D&C Magazine #88 September 2023

IVICA DAČIĆ

KEY ISSUES IN THE REGION MUST BE RESOLVED

EVENTS

13 SEPTEMBER 2023

VIVA MEXICO! VIVA INDEPENDENCIA!

WHY ARE MY THOUGHTS SO CONFLICTED

EVERYTHING IS POLARIZEDYOU ARE EITHER FOR OR AGAINST

FOR NEW GENERATIONS, PRIDE IS SOMETHING THAT IS IMPLIED GORAN MILETIĆ

Civil Rights Defenders and Belgrade Pride

DIPLOMACY & COMMERCE JAGODINA TOUR

DAY OF AMERICA

FRIENDS FROM FAR AWAY

DIGITAL AWARDS

DEMETRIOS THEOPHYLACTOU FORMER AMBASSADOR OF CYPRUS TO SERBIA

I STRONGLY BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF THE MARKET

RTS correspondent from Milan

Ambassador of Ecuador to Hungary concurrence for Serbia

Trade Minister

Film director

TOMISLAV MOMIROVIĆ

SANJA LUČIĆ

H. E. JOSE LUIS SALAZAR ARRARTE

MILORAD MILINKOVIĆ

I n c l u d i n g p l e n t y o f g a s t r o n o m i c a l o p t i o n s , a c c o m m o d a t i o n , e n t e r t a i n m e n t , w e l l n e s s a n d s p a s e r v i c e s , P r e z i d e n t P a l a c e h o t e l a l s o h o u s e s a b e a u t i f u l r o o f t o p , w h e r e b a r a n d r e s t a u r a n t i s c o m p l e m e n t e d w i t h g l i t t e r i n g p o o l A s a c r o w n o f o u r h o t e l P r e z i d e n t P a l a c e f a i r y t a l e , t h e r e i s T h e R o o f - o n e o f a k i n d b a r s i t u a t e d o n t h e h o t e l ’ s r o o f t o p , w i t h a s p e c t a c u l a r v i e w t o e n t i r e c i t y a n d t h e D a n u b e r i v e r T h e R o o f o f f e r s g o r g e o u s o u t d o o r s w i m m i n g p o o l w i t h m o s t e n c h a n t i n g s u n s e t s a n d c o c k t a i l s w i t h u n i q u e P r e z i d e n t s i g n a t u r e .

FOLLOW US TO STAY UPDATED

5 TALKS KEY ISSUES IN THE REGION MUST BE RESOLVED

IVICA DAČIĆ Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia

6 AMBASSADOR INTERVIEW FRIENDS FROM FAR AWAY

ROBERT

DRAGAN

NIKOLA GUDELJ Journalist nikola.gudelj@color.rs

ŽIKICA MILOŠEVIĆ Journalist zikica.milosevic@color.rs

Advertising DRAGAN VUČEVIĆ dragan.vucevic@color.rs

JELENA JAHURA jelena.jahura@color.rs

Photos

Goran Zlatković

Nebojša Babić, Miloš Nadaždin

Nemanja Maraš

Monika Pavlović

Ema Bednarž

Marc Brenner

Shutterstock

Translation

Snežana Bjelotomić

Prepress

Studio Lončar

Contributors:

Dragan Nikolić, Robert Čoban, Duška Jovanić, Hidajet Biščević, Nikola Gudelj, Žikica Milošević, Bojana Jakimov

Print

BIROGRAF COMP D.O.O.

Zemun, Atanasija Pulje 22

24

MEDIA INTERVIEW

EVERYTHING IS POLARIZED - YOU ARE EITHER FOR OR AGAINST SANJA LUČIĆ

RTS correspondent from Milan

H. E. JOSE LUIS SALAZAR ARRARTE Ambassador of Ecuador to Hungary, concurrence for Serbia

8

FEATURED INTERVIEW FOR NEW GENERATIONS, PRIDE IS SOMETHING THAT IS IMPLIED

GORAN MILETIĆ

Civil Rights Defenders and Belgrade Pride

20 BUSINESS INTERVIEW I STRONGLY BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF THE MARKET TOMISLAV MOMIROVIĆ

Trade Minister

36

CULTURAL INTERVIEW

WHY ARE MY THOUGHTS SO CONFLICTED

MILORAD MILINKOVIĆ

Film director

48 MUSICALS

TOTO, I’VE A FEELING WE ARE BACK IN KANSAS by Robert Čoban

The Year of Living Dangerously

In January 1990, I saw the movie „The Year of Living Dangerously” (1982), in which Mel Gibson plays an Australian journalist caught in the whirlwind of civil political turmoil in Indonesia in the mid-1960s. I, then a law student, liked the exciting life of a journalist and a few days later I responded to a job ad in Večernje Novosti daily for a journalist in the Correspondence Office in Novi Sad.

At that moment, I had no idea that the real-life „years of living dangerously” were coming very soon to my country and that they would be equally bloody, if not worse than those in Indonesia 25 years earlier.

I recently praised Politika daily for highlighting the situation in the Subotica area on its front page. While there is a real war between migrants in the forests around Subotica going on, tensions are growing in the city itself too. Last week, the illuminated inscription in the Hungarian language reading „Szabadka” and featuring the colours of the Hungarian flag was broken. Istvan Pasztor, the leader of the Hungarian minority party SVM, said that the incident was meant as a message to Vučić, who, only a few days before, was awarded the title of honorary citizen of Subotica and publicly supported signs in Hungarian. After that, the mayor of Subotica said that an inscription in Serbian had also been broken recently, but that he did not want to make a case out of it. Officially, relations between Vučić and Orban, Serbia and Hungary and SNS and SVM have never been better, but tensions on the ground are growing. I’m afraid that, as we talk about Kosovo every day, a new crisis is growing in the north of Serbia in front of our eyes, in a multi-ethnic environment that is additionally burdened by the migrant drama that we wrote about in our last issue. Namely, investigative journalists reported from the field that there is a connection between certain people from Serbian intelligence services and the leaders of various migrant clans. There is a lot of money going around, there are also casualties and it seems that Serbia, Hungary and EU officials, who are preoccupied with negotiations on Kosovo, are turning a blind eye to all this.

In the past few days, the media also reported that signs with inscriptions in the Hungarian language throughout Vojvodina were also damaged. If the relations between Serbia and Hungary and Serbs and Hungarians have never been better, where did this growing frustration and aggression come from? Does it pose a problem that, thanks to the

efforts of the Prosperitati Foundation, some Hungarians in the villages and towns of Vojvodina now live much better than their Serbian neighbours, who say that they feel that Hungary invests more in their Hungarian neighbours than Serbia invests in Serbs?

Does it pose a problem that films and series about Oluja and Jasenovac are being made, but there isn’t even a short documentary about the Novi Sad Raid? Does it pose a problem that there is a plan to erect a monument in honour of the innocent victims from 1944 (and there were victims) in Novi Sad and that the list of the victims’ names, which is also posted on the Serbian Justice Ministry’s official website, contains the name Janos Tot, one of the murderers of the five Jovandić brothers during the Novi Sad Raid in February 1942?

Good inter-ethnic relations in Vojvodina have been highlighted for years as a good example in the entire region, but history teaches us that it takes very little for a single spark to cause a huge fire.

I am writing this foreword on the island of Mali Lošinj in Croatia, where two days ago the local newspaper Novi List published a story about a seemingly bizarre clash between football fans from Vodnjan and Peroj, two villages in Istria. This story tells how inter-ethnic conflicts and a regression to the 1990s are possible even in Istria, one would say, the most civilized part of the former Yugoslavia.

In addition to native Italians, a lot of Roma and Croatian refugees from Bosnia and Slavonia came to live in Vodnjan in the 1990s. Montenegrins settled in Peroj three centuries ago during the Venetian Republic. Two years ago, I visited the cemetery there, which is located behind the Orthodox Church in the centre of the village, and I saw that every other tombstone features a quote by Njegoš. The conflict over the joint use of the football pitch turned into the bloodiest showdown, as a reminder that such things are possible „in the heart of the EU” and among „peaceful Istrians”.

Therefore, in order not to repeat the „years of living dangerously” we should be very careful, especially in „traditionally tolerant areas” such as Vojvodina and Istria.

Robert Čoban

Key Issues in the Region Must be Resolved

At the Day of America conference in Belgrade, which took place on September 7th, 2023, in the old building of the Republic of Serbia National Assembly, we had a unique opportunity to talk with the Serbian Foreign Minister, Ivica Dačić, about Serbia’s relations with the USA and other topics, in the light of Serbia’s efforts to improve and deepen relations with all partners, both western and eastern, through joint activities and projects.

„Of course, to start with, I would like us to remember the victims of the 9/11 attack on the USA, to pay due respect to them and to convey the solidarity of Serbia and our people with the US government and people. I hope that Serbia and the USA are on the right path to improve their relations, the kind that both countries want and deserve to have and the kind they have had during the greater part of our common history which has lasted for over 140 years, partnership and friendship. We have no reason to hide this great tradition. On the contrary, we should be proud of the people who commemorated it,” said Minister Dačić at the beginning of his presentation.

He also touched upon his recent official visit to Indonesia, from which he had just returned, and pointed out that Serbia is building smart and valuable relations with all the countries in the world and that it is very important for us to participate as much as possible in the work of regional organizations, just like other countries do. Serbia is the 52nd country or international organization to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (ASEAN), an organization that was founded over 50 years ago.

„This is important for our country for several reasons. ASEAN countries have a cumulative population of over 600 million and their gross social product stands at several thousand billion dollars. Next, their slogan at this summit was „epicentre of growth”. Also, most of the ASEAN countries did not recognize Kosovo as an independent state. So, for Serbia, this is a market with which we had trade worth over 700 million dollars last year. This year, we expect that amount to exceed 1 billion dollars”, the Minister added.

Our relations with a superpower like the US are complicated and take place on many levels in all segments.

„I think we should respect the need to find a common denominator, a common interest, much more. They don’t match with everyone. Even the United States of America and the European Union don’t share the same interests. I can give you a hundred examples where they have opposing views. What does that mean? We should not be hostile toward them. In all of this, we should keep in mind that the USA is a superpower, just like the USA has to take into account the interests of the largest nation and state in the region. In that sense, without going into what was, we should look for the common base, our common denominator. We have to solve the key issues in the region. And that is the essence,” said Minister Dačić.

„We do not have a negative approach in relations with the USA. On the contrary... We would like these relations to be as close as possible and to have constant

WE HAVE TO SOLVE THE KEY ISSUES IN THE REGION. AND THAT IS THE ESSENCE

consultations and agreements. We are ready to make the maximum contribution to it. I think that is also fair on our part. I am sure that in the future there will be an opportunity to further build our relations. Serbia is a reliable and predictable partner and wants political and economic connection, as well a connection in the segments such as security, defence and everything else that is the tendency in the modern world,” underlined Minister Dačić.

In conclusion, he said: “We love our country, as Americans are proud of their country and defend their interests. What was Roosevelt’s winning slogan? America first! I say Serbia first! I think that the USA should also respect that, as we show the same respect to the USA. And that’s what is called a partnership. We have not attacked anyone and we do not touch anyone, but we are ready to participate in everything. This is not about imposing a certain position, but about looking for a sustainable solution that will be as fair as possible. That’s why we have to do everything we can, to be more present, develop friendly and partnership relations around what we agree on and to try to find solutions for certain problematic situations.“

The people of Serbia and the USA deserve to have the kind of friendly relations that the two countries have nurtured for over 140 years

IVICA DAČIĆ

Serbian Foreign Minister

Friends From Far Away

H. E. JOSE LUIS SALAZAR ARRARTE Ambassador of Ecuador to Hungary, concurrence for Serbia

Ecuador and Serbia have a very tight relationship with a long tradition. That is why we spoke with H.E. Jose Luis Salazar Arrarte, ambassador

of this beautiful Latin American country, whose residence is in Budapest, Hungary, about our cooperation and mutual interests.

You were recently appointed ambassador of Ecuador to Hungary covering on a non-resident basis

THE CITY OF BELGRADE HAS IMPRESSED ME VERY FAVOURABLY FOR ALL ITS HISTORY

Serbia from Budapest. What is the history of bilateral relations between our two countries?

On May 22nd of this year, I had the honor to present my credentials to the President of the Republic of Serbia, Mr. Aleksander Vucic. I must also indicate that since the

The relationship between Ecuador and Serbia has been marked by a mutual commitment to strengthen cooperation and friendship in various areas

year 2000 the Republic of Ecuador maintains an Honorary Consulate in the city of Belgrade, which is currently headed by Ms. Kristina Spalajković Vegas, who has the experience and knowledge to provide an excellent service to assist the entire Ecuadorian community residing in your country as well as to promote the exportable offer, the culture, and tourism attractions of our country.

Did you have the opportunity to visit Belgrade and Serbia? What are your impressions?

Yes, the first time I visited Belgrade was last year in October when I took advantage of this visit to present the copies of the credentials to Mrs. Mirjana Jeremic, Director of Protocol of the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and to personally meet our Honorary Consul, Mrs. Carmen Vegas who unfortunately passed away a few weeks after this meeting.

In May this year, I presented my credentials to President Vucic. And I hope to be back again in October for an event organized by the Chamber of Commerce of Belgrade and also to inaugurate the permanent exhibition of a replica of a vase which original was discovered in 2007 in the area of Palanda in the province Zamora-Chinchipe in Ecuador and which dates back to 3500 years BC where traces of cocoa were found, confirming that cocoa originated in Ecuador.

The city of Belgrade has impressed me very favourably for all its history, which reflects in its various monuments, churches and buildings in general. I must also highlight the warmth and openness of its people to its visitors.

Although geographically distant, it seems that our peoples are close in mentality and bound by friendship. How do you explain that?

The relationship between Ecuador and Serbia has been marked by a mutual commitment to strengthen cooperation and friendship in various areas. Over the years, we have witnessed a growth in bilateral ties and have shared funda-

mental values such as equality, the promotion of peace and international security, which has enabled collaboration in international forums, where Ecuador and Serbia have worked together to address global challenges, such as climate change, the promotion of human rights and the struggle against terrorism.

The geographic, cultural and economic diversity of Ecuador and Serbia provides opportunities for the exchange of experiences and knowledge in fields such as agriculture, sustainable tourism, technological innovation and the promotion of culture and the arts. We are convinced that the exchange of ideas and mutual collaboration can lead to positive and mutually beneficial results.

Both countries, despite their geographic and cultural differences, have demonstrated a strong commitment to peace, stability, and mutual respect in the international arena. This affinity in values and principles establishes a solid foundation for cooperation in various areas, such as trade, education, environment and culture. Recently, the Latin American community has been growing significantly in Serbia.

How big is the community of your compatriots living in Serbia?

Although we are unsure of the evolution that Serbia’s Latin American community has experi-

enced over the past few years, the Ecuadorian community, although feeling its increase over the years, remains smaller comparing to other neighbouring countries.

Latin American countries have traditionally had strong ties. How are these relations reflected in the diplomatic world, and how connected are you with the diplomats of other Latin American countries in Serbia?

Our country maintains diplomatic relations

with all Latin American countries and is committed to maintain and respect the principles of a healthy and friendly coexistence, such as respect for non-intervention and self-determination of the people of each country, to always seek peaceful solutions to any dispute that exists, to play a leading role in the conservation of the environment and the protection of our planet. We have just done through the debt swap for the protection of the Galapagos Islands for USD 1.6 billion, historically the highest ever recorded in this type of operation.

Can this example of international cooperation be applied to the countries of the Balkans? What do you think about it, and what would you advise our nations if you had the chance?

In my opinion all countries should evaluate and follow the examples of good practices that exist in the world to improve bilateral relations and thus propose to seek common and mutually beneficial objectives so that two countries or a region can join forces and capabilities to obtain the best results.

WE ARE CONVINCED THAT THE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AND MUTUAL COLLABORATION CAN LEAD TO POSITIVE AND MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RESULTS

Ms. Kristina Spalajković Vegas, Honorary Consulate in the city of Belgrade

For New Generations, Pr ide is Something That is Implied

icant differences from previous Prides? What has changed?

Belgrade Pride was held in Belgrade in early September. We spoke with Goran Miletić, from the non-governmental organization Civil Rights Defenders and one of the organizers of Belgrade Pride, about what has changed since the last Pride and what can we expect in the coming period regarding the rights of the LGBT community in Serbia.

In what kind of social atmosphere did this year’s Pride take place in Belgrade? Are there any signif-

Every year brings a new environment and always requires an extra effort to deal with the new problems that we have to deal with that year. Sometimes it was the fact that the Belgrade police and the city government did not want to meet with us, sometimes it was very hostile media and sometimes the representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church commented on the preparations ahead of the

event. Last year we had to deal with the announcement of the Pride being banned but this year there were very few negative media reports. There were not too many negative statements by the authorities or an announcement of a ban and the media even paid more attention to the demands of Belgrade Pride.

The key change that happened in the past few years is that Belgrade Pride was addressed when it came to the technical and logistic orga-

OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE FULL EQUALITY

nization of the walk itself. Cooperation with the police and the city government in that area is usually good, although it also often depends on the persons who are in a certain position at that moment. Another key change is the media’s attitude whereby everything related to the LGBT community is now treated as an interesting topic, although some reports are still not good enough.

Of course, the most important thing is that ordinary people are now much more interested in joining the walk and there are several reasons for this. First, there has been a change of generations and

Younger generations demand to be treated as equal citizens and for the state to fully respect their sexual orientation

GORAN MILETIĆ

Civil Rights Defenders and Belgrade Pride

there are now many more young people at Belgrade Pride for whom coming to Pride is something that is implied. Second, many citizens got rid of the fear of coming to Pride, even though in 2022, the issue of security was again raised in the weeks before the walk itself. Third, since the state is doing nothing to fulfil the demands, many people came because they wanted to protest.

It seems that the Pride Parade has become imperceptible to both the people in power and the opposition. Smaller groups oppose, the government does nothing to improve the position of the LGBT+ community and everyone uses this opportunity for populist performances. Can this event change anything in the near future?

Things won’t change just because of one walk a year or 70 events during Pride Week. However, in the period before every Pride, the media gives a lot of space to the LGBT community, there are many programmes and other content that talk about the problems the LGBT community faces, as well as the solutions. Research shows that people are becoming more understanding, although it doesn’t seem that way. Unfortunately, everyone sees much more of an aggressive and vocal minority that denies the human rights of the LGBT community. The truth is quite different - people are either neutral or positive, so changing their perception is possible. However, the other, important segment depends mostly on the government.

A liberal view of the world, inclusion and understanding of others are interwoven into the basic values of the LGBT+ community. While the older generations had to win their freedom with great difficulty, today’s youth seem to be born with these values; yet they seem to lack awareness of the painful past and the need to continue the fight. What do you think?

Younger generations are indeed very interested in the history of the rights of the LGBT community in Serbia and the region, especially everything that happened in the last century and about which little is known. They understand that violence and discrimination are the main problems both then and now, but they grow up with the awareness that the state ex-

ists because of them, not vice versa. They demand to be treated as equal citizens and for the state to fully respect their sexual orientation. That’s a far cry from my generation, whose priority was to decriminalize homosexuality. Young people are very interested in what it was like to live in a period when you could get a year in prison for loving a person of the same sex.

Why is the fight for LGBT rights separated from the fight for other disenfranchised groups in society? Today, all the citizens of this country suffer a great injustice and their problems are at the same time the problems of the LGBT community, so why is there no mutual solidarity and joint fight?

That is an excellent question and we, at Belgrade Pride, constantly try to work as much as possible on solidarity with other minority groups (for example, Roma, people with disabilities, the elderly, etc.), since solidarity is one of our principles. However, we can always be more and do better. I think there is a lot more solidarity coming from the LGBT community, while there is a reluctance and fear from some groups to be associated with the LGBT community. A good example is the trade unions, with whom we have been in contact, but who hesitate to invite their members to Pride or to clearly support the LGBT community.

Will the LGBT community be satisfied if the Law on Same-Sex Unions and all its other demands in Serbia are accepted and at the same time, there is no freedom of speech, fair distribution of social wealth and equality and equality?

many other basic human rights that Serbia must guarantee for every citizen. One of the more important rights is certainly the legal right to a fair and just trial since access to justice for LGBT people in Serbia is more the exception than the rule.

Is there a road map for winning freedom? What can we expect in the next 12 months, i.e. until the next Pride takes place?

Unfortunately, everything we do is almost always related to the current political situation or external factors. This is also the biggest difference between Belgrade Pride and Prides in the West, where long-term planning, advocacy and dialogue with institutions is possible and they do not depend too much on who is in power. In Serbia, the focus in this period will certainly be on the passing of the Law on Same-Sex Unions and the implementation of the Law on Gender Identity, as well as meeting the requirements regarding curbing violence through faster processing of perpetrators of attacks on LGBT persons. I think that the announced elections will not help some of these demands to be met faster than usual, but after the regular local elections next year, we will insist even more on the inclusion of the LGBT community in the action plans adopted at the local level.

It is quite certain that the government is not interested in improving the position of LGBT persons and that there will not be any steps forward in the near future. Moreover, they use their members of the LGBT community who work in state bodies or are otherwise

How significant is the diplomatic support that the LGBT community in Serbia receives and is this support counterproductive in terms of the image that the misunderstanding majority community has about LGBT people?

Belgrade Pride has been facing populist attacks from the very beginning and one of the continuous and inappropriate spins is that there are too many members of the diplomatic corps attending the Pride. We have always replied to this that Belgrade Pride is completely inclusive and open to everyone and that goes against our principles that some categories of people are less wanted at Pride. Unfortunately, this year, such a spin was directed not only at embassy representatives but also at Ukrainians, Russians and Belarusians living in Belgrade. Still, our reaction remains the same - we will never be ashamed of our cooperation with the international community.

On the other hand, Belgrade Pride has never been able to rely on its own resources and companies are still reluctant to financially support the event, although they do so more often now than before. That is why we were always instructed to ask for financial help from embassies and other foreign donors. We submitted projects following the launch of public calls that are accessible to everyone and were awarded funds. There is no secret in that and we are grateful to everyone from the international community who has supported us in this way or with their presence during all these years.

What about the slogan „No one is free until we are all free”?

Of course, we will not be satisfied. Our goal is to have full equality and the laws and other requirements contain a detailed explanation of the urgent steps that the government must take in order to even slightly improve the position of the LGBT community. Most of these demands are Serbia’s international obligations. However, this certainly does not exclude freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and

close to the authorities to spread falsehoods about how we do not need the law and how now is not the time to demand anything from the state. At the same time, they attack the activists and organizers of Belgrade Pride and no one reacts to that, which means that the government tacitly agrees with that.

All in all, in the next 12 months we will continue to insist on all of our requirements being fulfilled, regardless of the aforementioned obstacles.

I think that the majority of people understand the diplomatic support we get because it is visible and transparent, but the problem is when conspiracy theories emerge, starting with those that the European Union is imposing the rights of the LGBT community and that foreign ambassadors are the ones who decide whether Pride will take place or not. Serbia is a member of the Council of Europe, along with 46 other countries, and human rights standards are exactly the same for every country in this organization, from Iceland to Turkey, including Serbia. Those standards are contained in judgments of the European Court of Human Rights and there is no imposition - Serbia has committed to incorporate the standards related to various rights into its legal system.

THE

GOVERNMENT IS NOT INTERESTED IN IMPROVING THE POSITION OF LGBT PERSONS

Top 10

Most Expensive Cities in the World

In the light of new inflation and rising costs of living, not to mention the exorbitant rise in housing prices, we all dream about the cheaper place to live, but also, we want a good quality of life. Maybe a vibrant city with lots of opportunities? Well, avoid these 10 unless you earn quite a lot. This is the list of the Top 10… which will cost you the most, according to Go Visa Free. Number 10 is Beijing in China Fortunately, foreigners in Beijing tend to earn pretty well, which usually offsets

the high expense of living. When compared to other Chinese cities, Beijing’s rent is high, but the other costs are fairly bearable.

Number 9 is Tokyo, long known for its high costs, but now Japan fares a bit better than 20-40 years ago. Singapore is known as one of the most expensive cities in Asia. The land is extremely rare due to the small size of the country. If you don’t mind the $7 beer, you will reside in Singapore, 7th on our list. NYC will rip you off in a restaurant or for the internet

costs, making it the 7th, while insanely expensive Israel will knock you off your feet, making Tel Aviv the 6th most expensive city. If you go to Switzerland for fun, you asked for it! Bern as its capital will peel your skin off, followed by Basel, Geneva and Zurich. You’d better work hard! And for the end, Hong Kong as the most expensive one: with skyhigh prices for accommodation, restaurants, and necessities like milk and bread, the city’s cost of living is notoriously high.

FINLAND

H. E. Niklas Lindqvist, the new Ambassador of Finland, presented his credentials to President Aleksandar Vučić in Belgrade. Lindqvist took up his post as Head of Mission at Finland’s Embassy in Belgrade on September 1st. He brings a wealth of diplomatic experience, having served twice at Finland’s Embassy in Moscow, at Finland’s Permanent Representation to the EU, and at Finland’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York. Most recently, Lindqvist was Director of the Unit for Russia at the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs since 2018. Lindqvist joined the Foreign Service in 1996 and holds a Master’s degree in Political Science. His extensive background in diplomacy will serve Finland well as he spearheads efforts to deepen ties with Serbia.

NORWAY

H.E. Kristin Melsom, the new Ambassador of Norway to Serbia, presented her credentials to Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. Ambassador Melsom brings extensive experience from the Norwegian Foreign Service, with substantial knowledge in defense, security, NATO affairs, and regional issues in Southeast Europe and Northern regions. She previously served as Minister Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission at the Norwegian Embassy in Ankara, and as Counsellor and Head of Political Section at Norway’s NATO delegation. Ms. Melsom joined the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1996 after completing their education and trainee program. Her first postings were at the Norwegian embassies in Paris and Ottawa. She has since held positions as Press Spokesperson for the Minister and Deputy Director for Security and Emergency Preparedness. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, Ambassador Melsom served as an Air Defence Officer in the Norwegian Air Force, holding the rank of Captain. She has degrees from the Norwegian Air Force Academy, Harstad University College (Economics and Management), and attended the Norwegian Defence College’s Senior Executive Program. With her distinguished background, Ambassador Melsom will strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation between Norway and Serbia.

PORTUGAL

KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA

H.E. Mr. Tan Bunpa, the newly appointed Ambassador of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the Republic of Serbia, presented copies of his Letter of Credence to Ms. Mirjana Jeremic, Chief of Protocol at the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ambassador Tan most recently served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Cambodia to the State of Kuwait, where he was also accredited to Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman. The credentials ceremony marks the formal start of Ambassador Tan’s posting in Serbia, where he will work to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.

DEPARTURES

After three years serving as Portugal’s Ambassador to Serbia, H. E. Maria Virgínia Mendes da Silva Pina is departing her diplomatic post in Belgrade. The 49-year-old Pina, appointed Ambassador on March 12, 2019, is set to take up a new role as Portugal’s Ambassador to Turkey. A native of Barreiro, Portugal, Ambassador Pina holds a law degree from the University of Lisbon and is a member of her hometown soccer club Futebol Clube Barreirense. In Belgrade, Pina worked to grow bilateral ties between Portugal and Serbia. Her departure comes as she transitions to become Portugal’s top diplomat in Turkey.

What have you been doing since you left Belgrade?

I have done a variety of things, perhaps more than would be expected from a retired Ambassador. Why? Because I like to stay active. Obviously, I had to resettle after many years of travelling and living around the globe. I did spend quality time with my children, family, and friends. I reconnected with former journalism, academia, and diplomacy associates - certainly in sports, where I made the best friendships during my formative years. Moreover, I indulged in many hours of

Diplomatic Curiosity Does Not Fade Away

Our Ambassador’s Postcards column proved to be very popular not only with our readers but also with ambassadors themselves. After many postcards from the ex-ambassadors to Serbia, this time, we have a very fresh impression sent to us by H.E. Demetrios Theophylactou, former ambassador of Cyprus to Serbia, who has just been retired and back home but he’s not forgotten Serbia and his friends. Let’s see what he has to address to all of us

swimming, almost daily, in the crystal clear Mediterranean waters of Cyprus, sailing, cycling along the coast, and playing tennis. At the same time, I prepared the ground for my post-retirement professional activities, starting with academic teaching and writing, promoting collaborations and synergies between universities and research institutes, mainly in Cyprus and Serbia, but also using my free time to relax and reflect upon those years I spent in the diplomatic service.

What (and who) do you miss the most from Serbia?

As I said in one of my last interviews, just before leaving Serbia, I would quickly miss Belgrade and the close friends I made during my tenure as Ambassador. So on my first visit, I

met several of them over coffee, lunch, or playing tennis to catch up and brief each other regarding political and social developments. As expected, due to retirement, diplomatic curiosity does not simply fade away. Yes, I do miss the liturgy at Saint Sava, the visits to monasteries, wine tasting, the special diplomatic tours in various towns with colleagues, and the sports activities shared with good friends, most notably playing tennis at Novak Tennis Center; and yes, watching Novak Djokovic live, in the field, as he won the Serbia or Belgrade Open, amongst other tournaments. I will certainly visit again soon to catch up with those whom I did not have the opportunity to meet this time around.

H.E. Demetrios Theophylactou former ambassador of Cyprus to Serbia

15 AUGUST 2023

Celebration of the Independence Day of India

Embassy of India in Belgrade celebrated the 77th Independence Day of India on Tuesday, 15 August 2023, in the Chancery premises. Cd’A a.i. Mr. Sandeep Kumar hoisted the national flag and read out the Hon’ble President’s address to the Nation. For the last two years, the Embassy has organized a series of events to showcase India’s rich cultural heritage and its glorious history as part of the celebrations under Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is a nationwide and people-centric initiative to commemorate the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence and the glorious history of its people, culture, and achievements. On this occasion, the Embassy also organised an exhibition on Indian Freedom fighters and Indian handicraft items. Video screenings on the villages of India and its rich cultural & artistic traditions under the “MERA GAON MERI DHAROHAR” campaign were also organized in the Embassy. The ceremony was attended by about 100 guests comprising Indian nationals, PIOs, and friends of India in Serbia.

05 SEPTEMBER 2023

Historic Belgrade Grand Prix Re-enacted to Honor Italian Racing Legend

In a blend of motorsports history and international cooperation, the Italian Embassy in Serbia hosted a cocktail party to kick off the re-enactment of the 1939 Belgrade Grand Prix, originally won by Italian racing icon Tazio Nuvolari. H.E. Luca Gori, Italian Ambassador to Serbia, welcomed participants, organizers, and motor heritage enthusiasts on September 2nd to the event dubbed “Belgrade Grand Prix 2023.” The occasion serves to honor Nuvolari, known as “the Flying Mantuan,” one of Italy’s most celebrated racecar drivers. Organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure of Serbia, the Auto-Moto Association of Serbia, and Motor Heritage Consulting, the re-enactment features historical vehicles from Italy, Slovenia, and Serbia. The race took place on the original Kalemegdan circuit in Belgrade on Saturday, September 2nd. The City of Belgrade hosts the event, which enjoys support from sponsors, including Heroes Force, Go2Flow, Studio T, and the Italian Cultural Institute.

Equality cannot be achieved by words alone

“On the occasion of Belgrade Pride week, 4-9 September 2023, and of the anniversary of Belgrade EuroPride 2022, I take this opportunity to remind the Serbian authorities that as a State party to the European Convention on Human Rights, Serbia has committed itself to protect individual rights and freedoms, including freedom of expression and freedom of assembly as fundamental human rights,” today declared Christophe Lacroix (Belgium, SOC), PACE General Rapporteur on the rights of LGBTI people and rapporteur for an ongoing report on “Freedom of expression and assembly of LGBTI people in Europe.” “This means protecting the fundamental right of everyone to assemble peacefully and unhindered and to express their opinions publicly,” he

08 SEPTEMBER 2023

The Days of Mexico at the Hyatt Regency Belgrade

Immerse yourself in an authentic journey through Mexican flavours in the heart of New Belgrade during the Days of Mexico. From September 12th to 23rd, Hyatt Regency Belgrade Hotel, in collaboration with the Mexican Embassy, is hosting an event titled “Flavors of Mexico in Serbia.” During this cultural manifestation, visitors can indulge in enticing specialties meticulously prepared by skilled Mexican chef Jonathan Martinez Herrera, using authentic ingredients directly from this vibrant North American country. Since 2010, Mexican cuisine has been considered part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and it plays a central role in the cultural identity of Mexico. In partnership with the Mexican Embassy in Belgrade, Hyatt Regency Belgrade Hotel proudly continues its tradition of showcasing diverse world cultures, providing an experience that celebrates authentic tastes, captivating dances, cherished customs, and traditions. “Flavors of Mexico in Serbia” will be complemented by the now-traditional Blok 21 event on September 15th and 22nd, starting at 6 PM on the patio of Hyatt Regency Belgrade hotel. Visitors will have the chance to taste traditional

13 SEPTEMBER 2023

Viva Mexico! Viva independencia!

On Wednesday, September 13th, 2023, the Ambassador of Mexico to Serbia, His Excellency Mr. Carlos Félix, and Mrs. Eun Hai Kim, his spouse, hosted a reception at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Belgrade to celebrate the 213th anniversary of Mexico’s Independence Day. The event commemorated the historic Grito de Dolores on September 16, 1810, which marked the beginning of Mexico’s War of Independence from Spain. Attendees included members of the diplomatic

emphasised. “Crucially, it also means guaranteeing the safety of all participants in such an assembly. In line with international standards, this responsibility lies with the State.”

Mexican street food specialties and their original and refreshing beverages. From September 12th, 14th, and all the way to September 23rd, the Metropolitan restaurant will present an alluring authentic Mexican set menu skillfully crafted by a reputable Mexican chef. Prepare your taste buds for an extraordinary experience as you enjoy delicacies such as Aguachile de Camarones, Taco de cochinita pibil, and Mole poblano—traditional masterful specialties that embody Mexican gastronomy’s richness.

corps, government officials, business leaders, and representatives of the Mexican community in Serbia. Guests enjoyed an evening of Mexican food, music, and cultural performances.

08 SEPTEMBER 2023

UNICEF’s Humanitarian Fair Play Basketball Tournament

2,431,000.00 RSD collected for equipment of preschool institutions in Serbia. UNICEF’s traditional Fair Play basketball tournament was held over the weekend at Comtrade Sports and Event Center in Belgrade. 20 teams from the business sector took part in the tournament and secured 2,431,000.00 Serbian dinars with their registration fees. The funds are intended for the purchase of furniture, equipment, and didactic material for preschool institutions in Serbia. The Comtrade company hosted the tournament and supported the organization of this sporting event. Teams from the companies Banca Intesa, Generali Osiguranje Srbija, the “Register of the National Internet Domain of Serbia” foundation (RNIDS), UniCredit Bank Srbija, Imlek, L’Oreal Balkan, Brose, SBB, Comtrade, Nordeus, Yettel, NIS, Lotus Flare, Robert Bosch, UNICEF showed team spirit, fair play and the power of sport that unites teams and supports programs for community development, and the companies VODAVODA and Fricom provided support for refreshments with their products.

12 SEPTEMBER 2023 Serbian „Saúde!” for Brazilian Independence

The Embassy of Brazil in Belgrade marked a special celebration honoring the Brazilian Independence Day, commemorating the South American nation’s rich history and enduring spirit. The event was hosted by H.E. José Mauro da Fonseca Costa Couto, the Ambassador of Brazil to Serbia. The celebration paid tribute to Brazil’s journey as an independent nation and underlined the mutual respect and shared history that bonds the two countries. As relations continue to flourish, such commemorations serve as a testament to the solidarity and partnership between Brazil and Serbia

15 SEPTEMBER 2023

Israeli Embassy Marks Rosh Hashanah with Strengthened Bilateral Ties

The Israeli embassy celebrated Rosh Hashanah, ushering in the year 5784 according to the Jewish calendar, with its traditional cocktail event for the business community and partners. Apples, honey, and special cakes were served, symbolizing a sweet beginning to the New Year. In his address, the Ambassador reflected on the year’s diplomatic milestones, notably the visit of the Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Eli Cohen. The visit underscored the deep-rooted friendship between the two nations and the onset of enhanced economic and technological collaborations. The celebration captured the essence of the Jewish New Year and hinted at a promising future in bilateral relations and cooperation.

16 SEPTEMBER 2023

German Climate Week Begins in Belgrade

The German Climate Week was inaugurated by H. E. Ms. Anke Konrad, the German Ambassador to Serbia, with an open-air exhibition at Belgrade’s Kalemegdan Fortress. Running until 15 October, the exhibition celebrates Germany’s 20-year commitment to environmental and climate protection in Serbia. The week, spanning from 16 to 24 September, started with a festival in Kragujevac and the installation of insect hotels. Highlights include the Belgrade Climate Talks, a Women in Energy Sector conference, and a youth workshop on environmental conservation. The eventful week concludes with Prosumer Day and an art exhibition at KC Grad, curated by Berlin’s Christian De Lutz, focusing on sustainable art forms inspired by nature. This week promises a blend of education and engagement, emphasizing the importance of environmental awareness and collaboration.

Brazil: Deforestation of Amazon Reduced by More than 30 Percent

Deforestation in Brazil is a huge environmental problem

ton difference is roughly Austria’s consumption for 35 years.

Currently, the Amazon has a perfectly functioning water cycle: regions inland actually have too little rainfall for a tropical rainforest. But the trees suck the groundwater upwards, evaporating and raining again over the huge forest area. This cycle could be permanently disrupted by further deforestation. The rainforest would slowly die, turning into savannah and changing the climate around the world.

This process would release as much CO2 as the entire world consumes in seven years. The unique ecosystem that is home to 10 percent of all species would be irretrievably lost, and with it, the CO2-binding effect of the rainfor-

For years, the Amazon rainforest was cut down. The concern: the unique ecosystem could collapse. Deforestation in Brazil is a huge environmental problem. But the election of Lula da Silva as president gave hope. He announced that he would end the deforestation of the Amazon. The first steps followed a few days after taking office. The encouraging result: Deforestation was reduced by more than a third compared to the previous year.

The BBC reports the first successes in the fight against rainforest deforestation. Deforestation was reduced by 33.6% compared to the previous year’s first half. In June 2023, as much as 41% less forest was destroyed than the previous year. Brazilian Environment Minister Marina Silva attributes this to Lula’s successful environmental policy.

Lula’s goal of ending deforestation by 2030 is a major challenge. Under his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, deforestation took on alarming dimensions. The new conservation plan, which President Lula

published at the beginning of June 2023, aims to achieve this goal. Among other things, it provides for the confiscation of half of all illegally used land within protected areas and higher penalties for illegal logging.

Furthermore, the Brazilian president calls on other countries, especially the rich West, to contribute financially to saving the “green lungs of the earth” to combat the global climate crisis.

A study confirms that Lula’s plans actually have the potential to reduce deforestation in the Amazon by 89 percent. Lula will not have it easy in any case: The left-wing president still faces a conservative majority in parliament.

Under Bolsonaro, the Amazon shrank by more than twice the area of Vienna – per month

This is sorely needed because the Amazon has been badly affected in recent years. When Lula first moved into the presidential palace in 2003, he launched an ambitious program to save the rainforest. He and his successor Dilma Rousseff, who, like Lula comes from Brazil’s

leftist Workers’ Party, succeeded in reducing deforestation by 80 percent to a historic low. But when Bolsonaro came to power in 2019, Brazil did an about-face on environmental policy.

Bolsonaro readily awarded concessions to allow corporations to clear rainforests for soy and palm oil farming, as well as cattle ranching and mining. Illegally cleared areas were legalized by Bolsonaro, and forest fires were fought only half-heartedly. Clearing jumped by 70 percent under his government.

Under Bolsonaro, the Amazon’s climate balance had turned around: For the first time, it emits more CO2 than it can absorb. This was shown in a study by researchers from the French National Institute for Agronomic Research. The scientists mainly analysed satellite data documenting the plant biomass in the rainforest and its deforestation. The result: the Amazon basin released about 16.6 billion tons of CO2 into the environment but only absorbed about 13.9 tons. This 2.7 billion

“Brazil is ready to resume its role in the fight against the climate crisis and protect all ecosystems, especially the Amazon. Our government once managed to reduce forest destruction by 80%. Now let’s all fight together for zero deforestation!” says Lula da Silva, President of Brazil.

est. Scientists assume that this tipping point is reached at a 20 to 25 percent deforestation rate. Currently, we are at 18 percent.

Within days of taking office, Lula’s government took action, conducting checks in the rainforest against illegal logging. As reuters reports, controls were carried out in areas all within the Cachoeira Seca indigenous reserve, where deforestation is strictly prohibited.

While deforestation is decreasing, the number of fires continues to increase, satellite monitoring shows. Whether due to natural causes or arson cannot be determined.

Fighting Housing Shortage

Airbnb & Co should share more data with authorities to prevent fraud

The business of platforms like Airbnb and Booking is booming: more and more private apartments are being rented out online. While this is good for tourists and hosts, it also leads to significant problems in many cities: fraud, housing shortages, and rising rents can be the consequences. So far, there is no uniform system for data collection in the EU, which makes it difficult to control and prevent fraud and its negative effects. This is now set to change. Airbnb welcomes the EU’s breach.

Paris, Porto, and Vienna: Europe’s major cities are popular travel destinations. Accordingly, many people vacation there. Around a quarter of all overnight stays are now booked via the major online platforms (Airbnb, Booking, Expedia, and TripAdvisor). This is because the accommodations offered there are usually cheaper than hotels. This mainly benefits the hosts, platforms, and travelers. At the same time, it causes immense problems for the cities concerned: lack of tourism taxes, housing shortages, and rising rents are the result. This is mainly due to the fact that there is no reliable data on overnight stays. The EU now wants to change that.

If the EU Commission has its way, platforms such as Airbnb & Co.

should share data with local authorities in the future. Specifically, the following information is to be made available: Who is the host? Where is the accommodation? How long is the accommodation rented out?

Private individuals who rent out accommodation are given a registration number, which is also publicly available for all to see. This is not only to protect guests but also to prevent fraud. Unregistered accommodations often lead to the evasion of taxes and tourism levies. The cities then miss out on these taxes when it comes to maintaining and expanding the necessary infrastructure (public transportation, waste disposal, etc.).

Furthermore, the reporting obligation should contribute to fair competition with other providers such as hotels and youth hostels. In addition, the shared data makes it easier for authorities to manage the crowds in tourism hotspots.

So far, there is no uniform regulation for the collection of data within the EU. That’s why more and more cities and municipalities are introducing their own. This complicates the platforms’ business model and the tourism industry’s further development.

In an official statement, Airbnb welcomes the EU’s legislative proposal. This makes it easier to expand cooperation with governments and allows private individuals to rent out their homes without violating applicable rules.

Basically, cities benefit from tourism. Vacationers tend to consume more: they eat out more often, buy souvenirs, and go to the theater or other cultural events. In short, they spend money, and that is good for the economy. And, of course, it’s good extra income for anyone with a vacant apartment or room to rent out. Nevertheless, renting out private apartments can lead to major social problems.

Andreas Schieder, head of the SPÖ-Delegation in the EU-Parliament, wants the new regulation to protect social housing in particular: “Short-term accommodation such as Airbnb is now an integral part of tourism. Over the past few years, we have seen an enormous increase and, therefore, also observed new challenges. Particularly important to me is also the protection of municipal and social housing against misappropriation”.

On a random night in 2019, about 1.4 million tourists stayed in a

short-term rental apartment. So demand is high. The lack of data and the resulting difficulty in regulation can lead to profound problems in the worst case. Among them, the following:

Rising rents and less housing: it is often more profitable for landlords to offer apartments as shortterm accommodation. They earn more money that way. However, this reduces the supply of housing for the people who live there.

Overloaded infrastructure: The large number of tourists overloads public transportation and strains waste disposal since neither is designed for large numbers.

Changed cityscape: There are entire streets or blocks of houses that consist only of Airbnb apartments.

Burdens for residents: The constantly changing residents can become a burden for neighbours, for example, through noise or the additional garbage that is created.

Before data collection and exchange regulation comes into force, the EU Commission, the EU Parliament, and the individual member states must first agree on a compromise. This so-called “trilogue” is to take place this year. After that, the EU member states will have two years – until 2025 at the latest – to implement the new regulations.

I Strongly Believe in the Power of the Market

TOMISLAV

Trade Minister

Serbia and the whole world are facing a major crisis. Inflation is rampant everywhere, the market is unstable and geopolitical turmoil affects all economic activities, while Serbia also has a problem with the ban on trade in Serbian goods in Kosovo and Metohija. We talked about all this, as well as the Government’s activities on the resolution of these problems, with the Serbian Trade Minister, Tomislav Momirović, who recently participated in the Day of America conference.

What is the current position of Serbia in the region? Could you tell us in trading with which countries we achieved a positive balance?

Serbia has become an important economic factor in this part of Europe and in addition to the challenging two years during which the European economy has been facing a war in the east of the continent, we managed to preserve the stability of our economy and the trust of consumers and investors. This is evidenced by the cumulative real growth of the national GDP from 2020 to 2022 of about 9%, record foreign direct investment influx that amounted to 4.4 billion euros, continued growth of employment and earnings in the private sector, as well as the highest level of foreign currency reserves since 2000. Furthermore, the country’s public debt is still far below the Maastricht criteria and stands at 51% at the end of the first quarter of 2023. Serbia also has a record-low unemployment rate, which in the last quarter of 2022, was 9%, with a constant downward trend in the last 10 years.

In order to continue this economic growth that has lasted for the last

Our priority is to preserve the peace so that we can maintain the current economic growth and good economic winds that are currently blowing in the region

MOMIROVIĆ

THE BETTER PRICE CAMPAIGN IS ACTIVE IN OVER 2,500 STORES ACROSS SERBIA

ten years, it is extremely important to develop trade in the region and our cooperation. In that respect, the Open Balkans initiative can serve as an excellent basis for the further continuation of European integration process. Boosting economic cooperation is of key importance for better positioning of the region on the maps of potential investors, as well as for consolidating stability and creating conditions for faster integration of all countries into European structures, which is a common goal.

The CEFTA countries are the most important trade partners of the Republic of Serbia in terms of economic results, and in terms of total trade, they are traditionally the second biggest trade partner of our country, after the EU. From January to July this year, our country generated a surplus in the amount of 1.7 billion euros in trading with the CEFTA countries. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and North Macedonia are traditionally among the most important trading partners of Serbia and we have been recording significant results in trading with these countries, particularly in exports. The trade with them has been growing year-on-year, with Serbia recording a trade surplus. In the first seven months of this year, Serbia recorded a surplus in trade with all CEFTA countries, especially in trading with Montenegro in the amount of 628 million euros, Bosnia and Herzegovina 553 million euros and North Macedonia 301 million euros.

Will the problem of Serbia selling its goods in Kosovo and Metohija be resolved soon? Does the international community support Serbia in this „trade dispute”?

Pristina’s decision to stop the import of Serbian goods to Kosovo is completely contrary to all European principles, which include the free flow of people, goods, services and capital. We see that the authorities in Pristina are not ready to talk but base their policy on incidents. Our priority is to preserve the peace so that we can maintain this economic growth and the good economic winds that are currently blowing in our region. I hope that, in the best interest of our economies, Serbian and Albanian companies, and long-term peace and stability, we

will find a solution which entails abolishing all restrictions.

This political decision of Pristina, above all, is a direct violation of the CEFTA agreement and free

Albanians and Serbs. There are a lot of successful business people in the Albanian community and this situation does not suit anyone. Both Serbian and international companies are suffer-

growth. What is this sector’s share in Serbia’s total exports?

Serbia is now recognized for its exceptional workforce in the IT industry. A large number of engineers and IT companies are doing great in different markets worldwide. Serbia’s total export of services in 2022 was 11.1 billion euros, while the export of IT industry services alone was 2.5 billion euros. To compare, in 2012, the total export value of services was 3.1 billion euros and computer-related services 221 million euros. This is a very illustrative indicator of the growing importance of these services for our exports and economy.

trade principles and is not based on economic reasons. By implementing this decision, Pristina is deliberately causing an inevitable humanitarian crisis because the Serbian population in Kosovo and Metohija depends on basic food products delivered from central Serbia. Given the series of measures that Pristina has adopted recently, the complete ban on the sale of Serbian goods can be seen as a continuation of escalation and a means of pressure.

On several occasions, I addressed the European Commission, trade ministers of the EU member states, as well as representatives of the US administration regarding this problem. The European Commission has called on the Pristina authorities to lift all restrictions on the sale of Serbian products. This situation must be stopped as soon as possible because such de-

ing enormous damage, but the people, Serbs and Albanians who live in Kosovo, bear the greatest damage.

It is clear to us that inflation significantly affects the decline of people’s living standard. How do you fight against it and what are the results of the measures implemented so far?

The Ministry that I helm has been constantly communicating with our citizens, within the limits of our competencies, in order to create responsible policies, which above all, will ensure a stable supply for our citizens in these challenging times. After a detailed analysis we conducted together with retailers, we launched the Better Price - Price for the People campaign during which all the retailers, in cooperation with their suppliers, will

What do you intend to do about challenges in international trade, such as those related to global competition and trade agreements?

As a result of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, global flows in world trade have changed significantly, so the world has turned from globalization to regionalization and near-shoring instead of off-shoring. With this in mind, we have set goals for the next period, taking into account the fact that we are in a historically very difficult moment that the world has not seen for decades.

cisions by the Pristina authorities are extremely dangerous and are, as I said earlier, a direct violation of the CEFTA agreement and free trade principles.

Still, I see room for a solution. I strongly believe in the power of the market and people who are committed to business and not to fueling conflict. The biggest damage of such a decision is that this is severing the business ties that have always existed between

sell at least one product from 36 product categories at a significantly reduced price. At the moment, the Better Price campaign is active in over 2,500 stores across Serbia. Our goal is to provide support to our people, to make them feel the value of this campaign and to feel that they can buy more for their money. We will not give up on that.

The IT industry in our country has been recording significant

In terms of external trade, our policy will be directed towards opening new markets for our companies and concluding new free trade agreements. In addition to working on adequately implementing and further improving existing agreements with the EU, CEFTA, Eurasian Economic Union, Turkey, EFTA and Great Britain, the Government’s goal is also to negotiate and conclude new agreements with other very important partners. Accordingly, the agreement with the People’s Republic of China has already been negotiated and is expected to be signed in the coming period, while we are currently conducting negotiations on free trade with Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. We expect to start negotiations with South Korea soon. The conclusion of these agreements would open up additional and largest world markets for our companies, which have a total of more than one billion employees.

SERBIA’S EXPORTS OF IT INDUSTRY SERVICES STOOD AT 2.5 BILLION EUROS

04 SEPTEMBER 2023

Most Of The Slovenian Economy Is Operating Completely Normally After The Floods

In early August, parts of Slovenia were hit by widespread flooding, which also caused great damage to part of the economy. Most of the Slovenian economy is functioning completely normally after the floods, it is safe and open for business.

The series of measures to help businesses include:

Measures to retaining jobs (including subsidising temporary layoffs for employers who are temporarily unable to

13 SEPTEMBER 2023

The Annual International Networking Cocktail

Continuing the tradition of gathering representatives of prestigious companies in Serbia, yesterday, as many as 17 bilateral chambers of commerce and business associations organized the annual International Networking cocktail. The exclusive event took place in the beautiful surroundings of the Hotel Metropol Palace in Belgrade and gathered more than 350 representatives of member companies of these associations

The participants of the cocktail party were representatives of companies from a wide range of industries and sectors and members of bilateral associations present in Serbia, including the Belgian-Serbian Business Association, British-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, Brazilian-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, CANSEE Canadian-Serbian Business Association, French-Serbian Chamber of Commerce Chamber, Hellenic Business Association of Serbia, Dutch-Serbian Business Association, Croatian Business Club, Irish-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, Japanese Business Alliance in Serbia, Chamber of Italian-Serbian Businessmen, German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, Nordic Business Alliance, UAE & Serbia Business Club, Slovenian Business Club, Swiss-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, Association of Italian Industrialists – Confindustria Serbia.

The cocktail provided a valuable opportunity for business networking and the exchange of experiences and business ideas among the guests. This event is considered one of the most important during the year for establishing new business contacts and expanding the business network of partnerships.

Our commitment to preserving international ties and business partnerships is stronger than ever, and this event represents an invaluable contribution to improving business cooperation among member companies in the country and internationally.

provide work to their employees due to flooding; subsidising the absence of an employee for reasons of force majeure; aid for self-employed persons and farmers and partial wage reimbursement for employees who remedy flood consequences at their employer)

Advance payment and partial reimbursement of damage (including advance payments for businesses of up to 10% of the estimated amount of damage for the co-financing of remedying damage to machinery, equipment, and inventory and loss of income).

Assessment of damage to commercial buildings (Businesses report the damage to the municipality in which they are located)

15 SEPTEMBER 2023

EBRD, donors, and Banca Intesa support Serbian SMEs

€25 million loan and donor-funded grant incentives to help local firms grow their businesses

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has provided a loan worth €25 million to Banca Intesa Belgrade, a member of the Intesa Sanpaolo group, aimed at additional support of investments by small and medium-sized enterprises in Serbia.

The proceeds will help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the country to increase their investments in green technologies and other areas allowing them to be compliant with various EU directives and other relevant international standards.

“We are very pleased that the funds from the credit line are intended primarily for green investments, which is in line with our key commitment to facilitate the decarbonisation and greening up of the Serbian economy,” said Aleksandra Vukosavljevic, EBRD Director, Financial Institutions, Western Balkans and Eastern Europe. In addition to access to more favourable conditions for finance, The SMEs will also benefit from grant incentives worth up to 15 percent of the loan amount. The grants will be funded by Luxembourg, and Norway and other donors are expected to participate.

PANEL DISCUSSION ON THE IMPORTANCE OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Our sustainable community

When we say sustainable development, we, first and foremost, mean how development reflects on the quality of life, not only of our generation but also all of those who will come after us and not only people but also all other systems that surround us. If we look back at some of the definitions of sustainable development, it becomes clear why it is important to integrate the principles of sustainable development into the decisions, plans and strategies we make, which influence the future quality of life. One of the most commonly used definitions of this term is that sustainable development implies such a development of society that satisfies human needs with available resources, without endangering the environment, thus ensuring the long-term existence of society and its environment.

These topics, as well as how to establish and ensure the long-term sustainable development of our community in challenging times, were the topics of the panel discussion „Our Sustainable Community” hosted by the Novosti Company in the inspiring setting of the Royal Palace in Belgrade.

Dubravka Đedović Handanović, Mining and Energy Minister in the Republic of Serbia’s Government, Kirill Tyurdenev, CEO of NIS, and Milun Todorović, Mayor of Čačak participated in the discussion which highlighted the importance of contributing to the accomplishment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

In the introductory part of the meeting, Slobodan Krstović, Head

of the Sustainable Development Department at NALED, stated that it is extremely important to think about what we leave as a legacy to future generations and that building a long-term sustainable community requires the synergy of numerous social factors.

The special focus of the discussion was on the need for human devel-

to ensure the lowest price for individual consumers and businesses and the third is to have security of supply and functioning of our energy system. Energy is a sector that requires long-term planning and it takes a lot of time to see the results. We have adopted an investment plan related to energy infrastructure in the next 10 years, which foresees investments of 15

is one of our priorities and we implement projects with the intention that they contribute not only to achieving our business results but also to a better environmental situation in the whole of Serbia”, Tyurdenev concluded.

FOR NIS, THE ENERGY TRANSITION IS NOT NEW, BUT THE ROAD THAT THE COMPANY HAS BEEN TAKING FOR YEARS

opment and conservation of natural resources, as well as on improving the quality of life of our fellow citizens. Ways to make our community more inclusive and safer and enable long-term sustainable development in challenging times were also discussed. One of the focuses was how energy transition contributes to the accomplishment of certain Sustainable Development Goals.

Dubravka Đedović Handanović stated that energy investments must be a priority in the next 20 years. „We have three goals - the first is energy independence, then

billion euros - first and foremost in renewable energy sources, distribution and transmission grids and reversible hydropower plants,” said the minister.

Kirill Tyurdenev pointed out that for NIS, the energy transition is not new, but the road that the company has been taking for years. „On this road, we pay a great deal of attention to our green agenda. Since 2009, we have spent more than 900 million euros on environmental projects and business projects that indirectly have a positive impact on environmental protection. Improving environmental protection

Milun Todorović noted that stability is of great importance for people. „In addition to healthy and quality air, good, healthy and tasty food and good quality water, people want stability in all these elements - healthy air, electricity and water supply. The fact remains that consumption in Čačak is increasing due to industrial growth. In order for people to have a better quality of life, we need to boost both the economy and infrastructure, which we are working very hard on together with the Government and line ministries. My recommendation is that local governments must always side with the state authorities, ministries and leadership so that the citizens can reap as many benefits as possible”, concluded Todorović.

The panel participants also discussed the importance of education in local communities, as an important segment on the road to development and sustainability. In this sense, Kirill Tyurdenev underlined the importance of synergy between companies and the education sector. He stated that NIS has been supporting educational and scientific institutions for years and that this year, under the auspices of the Common Cause Community programme, the company allocated 144.5 million dinars to support elementary and high schools, scientific research organizations and science and technology parks throughout Serbia.

The Novosti company organized a panel in Belgrade

„Our sustainable community” dedicated to the importance of sustainable development

Anative of Belgrade who started her career at Golf Radio with the famous Gorica Nešović ended up as a presenter at Radio Populare in Milan. From 2020 she has worked as an RTS correspondent from Milan, where she lives, and from where she regularly informs us about all the interesting happenings in northern Italy.

You started your career on the radio, and today you work on television and you work abroad. How difficult were those changes for you?

I call them challenges. I approached everything with enthu-

Everything is Polarized - You are Either for or Against

has a beautiful voice or a speech impediment. It seemed as if anyone could do that job. Today, commercial radio stations have influencers who bring them listeners – if you have a lot of followers, you will have an opportunity to work on the radio. I think that’s a completely wrong approach.

Television is not only about voice – there is the whole appearance of the person who conveys the information to you, and everything affects how that information will be conveyed - the studio, your clothes, hair colour, smile, tone, how you read the news, gestures... We actually communicate non-stop without even realizing it. I started my radio career in Serbia and worked on radio in Italy for almost 20 years. Television is also something I found myself in. Today, many people recognize me first b y my voice and then by my appearance because many TV reports don’t feature the journalist’s face, as is also the case with me.

siasm because that is something that characterizes me as a person - enthusiasm and optimism - and when you do something you love, nothing is really that difficult. You look forward to those challenges. I could not imagine doing something other than journalism, which is quite a difficult challenge when you are abroad, and the instrument of your work is a language that is not your mother tongue. But I was persistent, I tried, and I succeeded.

What are the differences between radio and television journalists?

Radio is about voice, and by that, I don’t mean only words and what is being talked about, but also the way something is pronounced, what is your rhythm, tone, colour, and all that non-verbal communication that exists within verbal communication. When I came to Italy, I was amazed by the fact that they shouted on the radio that it doesn’t matter whether someone

What are the differences between working in Serbia and Italy?

It is difficult for me to compare my work in the Serbian media during the difficult period in the 1990s when I was very young with my somewhat more mature years in Italy, which felt like a rebirth. I learned everything from scratch because language is my main instrument, so I had to master it well to be able to knock on some doors. Working in the media saved me in Serbia because I had contact with people when the whole world closed its doors to us. The Italian public service RAI is very similar

You can call yourself a journalist only when you present the facts without taking sides

SANJA LUČIĆ

RTS correspondent from Milan

to Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS). Other commercial television states, like Mediaset created by Silvio Berlusconi, feature both good and trash programmes. The division between left and right is very visible, so depending on which newspaper you read, you are immediately placed on one side or the other. As a journalist, I read and follow everything, and I am grateful that I can follow media from the Balkans and those in English to form a more complete picture. As a journalist, I seek to get to the source and hear or see for myself what I am going to talk about. There is a lot of copy-paste in journalism today.

You became known to a wider audience in Serbia during the pandemic when the north of Italy suffered the terrible consequences of COVID-19. Considering the horrible stories you had to report, how difficult was that period for you personally and professionally?

During that period, especially at the beginning of the pandemic, I received several messages through social networks accusing me of spreading unwanted panic. I also received quite a few insults, but when you do this job, it’s up to you to say what’s going on, regardless of what you think about a situation. Your task is not to give your personal judgment but to present the information available to you, that is, all the information, and then the audience will make their judgment and form their own opinion. I got through the pandemic quite easily, maybe because of my spirit and the fact that, unlike the Italians, I already had experience with dramatic situations living in Belgrade until 2000. As a nation, we have been through a lot, and so have I in my personal life. I went through some things that many people don’t go through in five lifetimes. During the pandemic, I had the opportunity as a journalist to go to places that no one could access. I saw the empty Venice, I was completely alone in St. Mark’s Square and Piazza Duomo. These are things I will never forget.

You also covered Siniša Mihajlović’s passing. We saw how Italy gave him a magnificent sendoff. How much was our football legend responsible for connecting Serbia and Italy?

In Italy, I often hear the question, „How come you, a small nation

and there aren’t many of you, have so many excellent athletes”? When Siniša passed away, I spoke with one of his best friends, who is also the editor of Gazzetta dello Sport and the author of his biography. He told me: „You understand that character of yours. You have that something decisive, brash, direct, so people either love you or they don’t.” Siniša was much loved precisely for that reason. He was honest. Everyone was shocked when he died because, even though he had been ill for a long time when it comes to people like him, you think they are immortal. The funeral was so moving, with so many different fans, clubs, and ordinary Italians attending. There was even the Yugoslav flag. Siniša and other athletes certainly played the role of our country’s ambassador, which is very important because many Italians still do not know us well enough and have a distorted opinion based simply on ignorance.

You live and work in a European Union country, but your employer is a public media service from Serbia. Are you familiar with the current situation in the media in our country, and what do you think about it?

I follow the events in Italy very closely so that I can properly report about them to viewers in Serbia. I simply do not have time to follow

on publishers backed by a certain party option or even a mafia. Everything is very complicated. As for me, I worked in Italy for 18 years at a radio that is perceived as the left option and calls itself independent, and a priori believes that everything the left thinks and says is correct. But it is not correct or true, and that applies to both the left and the right. You can call yourself a journalist only when you present the facts without taking sides. You can’t call yourself independent, but only a journalist, because a journalist must be independent by the very definition of the profession. I have had such a relationship with RTS since day one.

There is too much violence everywhere. In Italy, we have a huge number of femicides, violence among migrants, baby gangs... Violence is growing across the entire society, not only in this country. The pandemic and the distance between people have left serious consequences on the psyche, which are manifested in this way. There is also globalization and the dissolution of the values that have been our pillar of support until now. All of this causes fragmentation in society, which can be seen in all segments. Everyone is disoriented.

Neither Italy nor other EU countries have been spared attacks and pressures on journalists and

or “This can only happen in Italy,” and the like. I think it’s like that everywhere, more or less. I often talk to my fellow journalists, both Italian and correspondents from the rest of the world working in Italy, about whether journalism is still free. We asked ourselves that a lot during the pandemic. I had the impression that my colleagues had forgotten what our profession really meant. Everything became polarized - whether you are for or you are against, you are in favour or against vaccination, or you are a supporter of a conspiracy theory or not. We witnessed terrible scenes on television, individuals being attacked by groups, quarrels, shouting, demonstrative walkouts from the studio. Public guillotine of the one who thinks for himself and news that clearly favours one side, whether it’s about the war between Russia and Ukraine or other things. There is no presentation of facts on both sides. This must not happen in journalism, which is very divided here basically between the right and the left, while the pandemic caused even bigger divisions.

What do you think about using artificial intelligence in journalism? Does it represent a threat to our profession and society as a whole, or can it be a useful tool?

in detail everything happening in our country’s media. I think the situation is similar everywhere and that the Internet is partly to blame. Thanks to various platforms, we can watch whatever we want or think is right or whatever broadcast we like to hear. People follow the news selectively, i.e. the news that is in line with their beliefs. Journalists here, in Italy, and everywhere in the world are to blame for that. You must understand that journalists also depend

independent media, but it seems that the political system in Italy at least protects them, while here it is the main opponent. Why is it so?

In our country, I think we have this idyllic view of the EU, and we have the idea that everything here works perfectly and everything is in its place. I often talk about it with Italians, who like to say a sentence that I often hear in our country: „This can only happen in a failed country like ours,”

Our profession has long been threatened because newspaper circulation figures have constantly been dropping, and people are, as the Italians would call them, Tuttologi - derived from the word “tutto,” which means “everything.” In translation, everyone knows everything about everything. And they don’t trust anyone anymore. There is a lot of incorrect information circulating and photos that have been altered. Every amateur today presents information, and no one believes anything anymore. You can’t even believe your eyes because you don’t know if what you’re looking at is real or artificial. Artificial intelligence scares people because it can write a text, duplicate your voice, and even make a programme using your voice. The use of humanoid robots is growing, so there is a fear of them in our profession and many others. We shouldn’t be surprised that AI appeared. We expect it to happen, but there are still no norms and provisions in place that can stop it and put it in the right context. Like everything in life, it certainly depends on how and to what extent it will be used.

YOU CAN’T EVEN BELIEVE YOUR EYES BECAUSE YOU DON’T KNOW IF WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING AT IS REAL OR ARTIFICIAL

Day of America in Belgrade: We Have a Dream!

The Day of America conference in Belgrade, held on September 7th, 2023, was attended by many members of the diplomatic corps and representatives of government ministries, public enterprises and companies. The delegation of the Ohio National Guard stood out in particular as one of the conference’s guests when important topics were discussed.

After the official address to the media, Vladimir Orlić, Speaker of the National Parliament, officially opened the conference and welcomed the participants.

„The parliamentary caucus in charge of the matters related to Serbia’s friendship with the US is always formed in each new convocation of our National Parliament and always has a lot of members, which in its own way, is an indicator of our will, desire and motivation to contribute to the further improvement of the relations between the two countries”, said Orlić.

The end of August this year was the 60th anniversary of Martin Luther

King Jr.’s famous speech. „I Have a Dream!” the organizers showed part of that speech to the audience at the beginning of the conference, noting that many of the dreams of justice and equality dreamed by the famous Afro-American activist are still unfulfilled both in the USA and in Serbia.

The conference began with a special panel discussion attended by H.E. Christopher Hill, Ambassador of the United States of America to Serbia and H. E. Marko Djurić, Serbian Ambassador to the USA. Vladimir Marinković, founder of the Serbian-American Friendship Congress, was the panel moderator.

Ambassador Hill stated that the Serbian people were very similar to the American people in the sense that they did not like to be told what to do. „It is a nat-

ural connection between our two countries,” added the ambassador.

Ambassador Djurić spoke about our country’s need to be better represented on the American continent. „In addition to all the longterm crises, Serbia is showing a resilience that is unexpected for us, who have been long-term observers and participants in social and political life,” he said and added that „the USA has become Ser-

bia’s number one partner when it comes to services and in the future, we want the USA to become an even stronger partner when it comes to the economy. Our cooperation is the strongest in the IT and software industry”.

The conference then continued with the ceremony during which awards were given to individuals for their merits in the development of Serbian-American relations. The award

winners are H.E. Marko Djurić, the Serbian Ambassador to the USA, Robert Benjamin, Regional Director of the National Democratic Insti-

The second Day of America conference in Belgrade was held in the old building of the Republic of Serbia’s National Parliament and organized by the Serbian-American Friendship Congress and Color Media Communications.

OUR COOPERATION IS THE STRONGEST IN THE IT AND SOFTWARE INDUSTRY

tute, Richard Grenell, former special US envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Marija Milošević, director of the Art for All gallery, Jovanka Višekruna Janković, founder and artistic director of Artlink, Mihajlo Delić, director of the Play sports charity organization and Adam Sofronijević from RJ Srbijamarka the Serbian Post Office.

Next was a conversation with Ivica Dačić, Serbian Foreign Minister. At his presentation, he stated that

we did not always have to agree with each other and that we could have different interests, but that we should find a common denominator and base cooperation on mutual benefits and respect for the best interests of both parties.

Dačić also spoke about Serbia’s historical role, which remained consistently on the same, true, side of history with the USA and that even today, as the largest and most important nation in the Western Balkan region, it deserves to be treated as an ally of the USA.

MP Stefan Krkobabić spoke with Colonel John Stewart from the Ohio National Guard on the topic of achieving peace in the region and Europe.

„Our partnership is developing and growing with us. As we progress in our professions, so does our cooperation,” said Colonel Stewart.

Tomislav Momirović, Serbian Internal and External Trade Minister, Slobodan Cvetković, Ministry of Economy, Svetoslav Atanasov, Director General of Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company, Ivan Miletić, Internal Affairs Director of Philip Morris International and First Vice President of AmCham Serbia, as well as Nikola Avram, director of the Millenium Resorts project, spoke about the topic “Business as Usual”.

Large-scale investments and a large number of employees are the main features of American companies operating in Serbia. The Serbian mar-

ket is stable and important for this part of Europe.

Minister Momirović announced that he would reopen the issue of the ban on the import of Serbian goods in Kosovo and Metohija in Brussels and added that he expected that the problem would be resolved very soon since it was in the best interest of both Serbian and Albanian companies, as well as long-term peace and stability.

On the topic of energy stability and diversification in the face of the challenge of global geostrategic changes, a panel was held under the name Energy 4.0 in which the participants talked about the unused resources that Serbia has and what is the potential direction towards achieving energy stability. The moderator of the panel was Goran Svilanović, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of FR Yugoslavia, and the participants, in addition to

the panel dedicated to education, called “Not Another Brick in the Wall”. Nikola Božić, director of the Faculty of Applied Ecology, was the moderator of the last panel.

Minister Djukić Dejanović expressed her gratitude to the Serbian-American Friendship Congress for nurturing the relations between the two countries and insisting on having a dialogue on various topics that are crucial for the development of a society. „Thanks to the mutual exchange of experiences and ideas, we will certainly always work for the benefit of our people,” said the Minister.

Closing the conference, she also said that the Day of America conference in Belgrade was a proof and indicator of mutual desire and intention to open new topics, create ideas and partnerships, adding:” I am glad that the conference is at such a high level, in honour of our American guests”.

The evening portion of the event, called “Words Bigger than the Ocean”, was dedicated to the literary ties between Serbia and the USA and was held at the National Library of Serbia. Vladimir Pištalo, Director of the National Library and writer, Professor Vladislava Gordić Petković, Ph.D., from the Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad, Dr Sergej Macura from the Faculty of Philology in Belgrade and D. John K. Cox, professor at North Dakota State University took part in this event.

„Boosting economic cooperation between Serbia and the United States of America also contributes to better political relations between the two countries. This is supported by the figures which show that 620 American companies are currently operating in Serbia, which have invested over 4.5 billion dollars in the Serbian economy and employ around 30,000 of our workers,” said Minister Momirović.

Vladimir Marinković, were Suzana Grubješić, vice president of the Center for Foreign Policy and Darko Obradović, program director of the Center for Strategic Analysis.

Slavica Djukić Dejanović, Serbian Education Minister, Joseph Shepard, President of the University of Western New Mexico and Zoran Jolevski, Harvard lecturer and former ambassador of North Macedonia to the USA, participated in

The esteemed guests talked about how significant literary works were translated into both languages, of course, more from English to Serbian than the other way around, but some works are still inaccessible to Serbian admirers of literature because it is quite difficult to do an adequate translation. There is also a great desire to better present ourselves to the American audience. The guests agreed that we needed to work even more on joint projects and unite our two great nations through prose and poetry because culture is the most beautiful view of our lives and the rich history that we can provide even far across the ocean.

THE SERBIAN MARKET IS STABLE AND IMPORTANT FOR THIS PART OF EUROPE

Day of America opening words

Ivica Dačić, Vladimir Marinković and ambassador Hill

MK Group celebrates its 40th anniversary

MKGroup hosted a celebration on the occasion of 40 years of the company’s successful business operations, under the slogan „Celebrating the future - the best is yet to come”. The jubilee gathered a large number of business and public figures from Serbia and the region. Bearing in mind the value that this company generates for the Serbian economy, the number of people it employs, but also the funds it allocates every year for charity and socially responsible activities, it was the Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, Ana Brnabić, who gave an introductory speech addressed the beginning of the celebration.

„On behalf of the Republic of Serbia government, and me personally, I want to congratulate you on 40 years of successful operations. Thank you for everything you have done in the last 40 years in and for Serbia, for boldly and successfully stepping outside the borders of our country and for successfully competing in our immediate and wider region in this part of Europe, and for thus being one from those companies that are great representatives of Serbia. Thank you for investing in children, families and education and thank you for being a partner of the Republic of Serbia on whom we can always rely,” said Ana Brnabić, Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia.

On behalf of the founder and president of MK Group, Miodrag Kostić, his son, Aleksandar Kostić, who is also Vice President of MK Group and has been running the company for the past five years, which today employs 4,000 people in the Adria region, also spoke at the jubilee celebration. „Miodrag Kostić’s vision has been driving MK Group for 40 years. But we wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for the people who dedicated their careers to the company’s development. That’s why I would like to use this opportunity to especially thank all of our employees. Together we push the boundaries and with new energy have been developing our company’s vision for the next 40 years. I believe that great successes are ahead of us and that the best is yet to come. That is why, in this jubilee year, we decided to celebrate the future and present new projects and an investment cycle worth 1.6 billion euros, which we will implement in the next 3 years. Also, I promise that in five years we will set aside 50 million euros for charitable donations in the society and the communities in which we operate”, said Aleksandar Kostić, Vice President of MK Group.

At the celebration of four decades of business, MK Group presented

new investments in food, energy, destinations and people of the future. „Our investments in agriculture by 2026 will have amounted to 350 million euros. It is particularly worth mentioning the investment of 33 million euros in the alcohol factory in Kovačica, thanks to which Serbia will become an exporter of alcohol for the first time. The biggest segment of the investments, as much

In the next 3 years, the company will invest 380 million euros in tourism and real estate. After the opening of Petram Resort & Residences in Istria this summer, we will make further investments in our two Kempinski hotels in Croatia and Slovenia, as well as in new projects in Serbia and the region,” said Mihailo Janković, CEO of MK Group.

Aleksandra Stojanović, Corporate Affairs Director at MK Group, pointed out that the company also celebrates its anniversary by giving gifts, through numerous socially responsible activities: „We are proud of the 40 years that brought MK Group to the position of one of the most successful companies

as 900 million euros, will be allocated for green energy projects with a total capacity of 1GW. The first project that will be completed this year is the Krivaca wind farm in eastern Serbia. MK Group is also building two new wind farms and a biogas plant in Vojvodina, as well as implementing the first agrosolar project in the Balkans.

CELEBRATING THE FUTURE - THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

in this part of Europe. We are especially proud that in the jubilee year, we elevated the standards of corporate governance, adopted the ESG strategy and are finalizing donations for over 20 kindergartens in the region.”

Forty years of MK Group is the result of exceptional work, dedication and synergy of all the company’s employees, but also of nurturing good relations and cooperation with business partners, local communities and numerous institutions all these years.

At the jubilee celebration, which was attended by a number of renowned business and public figures, the company presented new investments worth 1.6 billion euros

© Srdjan Bosnić

© Darko Radulović

Aleksandar Kostić, Vice President of MK Group

Customers, not brands, dictate the rules

These sales leaders put the customer and their needs at the centre of their business and implement technology to simplify and expedite processes and make business more efficient

Whether B2B or B2C, it seems like the competition in sales is bigger and stronger than in any other industry. Companies use all available sales and marketing opportunities to attract the attention of consumers and motivate them to become their loyal customers.

However, only using new sales channels such as social networks, mobile applications and e-shop can hardly help companies stand out in the market for the same reason that their competition also uses those same channels.

For sales-oriented companies, regardless of whether they are in retail or wholesale, to beat the competition, according to Nemanja Mališić, CEO of the IT company Intelisale, they must put the customer, not their product, at the centre of their business and based on everything they know about the customer, make personalized offers to them, which means that, as Mališić says, it is necessary to implement a sales and communication omnichannel platform in their business.

“It has become a practice for, say, companies that have a store, an e-shop and a mobile application to define themselves as an omnichannel. But that is not true because omnichannel sales does not mean using different sales channels, but rather connecting them. Only when the company integrates all sales channels, as well as communication, it can provide customers with a unique and personalized shopping experience at any time, in any place and from any device. Why? Because, thanks to the omnichannel platform, all customer contact points and unified

information about customers are integrated into „a single source of truth”, regardless of whether they bought in a store or on one of the digital channels,“ explains Mališić and notes that research by Harvard Business Review shows that over 70% of consumers, as well as B2B decision makers for communication with suppliers, use about 10 channels for shopping.

„In short, today’s customer is not one-dimensional, so sales cannot be that way either. Today’s customer expects that something they saw on social networks, can be bought immediately in just a few clicks, quickly and easily. Sometimes the customer expects it to be delivered the same day. If they buy something online and the product does not meet their expectations, they expect that they can return it to the nearest store and not have to send it by mail. If the customer, for instance, bought an air conditioner in a store, they expect to receive an e-mail after a day or two with detailed and simple instructions

and eCommerce for Central and Eastern Europe at the Infobip Company, a global cloud communication platform, believes that the implementation of a sales and communication omnichannel platform in business makes the difference between sales champions and average players.

„It is crucial for companies to implement timely technological solutions that will help them to simplify processes, expedite them and ultimately make the job for themselves and their co-workers

COMPANIES THAT HAVE A STORE, AN E-SHOP AND A MOBILE APPLICATION DEFINE THEMSELVES AS AN OMNICHANNEL. BUT THAT IS NOT TRUE BECAUSE OMNICHANNEL SALES DOES NOT MEAN USING DIFFERENT SALES CHANNELS, BUT RATHER CONNECTING THEM

on how to maintain it. Simply put, the customer is looking for the possibility of action regardless of the initial point of contact with the brand and that is exactly why technology is so important. Only technology can provide and support such customer expectations,“ says our interlocutor.

Ivica Prlić, Head of BFSI, Retail

easier and make their business more efficient. Automation and optimization are key. Omnichannel is not just about sales. Communication with customers continues even after the purchase. Thanks to technology, companies can meet their customers where they are and then follow them wherever they go. It is the customer who

determines the relevance of the channel, not the company,“ explains Prlić.

According to him, data collection and analysis is a crucial feature of an omnichannel.

„Data helps marketers to understand consumer behaviour better than ever before, and therefore to create messages that are tailored to their individual needs. Research shows that 80% of shoppers will buy from a company that offers personalized experiences,“ Prlić underlines.

Intelisale, a Serbian IT company that has developed an omnichannel platform for business and sales development, and Infobip, a leader in the CPaaS (Communications Platform as a Service) industry, have entered into a strategic partnership. As they say, their products are complementary and together they can create additional opportunities and benefits for clients, such as higher revenues, greater customer satisfaction and more effective marketing campaigns.

„In short, a sales and communication omnichannel platform is the strength with which you will beat the competition,“ Nemanja and Ivica agree.

NEMANJA MALIŠIĆ, CEO of the IT company Intelisale

The 10th DIGITAL Conference: Everything Has Changed Since 2014

The event was supported by the following conference partners - Telekom Srbija, Yettel, SBB, Star Channel, Orion Telekom, Direct Media United Solutions, Coca-Cola, Heineken, Vision Partners, and Lavazza.

Tomislav Žigmanov, Serbian Minister for Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue, officially opened the conference.

„Following the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia, as well as international documents, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Political and Civil Rights, freedom of speech is guaranteed to every individual, while it must also be harmonized with personal rights, such as, among others, the right to life and human integrity, human dignity and protection from hate speech. Therefore, threats, insults, and incitement to violence cannot be justified by freedom of speech and expression. Hate speech itself, which includes the use of words that discriminate and label certain vulnerable groups in society, does not contribute to the debate in a democratic society but, on the contrary, limits freedom of expression and encourages hatred, aggression, and hostility and creates an unsafe environment for members of sensitive groups,“ Žigmanov stated.

Next to address the conference participants was H.E. Edward Ferguson, the new British ambassador to Serbia, who said that the British digital ecosystem was a crucial part of the prosperity of Great Britain and that the British market was the third-largest digital market in the world. Also, as they represent a digital nation, British diplomats are expected to be digitally literate themselves.

„We also try to support projects here in the region that will improve the digitization of public services in order to expedite processes and make people’s lives easier. Cooperation with businesses is also very im-

portant to us, and we are trying to develop new economic ties that are mostly related to the ICT sector,” said Mr Ferguson.

„We are witnessing tectonic shifts in the development of digital technologies, attempts to rein in and steer their development in the direction in which they will serve humanity as much as possible, while having as few negative consequences as possible for society, not only when it comes to equality, but in general, for the entire social fabric and cohesion. That is why all of us, both administrative bodies and independent institutions, the private sector and the academic community, as well as

the civil sector, have to ensure that this figurative fire that has been lit is a catalyst for social progress and well-being, and not a destructive element that will destroy the fragile fabric of our societies”, said Brankica Janković, Commissioner for the Protection of Equality.

The traditional annual meeting of the region’s telecommunication leaders took place during the first panel discussion at the conference with the participation of Vladimir Lučić, CEO of Telekom Serbia, Mike Michel, CEO of Yettel Serbia, Dejan Turk, CEO of A1 Serbia and A1 Slovenia, Borislav Tadić, CPO and member of the board of directors of 1&1 Versatel and Slobodan Djinović, CEO of Orion Telekom. The panel moderator was Dejan Ljuština, CEO and Managing Partner of Vision Partners.

Vladimir Lučić, CEO of Telekom Serbia, spoke about several successful projects that Telekom implemented in the previous period, especially related to the automation of services, as well as about very important future plans where a major focus will be on the introduction of a 5G network for which there is already an optical network in place and all that needs to be done is obtain a license so that 5G network can reach the end users as soon as possible.

Mike Michel, CEO of Yettel Serbia, pointed out that there was no time

A regional conference on trends in telecommunications and media - DIGITAL 2023 - was held for the tenth time

to lose and that Yettel has been listening intently to the market to further improve its own services and, simultaneously, boost the new brand under which they operate. Monetization and marketing activities will be in the company’s focus in the coming period for this year.

Slobodan Djinović, CEO of Orion Telekom, pointed out that Orion can offer clients a 10gbt network and that the company’s goal was to reach clients for whom price is not the main parameter in decision-making. The company is continuing with the implementation of the green agenda, with one solar power plant having already been built and more planned.

The Pioneers of Digital Transformation was the title of the second panel discussion with Branko Dangubić, owner and director of GameS, Ivan Tanasković, executive director of the eCommerce Association of Serbia, Miloš Aleksić, Head of Market Impact at KupujemProdajem, and Djordje Djuričić, senior product manager and United Cloud, as the participants. The panel was moderated by Marija Matić, Strategy & Clients Director of Direct Media.

Digital transformation is a long and continuous process because it grows as the appetites of end users grow, and all companies are governed by the market’s wishes and demands. E-commerce is progressively maturing in the market as the purchasing power of Generation Z, which mostly uses electronic shopping services, is growing. The panelists agreed that there is light at the end of the tunnel for Serbia and its digital transformation.

“Content is king, but distribution is queen” was the title of a case study prepared for the #Digital2023 audience by Aleksandra Martinović,

director of the Multimedia Directorate at Telekom Serbia.

„Local and regional players are the ones who preserve the essential content of our lives, our history, humour, our visions, upbringing, the way we were raised, slang, subculture, and culture. These crucial and sophisticated „settings” give a comparative advantage over all major studies. And that’s why domestic films are always the most popular among cinema-goers, and SUPERSTAR TV is the most-watched cable channel. It’s because we give ourselves, what we feel, understand

ic in a conversation titled “On the wings of the Falcon”.

„We are very proud that this train came to life because it was a smart and environmentally friendly decision,” said Ms Gašparac.

The train successfully demonstrates how near Belgrade and Novi Sad really are, she said, and how that should be fully utilized, particularly when it comes to various content and activities that one of these cities can offer, such as the EXIT Festival.

dience’s attention with important topics in the century dominated by consumerism and apoliticism” was the fourth panel discussion with the participants Maja Nikolić from Nova S, Jovana Vukojević, journalist, editor, author of the show „Day by Day,” Žaklina Tatalović from N1, Filip Švarm from Vreme weekly, Slobodan Georgiev from Nova S and Zoran Ostojić from Tanjug TV. It was moderated by Ana Novaković from N1.

“Reality Check: What the Serbian media and marketing market looks like in 2023” was another individual presentation at the conference where Predrag Kurčubić, Director General of IPSOS Serbia, gave a phenomenal lecture and numerically explained what our market looks like.

Although the Srbija Voz Company has achieved a lot, it still has big operational and development plans.

The third panel discussion, titled “Chat GPT vs. Chat With Me - How

Digital trends in the UK were a topic that Lazar Vuković, from London-based Wolf Entertainment, spoke about and knew very well. He was happy to share his knowledge and experience with the conference visitors.

“How to Survive Survivor” was the title of the fifth panel discussion, which gathered the heroes, presenters, and producers of the most popular regional competition-entertainment programme in Belgrade. The participants were Bojana Kesić, executive producer of Nova TV and producer of the Survivor series, Bojan Perić, presenter, Amer Džekman, Survivor competitor from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Marina Pivalica, Survivor competitor from Croatia, Anja Andrejić, Survivor competitor from Serbia, Bojan Djumić, another Survivor competitor from Serbia and Darko Pauničić, director and creative producer of Survivor. It was moderated by Zorica Radulović from Telegraf.rs.

and often identify with”, concluded Ms Martinović.

After that, the conference participants had the opportunity to hear how the Novi Sad-Belgrade highspeed railway changed these two cities’ business and life paradigms in just one year and what it taught us. Danijela Gašparac, Head Of Market Research - CEO Advisor at Telekom Srbija / Marketing and Communication Consultant for the Railway Sector at MCTI/Srbija Voz, and Robert Čoban, CEO of Color Press Group, spoke about this top-

to avoid losing our own to artificial intelligence,” had the following participants - Slobodan Marković, digital technologies advisor at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Serbia, Professor Oliver Tošković, PhD, from the University of Belgrade’s Faculty of Philosophy, Nikola Ivančević, tech visor at TechNexus Solutions and Ivan Ćosić, owner of the Plain&Hill Agency. Vesna Čarknajev, CEO of PC Press, was the panel moderator.

“The Future of Political Talk in the Era of TikTok - How to keep the au-

The last, sixth panel was “The House of Twitter - How our politicians, state officials, and the NGO sector are using social media,” twenty years after Mark Zuckerberg ushered us into a new era. The panel participants were Nina Mitić from the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue and MPs Vladimir Djukanović, Boško Obradović, Nataša Dragojlović and Snežana Paunović. The moderator was Dragan Močević from Prime Communications, Banja Luka.

The tenth jubilee Digital Conference ended with the ceremony at which Digital Awards were given away to 20 companies and individuals.

«WE ARE WITNESSING TECTONIC SHIFTS IN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT.» - BRANKICA JANKOVIĆ

DIGITAL AWARDS

Near the end of the tenth jubilee Digital 2023 conference, the Digital Awards ceremony was held during which the best companies and individuals in media, telecommunications, marketing, PR, ICT industry and digital innovation were awarded. There were a total of 15 award categories, plus five special awards.

The jury members were Violeta Jovanović, NALED, Ivan Stanković, Communis, Marija Matić, Direct Media, Slavimir Stojanović, designer, Danijela Rakić, Serbian Association of Managers, Jelena Medaković, Director of the Belgrade City Museum, Zoran Torbica, Adria Summit, Biljana Jotić, Director of the Museum of Applied Art, Dušan Jovović, multimedia artist and Željko Tomić, from the Privrednik Business Club.

The award in the best social media campaign category went to Telekom Srbija and the award was received by Una Zabunov, Head of the company’s Digital Marketing Communications Department.

The award for the best online campaign was given to SBB and the award was received by Minja Jugović Janjić, Marketing Director.

The award for the best TV campaign was awarded to Telekom Srbija. Suzana Berić, Director of the Brand Strategy and Marketing Communications Sector, received the award on the company’s behalf.

NLB Komercijalna Bank won the award for the best print media campaign in print. The award was received by Branka Letica, Executive Director of the Marketing and Communications Division.

The award for the best outdoor campaign went to Srbijavoz and the award was received by Djordje Prokić, Executive Director, and Danijela Gašparac, Marketing and Communication Consultant.

The award for the best radio campaign went to the Robert Bosch Serbia Company, with Dragana Milenković, Regional Channel Manager, receiving the award on the company’s behalf.

The award for the Best Domestic TV Series went to Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS) for the It’s Easy for Rale (Lako je Raletu) series. Duška Vučinić, head of the Corporate Image and Public Relations Department, received the award on behalf of RTS.

The award for the best domestic entertainment show on television was won by the Eurovision Song Contest produced by RTS. Presenter Kristina Radenković received the award.

The special award for the HR employer branding online in the region went to the NIS Company. The award was received by Marijana Paunović, head of the Recruitment and Selection Division, on the company’s behalf.

The special award for the best socially responsible application went to Vega IT and its Marketing Manager, Bojana Savanović, who received the award on the company’s behalf.

The award for the leader of social responsibility in ICT sector went to the Yettel Company, while Marija Vujanić, the company’s Communication and Sustainability Director, received the award.

The prize for PR manager of the year went to Jelena Milović, Senior PR manager at RED Communications Agency.

The award for creativity and decency in communication on social media was given to Biljana Stepanović, Director of Business Info Group.

The Walt Disney Company received a special award for the promotion of popular culture, and Marko Dacić, the company’s Marketing Manager in Serbia, received the award on behalf of the company.

The award for the best domestic film went to the film Vera and it was presented to Danka Milošević, the film’s producer.

The award for the best domestic news TV programme went to the Among Us (Medju Nama) programme, produced by Nova S. The author, editor and host of the show, Maja Nikolić, received the award on behalf of Nova S.

The award for CSR manager of the year went to Tijana Koprivica, Sustainable Operations Director at Delta Holding.

The award for the most creative management of social media was won by the MK Group and the award was received by Tamara Veselinović, Corporate Communications and Marketing Director.

The special award for the most socially responsible company in the region went to the m:tel Company. Jelena Trivan, the company’s Director General, received the award.

The special award for technological contribution to society - 10 Gigabit XGS-PON Network was awarded to Orion Telekom. The award was presented to Vladan Tasić, Network and Services RnD Director.

by Žikica Milošević

You Will Not Recognise Niš in Three Years

We have continued to invest despite Serbia not being part of the EU

is a very bold company, changing the rules of the game while being on the top and leading the game. We are talking to Massimo Andolina, President of the Region Europe at Philip Morris International, about smoke-free future and the tobacco industry perspective and this “Bowie-sque” attitude.

PMI

Since you had a chance to spend some time in Serbia and this Niš factory in the early phases of

PMI’s business in Serbia, what are your impressions? How much has the factory changed since you were last here?

It has changed an enormous amount. I came here for the first time at the very beginning of my tenure with Philip Morris 15 years ago. We have continued to invest despite Serbia not being part of the EU; we have made the Serbian factory an integral part of a Eu-

ropean network of factories. We invest in technology perspective, equipment to be able to make the best products here constantly, the people and capabilities, and performances. This is one of the best-performing factories that we have in Europe. Testimonial of this is the fact that one of our most important markets is Japan since the Japanese want only the best – and we managed to bring the Japanese export production

THE INVESTMENTS IN NIŠ ARE NOT INCREMENTAL. THEY ARE A QUANTUM LEAP, A GAME CHANGER

here to Serbia. We are also a Top employer and doing a lot with sustainability. We would go carbon neutral all over the world in 2025 with our internal operations. And with Serbia, we’re pretty much there. By 2024 we will have made the last investment - to expand our solar panel facilities in this place. And replace our boilers – they will be fed by the solar panels. Niš factory became the major export centre. This is no longer the niche of 20 years ago producing for the Balkans. It produces for 50 countries around the world, 80% of its production is exported. The fac-

MASSIMO ANDOLINA President of the Region Europe at Philip Morris International

tory also produces tobacco ready to be put in cigarettes in other factories, like in Algeria or Egypt.

Does this significant investment in the Niš factory shed new light on what a small market Serbia is in terms of contribution to the transformation of the company and the mission of a smoke-free world?

Serbia is moving well in this transformation. Looking at the data, around 10% of smokers already switched to smoke-free alternatives, while 1/3 of the population smokes heavily (seen from the number of cigarettes smoked daily). So, the people resonated with our message. We are happy to be on the 20th anniversary since we can say that we are closing an important chapter while starting a new one with the new products of the future. We are starting with the new product that we have just finished testing in very few markets. I am sure during our next visit, when we finish that step, you will not be able to recognise Niš in 3 years or even after the first phase of the investment. This is not incremental, even from the manufacturing perspective. This is massive. A quantum leap. When you visit our factory in Romania, newer than in Niš, you will see the factory of the future – bright, clean, with the latest technologies, and laboratories where the contents of the products are allowed. When you bring technology, the quality control gets to a new level, the equipment is fully digital and automatic, and you get 2 things: invest in people, and connect with the people in the territory, the youngsters that are technologically advanced. As PM Brnabić said in her speech, the investments of the Government are absolutely crucial: the innovation hubs and sci-tech centres. Once you create these innovations, you create the complete ecosystem,

so it becomes a fantastic place for companies to invest. It is beneficial for both people and the company. In Bologna, we had the problem 3-4 years ago: they told me that Lamborghini, Porsche, etc. are poaching our engineers, skilled workers... I explained that it is beautiful that we created people who are wanted for their skills, so the companies come to Bologna.

Mentioning the smoke-free world, what do you think can be done better so that a smoke-free world becomes a reality, not a mission?

nities to improve, 7-8 years into the journey. In Europe, we are trying to gather all the countries to communicate the message, but we cannot do it alone. We are confronted in several places with obstacles. Some countries say: oh, it is a tobacco product. You cannot communicate. They do not get it is significantly better than classical cigarette, so they condemn the users to the classical, more toxic way of nicotine consumption. They prevent people from knowing. The example of Sweden is a leading one. Sweden was on nicotine

this conversion is not full. People like the taste of cigarettes, but sometimes they revert after only a week. Prior to COVID-19, in 2018-2019, we sent thousands of people on the ground to explain the products face-to-face. In some countries like France, you cannot even tell the people these products exist, only on the shows. And the people just taste it, saying, “well, it is nothing like cigarettes,” and returning to the classics. We have 25-30% of people who go through this process and quit the classic cigarettes altogether.

How can we make the gestures of smokeless products as cool as the gestures of classical cigarettes? I believe that 50% of smoking is about ritual. There should be some psychological “battle” to convert to the new products.

What is the future about, and what are today’s obstacles? Can you state some specific measures that governments around the world need to take for the progress you are talking about?

There are lots of things that we as a company can do better. We constantly take feedback from the consumers, making better products more satisfactory. I.e. the new product, IQOS ILUMA, is not an incremental innovationit is a whole new level, it transforms the whole process. We have been learning how to pass the messages to the consumers daily, but there are still opportu-

pouches for 3 years prior to the EU accession. They managed to avoid the ban on nicotine pouches as an exception and commercialize it, and after 30 years, the average use of tobacco fell from 25% to 5%, so they are smokefree virtually. They also lowered the tobacco-related illness rate. The nicotine pouches is forbidden in the EU, but there is also a tendency to forbid other type of smoke-free products. It leaves users only one option - to go to the tobacconist and buy another pack of classic cigarettes. If you don’t go one-to-one with the person, a proper trial, find the proper taste, a follow-up – well,

Well, it was promoted by films, by personalities like Humphrey Bogart, lasted for several decades, and became so accepted, a part of life’s experience. To undo this and introduce a “new cool” takes an enormous amount of time and effort. Yes, they have to become attractive, but not too attractive – we want the old smokers to convert, but we don’t want to make them too attractive so the non-smokers start using them. We have to be careful with flavours, because they make the difference. Especially Spain, Germany, and France – they are “full-flavored tobacco” countries, they are attached to it. Some countries like more light or menthol. The menthol segment was, for instance, a very small segment of cigarettes in Italy, but if the switch, now approximately 1/3 of the market of smoke-free products is menthol-flavored. But they can also attract new users. We are clear with that – we want the users to switch, not to create new users.

THOSE WHO DO NOT SMOKE SHOULD NOT START SMOKING, THOSE WHO ALREADY SMOKE SHOULD QUIT. BUT THOSE WHO DO NOT QUIT SHOULD SWITCH TO ALTERNATIVE SMOKE-FREE PRODUCTS

by Dragan Nikolić

Why Are My Thoughts So Conflicted

There have been very few movies about Serbian history

Your latest film ‘Why Are My Thoughts So Conflicted” (in Serbian, “Što se Bore Misli Moje“) deals with Serbian history and Prince Mihailo Obrenović. How challenging was it for a film director to film about historical subjects? How difficult is it to incorporate the documentary aspect into a feature film?

It’s a big responsibility. We did not incorporate the documentary aspect into the feature film but rather adapted the fiction to the truth. We respected the facts. The problem is that there are very few indisputable facts about the assassination of the prince to make a movie out of them. „Why Are My Thoughts So Conflicted” is partly fiction and the most challenging thing was to place all the fictional characters and events in a realistic framework. That is, everything that is invented in the film had to resemble the truth and that was the challenge. Also, we presented certain truths to the

viewers that cannot be found on the Internet. There is also a very limited number of books which taught us something that was not commonly known, so a lot of re-

search was needed before writing the script.

It seems that films inspired by history have become popular

again in domestic movie theatres. Why is that so?

If you look back, the Serbian film industry is brimming with films inspired by history. I would not go into ideological discussions and quality assessment, but World War II films have become an almost independent genre. However, there have been very few films that cover Serbian history. More films about this topic have been made in the last ten years than in the entire time since we started making movies in this country. Until recently, we didn’t seem to show much interest in our own history. For instance, the film inspired the song Banović Strahinja, which in itself is a more or less finished script, was directed by a Croatian film director. Viewers have always loved such films, but they have not been made for a long time. I’m afraid the reason for this is very prosaic - making historical films is very demanding.

It takes a lot more time to even get to filming if you take into account everything that needs to be researched in order for the script to both respect the facts and be believable, but also fun for the audience. We didn’t dare to start shooting the film until two renowned historians, who

EVERY FAMILY MEMBER HAS A CAMERA, LIKE A PLATE

MILORAD MILINKOVIĆ

Film director

© Filip Olcan

specialize in the historical period depicted in „Why Are My Thoughts So Conflicted”, read the script. The filming itself was a challenge because we had to strictly adhere to the historical timelines. For instance, you can’t shoot an assassination in the

From the artist’s perspective, what do you think of the local art scene? Is there an audience for high-end cultural events or is popular culture dominant?

I don’t know if the two should be viewed separately - why can’t

its bigger or smaller audience. Now, not everything is always top quality, but it never has been. There has always been a distinction. How many composers during Mozart’s time made more money than him but nobody has ever heard of them? The problem doesn’t lie in a genre of culture but what matters the most is the quality that will make the work of art last.

What is happening to contemporary pop culture? Has it been devalued with the advent of social networks?

lowers”, without investing much effort. You don’t need knowledge or skills and you don’t have to be special in any way to influence someone’s opinion. You just turn on the camera (and now every family member has one, like a plate) and say whatever first comes to your mind and that’s rarely something worth hearing, save for rare exceptions. So my answer is “yes” – popular culture has been devalued, but just like other cultural genres, it is still holding on and I hope they will manage to survive the invasion of social media content.

winter if the prince was killed in May. Plus, you have to find very rare props and the list goes on and on. The financial aspect is not negligible either. „Why are My Thoughts so Conflicted” does not belong to the category of „historical spectacle” in terms of production, if historical spectacle implies cavalry going from charge to charge, with thousands of extras and so on, but then again, creating costumes and finding props from the 19th century and appropriate carriages are much more demanding than shooting a film that takes place in the present time and in which you have no responsibility towards history.

You are not only a film director, but also a screenwriter, writer, musician and actor. You are also known as a football commentator and a seeker in the popular quiz “The Chase” (“Potera”). How do you explain having such a complex range of interests?

I explain that as a complex spectrum of interests. Because I have loved football since I was a child, it is not that difficult to comment on a game once a week. I just articulate out loud what I think when I watch a game on the TV in the living room. It’s the same with music. As for “The Chase”, curiosity and a good memory are crucial. You just realize that you have accumulated enough information to be able to do the role of a seeker.

popular culture be the ultimate cultural event? Of course, if by popular culture you mean a concert by, say, the Rolling Stones. What’s not top-notch in that?

The Internet offers a lot of content that has generated great popularity, without content creators really making an effort. A girl talks about the best lipstick or a guy plays a video game and records it, and this gets more views than any music track, whether classical or rock. Each has its own value. It is important that people are more interested in something that is not culture in general. What benefit

In the past, before the advent of today’s digital age, culture led society forward and was its signpost. However, today it seems that, in general, culture is only a reflection of the society in which it is created. What do you think?

It would be a bit pretentious to say that we, people in culture and authors, lead society forward. We are here to notice, point out

Why are My Thoughts so Conflicted

The exciting historical and political thriller „Why are My Thoughts so Conflicted” is centred around the murder of Prince Mihailo Obrenović, as well as the events that immediately preceded the tragic act itself. Milorad Milinković and Dragoljub Stojković wrote the script about one of our greatest rulers and the assassination that took place in 1868 in Košutnjak.

Dragan Mićanović plays Prince Mihailo Obrenović, while other historical figures

I suppose that every cultural event has its audience. In fact, it seems to me that we have enough events here from all segments of culture - there are concerts and literary evenings, films and series, theatres with a large number of plays in their repertoires and everything has

are played by prominent actors such as Miloš Timotijević, Nebojša Dugalić, Nataša Ninković, Aleksandar Srećković Kubura, Tamara Krcunović, Nenad Okanović and young actors Luka Grbić, Jana Ivanović, Maja Čampar, Stojša Oljačić and others.

The film was produced by Telekom Srbija and Bombona production company, while Dunav Osiguranje is the film’s sponsor.

„Why are My Thoughts so Conflicted” will be released in cinemas on Thursday, September 21st.

do you get from watching someone play a video game? After all, pick it up and play it yourself, it’s more fun. Social media are not a problem in themselves as they can be useful, but the problem is out-of-control use and the fact that you can generate a large number of viewers, that is, „fol-

WHAT HAS PUSHED SOCIETY FORWARD THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAS ALWAYS BEEN SOMETHING RARE AND EXCEPTIONAL

or suggest something and it is up to people to decide how they will understand and use what we said. So, if we are a product of a society, that is also what we put in front of the audience. In fact, what has pushed society forward throughout history, no matter where it came from, has always been something rare and exceptional. As for the signposts, they can be set up by anyone, but is up to us to recognize if the direction they are pointing to is the right one.

D&C Jagodina Tour for Ambassadors and Spouses

In the organization of Diplomacy&Commerce Magazine, the Museum of Naive and Marginal Art from Jagodina and the City of Jagodina, a group of ambassadors visited this museum and the City of Jagodina

The ambassadors of Algeria, H.E. Fatah Mahraz, and the Congo, H.E. Joseph Kalala Mulamba, with their wives, as well as the wives of the ambassadors of Belarus and Brazil, visited the Museum of Naive and Marginal Art, where they had the opportunity to see the Partizanka and Fragonard exhibition, as well as the museum’s permanent exhibition with works by domestic and foreign naive painters.

The exhibition is dedicated to the collection of Jovanka

Broz’s paintings, which was created in cooperation between the Gallery of Motherland of Srpska and the Museum of Yugoslavia, with 36 works of fine art by local and foreign authors, personal items, photographs, and several pieces of furniture from the house where Jovanka Broz lived after the death of Josip Broz Tito was presented.

“It is interesting that we brought the exhibition of the Museum of Yugoslavia and the Matica Srpska Gallery dedicated to Jovanka Broz to Jagodina, where we presented it to the diplomats, especially since it shows the diplomatic life of that time,” said Ivana Bašićević Antić, director of the Museum of Naive and Marginal Art.

After the visit to the Museum, local authorities of the City of Jagodina hosted a city tour sight-

seeing. The tour included visits to the Museum of Wax Figures, the Aqua Park, and the Zoo.

The trip to Jagodina ended with lunch with the mayor, Ratko Stevanović, who thanked the guests for their stay in this interesting city and invited them to come again.

Ambassadors and guests were amazed at what they saw.

“This was a very interesting tour through the historical and cultural attractions of Jagodina, this beautiful city. We had the opportunity to see exceptional presentations in museums, and

we know that Jagodina has exceptional tourist potential”, said H.E. Fatah Mahraz, ambassador of Algeria.

The Ambassador of Kongo expressed his gratitude to the

organizers. He thanked all for the excellent reception. “Everything we saw was beautiful, and I’m glad I had the chance to visit the museums,” said Mr. Joseph Kalala Mulamba.

Mrs. Daniel Vivacqua, spouse of the Brazilian ambassador to Serbia, H.E. José Mauro Couto, said that this was the second time she visited Jagodina. “Your museum of naive and marginal art is a real treasure. In Brazil, too, we have a tradition of naive art. Art is very important for education, and Serbia is a country I have come to love and feel at home”.

The List: People who change Belgrade

Belgrade a city with a soul, where every street and every person tells their own story. Throughout this city’s history, people have left their mark and influenced its appearance, architecture, gastronomic offer, and the habits of the people of Belgrade. But here’s the thing about being influential: it’s not for everyone. It takes a certain kind of person to stand out in a crowd and be heard. Let’s take a look at some of the men and women who have made their mark on Belgrade in a feature column by Duška Jovanić, which is out each month.

NOTE: The list is made in alphabetical order

It’s been a long time since was „that crazy guy who carries bags up and down Knez Mihailova Street”. Even when he inevitably had to do it because of his job, in the foreground there was always a unique and elegant gentleman, for whom a tie and not a pair of Levi’s jeans suited his character and accentuated the silhouette much better. There is no way you couldn’t spot him in the crowd, even if your sight is bad. „Clothes should be a frame for the personality” is the thesis that has led him to the front of the mirror. The aesthetics of Art Nouveau and Art Deco are his weaknesses, the time when the world was full of hope. Although „one who rejoices”, which is the meaning of his name in Hindi, Ashok is often able to deceive with the deadly seriousness of an ancient sage, which is his new image. An architect by education, stylist by profession, Hindi by origin sounds too clichéd for what he has become. Although we played together so many times, I would single out two memorable fashion stories about Ashok – the first was when he changed

rather restrained presenters of a central news programme in trampoline-appropriate clothes and the second when, in an almost cinematic synopsis of the fetishization of the red carpet, he took measures of Serbian female politicians for a political party’s glamorous CV. A voyeur by the very nature of his job, he doesn’t judge us only by how we are dressed, although he has a very sharp eye and a wicked tongue, all within the constraints of his good upbringing. He admits that he invested a lot in his long-term love affair with Belgrade, a city he believed was only his, until those who claim to love it even more emerged. But that doesn’t matter! The Museum of Contemporary Art and several Brašovan houses remain untouched. He would never dare to change Belgrade. He respects the city, even when the city doesn’t agree with him. He regrets that Belgrade does not remember itself from the time when it resembled the true self - strong and without complexes - and when its streets were a universe unto itself.

The other night, with her multimedia installation and performance called “The Process”, Dragana Ognjenović put fashion where it belonged - in a museum. Practically, the entire “process” took place in the Gallery of the Faculty of Fine Arts, but the point was to show how fashion art is created through framed clothing items, craft cuts and (dis)jointed parts of what the female sculptures wear. Today, a doctoral student at the Academy of Fine Arts, Dragana regularly comes to class dressed in all white. “How will you ever become a painter dressed like that?” was just one of the terribly misplaced questions she was asked. If life were a movie, she should have answered with: „I will be Dragana Ognjenović”. In the meantime, it’s as if she has changed almost nothing in her attitude towards the taboos of worn-out reality, except that she has replaced white with all shades of black. It was like a truly American life story - she had very little money and zero fear when she showcased her first fashion collection in the terrible year of 1992. Up to that point, she had been passionately reading the motivational stories of people who

had achieved their dreams. Hers was Made in Serbia. Although everything was much more complicated than she could have imagined, she continued to believe in the cleverness and power of design. Dragana never stopped drawing, no matter where she was and how far she had come. She was the first local fashion designer at the New York Fashion Week, enthroned between Donna Karan and Calvin Klein. After that, she conquered the rest of the world, as she continues to silently glide through the streets of Dorćol, which are her planet of everything she has made. She is constantly thinking about how to make her life more complicated, which may make her inscrutable, but not grumpy. When she puts on a fashion show, her first and most important idea is to surprise us with the catwalk. She greets the audience by peeking out from behind the curtain, appears only for a few seconds and runs away with her head down, hidden by a cascade of silky brown hair, while the women in her dresses are changing Belgrade. She knows exactly what a monument to minimalism is made of - an eraser!

© Goran Popovski

ASHOK MURTY Stylist

DRAGANA OGNJENOVIĆ

Fashion artist

© Nemanja Maraš © Monika Pavlović

GREGORY HORVAT Frenchman in Belgrade

Pardon my French, but first I give the floor to Greg, who put Paris just around the corner and cut a real piece of French delicacies for spoiled palates. “Hello, dear people! First of all, thank you for being here and supporting the Code French brand. I’m Gregory and I come from Paris. Since my roots are from Serbia, I came here as a boy. That’s why I chose Belgrade because we share the same sensibility towards food and life. So, a few years ago, I decided to turn my hedonistic experience into a business. First I brought a baguette and croissants and then I opened a small French cheese shop in the Kalenić market. The original French gourmet spirit arrived on time at 10 Čubrina Street, in the romantic Topličin Venac. Our philosophy is for people to enjoy in food, which is why Serbs and French are very similar”. And he did just that! Greg somehow

made himself at home as if he had always been here. Tall and wiry, he is always quiet, almost silent as he tours his delicatessen or sits in the corner at his laptop. Nevertheless, at every step, there is a discipline of life where everything is important. Monsieur Gregory seems so calm as if he doesn’t have to deal with fresh crusty baguettes every morning or make a delicious Quiche Lorraine. On rare occasions and by special order, he can delight us with a generous portion of homemade foie gras, which, according to good old aristocratic custom, should be cut with a fork, not spread on bread. Even so, Greg approves of all our foodie habits. Thanks to that, in our eyes, he has become as reliable as an old acquaintance. What else keeps him in Belgrade? Stuffed peppers, he answers without feigning. That was Greg. À bientôt!

4

This is a woman who’s always made up like her life depends on it. The owner and director of the most powerful Serbian cosmetics company, Aura, is not only the lady boss of a brand that has proven that beauty is a resource of national importance, but her every red-carpet appearance makes Belgrade believe that the best show has just been played in front of the city’s eyes. Having reinstated the dress code to where it belongs, Mila Litvinjenko still believes in the lady’s cut of the lifestyle, although she is pulling the strings in a direction in which even big (male) players would stumble. Her book of success consists of ten concepts: perseverance, persistence, passion, creativity, individuality, continuous learning, consistency, courage, openness to change and teamwork. It took her twenty years to overcome the judgment and prejudice that homemade makeup is not good. She was working as a simultaneous translator for the United Nations, when she decided, at the beauty show in Bologna, how to create Aura. Her entire bi-

ography belongs to the Russian novel genre, not only because of her origin. As we once put together the pieces of her business and private life, it was hard to resist the suspicion that her story was only about one invincible woman and her lucky star. It never bothered her that people thought there must be someone in the background working on her behalf, especially since she drives so fast that hardly anyone can stop her. Even though her Instagram looks like she’s constantly in the gym and the rest of her busy schedule is planned in unforgettable Paris or some exotic part of the world, Belgrade carries a special meaning for Mila Litvinjenko: „Belgrade, my cherished hometown, has given me through the years countless memories, experience and sense of belonging. As a frequent traveller, I succeeded in persuading my friends around the world to come to Belgrade. This reciprocal love story between Belgrade and me is the one that will continue to evolve and flourish as we both continue to shape each other’s destiny”.

I am a lady killer-girl I carry a penknife in my pocket  and wires in my bra

So, this is how a very unusual girl, Radmila Petrović, thinks and writes and because of people like her poetry becomes decisive again. Why? Because it seemed to us that almost no one even read poems any longer (perhaps only on Instagram) and that very few people got into the habit of buying them. The question may have been asked awkwardly, but her book “My Mom Knows the Kind of Things that Happen in Cities” (“Moja Majka Zna Šta se Dešava u Gradovima”) showed how good verses are the right way to make life work. Some even tattoo them, especially since the author does not shy away from any topic. She grew up in Stupčevići near Arilje, and graduated from the Faculty of Economics in Belgrade. She has always written poems spontaneously, as a response to taboos based on the conflict between rural and ur-

ban, traditional and modern. Radmila attended several creative workshops with Ognjenka Milićević. It was her third collection of poems that blew us out of water. For her, poetry is anything but ethereal work. Arriving in Belgrade was her opportunity to realize dreams that she might not even have known existed. Did her mum know what was going on in that specific town? If we take into account that on the first day, Radmila got pinched by the bus door, it is clear that she was lucky that she was equipped with her own verses. What did she change in Belgrade once the doors opened wide for her?

„I wanted the readers to look into the world of outsiders and never forget how the heart of my lyrical subject beats and that they are not the only ones who sometimes have a hard time”. She still likes to play with things that shouldn’t be played with. “Strength! Don’t let yourself be anyone’s”, is the official slogan of this year’s BITEF.

#belikeradmila

Privatna arhiva

MILA LITVINJENKO Lady Aura

RADMILA PETROVIĆ Poetess

© Ema Bednarz

Meneghetti Sculpture Garden

Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery announced the opening of its new sculpture garden with a series of monumental sculptures by Belgian contemporary artist Arne Quinze

We spoke with Mr. Reiner Opoku, Berlin-based art consultant and a founding director of the St. Moritz Art Masters in Switzerland and co-founder of the NYC-based environmental organization Parley for the Oceans, who bring Mr. Quinze’s work to Bale in Istria, Croatia, as well as Arne Quinze, the artist himself.

Mr Opoku, we are now in your house in Fažana in Croatia, your father is from Ghana, mother from Germany, spouse Sabina from Tutin in Serbia. Please, explain to our readers the story of your life.

I was born and grew up in Cologne, the epicentre of modern art in Europe at that time. When I was 18, I opened my first cafe, where many artists later met. This world has magically attracted me. In the early 80s, I was lucky enough to meet some of the most influential artists of our time, such as Andy Warhol and Jean Michel Basquiat, and that influenced me significantly. I realized I could understand what artists want to say with their work, and they often need someone to channel it to

the rest of the world. So, I created a new job profile for myself as an art and culture mediator. I am involved in all kinds of cultural-driven activities as a manager of artists, project development, art trade, publishing, and many other fields of the creative industry.

That led me to work all around the globe, and I lived and worked in places like NY, Madrid, Miami, and

Berlin. Meeting my wife, Sabina, gave me a completely new perspective on where I can apply my skills. Although she was born and raised in Germany, she is very influenced by the culture and mentality of the Balkans. That piqued my curiosity about this part of the world. I see the great potential, especially for international art and culture projects to be brought to this part of Europe, which is still in many ways unexplored.

QUALITY SHOULD BE THE BENCHMARK, INCLUDING THE COLLISION OF THE ART WITH THE PLACE AND THE NATURE.

Photo: © Matej Paluh

Mr. Reiner Opoku

Can you explain to us more about the Meneghetti Sculpture Garden project? That is how I first heard about you.

As you mentioned, we live in Fazana, beside Berlin, only 15 minutes from the Meneghetti. A friend from Zagreb introduced me to Miro Pliso, and we got along very well. He is a man with a vision, and with someone like him, you can build something that has

a growing potential in the international art world. He was already integrating some local artist in the all-over concept of the Meneghetti. So, I proposed to him to bring it up to the international level with a sculpture garden concept which would be ongoing and bring on every year more and different artist from different countries. Quality should be the benchmark, including the collision of the art with the place and the nature.

You are also the founding director of the St. Moritz Art Masters in Switzerland and is co-founder of the NYC-based environmental organization Parley for the Oceans. Tell us more about those activities.

With my very close friend Monty Shadow, who unfortunately died recently, we founded the St. Moritz Art Masters in 2008. The festival

took place aways in August, and we involved the whole Engadin Valley for exhibitions, workshops, symposiums and concerts. Over the years, the exhibitions were created with numerous artists and galleries in unusual locations, such as churches, cabins, barns, museums, private houses at lake sides, and at mountains. It has become an ongoing event for the summer calendar for almost ten years. Parley for the oceans was founded by Cyrill Gutsch, Lea Stepken, and me 11 years ago in NY. It is a collaboration platform and environmental organization concerning about the problems of our oceans. The back bone of the organization is the creative industry. Through their support, now we have partners such as Adidas, American Express, the world bank, and the UN, allowing us to run worldwide clean up and scientific and educational programs. That includes up cycling programs for the

ocean plastic that we have been collecting with more than 250.000 volunteers worldwide. My job inside Parley is the art program we have built over the years, where artists support our cause by donating works or collaborating on exhibition projects.

You also plan to publish a book on the Brijuni islands?

In 2006, you gained a lot of attention by building „Uchronia: A message from the future”, a large wide wooden sculpture at the Burning Man Festival in Black Rock City in the Nevada desert. How did this cooperation start?

In 2005, we applied to participate in Burning man 2006. At first, we got no response to our proposal because they thought we were joking. They didn’t believe it was possible to put up a sculpture of such magnitude. However, together with my fantastic and structured team, we managed to do it anyways. We outdid ourselves there so much. It was a dream come true for me. On top of that, it was then decided to set my sculpture on fire at the end of the festival. It was unforgettable.

Meneghetti Sculpture Garden is the first project of that scale in luxury hotels in our region. How are you satisfied with it?

I am very content. I believe luxury hotels have a responsibility to bring culture to people. Good food, art, literature, and music have always been connected. On top of a healthy body, a healthy mind is equally important. Culture is an inseparable part of that mental

When my wife and I came for a holiday with the Family to Istria, we also visited Brioni in 2020. We immediately fell in love with the islands, and decided to do a book about it. Looking at the culture and the diverse history of this islands in the centre of Europe, we thought this unique place deserved larger publicity by publishing an international coffee table book which shows the beauty of the nature, the cultural heritage, and sustainably kept islands where it looks like the time stood still. So, we hope to have the book ready next year.

wellbeing. Likewise, to Château La Coste and La Colombe d’Or, Meneghetti Winery conveys that perfectly.

Tell me something about your next work? Any large-scale sculpture or installation commissioned by some city, company, organization or festival?

We are currently working on a project in South America, France and London. Besides that, I am also creating a large sculpture for Art d’Egypte, an exhibition in front of the pyramids of Giza. I am very happy with how it looks already. It is going to be magical. Lastly, and what I am most looking forward to, I will participate in the Venice Biennale 2024 in April. There, I will present my new concept, assuming the persona of an alien life form. However, I cannot reveal more than that just yet.

LUXURY HOTELS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO BRING CULTURE TO PEOPLE

Arne Quinze

ABOUT THE SERIAL

This serial is based on the intriguing book “Diplomacy at the Table,” written by the Croatian diplomat Hidajet Biščević, who reviewed and edited the original manuscript and selected the most interesting records, especially for our magazine.

As of this issue, you will read many interesting stories from real diplomacy that were told at the tables brimming with interesting food and surrounded by even more interesting politicians and diplomats from around the world.

His Excellency, Mr. Biščević, is the ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to Serbia. He lives with his family in Belgrade.

FIFTH CHAPTER

The Salt and Pepper of Politics

The memories of Slovakia’ breaking the vicious years of stagnation

Mikulas Dzurinda, I confess, bought me at first. In a way, I was even amazed with him - although it is probably too difficult a word for the world of politics, where one should always be careful and avoid using too strong words or, even less, share sincere feelings.

But Mikulas was really different. He was somehow dexterous and spontaneous, direct and simple, yet devilishly skilled and insightful. He was thinking quickly, connected things fast, acted even faster - I dare say he truly embodied that fearful term of “political animal”. On the other hand, extremely simple, witty, relaxed, sometimes he would appear like a boy from the neighbourhood.

At the time when I had the opportunity to see, observe and talk to him often, he was already in his second term, his Slovakia had already achieved its European goals, his reforms and his energy had already thoroughly shaken the country that had been

asleep during the previous sluggish years of Mechiar’s reticence and reluctance towards changes. He himself had already gained a huge reputation in the world, he had already visited all Slovakian polling stations on a bicycle, he had already run the New York marathon, he was already grappling with his fellow members of the coalition, too lenient for some of them, too harsh for the others. What enormous energy for such a small man!

But politics is merciless! All these successes will soon turn around, and admiration will replace satiety. How quickly that same Mikulas, who brought so much good to his country, who was so successful, and who was so appreciated and respected in the world, will eventually become the most unpopular Slovak politician!

Ups and downs! The salt and pepper of politics.

We were meeting with him quite often. Those were times of our

struggle for the beginning of the EU negotiations, building on his readiness to share his experience, so that we would also start moving away from the sluggish years in which little happened and too much time was lost. Mikulas was one of the few who was wholeheartedly with us, pulled out his cell phone when needed, wrote letters, spoke and advocated, urged London, encouraging Berlin, opened doors, all in a kind of solidarity of small states, that in our sincere energy, saw also an incentive to raise their own voices and profiles in the European family.

On that summer day, it was Mikulas’ turn to reciprocate. He was again in the election campaign, again in full swing, again full of energy. Although looking from afar, it was evident that his coalition was already worn out as country had achieved its most important goals and long years of reforms got people tired,  the media had already begun to erode the social cohesion, and somehow it

seemed to me that Mikulas could hardly finish this marathon. However, with friends behind, you try  to go to the end.

It was Saturday, a pre-election rally on the main square in Bratislava.

Unlike Mikulas, his advisor Milan Jezowica was burly, he wasn’t so “speedy” as Dzurinda. He spoke calmly and slowly, weighed his words, walked slowly...the complete opposite to his boss. We stood next to each other at that rally, both with these No. 17 shirts under our suits, probably looking like two overweight ball collectors on the football pitch, both eyeing that devilish terrace across the street, in the shade, with a cold beer… Mikulas, hurry up with that speech!

When it was all over, when the loudspeakers were turned off, when the city nobles and party champions retreated to the shade of “Carlton’s”  lobby, we ended up right on that terrace. In no time,

large mugs of cold beer, „Zlaty Bazant” of course, lined up. The “Golden Peacock” ... somehow even appropriate, it was a time when we all walked proudly, feathers spread out, our countries prospered, everything was going in the right direction, and everything seemed within reach. Perhaps he himself felt the energy of success, progress, and change that we shared, so Mikulas started bragging a little about that New York marathon he had run not long before, and talked about how he discussed with Bush whether to intervene in Iraq and what to do with Kosovo, then he returned again to the marathon laps, and how it took him almost three hours to run it, etc., etc.

There was little talk about the upcoming elections, almost not at all. Probably because this time, the victory was not really in sight. After all, could anybody succeed in being Prime minister three times in the row! You start it, you do it, they reject you...Mikulas is just one example of that transitional cruelty towards reformers.

Someone started a story about Slovakian beers, about light and dark ones, and Milan suggested that it would be time to eat something... natural move for a two-footer. Maybe because of the beer, maybe because of the heat, maybe from thinking too much about the elections that Mikulas will most surely lose this time, I suddenly felt dizzy thinking about the cruelty of politics:  light and darkness, ups and downs, running in circles. Thrill and stagnation.

The group slowly fell apart, so Milan took me to dinner. The restaurant is not spacious, the tablecloths are snow-white, and

there’s no one except the two of us. Milan, tell me about the years before Mikulas, before the change, suddenly I hear myself asking. Ok, no problem, but first we’ll order zemiakovy salad, he said. Potato salad arrives with a second round of beer, simple yet delicious. Cubes of boiled potatoes, boiled carrots cut into small slices, boiled eggs, a little mustard, and mayonnaise mixed to taste, salt, pepper, and chopped pickles. The salad is simple but delicious, the usual Slovak treat and goes well with any sort of beer. But Milan also knew that I knew that he knew about years before the change. Ok, he said, we knew it was bad, but we didn’t know it was that bad. I remember he added that Mikulas himself

ple are tired of reforms and changes, now they want to enjoy the fruits and don’t care about moving forward anymore.

It all came somehow too quickly, Milan suddenly said. Look, a historical window opened. It was necessary to jump through it, run away from the former states and communism, running without looking back, away, away, at any cost, take advantage of the opportunity, because who knows if it will ever happen again. And we jumped out, my God, we really jumped out, ran away from the trenches, through the minefields of changes, through the barbed wires of the transition. And yet, in spite of everything, said Milan,

lings and sauerkraut. “That’s our favourite dish”, he said and called the waitress to bring two portions of Vepro-Knedlo-Zelo, at least that’s what I heard.

He pronounced it fast, probably that’s why it seemed to me he said something like Vepro, boars, stole something. Boars stole something? Yes, probably ours Ups days. Stubborn boars of stagnation.

Now, almost twenty years later, no wonder the memories of Mikulas and Milan, the memories of Slovakia’ breaking the vicious years of stagnation, came along… no wonder! Almost a full quarter of a century in our corner of Europe

once said that we knew how dirty the tablecloths were, but we really didn’t know that the tables were rotting underneath. And he continued about those gloomy Slovakian times of stagnation and isolation, when reforms were blocked and changes were rejected, when locusts ate too many years, when the country was sinking and energy was being lost. But that’s when Mikulas came in, breaking years of stagnation. You see, he said, only a couple of years later, we won’t win the elections. The peo-

we still progressed... but, running forward so fast, we didn’t see the most important thing - we didn’t see that the hole, the gap between our progress and our reality, was getting bigger and bigger and that it would be harder and more expensive to fill it over the years. Milan talked and talked, whilst we ordered next round, a dark beer, „Velvet”.

And then he finally said that now we can eat something serious. He ordered some pork with dump-

is marked mostly by stagnation! Unprecedented in the post-Wall history of Europe. Missed history! And, also inevitably, a thought: where would this corner of Europe be today had we all, all of the post-Yugoslavian countries, opted for Europe, all former republics, without that one exemption? Surely, we would be winning over the years of harsh, costly, and even deadly stagnation! Indeed, boars stole our years and decades. And Vepros are still feeding on stagnation.

© Shutterstock

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Toto, I’ve a Feeling We Are Back in Kansas

Dorothy survived the tornado and all the challenges of Oz, the pandemic and TikTok and together with Toto she happily returned to Kansas

The number of tickets sold for the West End shows went up in 2022 by as much as 7.21% compared to the pre-pandemic year of 2019, refuting all those naysayers who believed that new trends would be detrimental to musicals just as they were to the circus industry.

The crowd in front of the large side „stage door” sign of the Palladium Theatre in London’s Soho is restless. The musical „The Wizard of Oz” has ended and the most loyal fans are waiting for the musical’s stars to take photos with them and get an autograph.

When, in 1900, the American writer of children’s fantastic sto-

ries and novels, Lyman Frank Baum, published his book „The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”, he was certainly not aware of the fact that 123 years later, this topic would evoke emotions and fill theatre seats, primarily because of the famous film adaptation from 1939 with Judy Garland.

This revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jeremy Sams’ musical from 2011 played in London „for one summer only” this year. More precisely, from early July to early September, all per-

formances were sold out in advance. The chief critic of The Guardian daily, Arifa Akbar, was right when she called the show directed by Nikolai Foster „a hybrid cinema-theatre experience in the manner of Steven Spielberg”. This time, Dorothy has curly hair and is African-American (Georgina Onuorah), but that’s the end of the politically correct interventions in the play. The show doesn’t feature a whole palette of different racial, gender and sexual identities that we see in contemporary Ameri-

SONGS FROM THE MUSICAL HAVE BECOME AN INSEPARABLE PART OF POPULAR CULTURE

can and British films, series and plays.

In this production of „The Wizard of Oz” Gary Wilmot played the Wizard of Oz, Louis Gaunt the Scarecrow, Ashley Banjo the Tin Man, Jason Manford the Cowardly Lion, Dianne Pilkington the Wicked Witch of the West and Christina Bianco played Glinda. Besides Dorothy, Ben Thompson, who „controlled” the dog puppet, Toto, got the biggest ovation which was a kind of counterweight to the hi-tech effects on stage.

Songs from the musical, first and foremost „Over the Rainbow”, „Ding-Dong! The Witch is Dead”

© wizardofozmusical.com

© Marc BrennerGeorgia Onuorah (Dorothy)

and „We Off to See the Wizard”, have become an inseparable part of popular culture and general places of pop-culture reference in the past 84 years, just like the lines from the movie: „Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore” and „There is no place like home”. They have been quoted and paraphrased in thousands of songs, movies, television series, newspaper headlines, everyday personal and business correspondence, on social media and in real life.

The official playbill, which can be bought together with refreshments and souvenirs (my daughter India couldn’t resist a Toto doll), provides a lot of details about the play and the film that made Baum’s novel famous. While waiting for the play to start, we could read how Judy Garland was on a strict diet during the filming of the 1939 movie, which consisted of chicken soup, black coffee and cigarettes, which were not considered harmful to health at the time; the song „Over the Rainbow” was almost cut from the film because the producers were afraid it would be too long; several pairs of „red shoes” worn by Dorothy were used during the

filming of the film, and Leonardo DiCaprio bought one of them at an auction recently; the Cowardly Lion costume is made of real lion fur; Liza Minnelli, daughter of Judy Garland, married Jack Harley, son of the ac-

genre, I watched almost all important Broadway and West End productions: „Phantom of the Opera”, „Chicago”, „Hair”, „The Producers”, „Cabaret”, „West Side Story”, „Mamma Mia”... As of fifteen years ago, you can watch

tory of Broadway. On February 11, 2012, the show had its 10,000 performances, making it the first Broadway production to do so. Also, this is the second longest-running musical in London’s West End (the first being „Les Misérables”). The total global earnings of „Phantom” amounted to over 6 billion dollars and only on Broadway, the musical earned a billion dollars. This was the most financially successful musical until „The Lion King” overtook it in 2014. „Phantom of the Opera” was seen by 140 million people in 183 cities in 41 countries of the world (as of 2017, also in the Terazije Theatre).

tor who played the Tin Man in the movie...

The first musical I saw was „Cats”, in February 1994 on Broadway. Later, when my daughters became fans of this

almost all of these musicals in Belgrade’s Terazije Theatre.

There is an interesting story about „Phantom of the Opera” which is officially „the longest-running show” in the his-

„The Producers” was my favourite. I was lucky enough to see the cast members Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick on Broadway in 2004 (a year later the two also starred in the eponymous film), as well as the Belgrade premiere with Nikola Simić in the role of Roger de Bris.

„The Producers” started breaking Broadway records two days after the premiere, when tickets worth over three million dollars were sold at the box office, which was the largest sale in one day. After only two years, they broke their own record and sold 3.5 million dollars worth of tickets in one day.

The musical, authored by the famous Mel Brooks, had its film version in 1968. On Broadway, it is a record holder when it comes to Tony Awards nominations and won awards. The musical „The Producers” won 12 Tony awards and was nominated 15 times. In terms of the number of nominations, it was overtaken by „Billy Elliot, the Musical” in 2009 and later by „Hamilton” in 2016, which was nominated in as many as 16 categories. In terms of the number of Tony Awards won, „The Producers”

THE MUSICAL “THE PRODUCERS” PLAYS WITH SOME OF THE BIGGEST TABOOS IN AMERICA

© wizardofozmusical.com

© wizardofozmusical.com

- Ben Thompson as Toto, Georgina Onuorah as Dorothy, Jason Manford as The Cowardly Lion, Ashley Banjo as The Tin Man and Louis Gaunt as The Scarecrow (© Image - Marc Brenner

remains an absolute record holder.

The hilarious story of two Broadway producers who stage the „worst musical ever” called „Springtime for Hitler” plays with some of the biggest taboos in America (especially in New York) - Jews, Nazis, gay people... Although “The Producers” hasn’t been staged on Broadway and the West End for a long time, the Belgrade audience has had the privilege of watching them for the 14th year running (the premiere was on February 28th, 2011).

Since 2015, you can also watch the musical „Mamma Mia” at the Terazije Theatre. The musical had its world premiere in London on April 9, 1999, which our audience missed for understandable reasons. „Mamma Mia” continues to be staged all over the world - in 2008 it even broke the record in Russia for the longest daily run.

As of recently, in London’s O2 Arena, you have the opportunity to participate in the extension of this musical called - „Mamma Mia! The Party!”. There, for an average ticket price of £150, you’ll get a 4-course Greek dinner, a welcome drink, a show and the opportunity to go to the ABBA Disco afterwards and dance the night away to the Swedish band’s biggest hits. You will have to pay extra for souvenirs and drinks.

New York’s Broadway and London’s West End were drastically affected by the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, as were most theatres around the world. However, their musical industry with daily, monthly and yearly

performances of certain hits, suffered huge losses during those two years.

I was interested in finding out how musicals survived the pandemic and modern trends that, as we read these days, destroyed the circus industry in the USA, because children’s attention now lasts only for a few seconds, the length of an average TikTok post.

The circus industry, a dominant form of entertainment from the late 19th

and early 20th century, a hundred years later, in addition to the pandemic and digitization, is also affected by a bad reputation due to the improper treatment of animals and in some cases their „two-legged performers”. It got to the point where some of the biggest circus companies like Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey, once the biggest circus in the USA, had to close.

The musical industry, however, has proved

much more resilient. Figures released at the beginning of the year by The Society of London Theatre (SOLT) show that the number of tickets sold for the West End shows increased in 2022 by as much as 7.21% compared to pre-pandemic 2019. 16,420,068 tickets were sold in 2022 compared to 15,315,773 in 2019. As 2022 was still affected by the pandemic, it is realistic to expect that the data for 2023 will be even better.

Dorothy survived the tornado and all the challenges of Oz, the pandemic and TikTok and together with Toto she happily returned to Kansas.

NEW YORK’S BROADWAY AND LONDON’S WEST END WERE DRASTICALLY AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC IN 2020 AND 2021

© wizardofozmusical.com, Jason Manford and Ashley Banjo © Marc Brenner

© wizardofozmusical.com

© wizardofozmusical.com

57TH BITEF

3-10 OCTOBER 2023 MULTIPLE LOCATIONS BELGRADE, SERBIA

This year, the 57th edition of BITEF will be held from October 3 to 10 in Belgrade. Plamena Halačeva, deputy head of the EU Delegation in Serbia, pointed out that „Since the beginning of our cooperation, our goal has been to support the latest theater trends, as well as to help artists and professionals to establish new partnerships in culture.” Through this support, we want to encourage and empower artists and the cultural community in Serbia and to help sensitize the general public about the importance of the transformative and creative power of art,” said Halačeva and added: „Serbia’s cultural scene has so much to offer and contribute to our common rich and diverse European cultural space. That is why we are not surprised that Serbia is one of the most successful participants of our Creative Europe program, the main driver of the European Union for supporting culture, both in the EU and in Serbia.”

CONCERT HAUSER

24 OCTOBER 2023

BELGRADE ŠTARK ARENA

This year’s BITEF will be officially opened with the German play „Children of the Sun” performed by Schausplihaus from Bochum, which will be performed at JDP on October 4. It is a play by Maxim Gorky directed by Mateja Koležnik.

Maria Levanti, Ambassador of Greece, spoke about the play

„Goodbye, Lindita” directed by the young director Mario Banoussi, produced by the National Theater of Greece. As she said, it is about one of the plays that aroused the greatest interest this year in Athens.

The festival was supported by the Secretariat for Culture of the

39TH BELGRADE JAZZ FESTIVAL

24-29 OCTOBER 2023

City of Belgrade and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia, as well as the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, the Goethe Institute, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Embassy of Greece.

Stjepan Hauser, one of the members of the famous 2Cellos, takes his first solo tour - A Rebel with a Cello. He will perform in a concert in Belgrade Štark Arena on 24 October 2023.

DOM OMLADINE AND MTS DVORANA

BELGRADE, SERBIA

From October 24 to 29, 2023, Dom Omladine Belgrade presents the 39th Belgrade Jazz Festival under the slogan „ JAZZSCAPES „.

Under the slogan „JAZZSCAPES,” the oldest Serbian jazz manifestation will take the audience on a unique journey through the musical landscapes of the whole world, together with bands that push the boundaries of jazz and make this genre exciting and artistically valuable!

During the 6 days of the festival, over 100 artists from 20 countries of the world from 4 continents will perform in 21 professional and several high school ensembles. The focus of the 39th edition is the saxophone – 9 ensemble leaders participating in the festival are saxophonists, which will be the biggest manifestation of the role of this instrument in jazz in the recent history of the festival. Among the artists to whom we first draw attention are two giants of the world jazz scene: American guitarist John Scofield and Italian saxophonist Stefano Di Battista, who will perform with his bands on October 29 at a double concert program in the MTS hall.

Houses Made of Prefabricated Materials as a Growing Trend

During the four days of the first European fair of prefabricated and modular houses, Modular Homes Expo 2023, held in Arena Zagreb (May 4-7), almost 30,000 interested buyers in attendance confirmed just how successful the exhibition was, which has already become a new meeting place for the industry and market.

The numerous visitors are certainly the best reward for all of us who make up the Expo for the enormous effort we put into implementing this very ambitious plan, which has already successfully passed the test on its very first step.

On January 1, 2023, Croatia adopted Euro as its national currency and thus joined the Schengen area, successfully completing its journey to Europe. Strong institutional support for sustainable development and new technologies, a clean environment, low taxes, respect for property rights and a progressive regulatory policy make Croatia one of the most desirable destinations for any investor.

Construction occupies a very important place in the Croatian economy. In 2022, there was a rapid increase in real estate prices driven by Croatia’s entry into the Schengen area and the Eurozone. The customer structure has additionally changed by the influx of digital nomads and the free European labour market, which both have

MODULAR HOMES EXPO 2024

changed life dynamics.

Houses made of prefabricated materials are a growing trend in the Croatian market. They are purchased as residential homes in the continental part of Croatia, and more and more as houses for tourism purposes on the coastline. Due to its favourable geographical position and good climate, the Republic of Croatia is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Europe and the world. Only fast, effi-

The new Croatian Expo is scheduled for April 19-21, 2024 and the information about the project concept will be publicly revealed in autumn of 2023.

cient and affordable construction can meet the market’s demands for investment in real estate, which is still considered one of the safest forms of investment in Croatia. On the other hand, climate change is here to remind us that awareness of reducing energy consumption habits is our responsibility.

Modular Homes Expo came at the right time because apart from offering customers the opportunity to familiarize themselves with a wide range of products, it also gave them the opportunity to learn about the

basics of prefabricated construction technology and assess the class and quality of the offer themselves.

The model of living presented by MODULAR HOMES EXPO 2023 significantly contributes to a greener and more sustainable future. The President of the Republic of Croatia, Mr Zoran Milanović, who opened EXPO Zagreb, and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Mr. Andrej Plenković who opened EXPO Bale, both recognized this.

MHE represents 100 leading European manufacturers of prefabricated houses, of which regional manufacturers are the most preferred by customers.

For this reason, we are already quite confident that the Modular Homes Expo has a serious potential to change interactions in this fast-growing branch of the construction industry in the entire region, which is not negligible as the region is a potential construction site with a population of over 20 million who speak the same language. The response of buyers and producers from Slovenia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina was significant, as well as the balancing out of the visitors’ interest in the entire region, which was not the case in the earlier period, as the buyers were mainly focused on domestic companies.

The success of the project itself and the strength of the region’s industry are indicated by the many invitations from distant markets to present and connect this industry united under MHE to exchange experience and innovation.

THE BUYERS ARE MAINLY FOCUSED ON DOMESTIC COMPANIES, THE POWER IS IN THE REGION

MODULAR HOMES EXPO is the first European project focused on the topic of prefabricated structures and green, energy-efficient living

Katarina Antešić, Modular Homes Expo Director with Zoran Milanović, President of Croatia

Katarina Antešić with Andrej Plenković, Prime Minister of Croatia

In November 2022, according to Forbes, Mohamed AlFayed’s net worth was $1.9 billion. Al-Fayed, a billionaire Egyptian tycoon who passed away on August 30th at the age of 94, led a life of opulence and ambition. He effortlessly acquired hotels, yachts, and even a football club. However, his desire for recognition and acceptance in British high society remained unfulfilled.

Al-Fayed’s quest for acceptance seemed to find a potential turning point when his son, Dodi, became romantically involved with Princess Diana. Unfortunately, instead of gaining acceptance, this marked the beginning of his estrangement from the British elite. He infamously claimed, without evidence, that Prince Philip had orchestrated the Paris car crash that claimed Diana and Dodi’s lives to prevent her from marrying a Muslim.

Throughout his life in Britain, Al-Fayed remained a prominent figure in the media, but his frustration grew as he was denied UK citizenship and access to the upper echelons of British society.

From Lemonade Seller to „Phoney Pharoah”

Al-Fayed will be remembered for his outspoken and often abrasive demeanor, a vendetta against the Conservative party, controversial acquisition of Harrods department store, and ownership of Fulham football club and the Ritz hotel in Paris.

Despite his controversial public persona, Al-Fayed also engaged in philanthropy, particularly through his foundation, which supported children in the UK, Thailand, and Mongolia. His penchant for self-reinvention, including adding the „Al-” prefix to his surname and making dubious claims about his ancestry, earned him the moniker „Phoney Pharaoh” in the British press.

Al-Fayed’s humble origins contradicted the image he projected as the scion of a wealthy dynasty. He hailed from a modest background, with his father initially selling sewing machines after a lemonade venture. His fortune took a turn for the better when he started working for arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi, who recognized his business acumen and employed him in Saudi Arabia.

Al-Fayed’s career also involved advising the Sultan of Brunei in the 1960s before relocating to Britain in the 1970s. He and his brother acquired the Ritz in 1979 and eventually wrestled control of Harrods from British businessman Roland „Tiny” Rowland in a contentious takeover battle. A subsequent government investigation in 1990 revealed discrepancies in their claims of wealth and origins.

Al-Fayed sought revenge by disclosing that he had paid Conservative MPs to ask questions in parliament on his behalf, leading to the downfall of several prominent politicians. He also exposed Cabinet minister Jonathan Aitken’s involvement in a Saudi arms deal, resulting in Aitken’s imprisonment for perjury and perverting the course of justice.

The defining tragedy in AlFayed’s life occurred in August 1997 when Dodi and Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris driven by one of Al-Fayed’s employees. For years, he refused to accept that speeding and intoxication caused the accident and instead accused the royal family

of orchestrating the deaths. He erected two memorials to the couple at Harrods, reflecting his belief that they were „murdered.”

Al-Fayed’s allegations against the royal family had consequences, including the loss of Harrods’ royal warrant bestowed by Prince Philip in 2000. He subsequently removed all remaining royal warrants, emphasizing his disillusionment with the Establishment. In 2003, he went into self-imposed exile in Switzerland, citing unfair treatment by tax authorities.

In 2010, Al-Fayed sold Harrods for a reported £1.5 billion ($2.2 billion) to Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, ending his tenure there. Despite his eccentricities, secrecy, and paranoia, he undeniably transformed the prestigious department store, increasing sales by 50% and profits from £16 million to £62 million within a decade of taking ownership. Additionally, he had success with Fulham football club, but his tenure there ended amid controversy, with his claim that the removal of a Michael Jackson statue contributed to the club’s relegation.

Mohamed Al-Fayed (1929-2023)

© Abi Skipp / Flickr, Wikimedia

According to the Forbes list of the world’s billionaires, Fayed was worth $1.9 billion in November 2022