Diplomacy&Commerce 74 by Diplomacy&Commerce magazine

April 2022 | ISSUE No. 74 | Price 350 RSD

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WE ARE UNITED IN THIS

DIPLOMACY&COMMERCE MAGAZINE UNPRECEDENTED CRISIS th

CELEBRATES ITS 6 BIRTHDAY

STEFANIE KRAUSE

The Deputy Representative, UNHCR

SERBIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AND ARTS Cultural Heritage Building

THE PASSION FOR JOURNALISM HAS SURVIVED ZORAN SEKULIĆ

Editor-in-Chief of FoNet news agency

Austria

THE FRENCH DREAM OF THE INNKEEPER'S SON by Robert Čoban

INCREASING EXCHANGE BETWEEN THE TWO SLAVIC NATIONS IN ALL FIELDS H.E. RAFAL PERL

Ambassador of Poland to Serbia S P E C I A L

E D I T I ON

America FOCUS ON

H.E. NIKOLAUS LUTTEROTTI Former Ambassador of Austria to Serbia

PHILIP BEEKMAN Counselor for Public Affairs of the US Embassy

Soft Power FOLLOW US TO STAY UPDATED FOREWORD WEB

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left the country in July, a month before the Taliban entered Kabul, "said a young Afghan woman now living in the United States, while waiting for accreditation for the Doha Forum in the Sheraton Hotel lobby. She says the position of women in her country is worse than it has ever been, "but who cares, everyone only talks about Ukraine." After a two-and-a-half-year hiatus caused by the pandemic, Qatar has brought together some 3,000 of the most influential people in politics, diplomacy, economics, education and the media. What distinguishes this forum from similar ones in the world is the fact that the hosts have covered all the costs of participants, both speakers and the audience plane tickets (business class tickets were provided for most of them), hotel accommodation, all meals and local transport. The state of Qatar is a global champion when it comes to "soft power". Just think of Al Jazeera, Doha Forum and World Cup. David Beckham stands in front of me in line waiting for a security check. As I did not see him in the official programme as one of the participants, I checked on the net the reason why he’s here. The famous 46-year-old football player signed a

contract worth 150 million pounds for promoting Qatar and the World Cup in Football, hence his presence at the Doha Forum. Soft power, anyone? As I enter the hall, I think about how the war in Ukraine drowned all other burning topics - from Afghanistan and Yemen, through the pandemic and global warming to Israeli-Palestinian relations. My impression was validated when the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the Forum via video message, which was not on the programme and was a surprise for most of the participants. An expert on media appearances, Zelensky very carefully chooses how to address different audiences. So, a couple of weeks ago, while addressing the

members of the British Parliament in a video, he paraphrased Churchill's famous 1940 speech - "We shall fight on the beaches". When addressing the members of the Bundestag, he paraphrased Reagan's speech in front of the 1987 Berlin Wall: "Tear down this wall, Mr Gorbachev." Knowing all too well who made the majority in the audience, while being aware that the West is definitely on his side, Zelensky directed most of his speech to the hosts, the Muslims and Arabs. He called on oil-producing countries to increase production so that Russia could not use its rich crude oil and gas deposits to "blackmail" other nations. He called on participants to influence their governments to impose a full embargo on oil and gas imports from Russia. He also pointed out that during the holy month of Ramadan, Ukrainian Muslims will fight together with others to defend their country. As expected, he received thunderous applause at the end of the speech. If it is true that the Berlin Wall did not fall because of the strength of American weapons, but because of the appeal that the Western way of life was greater than that on the other side of the Iron Curtain, so the war in Ukraine will be determined by "soft power", social networks, and Zelensky in a T-shirt as he addresses people around the world every day. Unlike the leader of the other side in the war, who sits in his office at a distance of five metres from his interlocutor and communicates in a way more appropriate to the Khrushchev era than in the third decade of the 21st century…. Those who forget, relive.

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INTERVIEW

by Žikica Milošević

We are United in This Unprecedented Crisis UNHCR works closely with all stakeholders on the ground to provide immediate relief to those fleeing war, mainly women and children STEFANIE KRAUSE The Deputy Representative, UNHCR

very few years the world is hit by a major refugee crisis: in 2015 and onwards, it was the Middle East refugee crisis, then the migrant crisis followed, together with the Venezuelan crisis and various natural disasters like the one in Madagascar. In the beginning of 2022, one of the biggest European countries was hit by war, triggering millions of refugees once again. We are discussing the newest events with Stefanie Krause, The Deputy Representative, UNHCR.

The situation with the refugees is in 2022 is even worse than in 2015 when there were close to 1.5 million refugees. This year, almost 4 million Ukrainians were forced to leave their homes. What is UNHCR doing to alleviate the hardships of such a staggering number of people? — The sad reality is that the number is even higher, more than 10 million people have been displaced by the military hostilities in Ukraine, 6.5 million persons inside Ukraine and more than 4 million refugees have sought refuge in neighbouring countries. These displaced persons add to the number of 84 million forcibly displaced persons globally, of which 26.6 are refugees. This is the highest number ever displaced persons worldwide. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, responds to the needs of internally displaced persons in Ukraine and the refugees in Hungary, Republic of Moldova, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia. In Ukraine, we operate within the inter-agency humanitarian response. We focus our efforts on the areas of protection, shelter and cash and in-kind assistance, in order to provide immediate relief to those fleeing. Within this response, through the cash as-

UNHCR HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN ADVOCATING FOR ACCESS TO ASYLUM FOR ALL REFUGEES REGARDLESS OF THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN sistance for immediate needs, 360,000 persons are targeted,and 550,000 relief items are planned to be distributed. To date, 65,500 people have benefitted from core relief items and food assistance. More than 11,860 have received shelter assistanceUNHCR teams and our local NGO partners are present at border points, in transit and reception centres providing information, counselling and support. We have also reached out to areas directly affected by the bombardment to provide immediate protection and core relief items. We are providing hu-

manitarian assistance wherever necessary and possible. We have stockpiles prepositioned in various locations in the region and we stand ready to send more staff and supplies. Poland is the most affected country in terms of the number of refugees the country took in, but in terms of percentage, Moldova took the highest number of refugees per capita despite being the poorest European country. What has UNCHR been doing to help Moldova? — UNHCR has offices in Poland,

Romania, and Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic under a multi-country office in Budapest. We have a longstanding presence in the region, working with national authorities on refugee related matters. In Moldova, UNHCR has immediately increased its presence to establish the emergency response to support the government receiving the refugees. UNHCR maintains presence at border crossing points, accommodation, and transportation hubs around the country. Through UNHCR and partners, 105 reception centers have received support. UNHCR welcomes the pledges by EU Member States and other European States to transfer refugees from Moldova to their territory under the auspices of the EU Solidarity Platform. UNHCR is identifying vulnerable persons in

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Moldova and working with IOM, the European Commission and other EU Member States to facilitate more transfers from Moldova to the EU. UNHCR is also informing refugees on what to expect in the receiving countries, including reception capacity and overall conditions so they can make informed decisions about the trip. In Moldova, an Inter-Agency Coordination Group has been established with more than 100 participating members. The Government of Moldova has established a Single Emergency Management Centre under the Prime Minister’s Officer, where UNHCR represents the Inter-Agency Coordination Group, ensuring coordination between the two. How much the fact that 90% of these refugees are women and children helps or aggravates the situation? — The majority – more than 90% - of refugees fleeing Ukraine are women and children. This presents particular protection risks. Women and girls are at a heightened risk of gender-based violence in situations of mass displacement, and more vulnerable to risks of exploitation and abuse, including trafficking. To reduce these risks, UNHCR has initiated a ‘stay safe campaign’ to raise awareness among persons fleeing Ukraine about the risks and practical measures to mitigate these. UNHCR and UNICEF are jointly rolling out ‘Blue Dots’ in Czech Republic, Hungary, the Republic of Moldova, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. The Blue Dots are one-stop-shops, and safe spaces which provide a minimum set of protection services for children, families, and others with specific needs, in support of existing services and government efforts. This concept was originally developed in 2016 for the Western Balkan route. An essential aspect will be to include the Ukrainianrefugee children as soon as possible in the education systems and to provide social services for the single parents and caregivers, who are mostly mothers and grandmothers. The perception of the Ukrainian refugees is much better compared to the Middle Eastern refugees. What can be done for the Middle Easterners to get more equal treatment? — UNHCR has consistently been

advocating for access to asylum for all refugees regardless of the country of origin. Respecting human rights and refugee rights is not a choice – it is to abide by international lawand should never be basedon nationality or wayof arrival. Neighboring countries of those affected by conflict and displacement have welcomed refugees for decades in large numbers, saving millions of lives. 73 per cent of refugees and Venezuelans displaced abroad lived in countries neighboring their countries of origin and developing countries host 85 per cent of the world’s refugees. Countries neighboring Syria including Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq have hosted 5.7 million Syrian refugees for over a decade; Kenya and other countries across the African continent continue to provide protection to Somalis; Bangladesh hosts hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas, Colombia is host to more than 1.7 million Venezuelans. Therefore, it is critical that European countries in the immediate vicinity of Ukraine accept them and provide international protection.

displaced persons are children, and by now, 1 million children have been born as refugees. This is the bigger picture in which both the refugee flow to Europe in 2015 and now the displacement from Ukraine is situated. I would like to highlight the importance all actors working together to support and find solutions for refugees. In this regard, the Global Compact on Refugees from 2018 is a framework for more predictable and equitable responsibility-sharing, recognizing that a sustainable solution to refugee situations cannot be achieved without international cooperation. It provides a blueprint for governments, international organizations, and other stakeholders to ensure that host communities get the support they need and that refugees can lead productive lives. It constitutes a unique opportunity to transform the way the world responds to refugee situations, benefiting both refugees and the communities that host them. The lesson learned is that we all need to work together, and the EU’s, as well as Serbia’s,decision to apply the Temporary Protec-

WHEREAS FINANCIAL MEANS ARE INDISPENSABLE, ACCEPTANCE OF REFUGEES BY LOCAL COMMUNITIES IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT AS THIS ENABLES THEM TO CONTRIBUTE IMMENSELY TO NEW SOCIETIES WITH THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL We have been deeply concerned by rising xenophobia, discrimination and exclusion against refugees and asylum seekers in recent years, so we welcome this tremendous reception and solidarity towards refugees in recent days. I hope this inspiresgreater solidarity with all persons who need to flee their homes to save their lives. Could any experiences gained during the refugee crisis in 2015 be applied to the current situation? What are the similarities and differences between these two emergency situations? — As more people flee violence and insecurity, the number forcibly displaced exceeded 84 million globally without taking into account Ukrainian refugees and internally displaced persons.35 million (42%) of the world’s forcibly

tion Directive for Ukrainian refugees is particularly commendable as it ensures refugees are admitted swiftly to the territory, receive protected status and have access to rights including education, health and access to the labor market. UNHCR stands ready to support the authorities in the implementation of Temporary Protection decision, as well as with any other relevant backings within the scope of our work and mandate. Serbia was a safe haven for many refugees from 2015 onwards. What are your experiences with the Serbian government and NGOs? — UNHCR has a longstanding presence in Serbia since 1976 and during 46 years of our work here we have nourished a fruitful partnership with Serbian authorities aimed at providing better living

conditions and durable solutions for people forced to flee or those who are at risk of statelessness. We remain committed to continuing to support the authorities and working with the civil society for thefurther advancement of the asylum system, supporting vulnerable persons in displacement, and expanding opportunities for inclusion and integration of persons granted international protection in Serbia. We continue to support Regional Housing Programme completion for the most vulnerable refugees from the region, advocating forthe rights of internally displaced persons and finding solutions, and reducing the risk of statelessness. We are living in the world of displaced people and the Ukrainian situation is almost an unprecedented situation except for the two world wars. Does UNHCR need more funding to deal with this problem? — The number of displaced persons is higher than ever. With these increased figures, the need for protection, assistance and solutions increases and therefore the need for financial resources. UNHCR global budget requirements to address the needs of forcibly displaced persons are over 10Bln in 2022, out of which only 19% are currently funded. In response to the displacement from Ukraine, UNHCR launched its Supplementary Appeal for the Ukraine situation, seeking an initial $510 million. This includes $270 million as part of the UN Flash Appeal for the response within Ukraine for a three-month period, and $240 million as part of the regional refugee response plan in neighboring countries for a six-month period. UNHCR works in partnership with governments, civil society, the private sector, academia, media, refugees and the local communities and it is of utmost importance that the national systems have sufficient capacities to include refugees. Access to affordable housing, education, healthcare, and the labor market are important to include refugees in societies which host them. Whereas financial means are indispensable, welcoming and acceptance of refugees by local communities and providing an opportunity for refugees to use the human capital which they bring, their skills and qualifications, is equally important.

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INTERVIEW

by Žikica Milošević

Increasing Exchange Between the Two Slavic Nations in All Fields Surviving the war and the looming crises

H.E. RAFAL PERL Ambassador of Poland to Serbia

he war in Ukraine has fueled many fears - those related to an energy crisis, inflation, stagflation, and taking care of millions of refugees. Poland is at the forefront of countries that have ‘cushioned’ this unexpected blow to global politics and the economy. We have talked with H.E. Rafal Perl, the Ambassador of Poland to Serbia, about these topics, as well as the cooperation between Poland and Serbia in economy and culture.

Poland has been taking the highest number of refugees from Ukraine. How is the country coping with the Ukrainian refugee crisis? — So far, over 2.3 million people fleeing Russian aggression crossed the Polish border, with the vast majority of them being citizens of Ukraine. Since we are dealing with the fastest-growing refugee crisis since the end of World War II, this number is growing rapidly - at its peak, it was over

100,000 people a day. It is difficult to predict precisely how many of them will remain in our country, but according to preliminary estimates, most likely60-70 percent of the total number will stay in Po-

Ukraine, and thousands of refugees found shelters with Polish families, which welcomed them, offering help and care. Seriously ill Ukrainian children from oncology hospitals and hospices who - due to the risk of air bombings, artillery and rocket fire - had to leave Ukrainian medical facilities and were evacuated by special sanitary trains, were sent to Polish hospitals. The main goal of comprehensive legal solutions adopted in Poland at the beginning of March this year was to provide refugees from Ukraine with conditions for a dignified life and create optimal conditions for them to work, proceed with education or necessary medical treatment during their stay in our country. Each citizen of Ukraine entering Poland directly from the territory of this country after February 22 is and will be able to legally stay in Poland for the next 18 months, whilst obtaining free access to the labour market, public health system (including reimbursed drugs), education at all levels (including higher education) and social benefits on the same terms as Polish citizens. Additional budg-

SO FAR, OVER 2.3 MILLION PEOPLE FLEEING RUSSIAN AGGRESSION CROSSED THE POLISH BORDER, WITH THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM BEING THE CITIZENS OF UKRAINE, 450,000 IN WARSAW ALONE land. It is worth noting that systemic actions by the Polish state and government are accompanied by a huge scale of solidarity and willingness to help by our society, which is involved in countless, bottom-up aid actions. In Warsaw itself, where 450,000 Ukrainian citizens arrived (of which around 300,000 will stay for longer), the actions of state and local authorities are supported by over 10,000 volunteers. Inhabitants of the Polish capital gave over 5,000 flats and houses to refugees from

etary funds will also be allocated to direct financial support for refugees, local governments and Polish families hosting fugitives from Ukraine. As a result of the war in Ukraine and sanctions against Russia, the world is facing a new economic crisis, just as we are emerging out of the coronavirus-induced crisis. This is especially true of Europe. Also, Poland has strong economic cooperation with Russia, Belarus

and especially Ukraine. What will the Polish government do to mitigate the effects of this crisis? — There is no doubt that the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the sanctions introduced, the increase in the prices of energy carriers, fertilizers and food will have a negative impact on the global, European and Polish economies. Preliminary forecasts indicate a probable weakening of the economic growth rate (from projected over 5% of GDP to 3.5%), possible further increase in inflation, a decrease in investments, and also a weakening of our national currency. It is worth emphasizing that, in addition to internal consumption, the key driver of our country's economic development for years has been trading with European Union countries, in particular the sale of goods manufactured in Poland to EU countries, which accounted for as much as 75% of the value (213.8 billion EUR in 2021) of our exports and 55% of imports (EUR 154 billion). Trade with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe accounts for 5.8% of exports and 8% of imports, respectively. In 2021, Russia was the 7th country in terms of the value of exported goods from Poland (for comparison, Polish exports to Germany were more than 10 times greater) and the 3rd country in terms of imports (import-export coverage remained below 50%). By active protective measures aimed at mitigating the effects of the current economic turbulence, the government of the Republic of Poland intends to make extensive use of the positive experiences related to the reduction of the effects of the crisis caused by the COVID19 pandemic. Among the first decisions already made are: enabling a direct payment method (calculated per hectare of crops) for farmers affected by an abrupt increase in the price of fertilizers, which should limit further food price increases and limit inflationary pressure. Special support will also be given to companies that have so far directed their pro-

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duction mainly towards the Russian and Belarusian markets. The further increase in the country's energy security is also of key importance - thanks to many years of strategic diversification of supply sources (including the construction of an LNG terminal in the port in Świnoujście and the Baltic Pipeline project, which will receive gas from Norway as early as in 2023), by the end of this year our country will be able to completely abandon purchases of Russian gas. In this context, the construction of another LNG (floating) terminal, which will be located in Gdańsk, is also planned. Russian invasion has unified the EU but quarrels still exist, while Poland insists on applying its own solutions. Is the EU’s threat to cut funds available to Poland realistic? — Information appearing periodically in the public space about the possibility of blocking funds by the European Commission under the so-called EU Instrument for Reconstruction and Increasing Resilience (being the EU response to the COVID19 pandemic) intended for our country, is the aftermath of a legal dispute between the Republic of Poland and the European Commission under European law (under the so-called Article 7 procedure), which has been ongoing for several years now and related to the reform of the judiciary in our country. In this case, we are dealing with a very complicated legal matter, concerning, i.a., interpretation of the EU treaties and the issue of the division of competencies between the community and member states, which has also become part of a political or even ideological dispute. It seems that the current conditions, which prioritize the need for the maximum unity of the EU (including the increase of effectiveness of cooperation between member states and EU institutions) and a fundamental redefinition of European priorities will allow for the final resolution of this legal dispute, which in the face of the current threats is of a secondary nature. What can Serbia and Poland do to enhance the existing cooperation in the new circumstances and generally speaking? — Our bilateral political and economic relations are very good, although they should certainly be intensified and deepened.

I think that our cultural, historical and even geographical proximity should be adequately reflected both in the high frequency of contact at the highest political level, as well as in cooperation in the field of economy and on the expert level. As leaders of economic development in the Central European region and the Western Balkans respectively, and countries whose economies are export-oriented, I believe we can achieve a lot in particular through bilateral economic cooperation. The dynamic growth of bilateral economic exchange (which reached the value of almost EUR 2bln in 2021) is accompanied by the growing interest of Polish entrepreneurs in the local market. The disruption

sitional nations of the Western Balkans? — Over the last thirty years, the countries of the Central European region, including the Visegrad four - the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, have undergone a huge evolution: from poor post-socialist countries struggling with the collapse of a centrally planned economy to countries that remain firm supporters of free economic competition within the EU and active participants in the decision-making process within the Community. Thanks to the consistent efforts of individual countries and cooperation within the V4, we managed to achieve the goals that in the mid-nineties seemed very distant:

THE DYNAMIC GROWTH OF BILATERAL ECONOMIC EXCHANGE (WHICH REACHED THE VALUE OF ALMOST EUR 2BLN IN 2021) IS ACCOMPANIED BY THE GROWING INTEREST OF POLISH ENTREPRENEURS IN THE LOCAL MARKET of global supply chains, as well as the limitations caused by the COVID19 pandemic, resulted in a significant reorientation of the directions of interest of a number of Polish companies that are looking for new economic contacts in the European market (especially outside the EU). In this context, we note, i.a., increased activity on the part of entities from so-called "green technologies" (especially in the field of sewage treatment and waste disposal), the great advantage of which are modern technologies available at an affordable price and the experience of building pro-ecological infrastructure practically "from scratch". Can the experiences of the Visegrad Group help the aspiring tran-

membership in the North Atlantic Alliance, and then (May 1, 2004) the joint accession of the Visegrad Four to the EU. Political success would not be possible without the success of economic reform efforts – together with the steadily growing GDP and the inflow of investments, the region of Central Europe has become one of the "flywheels" of the European economy. According to statistics, V4 is the 4th largest economy in the EU and the 5th largest exporter in Europe. In addition to our recent experiences related to the difficult socio-economic transformation and the complicated process of accession negotiations with the EU, the cooperation of the Visegrad Four remains a good example of the added value created by re-

gional cooperation. In this context, like V4, we assess very positively and support all initiatives aimed at the development of this type of cooperation in the Western Balkans. As two Slavic nations, we had rich cultural cooperation, especially during the Interbellum period and during Socialism. After 1991, the ties between our two countries somehow weakened, which is a real pity. Can we do something to enhance our cultural cooperation and to get to know each other better? — Public opinion polls commissioned by our Embassy and carried out at the end of last year show that the vast majority of Serbian residents (84%) express a generally positive opinion about our country. Unfortunately, the more detailed data on the level of knowledge of Polish culture, art or Polish artists do not fill us with such optimism, to put it mildly, pointing to the need to multiply efforts in this area. In addition to the continuation and further development of cyclical cultural events, such as the annual Chopin Festival (its 11th edition will be in autumn this year), the Polish Film Festival "Wisła", support for academic and student exchange (NAWA and Erasmus), or a relatively wide presence of Polish literature on the local market (thanks to excellent Serbian translators, Serbs read not only the works of 5 Polish Nobel laureates but also many young, talented Polish writers and poets), we must certainly look for new ways to reach Serbian "hearts and minds". One of our innovative ideas is broad cooperation with gifted Serbian young artists who know best how to convey their message to their peers. Thanks to the good relations with the Belgrade Faculty of Fine Arts and Faculty of Applied Arts, last year we created an animated film dedicated to the first Polish Olympic medalist and a mural in the oldest music school in Serbia, depicting Fryderyk Chopin. This outstanding Polish composer was also the "hero" of our campaign in Belgrade public transport addressed to the general public. In my opinion, in addition to creativity, new ideas, and considerable financial resources, we also need a lot of... time and a lot of motivation, because we are dealing with a long-term process, where it is difficult to count on quick and spectacular results.

INTERESTING FACTS

NATIONAL DAYS

We Are All One!

APRIL

GUINEA

he war in Ukraine drew the world's attention to this country and its linguistic, ethnic, and religious diversity, focusing on a lesser-known (outside Serbia) religion, Greek Catholicism, which dominates western Ukraine. Lviv is the world centre of Greek Catholicism, which we can describe as "Orthodoxy with the primacy of the Pope" or "Catholicism of the Eastern Rite", depending on how you look at things. There are a few other countries that are far from religious uniformity like Switzerland, where the Roman Catholic faith and various Protestant denominations blended harmoniously. Geneva is home to Calvinism, which had successfully spread to places such as Scotland, eastern Hungary, and France. The Holocaust and Aliyah (travelling to the land of Israel) reduced the once-powerful Judaism to mere traces, the Spanish Reconquista

Independence Day

SENEGAL Independence Day

SYRIA Evacuation Day

ZIMBABWE Independence Day

27 pushed Sunni Islam to Africa in 1492, and the anti-Ottoman "Reconquista" once deprived the vast Balkans, Caucasus and Ukraine of Sunni majorities, except for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Bulgaria. Europe also has a Buddhist region – Kalmykia –

HE T NETHERLANDS

which is located in Russia. It seems that, looking at the map, Max Weber was right - Protestant countries are the wealthiest and have the mildest religious fervour. Except in Ulster, of course. Is faith important to you too? If so, don't forget - we are all one humans!

King’s Day

SOUTH AFRICA Freedom Day

SIERRA LEONE

ARRIVALS & DEPARTURES

Independence Day

H.E. BASSEL SALAH Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt Ambassador Bassel Salah is the current Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt Ambassador of Egypt to Serbia. Previously, he held several key posts, as he served at the Permanent Mission of Egypt to the UN in Geneva, Embassy of Egypt in Washington DC, and Deputy Ambassador of Egypt to Tunisia. He also served as the Director of the Cabinet of the Deputy Foreign Minister of Egypt, a mem-

ber of the Office of the Political Advisor to the President of Egypt and also in the Cabinet of the Foreign Minister of Egypt. He holds an MSC in Comparative Politics from London School of Economics, an MA in International Relations from the American University in Cairo, and a BSC in Mechanical Engineering from the American University in Cairo. Ambassador Salah is married with one child.

TOGO Independence Day

MAY

03 POLAND ational Day N (Constitution Day)

08 ICRC, IFRC

H.E. JAEWOONG LEE New Ambassador of the Republic of Korea Ambassador Lee is a career diplomat. He joined the foreign ministry in 1993. His diplomatic career includes postings at the Korean embassies in the Netherlands (2004-2006) and Ghana (2011), Korean Permanent Mission to the UN in New York (20092010); he also served as Deputy Consul-General at the Korean Consulate General in Chicago, USA (2014-2017). He held various posts at the Korean Foreign Ministry, including that of the Desk Officer for Negotiations on North Korean Denuclearization (2007), Advisor to the 1st Vice Minister (2008), Director of the Climate

Change and the Global Green Growth Division (2012-2013), Deputy Representative for Korea-US Defense Burden-sharing (2017-2019), Deputy Spokesperson (2019-2021). In 2017 he was a Visiting Scholar at the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies at the University of Notre Dame, USA. Ambassador Lee earned Order of Service Merit (Green Stripes) in 2013. He holds a BA degree in International Relations from the Seoul National University, Korea, and an MA degree in International Relations from the University of Chicago, USA. Married, with two sons

I nternational Red Cross Day

09 EU ational Day N (Schuman Day)

ISRAEL Independence Day

NORWAY Constitution Day

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H.E. CHRISTOPHER R. HILL New US ambassador Christopher R. Hill was a career member of the foreign service and retired after a 33 year career in 2010. Most recently, he has been the 2021 George Ball Adjunct Professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. During his foreign service career Hill served as U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Korea, Poland and Macedonia, as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, and as Head of the U.S. delegation to the 6 Party Talks on North Korea. Earlier in his diplomatic career, he was the special envoy for the Kosovo crisis and prior to that was a member of the U.S. negotiating team

whose efforts led to the Dayton Peace Agreement, ending the Bosnian war. Following his retirement from the foreign service Hill was Dean of the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, and then Chief Advisor to the Chancellor for Global Engagement and Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy, at the University of Denver. He earned a B.A. at Bowdoin College and an M.S. at the Naval War College. The recipient of numerous honors, including the Robert S. Frasure Award for Peace Negotiations and the Secretary of State Distinguished Service Award. Hill speaks Serbian, Polish, Macedonian and French.

H.E. FATAH MAHIRAZ New Algerian ambassador to Serbia Mr Fatah Mahiraz was born on August 30, 1958, in Algeria. He is married and has three children. The ambassador is fluent in Arabic, French and English, and speaks Portuguese. He was educated at the National School of Administration (Diplomatic section) in 1982 and in 1993, he completed training at the Centre for Constructive Resolution (Durban, South Africa) – ‘Training on Negotiation Techniques for Peaceful Conflict Resolution’. Mr Mahiraz began his career in 1982 as the Desk Officer at the General Administration Directorate, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and two years later, start-

ed to work as the Desk Officer for Southern Africa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1991, he was appointed the First Secretary at the Embassy of Algeria in Zimbabwe, Malawi and Botswana, and a year later became the Desk Officer for Southern and Eastern Africa, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2009, Mr Mahiraz was appointed the Ambassador of Algeria to Sweden, Iceland and Finland, residing in Stockholm. Eight years later, he was appointed Ambassador-Counselor of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and subsequently Ambassador of Algeria to Serbia and Montenegro in November 2001, residing in Belgrade.

ŽELJKO PETROVIĆ New Head of Retail and Small Business Division, Banca Intesa Two years after his term of office as a Deputy Head of the Retail and Small Business Division, Željko Petrović assumed the position of Head of the Division in February 2022. He joined Banca Intesa in 2015 as the Head of the Credit Department, continuing as the Chief Credit Officer in charge of the quality and efficiency of credit processes and the loan portfolio. He made a significant contribution through active participation in strategic initiatives and projects aimed at balanced credit risk management with sustainable growth and development of the credit portfolio of all client segments.

Prior to joining Banca Intesa, he has been working in numerous managerial positions in banking sector, thus building his 18 years long career in this sector – he served as the Director of the Risk Department at ProCredit Bank and the Director of Credit Risk Management at Vojvodjanska banka. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of ProCredit Leasing a.d. He graduated from the Faculty of Economics in Kragujevac and the Academy of Banking in Frankfurt. He also gained professional training by attending a large number of seminars and trainings in the fields of banking, management and corporate finance.

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Devolution is Making the United Kingdom Chronically Miserable Here is how to fix it n recent years it has sometimes seemed as if the only question worth asking about the state of the United Kingdom is which of its four nations would be the first to break away. Northern Ireland, already carved off from the British internal market as the price of Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal? Scotland, where the first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, is demanding a second independence referendum next year? Or perhaps even Wales, where polls find up to a third of voters would back a split? In fact, pessimism about the union’s survival is overdone. In Northern Ireland the Brexit protocol is leading to closer economic ties with the republic, but not a new wave of support for a united Ireland. Any referendum in Scotland or Wales would require Mr Johnson’s permission, which he has made clear he will not give. None of the independence movements has gone beyond a back-ofthe-envelope sketch of how their breakaway country would be run. Supporters of the union are therefore winning. But for the union to survive is not the same as for it to thrive. If the United Kingdom is to do any better than lurch from one crisis to the next, it needs a new constitutional settlement. Under New Labour, the devolved parliaments in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast were meant to bring bread-and-butter issues, such as health care and schooling, before each country’s voters. Instead such issues are neglected, because elections are dominated by unresolved arguments about the constitution. The Scottish National Party (SNP) has been sustained in office despite its poor stewardship of schools and hospitals, because it monopolises pro-independence voters. In Northern Ireland a crisis looms. Sinn Fein, which favours a united Ireland, is likely to win the most seats in the assembly election in May. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which opposes reunification, may refuse to share pow-

UNDER NEW LABOUR, THE DEVOLVED PARLIAMENTS IN EDINBURGH, CARDIFF AND BELFAST WERE MEANT TO BRING BREAD-ANDBUTTER ISSUES, SUCH AS HEALTH CARE AND SCHOOLING, BEFORE EACH COUNTRY’S VOTERS. INSTEAD SUCH ISSUES ARE NEGLECTED er with it, and cause the government to collapse. Relations with Westminster are dysfunctional, too. Under devolution, powers were crudely handed out around the United Kingdom, but the politics favour blaming the centre rather than working with it. London and Edinburgh are clashing over whether to widen a Scottish road carrying freight arriving by sea from Northern Ireland to England. Attempts to build new nuclear power stations or drill for gas have been stymied, because energy policy is set in London whereas planning is devolved. A better combination of devolution and centralisation would compel governments to work together. Leaders in Scotland and Wales want more say over issues that affect all of Britain, such as immigration and relations with the European Union. They should get it. In exchange, they should let

Westminster co-ordinate areas of national importance, such as major transport links and energy security. Tougher central scrutiny is needed, too. If schools in Scotland or hospitals in Wales are failing, Westminster has a legitimate role in helping turn them around. If the DUP tries to block devolution from being restored in May, Westminster should remove the veto power wielded by Northern Ireland’s two largest parties, one of which backs the union and the other a united Ireland. Making assembly rules fairer would boost parties that are neither unionist nor republican. The political culture needs to change, too. The SNP should accept that its dream of independence will not soon be fulfilled. It is failing its own people if it chooses not to work with Westminster partly for fear that they may become content with the status quo. For their part, the Conserva-

tives should stop using the spectre of secession to stir up their own English voters. Last, the heat needs to be taken out of Brexit, which further strained the union. Liz Truss, the foreign secretary, is right to seek a new deal with the EU on the flow of goods to and from Northern Ireland, and to downplay threats to trigger Article 16, the suspension clause of the Brexit treaty. Softening the sharp edges of Brexit, for example by making it easier for students and artists to travel, would make remaining in a United Kingdom outside the EU more palatable for the majorities in Scotland and Northern Ireland who voted to remain within the bloc.

ONE FOR ALL The union has proved surprisingly robust in the face of the threats of Brexit, rising separatism and Mr Johnson’s populism. Devolution enshrined the noble principle that the nations of the United Kingdom should take control of their own affairs while working in a greater whole. It is an idea worth saving. From The Economist, published under licence. The original article, in English, can be found on www.economist.com

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by Jelena Jahura

We Get to Know Each Other Better By Exchanging Tourists Over 230,000 Serbian tourists visited Turkey last year H.E. HAMI AKSOY Turkish Ambassador to Serbia

ollowing Turkish Airlines launching additional flights between Belgrade and Ankara, the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Serbia, H.E. Hami Aksoy, stated that he was satisfied with the cooperation between the two countries. In addition to more flights from Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla Airport, Air Serbia has also increased the number of its flights from Niš and Kraljevo to Istanbul. "Tourism is a sector to which we attach great importance. Last year, we signed an agreement with the Republic of Serbia on mutual recognition of COVID vaccines, and that had excellent results. In 2021, 85% more tourists from Serbia visited Turkey than in the pre-pandemic period. Statistical data show that over 230,000 Serbian tourists visited Turkey last year. The number of tourists from Turkey who visited Serbia increased by 95% and stood at about 48,000. Our goal this year is to increase the number of visits from Serbia to Turkey in the 2022 season to at least 300,000. If everything goes well, we will reach a figure of half a million Serbian tourists. The Republic of Turkey’s Culture and Tourism Minister came for an official visit to the Republic of Serbia on July 16, 2021. On the occasion, he met with the Serbian Minister of Tourism, Trade and Telecommunications of the Republic of Serbia, Tatjana Matić. The two officials agreed to form a working group covering the tourism cooperation between our two countries. The first meeting of the Working Group was held in November 2021 in Istanbul. The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, visited Turkey in January this year. At the same time, the joint committee met and four important agreements were signed between our two countries, one of which covers tourism. If I could somehow summa-

OUR GOAL IS TO CONNECT SERBIA WITH ANTALYA BY DIRECT FLIGHTS ALL YEAR ROUND VIA TURKISH AIRLINES rize the relations between Serbia and Turkey, I would say that this period has been the best in the history of relations between our two countries. Our goal is to increase economic, tourist and cultural cooperation in all fields and to cooperate on a larger and better scale. We believe that we will achieve this with the support of our culture and tourism attaché,"

said Ambassador Aksoy. Ambassador Aksoy also mentioned that the Turkish Embassy plans to hold an event at the Belgrade Fortress in May with the goal of promoting Turkish cuisine. He also pointed out that he was pleasantly surprised by how much young people from Serbia were interested in Turkish culture and language, and the fact

that Turkish series are immensely popular in Serbia. Turkish language courses are regularly held at the Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Institute in Belgrade, and currently, over 2,500 people are attending the courses. In the next period, various projects aimed at Serbian youth are planned with the view of encouraging them to visit Turkey, and establishing an even better connection and cooperation between the two countries. The ambassador also spoke about Turkey’s presentation at the Belgrade Tourism Fair. On this occasion, nine exhibitors from Turkey will take part in the Fair with a wide range of new products, as well as the traditional Turkish products that people in Serbia are already acquainted with. In addition to the already popular summer destinations, the not so wellknown tourist attractions in the country’s continental part, such as Ankara, Cappadocia and others, will be presented at the Turkish stand. "Our goal is to connect Serbia with Antalya by direct flights all year round via Turkish Airlines. We are currently talking about this with Air Serbia. I hope we will succeed as Southern Turkey has lovely weather all year round, perfect for tourist visits. I would also like to underline that we are not only working on bringing more Serbian tourists to Turkey but also encouraging Turkish tourists to come to Serbia more, as your country does attract a lot of attention. Our two countries have a visa-free regime and soon enough, passports will not be needed as only a chipped ID card would suffice for entering either country. This region is appealing to Turkish tourists because of the significantly lower prices compared to other western countries, good living standard and the similarities we share. Our goal is to get to know each other more and better by launching additional flights and exchanging more tourists," Ambassador Aksoy concluded.

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Be Ready and Stay Tuned The two-and-a-half-year I spent in Tanzania were a really special period for me. There, I realized how important it is to work on my own happiness and satisfaction I left Tanzania with tears in my eyes and with one goal: to come back. After four years in China and the great city of Beijing, I can say that I am ready to be a leader and a great mentor to the younger generation. Also, I can make great Chinese food such as Beijing duck, Kung Pao chicken, homemade noodles, etc. China is one of those countries that I will return to for sure, especially because of the respect and friendship that I built with my Chinese friends.

MILAN ČOTRA Executive Chef of the hotel Hyatt Regency Belgrade

ew Executive Chef of the hotel Hyatt Regency Belgrade, Milan Čotra, talks about his career path, his experiences around the world and new challenges at Hyatt Regency Belgrade.

You started working at Hyatt in 2006. What was your career path like? — In 2006, my life and my views on the culinary world changed forever in the most positive way. After receiving basic training at the hotel and undergoing a growing process, I had the opportunity to gradually advance and went from being commis chef to chef de partie. After that, I got an offer to work in a great country — Canada — and moved to the beautiful city of Toronto, where I worked and developed my skills for two years. During this period, I had the chance to work with so many more ingredients than I could have ever imagined before. I was also exposed to the knowledge of local chefs there, and I had a chance to learn a lot about Canadian food and gastronomy styles. After two years in Canada, I came back to Serbia and worked in a few places as head chef, during which time I had a chance to grow even more and expand my knowledge of Serbian cuisine. Then, I came back to Hyatt and took over BQT Events Kitchen. After two years of this, my family and I moved to the magnificent country of Tanzania. In Dar es Salaam, the biggest city, and on Zanzibar Island, I had the opportunity to meet wonderful people and learn about their culture, food and style of life. Now, I can call myself half Tanzanian. After two and a half years in Africa, I received an email from China offering me a job at one of the biggest properties in Beijing, where I became the chef de cuisine of an opening restaurant. After two years of working in Beijing, I was promoted to the position of executive sous chef, and one year later,

What is the biggest challenge for you as the new executive chef of Hyatt Regency Belgrade? — To be the executive chef of a hotel with a great history, reputation and level of hospitality is a lot of pressure, and I feel the huge weight of the responsibility. At the same time, this is the resource from which I'm drawing my motivation and desire to put Hyatt in an even better position in the future. The future is bright with a great team of experienced chefs, as well as energetic and talented young people at Hyatt Regency Belgrade.

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT WITH A GREAT TEAM OF EXPERIENCED CHEFS, AS WELL AS ENERGETIC AND TALENTED YOUNG PEOPLE AT HYATT REGENCY BELGRADE I was the leader of a culinary brigade with 150 chefs in it. We had so many great events and outside catering functions. We had different outlets including Beerhouse, where we used to make original Bavarian food and produced our own beer as well. We had a classic Italian trattoria, an authentic Chinese restaurant and one of the best fusion places (Europe-Asia) in a city with more than 20 million people in it. There was also a Japanese restaurant, a big lobby lounge place and a huge catering facility that could seat up to 10,000 people. After an unforgettable four years in Beijing, Hyatt Regency Belgrade and I agreed to

work together in our mission here in my home country Serbia. You spent two years in Tanzania and worked a lot in Asia. What experiences can you share with us, and how did they influence your work? — The two-and-a-half-year period I spent in Tanzania was something special for me. There, I realized how important it is to work on my own happiness and satisfaction. I had the chance to work with great Tanzanian people that showed me how to make original Swahili food. In Dar es Salaam, I had the opportunity to be the chef for so many world-famous people.

As the new executive chef of Hyatt Regency Belgrade, what will you work on the most, and how do you see your future career path? — There is one thing that a great mentor taught me: “Work Hard & Play Hard.” With that in mind, I’d like to say that the Hyatt management team has so many ideas and so much work in progress. For example, we will have a guest chef from Argentina here at Hyatt for two weeks during a promotion of Argentinian food, we have already launched the in-house Ramadan season, and soon we will have new menus featuring flavors from all the continents that I have had the pleasure to go to (Europe, North America, Africa, Australia and Asia). Of course, there will be cuisine from our beautiful Serbia and the Balkan area as well. We are preparing so many other things like new concepts for our banqueting service, a new Sunday brunch, singles’ events and so on. I have one message for the city of Belgrade: “Be ready and stay tuned.”

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I Will Not Give Up the Fight for Women's Rights I believe that the Serbian society must condemn all forms of violence and work together more to prevent it, but also adequately punish all those who commit such acts. State institutions, the non-governmental sector and media support can all do their part to solve this issue in the 21st century

NINA MITIĆ Assistant Minister for Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue

ssistant Minister for Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue, Nina Mitić, speaks about discrimination and other forms of violence, personal experiences, the #metoo movement, the hashtag #ijasamžrtrva and anti-discrimination policy.

You are an assistant to Minister Čomić and you are in charge of anti-discrimination policy and gender equality. Do you think that the number of daily cases of discrimination and various forms of violence have been growing? — As an assistant to Minister

I BELIEVE THAT WOMEN WHO ARE UNITED AND STAND IN SOLIDARITY COULD SUCCEED. TO THAT END, THE #IJASAMZRTVA HASHTAG SHOULD COME TO LIFE IN THE VIRTUAL COMMUNITY TOO

including the understanding and support of the families of the victims. Family is the nucleus of society in Serbia, and I would like to use this opportunity to appeal to all families of victims of violence to support the victims in seeking justice for themselves.

Čomić, I am in charge of anti-discrimination policy and the promotion of gender equality in the line ministry. During the course of my work, I encounter a substantial number of cases of discrimination and various forms of violence almost every day. Unfortunately, violence is not just physical, as I am increasingly coming across cases of psychological and economic abuse of women. We, as a ministry, fight against all stereo-

What are your personal experiences and stories you have heard or your personal views on violence and discrimination against women? — It should be noted that I, regardless of my political and professional position, suffered violence through sexist, misogynistic and insulting comments at the expense of my physical appearance. Unfortunately, no one is spared or protected. Violence chooses neither time nor place; in fact, it

types and all forms of discrimination, by empowering the position of women in our society through the adoption of the Law on Gender Equality and the Law on Prohibition of Discrimination. These laws have, among other things, helped to encourage women to speak publicly and prevent gender-based violence against women and violence in general. Our common struggle requires the support of the wider community,

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can happen to anyone. The violence directed against me has further fortified my attitude to do the right thing in the fight for women's rights and I will never give up. Personally, I encourage and support all women in the fight against violence and discrimination. I believe that the Serbian society must condemn all forms of violence and work together more to prevent it, but also adequately punish all those who commit such acts. State institutions, the non-governmental sector and media support can all do their part to solve this issue in the 21st century. What has left the biggest impression on you so far when it comes to celebrities taking part in the #metoo movement and similar movements in Serbia? — It is interesting to note that the #metoo movement was launched at the same time as the Sector for Anti-Discrimination Policy and Promotion of Gender Equality, which I helm and which is part of the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue. The biggest social changes are happening slowly, and it seems that the end of the previous decade was the turning point in the whole world, after which it became clear to everyone that women no longer agree to be subordinate to half of humanity. Women around the world have been encouraged to speak publicly about the degrading acts to which they are exposed. The #metoo movement has spread very quickly, and we have had several cases of violence in our country waiting for their day in court. I want to encourage women to report all such cases to the authorities and to know that they are not alone. Women make up the majority of the population in Serbia. We do not want to be abused just because we are women and we do not want anyone to look down on us. We want freedom and equal treatment in all segments of society. We want the violence to stop, forever. This is our struggle.

sic rules of behaviour in different situations, so we should establish a set of rules in male-female communication that will allow a clear distinction to be made between appropriate and inappropriate behaviour. On a personal level, I think we should work on interpersonal solidarity, since there are strong women who do not allow any kind of self-manipulation, and their experience is valuable for those women who are not so well-qualified to defend themselves. I believe that women who are united and stand in solidarity could succeed. To that end, the #ijasamzrtva hashtag should come to life in the virtual community too.

What do you think is the main topic that the movements such as #metoo and individual women should deal with in the future? — Changing social consciousness is the main thing that these movements are aspiring to. That is why I believe that the education of young generations is what we should focus on. We are all aware of the ba-

What is the current situation in the region or in our country like? Which direction should official procedures and policies take in order for the anti-discrimination projects to be implemented? — The Constitution stipulates that generally accepted rules of international law and ratified international agreements are an integral part of the legal order of

THE CONSTITUTION STIPULATES THAT GENERALLY ACCEPTED RULES OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AND RATIFIED INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE LEGAL ORDER OF SERBIA AND ARE DIRECTLY APPLICABLE Serbia and are directly applicable. If an individual believes that his or her human rights are endangered, they first need to contact the competent authorities and institutions in Serbia. Human rights in Serbia are also exercised before independent institutions. Also, they can be realized in proceedings before the court or in special proceedings before the Ombudsman, the Commissioner for Protection of Equality, the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Protection of Personal Data, as well as before the Constitutional Court. If someone does not get the protection he/she wanted and has exhausted all domestic remedies, there is a possibility to turn to international bodies and committees, and finally to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. It is important to underline that we, as representatives of the government, cooperate and exchange experiences related to human rights promotion with other countries, primarily European ones because we need to learn from each other. Re-

sources are needed, both material and human because the advancement of human rights means changing social consciousness, and changing social consciousness is possible only by constantly working with people. Lastly, what should we do in Serbia? — Human rights are divided into several groups - civil, political, economic, social and cultural. The one common thing that they have is that the rights of every human are innate. They validate the right of every individual to life, work, education, equality before the law, privacy and many others. The message we are sending is that education is the key to freedom for all, women's solidarity should be empowered, institutions should be more sensitive to cases of violence against women, better prevention of all forms of violence both in the media and on social networks and a wider social action for equality through media campaigns. I hope that everything we do and all the results we achieve can contribute to the change of consciousness in Serbia. This process is arduous and long, but one day, no one will abuse women anymore. I hope that day is very close. Last but not least, I would like to quote Margaret Thatcher who said: "In politics if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman."

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The Passion for Journalism Has Survived I founded FoNet at the age of 35, and this year, I am turning 64. I love this job and nothing has changed about that. Survival is not the answer. The solution is to create prerequisites and opportunities for development and longevity

ZORAN SEKULIĆ Editor-in-Chief of FoNet news agency

oran Sekulić, owner and editor-in-chief of FoNet, speaks about the news agency’s past 28 years, the hard times, the best times, the media coverage of the Ukrainian crisis, safety of journalists, but also about the future of news agencies.

As a former special reporter from the European Union, NATO and the Kremlin, could you comment on the current media coverage of the events in Ukraine? Do you condemn censorship of the Russian media? — I generally condemn the censorship of all media outlets that act as media outlets. Those who do not behave in this way are engaged in propaganda, but even then it is a very delicate matter to resort to restrictive measures. There are other ways in which society and the public can respond to classical propaganda. I have a problem with generators of hate speech, conspiracy theories and campaigns against people and communities, be they religious, ethnic or sexual. So, as far as the way of reporting is concerned, and if we are talking about serious and real media, they have the right to exercise their editorial policy. They have no right to fabricate half-truths and illusions, no matter who they support. As long as they practice the profession properly, adhere to the journalistic code of conduct and uphold the facts, I have no problem with that. Reporting in Serbia about the war in Ukraine deviates to a great-

EVERYONE INVOLVED IN JOURNALISM AND EXPOSED TO ATTACKS AND PRESSURE MUST REPORT THAT AND MAKE IT PUBLIC er or lesser extent from the official policy of this country. The editorial policy of the traditional mainstream media, which have the highest public visibility, varies from moderate to openly pro-Russian. I gather that people in Serbia are not fully or promptly informed about what is happening in Ukraine in a balanced and comprehensive manner. In most of the most influential media, you can clearly see the political influence, be it direct, by order, or voluntary in the form of

recommendations to the authorities. Such a situation affects the state of affairs in which the facts are no longer or are increasingly less important. Emotions and presumed beliefs of the audience are important. But this kind of reporting is to the detriment of the public and the media alike. Ten years ago, you received the OSCE Person of the Year Award for your contribution to media reforms in Serbia. In 2016, you were the recipient of the French

Order of the Legion of Honour, and in 2020, the German Order of Merit, both for your contribution to media freedom and freedom of speech. Were those reforms effective and what kind of media reforms do we need today? — I still had some illusions back then. Regardless of media strategies, laws and proclaimed reforms, I realized that it was all a big illusion. The government, this or other, has a very formal approach to the reforms as if they are just a bunch of obligations they need to fulfil towards someone. In essence, all this time, there has been no basic political will for the media scene to be regulated and for the media to work freely, responsibly and in the best public interest, and not

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in the interest of various formal or informal power centres. Media should not be attacked, journalists should not be targeted, their houses should not be set on fire, and the word of the law should be consistently respected and applied. In 2014, the passing of new media laws was applauded. The government, the EU, the OSCE and even the media community applauded. New regulations resulted in a Copernicus-like U-turn. The state was supposed to withdraw from ownership of the media, there was supposed to be no more direct budget financing for the media and everything looked almost idyllic. However, eight years have passed since then and we already have a new media strategy, so the existing or new media laws will be changed in line with the strategy. However, even the earlier media laws have not been implemented properly – they were not applied at all, improperly applied, or even abused. The people in the media obviously serve as a big figurative ‘fig leaf’. Without the political will to implement them, even the best laws and strategies make no sense. Last year, you received threats after one of your TV appearances. What should we do to change such an atmosphere in society and reduce the pressure on the media and journalists? — Compared to what my colleagues experienced, my case is laughable. Everyone involved in journalism and exposed to attacks and pressure, must report that and make it public. The institutional order of the process should be respected, regardless of whether the institution will take action or whether it can and wants to. Such cases should be reported and at least somewhere registered that they happened. Serbia is a deeply divided, polarized and even antagonistic country. A good part of the public discourse is based on the discrediting of others and different opinions and the suppression of dialogue and pluralism. When you keep repeating that a certain person is a foreign mercenary or a traitor of a country, you create such an environment where it is no longer a coincidence that someone threatens you, either on the street or from the podium. Basically, you become a sitting duck. The key here is having the responsibility for the words uttered in public, and this goes for

the media, public stakeholders, the government and the opposition, regardless of differences in their positions. The authorities’ capacity to create such an environment is greater, but they are also more responsible. The government must want to create a social environment that will foster a civilized dialogue of dissidents, which, in my opinion, is the only way to reach a solution for the common good because if everyone thinks the same, nobody’s thinking at all. After working for Radio 202, you worked for Tanjug for nearly a decade. What is your relationship with the competition, including the Beta news agency? — The Tanjug from the 1980s cannot be compared to the Tanjug from the 1950s and especially not to the Tanjug from the 1990s or the Tanjug from the transition

lošević’s government. Unlike the Serbian Broadcasting Corporation (RTS), where people who opposed the official editorial policy, hate speech and war propaganda were immediately fired, Tanjug experienced an implosion because it differentiated itself in favour of Milošević. When the war in Bosnia started, I resigned as editor because I disagreed with editorial policy. When I embarked on an adventure with FoNet in early 1994, there was no competition or market per se. Tanjug had a dominant and privileged position on all grounds. Later, I expected that the new government would open the media scene, ensure equal footing for all of us and amortize Tanjug’s privileged status and financial position, but that did not happen. Here we are, 22 years after the fall of Milošević, and Tanjug is still privileged, while the attitude towards FoNet and Beta is

THE PEOPLE IN THE MEDIA OBVIOUSLY SERVE AS A BIG FIGURATIVE ‘FIG LEAF’. WITHOUT THE POLITICAL WILL TO IMPLEMENT THEM, EVEN THE BEST LAWS AND STRATEGIES MAKE NO SENSE to the present day. In the 1980s, Tanjug had over a thousand employees and 48 bureaus around the world. After the biggest global commercial news wires such as Reuters or the Associated Press, Tanjug was the sixth or seventh most influential news agency in the world. At Tanjug, I learned all about agency journalism and had ample opportunity to progress. As a relatively young journalist, I was in a situation to cover the most important events in the country and the world that had to do with Yugoslavia, and later with the Yugoslav crisis. The agency trust me implicitly, which I hope, was justified, so much so that at the beginning of the disintegration of Yugoslavia, I reported about all the key events related to Yugoslavia’s destiny. In 1991, I was also appointed the youngest editor of the political section in the history of Tanjug. I was barely 33 years old. Tanjug was a federal media outlet and on the eve of the country’s disintegration, the state authorities started to control "their" media. For the longest time, Borba and Tanjug resisted being controlled first by the federal and then Mi-

still discriminatory. As for the relations between FoNet and Beta, they are collegial and friendly. We are in the same predicament. During its 28 years, FoNet has survived wars, sanctions, the bombing of Serbia, government changes, economic crisis and pandemic. Which periods were the hardest and which the best? — Times have never been ideal, good or easy. They were bad, hard and worse. I could say that the 1990s were tantamount to a mental health diagnosis. I get scared when I remember how we made FoNet out of nothing and with nothing. That could only happen then and never again. If I had known what was in store for me when I founded a news agency, I would not have done it. Not even in my wildest dreams. Also, if I hadn't done it, I would have never forgiven myself. That was a life-threatening time - years of occupational therapy, money shortages, uncertainty and indescribable sacrifices. For a media outlet like FoNet, which has been tirelessly defending its editorial integrity and sovereignty, political and financial circumstances are

still far from normal and the resources far below of the mainstream media. We stagnated for years. In the 1990s, we were sued based on the draconian Information Law. Both times we were sued because we reported the news based on facts and both times we were sued together with Danas. The 1990s were a nightmare. Then came the era of perpetual struggle for survival and efforts to maintain news production while, at the same time, developing at a snail's pace. Now, it is not a matter of surviving, but rather developing, growing and taking one step forward, two steps back. I founded FoNet at the age of 35, and this year, I am turning 64. I love this job and nothing has changed about that. Survival is not the answer. The solution is to create prerequisites and opportunities for development and longevity. What will the future of news agencies be like and what will FoNet face in the coming period? — News agencies need to adapt to the new reality. Our audience is no longer just traditional media. Also, when we talk about social networks, it is important which network we are talking about. In line with that, we need to adapt news production to new audiences on new platforms, which have themselves become creators of media content too. The race against time, i.e. to be the first in something, no longer exists. We can only play the card of credibility and trust. We also produce well-crafted content for new audiences in the virtual world and traditional media users alike. This is the content that is created following the journalistic code of conduct, in a way that is acceptable and necessary to them, adapted to the digital era. We are looking for new forms, changing storytelling and combining multimedia with text. We also combine media platforms and we interact between different media content. The challenges here are enormous and should be viewed without prejudice, with an open mind. We have to forget a good part of the previous experience of how journalism used to work. Without giving up basic professional and ethical values, we must dress the media in a suit that is better tailored and more contemporary. Those who do not understand this will fail and will continue to function in ‘the Stone Age’.

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Cambodia as a New Investment Destination The fight against Covid-19 was utilized to restart Cambodia’s tourism. The expectations are that Cambodian tourism will fully recover and re-launch by 2025 at the latest n late 2021, the Royal Embassy of Cambodia was involved in organizing the online business seminar under the working title “Cambodia – New Destination for Business, Investment and Tourism”, in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia. The event was held on 30th March this year. The seminar was officially opened by the Director of Division for Strategic Analyses, Services and Internationalisation at the CCIS, Mr Mihajlo Vesović, and the participants were greeted by H.E. Mr Tan Vutha, Ambassador of Cambodia to Serbia. H.E. Nhim Khemera also gave a welcome speech followed by a short oral report/presentation on the current economic and tourism situation in Cambodia. Mr Vongmonasekar Vuthy (Member of the Cabinet of Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn and Member of Economic Diplomacy Group, MFAIC) presented the topic of Economic Diplomacy in Cambodia. The presentation provided a clear view of the goal and strategy of Economic Diplomacy which is described as a strategic priority for the MFAIC, the initiative geared towards the modernization of diplomacy through an economic lens.

H.E. Dr. NHIM Khemera Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia

Cambodian Team of the Business Seminar

THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19 WAS UTILIZED TO RESTART CAMBODIA’S TOURISM. THE EXPECTATIONS ARE THAT CAMBODIAN TOURISM WILL FULLY RECOVER AND RE-LAUNCH BY 2025 AT THE LATEST Mr Vuthy underlined that the Economic Diplomacy Coordinating Group acts as a coordinating body to connect relevant parties/ stakeholders in order to effectively implement the 2021-2023Economic Diplomacy Strategy. Additionally, he said that the Group does not override the roles of existing institutions and has the objective of promoting international trade, attracting foreign direct investments, and promoting

tourism and cultural and sports exchange. Mr Suon Sophal showed his presentation on the topic of Enabling Investment Climate in Cambodia during which he described investment trends and investment facilitation with a detailed description of Fiscal and Tax Incentives for Investors. H.E. Thong Rathasak, Director-General of the Ministry of Tourism, presented about tourism

H.E. Mr. PRAK David Under-Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia

in Cambodia, general information and statistics. The presentation described in detail current statistical data and also showed the negative impact of Covid-19 on the country’s tourism. Mr Rathasak underlined that fighting against Covid-19 was utilized to restart Cambodian tourism. The expectations are that Cambodian tourism will fully recover and relaunch by 2025 at the latest. The Asean Tourism Forum’s activities were described in some detail. The Forum met in January 2022 to mark the reopening of Cambodia and Asia to international tourists. The high vaccination rollout (94% of the population of Cambodia was vaccinated with 3 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine) is the guarantor of the safety for everyone who comes to that

Royal Embassy of Cambodia Belgrade Team of the Business Seminar (Ambassador H.E. Mr. Tan Vutha in the centre of the photo wearing grey suit)

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part of the world, Mr Thong pointed out. The presentation also showed Cambodia's Tourism Zones and major infrastructural projects which will facilitate tourism development. The presentation was followed by two short videos about Cambodia - Invest in Cambodia and Tourism Cambodia (Cambodia Kingdom of Wonder). Mr LUU Meng, President of the Cambodia Tourism Federation (CTF) explained that CTF is a private sector organization investing in tourism locally and internationally. The presentation was titled Business Opportunities in Cambodia and it covered investment ideas and opportunities in several different parts of Cambodia (e.g. Riverside, coastline Sihanoukville, eco and cultural tourism). Mr Luu recommended more investments in the hospitality industry and culinary education. Mr MENG Nimol, Deputy Director-General of Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, was last to give a presentation, titled Business Environment and Cooperation. Cambodia is one of the fastest-growing Asian economies, aspiring to become a lower-middle-income society in the future. Mr Nimol talked about the government’s private sec-

H.E Mr. PRAK Sokhonn Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on the occasion of unveiling of The Taste of Angkor in 2021

The Taste of Angkor Cookbook

tor forum and its working groups, which are active and important business sectors in Cambodia. He underlined that there were many opportunities for investors in different business segments in Cambodia. Also, products from Cambodia can be exported duty-free to several big markets (the USA, China). In the coming period, the Embassy of the Kingdom of Cambodia plans to host a culinary event and the promotion of the internationally awarded book “The Taste of Angkor” with the view of promoting the unique culinary experience of the Kingdom of Cambodia. It should be noted that the Cambodia - New Destination for Business, Investment and Tourism programme was implemented at the same time as Cambodia and Serbia celebrated the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation hopes and believes that this programme will serve as a new starting point in promoting economic and cultural cooperation between the two countries through the resumption of social-economic development after the Covid-19-induced crisis.

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Successful Cooperation Between Stadler and Serbia Stadler can be a long-term partner in Serbia's development ŽELJKO DAVIDOVIĆ Sales Manager for Central and Eastern Europe, Stadler Rail Management AG

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tadler is one of the world leaders in the production of rail vehicles. The fast train (developing speeds of up to 200km/h), which arrived in Serbia, is the first train of this kind that the company exported to Eastern Europe in cooperation with Srbija Voz and the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic Of Serbia. We talked with Željko Davidović, Sales Manager for Central and Eastern Europe at Stadler Rail Management AG, about this cooperation, Stadler's assistance with the renovation of the Railway Museum in Belgrade, as well as the possibilities of Stadler investing in Serbia.

Are you satisfied with the results your company has achieved so far and what do you think of Stadler's cooperation with the Serbian government so far? — Stadler and Serbia have had successful cooperation for quite some time now. In 2016, Stadler delivered 21 four-car single-deck EMUs, used by Srbija Voz to successfully and safely transport passengers to various destinations in the country. The order and delivery of 3 four-car double-decker EMUs for high-speed trains, that can deliver speeds of up to 200km/h, is the second project that Stadler has successfully implemented in Serbia. Successful cooperation between Stadler and

STADLER IS ALWAYS OPEN TO TALKS ABOUT LONG-TERM STRATEGIC COOPERATION Serbia continued, so on December 27, 2021, we signed another contract with Srbija Voz stipulating the delivery of 18 new four-car single-deck EMUs. As a result of renewing or expanding the existing rolling stock, as well as the overhaul of the existing and construction of new railway infrastructure, Serbia now has a leading role in the region and is rapidly approaching the railway quality found in European countries. Stadler also plans to help with the renovation of the Railway

Museum in Belgrade and its promotion. How did this cooperation come about and what does it mean for your company? — As part of the comprehensive renovation of the railway infrastructure, Serbia also plans to renovate the Railway Museum. Stadler, as one of Serbia's partners in the development of its railway infrastructure, will be more than willing to help with the renovation and promotion of the Railway Museum. For Stadler, this is an example of a good and real partnership.

Could you tell us more about Stadler's three fast double-decker trains that the Serbian government has chosen to purchase? To what extent are these trains going to meet the needs of commuters in Serbia? — We are very glad that we won the tender for the acquisition of three fast trains. These are comfortable top-quality double-decker trains with a total of 314 seats. It is interesting to note that only six months have passed from the signing of the contract (early April 2021) to the delivery of the first set (late September 2021). We think that such a short delivery time sets a record in our industry, and certainly a record in Stadler's history. We are very proud of the fact that the first high-speed train, that can develop speeds of up to 200km/h, delivered in Eastern Europe, is Stadler's train. We are also glad that all this is happening in Serbia, a country that has had incredible development in recent years, not only in terms of railway and infrastructure but in general. Is Stadler interested in investing in Serbia? — Stadler is constantly growing, which in itself implies the need to expand our capacity. Due to its political and economic stability, position and diverse top-notch educated workforce, Serbia is a very desirable investment destination. Stadler is currently considering several options and we are confident that we will soon be able to answer your question in more detail.

EXAMPLE OF GOOD COOPERATION In terms of the sale of rail vehicles, can Serbia expect to have long-term strategic cooperation with Stadler? — We have examples of good cooperation not only in the delivery of rail vehicles, but also in cooperation at different levels. One of the most important is the visit of Dr. Ansgar Brockmeyer, Stadler’s Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing, Deputy CEO and a Member of the Group Executive Board, to the Faculty of Transportation in Belgrade on March 18th. Mr Brockmeyer gave a lecture about the difficulty in developing high-speed trains and aroused great interest, which prompted the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering to give a cooperation proposal that would entail student exchange and student practice.

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America DI PLOM ACY

COM M E RC E

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THE FIRST NATIONAL PARK The first official national park is Yellowstone in Wyoming, established by President Grant in 1872.

THE FORGOTTEN STATE Though Congress approved Ohio’s request for statehood in 1803, they forgot to officially ratify the state constitution until 150 years later.

FIRST MEMBERS

ALCATRAZ ESCAPEES

Election to the Country Music Hall of Fame is country music's highest honor and the first members— Jimmie Rodgers, Fred Rose, and Hank Williams—were inducted in 1961.

Thirty-six different people tried to escape from Alcatraz during its 29-year time as a federal prison and most of them either died during the attempt or were caught.

LAKE KINGDOM Minesota’s neighbor Wisconsin has over 15,000, but both of those pale in comparison to Alaska, with more than 3 million lakes.

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by NIKOLA PAVLOVIĆ

The US is an Important Partner to Serbia Regardless of their shared past, the United States and Serbia should nurture the best possible relations

n her interview for the InFocus issue, Professor Zorana Mihajlović, PhD, Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia and Minister of Mining and Energy, talks about the relations between Serbia and the United States over the past 140 years and overcoming the negative legacy, as well as on natural gas supply, energy transition and gender equality.

The US administration supports Serbia's integration into the European Union. What are the relations between the USA and Serbia like at the moment, considering it has been 140 years since the two countries established diplomatic relations. How much has the Ukraine crisis affected them? — It is obvious that the relations between Serbia and the United States have been getting better year on year. Improved and increasingly successful cooperation and a much better understanding of what are the interests of both Serbia and the United States are, should in many ways, be credited to the American ambassadors to Serbia in the past 10 years or more. Christopher Hill, who is very knowledgable not only about Serbia but the entire region, will boost the level of cooperation between our two countries even more with his knowledge and experience. Two years ago, the Memorial Complex and a small airport were opened in Pranjani, in memory of the heroic rescue of allied pilots behind enemy lines in the Second World War, during the Halyard

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mission in 1944. Finally, we must not forget that the strength of our democracy plays a huge role in fostering good relations between the two countries, i.e. the issue of human freedoms, development, and the entrepreneurial spirit. I believe that Serbia will never deviate from that path again and this is an important prerequisite for further improvement of our relations, from political and economic to those related to energy, culture and science. I believe that it would be really beneficial for the future cooperation between Serbia and the United States for our two countries to conclude a strategic partnership agreement, which we have already done with some countries such as the Russian Federation, China, France, Italy, the UAE, Azerbaijan and Hungary. I believe that it would be good to have such an agreement with the United States too since the country is our important partner.

How much is being done on overcoming the negative legacy from recent history, and can the relations between America and Serbia again resemble those from the time when we were allies? — The events of the 1990s cast a shadow over the much longer diplomatic relations between Serbia and the United States. On October 5, 2000, thanks to the Serbian citizens, Slobodan Milošević and his regime became history - first at the elections and then by defending their electoral will in the protests in which I took part too, together with

I N T E RV I E W Professor

ZORANA MIHAJLOVIĆ PhD, Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia and Minister of Mining and Energy

Every new interconnection, every new gas route, and especially every new source of gas are incredibly important for our energy security

hundreds of thousands of my fellow citizens. Looking back, we should remember that our relations with the United States should not only be confined to the 1990s and Milošević's time, bearing in mind that we have been partners and allies for most of the last century. We are also aware that Serbia and the United States are on different sides when it comes to resolving the Kosovo issue. But we cannot help but see that the United States has been showing more understanding of Serbia's views on this issue. Of course, Serbia will not, cannot and should not forget the military aggression against our country, during which the United States and NATO members inflicted huge material, human and spiritual damage to our country. That is why the initiative started by the former US ambassador to Belgrade, Cameron Munter and carried out by all his successors of paying their respects at the grave of innocent victims of NATO aggression is of great importance. Regardless of the past, the United States and Serbia should nurture the best possible relations. I have no doubt that, in the future, these relations will somehow become even

better than those we had when we were war allies. But, in order not to waste time, our common job is to assist time in that business - that is to develop better economic relations, to have as many American companies investing in Serbia as possible, for Serbia to promote its culture, tradition and history to the US as much as possible and to find as many common things that connect us as possible.

Due to the Ukrainian crisis, the gas supply to Serbia is being increasingly jeopardized. Is there reason to worry and how much such a situation can affect us? — It is a pity that Serbia did not complete the gas interconnection leading to Bulgaria much earlier, because, in that case, we could have already started receiving gas from other suppliers, which is especially important in times of crisis. The construction of the Niš-Dimitrovgrad gas pipeline began this year, during our Ministry’s mandate. Via this pipeline, Serbia will connect to the gas pipelines on the Southern Gas Corridor, as well as with the new LNG terminal in Alexandroupolis. This will ensure the delivery of natural gas from the Caspian region to Serbia, specifically the Shah Deniz gas field in Azerbaijan, from the LNG terminal in Alexandroupolis, the future East Med gas pipeline, and even the possibility of gas delivery from Asia. Every new interconnection, every new gas route, and especially every new source of gas are incredibly important for our energy security, and given Serbia’s central position in the region, they contribute to the energy security of the region too. What will be Serbia's response to global challenges related to the energy transition? Renewable energy sources need to attract more investments and involve the private sector. When is this process expected to begin and how long will it take? — By passing new energy laws, especially the first special Renewable Energy Sources Law, Serbia has taken the first step in the energy transition, which is a global process. Certain European countries have already embarked on this process and have been successfully transitioning from dirty fuel to clean energy sources. The new laws are also important because they create a contemporary and predictable framework for investors, since most of the investments, especially related to RES, are expected to be made by the private sector. We have also started to prepare strategic and planning documents, which will define the goals and dynamics of carbon neutrality or decarbonisation until 2050. The new energy strategy and integrated climate and energy plan will be the subject of a broad public debate before it is adopted so that we can hear suggestions and proposals from the civil sector, academia and citizens. Those who are trying to scare people that someone will turn off the thermal power plants overnight, not only are lying but are deliberately manipulating the citizens

for their own interests. Serbia now gets twothirds of its electricity from low-calorie lignite, which is the coal of the lowest quality. This is something we need to change, not only because of our international obligations but above all because of our energy security, the environment and our citizens' quality of life. We should hop on the train called green energy transition, because every minute we waste, and we have already wasted too many of them, means jeopardizing our energy security and independence and slowing down economic development. Serbia has all the prerequisites and potential to be self-sufficient in electricity supply and to significantly improve gas supply security through diversification of suppliers and expansion and construction of new gas storage facilities.

Serbia has gender equality laws. Have you noticed any progress made in gender equality? Are there more women directors and company executives? Is the Serbian government going to be more involved in the labour market? — We have done a lot since forming the Gender Equality Coordination Body. The legal and strategic framework has been improved – starting with the umbrella Law on Gender Equality, amendments to the Law on Prohibition of Discrimination, the new Strategy

Through the implementation of the green agenda, we have the opportunity not only to change the energy mix, and the attitude towards energy and nature, but also to affirm women as active participants in the energy transition for Promoting Gender Equality to the Law on Prevention of Domestic Violence and the Strategy for Combating Gender-Based Violence. This is a prerequisite and basis for all further activities in this area. Serbia has also introduced gender-responsive budgeting, which is recognized worldwide as an example of good practice, and we are working on it systematically. We are the first non-EU country to have calculated the Gender Equality Index. However, there is still a lot of work ahead of us. First of all, we need to fight against gender stereotypes and prejudices that are the foundation of inequality and the unequal position of women in society. There is no reason not to have more women in management and decision-making positions, as well as not to be paid equally for the same work as men. Women have repeatedly shown that they are capable and successful leaders. Our task is to create conditions so that women and men can have equal opportunities to progress, im-

prove, work and live. When we realize that women's rights are human rights and that women have enormous potential, we will all be better off.

Women can also helm the development of the energy sector, based on green energy, and their voices should be heard. What can be done to encourage their leadership in that area? — The green energy transition is a kind of revolution in our relationship with both energy and the environment, which creates the opportunity for different participation of women in the energy sector. According to a survey conducted by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), women make up 32% of employees in the RES sector globally, which is less than equal participation, but higher than the average for the entire sector, where women participate with 22%. The great changes that the process of green energy transition implies are an opportunity to, in addition to working on greater energy security and a healthier environment, change the image of energy as a predominantly male sector, or a "male" business. Through the implementation of the green agenda, we have the opportunity not only to change the energy mix, and the attitude towards energy and nature but also to affirm women as active participants in the energy transition. This means, among other things, opening this sector for female entrepreneurs, managers and engineers, for women to have a better representation and visibility in the energy sector, to have more of them in decision-making places, and to have equal opportunities to use state funds which are at the disposal of citizens, primarily for boosting energy efficiency, but also for green energy. What will the relations between the United States and Serbia be like in the future? — When I think about the relations between Serbia and the USA, my mind pictures me going to Bruce Springsteen's concert in the Marakana stadium in Belgrade. I also picture BC Red Star and BC Partizan playing against Denver Nuggets, and Serbia being included in the Apple Store. I would like to see Broadway plays "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "Moulin Rouge" staged at the National Theatre in Belgrade, but also for America to meet Milica Vučković and read her book "Fatal Outcomes of Athletic Injuries". I would very much like to open a campus for Serbian students at one of the most prestigious American universities, but also a campus for the students from our region and the rest of Europe here, in the most beautiful part of Šumadija. Is this realistic? Well, we'll never know if we don't try, This is exactly how I see the cooperation between the United States and Serbia unfolding, which will also lead to concrete results in the economy and business development – the kind of cooperation that will help us better understand each other, will keep peace and protect each other.

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by ŽIKICA MILOŠEVIĆ

U.S.-Serbia Relationship to Prosper Like Never Before

Serbia “punches above its weight” in culture and sports!

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erbia and the United States were on opposing sides during the challenging 1990s, but over time they have achieved good cooperation and formed a friendship. Serbia has become one of the main economic partners of the United States in this part of the world, but also a respected political factor. We have talked with Philip Beekman, Counselor for Public Affairs of the US Embassy, about the bilateral ties between the two countries.

Over the last 21 years, the U.S. and Serbia have managed to transform their relations from adverse to friendly. What more can we do to enhance economic cooperation between the two countries? — The 1990s were a challenging time, but we have been working hard for many years to return our relationship to what it has been for the 140 years we have had bilateral relations – a positive and collaborative one. U.S.-Serbia economic relations are strong and getting ever stronger. We are working to help Serbia remove barriers to investment and supporting greater regional economic integration. By itself, Serbia is a relatively small market, but with its modern infrastructure, excellent

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PHILIP BEEKMAN Counselor for Public Affairs of the US Embassy

American companies are eager to invest in a stable country that is strongly connected – physically, economically, and in terms of values

geographic location, and highly educated workforce, Serbia has the potential to be the region’s economic leader and a hub for American businesses in the Balkans. American firms already employ well over 20,000 people in Serbia and have invested over $4 billion here. And more are investing every year. We were proud to welcome one of America’s largest food companies, Archer-Daniels-Midland, to Serbia with its recent investment in Sojaprotein, the region’s largest soy processing operation. And NCR – the world’s leader in enterprise technology for restaurants, retailers, and banks – opened its ultra-modern campus here last fall, a $100 million investment that employs 5,000.This is the kind of story we hope to see more and more of in the near future.

Are we going to see more American FDIs in Serbia and what should Serbia do to improve its economic environment to attract even more investors? — American companies are eager to invest in a stable country that is strongly connected – physically, economically, and in terms of values – with the rest of southeastern Europe and the massive market of the European Union. Continued reform in rule of law, judicial efficiency and transparency, as well as in environmental protection will all be strong incentives for additional investment from the United States and other Western countries. We are seeing strong growth in American investment here, not just from high-tech companies, but also agri-

business and even entertainment. Reversing brain drain and continuing to make tangible steps towards EU accession will be key to sustaining this investment growth in the long-term.

What can the two countries do to further improve their cultural cooperation? — There’s already a lot happening in this sector, despite all the complexities brought on by the pandemic. Hollywood studios are now spending millions here each year in partnership with Serbia’s film industry, a trend that was jump-started when USAID helped create the Serbian Film Commission a decade ago. We see regular cooperation between Serbian cultural organizations and festivals, featuring American artists. And, of course, the large and active Serbian diaspora in the United States means there is a wide range of informal cooperation. From the Embassy, we have rejuvenated our exchange programs, which send Serbian students, teachers, and professionals to the United States, and bring scholars, students, and experts to study and teach across Serbia. Since we restarted exchange programs 20 years ago, over 2,500 Serbians have participated. And our exchanges go in both directions: for example, we have Americans teaching English all across Serbia, from Subotica to Novi Pazar. We are eager to restart in-person programming at our eight American Corners in Serbia, where Serbians can work on improving their English, join a book club, improve

hausted as a result of the coronavirus pandemic? — One thing we are trying to do is to help bring new financial tools to Serbia to help its small and medium-size businesses to survive and thrive, even amid a pandemic and inflation. The Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and USAID have been working for many months with the Ministry of Finance to launch a new loan guarantee program to help provide financing to smaller businesses so that they can keep working in difficult times. We must also think about clean and secure energy for the future. I’m not an economist or a businessperson, but as someone who follows the news closely, I’d say that the United States has been sounding the alarm for months that a Russian invasion of Ukraine would cause serious economic consequences for Europe, including the Western Balkans, and for years that we all must focus more on energy security and energy independence. The United States has been help-

their leadership skills, or just enjoy an American film. The Embassy is also actively promoting university partnerships here to promote more cooperative research projects and student exchanges between Serbian and American universities

Americans are well acquainted with the Serbian athletes (like Jokić and Djoković) but how can they get better acquainted with Serbian musicians, writers and artists in general? American Corners have been doing a really good job in promoting American public figures in Serbia, but how can Serbia better present itself in front of Americans? How can the U.S. Embassy in Serbia help with that? — It's a big world! But Serbia certainly “punches above its weight” in terms of global cultural and sports sensations. Your Ambassador in Washington – along with the two “sports ambassadors” that you mentioned – are doing great work presenting Serbia in a positive light in the United States. When we host Americans here, whether it is for a year-long exchange or as an expert speaker visiting for just a few days, they always leave with a positive impression of Serbian hospitality and positive take on Serbia’s potential. There are a lot of great stories to share about Serbia and Serbian-American cooperation both here and in the U.S. The world is facing a new global political crisis caused by the war in Ukraine and the Russian invasion. What will be the US administration’s next steps in this matter? Can the USA and other countries help the two warring sides to reach a peace agreement? — President Biden, along with our friends and partners from nearly every European country and democracies around the world, continue to call for an immediate ceasefire and for Russia to withdraw its forces from Ukraine. Putin started this war, and it is now up to him to stop it. Everyone wants a peaceful resolution. A crisis caused by the rising inflation and soaring energy prices is looming now, as we are emerging out of an arduous two-year-long crisis induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. What is the U.S. going to do to mitigate the new crisis, which can give a serious blow to the economy that is already ex-

The 140 years of official relations between our countries has many more bright spots than both Americans and Serbians might realize

ing by supporting new LNG terminals, but also encouraging the use of green and renewable sources, such as wind, solar, and hydropower. Energy independence will not come overnight, but we must all work towards that long-term goal.

What can the U.S. administration do to help European countries, including Serbia, to alleviate the consequences of the sanctions against Russia? — We can continue to stand together to convince Putin to immediately end his illegal invasion, respect

international law, and allow people to live their lives in peace. The sanctions levied by the United States, the European Union, and many other democracies – including even by traditionally politically neutral countries, such as Switzerland – are urgent measures intended to help protect Ukraine by imposing costs on Putin and his close circle of oligarchs. Many Western businesses are also choosing to withdraw from the Russian market because of the risks of doing business in a country without the rule of law or any form of accountability or free press. In democracies with free and independent media environments, the public is aware of the true scale of Russia’s actions and are strongly unified in support of Ukraine.

The US Embassy has launched a high-profile campaign called ‘You Are the World’ whichaims to reconcile former enemies. How would you rate the campaign’s success thus far? — The campaign was intended to start a conversation, and we are pleased with the heightened public awareness brought to those featured in the campaign. I don’t think many people in Serbia were aware of people like Walt Bogdanich, for example, who is the top investigative news editor for one of the best newspapers in the world, The New York Times. It was also wonderful to see how the campaign helped bring greater recognition to David Vuich, the last surviving member of the “Serbian Apollo 7,” an amazing group of Serbian Americans who helped put a man on the moon. We were honored to see Mr. Vuich receive the Star of Karadjordje 50 years after the moon landing, just weeks after this segment was broadcast through the campaign. The 140 years of official relations between our countries has many more bright spots than both Americans and Serbians might realize. I hope this effort helps make both of our countries prouder of these relations. What will be the priorities of the new U.S. Ambassador’s agenda? — By the time this is printed, Ambassador Hill will likely have arrived, so I will let him speak to his priorities. However, I can say that at the Embassy we are excited to work with such an experienced diplomat and support his vision to grow our bilateral ties and see the U.S.-Serbia relationship prosper like never before.

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We are in an era of galloping development of digital connectivity. At the same time, this progress is accompanied by challenges on how to preserve the basic values of communication - from the way we communicate with each other to the broadest forms of professional, social and business spheres in public life C O R P O R AT E

he last decade has been marked by a pronounced phenomenon called oversaturation of the advertising market. This was significantly influenced by the emergence of "new media", i.e. a number of different platforms which can be used to run advertising campaigns. We had to arouse interest in otherwise disinterested listeners, readers and viewers who are all potential consumers. This is where we started to become aware that a trick advertisement and slogan are not enough, but that we had to exercise balance and have a refined sense of listening to the customer and feeling their pulse. The results were increased attention of the target groups and appropriate, close and creative communication, which does not provoke a negative reaction. Warmth and tangibility have become an important segment of visuals and messages. It is more important that a satisfied customer remains a loyal consumer throughout marketing campaigns. Marketing and the customer have an increasingly personal relationship. The future lies in the personalization of content. An individual algorithm created from personal preferences will change today's advertiser's thinking about the emotion that should "grab" consumers being the most important thing. Technology, however, will never defeat a human being as a living consumer and everything hinges on the idea, information and initiative. Aggressive, a one-way conversation between the brand and consumers died in the modern age. I deliberately used this metaphor to point out that marketing is no

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longer just an ad that "sticks" to consumers just like that. The new economic conscience has a big impact on purchasing decisions. Brands need to do much more to attract consumers. Now brands are under pressure to establish more humane and culturally relevant ways to engage audiences. In the current climate, the consumer is cynical. Although consumers seem gullible due to the extensive growth of digital, they are also more distrustful. That is why a brand has to have a humane and close approach to the consumer. It has to be an authentic reflection of what is its value and quality, or it will slip. The gist here is quite obvious - just tell me kindly and with care why is your product or service good for me. Long-standing experience in communications has shown me that now is a crucial time for the return of the core and meaning of communications. We are in an era of galloping development of digital connectivity. At the same time, this progress is accompanied by challenges on how to preserve the basic values of communication - from the way we communicate with each other to the broadest forms of professional, social and business spheres in public life. Experience tells me that we have to return to the culture of communication, be mindful of the essence of the content we exchange, as well as the accuracy of information and relevance and reputation of participants in communication, to communicate facts, to boost the value of true information and to be open. To be clear, we are watching a game in which lies more often beat the truth, and prosaic-

JASMINA STOJANOV Managing Director, Nova Communications

New technologies have already opened the door of the future, which will shape both marketing and communications

ness beats the essence. New technologies have already opened the door to the future, which will shape both marketing and communications. The biggest challenge is the accelerated development of the digital sphere, whereby new marketing and communications will be shaped by the development of artificial intelligence. Television is not 'the old lady to write it off too soon. The entire digital sphere and television will remain the strongest platforms. The main trend will be the personalization of content for different groups of consumers and establishing a personal relationship between buyer and seller through marketing. Focusing on the client, creating a deeper relationship with the client with an emphasis on quality and results, successful sales of new business opportunities with the use of new tools, market-oriented campaign management and understanding of the business environment - all this will go into creating a strategy for the client. The most important thing for us is that our client has strong trust in us to the extent that they agree to change their vision of when, how and where the advertisement should be placed, when we, as experts with experience in monitoring market trends, tell the client where and when the advertisement will have the best visibility and who are the best target groups for the campaign. The client of Nova Communications must get the best value for their money. Our clients put their bona fide trust in us that we are going to manage their capital properly and we have always done that well.

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AMERICA

by RUŽA VELJOVIĆ

Substantial Growth of Economic Activity

Improving the work of the judiciary, promoting the rule of law, reducing corruption, accelerating digital transformation and more efficient public administration, as well as cooperation between public and private health care, are still key to economic recovery in 2022

I N T E RV I E W

s a representative of some of the largest and most influential foreign and local enterprises in the country, AmCham Serbia possesses the capacity to serve as a powerful agent of change in Serbia's process of economic development. Stefan Lazarević, novi predsednik AmCham Srbija, govorio je o svojim prioritetima na čelu organizacije, oporavku nakon pandemije, izazovima, ali i o ulozi Srbije u regionu kada su u pitanju američke investicije.

You have been recently elected President of AmCham Serbia. What will be your priorities in the coming period in terms of AmCham's activities? — AmCham will remain consistent in its intention to support American and other investors in Serbia, as well as in supporting the Government in conducting reforms and creating a predictable, stable and attractive business environment. As a constructive partner, we will try to be a part of every conversation about improving the economic environment, as well as other top-

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ics related to attracting investments and adhering to the highest standards in all spheres of business. We will certainly get involved in boosting regional initiatives, such as the Open Balkans Initiative. Although it currently includes only Serbia, Albania and Nort Macedonia, this initiative is inevitably a big step towards EU membership. It implies free movement of people, goods and services, and in a concrete everyday sense, it facilitates life and work for all of us in the region through e.g. mobility of employees, shorter retention of goods at borders, but also through deeper cooperation of companies in doing business in larger markets. Our 10 committees will continue to carry on their activities. Through the work of these committees, we share best practices and define concrete initiatives, as well as projects such as AmChamps, which we are especially proud of because it is an important resource for new young future leaders.

If the last year was all about fighting COVID, 2022 will be the year

STEFAN LAZAREVIĆ President of AmCham

Our 10 committees will continue to carry on their activities. Through the work of these committees, we share best practices and define concrete initiatives, as well as projects such as AmChamps

of recovery, according to the latest forecasts. What expectations do the companies that are members of AmCham have for 2022? — Despite the pandemic, Serbia recorded a significant increase in economic activity in 2021. Higher employment and wage growth were also recorded, while the state maintained the stability of public finances and received more foreign direct investments, with a noticeable global rise in inflation, which of course, did not bypass Serbia either. Based on research done before the Ukrainian crisis, business sector's plans for growth are more positive compared to the previous year. As many as seven out of ten members of the American Chamber of Commerce expect an increase in the volume of their business and investments this year, while over half are planning hiring new people. Compared to the previous results, expectations regarding business growth are higher and reflect the plans for 2018 and 2019, but still slightly below the plans for 2020. We are now analyzing the effects and consequences of the Ukraini-

an crisis, as well as the way in which it will reflect the previously set expectations. Improving the work of the judiciary, promoting the rule of law, reducing corruption, accelerating digital transformation and more efficient public administration, as well as cooperation between public and private health care, are still key to economic recovery in 2022. We will continue to cooperate with the Serbian Government on all these demanding reforms, and I believe that we will soon see tangible results of this cooperation.

What are the most important conclusions of the research that you presented at the end of last year? What are your members' expectations this year? — Over two-thirds of AmCham's members rate the business climate as moderately favourable. As an investment destination, Serbia is better rated than Montenegro, Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, but worse than the neighbouring countries that are members of the European Union. As in the previous two years, according to AmCham members, institutional reforms are still the most important, that is improving the work of the judiciary, promoting the rule of law and reducing corruption. As a third priority, AmCham members mentioned the further development of eGovernment (which development so far has been favourably assessed) and further efforts to improve the efficiency of public administration. Compared to the previous two years, a more transparent and efficient public procurement system stands out as a slightly more important priority. As for the budget spending required for long-term growth, as in previous years, AmCham members give priority to investments in education. Compared to previous years, the need to invest in the environmental protection continues to be especially important, as do investments in health care, during the pandemic. In terms of micro and small enterprises that are not members of AmCham, the priorities largely coincide, but further efforts to reduce the shadow economy and unfair competition are important to them. What do you think will be the biggest challenges this year for both AmCham as an organization and its member companies?

— Our economy has grown significantly in the past year, but apart from the effects of the pandemic that are unavoidalbe, AmCham members see the availability of workforce, institutional reforms, inflation, rising energy prices and supply chain issues as challenges. In addition to this, we are closely monitoring the situation in Ukraine, which we believe will have an impact on the global economy, and then in the region and Serbia. We did a survey on the impact of the Ukrainian crisis among members, to be up to date with challenges and react in a timely manner, but

for the past three decades. What role does Serbia play in the region in terms of American investments? In which segments can our two countries improve their cooperation? — The partnership between the United States and Serbia has been lasting for more than 140 years, and bilateral support for Serbia on its way to the EU membership has had a positive effect on attracting foreign investments. American companies have so far invested over 4 billion euros in Serbia and currently employ more than 22,000 people. It is noticea-

it is still early to talk about the exact consequences, because estimates change daily. At the same time, we have a lot of work to do regarding the green agenda and climate change. The good news is that a large number of international companies from Western countries which operate in Serbia are already applying the best European and world practices, and this transfer of knowledge and experience will be of key importance for our rapid progress in this field.

ble that the number of American investments in our country is growing year on year, and that American companies in our country feel good and are doing a very good job of further promoting Serbia as an investment destination. Serbia is the largest country in the region, which naturally has the largest influx of foreign investments. The arrival of American investors in the service and production sector is encouraging, despite the impact that the crisis has had on the volume of investments in the region and beyond. We believe that in the period ahead, there will be plenty of good reasons to talk about them.

The Western Balkans has been the focus of continued US engagement, investments and support

As for the budget spending required for longterm growth, as in previous years, AmCham members give priority to investments in education

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AMERICA

Highest Investments in Telecommunications

In cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, the Development Agency of Serbia plans to organize the participation of domestic companies at the PLMA CHICAGO Fair in Chicago, the USA, from 13th to 15th November

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ccording to the data collated by the National Statistics Office, in 2020, Serbia exported goods worth 321.8 million euros to the United States (an increase of 18.7% compared to 2019). In the same period, imports from the United States amounted to 390.2 million euros (down 20.6% compared to 2019). The data from the same source shows that Serbia exported goods worth 435.9 million euros to the United States (an increase of 35.5% compared to the same period last year) in 2021. In the same period, imports from the USA amounted to 408.7 million euros (an increase of 4.7% relative to the same period last year). The total trade between the USA and Serbia amounted to 996.299 million in 2021, while in 2012, it stood at 412.861 million US dollars, a difference of over half a billion. Exports in 2012 amounted to 96.749 million US dollars, while in 2021, the exports were 512.915 million US dollars. In contrast, in 2012,

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The data from the same source shows that Serbia exported goods worth 435.9 million euros to the United States (an increase of 35.5% compared to the same period last year) in 2021

Serbia imported goods worth 316.112 million US dollars from the US, while in 2021, the figure was 483.384 million. It is obvious from these figures that Serbia has exported more to America than it imported. Record-breaking imports, worth 551.191 million US dollars, were achieved in 2019. The countries to which Serbia exported the most in 2021 were Germany, Italy and Bosnia and Herzegovina, while the United States is in 18th place, while in the same year Serbia mostly imported from Germany, China and Italy, with the US occupying 20th place on the list of the countries that Serbia imported from the most. In cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, the Development Agency of Serbia (RAS) had a plan to organize the participation of domestic companies in some of the trade fairs in the US. Domestic food companies were supposed to present their products in Serbia’s booth at the PLMA CHICAGO private label fair. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fair was cancelled both in 2020 and 2021. This year, again in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, the Development Agency of Serbia plans to help Serbian companies to take part in the PLMA CHICAGO Fair in Chicago, the USA, which takes place from 13th to 15th November. Starting in 2010 and ending in the third quarter of 2021, the US residents made investments in the Republic of Serbia in the amount of 641 million euros, which puts the United States 14th on the list of countries that were the largest investors in Serbia in that period.

II THE BIGGEST INVESTMENTS OF AMERICAN COMPANIES IN SERBIA - RAS INVESTMENT DATABASE

The Development Agency of Serbia (RAS) generates its records according to the country of origin of the company that invested, based on the Agency’s survey on foreign direct investments (FDI) by companies and the investment reports of the companies themselves. Due to the lack of legislation on companies' reporting about their investments, the following data can only be taken as indicative values. In this regard, and for the reasons stated, RAS records do not include investments of all companies, as well as all investments by individual companies. The following American companies made the biggest investments in Serbia - Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) in the field of telecommunications, Philip Morris Operations in the tobacco industry and Molson Coors, a Canadian-American food and beverage corporation, followed by PepsiCo and Coca-Cola. EBV Elektronik, a semi-conductor distribution company, occupies the last 28th place. Note: Due to the lack of official data on the amount of investments by individual companies, these data were obtained based on research conducted by RAS and include both implemented and ongoing investments, as well as planned investments in the past few years. Also, the RAS records do not include infrastructure investments, but only investments in production activities and services. Although RAS strives to provide as accurate information on investments as possible, the Agency does not accept responsibility for inaccurate or incomplete data.

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We Are Not Just a Hotel, We Are a Destination

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Viceroy Kopaonik could become a venue of choice for business events and private celebrations this spring C O R P O R AT E

arko Korica, G eneral Manager of the Viceroy Kopaonik Serbia Hotel, the first 5-star mountain resort, summarises the results and future plans after the brand has had its first successful winter season.

You were a part of the hotel’s management from the moment the Viceroy Kopaonik Serbia Hotel was opened. How would you summarize the past winter season at the most famous Serbian ski resort? — Bearing in mind this was our first winter season since the opening last June, we are very satisfied with the number of domestic and foreign guests, who came from different parts of Europe. Nature blessed us with an abundance of snow, while we took care of the rest, aiming to provide a new dimension of unparalleled experiences at the Silver Mountain. Guests could start a unique gastro journey in one of our three restaurants, relax in the only full-service luxury spa at Kopaonik, or just enjoy in their spacious rooms and suites with a jaw-dropping view on recognizable Kopaonik’s sceneries. The first winter season was surely a great success but a lesson learned that made us ready for the upcoming spring visits for which we strongly worked to make it unforgettable for our guests. The Viceroy brand’s first winter resort is located in Aspen, Colorado. Do you cooperate with them? Did you maybe exchange experiences which were helpful to you in some ways? — Surrounded by some of the America’s greatest skiing peaks, Vice-

roy Snowmass luxury resort in Aspen shares many similarities with Viceroy Kopaonik, which is a second brand’s winter destination, and at the same time, the first in Europe. Their hotel management team had many valuable insights to share and they have been very supportive in general. Our corporate and marketing teams had liaised and exchanged ideas. We have also done cross-promotion with the Snowmass on key cards and in all Viceroy brand journals.

The hotel is also the first 5-star ski-in, ski-out resort in Serbia. Do you cooperate with local organizations and how does that improve the destination’s offer in general? — We are not just a hotel, we are a destination, so we must work together with the neighbouring hotels to level up the game. Also, we need to make sure we are working with the local officials to overcome many infrastructural challenges and to create more sustainable future for our mountain. In this regard, we have had a strong cooperation with the Kopaonik National Park from the very beginning. Last year, we launched “For the love of the forest”, as a part of mutual effort to increase reforestation and biodiversity on the sunny mountain (as the Kopaonik is affectionately called). In order to make the mountain environment more eco-friendly, we are planning to place bins in front of ski park, as just one of the eco-activities we are going to focus on. What kind of challenges have you faced so far and what are the reactions and impressions of the Vice-

MARKO KORICA GM of the Viceroy Kopaonik Serbia Hotel

I am proud of the whole team and the fact we closed the first winter season with a great success

roy Kopaonik resort’s visitors and guests so far? — At a time when many hospitality brands were minimizing their assets, Viceroy doubled down the investment in the travel industry. During those uncertain times affecting everyone, we took our time to finalize the work, paying greatest respect to health and safety of our employees and guests. We successfully overcame all of them so we are becoming a finely tuned team I believe our guests can certify as well. Among other things, our intuitive service and authentic design have received many of their praises. During the winter season, they were also happy to enjoy our culinary diversity and special packages for all types of travellers during winter holidays. What are the results you're most proud of and what are the plans fo r t h e sp r i n g a n d s u m m e r season? — I am proud of the whole team and the fact we closed the first winter season with a great success. The latest gem we are proud of is the recently opened Peroko restaurant, which brought premium tastes of Asian cuisine to Kopaonik’s menu for the very first time. Indeed, we are a ski resort with an all-season appeal. In the upcoming period, we will focus our efforts on attracting visitors from all around. With our food and beverage offer and flexible conference halls, Viceroy Kopaonik could also become a venue of choice for business events and private celebrations this spring. To all our new and regular visitors, we can promise a contemporary luxury blended in natural beauty and boundless adventures in the heart of the National Park.

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AMERICA

Top of the Tops The biggest, the most deregulated and the best business environment

ECONOM Y

hey say that the secret to the success of the American economy is the ability to adapt and be a leader. Also, private initiative is the "king" of this economy - anyone with a business idea can climb to the top of the corporate, but also disappear from it. Startups are numerous, and the business environment is deregulated, while according to statistics, being the best in the world for investments. Somebody has said that one of the American business "secrets" lies in the non-egalitarian spirit, otherwise typical of Europeans. Bono Vox, the legendary singer of the Irish band U2, once explained the Irish and American spirit to Americans. Although a large percentage of Americans are of Irish descent, and the language in both countries is the same, when an American sees a mansion on a hill, they will enthusiastically say: "One day, I'm gonna be like him!". The Irishman will grit his teeth and say: "One day, I'm gonna get him!" Either way, the United States is the wealthiest, most powerful, and most influential country on the planet Earth. Its nominal GDP, estimated at more than $ 20.5 trillion in July 2019, represents approximately 1/4 of the world’s nominal GDP. Only when we compare the EU's GDP with the US or China's GDP, with more than a billion people, then we can notice the frighteningly huge outlines of the American

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economy. GDP at purchasing power parity in the United States represents 1/5 of world GDP at PPP. In return, the United States maintains a high level of production and GDP per capita (PPP) of about $53,042, which is the seventh-largest in the world, making the United States, in these circumstances, one of the richest nations in the world. They are also the largest industrial producer in the world and the largest trading country in the world, with China as its main trading partner, as are its neighbours – Canada and Mexico - with which the US forms an economic union. The United States economy has its currency, the US dollar, and the language, English, a means of trade and communication references around the world, which are two huge advantages. The United States is a mixed-type capitalist economy that has managed to maintain a stable growth rate of global GDP, moderate unemployment, and a high level of research and capital investment. It is, not counting the colonial empires, the world's largest national economy since the 1890s. Currently, most of the economy is based on the service sector, but unlike most post-industrial countries, it still maintains an important and competitive industrial sector, specializing in high technology and leading sectors, which accounts for 20% of global manufacturing output. That is another secret of American robustness.

The United States economy has its currency, the US dollar, and the language, English, a means of trade and communication references around the world, which are two huge advantages

Of the world's 500 largest companies, 133 are based in the United States, twice as many as any other country in the world. The US labour market has attracted immigrants from all over the world and its net migration rate is among the highest in the world. The country has the highest number of business facilities and is ranked 4th in the Global Competitiveness Index. Its powerful currency, the US dollar, accounts for 60% of the world's reserves, while the Euro accounts for 24%. The US has the largest financial market and it has one of the main roles in influencing international economic and political decisions. The value of foreign investment in the US was estimated at $ 2.4 trillion in 2011, which puts the country in the first place. The US investments abroad amount to 3.3 trillion dollars. America has been the leading agricultural power for 150 years - they are the largest producer of soybeans and corn. The US is no longer the largest manufacturer of motor vehicles (they are currently 2nd), but they have conquered the world with their cars. They infected us with perfected versions of other people's and their own inventions shopping malls, movies, the Internet and the media and have Americanized the whole planet. Simply, beginning with the former 13 disobedient colonies, they worked hard and expanded their country. In the end, they settled on top of the world’s economy. What a journey!

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AMERICA

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A Decade of Outsourcing Excellence

As a Knowledge Processing Outsourcing (KPO) company, OIP is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona with processing centers in Belgrade and Nis, Serbia. Their expertise lies in the insurance industry, particularly in the Excess and Surplus lines segment

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utsource Insurance Professionals is a company founded in 2012 by a Serbian-American couple, Alex and Bevin Beatovic. Having the perfect compound of corporate and entrepreneurial knowledge and experience, they’ve decided to up the ante by starting a company of their own. The main principle that’s been deeply rooted within their business philosophy, and is now one of the main principles embedded in OIP’s culture, is growing the people who will grow the business. What started as a home office of five employees is now a company with more than 500 employees. As a Knowledge Processing Outsourcing (KPO) company, OIP is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona with processing centers in Belgrade and Niš, Serbia. Their expertise lies in the insurance industry, particularly in the Excess and Surplus lines segment. To lead by example is easy to say but much harder to practice. Who epitomes this phrase, as not so quietly confirmed by a number of OIP members, is Martina Seferović, one of the first employees and now the Managing Director. Something she’s often found "guilty" of is connecting Serbian, US, UK and Canadian cultures, ensuring there’s a tailored

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We’re extremely proud of the relationships we’ve built within the community and industry, and incredibly grateful to have employed some of the best and brightest talent in Serbia

approach to meeting each clients’ needs. Her strategic initiatives and ability to inspire OIP team members by creating a receptive culture of excellence is often underlined as a recipe for success. Equal opportunity within OIP is prevalent as all employees start their careers in the American Insurance Academy, a company-sponsored education program. After learning the foundation of American insurance, everyone is given a proverbial ladder to climb. Proof that hard work and dedication are rewarded at OIP is Mina Jovanović, Senior Director of Operations. Joining the company fresh from college in 2013, she grew along with the company. When OIP opened their second Serbian office in Niš, Mina spearheaded the company's expansion, setting a solid base for future growth. Today, OIP employs more than 500 people and competes in the global market of outsourcing service providers. What differentiates them is the knowledge and expertise that comes from 30+ years of insurance experience. The new generation of insurance professionals received their training directly from the company’s founder, Bevin Beatovic. One of the top

students, Snežana Obradović, Director of Finance and Compliance, is a gatekeeper of the high-quality standards on which OIP prides itself. With an amazing eye for detail and a champion of overcoming challenges, Snezana was selected to be on Forbes Financial Council, furthering her contribution to supporting company growth. OIP’s values are best reflected through vast charity activities and contributions, not only at the company level but the individuals as well. They have established great relationships with several organizations, consistently giving back to the community. Some of their charitable partners are Osmeh na Dar, Džedajski Pokret, NURDOR, BelHospice, etc. Last year alone, OIP donated dozens of desktop computers to Svetozar Marković Elementary School in Rekovac, along with 500+ New Year’s gifts for children in need across Serbia. This year marks a decade of OIP’s success. “We’re extremely proud of the relationships we’ve built within the community and industry, and incredibly grateful to have employed some of the best and brightest talent in Serbia,” owners Bevin and Alex Beatovic shared.

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AMERICA

by MOMČILO MIRIĆ, CEO at TIM Co. CLICK ON ICON 

Revolution in Mammography Aside from recognized and proved quality, what for decades distinguished Hologic from other manufacturers was their dedication to a cause, their focus. They were always eager to learn more from the professionals, both radiologists and technicians, how they could improve the device verybody knows what mammography is, but few people will tell you what is Tomosynthesis. Mr. Momčilo Mirić is the CEO of TIM Co. a company that more than 20 years is introducing new technologies into the regional health systems. Being a representative of the most recognized promoter and protector of Woman’s Health, dedicated medical equipment manufac-

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turer HOLOGIC, Inc., based in the U.S., TIM Co. had an easy task to just “spread the word”. HOLOGIC is a global leader in early breast cancer detection, osteoporosis and cervical cancer screening equipment, being the inventor of a series of new solutions and improvements continuum of both equipment features, diagnostics and treatment protocols. Hologic’s Science of Sure reflects a leading

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In the U.S. they have nearly 9.000 facilities with mammography units. MQSA is an organization that takes care of the Quality Control of all those centers where mammography takes place

innovator in women’s health, helping healthcare professionals around the world. Hologic’s innovations are designed to achieve exceptional clinical results, making it possible to detect, diagnose and treat illnesses. “What exactly made Hologic a mammograph of choice throughout the world, and especially here in Serbia. As I recently learned, Hologic takes around 70% of all mammography units in the Republic? It is simply a better mammogram. Marina Dwight Smith, Director of Mammography Quality at Parkview Health, Indiana said: “The Genius® 3D™ exam is a game-changer. It has allowed the radiologist to see things they’ve not seen before.” Aside from recognized and proven quality, what distinguished Hologic from other manufacturers for decades was their dedication to a cause, their focus. They were always eager to learn more from the professionals, both radiologists and technicians, about how they could improve the device. Their R&D department was constantly in communication with end-users. That specific relation iteratively brought many patents to life.

One of their most prestige inventions was a 3D mammography – tomosynthesis. Namely, for 40 years mammograms were of the same technology, with limited diagnostic quality. But, they were the only weapon against the hidden breast cancer – the so-called “gold standard”. The fact that, when making a mammogram, the technician projects breast volume (with all details in it) to a 2D image, was the main reason for relatively low specificity and sensitivity, as breast tissue was overlapping on the image. Overlapping tissue was either hiding small cancers, generating results known as a “false negative”, or even simulating shapes like cancer lesions, generating “false positive” findings. Such 2D mammograms we call conventional mammograms, regardless they are analog, digitized, or digital. The main idea was to eliminate the overlapping problem and to raise specificity and sensitivity. It was perfectly done with the X-ray tube rotating at a small angle taking images during rotation. That way the unit was generating 15 projections that all were processed in the powerful computer and, as a result, the radiologist could read perfect slices of only 1mm thickness. It was very similar to a medical CT scanner. Now, small cancer literally has no place to hide, as small cancer is considered, say, less than 10mm. The beauty of tomosynthesis technology is the fact that radiologist has the opportunity to look at each tiny slice of the breast, one by one, having no chance to miss cancer. It is like you are reading a book. And why it is important? Our goal is to save lives. Tomo-mamograms let doctors see more, so they could catch cancer at its earliest and most treatable stage. Early detection is the key. The smaller the discovered cancer is – the greater chances for the patient to be cured. It is considered that if cancer is discovered early enough, there is an over 95% chance of the patient surviving. At the same time, small cancer is not palpable, making it difficult to be discovered, but also difficult to be treated. But, with tomosynthesis, most of the very small cancers are easily discovered. In the U.S. they have nearly 9.000 facilities with mammography units. MQSA is an organization that takes care of the Quality Control of all those centers where mammography takes place. At the onset of Hologic tomosynthesis, all were using

conventional mammography units. Within the first year of commercially available 3D mammography, over 30% of facilities ultimately changed their equipment to Hologic tomosynthesis. The first competition device (GE) came only three years later. Nowadays, we are proud to say that all mammography devices manufacturers have their model of mammography unit with tomosynthesis. In the year 2005, on October the first, Hologic CEO, Mr. Jack Cummings was the first one to loud ring a bell, signaling the opening of the NASDAQ day’s trading. Each year, on the first of October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Hologic is opening NASDAQ. The iconic bell-ringing ceremony at Nasdaq MarketSite became a tradition that additionally raises breast cancer awareness.

HOLOGIC mammography devices were the first to be used in many clinical trials throughout the world. And the results were revolutionary! Radiologists were eager to evaluate this new equipment in clinical trials, and many started simultaneously trying to understand the real benefits of the new technology. Soon first results started popping out from new clinical trials. The trials were organized in Norway, already well known for highly organized breast cancer screening, in Italy, the U.K., Spain, in the U.S., one by one with more and more women involved and participating in the studies. Most studies were screening clinical trials where the goal was a comparison between 2D and 3D mammography. By the end of 2008, the first generation of digital mammography with tomosynthesis was available

In the year 2017, Hologic commercialized the new, secondgeneration tomosynthesis mamo devices. A completely new advanced digital detector was applied, with a new, better resolution

on the market, already in 2013, we had the first peer review results. It was confirmed that new mammography with tomosynthesis discovers 42% of small, invasive cancers more than conventional 2D mammography. At the same time, all studies showed a fall in the Recall Rate. Recall Rate is an important factor that defines the quality of a breast cancer screening. It is a number of women called again, after mammography, to perform additional investigational procedures, like ultrasound, or magnetic resonance (MRI), as by reading a mammogram, the radiologist couldn’t be conclusive about the suspected lesion, spotted on the screening mammogram. The lower this number is – the better the screening is. So, in most of the studies, the Recall Rate was even 40% lower. In the year 2017, Hologic commercialized the new, second-generation tomosynthesis mamo devices. A completely new advanced digital detector was applied, with a new, better resolution. For the first time, the resolution of the fullfield digital mammography (FFDM) with a pixel size of 70 microns was matched with the tomosynthesis mammogram. Simultaneously, Hologic additionally improved the simplicity of work for the technician, and highly improved the comfort of the patient. As the Clinical Studies were performed further, many of them went to a second phase with the new equipment, and expectedly, considerably new improvements showed better results. The newly diagnosed small, invasive, breast cancer was discovered for 65% more than on a 2D mammography, and the Recall Rate was kept on the same level, with No Compromise, and No Comparison! At the end of 2019, Hologic had more than 200 clinical trials, over 40 of them in breast cancer screening, with over two million (2.000.000) women participating in the studies worldwide, counting over 1.75 million only in the screening studies. These were stunning revolutionary results that led to the absolute supremacy of Hologic early breast cancer detection equipment. So, we can say nowadays that Hologic is the only company with clinically approved technology. Unfortunately, the competition failed to reach these results. There are three words defining the Hologic strive: Purpose, Passion, Promise.

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AMERICA

T R A DI T ION

Super Bowl Sunday 18

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The television network carrying the game (either CBS, Fox, ABC, or NBC) will usually devote the entire day's programming schedule to the game, with extended pregame shows, NFL Films retrospectives of the previous season, and special versions of the Sunday morning talk shows in the morning and afternoon hours leading into the game

uper Bowl Sunday, officially Super Sunday in the NFL, is the day on which the Super Bowl, the National Football League (NFL)'s annual championship game, is played. Although considered an unofficial national holiday, every other week in February (previously the first week) a celebration takes place with groups of people, usually family or friends, gathering in one place to watch the game. This group also includes people who are not otherwise football fans. More and more people are watching the game from home, although in the past and throughout history, people gathered much more in bars to watch the game. More people watching the game from home is result of TV screens getting bigger in America and Canada. Also, it is more comfortable and saves money. On the day of the Super Bowl and due to its huge popularity, stores and markets are almost empty, especially in those parts of the country from which one of the Super Bowl teams comes. As a result, water consumption in homes goes down, while the only time that water consumption considerably goes up is during halftime and after the game. Additionally, churches sometimes cancel afternoon or evening services on Super Sunday, hold football-themed charity drives, or deliver sermons designed to appeal to male members of the congregation. Both "Super Sunday" and "Super Bowl Sunday" are registered trademarks of the National Football League.

The Lombardi Trophy, given to the Super Bowl winners, weighs 3,175 kilograms or 7 pounds and costs $50,000

The presumption is that Super Bowl causes a drop in work productivity on Monday after. Hence, the NFL officials have suggested the Super Bowl weekend to last three days so that football fans could properly celebrate. The television network carrying the game (either CBS, Fox, ABC, or NBC) will usually devote the entire day's programming schedule to the game, with extended pregame shows, NFL Films retrospectives of the previous season, and special versions of the Sunday morning talk shows in the morning and afternoon hours leading into the game. Tom Brady, a Tampa Bay Buccaneers player, is probably the most famous face of the Super Bowl ever. Brady started his career in 2000, in the New England Patriots, for which he played until 2019 before moving to Tampa Bay. He won the NFL

league with the Patriots many times, as well as his 7th record-breaking title with the Buccaneers. Also, Brady won the Super Bowl MVP title five times and is considered the best quarterback of all time. In February 2022, he announced his retirement. Even the Serbian NFL fans were disappointed with his decision. However, he changed his mind and announced on his social media profile that he would not be retiring as he had some "unfinished business" to do. The New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers won the highest number of Super Bowls, six each. On the other hand, the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars have never played in Super Bowl, while the Patriots played 11 times. The Super Bowl winning team members all receive $150,000 for the victory this year. The losers receive $75,000. Adding to those amounts for previous playoff wins that each player received ($65,000 for conference championship game, $42,500 for divisional round and $42,500 for wild card round). Only a Super Bowl ring costs a minimum of $35,000. The most expensive ring belongs to the Patriots who won Super Bowl XLIX. New England owner Bob Kraft doled out $36,500 per ring. Each franchise pays for 150 Super Bowl rings with help from the league ($5 million). Tom Brady owns seven Super Bowl rings with a total value of $2,414,489. The Lombardi Trophy, given to Super Bowl winners, weighs 3,175 kilograms or 7 pounds and costs $50,000. Large amounts of food and alcohol are consumed on Super Sunday. The event is the second-largest food consumption event in the United States, behind only Thanksgiving dinner, and some police departments have noticed a dramatic increase in drunk driving on Super Sunday. Super Sunday food is usually served buffet style, rather than as a sit-down meal. Foods traditionally eaten on Super Sunday include Buffalo wings, chili, baby back ribs, dipping sauces, pizza, and potato chips. Many pizza delivery businesses see their order numbers double as roughly 60 percent of the take out ordered on Super Sunday is pizza. Roughly 28 million pounds (13,000 t) of chips, 1.25 billion chicken wings, and 8 million pounds (3,600 t) of guacamole are consumed during Super Sunday.

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AMERICA

A Lone Rider Walks Into a Town

The golden age of western films is determined by the work of two directors: John Ford, with John Wayne as the main star of Ford’s films with the two first collaborating on the iconic film called Stagecoach, and Howard Hawks, who made movies like Rio Bravo, Red River and El Dorado ide-brimmed hats, spurs on boots, a Colt tucked in the belt and scarves around necks are just some of the clothes that cowboys, heroes of western movies, wore. They are known for their honour and desire for justice and often revenge. Apart from the said cowboys,

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Indians are, of course, the indispensable characters of every western movie - the Navajo, Apaches, Sioux and many other tribes were infamously depicted in this film genre. The Indians are often accompanied by Mexicans (the Comancheros) and even gangs composed of lawbreakers who would usually cause

C U LT U R E

‘The Great Train Robbery’ from 1903 was the first western ever, a silent film directed by Edwin S. Porter with Broncho Billy Anderson in the lead role

trouble to local sheriffs. Western films often depicted certain historical figures, be it generals of the American army or a bandit who gained notoriety for their transgressions. Although western is best known as a film genre, it can be found in literature as well as in comics. When Stanley Kubrick (the director of ‘2001: A Space Odyssey and ‘The Shining’) asked Sergio Leone, best known for his Dollars trilogy (‘For a Handful of Dollars’ from 1964, ‘For a Few Dollars More’ from 1965 and ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly’ from 1966), how he had managed to achieve such a strong impact with the soundtrack and images in his film ‘Once Upon a Time in The West, Leone replied that he had written music first. So it would be worthwhile to start with music as an important segment of western films. The name that is most associated with the Western genre of music and film music, in general, is the recently deceased composer Ennio Morricone. He has composed and edited scores for over 500 film and television productions and has the longest collaboration with direc-

tors Sergio Leone, Brian De Palma, Barry Levison and Giuseppe Tornatore, for whose film ‘Cinema Paradiso’ he composed one of the most beautiful soundtracks. Still, even people who have never watched a western movie can recognize the fantastic soundtrack from Leone’s ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly’. He received the Academy’s Honorary Award in 2007, and in 2016, after collaborating with Quentin Tarantino on his western debut ‘The Hateful Eight’, he won an Oscar for the Best Original Score. Music is an indispensable part of every film, but a quality western and a showdown between sheriffs and bandits, as well as the gallop of Indian horses through the prairie, cannot be imagined without it. And thus, locations are the next essential part of every film dedicated to the Wild West. Usually these include pueblos/forts, mostly military ones in which the troops advancing further to the West are accommodated, then Indian tribes gathered around their wigwams and campfires, and crowds of ordinary working Joes, sitting in smokefilled saloons, gathered around the piano under the watchful eye of sheriff and a ranger. In some westerns, those that are usually poor-

ly developed, a female character might pop up, mostly causing trouble. Western films mostly take place in the south of the USA, but depending on the event, there are westerns whose characters move around other parts of America as well. Early westerns were mostly shot in studios, just like old Hollywood movies, but when on-site filming became commonplace in the 1930s, western film producers used remote locations in New Mexico, California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Kansas, Texas, Colorado and Wyoming. Although many westerns were filmed in California and Arizona, most of the action was set in Texas. Productions were also filmed at locations on film ranches. ‘The Great Train Robbery’ from 1903 was the first western ever, a silent film directed by Edwin S. Porter with Broncho Billy Anderson in the lead role. The film's popularity opened the door for Anderson to become the first Cowboy movie star, and he proceeded to make several hundred short western films. The golden age of western films is determined by the work of two directors: John Ford, with John Wayne as the main star of Ford’s films with the two first collaborating on the iconic film called Stagecoach, and Howard Hawks, who made movies like Rio Bravo, Red River and El Dorado. During the 1960s and 1970s, the western film genre experienced a revival with the so-called "spaghetti

Western films mostly take place in the south of the USA

westerns" or "Italian westerns" that took place in Italy. Many of these films were low-budget productions, shot at a location chosen because of the low crew and production costs as well as the similarities with the landscapes of the southwestern United States. There was more action and violence in the spaghetti westerns than in the Hollywood ones. Sergio Leone's films have a hint of parody that gives them a different tone to Hollywood westerns. Charles Bronson, Lee Van Cleef and Clint Eastwood became famous thanks to their performances in spaghetti westerns, although they also served as a detour for famous actors such as Jason Robards, James Coburn, Klaus Kinski and Henry Fonda. Although the golden age of westerns is long gone, many contemporary directors are returning to this genre, such as Kevin Costner, who directed the famous ‘Dances with Wolves’ in 1990 and won many Academy Awards, and Quentin Tarantino. There are also remakes intended for younger audiences and done with better technology. The future of the western genre is uncertain because, at one point, audiences were too spoiled for choice, but it would be nice if the genre continues to live, so instead, our leading characters riding into the sunset, they should rather continue to gallop across the film prairies.

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AMERICA

TOURISM

A Century and a Half in a Single Monument

The works started on October 4, 1927. Using dynamite and drills, about 400 workers started making something that would become a national monument or a monument of national importance years later, just as it had been conceived 22

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he first 150 years of the United States of America are represented in one monument. Symbolizing the different p erio ds and achievements of the carved presidential figures, the Mount Rushmore National Memorial is today one of the biggest tourist attractions in America. When, in 1923, the Secretary of the South Dakota State Historical Society, Jonah Doane Robinson, had a wish to attract more tourists to the country, he never dreamed that almost 100 years later, three million people a year would walk in front of a monument that was his idea. That monument in question is Mount Rushmore. The works started on October 4, 1927. Using dynamite and drills, about 400 workers started making something that would become a national monument or a monument of national importance

years later, just as it had been conceived. At first, historian Robinson wanted to carve out Western heroes like Lewis and Clark, but the idea was soon abandoned. The American sculptor of Danish origin, Gutzon Borglum, was the person who conceived what the monument would look like in the end. Unlike Robinson, Borglum wanted to do something more significant than Western heroes, but also have the monument on the mountain rather than on the nearby rocks. The rocks, known as The Needles, were too narrow for sculpting and as it turned out, the mountain proved to be a more suitable location, having better exposure to the sun. This would allow the sculpture to be seen from a greater distance. Lincoln, who was Borglum's son, thought that the figures of four American presidents should be carved into the mountain, and each

of them would symbolize their individual terms in office. Thus, American President George Washington (1732-1799) was elected because he was the father of the nation and symbolized the country’s establishment. Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), the author of the Declaration of Independence, represented an expansion. After all, Jefferson was the president who signed the purchase of Louisiana and is also considered one of the fathers of the nation. The third carved figure is the figure of Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) who was chosen because he symbolized America’s industrial prosperity of America and its preservation. The fourth image was Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) who led the country during the Civil War and believed in preserving the nation at any cost. It is interesting to note that the mountain got its name by accident - in 1885, the American businessman and lawyer Charles Edward Rushmore came to South Dakota to

check the property for a company from the East. He asked his guide William Challis what the mountain was called, to which he replied that it had never had any name and that he would call it Rushmore. It was not until 1930 that the United States Board on Geographic Names entered the mountain’s name into official records. The work on the sculptures was completed in 1941, and although hundreds of people took part in this endeavour, surprisingly and fortunately no one was killed. The workers who came to mine the mountain were actually gold diggers. Gutzon Borglum died in 1941 and his son Lincoln Borglum completed the work on 31 October. Although the Great Depression slowed down the works due to the lack of state finances, it took only

six and a half years for this monument to be built. The monument, located at 5,725 feet altitude, cost $ 989,992.32 to make. A total of 2,074,986 people visited the monument in 2020 alone. The faces of each of the presidents are 60 feet high, and although Jefferson was supposed to be on Washington's right side, the final order of the American president to this day remains Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln. Washington's face was completed in 1934, Jefferson’s in 1936, Lincoln's in 1937, and Roosevelt’s in 1939. Although he was very apprehensive when the time came to end his work on the monument, Gutzon was adamant to finish it, so the same year, he completed the work on Theodore Roosevelt's face.

At first, historian Robinson wanted to carve out Western heroes like Lewis and Clark, but the idea was soon abandoned

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PEOPLE & EVENTS

MAR

30 YEARS SINCE THE RENEWAL OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN SERBIA AND ISRAEL

The Israeli Embassy will celebrate this significant jubilee with numerous events throughout 2022, and the first in line was held on March 9th at Jugoslovenska kinoteka, which also marked the 45th anniversary of basketball club Maccabi celebrating its first European championship title won in Belgrade on April 7th, 1977. H.E. Jahel

Vilan, Ambassador of Israel, addressed the gathered guests, as well as a representative of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, after which a documentary made by Israeli director Dani Menkin, “On the Map”, was shown about Maccabi's famous victory in the then "Pionir Hall" that many Israelis still remember.

H.E. Jahel Vilan

19 MAR

INTERNATIONAL The Republic of Serbia as an associate member of the FRANCOPHONIE OIF, together with the entire French-speaking community of 88 states and governments (61 members and 27 obDAY

servers) with a population of over 1 billion people worldwide, including more than 300 million French speakers, celebrates the Month of La Francophonie – March. On that occasion, in the Yugoslav Film Archive, the Embassy of Canada presented the Canadian film: The Goddess of Fireflies (Boginja svitaca), by Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette.

David Morgan, Counselor of the Embassy of Canada

MAR

ORDER OF MERIT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC

David Morgan and Françoise Jacob, UN Resident Coordinator in Serbia

On behalf of the President of the Republic of France, the French Ambassador to Serbia Pierre Cochard presented the National Order of Merit, in the rank of knight, to Prof. Dr Ivan Petrović, a prominent scientist from the Vinca Institute. In his speech, Ambassador Pierre Cochard emphasized the exceptional merits of this great scientist and friend of France and his contribution to the ultimate French-Serbian cooperation, as well as his impres-

Prof. Dr Ivan Petrović and H.E. Pierre Cochard

It is the story of adolescence in the 90s. That of Catherine, a 16-year-old Quebecer whose parents are separating after epic arguments. Catherine loves the music group Hole and her red Dr Martens ankle boots. For her 16th birthday, her dream comes true: she receives a Discman and the book “Me, Christiane F., 13 years old, drug addict, prostitute”. Catherine does not have a smartphone and social networks do not exist. She spends all her free time with her new band of problematic friends.

sive contribution to French, European and international scientific research in the field of nuclear physics and cancer research. In his speech, Professor Petrović especially emphasized, above all, the quality of French-Serbian ties in the field of science, as well as the quality of research both at the University of Belgrade, which is where he started his career, and at the Vinca Institute, where he has worked for years.

Prof. Dr Ivan Petrović, prof. dr. Snežana Pajović, director of the Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, H.E. Pierre Cochard and prof. dr. Aleksandra Ristić Fira, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences

Professor Vladan Djokić, PhD, Rector of the Univerity of Belgrade and H.E. Pierre Cochard

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PEOPLE & EVENTS

01 APR

COFFEE MORNING WITH MALAYSIAN CULTURE

“The International Women’s Club in Belgrade organized its ‘’April’s Coffee Morning’’ in collaboration with PERWAKILAN (Ladies’ Association of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia) Belgrade – under the patronage of the Embassy of Malaysia in Belgrade, on April 1st and it was hosted by Hilton Belgrade. The highlight of the event was the presentation of cultural diplomacy of Malaysia, “Truly Asia”, through traditional dance performances by Chenderawasih – a cultural troupe under the auspices of the Embassy of Malaysia; fashion display of hand-painted batik silk kaftans which were flown all the way from Malaysia; as well as sampling of Malaysian delicacies. PERWAKILAN Belgrade also forwarded between 10 – 20 per cent of the proceeds from that day to the International Women’s Club Charity Fund."

Mr.Khairul Tazril Tarmizi, Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of Malaysia in Belgrade

H.E. Carlos I. Felix Corona, Ambassador of Mexico, Mr.Khairul Tazril Tarmizi and Danilo Golubović, Advisor of Ministry of European Integration

07 APR

Mr. Khairul Tazril Tarmizi, Ambassador Vera Vukčević, Assistant Minister for Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mrs Danijela Vanušić, Assistant Minister of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Media

SIXTH FINNISH FILM WEEK IN BELGRADE

The sixth Week of Finnish Film under the slogan "Finnish Love Stories", organized by the Finnish Film Fund, the Belgrade Cultural Center and the Embassy of Finland, opened in the full Hall of the Belgrade Cultural Center on April 7. Stefan Arsenijevic, the selector of the Festival, has chosen the eight best Finnish feature films, made in the last four years, which the audience had the opportunity to see until April 11. The Ambassador of Finland, H.E. Kimo Lahdevirta, organized a cocktail party for the friends of Finnish film, and the film "Aurora", which has been awarded many times in Finland and at festivals around the world, officially opened the festival. During the evening, the audience had the opportunity to meet guests from Finland: Jan Puskal, head of the International Department of the Finnish Film Fund, Amir Eskandri, lead actor in "Aurora" and Villa Jankeri, director of "Forest Giant.

Stefan Arsenijević and H.E. Kimo Lahdevirta with wife Mrs. Pia Kaikonen

INTERVIEW

Diplomacy&Commerce Magazine Celebrates its 6th Birthday Diplomacy&Commerce magazine, syndication of London's The Economist magazine, celebrated its 6th birthday on Thursday, March 31 at the Mona Plaza Hotel in Belgrade

D&C award winners

IPLOMACY&COMMERCE AWARDS were presented to individuals, companies and organizations that excelled in humanitarian work, CSR, sustainable business and green projects, digitalization and business innovation, development of arts and culture, as well as improving bilateral cooperation, economic environment, business conditions. and society as a whole. Diplomacy&Commerce awards were given out in a total of twelve categories. The members of the jury were the following - Marko Čadež, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS) and jury chairman, AHK Serbia - Gert Rabbow, BSCC - Jadranka Dervišević Kitarić, CCIFS - Sanja Ivanić, CCIS - Mirjana Kojić, Confindustria - Ire-

na Brajović, HBA - Fanina Kovačević, CBC - Marija Radulović, JBAS - Oliver Lepori, SBC - Danijela Fišakov, SSCC - Ana Grujović, as well as representatives of D&C magazine - Robert Čoban, president of CPG, and Ruža Veljović, director of D&C magazine. The magazine's director, Ruža Veljović, said that over 80 companies and organizations had been nominated and that picking the winners was no easy task. "Together with the representatives of bilateral chambers and business associations in Serbia, of which we have been members since our launch, we wanted to reward all those who have contributed to our society and our country with their work and activities this year too with the view of making them a

better place to work and live in." Ms Veljović added. President of Color Press Group, Robert Čoban thanked all the guests and said the following in his address: „It was March 2019 when we last celebrated the D&C award ceremony at the National Museum. How has our world changed since then? The COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have reshaped our lives more than any other event in the last two decades. As Judy Garland would say:"Toto, I have a feeling we are not in Kansas anymore." I hope we - our governments, our companies, and us, as individuals - will find our way to Oz.” He also reminded that this February it was 30 years since Color Press Group was founded. “Three

decades of wars, hyperinflation, NATO bombing, assassinations of high political officials, global economic crisis, pandemics... And we still are here, as you are too. As I said at our 1st birthday party - for us it was Business as usual. And still is business as usual. So, let's continue to find our way to Oz tomorrow!” Mr Čoban concluded. The celebration was attended by numerous guests, Serbian government representatives, the diplomatic corps, and political, cultural and public figures of Serbia. Telekom Srbija, Coca-Cola, British Motors, Heineken Serbia, Philip Morris International, Plantaže 13. Juli, Atelier Igor Todorović and Shamar brandy which had its premiere at the event, were the celebration's official partners.

Diplomacy&Commerce team

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Dušica Gaković, Deka inženjering, Nataša Nešić, DC magazine, Ana Kecojević, Deka inženjering and Mirjana Višnjić, We Media Agency

H.E. Nada Al Akl , Embassy of Lebanon

Mr.Khairul Tazril Tarmizi, Embassy of Malaysia

H.E. Shehryar Akbar Khan , Embassy of Pakistan

Color Media Communications team

Oliver Lepori, JBAS

Neda Knežević, Museum of Yugoslavia

Gert Rabbow, AHK

H.E. Gustavo TRISTÁ del Todo, Embassy of Cuba an Robert Čoban, CPG

H.E. Ilir BOÇKA, Albanian Ambassador with his wife

Deyana Kostadinova, UNICEF, Robert Čoban and Vesna Savić Djukić, UNICEF

MORE ABOUT AWARD WINNERS: MK Group is the best socially responsible company, which was among the first companies to get involved in the fight against the coronavirus and donate funds for the purchase of medical equipment and support to health care institutions. The Group also implemented a large regional project called "For Regional Heroes", thanks to which 450 doctors and medical workers were given free vacations in MK Group hotels in Serbia, Slovenia and Croatia, as a sign of gratitude for their heroic efforts.

The best socially responsible campaign is NESTLE ADRIATIC's. As part of the "Save Food, Save Humanity" campaign, Nestlé donated more than 10 tonnes of food, more than 230,000 food products and more than 20 million dinars in humanitarian aid. Responsible food surplus management has been a strategic part of Nestle Adriatic's business for years. The MATICA SRPSKA GALLERY is the award recipient for its contribution to the development of artistic creativity and preservation of cultural heritage. One of the wealthiest art museums in Serbia, the Matica Srpska Gal-

H.E.Fatah Mahraz, Embassy of Algeria

lery, was founded in 1847 under the auspices of Matica Srpska, the oldest cultural and educational institution among Serbs. Since its inception, the Gallery has grown into a unique national museum which art collection, particularly that of Serbian art from the 16th to 21st century, showcases the origin, development and achievements of Serbian artists and indicates the position and place of Serbian culture and art in the European context. GENERALI OSIGURANJE SRBIJA is the award recipient for its humanitarian efforts. Under the auspices of Generali's The Human

Irena Brajović, Confindustria Serbia and Matteo Colangeli, EBRD

Safety Net Programme and in cooperation with the Novak Djoković Foundation, the company opened 15 parent centres. This is a unique project in Serbia launched with the aim of further empowering the participants of the 'Support, NOT Perfection' programme thus ensuring even better care of their children. The programme has been successfully implemented since 2017, and since then, it has been helping a large number of families throughout Serbia. UniCredit Bank was chosen as the recipient of the award for green projects and sustainable development. In 2021, Uni-

Doris Danilović, AHK and Zoran Djurić, Miele

Sandra Lazarević and Sofija Milićević, Banca Intesa

Olga Radovanović, Development Fund of the Republic of Serbia, Tanja Banković, D&C and Jovanka Višekruna Janković, ArtLink

Mirjana Kojić, Italian-Serbian Chamber of Commerce

Robert Čoban and Milan Antonijević, lawyer

Milica i Aleksandar Zabunović, Fashion brand Aleksandar Zabunović

Dubravka Djedović, Komercijalna banka and Ana Abramović

Andrea Radonjić, Rio Tinto, H.E.Demetrios Theophylactou, Embassy of Ciprus, Robert Čoban and Duška Jovanić, journalist

Tijana Koprivica and Tanja Vasojević, Delta Holding

Vlatko Sekulović, a lawyer

Ruža Veljović, D&C director and Bratislav Filipović, Filipović Academy

Milena Mihajlović and Danijela Fišakov, SBC

Ivana i Igor Ristić, CDEI dr Ristić

Jasmina Koprivica, Euronews Srbija and Zoran Vulović, Long Play

Credit Bank Serbia collected more than 13 million dinars during the 'We have been trying to start good things together for 20 years' campaign. The money collected during the campaign will be spent on projects aimed at improving protected areas and preserving biodiversity in Serbia. The project supports activities on the preservation of flora and fauna and natural habitats of animal species, but also boosting tourist capacities and the popularization of protected areas. The business innovation and digital transformation award went to ABB, the world's leading engineering company that is driving the transformation of social

and industrial development, to achieve a more productive and sustainable future. By linking software solutions to the portfolio of power engineering, robotics, automation and electric motor drives, ABB is pushing the boundaries of technology and elevating its impact to higher levels. Based on a 130-year-long- tradition and pursuit of excellence, 105,000 talented people in over 100 countries are to be credited for ABB's business success. This year's award for improving business conditions and the economic environment was given to the FOREIGN INVESTORS' COUNCIL - FIC. The Foreign Investors Council is a business asso-

ciation founded in 2002 with the idea that foreign companies operating in the region of Southeast Europe (SEE) should provide active support in the implementation of reforms. THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY OF SERBIA'S is this year's award recipient in the category of advancing bilateral cooperation. During the pandemic, the Chamber provided support to businesses, activated a specialized information service which provided companies with information on all key issues related to doing business in the country and abroad. One of the most important projects is the launch of the Digital Transforma-

tion Centre, which coordinates and implements digital transformation in all private sector industries, with a special focus on SMEs. Heineken Srbija, Coca-Cola, Erste Banka and Brankica Janković, Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, are recipients of special awards in four categories, as chosen by the magazine's editorial board. HEINEKEN SERBIA is the recipient of the special award for contribution to the development of green projects and sustainability. By optimizing production processes, the company has reduced water consumption in these processes by 75% over the last decade and has been striving to main-

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Mirjana Dončić Beaton, CANSEE

Suzana Šačić and Robert Čoban

Vera Vuković ,Stanko Čučković and Nadežda Švrakić, British Motors

César Sanchez-Lopez, Airbus, Kruna and Boško Gavović, TMS CEE

Milan Grujić, ZF Serbia and Ana Kovačević, City Image

Slavko Spasić, Natural History Museum, Jelena Aleksić, CBRE, Boban Spasojević, D&C Croatia, Tanja Banković, D&C Serbia and Robert Čoban, CPG

Maja Marinković, Mitsides Point, Nikolaos Sliousaregko with his wife Ivana , Hotel Junior and Fanina Kovačević Popaz, Hellenic Business Association of Serbia

tain this trend year on year. On its way towards having business operations that don’t harm the environment, to be achieved by the company building a wastewater treatment plant in its brewery in Zaječar, HEINEKEN Serbia has made an additional contribution to reducing water consumption with this important and technologically very advanced project, while making substantial investments in the community in which it operates. Water is a valuable resource in the beer industry because every drop counts, which is also the slogan of the company’s water resources conservation and protection programme. The special award for the con-

tribution to the development of local self-government and communities went to COCA-COLA SYSTEM in Serbia for the company's project 'Vlasina – Pure Love'. In order to bring the Vlasina district closer to tourists who prefer having an active vacation, but also want to contribute to the development of local catering businesses and tourism services, in cooperation with the Surdulica Tourist Board, Coca-Cola HBC Serbia, the Cabinet of Ministers for Development of Disadvantaged Municipalities and the Municipality of Surdulica, have launched the project "Vlasina - Pure Love". ERSTE BANK is this year's recipient of the special award for con-

Alessandro Bragonzi,Ivana Vujić and Gordana Kovačević EIB

tribution to the development of society's financial literacy for its project #ErsteZnali. The #ErsteZnali platform aims to bring financial knowledge closer to anyone aware that they need help and support in better understanding and managing finances in order to make better decisions, as well as those who want to test their knowledge. Thanks to the platform, the users can learn about personal finance management, savings, investments, insurance, credit products, how to save time and money by using electronic banking and many other related topics. A special award for the contribution to the development of society as a whole went to BRAN-

Sanja Gligorić, New Kunst and Sago and Ilija Petrović, D&C Art Director

Dragan Lupšić, PWC and Tanja Banković

KICA JANKOVIĆ, the Republic of Serbia's Commissioner for the Protection of Equality. According to the 2021 report compiled by the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, most of the complaints that the Commissioner received that year from citizens related to discrimination based on health, gender and age, and they mainly related to discrimination related to employment and workplace and public authorities. The year 2021 was also marred by the ongoing health crisis, with the strongest focus being on the immunization of the population, which was well organized with equal availability of vaccines for all citizens.

EVENT

by Bojana Jakimov

Let’s Chef Together: New Project Opened by the Turkish Ambassador Aksoy

n the beautiful ambience of the President Palace Belgrade Hotel on Wednesday March 30, the first event was held within the project Let’s chef together, organized by Color Media Communications in partnership with Lidl Serbia. The Let’s chef together project is a continuation of the story started by our magazine Diplomacy & Commerce Austria where the goal is to present authentic and traditional cuisines around the world. We want to talk with the representatives of the diplomatic corps, media, food bloggers and other guests about the importance of food as part of the cultural and tourist identity of countries around the world. 10 events are planned for the end of 2022. Our first host H. E. Hami Aksoy, Turkish Ambassador, with his spouse Dr. Canan Parmaksızoğlu Aksoy with great care and with the help of the Embassy's chef and the chefs of the restaurant Kultura introduced numerous dishes which present Türkiye in the best possi-

ble light. Ambassador Aksoy stated that the cuisines of all cultures in some way show the cultural identity of the place they come from. - Food represents not only nutrition, but also history, culture, beliefs and identity - said Aksoy. He also pointed out that Turkish cuisine occupies an important place in the world. - The richness of Turkish cuisine arose as a result of the crossing of different cultures over a long historical period - said Aksoy and added: - Our dining tables are a symbol of unity and sharing, and they also have the characteristic of gathering people. I hope you enjoy the Turkish cuisine we share with you tonight. His spouse, Canan Parmaksizoglu, pointed out that Turkish cuisine dates back for centuries. - Geographical locations and different cultures throughout history have made our cuisine rich said Parmaksizoglu Aksoy. She reminded that many cul-

tures and peoples coexisted during the Ottoman period. - Therefore, we have many common dishes with the neighboring countries where we lived together, such as baklava, dolma, sarma, kebab, yogurt, burek. - she stated. Furthermore, “The recipes that you will taste this evening have been selected from the book “Turkish Cuisine with Timeless Recipes”, which has been launched by Her Excellency Emine Erdoğan, First Lady of the Republic of Türkiye, published under the auspices of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye with the support of Türkiye Tourism Promotion & Development Agency by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.” – she added. Also the partners on the project were satisfied with the first event within the project. "It is a great honor for us to be part of the fantastic Let's Chef Together project. We have a great opportunity to host in our unique hotel the diplomatic corps and

ambassadors of all countries, and thus show the beauty and culture of the host country whose cuisine we present, such as Türkiye. On the other hand, the cooperation with Diplomacy & Commerce magazine and Lidl brings us many new projects in the future, which we are looking forward to - said Olivera Škorić, marketing manager at President Palace Belgrade Hotel." "We are content to be a part of this culinary journey and that together with the Turkish Embassy we have the opportunity to show how with the help of well known Lidl ingredients, a few unusual spices and additives we can easily reach the cuisine of this country." We invite consumers to indulge and experiment with Lidl products, with a little skill we guarantee a lot of gastronomic adventures ", said Martina Petrović, Head of Corporate Communications at Lidl Serbia. The ambassadors of Pakistan, Hungary, South Korea, Belgium and Morocco, numerous media and bloggers attended the event.

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FOOD PLANET

by Tanja Banković

Rich Flavours of Indonesian Cusine Among the five culinary icons of Indonesia as promoted by the Ministry of Tourism, rendang and nasi goreng were on the top of the list of CNN’s World’s 50 Best Foods published in 2017. On the list, rendang ranked number 1, while Nasi Goreng, Indonesia’s renowned Fried Rice, was the runner up ATY RACHMAWATI The wife of the Indonesian ambassador to Serbia

or Diplomacy and Commerce’s ,,Food Planet’’, Mrs. Aty Rachmawati, the wife of Indonesian ambassador to Serbia talked about main features of Indonesian cusine, ingredients for the preparation of traditional Indonesian dishes in Serbia, about Serbian dishes and life in Belgrade.

What are the main features of Indonesian cuisines? — As a country consisting over 17,504 islands (approximately 6,000 populated islands) and 1,340 recognized ethnic groups, Indonesian cuisine covers a vast variety of regional cuisines found across the nation. In most parts of Indonesia, rice, the primary grain, is almost always consumed as a staple accompanied with vegetables, meat and seafood. However, the characteristics of Indonesian cuisine are so vary depending on the region. In the island of Java, some dishes are sweet, while others are savoury. The sweet dishes commonly use sweet soy sauce (kecap manis), palm sugar, peanut paste, or shrimp paste (petis). The savoury ones are usually made with soy sauce, oyster sauce, and a mixture of indigenous spices like candlenut, coriander, and nutmeg. Dishes from the island of Sumatra often featured types of curried meat and vegetables. Coconut milk is used in most of the dishes in this region. Meanwhile, in Papua, the easternmost province of Indonesia, the general staple food is sago. It is either processed as a pancake or sago congee called papeda. People in Papua usually eats sago with yellow soup made from tuna, red snapper or other fishes spiced with turmeric, lime, and other spices. Despite the various characteristics from each region, Indonesian cuisines are all well known for its rich and complex flavours, acquired from ingredients and mixture of various spices. In 2018, the

THIS YEAR, 2022, WILL BE MY THIRD YEAR IN BELGRADE. I REALLY ENJOY LIVING HERE. THE CITY IS CULTURALLY VIBRANT, COMBINING VARIOUS CULTURAL INFLUENCES WITH THE MODERN ONES Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy has chosen 5 national dishes of Indonesia, they are soto (soup with turmeric, vegetables, and shredded chicken), rendang (coconut beef stew), satay (chicken or beef skewers), nasi goreng (fried rice), and gado-gado (boiled vegetables with peanut sauce). Among the five culinary icons of Indonesia as promoted by the Ministry of Tourism, rendang and nasi goreng were on the top of the list of CNN’s World’s 50 Best Foods published in 2017. On the list, rendang ranked number 1, while Nasi Goreng, Indonesia’s renowned Fried Rice, was the runner up. What do you miss the most about your country? Can you find all the necessary ingredi-

ents for the preparation of traditional Indonesian dishes in Serbia? — I was born and raised in Indonesia, in the city of Bandung, West Java. After I married, I have lived in several other countries, including Serbia. While I am grateful for this opportunity, I always miss my family back in Indonesia, and the food we have at home. That is why, even here, I often cook Indonesian dishes. It makes me feel closer to home. One of my most favourite Indonesian foods to cook at home is iga bakar saus madu, or grilled beef ribs with honey sauce, which recipe I happily share here. Iga Bakar saus madu was among the kinds of grilled beef ribs originated from the island of Java, but has now spread throughout Indone-

sia. The dish is often accompanied by broth and vegetable soup, steamed rice, and Indonesian chilli paste or sambal. Most of the ingredients for Indonesian cuisine can be found in Asian markets in Belgrade. However, there are certain herbs that are quite challenging to find. Usually, we have to travel to Austria or Hungary to get some of those herbs. Do you like Serbian cuisine and what is your favourite Serbian dish? — While most of the time we have Indonesian delicacies at the residence, I do love Serbian cuisine. At the Embassy we occasionally organise a gathering with Serbian food made by our Serbian friends. I really like gibanica, kaymak, teleca corba, sac, and ćevapi because just like Indonesian cuisine where spices are inherent, Serbian food which I really enjoy is also diverse and spicy with substantial use of meat, vegetables, dairy and dough. What do you think of life in Belgrade? Did you manage to visit

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Grilled Ribs Soup With Honey Sauce

AT THE EMBASSY WE OCCASIONALLY ORGANISE A GATHERING WITH SERBIAN FOOD MADE BY OUR SERBIAN FRIENDS some other places in Serbia and what would you recommend to your friends to see here? — This year, 2022, will be my third year in Belgrade. I really enjoy living here. The city is culturally vibrant, combining various cultural influences with the modern ones. The people are very friendly towards foreigners, much like in Indonesia. Belgrade also offers wonderful landmarks and scenery. The Belgrade waterfront and Kalemegdan Fortress are among the many popular sites I particularly love. Belgrade also has many types of restaurants and cafés that serve various kinds of food, from local, European, to Asian cuisines. I am quite fortunate to have

visited other cities in Serbia. They are also worth a visit. However, I adore Novi Sad in particular. Currently the European Capital of Culture, the city offers many great places to visit. The Petrovaradin’s Fortress across the Danube River is one of the most popular tourism site in Novi Sad and it offers a spectacular view of the river. The Fortress has also been the venue for EXIT Festival, which take place every summer. I would definitely recommend my friends a visit to Belgrade and Novi Sad if they have the opportunity to travel to Serbia. I think both cities are very beautiful and exciting and they showcase unique culture, architecture, and cuisine.

INGREDIENTS • 500 gr beef ribs • 3 liter water • 100 gr garlic • 2 cm fresh ginger • 200 gr shallot • 1 pcs onion • 10 pcs clove • 1 pcs nutmeg • 3 pcs carrots • 2 pcs potato • 1 pcs tomato • 1 stick celery • 1 stick spring onion • 1 tablespoon salt • 1/2 tablespoon beef powder • 2 tablespoon sugar • 1/2 teaspoon pepper powder

HOW TO MAKE Boil the ribs together with ginger, nutmeg, cloves and onions. Then add the sauteed sliced garlic and shallots into the soup. Cook until the ribs are 3/4 cooked then remove from the stove. Separate the ribs from the soup. Add slices of carrots, potato, tomato, spring onions and celery to the soup. Cook until the vegetables are done.

• 2 stick lemongrass • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 20 gr coriander in grain • 1 teaspoon pepper powder • 3 tablespoon sugar • 3 teaspoon beef powder • 4 cloves od garlic • 6 pcs shallots • 5 pcs candlenuts • 5 pcs fresh red chilli • 10 tablespoon sweet soy sauce • 200 gr honey • 100 ml vegetable cooking oil

HOW TO MAKE HONEY SAUCE Put the shallots, garlic, red chili, candlenut and coriander into a food processor or blender. Then process, scraping down the bowl frequently with a spatula until a smooth paste forms. Sauté the paste with vegetable cooking oil until fragrant. Add water, ribs, ginger, lemongrass, salt, honey, pepper, sugar, sweet soy sauce, beef powder. Cook until the water is half evaporated and ribs are well done. Grill the ribs with the honey sauce until its deep golden brown.

SERVING: HONEY SAUCE INGREDIENTS: • 3 liter water • 3 cm fresh ginger

The grilled ribs to be served with the ribs broth with vegetables in the separate bowl aside. Could be completed with red chilli sauce and slices of lemon

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CULTURAL HERITAGE BUILDING

Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts

Photo: Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts

The mansion housing the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts was built between 1923 and 1924 and was designed by the renowned Serbian architects, Dragutin Djordjević and Andre Stevanovic in 1912

he Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, previously called the Serbian Royal Academy, was founded by a decree of King Milan Obrenović in November 1886. It was divided into four orders with a maximum of 25 members. Thanks to the law passed six years later, the number of academics increased to 34. The first academics, 24 of them, were appointed by King Milan in April 1887. The institution initially consisted of academics from natural, philosophical, social sciences and the Academy of Arts. Josif Pančić was elected the first president, who, at the time of his appointment, was so ill that he couldn’t even give a speech when he became the president. His sermon is considered his scientific testament in which he tells the newly

AT THE TIME IT WAS COMPLETED, IT WAS ONE OF THE LARGEST BUILDINGS IN KNEZA MIHAILA STREET

Photo: Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts

established Academy to be guided "only by truth and strict scientific objectivity" in its work. In 1974, the Serbian Royal Academy was renamed the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts and instead of four, had six departments (natural and mathematical sciences, technical sciences, medical sciences, literature and languages, social sciences and the department of fine and musical arts). The initial design was done by the architect Konstantin A. Jovanović in 1900, but it was never used due to exuberant costs. Initially, the Museum of the Serbian Land and the National Library were also supposed to be housed there. The same architect did the second design in 1908 which was also harshly rejected by the

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Photo: Beobuild.rs Photo: Beobuild.rs

Photo: Beobuild.rs

BOTH THE BUILDING’S EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR IS MADE FROM LUXURY AND TOP-QUALITY MATERIALS - ARTIFICIAL STONE, PLASTER, BRONZE, IRON AND COLOURED GLASS

was supposed to be monumental and emblematic because it housed such an important national institution. The main feature of the facade which looks at Knez Mihailova Street is the wide middle part which ends in a large-scale dome. Stylistically, it resembles eclec-

Photo: Beobuild.rs

tect Milan Minić also collaborated on the design. At the time it was completed, it was one of the largest buildings in Kneza Mihaila Street. The design itself was a comprehensive job because the building had a great foundation and building fronts looking on three streets. It

ticism with elements of neo-baroque and secession. All decorative elements on the façade have a pronounced emblematic shape. All mezzanine ceilings and all bridges, as well as cornices and the roof, are made of reinforced concrete, while smaller roofs and domes are made of iron. Both the building’s exterior and interior is made from luxury and top-quality materials - artificial stone, plaster, bronze, iron and coloured glass. At the time, the building had state-of-the-art piping, as well as hot and cold water, steam heating, telegraphy connection, lifts, vacuum devices, telephones and its own power plant.

Photo: Beobuild.rs

Academy’s corresponding member, architecture professor Andro Stevanović, who called it “too monotonous, stereotypical and outdated”, and accused it of resembling "a large Viennese hotel" just like designs of a myriad of architects before him. Architect Jovanović thought that Stevanović was offensive and terminated the cooperation with the Academy. The design of the Academy’s building was then entrusted to architect Dragutin Djordjević, associate university professor, who designed the base together with architect Andro Stevanović, who was entrusted with designing the façade and the main dome. Archi-

Photo: Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts

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INTERVIEW

by Nikola Pavlović

Connecting Migrant Theme With Serbian Epic Poem We talked to a large number of migrants and refugees in refugee camps and we volunteered a little. As we have been already dealing with this topic and had a great responsibility, we wanted to get to know the refugees better

STEFAN ARSENIJEVIĆ Serbian film director

erbian film director, Stefan Arsenijević, talked about his new movie ,,Strahinja Banović’’, about working with refugees, famous Serbian epic poem and about future projects that might include TV format. Which films or directors shaped your film taste and subsequently influenced your work? — When our film Strahinja Banović opened FEST this year, I remembered that exactly 30 years ago (1992) I came to this festival for the very first time. I remembered all the films I watched then and the ones that left a strong impression on me and film directors that today are considered iconic. In 1992, it was Srdjan Karanović and his film ‘Virdžina’ that opened the festival that year. Only a few years later, he became my professor at the faculty and to this day an important friend and role model when it comes to film. Films like Barton Fink, directors like the Cohen brothers, Pedro Almodovar's High Heels, Ridley Scott’s Thelma and Louise, Jarmusch's Night on Earth, Lars von Trier's Europe, Delicatessen with that twisted iconography of JeanPierre Jeunet, and Gus Van Sant’s My Private Idaho were the films that were showcased at the 1992 FEST. No, when you look at them, these are iconic examples of filmmaking by directors whose films accompanied my growing up and shaped my thinking since my teenage days. They brought something new to film expression. I was lucky enough to get involved in global cinema through FEST at the very moment when some of these film authors were creating their first great works. Did that taste change at a later date? When you went to college, did he lean more towards Ameri-

Photo: Film Servis Festival Karlovy Vary

INDEPENDENT AMERICAN FILM, WITH JARMUSCH AND HAL HARTLEY AT ITS HELM, IS SOMETHING THAT SUITS ME BEST ALONG WITH EUROPEAN FILMS can or European film? — I have always gravitated towards Europe and independent American film. In that sense, Jarmusch was one of those sacrosanct directors who approach the characters and the narrative from their angle and give themselves the right not to do the expected things. Somehow I have always been interested in an element of surprise in the film but I also felt that European film was my base. I'm not saying that I don't like Hollywood, especially then, but today everything has turned into comic book adaptations

that I like less. However, the independent American film, with Jarmusch and Hal Hartley at its helm, is something that suits me best along with European films. All these American independent directors later made their last films in Europe with the money they earned in America. So, an author-focused film, which is not part of the mainstream industry and does not have the scheme to follow to achieve success, is already examining this world from a very personal point of view. That’s something that excites me.

If you have time for all the impressions from so many guest appearances and travels to settle, could you tell us how did you like the reaction of the local audience to your new film? How did the viewers react to FEST? — I am very pleased with their reaction and, truth be told, I was very nervous too. In addition to the premiere in Karlovy Vary, which was the first time the film met the audience, it was an equally important thing for the film to meet with the local audience, which is always quite particular, especially when it comes to this film and can read and understand it in a different way that foreign audiences cannot. First of all, there is the issue of using the Banović Strahinja poem, which is something that everyone feels as it belongs to them. Everyone has read it in elementary school and has their own vision of what

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of dedicating an entire film to a hero taxi driver who transports migrants was reduced to just one segment of the film, which, albeit, leaves a strong impression on the audience. I noticed that their reactions were very emotional and I would also like to thank Nebojša Dugalić, a big format actor to whom I will always be grateful for agreeing to be in this film.

Photo: Film Servis Festival Karlovy Vary

Why did you choose African economic migrants for the main characters in the film and not migrants from war-torn areas? — When we started to deal with that topic, three screenwriters Bojan Vuletić, Nicolas Ducray, the French screenwriter and I carried out extensive research. We talked to a large number of migrants and refugees in refugee camps and we volunteered a little. As we have been already dealing with this topic and had a great responsibility, we wanted to get to know the refugees better. We realized that there are a lot of people like us - educated, middle class, speak English well. It was interesting to see when volunteers came to us in front of the refugee counter in Šid and offered medical help and refreshments because they thought we were migrants. They acted like that because they are like us, and it was very important for me to demonstrate exactly that. I had a feeling that they were just treated as statistics in the media and that there were very few personal stories. We also noticed the differences between them. For instance, economic migrants find it much harder to go further than those from the war zone, and this is also something that we covered in the film. It seemed more interesting to us to present people who are in a more difficult situation in terms of refugee treatment. Why would only one group of refugees be entitled to asylum? None of them would have left their homes if they didn't have to. That's how we chose African migrants as the main characters – he is from Mali and she is from Ghana. As we wanted to stay as true as possible to our presentation, the actors that played Serbs came from the countries that migrants usually come from. Even extras are real migrants. We had two casting directors, one in Europe and one in Africa, but for the sake of authenticity, we made an agreement with several refugee camps in Serbia and offered migrants to star in the film, as well as to point out possible mistakes in the film.

How did the idea to connect the migrant theme with the Serbian epic poem, that is Banović Strahinja, come about? — This project has been on my mind for a long time. Films with that theme have already started to be made, and I was thinking about a modern adaptation of that poem. So, those two projects merged. Why shouldn’t these mi-

EPIC POETRY IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WILL BE THE FURTHER FOCUS OF MY WORK, BUT THIS POEM WAS DEFINITELY SPECIAL AND I WANTED TO EXPLORE IT Photo: Dusan Milenkovic

it should look like. I was at all six screenings during FEST and it was important for me to see the audience, feel their reactions and talk to them afterwards. This is significant for a film author. My impression is that we managed to intrigue the local audience.

grants, who are future Europeans, or want to stay in Belgrade (we met a few of those at the camp too), be the heroes of the contemporary adaptation of Banović Strahinja? Everything just clicked very naturally, and we wrote that script relatively quickly. We had already invested a lot in research, we had a script for a film with a taxi driver as a character who would transport migrants, and the soundtrack was already there. Thus, the idea

Why did you exactly choose that poem? There aren’t many films in our country that are currently covering epic themes. — We have a very important and abundant heritage in folk epic poetry. We all know from school that both Goethe and Europe at that time admired romanticism and that poems were translated. It makes you wonder why they had never been turned into a film. Films that cover this topic

that I know of are Mimica’s Banović Strahinja (1982) and Mića Popović’s Hasanaginica. One might think that such a legacy would make a great template for movies. In the meantime, we have an Indian film inspired by Marko Kraljević – a hidden treasure in plain sight. Banović Strahinja is a very special poem with its ethics, its beauty that deals with female infidelity in the Middle Ages, long before Anna Karenina. This poem understands, and deals with empathy and understanding others, and even multicultural dialogue, because some characters cannot function at the national camp level, rather they function at the level of their individuality and have their own moral compass and their own opinion. They forge relationships that have nothing to do with nations. This seemed very exciting when we started and is still relevant and important. Epic poetry is not something that will be the further focus of my work, but this poem was definitely special and I wanted to explore it. We must engage with our heritage and our heritage is not just something you read in your textbook, but something that should be alive and current even today. Both Shakespeare, whose works are constantly being adapted, and this poem have that kind of potential. Did you think about making something for TV or a mini-series considering that we currently have a hyper-production of such content? What are your plans? — I have started developing some ideas. All of them are taking place outside of Belgrade. I have thought about such formats and I have already started to put them on paper. I also need to do a series and I think that current developments in that TV format are just fantastic. There are so many possibilities - creating a much more complex world that seems to last enough for the characters to change many times over. Also, I like the idea that this stretches across several seasons and that the viewers would keep coming back to watch these actors and characters over and over again. That would be absolutely wonderful. When a film is finished, there are festivals where we usually meet. We really like seeing each other and working together. A series could make that possible.

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REPORTAGE

by Robert Čoban

The French Dream of the Innkeeper's Son How did the innkeeper’s son from Bucharest build the most beautiful hotel on the Cote d'Azur? Why it is not a problem to ridicule politicians at the Nice Carnival in Nice, the fourth largest carnival in the world? Who built the largest Russian Orthodox Church outside Russia?

ur first attempt to travel to Nice earlier this year failed because my older daughter tested positive for COVID. Here we are, a month and a half later, again on our way to Budapest from where we will fly with WizzAir to Nice. We are again encountering a problem called ‘the Hungarian customs officers’, whom I wrote about a couple of months ago in an article about Budapest. This time around, we waited for more than two hours to cross the border and were almost late for the flight. Once you board a plane from one country to another in the Schengen area, like France, no one asks to see your passport, let alone proof of vaccination and negative PCR tests, which we have properly prepared. Nice Airport is barely ten minutes away from our hotel on La Promenade des Anglais. As we walk towards the restaurant in the old part of the city, a carnival procession passes by us - the famous Carnival is underway, the fourth largest in the world (after Rio, Venice and New Orleans). We are watching how numerous political and public figures in today's France are parodied, including French President Emanuel Macron himself. I saw similar scenes at the Rijeka Carnival exactly two years ago, on the eve of the pandemic. At that time, the mayor of Rijeka, Vojko Obersnel, was walking around dressed as a woman - Jovanka Broz. Both times I thought about how far behind we are about all this and how much our politicians are more like the 19th than the 21st century. By the way, the Carnival in Nice was first mentioned in the Middle Ages, in 1294. In the 19th century, the local artist Alexis Mossa founded the Carnival Committee, which has been regularly managing this event ever since. Every year, over a million tourists come to Nice on this occasion. Parades

IN 1826, UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF KING CHARLES FELIX, THE TOWN OF NICE BOUGHT THE OLD THEATRE BUILDING, DEMOLISHED IT AND IN TWO YEARS BUILT A NEW, EMBLEMATIC BUILDING are held in the evening, while "Battle of Flowers" is organized during the day. The next day, after a hearty breakfast, I went to the nearest bicycle rental shop and set off to tour the city on two wheels. My first point is the Russian Orthodox Church in Nice - the largest Orthodox church in Western Europe. Under the patronage of Tsar Nicholas II, the building was designed by M.T. Preobrazhensky. It was opened in 1912 after one year of construction. After the Octo-

ber Revolution and the execution of the Romanov family until 2011, the church was under the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church of Western Europe, which is under the control of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. After a long dispute, a court in France decided to return the church to the possession of the official Russian Orthodox Church based in Moscow. As soon as the railway arrived in the town, the then Russian Tsar Alexander II arrived in Nice by train in 1864. The monu-

ment erected in honour of his son Nikolai, who died young at the age of 22, adorns the garden behind the Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Nice. The Tsar was delighted with the local climate with ‘the romance’ between the Russians and the French Riviera lasting to this very day - from the Romanovs and their courtiers, princes and boyars to new Russian billionaires like Andrei Melnichenko and others. Thousands of Russians came here occasionally or permanently settled in Nice, Cannes, Monaco, Menton and neighbouring San Remo in Italy, where I saw a beautiful Russian church ten years ago. The magnificent iconostasis in the church was made by the famous Hlebnjikov Workshop. A copy of the Statue of Liberty was placed on the Quay of the United States of America in 2014, oppo-

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site the Opera House. In the location of today’s Cote d'Azur Opera, the first old Wooden Theatre was built in 1776. The building was sold in 1787 and three years later it was reopened as the Royal Theatre. In 1826, under the patronage of King Charles Felix, the town of Nice bought the old theatre building, demolished it and in two years built a new, emblematic building. In 1856, a great ball was held here in honour of King Victor Emmanuel II (until 1860, Nice was part of the Italian Kingdom of Sardinia under the Savoy dynasty). In 1860, at the time of the French Second Empire, Emperor Napoleon III paid a visit to the theatre. On the occasion, Johann Strauss personally conducted the orchestra. In the same year, the theatre changed its name to Théâtre Impérial. In 1964, Napoleon III returned this time in the company of Russian Tsar Alexander II. In 1870, after France lost the war to Prussia and after the fall of Napoleon III and the Second Empire, the theatre changed its name to Théâtre Municipal. On Wednesday, March 23, 1881, during the performance of the opera Lucia di Lammermoor, a gas leak caused a tragic fire and the building burned to the ground. Today's Opera House was opened in 1885 accompanied by Verdi's Aida. La Promenade des Anglais, not far from the copy of the Statue of Liberty, there is an obelisk called "Neuf Lignes Obliques" ("Nine Oblique Lines"), which was erected in 2011, to mark the 150th anniversary of the Treaty of Turin from 1860 when Nice, which had been prior part of the Kingdom of Sardinia, was handed over to France. By the way, La Promenade des Anglais (The English Promenade)

got its name from the fact that, in the early 19th century, many British aristocrats spent a lot of time in Nice, enjoying the perfect climate here. In 1830, the British proposed to build a promenade by the sea. La Promenade des Anglais was the scene of a

tragic terrorist attack on July 14, 2016, when during the celebration of the French national holiday Bastille Day, an Islamic terrorist driving a 19-tonne truck killed 84 people and wounded 458. Sacha Sosno Park was named after the famous French sculptor of Es-

IN THE PARK THAT SURROUNDS VILLA MASSENA, ON LA PROMENADE DES ANGLAIS, NEXT TO THE NEGRESCO HOTEL, THERE IS A MEMORIAL DEDICATED TO THE VICTIMS OF THE JULY 14, 2016 TERRORIST ATTACK

tonian origin, whose widow Masha donated a large number of the artist's sculptures to the City of Nice three years after his death. The park features the giant Square Head, a sculpture that houses the city library and was made in honour of the famous sculptor. Every time, on such occasions, I wonder why there are no sculptures of contemporary art in our cities (the honourable exception is the great sculpture of Mrdjan Bajić on the walkway near Belgrade's Beton Hala). Rather, we have statues in banal realism style erected in honour of Jaša Tomić, Laza Kostić, Mihajlo Pupin, King Peter the Great and Kosta Hadžija in Novi Sad or Nicholas Romanov in Belgrade. The monument to the victims of the First World War is located on the seashore, right next to the old port. It was inaugurated in 1929 by Marshal Ferdinand Foch. The monument is 32 metres high, which makes it one of the tallest in the country. It contains plaques with the names of 3,665 citizens of Nice who died in the First World War. On the side, there are pillars dedicated to the branches of the French army (navy, infantry, aviation, artillery). Later, memorials in honour of the victims of the Second World War 1940-1945 were added. In the park that surrounds Villa Massena, on La Promenade des Anglais, next to the Negresco Hotel, there is a memorial dedicated to the victims of the July 14, 2016 terrorist attack. On that day, a mass of people celebrating the French national holiday, Bastille Day, was under attack. Tunisian Mohamed Bouhlel deliberately crashed a truck into a crowd on La Promenade des Anglais. Immediately after

that, he started shooting people and killing 84. At first, the shooting was mistaken for fireworks, so people did not react immediately. The driver was driving at a high speed of over 100 metres when he hit a crowd of spectators. He was eventually killed by police. The scene of this gruesome attack now features photographs, mostly of young people, men, women, of different faiths and races, including several Tunisians, who were killed here, as a testimony to the madness of terrorists. From the Bellanda Fortress on the hill above Nice has a great view of the city and the sea. It was built in 1825 on the site of earlier fortifications, at a time when Nice still belonged to the Italians, i.e. the Kingdom of Sardinia. Apparently, Emperor Napoleon III came to the town as soon as Nice was returned to France, climbed Bellanda and said: "This is the most

beautiful view I have ever seen!" People buried in the cemetery on the hill have the same view. Right next to the Catholic Church, there is a beautiful Jewish cemetery on the hill. The first syna-

why a large number of Jews from France found refuge in this city. Following the fall of Mussolini in 1943, the Germans entered Nice, and unfortunately, a large number of Jews were sent to concen-

SACHA SOSNO PARK WAS NAMED AFTER THE FAMOUS FRENCH SCULPTOR OF ESTONIAN ORIGIN, WHOSE WIDOW MASHA DONATED A LARGE NUMBER OF THE ARTIST'S SCULPTURES TO THE CITY OF NICE THREE YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH gogue in Nice was built in 1418. Both cemeteries were built on this site when Napoleon forbade burials in churches and synagogues in the late 18th century. In 1940, Nice was again under Italian rule and there was no organized Holocaust under Mussolini as in the German-occupied territories. That is

tration camps as a result. Henri Negresco, the son of a Romanian innkeeper, left Bucharest when he was 25, went to Paris and then to the French Riviera. As the director of the casino in Nice, he realized that the city needed a luxury hotel that would accommodate elite clientele. The Negresco Hotel was

opened in 1913 on the eve of the First World War. It is said that the chandelier containing 16,309 crystals was ordered from the famous company Baccarat with the help of Emperor Nicholas III, but the delivery was prevented by the October Revolution. During the First World War, the hotel was turned into a hospital and Negresco went bankrupt after the war. He was forced to sell the building to a Belgian company and soon died in Paris at the age of 52. The hotel and its fame have outlived him by more than a hundred years. During the terrorist attack on the English Promenade in Nice on July 14, 2016, the hotel lobby served to triage the injured. 109 years since its grand opening, the Negresco Hotel is synonymous with elegance and luxury and a monument to the shortlived French dream of the young Romanian.

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CULTURE NEWS

Belgrade Spring 2022

The Belgrade Spring 2022 pop music festival under the slogan "In a new spirit" will be held in the Kombank Hall on April 29, 2022. Exactly 60 years ago - on April 17, 1961, the prestigious FESTIVAL OF FUN MUSIC "BELGRADE SPRING" began its glamorous life on the stage of the Hall of the House of Trade Unions, today's Kombank Hall, which was considered a counterpart to the then Opatija Festival and the Italian San Remo. This real musical refreshment has brought many famous names of the music scene to a cult space with decades of tradition, and after the great jubilee, Kombank Hall aims to bring the great and significant BELGRADE SPRING back to life under its roof. Namely, after the rights for the festival and the brand, Kombank Hall bought from the "Association of Jazz, Pop and Rock Music of Serbia", it is planned that after the normalization of the epidemiological situation, under the auspices of the BELGRADE SPRING, the tradition in Kombank Hall will continue. The greats of the domestic entertainment scene shine on the big stage. At the initiative of the Art Ensemble "Stanislav Binički" and Vojkan Borisavljević, a concert of evergreen music was held in 2009, called Spring in Belgrade, and then in 2010 and 2011.

Serbia Fashion Week

KOLARAC

Programme

Saturday, 9th at 20.00 Concert Hall RTS SYMPHNY ORCHESTRA RTS Sreten Krstić, Artistic Leader Programme: Mozart,Mahler, Mendelssohn

Sunday, 10th at 11.00 Concert Hall BELGRADE PROMS' Uroš Adamović, violin Uki Ovaskainen, piano Programme: Brahms, Tchaikovsky

Tuesday, 12th at 20.00 Concert Hall TRADITIONAL SPRING ORCHESTRA Faculty of Music Sumphony Orchestra Conductor: Bojan Sudjić Aleksandar Sinčuk, piano Programme: I. Žebeljan, S. Rachmaninof, P. I. Tchaikovsky

Wednesday, 13th at 18.00 Music Gallery MUSIC WORKSHOP

Lana Zorjan, violin Natalija Mladenović, piano As Guest: Hana Semnic, cello Programme: J. Kocian, E. Elgar, A. Glazunov, C. Saint Saens, R. Gliere

Serbia Fashion Week is the fifth largest fashion week in Europe and the largest fashion week in Southeast Europe in terms of the number of visitors, the quality of production and the quality and scope of the programme. The average number of visitors per individual fashion week has so far been around 30,000, while a total of 70 fashion designers have shown their collections. Serbia Fashion Week is held twice a year, in April/ May and November. The event lasts seven days and showcases both national and international designers, as well as artists. It has several segments - international fashion, national fashion, educational conferences, seminars, workshops and panel discussions. Exhibitions of famous foreign and domestic artists, architects, interior and exterior designers, new forms of multimedia art, music concerts and retrospectives are all an integral part of the fashion week. Also, awards are presented to foreign and domestic participants of the event. Venue: Katolička Porta, Creative District, from 26th to 30th April

Thursday, 14th at 20.00 Concert Hall ART ENSEBLE OF THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE STANISLAV BINIČKI Conductor: Rade Pejčić Petar Pejčić, cello Programme: Haydn, Brahms, Kodály

Friday, 15th at 20.00 Concert Hall BELGRADE PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

Conductor: Antonio Mendez Soloist: Alice Sara Ott, piano Programme: M. Ravel, S. Prokofiev

Sunday, 17th at 11.00 Concert Hall BELGRADE PROMS' Ensemble Libercuatro/Tango Nuevo Ksenija Ristić, piano, Martina Dimić Radovanović, violin, Nataša Radovanović, vocal, Branko Džinović, accordion, bandoneon Boban Stošić, bass

Sunday, 17th at 20.00 Concert Hall RTS BIG BAND

Victor Goines, jazz saxophonist and clarinetist

Monday, 18th at 20.00 Concert Hall CHAMBER ENSEMBLE 13 STRINGS

Programme: Mozart, Erić, Elgar, Britn Artistic leader: Srdjan Sretenović

Wednesday, 20th at 18.00 Music Gallery PAMELA KIŠ IGNJATOV,

soprano, Maja Grujić, piano Programme: Milojević, Stojanović, Vujić, Rachmaninoff, Dvorak

Wednesday, 20th at 20.00 Concert Hall MUSIC SCHOOL DAVORIN JENKO Wednesday, 27th at 18.00 Music Gallery MARKO MILOSAVLJEVIĆ, bass baritone Ingrid Janković, piano Programme: Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff

Thursday, 28th at 20.00 Concert Hall ALEKSANDAR MADŽAR, PIANO Beethoven Sonatas 27 no. 1 & 2, op. 28, op. 90 i 101 Production: Music Centre

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