " .' !$ " #$ % " # &'% " ( ! "(' #!# (0 ! % #" "# & #% &' ' . )% ! (" ('#! '& # )#&'% "# .' !$ " # (! " ' % #" "# '%#. ' $ $ %

#/ ' # % ' # # # '% !# #% "'% ( - ) &"#&' # $#'% . " % &) #! & (1 ( # # # #) !# $#&' 0 . &" %( # % #) 0 & $% ' & ! "' % &#! &$% #%"#! $#(- "#.0( - ) 0 & ) &# ! ) ' '#! # (! " '

-

' "# ' ) #/ , #!( !# %# * #!( #& 0 % 0 .% + $& ) .% % )

& #& )

*** & & # ,( #"' ' *** $ "&# ' #! $%# " !% - &$ *** +$%# # ,( $ %'" %