CorD Magazine No.91

StojaN StameNković,

ATTrAcTeD To THe eDGe

Slovenian Ambassador to Serbia

Actor

PreDrAG Miki maNojlović,

h.e. mr. FraNc But,

www.cordmagazine.com

Investigate Project Coordinator at Magazine MAT of the Economic Institute

hoPeFul, unDersTAnDinG & cooPerATiVe

MAR ‘12 / ISSUE NO. 91

uncleAr ouTlook

interviews opinions news comments events PRICE 250 RSD

NOVAK DJOKOViĆ, WORLD SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR - LAUREUS AWARD

"Proud Serb"

Could we say that Laureus award shows just what kind of proud Serbian the world likes and applauds?

DrAGAN DJuriČiN, PRESIDENT OF THE SERBIAN ASSOCIATION OF ECONOMISTS

economic future uncertain

This year, the Serbian Association of Economists is organizing the 19th Kopaonik Business Forum, under the challenging topic: “How to preserve the future of Serbia: Economics, business and related issues” IN FOCUS

Serbian Media Strategy What has been done on the implementation of the Media Strategy and to what extent will this document contribute to the improvement of working conditions within the Serbian media sector?

CORD’S GUIDE TO THE BIGGEST SPORTING EVENT OF THE YEAR

london Olympics 2012 On July 27th 2012 the eyes of the world will be on London for the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games

Bojan Pajtić PRESIDENT OF AP VOJVODINA’S GOVERNMENT AND DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF DS

No Disagreements

iNSiDe THe PArTy

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Mercedes-Benz Srbija i Crna Gora d.o.o, Sales to Diplomatic and Direct Sales, Mrs. Biljana Dinic, Omladinskih brigada 33, 11000 Beograd 2 +381 | 2012Fax> | www.cordmagazine.com Phone> 119130March 19 107, +381 11 30 19 026, Mob> +381 63 27 52 67

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91 March 20112 | 3

COVER Bojan Pajtić, President of AP Vojvodina’s Government and Deputy President of DS

No Disagreements Inside the Party

contents

Page 8

6

"I expect that the election campaigns of those parties, which have been our long-term coalition partners, are going to reflect the spirit of our longstanding cooperation. If we are talking about the provincial elections, the only thing that is certain, as was the case in the last elections, is that representatives of larger national minorities who live in Vojvodina are going to be included in our electoral list.”

Unclear Outlook

Stojan Stamenković, Investigate Project Coordinator at Magazine MAT of the Economic Institute

8

14

Global diary

16

Hopeful, Understanding & Cooperative Serbian Media Strategy

I nvesting in Tomorrow

52

“PROUD SERB” Novak Djoković, World Sportsman of the Year - Laureus Award

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F aces & places

60

c ulture calendar & news

62

Focus

Economic Future Uncertain

64

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Ruža Ristanović r.ristanovic@aim.rs

FINANCIAL DIRECTOR: Ana Besedić a.besedic@cma.rs

Economy page 44

Christian Wulff’s resignation

40

Safe Bet

68

Culture page 62

Wo nderful Wellness

A selection of the most relaxing and beautiful spas in the world

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Neil Sloam, Managing Director, Brian Lack & Company

72 44

TRANSLATION: Snežana Bjelotomić

GENERAL MANAGER: Ivan Novčić i.novcic@cma.rs

Victory for Press Freedom

Business Dialogue

PHOTOS: Zoran Petrović, Marijana Šaponjić

Lo ndon Olympics 2012

Attracted To The Edge

35

CONTRIBUTORS: Jovana Gligorijević, Rob Dugdale, Mirjana Zec, Radmila Stanković, Boško Jakšić,Steve MacKenzie Zorica Todorović Mirković, Sonja Ćirić, Vera Didanović, Zora Drčelić

n ordic inspiration

Predrag Miki Manojlović, Actor

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ART DIRECTOR: Ilija Petrović, i.petrovic@aim.rs

PROJECT MANAGERS: Nataša Popović n.popovic@aim.rs Biljana Dević b.devic@aim.rs Vanja Jokanović v.jokanovic@aim.rs Svetlana Okanović s.okanovic@aim.rs

Dimitrije Vujadinović, Director of Balkankult Foundation

Dragan Djuričin, President of the Serbian Association of Economists and Professor at the Faculty of Economics, University of Belgrade

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EDITOR: Sasa Marić s.maric@aim.rs

ASSISTANT EDITOR: Max Williams, m.williams@aim.rs

Mr. Paul Falke, Co-Owner, Falke Group

H.E. Mr. Franc But, Slovenian Ambassador to Serbia

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Chill out

No Disagreements Inside the Party

Bojan Pajtić, President of AP Vojvodina’s Government and Deputy President of DS

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48

March 2012

Tradition of Community Solidarity

Mirko Butulija, Deputy General Director of AMS Insurance

. .. Relaxation Serbian Style

OFFICE MANAGER: Tanja Banković t.bankovic@aim.rs PRINTING: Rotografika d.o.o., Segedinski put 72, Subotica CorD is published by: alliance international media Makenzijeva 67, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia Phone: +(381 11) 2450 508 Fax: +(381 11) 2450 122 E-mail: cordeditorial@cma.rs www.cordmagazine.com www.allianceinternationalmedia.com ISSN no: 1451-7833 All rights reserved alliance international media 2011

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Techno talk

78

h ot spring

Fashion

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comment

Unclear Outlook Stojan Stamenković, Investigate Project Coordinator at Magazine MAT of the Economic Institute

The outlook, with which we entered this year, does not look promising when it comes to the Serbian economy. After production growth and export expansion, which, during Q1 of 2011 heralded economic recovery and an exit from the recession here and in the rest of the world, the dynamics of macroeconomic indicators have taken a different turn

T

he year 2011 ended with a decline in production and

the budget review. We can only speculate as to the reasons why that

processing, December exports were lower than the year be-

happened. Was it because the current government, engaged in parti-

fore (throughout the year import grew more than export),

san bickering, was no longer capable of honouring the earlier points,

the foreign trade deficit was visibly higher from what was project-

agreed in November, till the end or that maybe it was incapable of

ed, and the financial account ‘covered’ the payment balance cur-

securing a parliamentary majority which would adopt the budget re-

rent account deficit but with a tendency to decline, especially when

view that would please the IMF or was it because the IMF came up

it came to credit balance. The relevant global projections have re-

with new projections about the recession in the EU and the possibility

duced the earlier expectations about the EU’s economic activity,

of lower economic growth in Serbia and hence ascertained that the

as well as in our immediate surroundings. That was the reason why

revenue, envisaged by the November audit and the adopted Budget

the IMF reduced the expected growth of Serbian GDP in 2012 from

Law, would not be generated which, in turn, warranted a new audit?

1.5% to a symbolic 0.5% which, in turn, opened up new problems in

Since such estimates could not be considered, a formal reason for

terms of the size of the budget deficit and its funding.

the dismissal of the November audit was found in credit guarantees

It seems though that is not all. At the beginning of this year, two

given to public enterprises. Postponing the audit for several more

acute problems concerning Serbia’s economic situation and its de-

months or the termination of the credit arrangement would have se-

velopment emerged almost simultaneously. Firstly, the departure of

rious consequences for our development - there will be problems

U.S. Steel has often been talked about in the context of layoffs. That

with external liquidity (i.e. foreign currency exchange rate and infla-

is an important issue, but not the most important one by far. What we

tion) in the next two years and an economic slowdown in the years to

should focus on here is that the arrival process of new foreign inves-

come, due to a high price of capital that would be available to us and

tors is now being replaced with the departure of a big investor, togeth-

our investment rating, i.e. reduced investment influx.

er with its management experience, technology, trademark and mar-

Funding public spending will pose a special problem. This will

ket. In addition, another important effect could be a reduction in ex-

come about even if the credit arrangement lives on and which will

port and industrial production, and, even worse, the departure could

also grow if the arrangement is terminated. The state’s possibility

send a negative signal to other foreign investors. Very few people will

of borrowing to finance the budget deficit is limited to fiscal rules

focus on the fact that the U.S. Steel ironworks plant in Smederevo,

and, even more, on obtaining equilibrium in the total payment bal-

which never managed to become profitable, was as a result of failed

ance. In order to de-accumulate the debt crisis risk, external liquid-

investment from a period when the state took out loans left, right and

ity and to reduce internal illiquidity, it is vital to relax the overall in-

centre in the 1970s. It remains to be seen how much the FIAT production launch is going to absorb these negative effects bearing in mind the uncertain situation on the car market. Immediately after the first problem, the second one emerged which had an accumulated effect – the credit arrangement with the IMF was ‘put on hold’, i.e. its audit was postponed.

At the beginning of this year, two acute problems concerning Serbia’s economic situation and its development emerged almost simultaneously.

Firstly, the departure of U.S. Steel, secondly the credit arrangement with the IMF was ‘put on hold’

This fact, in itself, has negative short-term effects on credit terms and

debtedness by reducing public debt, which indirectly means reduc-

investments. Even worse than that would be ‘freezing’ the arrange-

ing the budget deficit. This is an imperative of an expedited fiscal

ment for an indefinite period in June, despite the announcements

consolidation which is possible only through applying tough and

that negotiations would resume immediately after the election.

short-term fiscal measures (i.e. like temporarily increasing VAT and

We cannot anticipate when or what kind of government is going

graded property tax and freezing or nominally reducing public sec-

to be formed after the election, how much time is going to be need-

tor salaries which opens up the way for relaxing fiscal burdens on

ed to make a budget review proposal that will satisfy the IMF’s cri-

engaged work and capital) and through a complex mid- and long-

teria (and whether the government would be willing to meet those

term reform of the system and public sector (social functions, cor-

criteria) or about how much time it will take for parliament to adopt

poratization and management of public resources). ■

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interview Bojan Pajtić, preSident of ap VoJVodina’S goVernMent and deputy preSident of dS

No Disagreements

insiDe the Party “In regard to other parties, I expect that the election campaigns of those parties, which have been our longterm coalition partners, are going to reflect the spirit of our longstanding cooperation. If we are talking about the provincial elections, the only thing that is certain, as was the case in the last elections, is that representatives of larger national minorities who live in Vojvodina are going to be included in our electoral list”

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top ten

Vojvodina has made it to the TOP TEN European towns and regions investmentwise on the list compiled by experts from the Financial Times.

the liSt

Just like in the case of the last elections, the representatives of larger national minorities who live in Vojvodina are going to be included in our electoral list.

T

he impending elections and date of when Serbian voters will go to the polls to express their political will are not even formally scheduled and there have already been presumptions about the elections taking place in April or May. Various combinations and political coalitions are being mentioned. CorD magazine is talking to the President of AP Vojvodina’s Government and Deputy President of the Democratic Party Bojan Pajtić about preparations for the next elections. We have also asked the President of the Vojvodinian Government to give his comments on other current issues concerning the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina.

SnS

The Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) is comprised of the people whose political appearance and reactions are utterly impossible to predict.

on election results. At the last elections, the DS demonstrated a great deal of responsibility at the provincial level. We could have formed the government by ourselves, but we knew that we had to form a parliamentary majority with other parties of pro-European orientation so that support for the reform and development processes in our society would be as strong and wide as

■ Which parties are going to be partners with the DS at the upcoming elections?

- It is too early to talk about pre-election coalitions, both on a state and other levels. If we are talking about the provincial elections, the only thing that is certain, as was case in the last elections, is that representatives of larger national minorities who live in Vojvodina are going to be included in our electoral list. Only through their participation in the systems institutions, can national minorities properly exercise their rights in areas like information, culture and education.

Since my cabinet’s first mandate (in 2004), we have reduced the number of unemployed persons in Vojvodina by over 80,000 and almost every town and village in Vojvodina has implemented important projects in areas like infrastructure, health and education

■ There were announcements that the League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina (LSV) is going to form a coalition with the DS at the state level, while, at the same time, this party has been severely criticizing both you and Vojvodina’s Government which adds fuel to the fire when it comes to recent media reports that DS’s headquarters are not too inclined toward you. Are communication lines between Vojvodina’s branches of the DS and the party’s headquarters really that poor?

- There are no disagreements inside the party. With regard to other parties, I expect that the election campaigns of those parties, which have been our long-term coalition partners, are going to reflect the spirit of our longstanding cooperation.

■ Who do you see as potential partners in forming the provincial government?

- Post-election coalitions are primarily going to depend

possible. In the following period, I expect the relations between the DS and all of our partners to fit our longstanding cooperation.

■ Is a coalition with the Serbian Progressive Party, whether at a provincial or state level, at all possible?

You claim that Serbia should not give up on its EU accession and the Progressives have echoed the same thoughts, which could be viewed as common ground for a possible coalition.

- That conclusion is not realistic. We are two dramatically different parties. The Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) is comprised of people whose political appearance and reactions are utterly impossible to predict.

These are the people who compromised this country cordeditorial@cma.rs

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91 March 20112 | 9

and fuelled ethnic hatred with their earlier political activism. No, the Democratic Party (DS) is definitely not going to form a coalition with them.

■ On what do you base your belief that the DS will be given an opportunity to form Vojvodina’s government again?

- Firstly, I base it on the fact that, according to every single public opinion poll conducted since the last election, the Democratic Party in Vojvodina enjoys by far the biggest support of Vojvodina’s citizens. In the last three and a half years, we have been triumphant at all extraordinary local elections.

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re-built. Almost half of all investments that ended up in Serbia were made in Vojvodina.

■ What is your response to the objections made concerning the fact that, for the first time in history, Vojvodina’s GDP has fallen below the Serbian average, so, instead of being the driving force behind development, the province has become an underdeveloped region?

- Those claims are not true since they are based on an analysis that included just one parameter – average salary. The truth is that Vojvodina is the most developed region in Serbia and the region with the brightest future in the country after Belgrade. The indicators show and prove this in the structure of Vojvodina’s share in Serbian exports and imports and the number of workers employed both in the production and nonproduction sector which show that Vojvodina’s citizens do not represent a dominant share in the state-owned sector. This share is much higher in the production sector, compared to other regions in Serbia. We have three municipalities in Vojvodina that are considered underdeveloped and none of them can be found on the list of socalled ‘devastated municipalities’.

The problem is that a lot of statistical data about agriculture is not registered and this data would demonstrate the perspective and economic stability that Vojvodina, as a region, has. Also, unemployment in Vojvodina is under control and the statistics show that, The office in Brussels was opened so that since 2004, the number of unemployed has been reduced by 80,000, we would be able to draw more European i.e. from 280,000 to 200,000. funds once Serbia becomes an EU Is it really possible that Vojvodina is an underdeveloped region in Serbia if candidate. We have attracted 6.3 billion almost half of the FDIs that were made euros worth of FDIs in the last period in Serbia ended up in Vojvodina and if Vojvodina’s share in Serbian exports is almost 40%? The Also, since my cabinet’s first mandate (in 2004), we problem, as I said, lies in the fact that statistical data does have reduced the number of unemployed persons in Vonot include revenue generated in agriculture, and we all jvodina by over 80,000. This impressive result would be know that the biggest revenue comes from that segment. even bigger if the global economic crisis did not strike.

Around 50% of our economy is tied to agriculture. VoThe new Constitution stipulates financial guarantees jvodina cannot be considered an underdeveloped part for the launch of the biggest investment cycle in the of Serbia only because Belgrade citizens have a higher province in the last 30 years and, despite the occasional average income than their Vojvodinian counterparts. financial difficulties and thanks to this investment cycle, almost every town and village in Vojvodina has implemented important projects in areas like infrastructure, ■ The opposition claims that Vojvodina is impoverhealth and education. Suffice to say, 1,500 km of roads, ished because of deliberate discrimination and not 1,300 km of water and sewerage pipelines, 9 industhe effects of free market. Is Vojvodina really distrial zones and 5 technology parks have been built. In criminated against? addition, 8 bridges have either been reconstructed or - The crisis is global indeed and even countries that are

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much more developed than ours are feeling its effects. As does Vojvodina. I wouldn’t call it discrimination.

■ According to some data, over one third of the terminated privatization agreements in Serbia pertain to Vojvodina. What does the government’s programme of rehabilitating badly privatized Vojvodinian companies entail exactly?

provide us with certain financial guarantees. Of course, this solution is not an ideal one since it is being discussed and attuned every single time the Serbian budget or its review is adopted. However, this solution has made it possible for us to invest over 400 million euros in infrastructure, health and education in Vojvodina in

- Two years ago, the provincial government launched a rehabilitation project for those companies that have both a good perspective and long tradition and were practically ruined by badly executed privatization or irresponsibly managed business operations following privatization.

This set of measures entails utilization of all those instruments that the Vojvodinian Government disposes of and additional efforts put in trying to find strategic partners, new markets and opportunities to invest in these companies. The programme’s results are already visible and workers in many such companies are now receiving regular salaries, like Žitoprodukt.

This company’s operations were at a complete standstill, which jeopardized bread supply. Currently, 27 companies are included in the rehabilitation programme.

■ Why is there no Law on Financing of Vojvodina?

- The fact is that life would be much better for the state government and us if such a law had been enacted but I do expect that this issue will be resolved. This is simply a system law that needs to be adopted. Let me remind you that, during the adop-

The claims that Vojvodina has regressed to being an underdeveloped region in Serbia are not true since they are based on an analysis that included just one parameter – average salary.

The truth is that Vojvodina is the most developed region in Serbia and the region with the brightest future in the country after Belgrade tion of the Serbian Constitution, the Democratic Party proposed that the issue was handled by the Constitution, and that the revenue generated from excises on crude oil and oil products, alcohol and tobacco should be also directed toward the provincial budget. Only the G17 Plus party was against the proposal, which subsequently failed. We did manage to have a stipulation in the Constitution which reads that 7% of the state budget belonged to the province which is a solution that can

the last three to four years, as well as to launch employment programmes which have resulted in Vojvodina having fewer unemployed persons in November than in January of last year. Now, there are 200,000 unemployed persons in the province compared to 280,000 at the beginning of the first provincial government’s mandate with me at its helm. If it weren’t for the economic crisis, I am confident that the results would have been even more impressive, especially if we consider the tools that we currently have at our disposal. cordeditorial@cma.rs

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91 March 20112 | 11

■ Late last year, Vojvodina opened its office in Brussels. What are your expectations from this office?

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■ What is your view of the current state of interethnic relations in Vojvodina in light of the recent incidents with Hungarian extremists in Temerin?

- The office was opened so that we would be able to draw more European funds once Serbia becomes an EU - Vojvodina is known for its quiet life and co-existence of candidate. We are already cooperating with many Euro25 different nationalities. Whenever I talk to European pean regions while the existing and new partnerships officials, they are truly fascinated when they hear that, will be reflected through as well as when they hear participation in European that there are six official lanfunds. We have been very guages in Vojvodina. For me, active so far and used many the co-habitation between opportunities that were different nations and culpresented to us – in 2011, tures is no longer a historithe European Commission cal category, but rather a fagave its seal of approval to milial category. I really don’t 228 Vojvodinian projects, know anybody who doesn’t but I expect that number have a person of different to grow significantly in the nationality or religion in future. Of course, we are their family or among their going to use the opportufriends, neighbours and colnity to promote Vojvodina leagues. Unfortunately, we and Serbia since we really have seen incidents taking do have something to ofplace which are put in the fer to investors. The prointerethnic context, but I revincial government’s prially do think that those are orities are geared towards individual incidents and not further development and the rule of thumb or prevailthe creation of new jobs. ing attitude.

We have attracted 6.3 bilOf course, any kind of lion euros worth violence is absoAny kind of violence is absolutely of FDIs in the last lutely unacceptperiod, and the unacceptable and should be condemned. able and should main task that our be condemned.

According to the Novi Sad police representatives in It is also worth department, the number of ethnically Brussels have is mentioning that, to attract as many according to the motivated criminal offences has gone foreign investors Novi Sad police down by 50% in the last few years as possible and department, the aid the provinces development by participating in as number of ethnically motivated criminal offences has many EU development funds as possible. gone down by 50% in the last few years. When such offences are committed they need to be severely sanctioned and we need to react quickly. Also, there should ■ This year is expected to be very unfavourable for be a clear distinction between hooligans and thugs, on investments. How is that going to affect Vojvodina’s one side, and national minorities or national communiposition? Do you have ‘an ace up your sleeve’ in the ties, on the other, since the latter want peaceful co-habshape of a new large-scale investment? itation, a good life and good relations with their neigh- Unfortunately, the global economic downturn and bours and friends. The same people are responsible for its effects are something that we have no control over many different incidents which tells us that there is a and there are consequences that we have to live with. small group of individuals who have succumbed to naBut, even in this environment, Vojvodina has made tionalistic ideology. Penalties for such people should be it to the TOP TEN of European towns and regions harsh, but we also need to work on preventing such inciinvestment-wise. This list is compiled by experts dents from happening for the sake of themselves, other from the Financial Times. Two of Vojvodina’s towns young people and parents who are largely responsible – Inđija and Sremska Mitrovica – were placed second for their children’s behaviour. We – the state, schools, and third, while Subotica has also made it to the top parents and children - all matter when it comes to fulten. Hence, I expect negotiations with foreign partfilling this task in preserving this truly great wealth. ■ ners to start soon.

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Great damage

global diary

Homeless Advised to "Stay Indoors"

“The Serbian economy is suffering great damage due to the implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, therefore political neutrality is the right path towards economic recovery for Serbia.”

— Vojislav Koštunica, leader of the Democratic Party of Serbia.

More arrests at Murdoch's ‘Sun’

Junior French health minister Nora Berra was ridiculed on the Internet for writing a blog in mid Feb saying toddlers, old people, the sick and homeless were particularly vulnerable in times of extreme cold and should “avoid going outdoors”

UK police arrested five people at The Sun tabloid newspaper, part of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation

Camellia Garden Inspection Nora Berra, Junior French health minister

The French junior health minister tried to tweet her way out of the embarrassing blog, but her note sparked a flurry of Twitter messages and media reports that she was suggesting the homeless should not leave “home”.

Berra sought to limit the damage via a tweet that redirected readers to a refreshed blog note where the reference to homeless people no longer existed. “There are some subjects that lend themselves badly to irony,” she tweeted later on.

Hundreds of people, many of them homeless, have been killed in recent weeks as bitterly cold weather swept Europe, with temperatures dropping to minus 20 degrees Celsius in parts of France.

Many French cities are opening extra night-time shelters for homeless people.

Facebook Pictures to Catch Crooks Police in the German state of Lower-Saxony will soon use their networks of 14 |

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At the same time as Europe is struggling with huge drifts of snow in southern China, camellias are blooming. Patricia Short, President of the International Camellia Society, beholds camellia blossoms in Kunming Botanical Garden in Kunming, capital city of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, on February 2nd, 2012. In Chinese, Camellia sinensis is called “chahua” (tea flower) and is the key ingredient in white, green, pu’er, oolong, and black teas.

Facebook friends to find missing persons and hunt out suspected criminals, according to the state’s interior minister

The decision to use social media in manhunts follows the completion of a pilot scheme in the northern city of Hanover last year that drew sharp criticism from data protection groups.

The scheme helped police clear up six criminal investigations and two missing persons cases after identikits of suspects and stills from Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage were circulated on the social networking site Facebook.

Two cases were resolved just hours after the information was uploaded to the site.

www.cordmagazine.com

“Our successes so far clearly show that the police must not shut themselves off from this medium,” State Interior Minister of Lower-Saxony, Uwe Schuenemann, said in a statement.

Data protection groups heavily criticized the publication of suspects’ pictures on Facebook during the pilot last year, arguing that personal data directed through Facebook could end up on an American internet server, outside the influence of EU data protection laws.

The new system, which will be introduced in the near future, will direct Facebook users to a police server via an internet link, said Schuenemann.

But the state commissioner for data protection, Joachim Wahlbrink, said this was not enough and the decision would lead to the circulation of personal information on the internet which can never be completely deleted.

“Once this data has been saved, those involved will always be pilloried,” his spokesman, Michael Knaps, said.

The arrested journalists were deputy editor Geoff Webster, picture editor John Edwards, chief reporter John Kay, chief foreign correspondent Nick Parker and reporter John Sturgis, News International said.

Media sources said a police officer and defence ministry employee were among eight people arrested in total on the 11th of February in a branch of the inquiry named Operation Elveden which is investigating bribes for police in return for story tip-offs.

Back in January, police arrested four current and former staff at Rupert Murdoch’s bestselling Sun tabloid plus a police officer as they focused on suspected payments by journalists to police employees.

A phone hacking scandal at News Corp’s News of the World newspaper prompted the publications closure last year. The company has since set up a Management and Standards Committee as part of a drive to repair the firm’s reputational damage.

News International chief executive Tom Mockridge said the company was facing its “greatest challenge.” He confirmed that he “has personal assurance from Rupert Murdoch about his total commitment to continue to own and publish The Sun newspaper.”

Benefits “...Whoever says that is either ignorant or a liar. According to the Serbian Government, during the three years since the application of the Agreement, Serbia has lost less than €500 million in customs revenue, but has exported goods to the EU worth € 1.5 billion.”

— H.E. Wolfram Maas, German Ambassador to Serbia

Finland Elects New President A former finance minister won Finland’s presidential election and will become the country’s first conservative head of state in five decades Sauli Niinisto won 63 percent of the votes, compared to 37 percent for his rival, Greens candidate Pekka Haavisto, official results showed with 100 percent of ballots counted.

The 63-year-old Mr. Niinisto will become the first president from the conservative National Coalition Party since 1956, and the first in 30 years from a party other than the centre-left Social Democrats.

He will replace Tarja Halonen, one of Finland’s most popular heads of state, who has served the maximum of two six-year terms.

Karacan Group Execs Arrested in Media Probe

Controversial US director Abel Ferrara says he is to make a film on the sex scandal that destroyed Frenchman Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s political career with Gerard Depardieu in the starring role.

A film about sex and politics, it will co-star Isabelle Adjani as Strauss-Kahn’s wife Anne Sinclair, Ferrara told French newspaper Le Monde.

Strauss-Kahn, who was seen as a Socialist contender for the French presidency, was forced to resign as head of the International Monetary Fund last May after he was charged with sexually assaulting a New York hotel maid.

Several executives and workers of Karacan Group were taken into custody last month in an investigation launched after disputes broke out last year between Turkish Karacan Group and Demirören Group, which acquired two rooted Turkish dailies, Milliyet and Vatan, in equal partnership.

The investigation was launched after a conflict arose between the groups regarding debts and liabilities of the subsidiaries that acquired the newspapers from Doğan Holding, which also owns the Hürriyet Daily News. Journalists of the papers in a common voice had earlier invited the Karacan family to either withdraw their ownership or to fulfil the liabilities.

Meanwhile, Karacan sold

The Mates

“The president in Finland has to understand that there are many different thoughts and opinions and that they must be taken into account so that he could be the president of the whole nation,” Mr. Niinisto said in his victory speech.

Depardieu to star in film on StraussKahn scandal American director Abel Ferrara plans to make a film starring Gerard Depardieu (pictured) as Dominique Strauss-Kahn, whose political career was destroyed by a hotel maid’s allegations of rape, with Isabelle Adjani in the role of his wife.

Arnold Schwarzenegger (who turns 65 in July) and Sylvester Stallone (who turns 66 during the same month), spent time at hospital together getting shoulder surgeries, and will be the duo for the film ‘The Tomb’, an action thriller about a master prison architect, who must escape from one of his creations with the help of a wily inmate (Schwarzenegger).

“After all the action, stunts & physical abuse shooting ‘The Expendables 2’ and ‘The Last Stand,’ it was time for a little tune up on my shoulder,” Schwarzenegger wrote on Twitter. “Now we’re ready for another round of great times and action when we shoot ‘The Tomb.’”

its stakes in Milliyet and Vatan newspapers to Demirören Group, Ali Karacan told broadcaster Bloomberg HT. “I have no knowledge of the operation [arrests],” he said.

Internet Against Paedophiles Roman Catholic Church leaders unveil an Internet teaching project to help clergy around the world root out paedophiles in their ranks

Reinhard Marx (left), German Cardinal and Joerg Fegert, psychologist after the end of the conference on child abuse

Ending a four-day conference on child abuse in Rome, Father Francois-Xavier Dumortier said the €1.2m project would provide advice and access to research on paedophilia and how to respond to the problem.

An association for victims of abuse, while not commenting directly on the Internet project, dismissed the conference as “window dressing” and said the Vatican should publish its documentation on abuse and hand it over to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

However, the Vatican’s top official for dealing with the sexual abuse of minors, Monsignor Charles Scicluna, said hiding behind a culture of “omerta” the Italian word for the Mafia’s code of silence - would be deadly for the Church.

The Internet-based “Centre for Child Protection” will work with medical institutions and universities to develop what the Church hopes will be a permanent response to the problem of sexual abuse. It will be posted in German, English, French, Spanish and Italian.

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interview H.e. mr. Franc But, SLoVenian aMBaSSador to SerBia

Hopeful, Understanding

& cOOPerative

■ By Jovana GliGoRiJeViC

So far, Slovenia has invested 1.6 billion euros in Serbia and, as such, is amongst the top five investors in the country. The 2011 trade exchange between the two countries was 20% higher than in 2010. Also, there are 1,400 Slovenian companies that operate in Serbia which employ close to 30,000 workers. The two countries have traditionally good economic relations and Slovenia has proved to be a constant source of support to Serbia’s aspirations toward EU membership. This cooperation also extends into other areas

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e are talking with the Slovenian Ambassador to Serbia H.E. Mr. Franc But regarding the cooperation, as well as the internal political issues in Slovenia, which recently got a new government. The destiny of one of the biggest supermarket chains in the region – Mercator, is also a hot topic, as is its importance to the Slovenian economy, as well as for the economies of surrounding countries in which it operates.

■ Recently, Slovenia got a new government that is made up of

a wide coalition of five political parties. In what ways does that affect the country’s internal stability?

- Slovenia has had a coalition government for a long time. The lowest number of parties that made a coalition was two and that happened only twice, in 1996 and 2000. On average, each governing coalition is made up of four parties so this it is nothing new. True, at the beginning, coalition governments are usually less stable, but they are a realistic image of the countries that have a proportional 16 |

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election system. I don’t believe that Slovenia will have any other kinds of governments in the future, providing that the proportional election system is applied which, after all, depends on parliament.

I think that any coalition government carries a certain risk, but, at the moment, there is a consensus in Slovenia between not only the aforementioned five parties that have formed the government, but also between the remaining two that are considered opposition, that we need to be constructive. The party led

by Borut Pahor, the former prime minister, has always said that it would behave in a constructive manner during the crisis. A few days before the government was formed, Zoran Janković’s party announced the formation of constructive opposition despite not voting against the new government. I believe that all party presidents in Slovenia, whether they are left, right or centre, are very much aware of the current political situation and all of us need to accept rather unpopular reforms without which the environment cannot be changed. I think that this pertains not only to Slovenia, but to other countries too.

■ What direction will the new government’s foreign policy take?

- We need to wait for the new government to pick up pace, but I dare say, without shadow of doubt, that our foreign policy is not going to change compared to the current one. That means that Slovenia, as an EU and NATO member, will still focus on the region of Southeast Europe, i.e. the former Yugoslavia. I am confident that our foreign policy towards Serbia is not going to change at all.

Slovenia will still continue providing great support to Serbia on its way to the EU, will stand by it and be available to offer expert help and share experiences. You know, in Slovenia, there is a very small difference between left centre and right centre. They are more differences in personalities that represent these two options rather than differences in political vision. Southeast Europe, including Serbia, will remain a priority for Slovenia’s foreign policy.

■ How do you view the relations between Serbia and Slovenia

bearing in mind that Slovenia has always been a friend and partner to Serbia in its EU aspirations and that it seems the two countries agree on near enough everything apart from the Kosovo issue?

bassy buildings, business premises or archives. But all of these issues are moving forward, some quickly, others more slowly. We remain optimistic throughout. The cooperation between schools is growing and our embassy in Belgrade has been supporting twinning projects, which date back to the time of the former country, but have been renewed and recently picked up pace. We are also working on making this cooperation even more to the point, rather than keeping it at the protocol level.

■ Slovenia is one of the top 5 investors in Serbia and, over the last ten years, the country has invested a total of 1.6 billion euros. Which of these investments is the most successful?

- I think there are many investments which can be classified as very successful. The public is well acquainted with the investments made by Mercator and Gorenje, but what is not well known is that there is a company called Impol Sevojno, which is one of the five

- We are not the only country that feels that way about Kosovo and we have never emphasized that in our relations with Serbia. We believe that Serbia has a future in Europe and a place in the EU. I cannot envisage any other scenario. It would be bad for both Serbia and the EU were it not that way. Also, I don’t see any great hurdles or view threats made by Serbian politicians apropos Serbia having a neutral position toward the EU as realistic. Serbia needs the EU very much and, in the end, the European Union needs a stable region and all the regional countries as members. I believe that tHe neW Slovenian government, incluDing tHe Prime miniSter, the day will come when we are all going to be EU members and haS onlY thiRteen MeMBeRS that the EU will be much more prosperous than it I am confident that our foreign policy towards biggest exporters in Serserbia is not going to change at all. slovenia bia, and this is a Sloveniis now. I also think that the problems between an investment too. There will continue to provide great support to Belgrade and Priština are many investors and it serbia on its way to the eU will seem less imporis difficult to single them tant than they are today. We are quite aware of just how sensitive out, but I think the most important thing is that these companies certain issues are for Serbia and we respect that. The aim here is employ large numbers of people and that Slovenia has been signifinot only having a future in Europe, but above all, in having a norcantly contributing to the development of Serbian exports. mal life. I am optimistic and I firmly believe that the EU will deliver good news in March.

■ Are you aware of any negotiations or planned investments for next year?

■ What are the key segments of cooperation between Serbia

and Slovenia in areas that are not political or economic, i.e. areas like education, health and culture?

- Cooperation in all of the areas you said is getting better by the day.

If we are talking about culture, last year’s cooperation simply ‘exploded’ and is set to continue this year. As the current culture capital city of Europe, Maribor is one of the key points in cooperation with Serbia. We are moving in the same direction when it comes to education too. What remains to be done is to sign an agreement that will facilitate student exchanges, provide scholarships and other benefits. There will always be open issues at the state level.

Let’s say that we are not entirely happy with the implementation of the Succession Agreement, whether we are talking about em-

- Some investments are still at the initial negotiation stages, so I will refrain from talking about them since I don’t want to be refuted by the results of the negotiations. The beginning of this year was all about a Slovenian investment – i.e. the contract on acquisition of Elektroizgradnja Company from Bajina Bašta. Talks about an investment that will result in 1,500 new jobs created are pending, but let’s wait until they are finished and we’ll talk about it then. I am optimistic and I believe that, this year, further investments will be made and good news will abound at least when it comes to six or seven Slovenian investments in Serbia.

■ What is the situation regarding Serbian investors in Slovenia?

- If we are talking about Serbia’s investments in Slovenia, there cordeditorial@cma.rs

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are three or four big ones, and plenty of smaller ones. If we look at the relevant projects and what was said recently when the new Slovenian ministers were sworn in to parliament, the government is supposed enact a set of measures that will create a much better business environment in Slovenia, which should be more attractive to foreign investors. In that context, I understand that there will be new investment opportunities for Serbian investors in Slovenia. These opportunities can unfold in two directions – through the acquisition of Slovenian companies, and there is interest shown in at least two cases, or in the context of Greenfield investments and creating brand new companies. This could be appealing to Serbian investors under certain conditions. As an EU member, Slovenia is part of a huge market so, by investing in Slovenia, that market will open up to Serbian businessmen under much better conditions than let’s say if they were to invest in Germany. The Slovenian Government is due to present its incentive programme soon.

Slovenian companies’ indices which had normally been recording growth?

- Again, Mercator is an exceptionally important company for Slovenia and its economy since a huge segment of the Slovenian food processing industry is closely tied to it. That practically means that Slovenian, as well as regional economies, particularly the food processing industry, depend on Mercator. That, however, does not mean that changing the ownership structure would sever that tie.

On the contrary, I think that, at least in Serbia, Mercator sells as many products of Serbian origin as any other supermarket chain in the country, regardless of where their owners are from, i.e. here or abroad. Maybe it would be good to add that people are much

■ The Serbian public has been closely following

the news about the sale of Mercator. What is your comment on the current difficulties with the process, i.e. Agrokor giving up on the acquisition?

- Mercator is not only important for Slovenia, but regional economies too. That means that there is enough interest throughout the region for Mercator to have the best possible owner, i.e. an owner that will be capable of managing such a large system, and which is a significant market player in more sensitive the region, an owner Slovenia is part of a huge market so, by investing than they would that will accomplish fuin Slovenia, the market will open up to Serbian normally be in the ture investment plans, as well as plans for businessmen under much better conditions than case of other privatizations. Howfurther expansion and if they were to invest in say Germany ever, we should market penetration. In always keep a cool head, be rational and work in the best interests the end, I don’t think that the name of the future of proprietor is of the company, which also means in the best interests of the counthat important, as the fact that the new owner should be capable try and its citizens. Therefore, a stable owner, who will expand the and committed to further expansion. Maybe some investors fear business, the network and the market is the basic and main prethis more than they should. After all, take the example of Serbian requisite in the case of Mercator. companies bought by Slovenian ones. They are still Serbian companies, i.e. they are doing their business in Serbia, the only differ■ Late last year you said that Slovenia was one of the most staence is that their owners are somewhere else. It is the owner that pays taxes and hires people in Serbia. I think that the same goes for ble countries in the eurozone yet its credit rating was lowered Mercator, although it is pretty clear that we are all striving towards twice in 30 days. What has happened since? having Slovenian citizens making the most of the investments in - It would be nice if we could say that the crisis did not and does not the country. However, the stability of an economy is not measured currently affect Slovenia, but it is evident from the rankings that it by how many FDIs you have in your country but rather how many did and still does. I still claim that Slovenia, despite everything, is investments your country has made abroad. That signals that you one of the most stable eurozone members. We are all aware that have an active economy. Having foreign investors in the country is there is a great struggle and huge effort for eurozone economies to not only normal, but desired. become more stable, but what is even more important is that the budgets of eurozone countries are striving toward having expendi■ What strategic importance does Mercator hold for the Slovture that is equal to revenue and not spending more than what is generated. I believe that some plans, devised by the Slovenian enian economy bearing in mind that, in late January, the drop Government, will yield results. ■ in securities value at the stock exchange resulted in a drop in 18 |

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focus

Serbian Media Strategy

After months of debate that included the participation of almost all representatives of media organizations and associations in Serbia, and representatives of the government, a taskforce was established by decision of Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković. In September 2011, the government adopted the Media Strategy.

It is now six months since the enactment of the Strategy, which

has been adopted in very difficult conditions for media, caused by the economic crisis and prompted by the most important unresolved issues for the survival of the Serbian media sector.

The Media Strategy came into force on the 1st January 2012, stemming from provisions of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA).

In this issue of CorD, we asked some of the leading individuals in the Serbian media sector the following question:

So far, what has been on the implementation of the Media Strategy and to what extent will this document contribute to the improvement of working conditions within the Serbian media sector? lated in the Strategy. The Ministry did include our initiative in the Draft Law that has already been forwarded to parliament for adoption; • We have also sent a proposal to the Ministry of Finance to consider reducing the VAT rate for those legal entities that are founders of public media; • We have forwarded the Ministry of Finance a proposal for a more Dragana Milicevićprecise definition of the rules regarding the allocation of state fiMilutinović, nancial assistance to public media; State Secretary, Ministry of Culture, • In that respect, we have started concluding agreements with pubInformation and Information Society lic media which have been founded by the Republic of Serbia and he Media Strategy was adopted in June last year. Although which provide information of public interest; the Strategy’s text was written by journalist associations and • We have written a new set of rules about conditions for funding affiliations, it seems that most of them would be happier public information projects, as well as established a pattern that is if the Strategy had never been adopted, with the exception of a used to justify spending of the allocated money. few shining examples. Certain creators of the Strategy, which was In conclusion, I would like to add that representatives of the drafted for the Ministry of Culture, Information and Information European Commission and OSCE have participated in the work done Society, were engaged solely to satisfy personal interests. Even at by the above mentioned task forces. the very end of writing the strategy everything that had been done Secondly, the Media Strategy is the basis for regulating the entire up to that point was questioned since very specific personal interpublic information segment. The Strategy sets certain deadlines and ests were much stronger than the information sector is entirely There were too many lies said about the general ones. I have kept quiet dedicated to the implementation all this time, although there is adoption of the Strategy, so I am not going of the action plan, which can be so much I would like to say, so, to dwell on them since readers will be able seen from everything I have prein that respect and aware of viously mentioned. to discern for themselves the opinions that certain peoI consider the adoption of the ple also covering this topic are going to express, I am willing to be Strategy, that has been in the making for years, a success, both for me a participant in a story or an article, which I expect to have a mulpersonally and the entire Information Secretariat. The Strategy was titude of inaccuracies. adopted in a matter of a few months since my appointment to the poTruth has always been easy to check and prove: sition of state secretary.

The following has been done in the past period in line with the I also think that the Strategy’s text is of high quality and will serve action plan that is an integral part of the Media Strategy: as a good foundation. Even Mr. Vincent Degert said that our work and • The work on drafting the Law on Broadcasting is finished; the Strategy’s text were of exceptional quality.

• A task force, in charge of writing a new Public Information Law, has There were too many lies said about the adoption of the Strategy, been formed and is operational. The task force is made of influential so I am not going to dwell on them since readers will be able to dismembers and the deadline for drafting the law is 30th March, 2012; cern for themselves who has good intentions and who hasn’t. The • Formation of a task force that will draft the Law on Public Service facts that I have just mentioned, which speak about the seriousness Broadcasters is pending. Two more members of this group will be and hard work we have done in implementing the Media Strategy, are appointed next week and the deadline for writing this particular going to point out who actually wants to see the public information draft law is 15th March, 2012; sector properly regulated, and who is guided purely by personal in• Also, formation of a task force in charge of drafting the Law on terests, profit or his or hers party’s interests.

TANJUG News Agency is ongoing. The deadline for writing the Draft If we simply compare the aforementioned activities of the inforLaw is also 15th March, 2012; mation secretariat to what certain individuals have been saying, the • We have sent a written initiative to the Ministry of Education, asking readers themselves will be able to find an answer to the question in them to consider the possibility of introducing so-called media literawhose interest is it to have a regulated public information sector harcy to the country’s educational system, which is one of the tasks stipumonized with European standards and who has other interests.

Adoption Is a Success

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‘The Holy Scripture’ For Future Laws

quality of future laws will largely depend on the members of the task force. I don’t want to be judgmental and critical in advance, but I do have a need to recommend that the members of these groups should not be perennial media ‘experts’ or, if that is a given, their number in a task force should be reduced to a minimum.

The Media Strategy is a good document because the abovementioned experts haven’t had a chance to spoil it. If my information is corVeselin Simonović, rect, some task forces have already been formed and some are about to President of the Serbian Media Association be formed, but none of their proposals are going to be subjected to a public debate until the autumn. The reason for this is simple - the election campaign is ongoing and the question remains of whether the new n itself, the Media Strategy cannot improve the conditions in which ministers and new government are going to form their ‘own’ task forces. the media sector operates today since the Strategy is just a frameBecause of the impending election, it is absolutely unimaginable work document which contents should be included in future laws for the current government to give up control over the media which within a set deadline. it either owns or co-owns and I am pretty sure that the next governThe direction which we should take in solving the current issues ment will not consider that a priority. The same goes for other key are, for the most part, well defined in the Media Strategy, but that parts of the Media Strategy. doesn’t automatically mean that The Media Strategy is a good Hence, I think the key thing for the laws, which will be written in the following period, are going document because the experts haven’t had the media sector in Serbia, following the changes in power, is to insist to be of good quality. Task forces a chance to spoil it that the Media Strategy remain the in charge of writing the relevant so-called ‘umbrella document’ for the relevant laws, since the Strategy law should treat the document as it were ‘the Holy Scripture’. I would was written by experts, journalist and media associations and affiliations. like to recommend to the line ministry to keep the task force togethOnly together can we defend something that we have struggled er that wrote and coordinated the Media Strategy’s text, and to check to attune and adopt. the validity of the proposed legal solutions with the task force. The

I

Strategy Not Enough

else, it seems, wasn’t appealing enough to the participants of the public debate. It is also a fact that those two issues, particularly the issue of transforming Tanjug, were opened up by very specific interest groups.

So, for instance, the transformation of Tanjug (which “should be done in any way in accordance with the law,” to quote the Strategy) is Branka Djukić, understood to be the privatization of Tanjug. The Croatian news agenDirector at Tanjug news agency cy HINA has been transformed into a public institution. Privatization is a valid transformation format. However, I am convinced that when t this moment, 11% of the global people say “privatization“ they actually mean privatization done the adult population has a tablet comlocal way – buy cheap, ruin it and build a totally different business on puter and over 50% use them to the ruined company’s premises. read the news every single day (source: Economist Group). The revBut that is not privatization.... That is a 1990s phenomenon. enue from advertising in social media was $54 billion (€40.9bn) in Tanjug’s transformation is pending, from the inside. In this case, the 2011 (source: E-Marketer) and, by 2013, this revenue will double. owner – i.e. the state – will have the final say. If the state discerns that it So, what are we talking about here? We are talking about havis in the public interest to have one public service broadcaster and that ing to catch up with the media reality in the rest of the world. The everything else should be relinquished to private ones, which are often problems associated with copyright, multi-media approach, monifunded by foreign and frequently mob-related capital, then we are going toring piracy, responding to new market demands and, especially, to say OK. Our contribution to the whole matter will be that, in the meantechnological challenges are the issues that global media are dealing time, we have raised the value of the with. The Media Strategy reguWhen people say “privatization“ they agency by advancing the quality of lates topics that we should have actually mean privatization done the its services, turning it into a market dealt with a long time ago. The Strategy is late (which doesn’t local way – buy cheap, ruin it and build a orientated company and paying off the huge debt that we inherited. bring into question the necessitotally different business on the ruined Will the Strategy improve the ty of having such a document), company’s premises working conditions in Serbian mebut it is worrying to see that the dia outlets? Yes, it will. The question is whether that will be enough and Strategy adopted at a time of global financial crisis, media crisis, parwhether the improvement will be deep rooted. If it all boils down to liamentary elections, and Serbia’s EU bid which alters the perception transforming Tanjug, then we have just wasted our time. Yet again. At the of things, shortens deadlines and narrows down the manoeuvring last conference of the European news agencies, the participants talked space for implementing solutions stated in the Strategy. about the many problems that media had to deal with, the most difficult It is very difficult to say what has been done in the implementaproblem being labelling news as ‘free of charge’. However, the biggest tion of the Media Strategy so far. challenge for today’s media is in finding new formats, overcoming the criI assume that somebody is taking care of it. The fact remains that sis with traditional clients and adjusting to mobile and social networks. there were two issues that were dominant in the public – regional public Does the Strategy have answers to these questions? I doubt it. service broadcasters and the status of the Tanjug news agency. Everything

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focus

State Preventing Equality

‘Dead Letter’ a Possibility

Vukasin Obradović, President of NUNS

Saša Mirković, President of ANEM

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he value of the Media Strategy, as a framework document, is going to be primarily reflected in the implementation of an action plan that stipulates the creation of a different legislative environment in Serbia, i.e. an environment where the state would withdraw its ownership share in the media and have its role reduced to funding matters of public interest where we would clearly know who are the real owners of the media and whether unlawful media concentration has taken place. The Media Strategy is supposed to ensure equality amongst all media subjects in the market primarily through public competitions and the work done by independent commissions.

On the other hand, I hope the state authorities are going to abandon the concept of regional public service media since that concept, in the opinion of the media coalition, is practically unrealizable and, realistically speaking, harmful to the interests of the media sector and citizens. I believe the state will revise its stance on national minority media and I see no reason why national councils should be allowed something that no other institutions are allowed to do.

Concerning what has been done so far in the implementation of the Media Strategy, the answer to that question is almost nothing. The Action Plan stipulates enacting a new Law on Public Information Service, drafting a law that will regulate the work done by the ‘electronic media’, as well as a law on Public Radio and TV

The Media Strategy is supposed to ensure equality amongst all media subjects in the market Broadcasting Services. All of that was supposed to have been done in 18 months. As you probably know, the work on these laws hasn’t even started, which was expected to a certain degree since it is unrealistic to expect the government to deal with very sensitive legislative matters during this pre-election period. What does concern us is the state avoiding the implementation of the Law on State Assistance, which is an obligation that stems from the Media Strategy, and which came into force on the 1st January 2012. This law bans the state from providing assistance to those subjects that, through that assistance, could gain a privileged market position. The state authorities have already allocated money for funding the Tanjug news agency, to the disadvantage of the other two news agencies – Beta and FoNet. Also, nothing has changed in financing local and regional media.

Municipal and town budgets still stipulate old-fashioned voluntary financing so if the money is allocated only to non-privatized media, which are founded by local self-governments, other media will simply die out. At the risk of sounding cynical, we could say that the existing financing format for local media will result in only state-run and religious media surviving since they are the only ones with stable financial resources.

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ast year’s adoption of the Media Strategy (which is one of the political preconditions for Serbia’s accession to the EU) could be, characterized, undoubtedly, as a success for at least two reasons: we have been waiting for this framework agreement for eleven years and its adoption united all the relevant media associations and affiliations.

Up until then, media associations, which were very much polarized and disunited, came together on principle by distancing themselves from certain solutions imposed by the government in the strategy, with the main ones forming regional radio and TV public services and national councils being given the right to found their own media in national minority languages.

Ever since the media strategy was adopted, it was clear that time would not be an ally in the implementation of the solutions stated in the action plan. Now, it is clear that there will be a delay in enacting

Ever since the media strategy was adopted, it was clear that time would not be an ally in the implementation of the solutions stated in the action plan certain legal regulations as a prerequisite for practical implementation of the measures stated in this government document.

On top of this problem, there is also the matter of the elections which will preoccupy our political elite and block the functioning of state parliament which, in turn, will result in media matters being pushed aside despite their urgency.

It is encouraging to hear that task forces for drafting relevant regulation, as envisaged by the action plan, are currently being formed.

It is, however, disconcerting to see, from the decisions made regarding the allocation of budget funds, that the government has shown a tendency not to behave in accordance with the proclaimed principles from the media strategy and that it has been openly favouring certain media which, so far, have been treated in a way that is contrary to a fair market.

Following adoption of the media strategy, the changes made to the Law on Cinematography and the new SOKOJ tariffs left ‘a bad taste in the mouth’, as did imposing an additional burden on local broadcasters, which has further reduced the manoeuvring space for the expected reduction in taxes.

If such trends continue, it will become increasingly clear that the media strategy will become a dead letter.

In that case, it will be necessary for the media coalition, with the help of the European Commission and OSCE, to continue putting pressure on the government to stick to what had been agreed hoping that the negotiations with the European Union will start as soon as possible so that we can begin implementing thorough reforms of the current media system which is, in its most part, obsolete and old.

Ineffectual Strategy

this year too in the amounts similar to last year. This means that the state, via Tanjug, is still going to be a participant in not only the media scene, but also the media market, thus prolonging an already unsustainable situation of unfair competition compared to private news agencies.

Unofficial sources say that the Ministry of Culture’s taskforce has Zoran Sekulić, already prepared the draft Law on Broadcasting, in addition to a taskEditor-in-Chief of FoNet news agency force for writing the draft Information Law that has been put together.

These sources also claim that the formation of taskforces, which will t’s been five months since the Serbian write the draft laws on public information services and Tanjug, are alGovernment adopted the Media so pending. Allegedly, the ministry intends to finish writing the four Strategy at one of its telephone sesaforementioned draft laws before the election. sions. The Strategy is an ‘umbrella document’ that will be used in a Even if that happens, the future government, which is probably not thorough legal reform of the media sector. In the meantime, having this going to be formed until late summer or September, is not obligated document had no effect on the situation in media or on journalism. At to endorse what its predecessors least not a positive one.

We should be under no illusion that political did and could start the whole proThe deadlines for implemenand other power centres will voluntarily give cedure all over again. We should tation of the Strategy, as stated in the Action Plan, are too long. up their direct influence, control, pressure and be under no illusion that political and other power centres will volIt is futile to expect the state aublackmailing of media in the near future untarily give up their direct influthorities to be seriously engaged ence, control, pressure and blackmailing of media in the near future. in the legal transformation of the media scene before the elections Hence, it is uncertain whether, in spring of next year, the first set or even start creating an environment for implementing the key segof new media regulations will be adopted, as stipulated in the Action ment of the Strategy - the state withdrawing as a media owner.

Plan and whether the process of necessary dispossession of the state However, what was expected and imperative was changing the in the media sphere will begin. It is also uncertain how many media way in which state-owned media were funded. The Action Plan will be around to see that. stipulates the implementation of the Stabilization and Association If, in the meantime, the decision on Serbia’s EU candidacy bid Agreement, i.e. pertaining to control of state financial aid and prois again postponed for a longer period, the painstakingly adopted tection of competition, as of January 1st 2012. The Law on State Aid Strategy will be just a dead letter. At the time of a devastating ecostipulates an inappropriately high threshold of illegitimate state aid nomic crisis and a shortage of money, another scenario is also possi(to the tune of 30 million euros), while details of the government’s ble – the operation was successful but the patient died. A third outact about the law’s application are not revealed. come, that would be beneficial for both media and society, is, unforThe fact remains that four state-funded media outlets (Tanjug, Radio tunately, not even being contemplated for now.

Yugoslavia, Yugoslav Review and Panorama) will receive budget money

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Unconvincing Plan

broadcasters, the Strategy itself does not regulate their funding which is conducive to the idea of the state continuing to exert influence in the founding and funding of these media organizations. At the same time and despite antagonism coming from the media community, the Nino Brajović, Secretary General of Strategy says that the national minorities’ councils can establish their the Association of Journalists own media that will have editorial independence.

If we are talking about what is happening in practice, we should f we are talking about the Media mention that the editor-in-chief of the Magyar Szo daily Csaba Strategy (i.e. the Strategy for Pressburger was replaced last summer since this newspaper did Development of the Public Information not report enough on the activities of the Speaker of the Vojvodina Service in the Republic of Serbia until 2016), we have to underline that Parliament, Sandor Egeresi, and failed to cover all press conferences this is a document whose adoption was one of the prerequisites for held by the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians. Soon after, the editor-inSerbia obtaining EU candidate status. So, this is not a document that chief of Panon TV, Rudolf Mihok, was also relieved of his duties since was originally envisaged to exercise the government’s will to improve the medium he managed did not provide continuous coverage of the media regulations. The Strategy is a forced move made by the governcelebration on a national Hungarian holiday. ing elite on the country’s euro-integrations path because the confined In light of the abovementioned facts and in response to your quesand unregulated media segment and preposterous judiciary reform represented serious hurdles in Serbia’s The government launched the Media tion ‘How much is the Strategy going to improve the working conditions in the aspirations toward EU membership.

Strategy as a way to collect valuable Serbian media space?’ I have to express Validation of this claim, i.e. the points in the European agenda some reservations. My answer is also claim that the government launched prompted by the first serious test that the Strategy is going to be put the Media Strategy as a way to collect valuable points in the European through, i.e. the implementation of the Law on State Aid Supervision agenda, can be seen in the final version of the document in which that came into force on January 1st 2012. The Law stipulates limits on the Serbian Government, despite serious opposition from the Media how much financial aid the state can give to legal entities and natural Coalition (made of important professional and media associations like persons that could result in obtaining a better market position. If we UNS, NUNS, NDNV, ANEM, LOKAL PRESS and the Media Association) are talking about media, and especially public media enterprises, the kept public regional TV stations as an integral part of the state’s insaid limitations still don’t apply to them. formation system. Although the Media Strategy covers public regional

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interview Dragan DjuriČin, preSident of tHe SerBian aSSociation of econoMiStS and profeSSor at tHe facuLty of econoMicS, uniVerSity of BeLgrade

Economic Future

UNCERTAIN

This year, the Serbian Association of Economists in cooperation with the Serbian Association of Corporate Directors is organizing the 19th Kopaonik Business Forum, which will be held on March 6-8th under the challenging topic: “How to preserve the future of Serbia: Economics, business and related issues”. The Prime Minister will attend the Forum, as will government ministers, the NBS Governor, over 30 diplomatic representatives, distinguished experts from various academic and other institutions, as well as representatives of banks and the most successful companies in Serbia

T

he Forum is an opportunity to confront different attitudes, reach the Kopaonik Consensus, and give constructive contribution to a situation that is full of uncertainties. Hence, we are talking to Dragan Djuričin, President of the Serbian Association of Economists and Professor at the Faculty of Economics, University of Belgrade, on the topic of how Serbia got itself into the difficulties that it is currently facing and what the possible solutions are to get out of this challenging economic time.

“Serbia lives in a combined crisis which has both internal and external roots. That is, the current economic crisis in Serbia was triggered by pre-transitional structural instabilities and stressors influenced by uncompleted transitions, both geopolitical and economic. Besides the domestic transitional recession, Serbia’s economy is also exposed to the global double dip crisis that is already observable in Europe,” said Mr. Djurićin at the beginning of this interview.

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■ We are in the middle of major economic difficulties. Would it be accurate to say that the crisis in Serbia has been influenced by the crisis in capitalist economies?

- Yes. Serbia adopted the same platform for conducting economic policies from developed capitalist economies. The prevailing orthodoxy was that there was no incompatibility between keeping inflation low and stable and for seeking maximum growth. Today, economists are forced to question the orthodox framework for conducting economic policies since they fail to deliver desirable results. The majority of macroeconomic models broke down because the modellers largely ignored their microeconomic implications, or how firms and banks would react to imposed policies and regulations that attempted to exploit past correlations in the database in order to eliminate market imperfections. Modelling that took fixing of the problem for granted, resulted in a breakdown.

Most importantly, with this kind of modelling, no economy in a deep recession has ever made a turnaround.

■ Under what conditions do you think the crisis of capitalism can be brought to an end? Moreover, is there any fixed solution, or is it at a combination of numerous small and fundamental factors?

- In the world, as well as in Serbia, the crisis will end when two conditions have been reached. First, when bubbles in all kinds of assets are deflated. In the period before the global economic crisis, debt-fuelled bubbles were the trigger for irrational exuberance and, consequently, overestimation of the value of equity based on mark-to-market accounting. The bubbles deflation, or eventual burst, leads to convergence of the real and market value of different kinds of assets. Secondly, the crisis ends, also, when asset prices, debt levels, and factors’ income get back into the balance.

When the new balance is met, economic expectations will rise, a new investment cycle will begin, and the economy will exit the crisis. Until then, new economic policies must correct all structural instabilities and create the foundations for recovery.

The other hidden fracture refers to a bank-centric financial system. The financial system in Serbia is bank-centric. Credit conditions are very restrictive. Due to high systemic risk, foreign banks try to improve the security of their claims by shortening maturity of their credits and by requiring payment in foreign currency, predominantly in euros. Naturally, the reasonable match for their short-term deposits is short-term credits. Finally, credits are extremely expensive. During 2011, total average interest rate was about 10%.

■ Going on the aforementioned, what are your estimations of Serbia’s macroeconomic policies over the last ten years?

- In the last decade, the main tenet of macroeconomic policies was inflation, not output. Precisely, the main policy choice was flexible inflation targeting or returning inflation to a stable target over some corridor. Unfortunately, the results are far beyond expecta-

■ Where does Serbia fit into this i.e. what main issues specifically apply to us?

- Output gap. Unfortunately, Serbia has twin output gaps. The first is transitional output gap, which means that it lags 30% behind output from the last pre-transitional period in 1989. The second is the actual gap between its factual and potential level of output. To give a clue, Serbia lags around 45% behind the output of average former socialist countries. On top of that, Serbia has substantially high twin deficits. The budget deficit is around 4.5%, whilst the current account deficit amounts to 10%. The disturbing factor is the fact that these deficits are not the consequence of overinvestment but a matter of overconsumption of the current output.

■ How did our financial

system get us into this particularly problematic period?

KopaoniK BuSineSS FoRuM 2011

serbia lives in a combined crisis which has both internal and external roots. that is, the current economic crisis in serbia was triggered by pre-transitional structural instabilities and stressors influenced by uncompleted transitions

- Money supply is one of the greatest hidden fractures in Serbia’s economy.

The usage of proceeds from privatization and associated money expansion were the central misconceptions in monetary policy. Privatization is a form of divestment, not an export. If proceeds from privatization are qualified as cash inflows, instead of stock outflow, they trigger an increase in monetary base and spawn even larger increases in M1 aggregate. Consequently, throughout the last decade the money multiplier was too high. Money expansion logically provoked nominal depreciation of currency, but the channelling of that money into consumption caused even greater inflation.

■ So, what are the consequences?

- The previous policy resulted in real appreciation of the FX rate, which is especially notable in the periods of massive privatization.

This could be qualified as a form of outrageous behaviour against the real economy because it demonstrates policy failure that distorts competitiveness.

tion. Cumulative inflation for the last ten years is 174%. Five times in that period, the inflation rate was in double digits. Also, in the whole period, inflation was much greater than 2% which is a theoretical reference point for inflation targeting. Furthermore, in the last year, the inflation rate was significantly above the upper tolerance band.

■ Therefore, I take it we can ascertain that the National Bank of Serbia made mistakes?

- Yes. This policy was not only ineffective in terms of low and stable inflation but was also counterproductive in terms of a high and volatile output gap. Namely, the growing money supply fuelled by privatization proceeds influenced a pressure on prices. In order to stabilize the aggregate price level, the NBS usually contracted money supply. This intention was mediated through simultaneous increases of reserve requirements and growth of interest rates. Higher reserve requirements diminished money multiplier, and thus the supply of money, while the high level of interest rates led further to investment contraccordeditorial@cma.rs

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tion. In absence of other instruments for cooling the economy, the NBS faced a controversial choice, having to accept a higher output gap in exchange for relatively low inflation. The result is stagflation. Even more, due to the controversial effect of macroeconomic policies on the real economy, crawling recovery in the last two years was jobless recovery since it was followed by an increase in unemployment.

■ What has to be changed to try and ensure we do not find ourselves in a similar position again?

- The orthodox model of economic policies has to be changed as it failed to solve the main transitional contradiction that inflation control was not sufficient for a stable and low output gap and sustainable employment. In the new heterodox model, industrial policies lead, macroeconomic policies follow. It refers to a very different mindset in which macroeconomic policies are not concerned as wheels of prosperity but as the “oil” which lubricates the acceleration of the growth of output and renders the motion of tradable sectors, as principal wheels of prosperity, more smoothly and easily. This is maybe the latest time to move from inflation towards output, from price stability toward dynamic management, both in the private and public sector.

other conceptual extremes. The EU is going through changes, but compatibility with the EU remains imperative. That is something Serbia must accomplish not as manifestation of the respect towards the EU and its value, but, primarily, in its own interest in order to reach the imperative of full compatibility with its close by environment. On the other side, ignoring Russia and China on the path of geopolitical repositioning turned the political support of those countries, which always came along with investments, into a wait and see pattern. To sum up, today, Serbia is geopolitically stuck in the middle between important global players. In the global economy, especially in a time of crisis, it is more important with whom you are connected than who you are. The example of Greece colourfully explains my previous point.

■ Due to the EU’s own massive economic difficul-

ties, what role can it play in helping Serbia exit this crisis?

- The EU over the last decade was the guiding star of Serbia’s transition architects. In the last few years however this star has slowly gone dark. Namely, as you said, the EU has its own problems. The ongoing “run” on banks ■ As you have pointed out, and governments has increased its vulneraSerbia is in a difficult posiBudget deficit is around 4.5%, whilst bility. The eclipse of the tion in both a geopolitical the current account deficit amounts to EU decreases its potenand economic sense. What 10%. The disturbing factor is the fact that do you consider the first tial for further absorption, and, consequently, steps should be in order to these deficits are not the consequence the likelihood of Serimprove our future? of overinvestment but a matter of bia’s accession. Putting - The first thing to do is to overconsumption of the current output aside that the problem change the framework for of Serbia’s accession in 2011 could be understood as a new manifesconducting economic policies. Focus on industrial policies will tation of excommunication. After the disintegration of Yugoslavia, likely avoid deadly interaction of perpetual inflationary pressures Serbia got the status of a “land-locked” country. Without integration and large and volatile output gap on the liquidity position of the to the EU Serbia can become a “land-blocked” country. On the other country. In implementation of industrial policies, savings and hand, in the last decade, in conducting economic policies Serbia has domestic investments are crucial because sizable foreign investfollowed the guidelines of the IMF as a core reform sponsor as well ments, in principle, reduce output growth through paying substanas expert circles supporting the New Keynesian model of inflation tial remittances abroad. When thinking about external funding, targeting embodied in the Washington consensus. the WB and the EBRD could stay crucial debt providers concerning development lending while the IMF has already played a role ■ Could ignoring the accession issue, on top of the escalating in macroeconomic management. New sources of funding could be capital provided by newcomers from currency reserve rich counfinancial problems lead to Serbia making new and potentially tries like China, Russia, Norway, etc. in the areas in which Serbia even more catastrophic mistakes? has unambiguous comparative advantages, like energy, agricul- Putting aside the problem of Serbia’s accession to the EU does ture, food processing etc. ■ not imply a lowering interest of Serbia for the EU and turning to 26 |

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auction see auction south east europe office@auction-see.com; www.auction-see.com

interview PreDrag miki manojlović, actor

Attracted to

THE EDGE

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hen he is not on a stage or in front of a camera, he is an award winner regardless of whether he is in Serbia or abroad. Last year, in Skopje, he received an honorary PhD from the University of Audiovisual Arts at the European Academy ESRA Paris – Skopje – New York, for his exceptional contribution to Balkan, European and world cinematography. And after all these years, Predrag doesn’t feel an ounce of inferiority against other award-winning actors, has been to a casting call only once and still thinks that he is shy: “My shyness is not a sign of insecurity, but pronounced sensitivity which I use to ascertain the kind of human I am interacting with.”

These days he is playing in Dušan Kovačević’s ‘The Best Men’ at the Zvezdara Theatre. In this ‘comedy of everyday tragedy’ about a friendship between a man without a job and a dog, Predrag Miki Manojlović found joy for, in his words, “very specific reasons.”

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“Life is much more interesting than stereotypes. I don’t have a material need to play steorotypes, and I don’t have a provincial spirit to go to Hollywood and prove myself there” ■ By Zora DrČelić

■ I presume that you accepted to act in this play because of a good script...

- There are several reasons and Duško’s wish for us to work together is nothing new. He found me during a time in the Zvezdara Theatre when many actors, who were pillars of the theatre’s repertoire, unfortunately left. The script is excellent and I was looking forward to going back to theatre.

Playing in theatre is a real joy for me. I haven’t played with Branimir Brstina or his peers like Sonja Savić, Goncić and Vladica Milosavljević in thirty years, ever since ‘Macbeth’.

■ It often happens that having a famous director or dramatic playwright is not a guarantee that a film, scenario or drama is going to be good. Do you think that is true today more often than before?

- We cannot compare now and the past. Good scripts have always been a rarity. Often scripts don’t arouse the need for exchange or for participating in a process that

FCS

I spent a lot of my time in the FCS and wasted my days by giving them to a state that could not comprehend that there were people who actually knew what social responsibility was.

Culture

Generally speaking, so little of the state budget in Serbia goes towards culture and that is a very worrying issue.

could be interesting or which could become a real revelation or learning curve.

■ Do you ever frequent Belgrade theatres as an audience member or watch films?

- I did earlier when I was a regular occurrence in Belgrade and the country’s theatre life. Today, I am not that regular of a viewer as I have very little time. I am curious by nature and respect the work that goes into every play. I have never walked out of somebody else’s play, even if it was bad, because I know that the people who put it together only had the best of intentions. Even with terrible plays I think a person can learn something. I do watch films, with this new technology it’s easy.

Europe

There are many films being made in Europe and there is an opportunity for the creativity of the young and the old who live and work there to get what they want.

has absolutely nothing to offer to the world? We haven’t been very successful in international film.

- The situation with film in our country is very difficult.

Actually, the situation is difficult everywhere but hurdles are to be overcome step by step. The Cinematography Law

Miki Manojlović (Underground)

is supposed to regulate relations in the film industry and increase financial allocations. The annual budget of 2.5 million euros is ridiculously small, and that is how much the state gives for any kind of film, script development, short films, feature films, short documentaries, cartoons, animated films, feature documentaries etc. Still, having any kind of law is some kind of step forward in a civilization sense. Generally speaking, very little of the state’s budget goes towards culture and that is a very worrying issue. It is an issue than any state president should seriously consider. You also need to bear in mind that numerous scripts for feature films are written every year.

Miki Manojlović and Rajko Grlić (Just between us)

Photo by: Nikola Predović

This country has accumulated young film talent, who are on the brink of becoming middle aged.

However, that talent cannot be freed as long as the attitude toward film is not changed

■ Many plays deserve an empty theatre hall and the same goes for movies. Also, some books should not be read after the 30th page. Do you think that creativity is lacking or stumbling or is that just an illusion because of the hyper-production of everything that makes creativity difficult to spot?

- There are many reasons why most of the values receive the same treatment, tentatively speaking. Having a lot of everything is not the only reason. The best things always manage to pop up, but there are also very good ones that go unnoticed. Very important ones even.... Globally speaking, in terms of film, there is the problem of it becoming an industry, a very carefully guided industry.

■ Is film drawing its last breath?

- The time when we become a part of film longevity by simply watching it because film is indefensible or because we want to become a part of it or because it is so strong or deep is long gone. There is a distance called film. We can imagine for a few seconds and, after that, we go back to our everyday lives. That is a serious shift in civilization. The need for humans to be part of a film has become redundant. That need grew and developed and that’s it. It is gone and is a global occurrence.

■ What about in Serbia? Do you think that this country

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■ As the Chairman of the Managing Board of the Serbian Film Centre (FCS), you have been quoted as saying that without having a proper system in place it is impossible to make interesting movies that will be filmed through normal processes. After two years (2009 -2011), you left the position saying that nobody needed you there.

- First I had to do it in order to be able to leave. I came to change an amorphous format like the FCS into something that has content and shape. I wanted the Centre to

was. Such people are a dying breed, and people from political structures were astounded to find out that I did not work for money. They couldn’t comprehend why would somebody do that. They thought I must be crazy. And they probably thought that I was a fool.

We live in a time when we don’t have statesmen, but employees. What do we consider to be ‘the lock of Serbia’, ‘the key of Europe’, how to overcome differences, deal with closeness and the past, how can they become our joint future with all these cultures and languages which are, in essence, one, but formally not one? Well, culture is the fastest way to do that. Culture is the cheapest, fastest and the only way. It is not as if we are building a steel plant.

What is it that brings us closer, that is unspoiled and full of ideas (sometimes terrible and often fantastic), and who can do that? The people who possess intelligence and creativity, and some crazy artists can do that. I say crazy because they are perceived like that here, i.e. as a burden to the state. Any properly regulated state knows that what I am saying is true and acts accordingly.

■ It seems today that culture fairs

much better than during Tito’s time, although there was a value system and respect for anybody who possessed knowledge and expertise.

Miki Manojlović won the Special Golden Camera 300 for an Outstanding Contribution to World Film Art at the 32nd edition of Manaki Brothers

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gradually become a national centre which I wonder why people who are wealthy could pave the way for Serbian film for the next three to seven years. Two years don’t have enough awareness or of my labour did not yield those results. understanding that they need to do I was someone who was not politically something useful for other people. That is affiliated and that’s why I wasn’t considered ‘sexy’ enough for them to stay. They how I relate to the world couldn’t find a more diligent person, and yet they had no - When, as a boy, I went to the National Theatre, it was the clue how hard working I was. I took that role very serioustime when theatre superintendants had controversial conly. And then we parted ways very slowly. I am never going nections to the political elite, but they were able to find to attempt to do something as futile as that ever again. joint solutions and were successful in that. This political Anything that was considered a serious endeavour, like / communist elite was not endearing at all and was aware changing the Articles of Association, was nipped in the bud. of their ignorance to creative people. They respected the An attempt to gradually detach the FCS, i.e. for it not to be an world they did not belong to. They did not destroy theaintegral part or an exhaust pipe of the political system, was tre like today. People like Velimir Lukić, Mira Trailović and stopped. The political structures back then were against Predrag Danilović, and many other great superintendants the creation of a real FCS. FCS had its employees, but all the of the Yugoslav Drama Theatre, who were all very serious important decisions were made by the Ministry of Culture people, were allowed to do their job. once I left the position of chairman. In the two year period, the Board was hampered by some of its members. We voted ■ Being at the head of the FCS was not your first soin quotas, and if you vote like that, you get quota decisions. cial engagement. Back in 1984, during the Kosovo criI spent a lot of my time in the FCS and wasted my days by sis, you made an attempt to get socially engaged by giving them to a state that could not comprehend that there becoming chairman of the Serbian Actors Association. were people who actually knew what social responsibility How did you do?

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- We wanted to form a trade union to raise awareness about the common denominator of our acting caste. The proposal made by our association was that nobody could have the status of prominent artist if he or she did not participate in a play in Kosovo and Metohija. Dušan Čkrebić (the former Serbian politician and a high-ranking political party official during the time of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia – author’s note) said that was a good idea, but nothing came of it since there was no political awareness. You cannot solve problems with a police baton down there. That problem does not date back from the time when my grandfather crossed Albania. That problem is very, very old, inherited if you will. And the only way it could have been resolved was through offering a friendly hand, not through violence. In 1984, there was no such awareness. Now I do have an idea that would be good both for Serbs and Albanians. But if I tell you what it is, somebody might steal and stultify it.

- The difference is huge. The system is well regulated – starting from the north: the Nordic states, Belgians.... The French came up with ‘Euroimage’, which is where independent movies are given an advantage in the industry. Of course, the industry always does what it does best by dominating billboard space, cinema chains, production companies and years, not seconds, of broadcast time. But the difference is that there is a system in place. There are many films, a lot is being filmed and there is an opportunity for the creativ-

■ A charity organization that you

founded called ‘Integrations Workshop’ (‘Radionica integracije’) is a cultural and creativity centre for people with disabilities. This is one of your social engagements which, without a doubt, is a success.

- I wonder why people who are wealthy don’t have enough awareness or under-

Now I do have an idea that would be good both for Serbs and Albanians. But if I tell you what it is, somebody might steal and stultify it

standing that they need to do something useful for other people. That is how I relate to the world. We are surrounded by non-integrated people and social groups. A whole unintegrated world is right next to us. We have ten founders - ‘Integrations Workshop’ makes programmes for people with disabilities. Everything started back in 2009. The Blind and handicapped came to us and said that they would love to participate but not only as audience. That was one of our goals and how we made ‘Corridors – Yellow, Purple, Blue’, a unique act under spotlights. So unique... We also did ‘Godot’.

■ In the last few decades, you have worked more in Eu-

rope and the rest of the world. You are an international actor and acquainted with the system, the ‘Western’ system. Is there a clear cultural policy in the EU and how does the EU treat culture?

ity of the young and the old who live and work there to get what they want. It is a developed capitalist society that has its flaws, but also proven accomplishments. I won’t even talk about Russia. We are not talking about the state funding a film but a serious need and consideration for the government to understand the crucial importance of culture. A government needs to govern and advance the relations in a country. We are talking about laws that need to be applied and a strategy for developing the reputation of our country.

The World is Big… and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner, directed

by Stephan Komandarev

■ During your ‘adventurous time’ at the Serbian Film

Centre, you insisted on throwing politics out of cultural institutions and cinematography, explaining that it is the only way to have critical but not supranational film?

The candidates chosen by ‘Euroimage’ are usually coproductions from the former Yugoslavia who make war films brimming with stereotypes.

- This country has accumulated young film talent, who are on the brink of becoming middle aged. However, that talent cannot be freed as long as the attitude toward film is not changed. Actually, the attitude toward the entire culture.

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that are devoid of political sycophancy. In Croatia, there are also young people eager to prove themselves. They have opened up and exceeded many expectations. Serbia used to be a source, a mine if you will. Now, we are lagging behind and are unable to free this shackled world. The topics covered are usually war related, which is a big bull***t that the state had experienced in its short life of only 73 years, i.e. since 1918 to its disintegration in 1991. The state failed to utilize that historical second, a blink of an eye, with all its flaws and virtues, in order to survive. It all ended in the worst possible way – a war that is usually the central topic of such co-productions. That is a real trauma. I would like see the candidates for ‘Euroimage’ cover other themes.

■ But ‘Euroimage’ does not demand these topics. We create them here. We are competing with stories where we are the bad guys from the East hoping that will be taken up.

him. He wrote what he wrote, and this interest came as a surprise to him. Even for America, such sales figures are excellent. Thank God he will get 50 cents from each dollar the book generates so that he can stand on his feet financially. In regulated states, if the president makes such a decision, you can agree or disagree with it, but such decision should be respected. That’s my opinion.

■ Do you think the same about replacing the head of the National Library Sreten Ugričić following him signing a petition in support of Nikolaidis?

- Absolutely! If the Serbian Government, i.e. the very government I handed my resignation to, makes a decision for a high-ranking administration official to be replaced, such decisions should be accepted and respected. How are we going to create a properly regulated society and institutions if we are constantly destroying them at all levels and working against them? We have constant chaos here, continu-

The annual budget of 2.5 million euros is ridiculously small... that is how much this state gives for any kind of film

Miki Manojlović resigns from the Serbian film Centre Board

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- ‘Euroimage’ is a serious institution that has its rules and regulations. Apart from a script that is good and acceptable to them, one of the prerequisites to get ‘Euroimage’s’ support is to have at least three sides participating in the project – the homeland and two more sides, which can be from the same state, and three co-producers. ‘Euroimage’ knows how much money you got from your state. Here, that is usually between 80,000 and 100,000 euros, just a small percent of the budget you need. You can make a small movie with that.

If your state gives you 25%, who is going to give you the rest?

What are your expectations from others? Bad guys from the east are nothing new. They existed even before the war.

ous questioning and we are treating all values the same.

Anybody can say or do anything to other another person without being held accountable. A state official, working in such an institution, should not forget who they are – a state administration official – when signing a petition like that. The things that a political advisor from Montenegro wrote are something that can only stem from the southern endemic craziness. It is gibberish, i.e. him saying that it is a step forward for a civilization for somebody to get assassinated. I don’t want to comment on that any further.

However, the states decisions need to be adhered to. If we don’t have laws and institutions whose decisions should be respected, then we don’t have a state.

■ What would you do if you weren’t an actor?

- I don’t know. After passing my entrance exam at the Actors Academy, I did not do any acting. When I was a boy, I saw just saw how sad the destiny and relations between people in theatre could be. I hung out at rehearsals, watched plays and gained a tremendous advantage by unintentionally absorbing everything. The conclusions I made came about much later.

■ Is that thanks to your father and mother – actors Ivan

■ Do you think that, after writing such a successful

Manojlović and Zorka Doknić Manojlović?

book, Žarko Laušević is being used for political purposes? The President pardoned him, the Interior Minister personally handed him a Serbian passport and the political environment would like to sponge off the book’s fourth edition and its huge popularity and circulation.

- Yes, it is. Acting can be extraordinary powerful because when acting is deep and real, when you dig really deep, the range is huge. This is a self-experiment that I have been engaged in all my life. This manipulation with one’s self, which is truthfully transferred to the audience, can be incredibly powerful and magical. ■

- Yes, I am somewhat under that impression. I talked to

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feature ChRiStian WulFF’S reSignation

Victory for Press Freedom German President Christian Wulff has resigned over a warning to the editor of Bild about the ‘judicial consequences’ of printing a story about his finances

I

n a curt statement at the presidential palace in Berlin, Mr Wulff said he had lost the trust of the German people, making it impossible to continue in a role meant to serve as a moral compass for the nation.

He was forced to resign after Bild discovered that Wulff had taken a €500,000 loan from the wife of a close friend, Egon Geerkens, at an interest rate of 4% – 1% below the usual bank rate.

After discovering Bild was about to publish the story, Wulff tried unsuccessfully to reach Kai Diekmann the editor-in-chief of Bild, who was away on a trip. He then left him a long, haranguing message, threatening “judicial consequences” and a “definitive breach” in relations with Bild’s publishing group, Axel Springer.

Two days later Wulff phoned back on a tour in the Gulf to apologise. Wulff, who took over the largely ceremonial role in June 2010, faced further embarrassing questions about his behaviour when another Axel Springer newspaper, the Welt am Sonntag, revealed he had summoned one of its veteran reporters to a dressing down. Mr Wulff, 52, admitted making a ‘grave mistake’ by leaving a message on the answering machine of Mr. Diekmann’s, editor of German’s best selling tabloid Bild Zeitung threatening ‘war’ if the daily published a story about his private financial dealings.

He was later criticised for accepting free upgrades on holiday flights for himself and his family as well as staying free of charge at the villas of wealthy businessmen.

The media continued to delve into his dealings. State prosecutors in Hanover – his former powerbase as governor of Lower Saxony – asked

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91 March 2012

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cations. Wulff also uses his public office to separliament to end Mr Wulff’s legal immunicure discounts. They give him the privilege to ty over accusations he accepted favours and accept perks from rich friends or companies – according to several media reports, he was who hope to get something in return.’ expected to step down after prosecutors Born on June 19th, 1959, in the northasked the Bundestag Parliament to consider western city of Osnabrück, the boy who would removing his immunity so they could invesbecome Germany’s youngest president had to tigate various allegations. take on enormous responsibilities at a tender The move was a prelude to opening an inage. At 14, he became the primary caregivvestigation into him. It is the first time proser for his divorced mother, who was suffering ecutors have sought to investigate a German from multiple sclerosis, and his younger sister. president and the decision triggered calls He became active in the CDU at the age from the opposition for him to go. of 20, and was just 34 when he first chalMrs Merkel said she regretted Mr Wulff’s lenged Gerhard Schröder, who would latdeparture. By having him elected as presier become chancellor, for the premiership dent, Germany’s first woman chancellor efof Lower Saxony, the home to automaker fectively neutralised him by placing him in Volkswagen, where politics and business noa golden cage far removed from the real intoriously go hand in hand. struments of political power.

It took him two tries but eventually he He is the second president to step down in two years. His predecessor, Horst Germany’s press were united in their Koehler, resigned condemnation of Wulff after it emerged that he unexpectedly in had threatened the editor of Bild, Kai Diekmann 2010 after coming wrestled control of the state in 2003 from under fire for comments he made about the Sigmar Gabriel, Schröder’s crown prince and German mission in Afghanistan. current leader of the Social Democrats.

Der Spiegel, the prestigious news magHe left his long-time wife Christiane in azine, had taken up the gauntlet laid down 2006 for public relations executive Bettina by the popular Bild, saying: “All of the revKörner, 14 years his junior, and launched a elations come together to form a picture of charm offensive to mollify his conservative a character that revolves around three conbase following the shock announcement. The cepts: perks, upgrades and self-abasement. pair married in 2008 and have a young son, These concepts run counter to what is exin addition to a teenage daughter from Wulff’s pected of a politician in a democracy.” previous marriage. The powerful mass-mar“Wulff doesn’t want to pay the prices a norket Bild daily commands helped to restore mal citizen would have to pay for his lifestyle, his image as a wholesome family man. ■ for such expenses like his house, car and va-

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new president On 19th February 2012, 72-year-old Joachim Gauck was agreed on as a nonpartisan consensus candidate for President of Germany in the 2012 election by the government parties CDU, CSU and FDP after Christian Wulff resigned as president over corruption allegations. Although Mr. Gauck was proposed by the opposition Social Democrats and Greens, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she backs Joachim Gauck, a pastor and former East German rights activist, to be the country’s next president.

mar 2012 business leader’s meeting point

Page 40

Neil Sloam,

Managing director, Brian Lack & Company

Safe Bet Page 44

Mirko Butulija,

Deputy General Director of AMS Insurance

Tradition of Community Solidarity Page 50

Mr. Paul Falke, Co-owner, Falke Group

Investing in Tomorrow

Belgrade Office: Hyatt Regency Belgrade, Milentija Popovica 5, Belgrade 11070, SERBIA t: +381 11 301 1161 e: belgrade@brianlack.co.uk

Elstree Office: The Kinetic Centre, Theobald Street WD6 4PJ t: 020 8387 1546 e: elstree@brianlack.co.uk

Knightsbridge Office: 14 Basil Street, London SW3 1AJ t: 020 7225 0878 e: sw7@brianlack.co.uk

St John’s Wood Office: 4/6 St Ann’s Terrace, London NW8 6PJ t: 020 7586 5929 e: nw8@brianlack.co.uk

Generala Nikodija Stefanovica, Dedinje Apart.

#1

• Lower ground floor • Total floor area of 321m2 • Spacious living room • Dinning room with kitchen • Three bedrooms • Three bathrooms • Toilette • Small garden • Outdoor pool • Parking space in the underground garage

www.brianlack.co.uk

Apart.

#2

• Ground floor • Total floor area is 273m2 • Spacious living room with dinning room with kitchen • Three bedrooms • Three bathrooms • Toilette • Small garden • Pool

Apart.

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• Attic • Total floor area is 295m2 • Living room with dinning room and kitchen • Three bedrooms • Three bathrooms • Large balcony

Alternative

Business Dialogue 01

“Our policy is covered in thick snow and still cannot see the end. The problem is that an alternative was systematically eradicated.” — Vesna Pešić, Doctor of Social Sciences

Piraeus bank

02

Attractive Saving Conditions

The Best Selling Luxury Vehicles

Piraeus Bank has presented two new savings products, Piraeus Premium Plan and Piraeus 50 Dinar Savings, along with special offers for saving in CHF and USD!

Piraeus’ Premium Plan for savings in euros offers a 3-year term with interest rates that continually grow on a yearly level with deposits availability at any time.

In the first year, interest is at 5.5%, 6% in second, while during third, and last year of savings, interest is at 6.5%. Interest payment is on annual basis.

Piraeus bank also presented a new saving type for domestic currency - Piraeus 50 Dinar Savings for which, with an always available 50% termed deposit, has a valid interest rate of up to 11% for savings over 12 months, while the effective interest rate is 10.95%.

Piraeus Bank has also offered new interest rates to clients who want to save in Swiss francs and U.S. Dollars. Interest rates for savings in CHF currency are now up to 3%, while clients with savings in USD have interest of up to 3.5%.

03

Mercedes-Benz

The company Mercedes-Benz Srbija i Crna Gora d.o.o. took first place for the fourth year in a row in the sales of luxury vehicles in Serbia.

With total sales of 698 vehicles, the share of the market Mercedes-Benz vehicles command in the premium segment amounted to 38.6 percent New models that the company launched in 2011 such as the new CLS-Class, M-Class, B-Class and new generation C-Class proved to be extremely attractive in the domestic market, mainly due to their innovation, quality and new designs that have attracted over 190 clients.

During 2011, at the global level, Mercedes-Benz had their best record in sales ever.

Presentation of a completely new and revolutionary A-Class should contribute to achieving the ambitions aims the company has set for 2012. Mercedes expects the A-Class to be especially interesting for the younger generation owing to

EI Niš

RIV to Invest €1.5 Million in Zitoradja

The Italian company RIV will invest €1.5 million for the refurbishment and launch of the former EI Niš in Zitoradja, said President of the municipality, Goran Stojković Stojković said that representatives of the Italian company that manufactures flame retardant glass, expressed willingness to start production in Zitoradja and employ 200 workers from the municipality.

RIV manager Nenad Stojkov said that the company decided to close Žitoradja due to the nearby branch linked to Corridor 10. Žitorađa has a large number of unemployed workers who might be engaged in production.

The first 50 people will travel to Italy for professional training, and after that another 150 will be employed in accordance with the pace from increases in production, said Stojkov.

As stated, refractory glass production in the former EI Niš factory in Zitoradja could start as early as this spring. The facility has not been working since 2001 when production was switched off, and after privatization in 2004 and a change of name to AD “Hekulen”.

Beta

05

EPS

04

Tourism

From Tourism – €1.0 Billion in 2011

Serbia, in 2011, made almost a billion dollars in tourism revenues, which speaks volumes about the sustainability of the industry and its contribution to job creation and balanced regional development, said Minister of Economy Neboša Cirić.

Compared to 2010, it has grown 15 to 18 percent, said Cirić at a Conference on the sustainability of rural tourism. He also stressed the development of rural tourism alternatives for improvement of living and earning an income for these areas. Cirić went on to say that 27 percent of tourist activities in Serbia take place in rural areas, adding that of seven million overnight stays, 2.3 million were in those areas.

With all the talk about the importance of rural tourism for the Serbian economy, the minister said that it takes several different measures, including improving the efficiency of tourist activities on the local, regional and national level.

Electricity Debt Relief - Estimated At €20 Million

Write offs of energy bills for the poorest households will cost Electric Power Industry of Serbia (EPS) about 20 million dinars, estimated the company 38 |

its revolutionary design.

Later this year the SL, celebrating its 60th anniversary, will be presented in Europe and then in Serbia.

With the sales success of the new M-Class, Mercedes-Benz will also plough forward bringing several new models to the SUV segment - the new GL-Class, GLK-Class and the legendary, timeless G-Class.

Dragomir Marković, former general manager of EPS

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Around 102,000 of the poorest households were exempt from payment electricity bills in February, Dragomir Marković, former general manager of EPS, told Tanjug. EPS has decided to write off electricity debts for the poorest citizens during February on a proposal by Serbian President Boris Tadić.

In order to encourage energy saving in February, EPS approved an additional discount of 30 percent to all consumers who

spend a day using at least 15 percent less electricity than their average consumption in January. The conditions with which to achieve this reduction were to regularly pay bills and have no arrears.

In April last year, EPS approved a similar discount of 11.89 percent for all customers who regularly paid their bills and who consumed less than 350 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month.

Putin "If I was English I would be very much against Vladimir Putin.

If I was American I would even fight with him, but if I was Russian I would vote for him." — Emir Kusturica, filmmaker

06

Public debt

Placements & Postings appointments@cma.rs

www.cordmagazine.com/corporate/appointments.html

Above 47% of GDP in 2011 The Fiscal Council warned that Serbia's public debt at the end of 2011 reached 46.4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and that the state budget deficit of five billion was higher than planned “The public finances in Serbia is the most dangerous violation of the rules on the amount of public debt, as it not only exceeded the legal limit of 45 percent of GDP, but will continue to grow in the medium term if in 2012 it does not formulate fiscal consolidation measures,” said the report of the Fiscal Council.

The Serbian Government, as outlined, shall adopt a program to reduce public debt in the budget for 2012.

According to the Ministry of Finance, public debt at the end of December 2011 reached 45.1 percent of GDP, but the Fiscal Council, indicated that on that debt, in accordance with the Law on Budget System, was the non-guaranteed debt of local government, which was 1.4 percent of GDP. Therefore, the total amount of public debt at the end of 2011 amounted to 46.4 percent of GDP, and the actual amount of public debt, said the Fiscal Council, is probably even higher because there are accumulated arrears of individual budget users that go beyond the possibility of servicing current operations.

Analysis by the Fiscal Council shows that public debt at end of 2012 will most likely amount to about 51 percent of GDP, but there are risks that it will be even greater and reach 55 percent of GDP.

07

Dr VukoicA Scekić, Acting General Director of Željezara Smederevo d.o.o.

investment

NCR Opens Service Center

NCR is the global technology company which have existed for 120 years and is doing business in more than 100 countries with an annual turnover of USD 5.4 billion, opened it’s service center in Belgrade The investment is worth EUR 3.8 million, and the company was granted EUR 1.5 million, i.e. EUR 5,000 per employee through Serbia’s program for encouraging investments. It is expected that some 300 new jobs will be created.

The service center will provide support in nine languages - Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Spanish and Turkish, with the possibility of including more languages.

As a leading global provider of managed support services it is offering day-to-day management of retail, financial, travel, healthcare and entertainment industry solutions.

The opening of the service center in Belgrade was attended by Serbian President Boris Tadić.

Photo Tanjug

08

Anna PajukKsprzak,

New General Manager for Serbia and Montenegro GlaxoSmithKline

livestock farming

Canada Helps Serbian Livestock Farming Serbia and Canada signed a memorandum of understanding to help improve the production capabilities of livestock farming in Serbia The document was signed by Serbia’s Minister of Agriculture and Trade Dusan Petrovic and Canadian Ambassador Roman Waschuk.

“Livestock farming accounts for only 30 percent of Serbia’s agricultural output, and the goal is to double that figure, which will boost the production of meat, milk and eggs,” Petrovic stated.

“Canada recognizes Serbia’s potential in production of high quality food for the surrounding and EU countries. Therefore we wish to help improving development of cattle farming, pig farming and other areas of livePhoto Tanjug stock farming,” said Roman Waschuk.

Vojislav Glavinić, New CEO of Delta Real Estate Group

The Assembly of Željezara Smederevo d.o.o. has appointed Dr. Vukoica Scekic as Acting General Director. Prior to this position Mr. Scekić was Executive Director of human resources and labour relations in the company U.S. Steel Serbia.

Vukoica Šćekić graduated with a master’s degree and then went on to complete a doctorate at the Faculty of Economics in Belgrade. For six months, from 1st October 2004, he served as the Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Policy.

During his career, he has worked in Sartid, at the Belgrade Fair, and from 1994 until 1996 was also a member of the Working Groups led by leading professor Dragoslav Avramović. In 2003 Mr. Scekić was a special advisor to the Minister of Economy and Privatization in charge of cooperation with the unions.

Vukoic Scekić has published more than 20 professional and scientific papers on the economic system, privatization and collective bargaining.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical companies, appointed a new General Manager for Serbia and Montenegro - Anna Pajuk-Ksprzak, succeding Crina Ancuta, on January 1st 2011.

Based in Belgrade, Mrs Pajuk-Kasprzak takes responsibility for further growing and developing the GSK business in Serbia and Montenegro and has become a member of the South East Europe Management Team.

Having joined GSK Poland in 2003, she gained broad business experience within therapeutic areas at senior management level, dynamically managing the business and increasing scale and complexity from both a commercial and people leadership perspective. Anna was a member of the Polish Executive Team for the last four years and influenced the strategic organizational and business agenda of GSK Poland.

Vojislav Glavinić‘s first major position was in Delta M Group as deputy CEO from January 2002 until May 2004 where he coordinated 3 different production facilities – detergent factory Delta in Zrenjanin, pesticides factory Delhem also in Zrenjanin and edible oil factory Sunce, Sombor.

Following this he went on to be CEO of Pekabeta Belgrade May 04 – Feb 06, CFO of Delta Maxi Group Jan 08 – Aug 11, and CEO of C Market Belgrade Feb 06 – Jan 12, being responsible for the running and coordination of all activities in retail, reconstructing the business, and adopting and merging with Delta Maxi Group. At the start of this year, he was appointed as the new CEO of Delta Real Estate Group in charge of VP strategy development and planning for Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria and Albania Delhaize Group Public Company.

Mr. Glavinić was educated at XIV Belgrade Gymnasium, speaks English and holds an engineering degree in agriculture economy from the University of Belgrade.

cordeditorial@cma.rs

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91 March 20112 | 39

Turning point

Business Dialogue Interview

“If the EU and the U.S. do not understand our views and are always on the side of Albanians, it is normal to expect that power will be shifted in our political position which might turn to Russia,” — Ivica Dačić, leader of the SPS, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs of Serbia

Neil Sloam, Managing director, Brian Lack & Company

Safe Bet

BL & Co is one of the oldest and most trusted firms of estate agents in London. Their aim is to ensure that when you go to them, you experience the best service that you have ever received from any estate agency, be it in Serbia or abroad, and regardless of whether you are looking to sell, let, buy or rent

“S

erbia is on the up. With Croatia recently confirming its EU membership, it will not be too long before Serbia does the same, which is good news for the property market. We could have chosen anywhere in the world for our first office abroad but we chose Belgrade for good reasons.” - Neil Sloam, General Manager of BL & Co.

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everybody and 2012 will no doubt be a tough year, but there are always deals to found and if you have money to invest now is as good a time as any.

■ There is an old piece of advice that says, “If you have money to spend, invest it in real estate.” Do you expect people who have thousands of euros to invest will put their money in real estate rather than waiting to see what’s going to happen with the euro?

- Yes I do. Again, and it cannot be emphasized ■ Bearing in mind the economic crisis that enough, history show us that property is a winning is happening in both Belgrade and London, investment. Obviously if you buy well, there will be and across the whole of Europe, what is your a good return on your investment. That is one of assessment of the current situation on the Brian Lack & Co’s fundamental strengths. We recglobal real estate market and what are your ognize the best properties for investment, as well projections for this year? as living or working in. Due to our years of experi- Although the current situation is poor throughence and having one of the largest estate agencies out the world, prime central London property conin St. Johns Wood, expanding into Knightsbridge tinues to thrive as it always has with prices in our to the south and Elstree to the north, we deal with core area rising daily due to foreign investment people from the UK, Eastern Europe, Russia Serbia has issues, as with anywhere that has had and beyond so we know what we are talka somewhat turbulent past, but if you look at the ing about and always find the right place for your money. The euro will not collapse high level of educated citizens, low wage costs and as some have predicted. The EU economy is genuinely friendly people it has great potential struggling, but so is nearly every other economy. The crisis was never going to be fixed quickly, but it will be. in what is seen to be a safe haven for money. This trend is good for Serbians who wish to grow their ■ As you said, your company’s offices are lomoney with little risk. As for the market in Serbia, cated in the most prestigious parts of London when it comes to foreign and domestic investors – St. John’s Wood and Knightsbridge. Why did alike, I see it as one word, ‘opportunity’. In addiyou decide to open an office in Belgrade? tion, I believe that Serbia will enter the EU shortly, - Your question implies that it is strange that we which as history shows us, is usually followed by came to Belgrade, but the answer is all around you. a growth in prices, both in the commercial and Belgrade may not have the prestige of London on a residential property sectors. Also, although the global scale but regionally it certainly does! In my economic situation across Europe is not good at opinion, we are located in the best hotel in the Balthe moment, it will improve. Times are hard for

91 March 2012

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Interest “Currently in Serbia the most comprehensive fight against organized crime is underway and, more than ever before, there is an interest to dismiss the government. Big money is concentrated on the destruction of the reputation of the government, with different motives.” — Dragan Šutanovac, Serbian Defence Minister.

kans - The Hyatt Regency (and I stay at a lot of hotels around the world) - with its exclusive opportunities, in part due to guests such as world famous athletes and celebrities, situated in an amazing city, holds many opportunities for the London investor who is looking at the longer term and wishes to deal with a trusted name from the UK. For foreign investors generally, Serbia is an attractive investment destination.

There are problems, as with anywhere that has had a somewhat turbulent past, but if you look at the high level of educated citizens, low wage costs and genuinely friendly people Serbia has great potential.

■ Great Britain is known for its highly developed, dynamic and successful real estate market. What kind of experiences from England will you bring to Belgrade?

- The answer to your question is a very simple one, however Serbia has a lot to offer on that front in its own right, and that is the lovely, warm and welcoming people. What we will bring from our experience in the UK market to Belgrade is professionalism coupled with very hard working, well trained Serbian staff who speak fluent English and offer an unrivalled customer service experience. Each employee has exceptional local knowledge and diverse negotiation skills to clinch deals to the satisfaction of all parties.

If you have either one property or a portfolio, we present them in the utmost professional manner to sell or rent them for you. Our service is unrivalled.

■ What services do you offer to Serbian citizens – an opportunity to invest in real estate in Serbia or the U.K., renting or all of the aforementioned?

- We offer Serbians both options. Our systems are interlinked with our Knightsbridge and St. Johns wood offices hence you will be treated like you are walking into one of our UK offices. We even have pictures of St. Johns Wood from the 19th Century so you get a sense of London from the minute you walk in. As for Belgrade, we currently have over two hundred properties to offer for sale and one hundred to rent, not to mention the fact that if there is something a client wants that we don’t have, we will go and get it! Our characteristics, abilities and talents separate us from other agents in the market and come down to the intimate management of each individual applicant and client. Being an independent agent, we have the ability to cater in a specific way for each property.

There are no ‘corporate policies’ that we are forced to strictly adopt, which allows us the ability to tailor make any strategy.

■ You are probably familiar with the relevant real estate laws in Serbia. Do you envisage certain problems in that respect like other foreign investors who have come to Belgrade?

- I don’t envisage too many problems. As I said to you earlier, our staff are Serbian and know the system, which can be overly complicated at times and

Although the economic situation across Europe is not good at the moment, it will improve. Times are hard for everybody and 2012 will no doubt be a tough year is something that I hope can be made more efficient.

I decided to come to Belgrade originally because a Serbian bank did not understand the way the UK worked and I thought it best to be in the ‘thick of things’ so to speak. In the next few months we will also be launching one of the most advanced property websites and are proud of our new Facebook page where both clients and ourselves can contribute to the local community and search for the ideal property without even having to leave the site. I suppose what I‘m trying to say is that we have the expertise to help both foreign and domestic investors equally, and a range of ways in which to do so.

We might have ‘lack’ in our name but I can assure you that there is no area of the property market that we are lacking in! ■ cordeditorial@cma.rs

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91 March 20112 | 41

Antichrist

Business Dialogue 01

“The Serbian Orthodox Church has no right to call me the Antichrist, as long as they are awarding bishop paedophiles with the ‘White Angel ‘medal.” — Čedomir Jovanović, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party

02

Romania

Factoring Companies Buy €3.0 bn

Bosch Leases Plant Germany’s Bosch automotive company will take over 21.5 hectares of land in the industrial park Tetarom III, in Jucu, Cluj county, northwestern Romania. The land has been leased for 99 years A total of 77 million euros will be invested to open the plant which will create 2,000 new jobs. The company will receive state aid for its investments, according to the Romanian Government.

The contract reads that Bosch must pay damages, for two years, to Cluj county council or find another investor instead, in the case that it leaves before the agreed term.

This stipulation comes after the Finish mobile phone producer Nokia shut down its plant in Jucu in November last year, after having invested 60 million euros in the

03

Members of the Hungarian Factoring Association bought around HUF 888 billion (€3 billion) of receivables from about 3,000 clients in 2011

last three years. Nokia said it had to shut down the production facility and dismiss over 1,500 employees due to low demand of entry-class phones produced at Jucu.

The local authority said there would be 2,000 jobs created, by 2015, by the new production facility.

Romanian Times

Macedonian and Russian Agriculture Ministers, Ljupco Dimovski and Elena Skrynnik respectively, have signed a memorandum of cooperation in Moscow Dimovski, who led the Macedonian delegation at Moscow’s international exhibition for food, beverages and food raw materials “PRODEXPO 2012”, told the Russian news agency ITAR-TASS the memorandum would represent a good foundation for future cooperation.

“We also exchanged opinions on how to attract Russian investments in the Macedonian economy,” said Minister Dimovski, adding this could be achieved through the establishment of distribution centres in Macedonia under favorable conditions.

Dejan Besliev, director of the Macedonian-Russian Chamber of Commerce, said that bilateral trade exchange in 2011 rose by 30 percent, amounting to $670 million (€507.6m).

“We cooperate with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation and regional chambers in Rostov, Samara, Nizhny Novgorod, Sochi, Voronezh, Lipetsk,” Dejan Besliev emphasized. “Trade exchange in 2008 amounted to about $960 million (€727.3m), whereas the numbers in 2010 and 2011 reduced to $500 million (€378.8m) and $670 million (€507.6 m) respectively,” he stressed.

05

Croatia

www.cordmagazine.com

Bosnia's struggling economy could take a hit from neighbouring Croatia's EU entry next year, as Zagreb will likely have to ban Bosnian imports that do not comply with strict EU quality rules Most Bosnian food exports go to Croatia and in the worst case scenario the loss of income for Sarajevo would be almost 200 million euros, about half of the government’s budget, according to estimates by the Bosnian Chamber of Commerce.

“If Bosnia does not set up quality control that complies with EU standards between now and January 1st, 2013, we will not be able to export animal or vegetable-based products like milk, eggs, meat and honey,” warned Duljko

Hasić an economics expert with the Bosnian Chamber of Commerce.

“We are already too late... it would be a miracle if we made it by the deadline,” said Yuri Afanasiev, Bosnian coordinator for the UN Development Programme (UNDP) which is helping Sarajevo implement the reforms.

In 2010, the Bosnian Government adopted a plan to push through the needed changes but the country then plunged into a deep political crisis which hampered the process.

INA posts 1.8 Billion Kuna Profit

The Croatian oil and gas group INA posts a 1.8 billion kuna (€250 million) profit in 2011, reports the daily Novi List newspaper

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Bosnia and Herzegovina

Economy Could Suffer due to Croatia's EU Entry

Enlarged Cooperation with Russia

91 March 2012

The factoring companies bought 3.3% more receivables than a year earlier, but the market grew at a slower rate than expected. The companies supplied clients with more than HUF 113.3 billion (€309.7 millions) of financing, down 6% from 2010.

The association estimates the financing exceeded 10% of bank outlays with maturities under a year to SMEs. Factoring companies collected more than 62% of the amount due on the receivables they purchased, up from 60% a year earlier.

The Hungarian Factoring Association has 19 full members and 3 supporting members. Among the full members are four banks, four units of banks and eleven privately-owned companies. The banks have a 45% market share and their units control 36% of the market.

04

Macedonia

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Hungary

Overall sales rose 16 percent in 2011, reaching 30.02 billion kuna (€415 million). INA is involved in gas and oil exploration in Croatia, Africa and the Middle East, notably Syria. Its retail segment is present in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Montenegro.

“We will continue with our efforts to improve efficiency together with focusing on development projects,” INA’s CEO, Zoltan Aldott, said.

The Croatian government owns 44.84 percent of INA with Hungary’s MOL the biggest shareholder with a 47.46 percent stake.

Seal of God “I am sorry that I baptized in the monastery of Ostrog Cedomir Jovanović. Had I known that it will not receive the seal of God, I wouldn’t have baptized him at the time when we fought the whistles against the late Slobodan Milosević.”

— Amfilohije Radović, Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral, Archbishop of Cetinje.

06

Montenegro

National Development Plan Top Priority

auction see auction south east europe

office@auction-see.com; www.auction-see.com

After a meeting held in mid-February Milorad Katnić, Finance Minister, and Leopold Maurer, Head of the EU delegation to Montenegro, agreed that the National Development Plan for 2013-2016 was one of the most important documents for Montenegro and its position in EU accession talks.

This strategic document will be one of the top priorities for the Montenegrin Government in 2012.

The National Development Plan will reflect the government’s development vision in accordance with Europe 2012 Strategy guidelines. The document will be a framework for determining priorities and will also provide a basis for getting IPA funds and resources.

Montenegro is an EU candidate, which means it already has access to certain resources in several sectors, like human resources development, regional development, rural development and agriculture. The National Development Plan will help Montenegro determine its priorities and facilitate the use of IPA funds.

07

Bulgaria

Over 50,000 People Lose Their Jobs

Bulgarian unemployment in January 2012 was at 11.1 percent, with 50,245 newly registered people having lost their jobs Accoring to the Employment Agency, about half of the newly jobless had been employed in the private sector.

More than 10,000 of those who lost their jobs came from what the agency described as “industry”, followed by 7,400 who had been on the public payroll, followed in turn by those who had been employed in the sectors of trade, manufacturing, construction, agriculture, transport, communications, real estate and other businesses.

In January, 12,212 previously unemployed people started new jobs, about 3000 more than in the previous month. The agency said that 21,142 jobs had been offered, of which 4696 were in the private sector.

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Kosovo

Master Plan for Brezovica Ski Resort The EU office in Kosovo presented a master plan which will serve as the guide to developing a tourist centre in Brezovica

The plan to revive the Brezovica ski resort envisions the development of a tourist centre in the western mountains near the existing ski centre.

“Brezovica has shown potential and undisputed success in the past and its development according to modern standards represents one of the best opportunities in this region to create income, jobs and development. The EU has supported the municipality and the Government of Kosovo in drafting the master plan for the development of Brezovica,” said chief of the EU Office and EU Special Representative in Kosovo, Samuel Zbogar.

The new centre, which will run throughout the year, will have the capacity to host over ten thousand guests and will house a centre with lodgings, restaurants and real estate. cordeditorial@cma.rs

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South Stream

Business Dialogue Interview

“This incredibly cold winter, is yet another confirmation that ‘South Stream’ must be built and will be built. Europe needs a new direction for the delivery of Russian gas transit without intermediaries.” — Alexei Miller, CEO, Gazprom

Mirko Butulija, Deputy General Director of AMS Insurance

Tradition of Community Solidarity AMS Insurance a.d.o is one of Serbia’s most well known insurance companies, continuously integrated into European and world associations and based on an 90-year tradition of community solidarity in the motoring sector and of its members

I

nternational standards in insurance are the mainstay of AMS’s strategy, and therefore it is natural that this insurance company provides the most complete and effective insurance policies. AMS Insurance a.d.o was founded on the 19th January 1998. We are talking to AMS Insurances deputy general director Mirko Butulija, regarding the company’s future plans and what they hope to achieve in 2012.

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growth of between 3% and 5%, although, judging by most indicators, this year will be one of the hardest for doing business.

■ AMS Insurance has a wide range of products and many opportunities for further development. What are the future strategic development directions for the company?

- AMS Insurance is a company whose policyholders are primarily drivers in Serbia and their families. In ■ Economic analyses, conducted in the region, the following period, we are going to do our utmost show that, this year, the investment sector is the to solidify the years of trust that has been put in us one to invest in aside from telecommunications. and demonstrate that we are a socially responsible What kind of business trends do you expect to company when it comes to traffic safety. Also, this emerge this year? year, we are focusing on auto- and CASCO Our system is much more efficient than that in insurance. Personally, I think that the biggest the EU so the percentage of insured vehicles in opportunity for increasing our share lies in Serbia is one of the highest in Europe voluntary health insurance, which is used during the policyholder’s stay abroad and insures them in the event of an accident.

- Although the cost of mandatory auto-insurance is still the lowest in the region and there is a lot of ■ The Serbian Automobile Association (AMSS) unfair competition, last year we managed to mainis certainly one of the most recognizable brands tain the stability of our portfolio and the expected in Serbia with a very long tradition. President profit was approximately 15% higher than in 2010. of the International Automobile Association Last year, which was quite turbulent for all insur(FIA), Jean Todt, and many respectable guests ance companies, we also managed to carry out from Europe attended the celebration apropos internal reorganization and introduce or harmothe 90th anniversary of AMSS. Could you tell us nize a series of procedures which are expected to about the cooperation between AMSS, the EU substantially improve and facilitate the company’s and regional countries? business operations in the following period. This - As an association of drivers in Serbia, AMSS is the year’s plans are primarily geared towards susbiggest shareholder in AMS Insurance, and we can taining the company’s stability and the projected |

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Confusion “Don’t ever confuse the two - your life and your work. That’s what I have to say. The later is only a part of the former.”

— Anna Marie Quindlen, American columnist

say that we are owned by Serbia’s drivers. Yes, one of our biggest brands – AMSS – has celebrated its 90th birthday and the role that AMS Insurance plays in the entire system was celebrated on the occasion.

We have been commended and given support by eminent domestic and European names for our joint work, i.e. for what we do in Serbia and particularly for what AMSS does in Europe.

To our great satisfaction, we played host to the President of the International Automobile Association Jean Todt who came to celebrate with us along with his closest associates. Because of AMSS, it was Mr. Todt’s first visit to Serbia and he personally commended us for the results and activities that we carry out in the business environment in which we operate.

abroad, which happens to be very popular in other countries but not in Serbia? What kind of benefits do you offer in this insurance segment?

- We highly recommend that each person travelling abroad buy AMS Insurance voluntary health insurance policy in order to have a carefree business trip or enjoy

■ To what extent is the auto-insurance system in Serbia different to that in the EU and do you expect that harmonization of the relevant regulations will result in increased revenue for AMS Insurance and bonuses for careful drivers?

- The auto-insurance system in Serbia is very much different to that in the EU in terms of sales channels and the vehicle registration procedure. It is important to underline that our system is much more efficient than that of the EU, so the percentage of insured vehicles in Serbia is one of the highest in Europe. The socalled ‘bonus – malus’ system is applied so conscientious drivers can count on added bonuses and a more Jean Todt (left) FIA President, Mirko Butulija, Deputy General Director of AMS Insurance and Aleksandar Nikačević, AMS General Secretary favourable price of insurance policy.

Concerning CASCO insurance, which is considered As an association of drivers in Serbia, AMSS is the voluntary insurance, we are significantly lagging bebiggest shareholder in AMS Insurance, and we can say hind EU states. The key reasons for this are the living standards of our drivers, the average age of their vehi- that we are owned by Serbia’s drivers their vacation without having to deal with unplanned cles, which is far below the EU average, and insufficient and often very high medical costs. You can buy the polawareness in drivers when it comes to understanding icy, under very favourable conditions, via our website exactly what a CASCO insurance policy can offer them. www.ams.co.rs and in every branch of AMS Insurance Recently, we have seen just how extreme the weather all over Serbia, including border crossings. can get and during such conditions, the risk of damaging your car increases. If you add the theft risk to this, it ■ There are many foreigners amongst our readers becomes very clear that the holders of AMS Insurance’s who live and work in Serbia. What kind of options CASCO policy can enjoy their cars more freely compared do you offer them in terms of insurance? to those who don’t have such a policy. On top of the CASCO - We have special benefits and discounts, as well as atpolicy, AMS Insurance also provides each of its policyholdtractive and useful gifts for all diplomatic offices and ers with a membership in AMSS, which, apart from many foreign companies that operate in Serbia, in order to other benefits, entails free road assistance including an ensure that they feel safe whilst staying in our country. engine jumpstart, swift repairs and a towing service.

The membership that we offer includes fast and safe road assistance on the territory of continental Europe, ■ What is the market’s attitude towards voluntary including Serbia. ■ health insurance for Serbian citizens travelling cordeditorial@cma.rs

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Message

Business Dialogue 01

"My duty is to send a clear message to the public that I will be at the forefront of changes in Serbia and maintain a uniform policy against the Tadić and Dinkić government."

— Tomislav Nikolić, leader of the Serbian Progressive Party.

Finland

02

France

Trade Deficit Hits €69.6 billion

Nokia Set to Cut 4,000 Jobs Nokia announced it will slash 4,000 jobs in Finland, Mexico and Hungary in a further move to cut costs as it struggles against stiff competition in the smartphone market

France’s trade deficit reached a record €69.6 billion in 2011, despite good export figures in the aeronautics sector

The layoffs, to be completed by the end of 2012, are part of more than 7,000 global layoffs the Finnish company announced last year.

Nokia said it is increasingly moving cell phone assembly from Europe to Asia where the majority of its component suppliers are based, but would not close the three plants in Komaron, Hungary; Reynosa, Mexico; and Salo in Finland.

“These three factories are planned to focus on smartphone product customization, serving customers mainly in Europe and the Americas,” said Niklas Savander, from Nokia’s markets sector. “(They) will continue to play an important role serving our smartphone customers.”

France suffered a record 69.6 billion euro trade deficit last year, junior minister for trade Pierre Lellouche said in a newspaper interview.

Pierre Lellouche, However, Lellouche told the French junior minister for trade Figaro daily, while the figure is higher than the previous record deficit of 56.2 billion euros recorded in 2008 it was nonetheless “lower than had been anticipated.”

Last month Lellouche revised down an original estimate of a 75 billion euro trade deficit.

In 2011 France’s imports rose by 11 percent to 498 billion euros while exports rose by 8.6 percent to 429 billion euros, allowing for the creation of 90,000 new jobs, he told the Figaro.

“We can be satisfied at the good results in certain sectors, the agro-food sector saw a historic surplus of 11.4 billion (euros).

Aeronautics also saw a surplus, of 17.7 billion, thanks to the sale of 534 Airbus planes,” Lellouche said.

However, French exports rose less last year than in Germany, Britain, Spain, Italy or the United States.

Stephen Elop, Nokia, chief executive

Last month, Nokia reported that smartphone sales plummeted 23 percent globally in the fourth quarter as net revenue fell 20 percent to 10 billion euros compared to a year earlier.

Nokia has lost its once-dominant position in the global cell phone market, with Android phones and particularly Apple overtaking it in the growing smartphone segment.

03

04

Apple Inc.

Telenor Considers Future India Investment

Soaring Revenue Apple’s revenue has exploded in the past four years due to the surging popularity of its iPhone smartphone and iPad tablet. Their success has even helped to push up sales of its Mac computer to record levels – while supplanting sales of the declining iPod music player, which began the company’s renaissance a decade ago.

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Russia

First 15,000 Cameras Installed Rostelecom said it installed the first 15,000 web cameras for the March presidential elections following the government's promise to eliminate any possibility of ballot-stuffing Web cameras are to be installed in 91,400 voting stations, allowing a total of 25 million users to view the broadcast on webvybory2012.ru.

“Sitronics and Kraftway produced the equipment for the project,” Rostelecom announced. The cost of the project may reach 30 billion rubles (€755 million), with the government paying 13 billion rubles (€326.7 million) and Rostelecom covering the rest of the cost.

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India

Jon Fredrik Baksaas, President and CEO of Telenor

Hit hard by a Supreme Court verdict cancelling the telecom licence of its Indian unit, Norway-based Telenor ASA will consider all options before any future investment in the country

Following India’s Supreme Court decision in the beginning of February ordering the cancellation of 122 telecom licenses, issued in 2008 during the regime of former Communications and IT Minister A. Raja, another foreign player Bahrain Telecommunications (Batelco) has already gone a step further and exited from the country, as it was getting “very uneasy” in India.

Russia-based conglomerate Sistema group, the third foreign player affected by the Supreme Court verdict has said it would file a review petition, while the fourth foreign entity, UAE-based Etisalat has been silent so far on the issue.

All the four foreign players had significant holdings in different Indian telecom firms that had been allotted mobile licences in 2008, but the Supreme Court has cancelled those allotments while hearing the case related to a 2G telecom scam.

“We are working to protect our investments (in India) in all possible manners, and will consider every option prior to any further investments,” Telenor CEO Jon Fredrik Baksaas said mid-Feb, while announcing the company’s results.

The revoked licences included 22 held by Uninor, a joint venture between Telenor and Unitech and six held by S-Tel. Other affected players include Sistema’s Indian venture with Shyam Telecom and another one between Etisalat and DB Realty.

The developments in India have also weighed on Telenor’s global quarterly earnings, as the company slipped into loss of 1.93 billion Norwegian kroner (€253 million) for the October-December quarter period on account of hefty impairment losses related to the cancellation of 2G licences in India.

Prime minister

06

Turkey

“It would be fair if Boris Tadić said at the time whether he would offer the premiership position to Tomislav Nikolić.”

— Mladjan Dinkić, leader of United Serbian Region (URS)

Placements & Postings appointments@cma.rs

www.cordmagazine.com/corporate/appointments.html

Mr. Frangieh is the newly appointed Chargé d’ Affaires at the Embassy of Lebanon, Belgrade. He came to the position, in February, directly from his role at the Cabinet of the Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants where he worked from 2010. For the two years previous to this he was President of the Consular Corps of Poland, after three years working as the First Secretary.

Born in 1976, Mr. Frangieh, who speaks Arabic, English and French, attained a bachelors degree in political science from the American University of Beirut and a masters in the same subject from the University of Delhi. During his time as a student, he was very active in university life and held the position of Vice President of the university Student Committee.

Turkey Delivers Modernized F-16 Jets to Pakistan Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. (TUSAŞ) delivers three modernized F-16 warplanes to Pakistan At a ceremony the aircraft, which belonged to the Pakistani Air Force and modernized in Turkey, were delivered to Pakistan.

Turkish Defence Industry Undersecretary Murad Bayar said that Turkey and Pakistan have been successfully cooperating in tactical, radio and electronic aspects of warfare as well as creating a training test centre and various military information systems.

Pakistani Deputy Commander of Air Forces General Asim Suleiman said that Pakistan’s air defence has become more powerful with the aircraft that have been modernized in structural and avionic aspects.

Pakistani Ambassador to Turkey Muhammad Shaukat Haroon said that the project was a sign of friendship and unity of powers between Turkey and Pakistan.Test flights of each modernized aircraft were performed by TUSAŞ’s F-16 test pilots.

TUSAŞ was awarded the tender of Pakistani Air Forces F-16 modernization program (Peace Drive II) and signed an agreement with the Pakistani defence ministry in June 2009.

Under the program, TUSAŞ’s engineers and technicians are to perform avionic and structural modernization to a total of 41 F-16 warplanes from Pakistan. The Peace Drive II program, which started in October 2010, is set to be completed by September 2014. The required parts, materials and technical data are furnished to TUSAŞ in accordance with another contract between the U.S. and Pakistani Air Force.

Within the Peace Drive II Program, TUSAŞ provides classroom and on-the-job training for 72 technicians from the Pakistani air force. Upon completion of their training, the technicians directly participate in the ongoing modernization activities at TUSAŞ.

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Mr. Kabalan Frangieh, Chargé d' Affaires at the Embassy of Lebanon

Alexandros Daniilidis, New Managing Director of United Serbian Breweries, a member of the Heineken Group

Nigeria

Assets Sold in Five Countries ConocoPhillips, an integrated energy company with assets of approximately $75 billion (€56.6 bn) and, 56,000 employees across 49 countries announced plans to sell assets in Nigeria, Libya and three other countries up to the value of $17 billion (€12.8 bn)

It is thought that the funds will be used as part of a plan to boost shareholder returns with share buybacks and higher dividends.

The candidate countries for exit would be Nigeria, Vietnam, Libya, Algeria and Kazakhstan.

In Nigeria, Conoco owns four onshore mining leases (OMLs), one deepwater oil prospecting lease (OPL) and one deep-water offshore mining lease. It also owns part of a gas-fired combined cycle power plant, and a 20% stake in the Brass River crude oil field. Nigerian output totalled 20,000 barrels per day of crude oil, and 141 million cubic feet of natural gas.

In Libya Conoco owns 16.3% of the Waha concessions, which averaged 46,000 barrels per day of oil last year. In Kazakhstan Conoco owns 8.4% of the North Caspian Sea Production Sharing Agreement which is expected to go into production this year.

The announcement was made at the annual analyst meeting, and may include exits from the countries as part of planned asset divestment, although exact details were not released.

Boško Radojković, New General Managing of Jugokoncert

Dejan RistiĆ,

Acting Director of National Library of Serbia

Mr. Alexandros Daniilidis, who came to Serbia from the position of Commercial Director of the Heineken company in Greece, joined United Serbian Breweries in 1992 and has since held senior positions within the sales department. As of 2002, Alexandros has been a member of the Management Team of the ‘Athenian Breweries’ in Greece, first as a Sales Director ‘Wholesale HoReCa’ and then as a National Sales Director.

Former Director François-Xavier Mahot was appointed to the position of Senior Global Innovation Manager and, through his new position, will join the Global Management Team of the Heineken Group in Amsterdam.

By decision of the City of Belgrade Assembly, Boško Radojković, guitar player and director of the renowned Guitar Art Festival has been appointed as acting General Manager of Jugokoncert.

Born in Serbia, in 1966, he completed guitar studies at the Faculty of Music in Belgrade. He also completed a specialist course in chamber music in Belgrade and played with the ensemble that performed Old Music “Musica Antiqua”.

Mr. Radojković has been working in the music school “Kosta Manojlovic” in Zemun/Belgrade for 16 years earning a reputation as of one of the most successful pedagogues in the field of guitar teaching and founded The Guitar Art Festival in 2000 where he has been its director since. He also founded the Serbian Association of Classical Guitarists in 2001 and is its executive director.

The Serbian Government has put in place Dejan Ristić, historian and translator, as the Acting Administrator of the National Library of Serbia. Ristić is an advisor in the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, responsible for the protection of military memorials, places of suffering and the culture of remembrance.

Mr. Ristić was a member of the Government Commission for introducing the assessment of war damages caused to the victims of the Second World War and is the 23rd director of Serbian National Library.

cordeditorial@cma.rs

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chill out

World’s Greatest Tennis Player

hunting down Dutch wheelchair player Esther Vergeer, a sports star who is unknown by most, but truly dominant in her sport. It is no surprise that Djoković holds Vergeer in such high regard given her simply unprecedented sporting CV. When we say that Vergeer is the world’s greatest, we’re not lying, she hasn’t lost a match since 2003. She has literally won every singles match she has played in the last nine years that’s 444 matches and counting.

The Laureus Sports Awards took place this month in London and Novak Djoković used the opportunity to get his photo taken with the tennis star he considers to be one of the best in the business. But it was not a snap with one of his fellow ATP pros such as Roger Federer that he sought. No, the number 1 was

UK’s Most Expensive Car

Shot for €2000 A bottle of Glenfiddich Janet Sheed Roberts Reserve was sold at auction in London for 52 thousand euros. It is the second of 11 bottles to be released to the public.

The first sold at Bonhams in Edinburgh in December for a world record breaking €55,869, for a bottle of single malt.

The 11 bottles of the 1955 tipple are being released to honour Janet Sheed Roberts, the granddaughter of William Grant who founded the Glenfiddich distillery. Mrs Roberts, who celebrated her 110th birthday in August, is the oldest living person in Scotland, a spokeswoman for the distillery said. Each bottle celebrates a decade of her life. Proceeds from the sale will go to Walking With The Wounded, a charity dedicated to the retraining and re-education of injured servicemen and women in the UK.

A Ferrari 250 GTO, aka the ‘bedroom pin-up’, has sold for £20.2 million (€24.2m), thus making it the UK’s most expensive automotive sale.

This particular car, number 5095, is believed to have been sold by British businessman Jon Hunt who bought the car in 2008 for a paltry £15.7m (€18.8m).

Jon Hunt, in case you wanted to know, is the man who founded - and then sold Foxton’s estate agency.

The new owner will surely delight in that 3.0-litre V12, some 300bhp and a 0-60mph time of around 6.1 seconds and top speed of 174mph. Or somewhere near that, considering the price and rarity of the thing - just 39 GTOs were built between 1962 and 1964, of which two now belong to Chris Evans and Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason. The UK’s cheapest new car is the Renault Twizy.

Super ‘Shrimp’ Marine scientists have hoisted up a mysterious new species of “supergiant” amphipods from one of the deepest ocean trenches in the world, scientists announced February.

Seven of the pinkish, shrimp-like animals crawled into a trap left in the Kermadec Trench, an abysmal rift in the seafloor off the northern coast of New Zealand.

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inches long, nearly three times larger than the previous record-holder, and was captured at a depth of about 4.35 miles. It’s not yet clear whether the newfound giants represent a new species or just especially big supergiant amphipods. Alan Jamieson, a marine biologist at the University of Aberdeen and co-leader of the expedition, was hoping to find a species of snailfish but was shocked by the giant, shrimp-like amphipod instead.

Palazzo Megastore Clothing giant Benetton is facing opposition from conservationists over plans to turn one of Venice’s most prominent landmarks into a shopping ‘megastore’. The retailer wants the 500-year-old Fondaco dei Tedeschi to become a collection of shops.

But heritage campaigners claim the alterations will cause ‘serious damage to the

building’s physical integrity and historical identity.’ They have launched a legal bid to challenge the plans and accused Benetton of buying ‘full and fast obedience’ from the council.

Benetton, based in Treviso, bought the building in 2008 for €53m after it had stood empty years. The firm has guaranteed a €6m contribution to the city’s budget if building permits are handed over by the end of the year.

Drive-through Funeral Mourners visiting their late loved ones do not even have to leave the comfort of their own cars to peer at the coffin. The departed lie in open caskets and plain view at a funeral parlour in the Compton district of Los Angeles.

The Robert L. Adams drive-through funeral home first opened in 1974 and is only one of a handful in the US, which also gave the world drive-through restaurants and banks.

‘It’s a unique feature that sets us aside from other funeral parlours,’ said owner Peggy Scott Adams, a Grammy-nominated gospel singer who took over the business when her husband died. ‘You can come by after work, you don’t need to deal with parking, you can sign the book outside and the family knows that you paid your respects. It’s a convenience thing,’ she told a local newspaper reporter.

Scarytales As many as one in five parents say they don’t read traditional fairy tales to their young children as they think they’re “too scary,” a survey has revealed.

Instead they have decided to opt for more modern classics such as The Gruffalo and The Very Hungry Caterpillar, the research found. The poll of 2,000 parents by TV channel Watch, also found that nearly half of parents refuse to read Rumpelstiltskin or Rapunzel to their children because they featured kidnapping and executions. Steve Hornsey, general manager of Watch, which carried out the survey to mark the launch of US drama “Grimm,” said: “As adults, we can see the innocence in fairy tales, but a five-year-old with an over-active imagination could take things too literally.”

Least Intimidating Tank For those who like their eggs with soldiers, this full-scale tank is an eggshell-lent idea – as it’s built from more than 5,000 egg cartons. The Challenger II tank was created from 5,016 egg boxes, 26 litres (5.7 gallons) of glue, more than 10,000 nails and 5,000 staples.

A team of four, headed by former film special effects maker Stuart Murdoch, took

512 hours to finish the 10m (34ft)-long sculpture. It was created to celebrate March Fourth, an annual egg-and-spoon race run by Eggs For Soldiers in aid of Help For Heroes.

Mr Murdoch, 57, said: ‘The biggest challenge was getting it through the double doors of the Imperial War Museum in one piece for the photo shoot. ‘When I made special effects for film, we built unusual props, but never anything like this.’ cordeditorial@cma.rs

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interview Mr. Paul Falke, co-owner, Falke Group

Investing in Tomorrow Falke Gruppe, established in 1895, is one of the oldest and most renowned hosiery, tights and sock producers in Europe. They have managed to sustain the popularity of their products with buyers of both genders throughout years, and are especially popular with women, as female customers love their novelty hosiery. The Falke Group’s turnover presently exceeds 240 million €, of which 58% is generated in Germany and 42% abroad tion capacities as the market demand for Falke and Burlington products - our second brand - increased in the last few years. We had some alternative ideas but the reason we decided to start in Serbia was due to a well functioning textile industry that has already been operating in the uality has always been our Serbian city of Leskovac for several decprime aim in creating a ades. Until 1992, FALKE’s knitted legwear Falke product. Technology was also manufactured in Leskovac. and innovation have Our new production plant in Leskovac The new factory enables us to benefit been just as important as trends in will be responsible for the manufacture from the existing expertise and texthe fashion industry. Moreover, for of knitted legwear and hosiery tile competency on-site.

117 years, the family company Falke has stood for the val■ Is the factoue of clothing bery in Serbia going made of premiing to have a speum materials that are cial production manufactured with programme. Also, the finest workmanhow satisfied are ship and a wealth of you with the factodetail. Our products ry’s operations and are an integral part will Serbian workof the fashion marers receive training ket and we manufacin Falke Gruppe in ture clothing accesGermany? sories that are atOur new production plant in tuned to consumer’s lifestyles We had some alternative ideas but the reason Leskovac will be responsible for and their personal culture and aswe decided to start in Serbia was due to the the manufacture of knitted legpirations. Falke customers always great labour skills of the Serbian people wear and hosiery. In order to reach know what to expect when they the expertise and competency of the actusion FALKE Ergonomic Sport System. Being purchase a product with our name on it.” al production standards, we will work tothe experts in knitting, we are always dePaul Falke, co-owner, Falke Group . gether with the local textile school so that veloping new materials and techniques to we can give our employees the opportunimake the best products for our consumers.

■ Apart from socks, your company alty to become qualified on-site. Moreover, so produces a variety of other prod60 of our new employees in Serbia went ■ You recently opened a production ucts like tank tops and accessories. to Germany last year to learn more about plant in Serbia. What persuaded you to What novelties have you prepared for production in our plants in Schmallenberg, start operating here? the spring-summer season? our headquarter, and in Dorfchemnitz. ■ - We needed to restructure our produc- As the market leader in legwear we always strive to be first in creating innovative products. One of our novelties is the FALKE Sensation. These tights are the perfect symbiosis of seamless seduction and masterly technical achievement. With no annoying seams or gusset in the panty section, the tights are ideal for body-contoured clothing. Apart from legwear we also produce knitwear for men and our sports divi-

“Q

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F A L K E • P.O.BOX 11 09 - D-57376 SCHMALLENBERG / GERMANY

The details make the difference between premium products and others. Since 1895, so for 117 years, the family company FALKE has been standing for legwear and clothing made of premium materials that are manufactured with the finest workmanship and a wealth of detail. Thanks to innovative ideas and backed by many decades of experience, FALKE manufactures legwear and clothing in superior quality and contemporary design. In addition to the production locations

in Germany, Portugal, Slovakia and South Africa, knitted legwear and fine hosiery will also be manufactured in Serbia in the future. The newly opened plant in Leskovac enables the company to benefit from the local expertise in textile production and at the same time marks a new chapter for FALKE’s future success. The FALKE Group is run in the 4th generation by the two cousins Franz-Peter Falke and Paul Falke who are also the 100% owners.

feature Novak djoković, worlD SporTSMan oF THe Year - laureuS awarD

"proUD SERB" ■ By Steve MaCKenZie

At the Laureus award ceremony in London, the great former tennis player, Germany’s Boris Becker, who loves talking about Novak every time he gets the chance, announced him with the following words: “Here comes the proud Serb!” Hundreds of camera flashes pointed at Djoković, blinding everybody in the venue except the world sportsman of the year, who even before receiving the award, had been enjoying every second of his stay in London. Could we say that this award shows just what kind of proud Serbian the world likes and applauds?

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T

he man who grew up in the Kopaonik Mountain range and went to school in the Belgrade quarter of Banjica beamed with pride for making his loved ones and his country happy. Holding the Cartier statue in his right hand, he talked more about the thrill of meeting and spending time with other sport legends rather than about himself and the accolades he has received.

“Did you see the ceremony? It was so beautiful. For the past two and a half hours I have enjoyed lis-

‘Central Hall’ building in Westminster tening to champions and was hanging - the location of the award ceremony. onto their every word. You don’t have The impressive Methodist cathedral a chance to meet such aces every day.” also serves as a conference and ex– ‘Nole’ said, showing that he is ‘down hibition centre in addition to its relito earth’ and why he is a favourite gious purposes. The cathedral’s main among the general public not only in hall can hold 2,352 people and was Serbia but across the world. decorated for the ceremony that was True, Novak was not the only one about to take place in London for the that was delighted with the Laureus Awards. There were 10 million TV viewers who watched via live broadcast and several hundred lucky people who found themselves in Westminster during the cold weekend in London.

From the moment he arrived at Heathrow’s terminal four, a day before the gala, there was a sense of Oscar-like novak Djoković and BoRiS BeKeR at the Award Ceremony glamour, and the signs were everywhere: beautiful ladies in dresses bearing the logo of the renowned foundation, a fleet of Mercedes cars parked in front of the entrance and many busy employees who greeted guests. You could feel that something extraordinary was about to take place.

The moment one entered a legendary German car, bear- British Prime Minister daVid CaMeRon and novak Djoković

that shone on the Big Ben and other buildings highlighted everything that was going on around, providing yet another feeling that something great was happening.

Media positioned themselves on the red carpet hours before the ceremony actually began, fighting for the best possible position in order to get an exclusive interview with sport legends. And there were many of those in London on that weekend – Alex Ferguson, Monika Seles, Lennox Lewis, David Coulthard, Pieter van

“We did not talk (with British Prime Minister David Cameron) about politics or other similar issues.

Instead of that, we remembered how, two years ago, we played tennis here on an improvised court stationed in the room where Mr. cameron greets foreign delegations.” – Novak Djoković

novak Djoković with girlfriend jelena riStić

first time ever. A Renaissance style, in all its lavishness, completely fitted in with the Laureus ceremony which honours tradition, order, elitism and global values. Chandeliers from 1911, numerous statues, vases and antique furniture brought the spirit of the past and added to the extra special feel of the evening.

A red carpet, the symbol of big ceremonies, dominated the tiny square right behind Westminster Abbey and Parliament Square, colours and lights

den Hoogenband, Frankie Fredericks, Edwin van der Sar, Oscar Pistorius, Ilie Năstase, Katarina Witt, Marcel Desailly, Franz Beckenbauer, Don Fraser, Mark Spitz, Emerson Fittipaldi, Nadia Comaneci, Sergey Bubka, Mika Hakkinen, Martina Navratilova, Edwin Moses and other members of this prestigious foundation. Everyone in attendance was dressed to the nines, men wearing mandatory black tie while ladies wore elegant evening gowns. There wasn’t a globally suc-

ing the designation S350 BlueTEC in silver lettering, had the door opened by a man dressed in a black tailcoat and top hat, and a Laureus badge on his pocket, the feelings of exhilaration and glamour began. However, this was only an overture of something much more grandiose waiting to happen.

After just under an hour of easy driving to the heart of the British capital, there was a scene that simply took ones breath away. A red carpet being laid out in front of the magnificent

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cessful athlete that didn’t show up in the British Isles for the ceremony.

One of the many special athletes was the former tennis player Boris Becker. The German announced Djoković with the following speech: - I would like to congratulate Novak on an exceptional year. This was one of the best seasons that I can remember an individual athlete ever having and he absolutely deserves this award. He had ‘heavyweights’, like Messi and Vettel, for opponents - who are magnificent in their own sporting right, and adds yet another dimension to his success. Only several years back, men’s tennis was all about Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal and then came this guy from a small neighbourhood who took matters

into his own hands. We need to congratulate him on the fantastic success he has accomplished. All of which tells us that the “white sport” is going to be even better in years to come.

Other great sporting personalities also bowed to the Serb. For example, Sir Alex Ferguson, a symbol of Manchester United FC and one of the best coaches in the history of football, said that Djoković was extraordinary and expressed his admiration for him.

The famous Alberto Tomba said to Novak that he felt privileged to have met such a champion. The Namibian athlete Frankie Fredericks said that he saw himself in Novak, since he was also a young man from a small and poor country that conquered the world. Lennox Lewis, a former world

planet knows and respects you more now.” Mark Spitz said.

Novak thanked everybody for their kind words and responded with even greater compliments. He also showed that he knew his way around an event such as this. The interest in ‘Nole’ was so great that media, from all over the world, formed a queue in front of the elite Corinthia Hotel where Novak stayed. His management and organizers of the Laureus ceremony decided that only the biggest print and electronic media from five countries would be granted an interview – Britain’s ‘The Times’, Germany’s ‘Die Welt’, Spain’s ‘The Economist’, France’s ‘L’Equipe’, the Italian newspaper ‘La Repubblica’, TV stations SAT 1, La Sexta, BBC/Sky and

champion boxer, admired the tennis player’s fighting spirit and his desire to continuously advance and win more trophies.

“The world got to know Serbia as the land of champions, a country that is no longer mentioned as being war torn or poor, but a proud nation that has someone like Novak Djoković. Thanks to this wonderful guy, the entire

Brazil’s Globo and Mediaset.

Novak managed to catch a break in between the interviews. He had massages at the wonderful hotel spa, watched football matches between British clubs at which Serbians play (Chelsea and Manchester) and regretted not being able to visit Stamford Bridge and cheer for Branislav Ivanović.

However, he didn’t have much free time since his schedule was planned to the minute. He only had an hour to visit the British Prime Minister David Cameron at his residence, Number 10 Downing Street. Djoković was accompanied by several other athletes, but did manage to squeeze in an informal chat with the British PM. - We did not talk about politics or other similar issues. Instead of that, we remembered how, two years ago, we played tennis here, on an improvised court situated in the room where Mr. Cameron greets foreign delegations.

I collected tennis balls and Federer brought refreshments to David who

Under the sponsorship of Mercedes Benz and IWc, the recipient of the Laureus award is given an exclusive cartier statue. each statue contains 670 grams of sterling silver and 650 grams of gold plated metal

Message to children of the World.

By becoming the Foundation’s laureate, Novak will continue to promote the true values of sport.

- “I do hope that my example can send a strong message to children all over the world. I was also a kid once who grew up in a wonderful country that was, unfortunately, torn apart by a war and in which there was no one to help young talented athletes. Still, I am standing here in front of you tonight, with this special and dear award and I hope that every child will dare to dream and choose the road that I have chosen. Sport is something that society needs to nurture and that is what Laureus stands for. I will try my best to convey the message that sport needs to stay as clean as it is today. Thank you for considering me for this award and making me feel honoured to be able to bring it home with me tonight,” Djoković said in his acceptance speech at the Laureus award ceremony.

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“played” against Andy Murray. It was a really fun experience. Afterwards, some of my friends said that I should have asked the Prime Minister about lifting the visa restrictions for Serbian citizens. I am definitely going to do that next time I see him – Novak said.

Following his meeting with Mr. Cameron, Djoković and his girlfriend Jelena Ristić were chauffeured back to their hotel and then on to the ceremony where they walked down the red carpet hand-in-hand. As soon as Novak stepped onto the red carpet, reporters started to squabble – every one of them wanting a piece of the man. Following the award ceremony, Novak was given some time off although he made sure that he answered as many questions as possible.

“the world got to know serbia as the land of champions, a country that is no longer mentioned as being war torn or poor, but a proud nation that has someone like novak Djoković. Thanks to this wonderful guy, the entire planet knows and respects you more now.”

Mark spitz said

He also showed just how great he was when he breached protocol to meet with Serbian media and share his experience with them. Visibly tired from all the obligations that he had in the last few days, he returned to his suite, briefly showed up at the party in the elite Whitehall Club and went to sleep. The next day he returned home to Belgrade.

Novak flew on a regular JAT Airways’ flight from London with other passenger’s spending most of the flight on their feet waiting to take a picture or to get an autograph with him. No one left the plane disappointed. ■

The Serbian tennis player, world’s No.1 novak Djoković and Kenyan’s Long distance runner ViVian CheRuiYot named as the world Sportsman and woman of the year and FC Barcelona was honored as “Team of the Year” (club president SandRo RoSell) at the Laureus Sports Awards ceremony in London.

2012 Laureates

• Sportsman of the Year: Novak Djoković • Sportswoman of the Year: Vivian Cheruyiot • Team of the Year: FC Barcelona • Breakthrough of the Year: Rory McIllroy • Comeback of the Year: Darren Clarke • Sportsperson of the Year with Disability: Oscar Pistorius • Action Sportsperson of the Year: Kelly Slater

Laureates Winners so far 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000

Novak Djoković (tennis) Rafael Nadal (tennis) Usain Bolt (athletics) Usain Bolt (athletics) Roger Federer (tennis) Roger Federer (tennis) Roger Federer (tennis) Roger Federer (tennis) Michael Schumacher (Formula 1) Lance Armstrong (cycling) Michael Schumacher (Formula 1) Tiger Woods (golf) Tiger Woods (golf)

Selecting The Best

The Laureus World Sports Awards are awarded annually to sportspeople who have been outstanding during the previous year. The Laureus World Sports Awards were established in 1999 by Founding Patrons Daimler and Richemont and is supported by its Global Partners Mercedes-Benz, IWC Schaffhausen and Vodafone. The first gala was held on the 25th May 2000 in Monte Carlo. The selection process has two stages. First, a Selection Panel of the world's leading sports editors, writers and broadcasters from over 80 countries voting to create a shortlist of six nominations in each category. Then the members of the Laureus World Sports Academy (47 of them) vote by secret ballot to select the Award winners. The voting process is monitored by independent auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

Laureus principles

- To recognise and celebrate outstanding sporting achievement through the Laureus World Sports Awards – presented annually, and voted for by the members of the Laureus World Sports Academy.

- To foster the development of sport, around the world, through the development of a social programme – the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.

- To promote participation in sport across the world, by all people regardless of gender, ethnic background, financial means or physical or mental disability.

- To champion sport as a healthy and constructive pursuit for everyone, particularly the world's youth.

- To promote sport as a means for international interaction and understanding.

- To support and promote sportsmanship and ethical contact in sport. cordeditorial@cma.rs

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faces & places 31.02.2012 Israeli – Serbian Relations The Embassy of Israel, with the support of the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, “Zubin Mehta”, in celebration of 20 years of re-establishing diplomatic relations between Serbia and Israel, held a festive concert on the 31st January in the Belgrade Philharmonic Hall.

H. E. Mr. Josef Levi, the Israeli Ambassador to Serbia, hosted a number of prominent guests, and Shimon Peres, Israel’s President, sent his greetings via video message.

03.02.2012 80th Anniversary of Kolarac In celebration of the 80th Anniversary of the Kolarac Great Hall Kolarac endowment, Predrag Markovic, Minister of Culture, media and information society has opened “The Jubilee Weekend.” The Minister welcomed guests and participants of the “Jubilee Weekend” at the Kolarac Music Gallery, congratulated the holiday.

Minister Predrag Markovic and Jasna Dimitrijevic, director of Kolarac endowment.

09.02.2012 Departure For the departure of Serbia’s Minister for Youth and Sport, Snežana Samardzić -Marković, to her new duty at the Council of Europe, where she will serve as the Director General of Directorate for Democracy, a reception at Zira Hotel was organized. In attendance were the President of Olympic Committee Vlade Divac, the President of the Sports alliance of Serbia Aleksandar Sostar, numerous representatives of sectoral federations, many journalists and other guests.

07.02.2012 British specialties To mark 175 years of diplomatic relations between Great Britain and Serbia.

The British Embassy in Belgrade, led by Ambassador H.E. Mr. Michael Davenport (left), organized an evening in the Belgrade restaurant “Panta Rei” where British culinary specialties were served. Attendees were addressed by the Ambassador who with his wife, Lavinia hosted the meeting.

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10.02.2012 New AmCham Board of Governors New AmCham Board of Governors (from left to right) Mr. David Banjai, AmCham Board Member and Plant Manager of Ball Packaging Europe Belgrade, Mr. Nikola Stefanović, AmCham Board Member and General Director and Partner of SEAF’s South Balkan Fund, Mr. Zoran Petrović, AmCham Second-Vice President and Deputy Chairman of Managing Board of Raiffeisen banka a.d., Ms. Jelena Kralj, AmCham Board Member and Country Manager of Pedersen & Partners, Mr. Miloš Đurković, AmCham President and Managing Director of Hewlett Packard Serbia, Mr. Stephen Fish, AmCham Secretary Treasurer and Partner in Ernst & Young, Ms. Milica Bisić, AmCham Board Member Head of Markets in KPMG, Mr. Paul Riley, AmCham First-Vice President and Managing Director of Philip Morris in Serbia and Mr. Ivan Vujačić, AmCham Board Member and Member of the Board of Directors in Eurobank EFG.

10.02.2012 National Day of Iran In celebration of the 33rd anniversary of the Islamic revolution of Iran, H.E. Mr. Abolghasem Delfi, the Iranian Ambassador to Serbia, and his wife, invited members of Serbia’s diplomatic, culture, business and media communities to the Iranian Embassy on Uzicka on the 10th of February.

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faces & places 13.02.2012 MPs Speakers of the Serbian and Hellenic Parliaments, Slavica Djukić Dejanović and Filippos Petsalnikos, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, aimed at providing technical support to the Serbian Parliament, by assigning specialized experts based on the choice of the Greek Parliament, after which it was stated that cooperation between the two parliaments will continue and that Greece firmly supports the European path of Serbia.

10.02.2012 Nadja and Sebastian Higl The City of Pancevo organized a reception for the swimmer Nadja and her brother and coach Sebastian Higl in support of their upcoming attendance at the London 2012 Olympics. On the occasion, Mayor Vesna Martinović presented the city’s decision to support top athletes at the Olympic Games.

15.02.2012 The medal On the occasion of Statehood Day, the world’s No.1 tennis player Novak Djoković was awarded with the Karadjordje stars, the top award for this particular merit in honour of his successes in representing the Republic of Serbia. The medal was presented by Serbian President Boris Tadić.

15.02.2012 Serbian National Day Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Aleksandar and Princess Katherine accompanied by members of the Advisory Bodies to the Crown, Dusan Babac, Cedomir Antić and Darko Spasić attended a ceremony marking the National Day of Serbia and the 208th Anniversary of the First Serbian Uprising, in Orašac. The ceremony was also attended by Minister Predrag Marković.

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22.02.2012 Societe Generale 35 Years in Serbia Societe Generale Bank celebrated 35 years of its operations in Serbia. The opening ceremony was held at its newly opened branch office in Belgrade, and they announced a new campaign under the slogan “Because we play the same team.”

Societe General Bank has entered this year with 102 branches, more than 1,300 employees and by the end of the year plans to open 15 more branches. Many visitors and guests at the reception greeted Goran Pitić, Chairman of the Board and Antoine Toussaint, President of IO. The French Ambassador to Serbia, H.E. Mr. Xavier Francois Denian congratulated the work of the Bank and the Serbian economy.

23.02.2012 Tourism Fair The 34th International Tourism Fair in Belgrade, from the 23rd to 26th February, presented offers for summer 2012. This year, as usual, tourists are most interested in destinations such as Greece, Turkey, Montenegro, Spain, Egypt and other Mediterranean countries. Prices are mostly at the same level as last year.

A folk group from Indonesia was one of the biggest attractions of the Fair.

23.02.2012 "A passion to win" Under the motto “A passion to win,” Delta Motors presented the new BMW 3 series model in their showroom, in the presence of numerous guests.

Nemanja Lazić, Director General of Delta Motors (left), Miroslav Misković, President of Delta Holding, and Peter Witt, Head of BMW for Eastern Europe, Africa and the Caribbean.

23.02.2012 Serbian Olympic Club At Hotel Moscow, Belgrade, on the 23rd of February in 1910 the Serbian Olympic Club was founded, an event was held to mark its 102nd birthday. British Ambassador to Serbia H.E. Mr. Michael Davenport, Milica Mandić, President of the GCA Vlade Divac and swimmer Ivan Lenđer attended the celebration. cordeditorial@cma.rs

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culture calendar concerTs PARNI VALJAK sava Center, 8 & 9 march @ 20.00 The legendary Croatian rock group will have two exclusive concerts in Belgrade’s Sava Center on 8th and 9th March. After six recent major concerts in Serbia, the band expressed desire to return to Belgrade with a completely different concerts in the acoustic setting and a repertoire

clAssicAl Music BELGRADE PHILHARMONICA ORCHESTRA Kolarac 2 march @ 20.00 Giancarlo de Lorenzo, conductor Sergei Krilov, violin Program: Paganini Concert for violin and orchestra no.5, Rossini Italian Woman in Algeria BELGRADE STRING ORCHESTRA DUŠAN SKOVRAN Kolarac 5 march @ 20.00 Sibyl Verner, conductor Vladimir Milošević, piano Program: Mozart, Chopin, Greer

of songs that sound better in the intimate space of Sava Center. Band will perform their cult ballads on acoustic guitars, grand piano and percussion, with a unique singing of Aki Rahimovski.

GUITAR ART FESTIVAL – KINGS OF STRINGS sava Center, 17 march @ 20.00 Central event of the next Guitar Art Festival will be a concert of guitar trio Kings Of Strings. Kings are Tommy Emmanuel, Stoke Rosenberg and Vlatko Stefanovski. Three talented artists have announced an unusual blend of different styles of guitar music, positive energy and great fun.

Australia, Netherlands, Macedonia Emanuel, Rosenberg, Stefanovski, kings brought together by the Guitar Art Festival. Different styles, geographical and cultural specificity and tempers will join in together playing what the audience was probably waiting 13 years of previous Guitar Art Festivals.

NATALIJA GUTMAN TRIO Kolarac 6 march @ 20.00 Natalija Gutman, violonchello Dmitrij Vinik, piano Svjatoslav Moroz, violin Program: Beethowen, Brahms, Schuman

RTS SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRA Kolarac 7 march @ 20.00 Concert dedicated to Japan Toshio Janagisava, conductor PIANO FESTIVAL Kolarac 11-15 march 11 March @ 20.00 Vrloclav’s Philharmonic Orchestra Vitold Lutoslavski 12 March @ 20.00 Ipacio Ponceta, piano 13 March @ 20.00 Stefan Ćirić, piano 15 March @ 20.00 Jundi Li, piano

VAMPIRES sava Center, 15 march @ 20.00 After a fifteen-year break, Belgrade band Vampires is making a comeback to local music scene with a long awaited concert in Sava Center.

Their concert is scheduled for 15th March in the Great Hall of Sava Center, starting at 20:00.

Vampires will perform as a sextet, led by frontman Aleksandar Erakovic-Era. From the original cast there is also Dejan Tomović-Tomke on keyboards. New members are: Damian Dašić - drums and backing vocals, Marko Calić - lead guitar and backing vocals and Andrew Bucan saxophone.

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After more than a decade the audience will have the opportunity to hear Vampires hits from all five albums (Rama-lama-ding-dong, Love is a dream, Malena, The Blue City ...), as well as songs from the blockbuster movie “We are not angels” (Be-be, Saturday night, A teenager in love ...).

Vampires promise surprise guests and a ride through a musical time machine.

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BELGRADE DANCE FESTIVAL, “TOO CLOSE” sava Center, 31 march @ 20.00

Music: Philip Glass and Dustin Ohalloran Choreography, set design: Alejandro Cerrudo Costumes: Janice Pytel Lighting design: Tanja Rühl Inspired by toxic and intimate solo piano pieces by Philip Glass and Dustin Ohalorena.

Born in Madrid, Alejandro Serudo acquired education at the Royal Conservatory of Dance in his bAlleT BAYADERE national theatre, 1 march @ 19.30 Ballet Bayadere can be called a Journey through India or the old Romantic myth of the trays with chocolates. Distant colorful culture offered a fantastic idea of women as musicians, dancers and deceivers in the distant exotic religion.

oPerA RIGOLETTO national theatre 3 march @ 19.00 On 9th November 1921 Rigoletto was prformed for the first time at the Belgrade’s National Theatre, directed by Eugene Marijašeca and conducted by Stanislav Binički. Present cast has remained the same for a long time: Rumen Dojkov, Anuška Pejović, Miodrag Jovanović, Ivan Tomašev, Olga Milosević, Olga Savović, Dusan Plazinić, Sanja Kerkez, Holy Kastratović...

TIME OF THE GYPSIES (DOM ZA VEŠANJE) sava Center 24 & 25 march @ 20.00 Emir Kusturica’s praised punk opera “ Time of the Gypsies “ (“Dom za Vešanje”) will be performed on stage of Sava Center on 24th and 25th March.

Music composed by Sparavalo Dejana, Nele Karajlic and Stribor Kusturica. Music performed

by The No Smoking Orchestra. Libretto by Nenad Janković.

hometown. After becoming a professional dancer in 1998, his career has been shaped and enriched by many wellknown troupes, including ballet Victor Uljate, Stuttgart Ballet, Netherlands Dance Theatre and Hubbard Street Dance Company in Chicago. In 2009 Serudo became the first permanent choreographer of Hubbard Street Dance troupe. He created numerous works for them in cooperation with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, but also for the Netherlands Dance Theatre. Serudov’s dance titles are performed throughout the US, Germany, Denmark, Holland and Australia.

DAnce BELGRADE DANCE FESTIVAL sava Center, 31 march @ 20.00 The national dance company, madrid, spain “IN TRANSIT” Music: Scanner, Olafur Arnalds, Max Richter, The Durutti Column y Fennesz Choreography: Annabelle Lopez Ochoa Costume Design: Aviad Arik Herman Set design, lighting design: Jantje Geldof Mental state of mind what overcomes people when they are in an indeterminate public transit area. Complex characters are faced with their ability or inability to act honestly in the dialogue with foreigners. Faced with limited and sometimes unexpected encounters, people are caught in a whirlwind made of the inevitable sense of uneasiness, impatience, loneliness, fear, capriciousness, courage and desire.

“WALKING MAD” Music: Maurice Ravel, Arvo Pärt Choreography, stage, costumes: Johan Inger Lighting design: Erik Berglund A dramatic adventure about three women, their relations and relations with men in their lives.

A comical setting, with a serious subtext.

Born in Stockholm, Johan Inger was educated at the Royal Swedish Ballet School and National Ballet School of Canada. His dance career began with the engagement at the Royal Swedish Ballet, where he soon became a soloist, and continued to the Netherlands Dance Theatre (NDT).

culture news FilM 40TH FEST - INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL sava Center/dom omladine 1-4 march sava Center thursday 1st march @11.00 The Descendants @13.30 The Rum Diary @16.30 La Femme du 5E @19.00 A Dangerous Method @22.00 360/360 Friday 2nd march @11.00 A Dangerous Method @13.30 360/360 @16.30 The Beaver @19.00 The Ides of March @22.00 Le Havre saturday 3rd march @11.00 The Ides of March @13.30 Le Havre @16.30 Rebellion @19.00 The Iron Lady @22.00 Le Gamin au Velo sunday 4th march @11.00 The Iron Lady @13.30 Le Gamin au Velo @16.30 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel @19.00 Doktor Rej I Djavoli @22.00 Restless

dom omladine thursday 1st march @12.30 Habibi @15.00 Die Vaterlosen

@17.30 Poongsan @20.00 Maya @22.30 Parked Friday 2nd march @12.30 Un Conte Chinois @15.00 Le Vendeur @17.30 Wo Kou De Zong Ji @20.00 Geleceg Uzun Surer @22.30 Romeo Eleven saturday 3rd march @12.30 Eldfjall @15.00 Oliver Sherman @17.30 Moth Diaries @20.00 Beduin @22.30 Dyut Meng Gam sunday 4th march @12.30 Poongsan @15.00 Eldfjall @17.30 4:44 Last Day on Earth @20.00 Stanje Šoka @22.30 Sint ArT BERLIN ROOM art gallery Cvijeta Zuzorić 1-11 march The exhibition “Berlin Room” presents works of artists from the Balkans who live and work in Berlin. Their photographs, sculptures and video works reflect a dialogue with the old and the new homeland, as well as the tension between present and past.

Birgit Hoffmeister gathers in his exhibition, which is traveling throughout Europe, works of the following artists: Silva Agostini (Albania), Maja Bajević (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Sheila Kamerić (United Kingdom), Kristina Leko (Croatia), Mihaltianu Dan (Romania), Tanja Ostojic (Serbian), Milovan Marković Destil (Serbia), David Rych (Austria), Yorgos Sapountzis (Greece), Evanthia Tsantila (Greece), Nasan Tur (Turkey) and Mariana Vassileva (Bulgaria).

MIKI JEVREMOVIĆ sava Center, 27 march @ 21.00 One of the most popular singers of the former Yugoslavia, Miki Jevremović, will perform in Sava Center on 27th March celebrating 50 years of his music career. Rife with unforgettable and timeless hits Miki Jevremović’s music career was very much appreciated even my younger audience.

It is not widely known that Miki Jevremović took first place on 106 music festivals so far, which by itself constitute a string of successful live shows and concerts which Miki held around the world more than 10.000. times. He has recorded over 200 albums that have sold more than 15 million copies.

In addition to the many awards he won throughout the former Yugoslavia and Europe, his collection has

PAGLIACCI madlenianum, 27 February

The opera Pagliacci, by Ruggero Leoncavallo, that premiered in Madlenianum in October last year, had its second performance on 27th February. The Pagliacci is a famous work of the standard operatic Bel Canto literature, performed around the world. The 70 minutes opera is a true example of veristic opera with great arias that have been sung by master world’s soloists, from Caruso to Pavarotti, with a strong, exciting high thrilling drama plot. The plot intertwines fiction and reality, bringing the scene into the scene, stirring the oPeninG oF exHibiTion PAblo PicAsso: coTe D’AZur beko building 2 February Instituto Cervantes took part in the organization of this exhibition, which consists of 100 ceramic sculptures, works of gold and silver and posters by Pablo Picasso designed during his stay in the town Valori in France.

The exhibition was opened on 2nd February and will be on until 15th April in the building of “Beko”, after which it will be presented in the other cities of the region.

over 100 platinum records which are an indicator of success and popularity with the audience.

Beginning his career was marked by the song: “Mama,” “Drink”, “Eighteen Yellow Roses”, “If once you see Mary”, “Who are you with now,” and “Poets guitar”.

During 70s Miki, apart from Djordje Marjanović and Radmila Karaklajić, was also very popular in the USSR where he was twice (1974 and 1975) named the artist of the year.

celebrATinG 80 YeArs oF kolArAc Kolarac, 4 February French Institute joined the celebration of the Kolarac’s 80th birthday and participated in organizing the concert of wonderful Serbian violinist Nemanja Radulović.

With two French bands, Les Trilles du Diable and Double Sens, and with pianist Susan

privacy of the protagonists and their roles in the particular type of theatre called the Renaissance commedia dell’arte. Passion, love, jealousy, the intensity of the emotions are to lead to tragedy.

Modern, dramatic, exciting and artistically splendid staging was arranged by the old acquaintance of Madlenianum, the guest director from St. Petersburg, Yuri Alexandrov who already set the modernized version of Verdi’s Traviata, renewed in January, being on at the regular repertoire.

Manofa Nemanja performed acts they recorded together and for which they have received numerous international awards.

FAbio sGroi exHibiTion – Belgrade, oNe FragmeNt italian Culture institute 1-29 February Italian Culture Institute held an exhibition of photographs by Fabio Sgroi from 1st to 29th February. Exhibition was the works of artist Fabio Sgroi, which boasts original ideas and a desire to capture in his photos some pictures of the current reality of Belgrade, by repeatedly analyzing its view of the lens.

This exhibition shows people, landscapes and places that bring to life a dynamic reality of the rich contradictions and at the same time full of loneliness and poetry.

The setting was a selection of black and white photos, in which the reporters approach blends with oniric and sometimes surreal dimension, in some respects becoming cinematographic and poetic, showing a fraction of the Serbian capital’s identity.

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interview Dimitrije vujaDinović, director of BaLkankuLt foundation

nordic Inspiration ■ By Vesna vukajlović

The Nordisk Panorama Festival was put together by the Belgrade Cultural Centre, Balkankult Foundation and V Communications agency. Nordisk Panorama ’12 enabled viewers to see the newest and freshest ideas of young film filmmakers - as well as established works of experienced and renowned filmmakers from the Nordic region

“T

he festival programme was showcased at the Arget Gallery and the Cultural Decontamination Centre. It was wonderful to see the loyalty that film aficionados have toward this festival and to watch them enjoying Nordic ‘magic’ in freezing temperatures.” - Dimitrije Vujadinović.

■ What was the underlying theme of Nordisk Panorama ’12?

- This year’s Nordisk Panorama ’12 was, programme and content wise, based on the namesake festival that took place in the town of Aarhus, Denmark, in late September 2011. The festival showcased the best short, documentary and animated films produced by Nordic artists. We selected 31 films for this year’s festival programme. Each of them is unique and striking in its own way, but put together they provide a mosaic or a general picture about the essence of human values in which we can re-examine the “small things“ that happen every day. In other words, these films deal with topics that range from global political and social issues to intimate and personal experiences, and our views of everyday life. That’s why the festival’s slogan was taken from Horatio – “Great

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things are sustained by small ones.”

The festivals main features were two very special film programmes – Sami Short Films and Nordic Children Films, as well as two accompanying exhibits – one called ‘Between Fire and Ice’ by the famous Icelandic photographer Ragner Axelsson Rax and a video-installation exhibit called ‘The Passion and Polemics’ by Norwegian artist Ingrid Berven. I would like to point out the appeal of the Sami Short Films. The Sami people are a cultural and national minority living in the north of Europe that are completely detached from contemporary technological and social processes, who have managed, in a good way, to preserve their traditional way of living based on a sense of belonging to a community and taking care of nature.

■ The accompanying programme was very attractive. How did the cooperation with artists Ragner Axelsson Rax and Ingrid Berven come about?

- I have spent quite a few years in Iceland and I had the pleasure of meeting Rax, the photographer, whose photographs are actually portraits of the people and landscapes of Iceland and Greenland. We met the Norwegian artist Ingrid Berven last year and, back then, she said that she would love to display her video-installation ‘The Passion and Polemics’ in Belgrade. The installation is about 12 critics responding to her 15 questions. She re-examines the role and importance of criticism in art and overall society.

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■ The Balkankult Foundation is a respectable cultural organization in Serbia. How have you managed to sustain the quality of your projects?

- Balkankult emerged twelve years ago following a large-scale regional conference. The main goal was to provide support to the mobility of artists and cultural practitioners, artworks and ideas, as well as conduct research in the area of cultural policy. Since the very beginning, we clearly understood the importance of creative potential in the development of contemporary societies, especially in small nations and states like Serbia. The experiences of Nordic states have helped us greatly since their knowledge is very useful to us in advancing the cultural policy of Serbia. We are managing to sustain the quality of our projects thanks to the constant exchange of ideas and experiences with our European counterparts. We can also say that the activities, carried out by Balkankult’s associates, are, quality wise, at the level of projects implemented in other parts of Europe. I would like to underline that every one of our projects, whether they have been implemented in Serbia or internationally, have been, or are, evaluated by independent experts or the project beneficiaries themselves.

■ Who do you cooperate with in Serbia and the region, and is it now easier to establish cooperation than when you first started?

- Balkankult Foundation was established with the aim of developing regional

and international cultural cooperation.

Regional research, that we were commissioned to do by the European Union, called ‘Mobility of Artists and Cultural Practitioners in Southeast Europe’, showed that there was a great interest in artists, cultural institutions and the creative sector to cooperate in areas like the film industry, publishing and so on. Unfortunately, this need for cooperation and the opportunities for joint presentation in other parts of Europe are not accompanied by relevant legal and financial support in regional countries. In that area, we need to look to Nordic countries that have developed exceptionally successful and efficient regional cooperation.

Today, regional and international cooperation is somewhat easier than ten or so years ago, but it is still a long way from real possibilities and needs. As have I said before, the main obstacle is the bureaucratic behaviour of regional administrations. In that context, I can honestly say that not a single southeast European state has developed cultural (public) diplomacy.

■ What is your view of the global cultural policy in Serbia?

I would especially like to underline that Serbia, as a small country, can base its development strategy primarily on its creative potential and in securing an environment for transforming this potential into creative capital. Education, culture and science take a prominent position in that process. I view cultural production as a significant starting point and the location for the development of a system made up of humane and noble values. On the other hand, I think that Serbia doesn’t use its cultural production to its full potential in the context of cultural diplomacy, i.e. for better positioning our society in Europe, and the world, based on our

as De Gaulle or Adenauer did – stretching from the Atlantic to the Ural Mountains.

History has taught us that political and economic processes cannot succeed if they don’t involve cultural aspects. In that context, I think that so-called proEuropean processes, as advocated by the European Union, have took a wrong turn since they see European unity only in terms of the economy. European unity is an old idea that is as equally based on the economy as it is on respecting cultural and political diversity. This diversity is where Europe has been drawing its strength. I think the crisis that the European Union is battling with now, and which is also global, came about following the separation of economic criteria from cultural and spiritual values, i.e. because of suppression in ethical norms that have been developing in culture, philosophy and other humanities, from ancient Greece to this day. Today, we have a prevailing technocratic way of thinking and egotism where money has become the supreme value. The contemporary crisis in Europe is not economic, but a much deeper crisis caused by a lack of ethical values.

We clearly understood the importance of creative potential in the development of contemporary societies, especially in small nations and states like Serbia

- Unfortunately, and despite the democratic changes in Serbia, the country’s system still doesn’t have a solution for cultural policy, which should be structured as a harmonized system of goals, priorities and instruments that the state uses to create social ambience and directly help cultural production and cultural heritage. Late last year, my colleague Miša Đurković and I completed comprehensive research called ‘National Culture in Serbia’s Cultural Policy’. The research results show that there is too much administration in the country’s cultural life, i.e. there is inertness and bureaucratization of cultural institutions coupled with an inability to develop the creative (private) sector in cultural production. Also, there is still no inter-sector and interdepartmental cooperation which is a prerequisite in the efficient development of cultural creativity.

artistic creativity and heritage.

I would also like to emphasize that, apart from an unfavourable environment and the inadequate cultural policy in Serbia, we have particularly valuable and fertile artistic creativity. This is what my colleagues from abroad keep assuring me of when I show them Belgrade galleries, exhibits, bookstores, music production etc.

Therefore, the problem is not with artists or the quality of artistic production, but in the system created by state bureaucracy and political establishments.

■ In your opinion, what kind of influence do pro-European values exert on Serbian politics and culture?

- Politically and culturally, I see Europe just

■ Balkankult Foundation has its residential centre and wine cellar on the Fruška Gora. What did you have in mind when establishing that complex?

- Balkankult Foundation has set up the first residential centre for artists and people engaged in humanities in Serbia. European artists can stay at the centre, which is located near the Krušedol Monastery, completely free of charge and have no obligation towards the Foundation whatsoever.

Unfortunately, when it comes to residential centres, which are exceptionally important creative incubators, Serbia is very much lagging behind the rest of Europe. This is the first real residential centre in Serbia that is open all year around.

The centre has two separate suites, each spanning 40 square metres, and linked to 25 mini-residential centres all over the world. The network is coordinated from Japan. ■

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feature

This year sees the games being held in the UK’s capital city for the first time since 1948 and as the countdown continues, CorD advises you make travel plans now for the premiere sporting event that has drawn nearly as much criticism as it has praise

I

f you can make a 71-metre javelin throw then don’t worry, you have virtually booked yourself a place, if not you, i.e. your secretary, better get studying up fast on train tickets, transport and the hotel situation. The Games are taking place from July 27th to Aug 12th. Follow CorD’s quick guide and act fast... the Olympics wait for noone and they are not to be missed.

oVerVIeW

London

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The hub of the action is at Stratford City, about eight miles northeast of Big Ben and central London (and not to be confused with the Shakespearean tourist town of Stratford-upon-Avon).

There are six major venues in the new 500-acre Olympic Park: an 80,000-seat Olympic Stadium, an aquatics centre, a velodrome, a handball arena, a basketball arena and a broadcast centre.

The park’s Athletes’ Village will house about 17,000 competitors and officials.

Many of the 302 events (in 34 venues) will take place at familiar Londonarea landmarks: football at Wembley Stadium, tennis at Wimbledon and road cycling in Regent’s Park.

During the games, officials expect as many as 200,000 visitors a day within the Olympic Park. Between events, many will head next door to the vast

Westfield Stratford City mall, which opened in the autumn with 1.9 million square feet of retail space, a casino, bowling, a 17- screen cinema and two hotels. Overall, tourism officials say Britain, which had about 30 million international visitors in 2010, is likely to draw an extra 900,000 or so in 2012 because of the Olympics.

Where To Stay

UK or a designated European country, you can purchase tickets for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games on this website from April 2012.

Non-EU country residents should use http://www.london2012.com/aboutthis-website/ticketing-website-checker. php to ensure the site you use to purchase tickets is an Authorised Ticket Reseller.

No tickets for the 2012 Olympic Games? Don’t despair: You don’t need a ticket to enjoy the games and the party atmosphere in London this summer.

Although most sporting events take place in ticketed Olympic venues, there is plenty to see and do elsewhere in the run-up to and during the games. From live Olympic screenings in Hyde Park to world music performances by the River Thames, a huge list of free and afforda-

cling races do not require a ticket and can be watched in the streets for free provided you arrive early to find a vantage point. Both begin and finish on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, a spectacular backdrop that will attract thousands of spectators.

Trafalgar Square, Hyde Park and Victoria Park are the other key spots to go - big screens will be set up with live coverage of all medal events, and live music and other entertainment will be provided for free.

ble events promises that visitors - sports fans or not - can get a taste of Olympic excitement without spending a fortune.

will also provide an opportunity for the world to view the artistic expression of Danny Boyle and his team, and the culture of the Host City and the UK. There are certain elements that must feature in every Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, as outlined in the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Olympic Charter: • Receiving the Head of State of the host country • Parade of athletes • Speeches • Playing the Olympic anthem and the entry and raising of the Olympic flag • Oaths • The torch and lighting of the cauldron

It’s not easy to secure a room during the Olympics - but it’s not out of the question, either. For the options, and the daunting prices, start your search at visitlondon.com/accommodation-during-thegames. A check of the high-demand dates July 27- Aug 2 yielded scores of choices, many of them starting at €300 a night going all the way up into tens of thousands less-expensive lodging can be On July 27th 2012 the eyes of the world will found outside be on London for the Opening Ceremony of the city, but of the London 2012 Olympic Games you will need to act quickly – hotels are filling up fast. If you have a friend in the UK, now is the time to call them and apologise for the “lost in the post” Christmas card. Also consider a self-service apartment – prices start from around €3500 a week in the city for two adults sharing.

Opening Ceremony

The eyes of the world will be on London on July 27th 2012 for the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. The Ceremony will mark the beginning of the XXXth Olympiad. It

Getting Around

The idea is that nobody should drive to the London Olympics.

Toward that end, an expansion of London’s already-extensive rail transit system includes high-speed trains that race from St. Pancras Station in central London to the Stratford International Station (next to Olympic Park) in as little as seven minutes. Tickets to most events come with a Games Travelcard good for a free day-of-event travel on most public trains and buses in the city. CorD recommends this as taxis will be slower in the no-doubt ridiculously heavy traffic for which London is already famous.

Tickets/Lack There Of

If you have not reserved a ticket, don’t worry. Whether you are a resident of the

Events for Free

Festivities kick off in mid-May, as soon as the Olympic torch arrives in the United Kingdom from Greece. Street parties are expected across the nation to cheer the torchbearers, who will make a 70-day relay through hundreds of towns before reaching the Olympic Stadium in east London.

As for watching the games, London offers several ways to take part on the cheap. The Olympic marathons, which take place in early August, and road cy-

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theatres Of Dreams 3 2

VELODROME AND BMX TRACK

HANDBALL ARENA

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5

OLYMPIC VILLAGE

BASKETBALL ARENA

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OLYMPIC STADIUM

1. OLYMPIC STADIUM

• Sports: Athletics, Paralympic athletics.

• Cost: £537m (€639m).

• Capacity: 80,000.

• 25,000 seats sit on the permanent lower tier, while 55,000 seats are on the temporary upper tier.

• Spectators reach the site via five bridges.

• Post Games, West Ham United will move into the stadium.

2. HANDBALL ARENA

• Sports: Handball, modern pentathlon fencing.

• First event: Opening handball matches (July 28).

• Cost: £44m (€52.3m).

• Capacity: 6,500.

• Spectators enter directly on to aconcourse level that encircles the building.

• Post-Games, it will be adapted to a multi-use sports centre.

4. BASKETBALL ARENA

• Sports: Basketball, handball, Paralympic wheelchair basketball, Paralympic wheelchair rugby.

• First event: Opening matches (July 28).

• Cost: £40m (€47.6m).

• Capacity: 12,000.

• Steel frame weighs 1,000 tonnes and is one of the largest temporary venues ever built for an Olympic Games.

• The structure will be relocated elsewhere in the UK after the Games.

• The Village will cater for 17,000 athletes and officials.

• Sports: Track cycling, Paralympic track cycling.

91 March 2012

• First event: Men’s Team Pursuit qualifying (Aug 2).

• Cost: £93m (€110.6m).

• Capacity: 6,000.

• Nicknamed ‘The Pringle’ because of its crisp-like shape, it is the most sustainable venue in the Park.

• Ventilation is 100 per cent natural, providing a perfect track-level temperature.

5. OLYMPIC VILLAGE

3. VELODROME AND BMX TRACK

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• Homes are built around communal squares and courtyards.

• The Village includes shops, restaurants and medical, media and leisure facilities.

• The ‘Village Plaza’ is an area where athletes can meet with friends and families.

• Post-Games, the Village will be transformed into 2,800 new homes, 1,379 of which will be affordable homes.

• Chobham Academy will be opened as an educational campus with 1,800 student places.

6. AQUATICS CENTRE

• Sports: Swimming, synchronised swimming, Paralympic swimming, diving, modern pentathlon.

• Cost: £269m (€320m).

• Capacity: 17,500.

• Incorporates a 160m long wave-like roof.

• Water polo will be held in a temporary arena next door.

• To be transformed into a community and elite facility after the Games.

tALkInG poInts souvenirs More than 90 percent of the 194 products available on the official London 2012 website were manufactured overseas. A majority of Union Jack emblazoned tea cups, crystal ware, tea towels and even fluffy toys on sale were produced by foreign workers.

According to “small print” nearly two thirds of the merchandise was manufactured in China, with Turkey contributing nine percent of merchandising and the Philippines four percent, the Daily Mail reported.

The newspaper also reported that countries such as India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Pakistan, Poland, Slovakia and Germany made merchandise, which also included T-shirts, bags, hats, toys and games.

Olympics organisers are expecting to raise more than €1.1bn from the sale of 2012 merchandise. Officials pointed out that, while most of the souvenirs are made abroad, the majority of licensees are British. But critics said many UK household names given

contracts because of their British heritage had wasted the chance to showcase local craftsmanship.

In 2010, when the similar claims were raised, Lord Coe, the London 2012 Chairman said: “Where it is at all possible to procure British manufacturing, we will. “Those licencees, where they have a domestic output potential - we will encourage that.”

Athletes

Arkansas Tickets Tickets to the London 2012 Olympics will be printed in Arkansas, United States and airfreighted 4,500 miles to Britain after an American firm was awarded the printing contract. The decision to grant the contract to Weldon, Williams & Lick of Fort Smith, Arkansas has sparked outrage among British businesses who have demanded to know why they were not chosen. Previous Olympic organising committees in Seoul and Barcelona gave their ticket printing deals to the national equivalent of the Royal Mint. But Locog,

The IOC has drawn criticism for its social media guidelines that, commentators argue, appear to infringe on athletes’ right to free speech. The guidelines appear to prohibit athletes from commenting on other participants, promoting their own sponsors, or using the word “Olympic” (with certain specific exceptions) on their personal websites. Further criticism has been levelled at the IOC’s creation of a website intended to allow the reporting of suspected Olympics breaches of the guidelines.

Barefoot Marketing

When London won the bid in 2005, VisitBritain estimated that the games in London could bring in €2.3bn in tourism revenue. Prime minister at the time, Tony Blair, said that the Olympics represented a “Once-in-an-era opportunity for British tourism.”

More recently, Sebastian Coe said the the games were an “absolute godsend” for the British economy. However, the Independent Newspaper reports that instead of billions in extra revenue, the European Tour Operators Association now estimates a €4.16bn drop in proceeds in July and Au-

organisers are expecting to raise more than £1bn (€1.1bn) from the sale of 2012 merchandise

Some of Britain’s leading athletes, including Mark Cavendish and Mo Farah, may collect any London 2012 Olympic medals in bare feet to avoid contractual issues with personal sponsors following a row with the British Olympic Association over marketing rights. Leading agents of top-line competitors sponsored by footwear giant Nike have told the BOA their athletes would be in breach of contracts if they are forced to wear Team GB’s official ”presentation outfit” which is sponsored by rival Adidas.

They have warned the BOA that athletes might take off their shoes before walking out to the presentation dais.

However the BOA said not only was Adidas sponsoring the team, the rule that athletes had to wear the company’s footwear at all times during the Olympics, including on the podium, would be strictly enforced. The only exception is that competitors can wear any brand of footwear during competition because it is classed as technical equipment.

who also outsourced the manufacturing of some Olympic souvenirs to China, defended their decision stressing that there were many business opportunities for British firms as a result of the Games.

A London 2012 spokesman said: “The contract to print tickets was awarded following a thorough, competitive and open tender run through [tendering website] Compete For.” Nearly all of the 11 million tickets to the Olympics and Paralympics will be printed in the southern state before being packaged up and flown thousands of miles to Britain. From there they will be distributed to ticketholders at a €7.14 delivery cost.

Revenues

Athletes aren’t the only ones hoping to take home gold this summer. Olympic organisers had been promising Britain would strike gold with the games as visitors for the games filled the cities hotel rooms, shops and taxis.

gust as dramatic price spikes in hotel rates are scaring away tourists who were planning to visit the city.

Olympics organisers often tout the benefits to local businesses and residents of holding the games, but while the games might benefit host cities in terms of exposure and redevelopment, the cost can be extremely high.

London had used the Olympics to redevelop an entire area of the city that had long languished, with millions of pounds being poured into the area to provide a lasting legacy for the area. Sky Sports estimates that an extra €2.8bn of public money will be spent on the games and that costs for the games could spiral to as high as €28.5bn, ten times the initial estimate.

As the UK feels the bite of austerity and the chill winds from the ongoing Euro crisis, Britons will be paying close attention to the cost and benefits of the games.

As it stands now, there are real concerns as to whether the games will deliver the boost to tourism as promised. ■

cordeditorial@cma.rs

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travel A SELECTION OF THE MOST RELAXING AND BEAUTIFUL SPAS IN THE WORLD

Wonderful WELLNESS

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combination of destination spas and hotel spas, this list includes CorD’s most beloved places to escape from reality. Wherever you choose to travel, our suggestions will surely allow you to find a relaxing paradise filled with mineral baths, saunas, mud masks and massages.

When it comes to spas, it’s a unique quality - as well as the destination - that makes the place worth visiting, whether it’s for detox, health and wellness or simply for relaxation and rejuvenation. With impeccable service, singular treatments and gorgeous surroundings, each of these 10 spas have an edge that set them apart from the everyday offerings. Prices for two adults sharing a double room.

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RaiSon D’EtRE SPa Grand Hotel, Stockholm The Nordic-inspired Raison d’Etre spa inside the most glamorous hotel in Stockholm expertly blends Swedish design, natural materials and local resources. Its stunning features include waterfalls, a slate swimming pool and the most luxurious suite of treatment rooms. The main treatment suite is made for two – a great place for a romantic weekend.

aVERaGE PRiCE PER niGHt / €

2/10 MÉtRoPoLE ESPa Monte Carlo

3/10

aVERaGE PRiCE PER niGHt / €

QUaLia Australia This is one of Australia’s newest luxury destinations set amidst the breathtaking surroundings of the Great Barrier Reef at the northernmost tip of Hamilton Island. Spa Qualia is centrally placed to catch the soft sea breeze and its templelike meditation and Yoga pavilion is perfectly positioned with sweeping views of the Whitsundays Islands.

A classically elegant urban spa, decorated in soothing natural wood and stone, in the heart of one of the world’s most exclusive destinations.

In addition to 10 treatment rooms, there are spacious VIP suites for personalised pampering and a state-of-the-art fitness studio to burn off the excesses of Monaco good-living. Opulence abounds and restraint is in short supply.

aVERaGE PRiCE PER niGHt / €

4/10 BULGaRi RESoRt Bali Designed by the iconic Italian jewellery house, the Bulgari Resort and Spa Bali is idyllic in every sense: No-end-in-sight views of the glittering Indian Ocean are spectacular from all directions; the scent of sweetly heady frangipani flowers permeates the air and ultramodern villas are stocked with soaps, creams, scrubs, silky songket sheets and robes you’ll want to steal.

aVERaGE PRiCE PER niGHt / €

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5/10 BanYan tREE Phuket, Thailand aVERaGE PRiCE PER niGHt / €

aVERaGE PRiCE PER niGHt / €

6/10

Prepare to enter a different world at the banyan tree Phuket. Located near the beautiful beach of Bang Tao Bay, this pampered paradise is one of Asia’s most spectacular spa resorts. Thailand’s rich culture is reflected in the architecture and design of the resorts 123 villas. The banyan tree health spa is among the best in Asia.

7/10

aVERaGE PRiCE PER niGHt / €

tHE RESiDEnCE Mauritius

DELaiRE South Africa Owned by jeweller Laurence Graff, Delaire is a spa-lodge-restaurant on a 42-hectare working wine estate in Stellenbosch, South Africa, about 45 minutes from Cape Town.

It may only have ten suites to boast of, but like the diamonds Graff sells from his 30 stores worldwide, the cut is expensive and close to flawless.

On an island whose shores are packed with 5 star hotels, The Residence has always managed to hold its own with its unique brand of luxury, from the ylang-ylang scented rooms where personal butlers are on call to run rosepetal baths, to the three expertly run restaurants and the Sanctuary spa. Staying at the The Residence is a truly blissful experience.

8/10

aVERaGE PRiCE PER niGHt / €

HotEL aURELio Lech, Austria Set in a beautiful village amid the slopes of western Austria’s vast Arlberg region, the hotel’s spa is a luxurious haven for powderheads. Facilities include sauna cabins, aroma steam rooms, herbal saunas and multi-sensory showers that wouldn’t look out of place in a science-fiction film. Lech is picture-perfect, and the Aurelio a luxurious but relaxed spa hotel. aVERaGE PRiCE PER niGHt / €

9/10 WaKaYa CLUB & SPa, Fiji If your idea of luxury is a secluded island hideaway, Fiji’s Wakaya Club & Spa is at your service. This private island resort is composed of only 10 waterfront bures (or cottages). The bure’s own spa, private pool, several decks and hammock are accompanied by private access to the Pacific Ocean.

Pamper yourself to within an inch of heaven.

aVERaGE PRiCE PER niGHt / €

10/10 Maia RESoRt & SPa, Seychelles Offering all the peace and privacy of a monastic cell, but thankfully none of its spartan nature, this luxury all-villa resort, overlooking Anse Louis beach on the southwest coast of Mahé in the Seychelles, is where thatched roofs sit like dots of corn-yellow in a palette of greens and blues. It’s the ideal place to drag your knotted back and furrowed brow for a spot of proper relaxation. cordeditorial@cma.rs

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... Relaxation SERBIAN STYLE

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lthough spas in Serbia may not be able to compete on the same level in the glitz and glamour stakes with their European counterparts, they certainly make up for their occasional shortcomings with many good services, fantastic after spa activities and lashings of hearty food. There is one other good thing about Serbia Spa’s and that is the prices, in terms of ‘bang for your buck’ - or maybe that should be ‘deals for your dinar’ – they are very hard to fault and perfect for a quick break.

1/8

aVERaGE PRiCE PER niGHt / €

ViLLa & SPa ZonED Kopaonik Villa & Spa Zoned offers peaceful surroundings at the entrance to the Kopaonik National Park. The hotel features a spa and wellness area and 2 restaurants and offers unique architecture and interior design with futuristic décor. Spa and wellness facilities include a sauna, Turkish bath, massages, hot tub and fitness centre.

There is a pizzeria and another restaurant that serve a variety of dishes and a buffet breakfast. Guests can also relax in the lounge bar and while away hours in the surrounding mountains. Pančić’s Peak is a 15-minute drive away while Raška can be reached by car in 40 minutes.

aVERaGE PRiCE PER niGHt / €

2/8

3/8

LiFE DESiGn HotEL, Belgrade

CitY CoDE SPa, Zemun

Boasting a perfect location in the very heart of Belgrade, the recently built Life Design Hotel features elegant, anti-allergenic rooms and superb spa facilities. The Five Elements spa area includes several kinds of saunas, steam baths, tropical rain showers and offers a wide range of massages. Guests can relax in the Jacuzzis or on the heated ceramic relaxation beds. International cuisine, accompanied by national delicacies as well as the new special Serbian menu served in the Privilege Restaurant. Unwind with a warm cup of tea and coffee or a refreshing cocktail at the aperitif bar of this lovely hotel.

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The modern City Code Spa is situated in the Zemun district of Belgrade just a few minutes from the Danube riverbank. The elegant rooms offer free internet access and the property features a bright and recently constructed spa centre with a sauna, Jacuzzi and an indoor swimming pool. You can also work out in the gym if the mood takes you, but City Code is more about the relaxing than the taxing. For guests arriving directly from abroad an airport transfer service can be arranged upon request by City Code Spa. Zemun has a rich history - it has been inhabited ever since the Neolithic period.

aVERaGE PRiCE PER niGHt / €

aVERaGE PRiCE PER niGHt / €

4/8 HotEL & SPa iDiLa Zlatibor The Idila is centrally located in Zlatibor. In a characteristic mountain chalet, the hotel features an indoor pool and spa centre. Decorated in neutral tones, rooms at Hotel and Spa Idila present a contemporary lay-out and are all equipped with free Wi-Fi access if business is on the agenda. Guests can enjoy the casual yet elegant atmosphere of the hotel restaurant, the menu is complemented by a varied wine list with international labels coupled with a trendy bar. Popular nearby attractions include the slopes of Mt. Tara and the old wooden churches located in the neighbouring towns of Jablanića and Dobrošelića. The ski slopes of Obudojevića are across from the hotel.

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aVERaGE PRiCE PER niGHt / €

HotEL ZLatiBoR Mona, Zlatibor Benefiting from a convenient location in the heart of the tourist resort of Zlatibor close to all major attractions, the tastefully decorated Hotel Mona offers well-furnished and bright accommodations. Sample delicious national and international cuisine at the two of hotels restaurants after a day of relaxation. The health club provides professional treatments and massages which are perfect after a whole day of scenic long walks. If you are planning to organize a meeting or a conference, the superbly equipped congress centre of Hotel Zlatibor Mona is at your disposal.

aVERaGE PRiCE PER niGHt / €

SQUaRE ninE Belgrade

The luxurious Square Nine Hotel is a mere 50 metres from Knez Mihailova and 100 metres from Kalemegdan Fortress. It features a spa with naturally lit pool and a Japanese bathtub. Rooms at Square Nine Hotel Belgrade are decorated with attention to interior design, including hardwood floors and panelling, comfortable Treca de Paris beds, linen wallpaper and unique furniture pieces. Spacious, limestone bathrooms provide a relaxing enough environment by themselves and guests can enjoy a fabulous meal at the hotel’s restaurant, which received a rave review in a previous edition of CorD.

7/8 HotEL CRYStaL Kraljevo

aVERaGE PRiCE PER niGHt / €

Opened in June 2009, the stylish and elegant Hotel Crystal offers well-equipped accommodation, mouth-watering cuisine and superb facilities in Kraljevo. Unwind at the restaurant, where a rich buffet breakfast is served from 7am to 10am. Until 11pm you can sample the menu with a variety of cold salads, grilled meat and fish and Serbian specialities. The health club has a gym, a sauna and a Jacuzzi.

8/8

aVERaGE PRiCE PER niGHt / €

PREZiDEnt HotEL Novi Sad Situated in the heart of Novi Sad, Prezident Hotel is a friendly hotel close to the University of Novi Sad, National Theatre of Serbia, and Karadorđe Stadium. Also nearby is the Church of the Virgin Mary and Vojvodina Museum. Prezident Hotel has a fullservice spa, a health club, an outdoor pool, an indoor pool, and a spa tub, so it can cater for all your relaxation needs. This 5-star luxury hotel also features good business amenities. cordeditorial@cma.rs

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techno talk cord BringS you tHe BeSt tecH to accoMpany you on your traVeLS

There are few experiences in life more enjoyable than travelling. In this day and age, moving around from one place to another has become simple, fast and efficient (if you exclude security at airports), and whilst doing so there is an almost countless number of gadgetry gear that can do everything from entertain you to point you in the right direction. Following on from our feature on the upcoming London Olympics, the following pages contain our suggestions to help you get to your destination safely, entertained and in style ■ by Max WilliaMS

Smooth TOUCH CONTROL BY REMINGTON €75 Remington’s touchscreen beard and stubble trimmer features incremental settings of 0.1mm, giving 175 length options. Bring your look into the 21st and experience the power of precision with the new LED touch screen that puts control at your fingertips. It’s the perfect gadget for the tech-savvy precisionist who pays attention to detail.

175 different length options and three turbo speeds offer you the versatility you want to style your own unique look.

Safe Keeping SOLID GRAY €119 If you have always wanted a compact bag that can store the multitude of gadgets that you carry every day, then this is the bag you need. The folded backpack will keep your mobile-phones, tablets and even laptop (a 15.6" one) safe. Polypropene block-copolymer has been used for this product which makes the Armadillo bag strong and light at the same time. You can also fold it as many times you want as you will not break it or tear it apart.

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Remote Security D-LINK CLOUD CAMERA €250 The Cloud Camera 5000 by D-Link lets you keep an eye on your home whilst you're away. The camera can either be set to stream clear live HD video footage at 720p high-definition of up to 30 fps or send the footage to a local microSD for viewing at a later time. With a motorized pan and tilt base you can set motion-sensor triggers to email you alerts if the house is playing hosting to a pack of thieves or most likely when the liquor cabinet is getting raided.

Functional Fashion PRADA HEADPHONES €326 This year, largely in part due to the popularity of Beats by Dr. Dre, headphones have not only served as a means for listening to tunes, but they’ve emerged as an actual fashion accessory. Anyway, Prada gets into the higher-end - or in their case, straight up highend - headphone game with these lovely, minimal black headphones. Buy because that black, enamel triangle stands for something - especially to the women in your life. And that something is called "quality."

Easy Listening SENNHEISER USA MM 550 €400 Some headphones are built for kicking back on the couch and melting into the music. Others are built for the road, whether it’s a long flight or just walking around. Sennheiser’s travel-minded MM 550 wireless Bluetooth headphones fit the latter category - they’re street-ready and can handle the rigors of the road while offering solid sound quality. The MM 550s have a closed-back design that’s light but sturdy, with a good amount of flex.

They also have a slim profile and can fold up into a shape and size similar to a banana.

Handheld Map MAGELLAN EXPLORIST 710 €450 The eXplorist 710 is a rugged GPS device, coming in a rounded, heavy, solid case, with the screen deeply recessed in the body for extra protection. Magellan claims it’s waterproof enough to survive rain and occasional puddle immersion, but it also offers turn-by-turn navigation for those who want to leave it attached to a warm, dry car dashboard.

If you're used to struggling through mountains to try and find what the map makers found, this is a very useful tool. cordeditorial@cma.rs

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techno talk

Powerful Tsuyoshi NIKON D5100 €800 The Nikon D5100 should be with you at all times.

With so many cameras on the market, it is difficult to know which one is best, but at this price and high quality Nikon has come up trumps. The enormously talented rising star of photography in Serbia, Emilija Jelić, says, “As a second pair of eyes and memory bank, the D5100 never disappoints. Ease of use and image quality are the backbone of this superb camera.” If it’s good enough for her, it is good enough for you.

Foldaway Tech SONY TABLET P €tBC (Spring) The new Sony tablet weighs 0.5 lbs and folds neatly into a hand-sized box for easy portability when travelling. Dual 5.5-inch screens allow for different functions simultaneously or one big picture for Web surfing, and the fold between screens turns the tablet into the perfect eBook reader. With its eye-catching clamshell design and twin screen configuration, the Sony Tablet P sets itself apart from other Android tablets. It's heartening to see Sony present something a little unusual in this saturated market.

Fine Hand DUNHILL SENTRYMAN EXPLORER II

€2,560

British company Alfred Dunhill has created the ultimate writing implement for journaling jet-setters: the 18-karat gold Sentryman Explorer II pen, with interchangeable fountain, ballpoint and pencil options. What really sets it apart, though, is what’s concealed inside.

Seamlessly integrated into the pen’s interior are a flashlight and compass— and for the truly far afield, there is an artificial flint, which can ignite a fire by being struck against the pen’s shell.

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On Time OMEGA SEAMASTER OLYMPIC COLLECTION €5,120 Sebastian Coe, the Chair of has said, “I am looking forward to our cooperation with Omega. London is putting sport and the athletes at the centre of its planning, because we want to see records broken in 2012. Omega timing will be absolutely central to this, capturing these moments of sporting history on the track, in the pool and in so many of our venues.” Be a part of history, stylishly. The Seamaster collection

by Omega is one of the most distinguished lines in horology and pop culture.

Upgrade/Downgrade ÆSIR Æ+Y PHONE

€7,060 - €41,000

Ditch your iPhone and opt for the Æ+Y, a cell phone by Danish company Æsir. It’ll tell the time, and you can call and text with it, too. Handcrafted in collaboration with the San Francisco–based designer Yves Béhar and available in stainless-steel and 18-karat gold versions, it travels well and is built tough, with a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal screen and 38 custom-made miniscrews that secure its key components together. €41,000 for the gold version, €7,060 for the steel.

Flight of Fancy EUROCOPTER EC145 STYLED BY MERCEDES €5-10,000,000 With its versatile interior, the EC145 Mercedes-Benz Style is tailored to a broad range of travels: executive transportation, family voyages, as well as leisure and sport trips.

Conceived in a styling project led by the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studio in Como, Italy, the interior of the EC145 Mercedes-Benz Style is inspired by the automaker’s range of high-end vehicles. It features deluxe materials, elegant woods and ambient cabin lighting, along with multifunction boxes. If you have the means you can travel in ultimate luxury!

cordeditorial@cma.rs

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fashion tHiS SeaSon it’S tiMe to get adVenturouS in preparation for SuMMer

Hot Spring

In recent seasons, fashion trends have dictated girls borrow from the male wardrobe with “boyfriend jeans” and military-inspired gear reminiscent of the battlefield. But, looking ahead, the offerings on the racks for Spring 2012 indicate a definite return to femininity and glamour

■ By Max WilliaMS

A

s we finally move out of the cold of winter months, it seems designers have decided to brighten up our lives with some of the most vibrant looks we have seen for a while. With everything from intense, block colours to pixelated prints it’ll be near impossible not to make a statement with your fashion choices this Spring. Note: These looks will take your confidence to the next level – you will be noticed, in a good way!

Anoraks Spring 2012’s cool-girl anoraks - as seen at most fashion shows at this time of year - are a win-win as far as we’re concerned: They fit in with spring’s sporty vibe and promise to make your rainy days look chic. What’s not to love?

PRICE:

PRICE:

€ 200

€ 90 PRICE:

€ 100

Colour-Blocking Springtime is when you should be more colourful than the crowd at a Lady Gaga concert. Bold, solidcolour pieces - like a cardi and skirt, wrap dress or demure one-piece suit - make simple dressing look glam.

Our style tip: Stick to three colours max to avoid the girly, rainbow look.

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PRICE:

€ 150 www.cordmagazine.com

PRICE:

Shocking Bold Prints

FREYWILLE

Glamorous and Refined

€ 390

A modern silhouette and clean lines were the inspiration behind the new FREYWILLE bag; Soirée Viennoise.

FREYWILLE boutique, Terazije 26, Belgrade

There are prints, and then there are PRINTS. All caps are necessary to describe the vibrant, swirling, styled-headto-toe patterns that will sashay down Europe’s hippest high streets and there’s plenty to choose from - oversize florals, mirrorlike geometric shapes, even parrot prints - we love this cheerful look.

PRICE:

€ 1109

Clutch Soirée Viennoise, Collection ‘Ode to Joy of Life’ Design ‘Living Art’

PRICE:

€ 370

Tangerines and Oranges Just before New York Fashion Week kicked off, Pantone Institute shared its prediction for the most popular colours of spring 2012, and it was spot-on: The pick for spring’s numero uno shade, Tangerine Tango. And if tangerine isn’t your citrus of choice, there are plenty more orange hues to choose from.

Wear one colour and look chic? How easy is that!

PRICE:

€ 200

Pink Suits Sure, this trend might not automatically be filed under “wearable,” but we give this leggy-yetoffice-appropriate look major props for its versatility: Wear a blazer and shorts separately for a whole new set of cute outfits!

Smart dressing, indeed.

PRICE:

€ 490

PRICE:

€ 720 cordeditorial@cma.rs

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PRICE:

€ 490

Ultramodern Prints With so many pixelated prints and swirling graphics around, it’s clear someone’s been having fun with Photoshop. If you’re feeling tired of classic patterns like plaids, stripes and polka dots, then spring 2012’s futuristic-print trend is for you. To keep things in this day and age (and not, say, full-on Jetsons era), pair a techno-print piece with something simple like a won’t-goout-of-style-for-light-years t-shirt.

PRICE:

€ 460

PRICE:

€ 500

Pastel Shades If wild, look-at-me hues aren’t your thing, worry not: The world’s most esteemed designers have got your back. (And your front. And your legs. You get the picture).

Spring’s sweet sorbet shades and pastel hues give off a low-key, ladylike vibe.

PRICE:

€ 370

Lively Camo Camo usually feels heavy-duty, but spring’s versions are more ladylike thanks to soft, pretty pastels. How to pull it off in the urban jungle? Treat it like it goes with everything by styling it up with other patterns and colours and suddenly your friends will be calling on you to merchandise their closets and approve their spring splurges. Keep it stealth— they don’t have to know that your cool new camo did the heavy lifting.

PRICE:

€ 320

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PRICE:

€ 300

Metallic Essentials Go-to wardrobe favourites - from wrap skirts and slim trousers to stacked heel loafers - turn into going-out gear when they come covered in shiny bronze or liquid emerald green.

If you need to have a Footloose moment and steal the dancefloor spotlight, wear this look!

PRICE:

€740 PRICE:

€1200

Peplum PRICE:

€850 PRICE:

€620

Flirt without saying a word in this season’s peplum skirts, dresses and tops, defined by a short flared ruffle that sits at the natural waist (that’s the “tiny” part!).

High heels and your steadiest eyeliner flick will seal the deal on your spring glam plan.

1960’s Comeback Each decade of the 20th century is prone to being defined by its fashions; and for each of those decades is a cycle of revival inevitable. Some decades are revived in distinctive fits and starts whilst others, like the 60s, linger never too far out of reach. So while pulling on your teeniest mini may always be an option there’s no better time than Spring 2012 to inject even more of that swinging 60s vibe into your wardrobe.

PRICE:

€500

PRICE:

€450 cordeditorial@cma.rs

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the most popular brand in Serbia During the traditional campaign ’My Choice’, consumers in Serbia have chosen the Plazma biscuits as the most popular and most loved product in the country. This recognition confirms yet again that Plazma is unique, irreplaceable and enjoys the biggest trust with consumers.

Senior brand manager at Bambi-Banat, Maja Simić says that the company is especially proud of the fact that Plazma, which has been produced for over 40 years, is the brend that the consumers trust the most. „This award is even more important if we consider that it was the consumers who recognized the quality coupled with trust, which is an integral part of the family and national tradition, and voted in favour of Plazma – Maja Simić said. According to her, Plazma has confirmed yet again that it is unique, irreplaceable and connected to the purest and most sincere personal feelings in every one of us – i.e. trust, longevity, growing up, health and quality.

Generations of consumers grew up enjoying the recognizable taste of Plazma and the brend itself has been growing and developing over the years. Today’s Plazma does not contain trans-fatty acids. Apart from Plazma Original, there is a wide Plazma range which satisfies the various consumer tastes and is ideal for any occasion. From Plazma Mlevena, and Mini Plazma i Čoko Plazma, to Plazma Keksići za decu, Plazma Dobar start, Plazma Reci torta and Posna Plazma, now we also have Plazma Kakao and Plazma Kakao Mlevena.

Posna Plazma With Posna Plazma, consumers can enjoy the recognizable and unique taste of Plazma all year round. This is the only lent product on the domestic market that is enriched with zinc, iron and calcium and does not contain trans-fatty acids. It is perfect as a snack or can even replace a meal. It is available in 150g and 600g packaging and is a treat for all family members. Posna Plazma Mlevena is an irreplaceable ingredient of favourite delicacies consumed during lent period.

Čoko Posna Plazma 135g The new member of the Plazma family – Čoko Posna Plazma (in 135g packaging) - is dipped in the finest Bambi dark chocolate. Anybody appreciating its sophisticated taste will be able to enjoy this Plazma with their family and friends, and during lent period.

Čoko Plazma 290g Family Pack Perfect for consumption with your family and friends. Čoko Plazma in family packaging will make the moments spent with your loved ones worth remembering and a source of joy. Enjoy this irresistible Plazma dipped in Bambi’s gentle dark milky chocolate which does not contain trans-fatty acids and is also suitable for vegeterians.

Plazma Kakao New Plazma Kakao is an ideal combination of health and enjoyment and an irreplaceable source of everyday energy. It is rich in vegetable fibres and vitamins and contains magnesium which is exceptionally important for proper functioning of the nervous system. It is additionally enriched with brown sugar and cocoa and is perfect for health conscious consumers. Plazma Kakao and grounded Plazma Kakao are available in 150g and 300g packaging respectively. Mixed with milk, it makes a perfect meal.

Wellness cereal bar with seeds For people who are constantly on the move and are health conscious, the new favourite combination of cereals, honey and four kinds of seeds is an excellent choice and a good source of needed energy and strength. Wellness cereal bar with seeds is rich in dietary fibres and is an ideal light snack for people ready to face new challenges.

Wellness salted with spinach New Wellness salted with spinach is rich in fibres, lent, does not contain trans-fats, preservatives or artificial colours. It does contain Omega 3 fatty acids, less saturated fatty acids and less sodium. As a result, it is the perfect replacement for a meal and the right snack choice for people on the move.

Yo D`Oro Wafers With Plazma Filling 120g New Yo D’Oro premium product is an exceptional combination of Bambi brands, unique on this market. Crunchy wafer dipped in the most gentle Bambi milk chocolate, filled and sprinkled with Plazma is the perfect choice to bring you rich and delightful indulgence. Yo D’Oro Wafers With Plazma Filling will make beautiful moments even more memorable.

Small Pleasure with Noisette Filling 240g The recognizable and full taste of scrumptious top quality Bambi milky chocolate will give you a gentle and enchanting experience. The favourite chocolate filled with the finest noisette cream is perfect for the most refined gourmand palettes. Bambi Small Pleasure with Noisette Filling can transform ordinary moments into something to remember.

Bambi Dark Chocolate Coffee Brandy 30g Irresistible dark chocolate with coffee liqueur, available in 30g packaging, provides pleasure for all the senses. It is ideal for chocolate gourmands with its rich, carefully selected and fine ingredients. Black chocolate with coffee liqueur invites you to have a chocolate experience in its purest form.

Small Pleasure Liquer Mix 240g Discover a glamorous combination with rum and pear & coffee liqueur which brings heaps of enjoyment in every single cube, carefully wrapped to resemble the most beautiful gift. Bambi Small Pleasure Liquer Mix 240g will give you scrumptious pleasure, always fresh and simple to consume, with its individually wrapped chocolate pieces in an elegant 240g box.

Bambi-Banat is the first and only domestic confectionary producer that has completely eliminated trans-fatty acids from its entire product portfolio.

The elimination process lasted over three years during which the company experts had been trying to find an optimal solution while keeping the discernible aroma, taste and product structure, as well as trying to replace trans fatty acids with vegetable fats which don’t contain these acids.

By eliminating trans-fatty acids from the company’s entire product range, the aim was to provide additional care for the consumers and their health which will continue to be the imperative for Bambi-Banat in years to come.

Caring about consumers’ health was at the core of the process that lasted three years and the new products, which we have presented on the occasion, are the result of innovation and desire to provide domestic consumers with the best possible products.

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