InFocus: Romania

MAY/JUNE 2024

ROMANIA

SERBIA IS ROMANIA’S CLOSEST FRIEND

H.E. Silvia Davidoiu

Ambassador of Romania to Serbia

ROMANIANS IN SERBIA CONTRIBUTE TO LOCAL CULTURE

Roman Bugar

Founder and Conductor of the National Orchestra of Romanians from Vojvodina and the Director of the Zrenjanin Philharmonic

GEOGRAPHY MATTERS

Adrian Cioroianu

Professor of History at the University of Bucharest

DISCOVER TIMISOARA

Step into the heart of Romania and uncover the vibrant charm of Timisoara, a city that seamlessly blends history, culture, and modernity. Known as “Little Vienna,” Timisoara boasts stunning architecture, lush parks, and a lively arts scene. Stroll through Union Square, marvel at the elegant Baroque buildings, and soak in the atmosphere of a city that’s both historic and forward-thinking.

Romania’s Hidden Gem

With its rich cultural heritage, including a tapestry of Romanian, Hungarian, and Serbian influences, Timisoara offers a unique experience for every traveler. The Serbian heritage is especially evident in the city’s historic Serbian Orthodox Cathedral and the Serbian Cultural Center, highlighting the deep-rooted connections and contributions of the Serbian community. Don’t miss the captivating museums, vibrant festivals, and bustling local markets. Whether you’re an architecture aficionado, a history buff, or simply looking to enjoy the warmth of Romanian hospitality, Timisoara is the perfect destination.

Visit Timisoara and let this enchanting city captivate your senses!

InFocus ROMANIA

MAY/JUNE 2024

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Potent, slow-breathing mountains, plains where yellow and green collide and paint a lowland beat populated by people whose language is italic, but whose heart is East European with a strong imprint of the south. This is Romania, surprisingly unknown and a surprise to a visitor. The Little Paris that outshines the original in many respects, a building so giant you need a special lens to photograph it, and people whose eyes indicate all kinds of interesting life underneath are faces of Bucharest, a grand, irresistibly cosmopolitan metropolis. A few hours away, castles right out of a Brothers Grimm tale have nested in forests where the colours of autumn leaves leave little space for words. And then, there is love Romanians have for Serbia, which a braid of historical circumstances has brought about and now it connects the nations whose countries are increasing business exchange and are discovering the benefits of knitting ever closer bonds.

Andrej Klemenčič

4

SERBIA IS ROMANIA’S CLOSEST FRIEND

H.E. SILVIA DAVIDOIU Ambassador of Romania to Serbia

10

SATISFIED PATIENTS ARE THE CORE OF OUR GROWTH

MARIJANA VASILESCU CEO of MediGroup

12

ROMANIANS IN SERBIA CONTRIBUTE TO LOCAL CULTURE

ROMAN BUGAR

Founder and Conductor of the National Orchestra of Romanians from Vojvodina and the Director of the Zrenjanin Philharmonic

14

GEOGRAPHY MATTERS

ADRIAN CIOROIANU

Professor of History at the University of Bucharest

Cover page: Peles castle, Sinaia, Romania / Photo: Shutterstock

SERBIA IS ROMANIA’S CLOSEST FRIEND

The lack of Romanian business presence in Serbia is not due to the lack of interest

H.E. SILVIA DAVIDOIU Ambassador of Romania to Serbia

Atrue intellectual, navigating with ease between cautiously presented, well-chosen words and passionate discourse, Ms Davidoiu speaks with equal dexterity of business as she does of history or culture. She unveils the story behind one of Romania’s most popular sayings and explains why Serbia has a very special place in Romanian hearts.

I learned recently of a saying that Romania has only two friends and one of them is Serbia. Before asking you how this is felt in Serbia, I would like to ask you if you feel that on a day-to-day basis, the Romanians are aware of the

role their western neighbor occupies in their nation’s subconscious.

The roots of the saying come from a very prominent historian and a great friend of Serbia, Nikolai Iorga who said that Romania has two real and true friends: Serbia and the Black Sea. Unfortunately for us, given recent developments, there are some question marks concerning the Black Sea…. but perhaps the Danube could take its place. Enemies are something you are acutely aware of, so your friends or allies sometimes

SERBIA IS THE GATEWAY TO THE REGION

linger in the background. So, Serbia, the neighbor with whom Romania has never had any conflict, has a moderate presence in the Romanian media, but most times no news is good news. Regarding daily life, I cannot recall a moment Serbia has been mentioned in a negative context. What differs is the level to which Romanians know Serbia. This knowledge is much greater in border regions such as Banat or alongside the Danube. In the communist time, Serbia was the beacon of life freedom, and democracy, and Romanians were learning Serbian from Serbian television to get information from the outside world. Now the exchange has many components: commercial, tourist, and cultural. I was recently in a town on the Serbian side of the border, and I was amazed at the number of people speaking Romanian. I was told that over the weekend the whole place is overwhelmed with Romanian tourists coming for the good restaurants on the other side of the border and to enjoy the scenery. The same goes for Serbians making their mini trips to Romania over the weekend to do some sightseeing and shopping and to explore the region a bit. So, there is this neutral positive feeling, and I think that this attitude coming from Romania is appreciated by the Serbians.

PROMOTING TRANSLATION PROJECTS IS KEY TO COLLABORATION IN CULTURE

NATO membership, we have managed to achieve a tremendous economic development. This does not mean we are on the same footing as Western European countries, but Romanian companies are now moving from just receiving investment to investing abroad. Serbia and the Balkans are the natural partners. Serbia is the gateway to the region, meaning you have to come and do business here first and then look around.

When it comes to Romania itself, there seems to be this negatively mystical perception of the country outside its borders. Do you believe that how Romania is perceived in Serbia is more realistic than in the rest of the world and if there is indeed a higher degree of cultural proximity between the two countries, how is this felt?

Do you believe there to be, beyond the flows of current politics, this deeply embedded positiveness in Serbia towards Romania as is the case with the Romanian perception of Serbia?

I think the same applies here. I mean, you are aware of all the challenges around you, of all of the problems you are confronted with: troubles in the neighborhood, Kosovo, the war in Ukraine. Romania is not on the agenda, and is not a problem, so, again, no news is good news. We could say that in the subconsciousness of the Serbian people Romania is a silent friend.

And outside of the silent framework, how is Romania present in Serbia economically, culturally, and politically? Again, this depends on the region, but I would say we are not economically as present as we would wish to be. Since taking the EU path, we have been Western-oriented, and we have looked for investment coming from abroad. We were, so to say, starting quite low, and to a large part thanks to the EU and the

It is not felt enough even though the connection exists. This is something that we have to work on because the cultural exchange, which was mainly in the domain of literature, has ceased somewhat as people do not read books as much as they used to. I therefore think that promoting translation projects is key for collaboration in culture. We also have great cooperation when it comes to film production. However, we are not always aware of this, as those films are less commercial. Also, exhibitions by Romanian and Serbian artists on the other side of the border are plentiful.

Speaking of languages, in Serbia, the biggest neighboring city in Romania is known as Temišvar, while in Romanian it is Timişoara. Does anyone mind the alternative pronunciation? Is it an issue for you if you hear the variation used in Serbia?

I can’t say if it is a problem privately but generally speaking, Romanians prefer it to be known in Serbia as Timişoara. However, as we are talking about a very, very multicultural city with 11 national minorities, including the Hungarian one, which brought about the Temišvar pronunciation, it is natural to have more pronunciations of the name.

Regarding the country’s take on multiculturalism, Romania’s most highly awarded writer, Herta Müller only learned Romanian in high school having been born to a German family in the entirely German-speaking part of Romania. She has and still writes in German, and even lives in Berlin. Would she be considered a Romanian or a German writer in Romania?

We acknowledge the author’s Romanian connection but, in such cases, we let the author decide on how they want to be represented. We have other prominent writers who are of German origin and it’s up to them to say in which measure the Romanian birthplace or the fact that they grew up in Romania has marked their identity. And this does not only go for writers. The Jewish community is an even better example. Up until some 30 years ago, Romanian Jews were the biggest community of newcomers in Israel. There are, among older generations, many, many prominent figures in Israel, be it in the army or in politics, including diplomacy, who were born in Romania, went to Romanian schools, and speaks perfect Romanian.

Moving a little bit towards the realm of neighbourly relations, Romania, after many years as an EU member has finally, at least in terms of air and sea frontiers, entered the Schengen area. The land border will likely follow soon. What will be the difference in terms of Serbia’s relationship with Romania in this sense? Are there going to be any practical changes when it comes to border crossing?

I can say very openly that the arrival of Schengen has been somewhat overdue. We were long prepared for joining and purely political reasons, subjective ones, have hindered us from becoming members sooner. Being a full member is important, not because it’s an ambition or because it’s a question of pride, but in very pragmatic terms we lose a lot

economically by not being in the zone. According to our estimates, between 2 and 3 billion euros is lost by Romanian businesses every year because of this. This costly border is also one of the most secure external borders in the EU. We were never on the Balkan migration route that would have justified this reluctance to give us the full Schengen status that we deserve. So, we must accept these are subjective reasons hindering normality.

You mentioned subjective reasons twice. What are you referring to, exactly?

SERBIA

AND ROMANIA ARE

ABOUT TO EMBARK ON A MAJOR GAS INTERCONNECTOR

COLLABORATION

I’m implying that some countries are using the border issue for their internal political campaigns, as is very visible in Austria, which had no objective reason to oppose our membership and the many Austrian companies in Romania were concerned about possible consequences for their business because of this. This border situation caused a big uproar in the society in Romania. You know, we as people are not very loud or vindictive, but we must acknowledge this is unfair, while at the same time trying to prove every minute and every second of every day that we fulfill all the Schengen membership criteria and are collaborating with other countries. One such excellent collaboration is the border control management between Romania and Serbia. As many as 19 million euros have been recently dedicated to border control improvement on both sides, including the training of the police force, rebuilding many police facilities alongside the border, and investment in modern technology, through a common project financed by the IPA-CBC transborder program. Of the many borders here in the region, the Romania-Serbia one is among the safest. There is a lot of effort put by both sides in securing this border so I don’t think that when Romania becomes a full member of Schengen with the terrestrial border, there will be any major impact because we are already very well prepared and our cooperation is running very, very well indeed.

When you represent Romania, do you find it to be well known for the things the Romanians would wish it were known for?

This is a very polite way to ask this question. Of course, we are not very happy with some of the prejudice against

us, and I think Serbians know very well how it is to have an undeserved image abroad. A part of the diplomatic portfolio is always to try to push as much as possible to project the correct image of your country. I am not saying all is perfect – far from that – but at the end of the day we’re much better than our reputation. We lack the marketing and media skills to promote ourselves correctly. Not better, but correctly.

Is there a rational explanation for this negative perception?

Yes, there is a rational explanation. I think that looking back and being very honest with ourselves, we gained a lot of sympathy at the beginning of the 90s because of what we had to go through during a very hard revolution. After that period, miners’ protests gripped a part of the country projecting an image of overall instability mainly because there was a lot of unrequested violence in Bucharest and subsequently coverage in the European media. This earned us in the West an image of a disastrously dysfunctional place. That was the beginning of the disaster and we have been fighting this image of poverty and shabby society ever since. That is why many Westerners are shocked when they come to Romania and find a normal and functioning country.

OF THE MANY BORDERS HERE IN THE REGION, THE ROMANIA-SERBIA ONE IS AMONG THE SAFEST

I was amazed to learn that the biggest private medical chain here is majorly owned by Romanian investors. Funnily enough, it is also one of those that has the least presence in the media and the advertising industry.

MediGroup is a major joint venture between the Romanian and Serbian capitals. In Serbia, they have over 72 clinics and are still expanding. Generally speaking, we have an impressive figure in terms of economic exchange which is over 2 billion euro, but it is far below our capacities. Energy is a major field, and this is probably going to be one of the key pillars of our future cooperation.

Moving back to the economy, in the past year, Romanian investment in Serbia has sort of skyrocketed. Is this a possible trend?

We always know that with the investment, these indicators go up starkly because many things pile up and then ten different investments get registered in the same fiscal year and of course, you know there will be a significant upward curve.

Is Romania too big economically to be interested so much in Serbia and what could we foresee for the next few years?

As I said before, in the 90s we started from a very low level, and we had a lot of catching up to do. The lack of Romanian business presence in Serbia is therefore not due to the lack of interest, but rather the capacity. Just now, the Romanian companies are opening themselves to the world and the region, and I believe much could be done here, particularly in the energy sector.

Do you believe that the potential of this region that Serbia and Romania in a way share is, just as the potential of collaboration between Romania and Serbia, yet to be uncovered?

It has been 52 years since our last major project together, the Djerdap hydropower plant. In some way or another, there is space for the two countries to develop something major together, and I may announce that we are on the verge of giving life to one such project as Serbia and Romania are about to embark on a major gas interconnector collaboration. The second project in the making would be a motorway connecting our two countries. Romania is the only neighboring country to Serbia with whom no major infrastructure connectivity exists. Thirdly, there is a need for an investment in railway because, currently, no trains are crossing the Serbia-Romania border. Given the increase in trade and the number of trucks at the border crossing, we need to consider starting to work on those issues most seriously indeed.

BIG RISE OF TRADE EXCHANGE

Economic cooperation between the Republic of Serbia and Romania is mostly based on commodity trade

The Republic of Serbia and Romania have an intensive bilateral political dialogue, based on a long tradition of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Back in 1836, the Principality of Serbia opened its first diplomatic mission, called the Princely-Serbian Diplomatic Agency, in Bucharest. In addition, the Alliance Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and Romania concluded in early 1868, is one of the first international bilateral agreements concluded by modern Serbia.

The Republic of Serbia was visited in 2018 by the then Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania, Teodor Melescanu. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, Nikola Selaković, made an official visit to Romania in June 2022. President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić made an official visit to Romania in 2018

ECONOMIC COOPERATION

Economic cooperation between the Republic of Serbia and Romania is mostly based on commodity trade, which recorded a continuous increase until the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. In terms of total exchange, Romania ranks seventh on the list of foreign trade partners of the Republic of Serbia.

In 2021, the total commodity trade with Romania amounted to 2.03 billion euros. For the third year in a row, exports amounted to over one billion euros in 2021. a record 1.19 billion euros, which is an increase of 7.2% compared to 2020,

THE ALLIANCE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA AND ROMANIA CONCLUDED IN EARLY 1868

Photo: The mighty Iron Gate is the most beautiful point of connection between Serbia and Romania / Shutterstock

while imports amounted to 845.3 million euros and was 17.4% less compared to 2020. In 2021 Romania was in seventh place in the exchange of Republic of Serbia with the world and our fourth export destination.

The volume of total investments of Romania in the Republic of Serbia in the past was of more modest scope, and, according to the data from the NBS, in the period from 2010 to 2021, total net investments amounted to 173, 1 million euros. In 2021, net investments amounted to 21.2 million euros.

SERBIA-ROMANIA BUSINESS FORUM

According to data from the Chamber of Commerce of Serbia, trade between Serbia and Romania is on the rise. In 2022, it amounted to 2.5 billion euros, which spurred an initiative for a meeting between Serbian and Romanian businessmen.

In April 2023, the Chamber of Commerce of Serbia organized a highly successful Serbia-Romania business forum attended by representatives of 31 Romanian and 43 Serbian companies. Mihailo Vesović, Director of the Department for Strategic Analysis, Services, and Internationalization at the Chamber, stated that this was the first visit by a Romanian business delegation in the past 10 years.

He added that the focus following this meeting will be on enhancing trade cooperation, which is already at an impressive level. “Our trade exchange amounted to 2.5 billion euros last year. We need to see how we can leverage the advantages of the Danube, the port of Constanța, and other logistics and transport issues. But the most important economic topics worldwide are food security and energy security,” said Vesović.

The two countries share the Đerdap area, and food supply security is a critical issue for the future, Vesović emphasized, noting that Romania is a major producer of wheat, corn, and sunflower seeds, ranking first or second in Europe.

“We are interested because we attract the same potential investors. Those who invest in both Serbia and Romania must look for local suppliers on both sides. We already have Ger-

OUR TRADE EXCHANGE AMOUNTED

TO 2.5 BILLION EUROS LAST YEAR

man companies operating in both countries, needing fast movement of people and capital,” Vesović added.

He stressed the need to improve infrastructure, including roads, the Danube, and border crossings, to expedite transport. “I invite all companies to reach out to us throughout the year. We plan a return visit and delegation, aiming for it to coincide with a major fair in Romania, as the Serbian economy has not been organized at any fair there for ten years. I believe we will succeed in doing so this fall,” Vesović concluded.

The President of the Romanian Chamber of Commerce, Mihai Daraban, stated that Serbia is a very significant partner for Romania and that Serbian companies are important for the port of Constanța.

“The most modern terminal in the port of Constanța, built in 2005 or 2006, was constructed by a Serbian company,” Daraban said. He added that unfortunately, when it comes to the Danube and its transport, only three countries are interested—Austria, Serbia, and Romania—while Bulgaria, Slovakia, and Hungary are not. “With one convoy on the Danube, we can transport 18,000 tons of goods at once. You can conclude what this means—is it better to transport those 18,000 tons via the Danube or by road?” Daraban asked.

Since Romania joined the EU in 2007, it has had 34 billion in direct investments, and last year alone achieved 107 billion euros in direct investments, Daraban pointed out.

“Serbia can be a good partner for us. We must overcome and learn to go beyond EU borders. Our intention, from a relatively stable position, is to somehow conquer the EU economy. I believe we have reached that level in Romania, given that 75% of our exports go to the EU, 10% is with non-EU countries like Serbia and other Balkan countries,” Daraban emphasized.

He believes that the two countries should work together to conquer markets outside the EU, as individual countries do not have the business capacity to capture markets such as North or South America alone. “If we unite, our companies with common fields of activity might succeed,” Daraban said.

Photo:

THE ROMANIAN PRIVATE HEALTHCARE

SECTOR CAN BE

A ROLE MODEL FOR THE SERBIAN MARKET

Satisfied Patients are the Core of our Growth

MARIJANA VASILESCU CEO of MediGroup

An international expert in banking, Marijana Vasilescu has directed her experience towards solidifying field leadership of MediGroup, the biggest player in private healthcare in Serbia.

MediGroup is now everywhere, but at the same time, it remains visibly invisible or invisibly visible, if you will, given the very low-key presence in terms of advertisement. You started about a decade ago, and you are already the biggest company in the field of private healthcare. How did something so discreet in a place where discreet is not exactly the modus operandi, become so successful so quickly?

MediGroup, established in 2013, has achieved market leadership and high brand awareness in the healthcare sector, despite our subtle advertising. Our brand is well-recognized and top of mind among citizens of Serbia. In the beginning, we focused on enhancing accessibility and improving service quality. The initial priority was to establish a strong foundation, allowing people to recognize our brand. Now, we can enter a phase of increasing our public presence and advertising efforts. The story of MediGroup is a natural development when it comes to private medical services in the country. In 2013 we started with eminent Dr Ristic and Jedro health centers, and well-known IVF center Jevremova, and then continued with the acquisition of some of the

WE

ARE INVESTING IN NEW EQUIPMENT TO COMPLEMENT OUR TEAM OF TOP EXPERTS

recognized names in the field of private medical healthcare – laboratories, hospitals. Also, the Jevremova clinic and the ophthalmology clinic Miloš with their doctors renowned in Europe helped consolidate our presence in the minds of Serbia’s residents. In terms of private maternity, we dominate in the market, and we recently celebrated the 6000th baby born in our maternity ward in Belgrade. Furthermore, another major acquisition was a couple of years ago when we acquired the leading laboratory network, Konzilijum, which puts us at the very top when it comes to laboratory services. So, all in all, we just consolidated our leadership position, and we are now the clear market leader in Serbia. We have laboratories all over the country, and in terms of outpatient services, we have a pres-

ence in Belgrade and Novi Sad, where we are currently working on opening another center, as well as in Subotica, Niš, Smederevo, and soon in Kragujevac also, while Pančevo, too, is on our radar. We aim for our patients to easily find us wherever they are in Serbia.

Where is Serbia right now in terms of the private healthcare market?

Serbia is developing significantly in this sector, and there is considerable potential here. The private healthcare market is experiencing strong double-digit growth year-on-year, with an estimated market size of about 350 million euros in 2023. I was born in Romania, where I also began my career, and MediGroup has strong connections with Romania’s private healthcare leader, Regina Maria, so I can compare the beat of both markets, even though Romania is a significantly larger country. It has a market size of about 4.5 billion euros, and I believe that difference emphasizes the immense potential in the Serbian market.

oped position, however, offers the advantage of greater agility in implementing new ideas and systems. This period presents an exciting time, particularly in private healthcare. For instance, MediGroup is experiencing an annual growth rate exceeding 20% in Serbia. This broader trend of growth across this region is attracting the attention of individuals who have ventured to the West for learning and development opportunities but are now returning. We must capitalize on this momentum to create an environment that fosters their return.

What could Romanian business practice learn from Serbia and vice versa?

And how would you like to grow?

Our primary focus has been to establish a comprehensive range of services, a goal we’ve achieved through the acquisition of renowned private healthcare institutions. As a result, we’ve evolved into a sizable system, where over 2000 people collaborate. Along with our growth, our commitment to ensuring patient satisfaction remains unwavering. To this end, we’ve established a dedicated patient care division, intensifying our focus on monitoring service quality. Within this division, we are defining and implementing standards and providing comprehensive training to our personnel at all levels to ensure adherence. Satisfied patients are the core of our growth. Additionally, as we’ve acquired numerous institutions with their own established practices, consolidating our workforce under a unified corporate culture and a unique umbrella brand is key. Furthermore, we are investing in new equipment to complement our team of top experts.

You have worked in Kazakhstan and Russia; you studied in Bucharest and also in London but you opted not to stay in the West. Does this mean there is some kind of a business renaissance in the East?

Drawing from my personal experience, having been born and raised in Romania, an emerging market characterized by rapid development, I’ve witnessed significant double-digit growth rates in sectors like banking and retail banking, a phenomenon not commonly seen in the West. Coming from an underdevel-

COMING FROM AN UNDERDEVELOPED POSITION OFFERS GREATER AGILITY IN IMPLEMENTING NEW IDEAS AND SYSTEMS

Compared to other countries in the former socialist bloc, Romania endured perhaps one of the most challenging historical experiences. The early 1990s characterized a sobering period marked by corruption and slow development, a necessary transition from a repressive dictatorship. That period may have been essential for maturing and understanding the responsibilities of democracy.

Until the year 2000, Romania’s development lagged behind that of the neighboring countries. However, following the EU accession process, progress accelerated exponentially. I believe Serbia can draw valuable lessons from Romania’s experiences to navigate its transition more effectively. Given the strong rapport between our nations, there’s a big potential for deeper mutual understanding and learning. While both Serbia and Romania have looked towards Western Europe for inspiration, I advocate for a closer examination of our shared experiences. By learning from each other, we can unlock our full potential and support one another’s development.

Finally, as you mentioned that you are part Serbian, do you believe your origins help you navigate better your life in Belgrade?

It undeniably contributes to my sense of relaxation and to being more tolerant towards the environment I live in, while also providing valuable insight. Unfortunately, the pride people have here can frequently be channeled less than productively, but if it is redirected toward growth, it can unlock remarkable potential.

THE ENCHANTED LIFE OF MARIE OF ROMANIA, QUEEN OF YUGOSLAVIA

Young Marie was destined for a life that would intertwine the fates of two nations

Once upon a time, in the opulent halls of the Romanian royal court, a young princess named Marie was born on January 6, 1900. She was the daughter of King Ferdinand I and Queen Marie of Romania, and her early life was filled with the splendor and responsibilities that came with royalty. Known affectionately as “Mignon” within her family, young Marie was destined for a life that would intertwine the fates of two nations.

As she blossomed into a young woman, destiny once again played its hand. In 1922, at the age of 22, Princess Marie’s life took a dramatic turn when she married Alexander I of Yugoslavia. Their union was more than a marriage; it was a symbol of unity and hope for both nations. With her marriage, she became known as Queen Maria of Yugoslavia, stepping into a new role with grace and determination.

Queen Maria’s arrival in Yugoslavia marked the beginning of a new chapter. She embraced her new country with the same fervor she had for her homeland. The people of Yugoslavia soon fell under the spell of their new queen, who radiated kindness and warmth. She worked tirelessly to bridge the cultural and political divides within the young kingdom, promoting unity and understanding among its diverse population.

Her reign as queen consort was not without challenges. The political landscape of Yugoslavia was fraught with tensions and complexities, but Queen Maria remained a steady and calming presence. She supported her husband, King Alexander, in his efforts to modernize and stabilize the country. Her diplomatic skills and innate ability to connect with people from all walks of life proved invaluable during these turbulent times.

In addition to her political duties, Queen Maria was a devoted mother to her three sons: Crown Prince Peter, Prince Tomislav, and Prince Andrej. She nurtured them with the same love and care she had received from her mother, ensuring they grew up with a strong sense of responsibility and compassion.

Photo: Queen Maria / Royal Family of Serbia

Tragedy struck on October 9, 1934, when King Alexander was assassinated during a state visit to France. The loss of her husband was a devastating blow, and Queen Maria found herself a widow at the age of 34. Despite her grief, she remained resilient, focusing on her children’s well-being and continuing her charitable work.

As the political climate in Europe grew increasingly volatile with the rise of World War II, Queen Maria faced new challenges. She sought refuge in England with her children, navigating the complexities of exile with grace. Even in the face of adversity, her commitment to her adopted homeland and her tireless efforts to support her people never wavered.

PRINCESS MARIE’S LIFE TOOK A DRAMATIC TURN WHEN SHE MARRIED ALEXANDER I OF YUGOSLAVIA

After the war, Queen Maria continued to live in exile, but she never lost her connection to Yugoslavia. She remained a beloved figure, remembered for her elegance, compassion, and unwavering dedication. Her later years were spent in quiet reflection, surrounded by her family and cherished memories.

Queen Maria of Yugoslavia passed away on June 22, 1961, in London. Her legacy, however, lives on. She is remembered not only as a queen and a mother but as a beacon of hope and resilience during some of the most challenging times in European history.

Her story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the enduring power of love and duty. From the grand palaces of Romania to the heart of Yugoslavia, Queen Maria’s life was a journey of courage, compassion, and unwavering commitment to her people. Her legacy continues to inspire, a timeless tale of a queen who bridged nations with grace and dignity.

Photo: Portrait of Queen Maria of Yugoslavia, painted in 1922 by Paja Jovanović

ROMANIANS IN SERBIA CONTRIBUTE TO LOCAL CULTURE

The Department of Romanians in Diaspora within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues year-round calls to fund projects of Romanians living abroad

ROMAN BUGAR

Founder and Conductor of the National Orchestra of Romanians from Vojvodina and the Director of the Zrenjanin Philharmonic

Athe biggest Romanian orchestra on this side of the border as well as the Zrenjanin Philharmonic and the Grand Festival of Folklore of Romanians from Vojvodina.

You spend your time between Novi Sad, Zrenjanin, and Ečka where you have a studio. What is it that you do there?

I have one of the acoustically best studios in the country. The idea was to make a space where my students could hear themselves play. Practices at home are one thing, but it is completely different when a performer can hear the results immediately after performing. This immediate feedback gives the performer valuable insight. The second reason was my

chairing of the National Orchestra of Romanians in Vojvodina which has played in almost all cities in Romania, and still does, very, very successfully. Many soloists wanted to have quality audio recordings. In the 80s and 90s, there were the Slovakian-Hungarian and Romanian-Serbian orchestras, with which many leading Romanian soloists recorded their records, tapes, and CDs.

Apart from the studio and the orchestra, your connection to Romania is presiding the Grand Festival of Folklore of Romanians from Vojvodina.

Indeed. This is one of the oldest Romanian festivals in the world. This year marks the 64th edition. In 2018, to mark the 100th anniversary of the Unification of Romania, the then president of the country Klaus Iohannis awarded the festival a medal for its contribution to culture. This festival gathers up to 3,000 participants. It takes place in August, changing location. This year, it takes place in Grebenac, next to Bela Crkva.

How do you as a representative of the Romanian national minority, feel the presence of Romania in Serbia?

At some moments, this support is stronger, sometimes, less so. Recently, we have had the strongest surge of this support for as long as I can recall.

How is this support visible?

IN ROMANIA, PRACTICALLY EVERY TOWN HAS A SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRA

The Department of Romanians in Diaspora within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues year-round calls to fund projects of Romanians living abroad. The amounts are generous. The Romanian state gives 50%, and we have to provide the rest. Financing from Serbia, for that second half, would not be sufficient, so we need to find other means, including sponsorships. This support is a strong wind at the back to the events supported enabling them to maintain the level they are on today.

You head a major festival, an orchestra. One might say that you are at the very forefront of Romanian culture in Serbia. You were brought up in a Romanian-speaking family. Did this desire to spearhead the culture of Roma-

nians in Serbia spring during your growing up?

It is, in fact, the other way around. It was the Romanian music that made me do what I do.

How come?

In my house, for as long as I can remember, Romanian folk music was present. Through my grandfather and my father, who chaired a folklore ensemble, the music, and the folklore have always been there. I knew, growing up, that what I wanted to do was to play that music. So, my father bought me a saxophone, which is a typical instrument in Romanian folk music. I passed the entrance exam to the music school, but my name was not on the list the day the classes were supposed to start. When my father called the school head, the director told him I was too young for the saxophone, but the violin was an option. That instrument has been with me since. All my education was geared towards having the best possible technique, and the most knowledge to be a good example of playing the Romanian national music at the highest level possible. So, I became a part of the Štefan Štefu Culture and Arts Association, and I created a small orchestra and a choir.

ALL MY EDUCATION WAS GEARED TOWARDS BEING A GOOD EXAMPLE OF PLAYING ROMANIAN NATIONAL MUSIC AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL

How come there is such an extremely high level of culture-consciousness there?

Because it is a need. It isn’t conscious. I did not consciously go about creating the orchestra, but I simply followed the need.

This was when you were how old? Fifteen.

What an early time to become a director.

I was at school in 1999 and the schools were called off during the bombing. A church cantor then came to work with the kids, so we could sing in church for Easter. So, within that church, there was a choir, and to go through the repertoire, they needed someone who knew how to read sheet music. And just like that, they suggested I chaired the choir. This is how the orchestra and the choir came to be, and also during my time at the secondary school, I tried to create a mini-orchestra. All this has to do with my growing up. I come from Ečka, a small environment. Zrenjanin is a municipality, which also did not have an orchestra or cultural events at the time. This bothered me because I knew there was potential, but people simply did not want to deal with setting something up. And so it happened that in Zrenjanin, the first place with the philharmonic in Serbia dating back to 1899, I started, upon my initiative, a philharmonic orchestra 60 years after the original one had stopped playing. This orchestra of ours is playing all over Europe.

Would this make Zrenjanin the smallest place in Europe with a philharmonic?

Not at all. In Romania, practically every town has a symphonic orchestra, and every city of more than 70-80,000 people even has an opera. As well as a philharmonic.

There is an interesting trend when people finish classical music, and ballet schools in Western Europe, they go to Romania for work. How do you explain this privileged position of Romania and one could even go as far as to say East Europe when it comes to culture?

Because there is a consciousness that one must invest in culture. Romania also had George Enescu, a world-famous composer, who also contributed to classical music awareness in the country. I would like things in Serbia to move in the direction of raising cultural awareness.

And what is the every day of Romanians in Serbia? How does the Romanian community in Serbia breathe nowadays?

I think that the Romanian community feels a slight pressure from the divisions brought about by the nowadays politics. The founding of the national councils is subject to political currents. I tried to help in the Romanian one, but I am apolitical, so it made no sense to continue.

And privately, how do the Romanians live in Serbia?

These political divisions are also mirrored on the private level. Political allegiance only reduces the enthusiasm when it comes to culture workers. I believe they should stay beyond politics if they work with their hearts and want to contribute to the development of culture.

ADRIAN CIOROIANU Professor of History at the University of Bucharest

for the West is Common to Serbia and Romania

GEOGRAPHY MATTERS

Ahistorian, politician, essayist, and former UNESCO Ambassador, Professor Adrian Cioroianu reflects upon where Romanians and Serbians, independently and together, stand nowadays and how they got there.

How did an Italic language land so far in the East?

How the Latin language arrived on the territory of today’s Romania is clear: through the expansion of the Roman Empire and at the end of several wars against the Dacians, at the beginning of the 2nd century A.D. But the real question is not how the Latin language got here, but how this Romanic dialect was preserved in our area.

Do Romanians, given this peculiar language situation, feel isolated, geographically speaking? Living in Spain, one can easily notice that Romanians, once they move there, feel almost immediately at home.

anyway. I think all of us, the Romanians as well as the Serbs, would like to be a little „more to the West” but the truth is that no people can escape from their geography. I would say that the Romanians are not afraid of all of their Slavic neighbours - or, to put it more directly, the only Slavs who were a threat in our modern history

NO PEOPLE CAN ESCAPE FROM THEIR GEOGRAPHY

What was the birth of what is now called the Romanian nation?

The Romanian people are old, but the Romanian nation, in the modern sense of the term, is much younger. In the Middle Ages, Romanians identified themselves as “Romanians” based on the language they spoke, regardless of whether they lived in different states, such as Moldova, Wallachia, Transylvania, or various other areas in the Balkans. For example, the Romanians never called themselves Wallachians - this is an appellation from outside. The claim of the Romanians as a nation began massively in the 18th century, in Transylvania, as a defence reaction against the official Hungarianization policy there. Given that Romanians, in the Habsburg Empire, were seen as second-rate people, due to their Orthodox religion, in the first place, the Romanian elite defended themselves by citing their ancestral Latin origin.

How did Vlad III end up in a book about vampires? In Romania, he is known as sort of a hero for keeping the Turks out of the country. Yet, in the Western subconsciousness, it is because of him that Romania is perceived as a somewhat dark place. What was his story?

No, I don’t think Romanians feel isolated, because it wouldn’t do any good

were the Russians, but not only for us. Indeed, Romanians feel very much at home in Italy or Spain and I think that the main element of this „familiarity” is the language. An average educated Romanian needs a few months to learn basic Italian or Spanish. Even in Romanian, you can build sentences using only words of Latin origin and then, you can make yourself understood by a Spanish or Italian. But, in the current language, obviously, the Romanian language also has Slavic, Turkish, and Hungarian words. As I said, geography matters.

Vlad III, known as Vlad the Impaler, is a fascinating historical figure. First of all, he was a mid-15th-century Romanian ruler who did indeed fight against the Turks. But his dark fame is due in large part to the bad relations he had with the Saxon merchants of Transylvania. As he imposed certain taxes on them, they started a fierce counter-propaganda, according to which Vlad was almost mad, bloodthirsty, diabolical leader. In 1897, the Irish writer Bram Stoker translated these legends into the novel Dracula and that is how this myth was born – a myth which, today, is a successful marketing campaign for Transylvania, in particular, and for Romania, in a wider sense.

We touched upon how a nation can feel isolated in this part of the world, but could we go as far as to say that this part of Europe has been somewhat isolated from Europe itself? Is this due to some kind of fear of easternness and where would one find root for such a sentiment? Eastern

by Andrej Klemenčič

WE ARE WITNESSING A CHALLENGE TO THE WESTERN NARRATIVE, BUT THIS CHALLENGE IS CYCLICAL

Yes, I think that all of us, the easterners have this feeling of isolation, and the explanation lies in our history and, above all, in the former sphere of influence of the Ottoman Empire, then the Soviet Union, and so forth. In the case of Romanians, this feeling dominated the intellectual debates in the 19th and 20th centuries. In the 1980s, in the era of Nicolae Ceaușescu, a character in a novel by the Romanian writer Constantin Țoiu said in French „les Roumains sont des européens mal placés”, that is, „Romanians are Europeans badly placed”. I also dealt with this subject, in a study in which I wrote about a continuous attempt of the Romanians, in the last two centuries, to „escape” from the Balkans.

Do you feel that this common sense of rejection, if that wording is not

too strong, is something that unites or should bring closer the people of South-East Europe?

We Easterners should be a bit more solidary among ourselves. First of all, because our historical destiny was often shared. For example, an average Romanian knows the history of France or England better than that of neighbouring countries, such as Serbia or Bulgaria. Likewise, I think that an average Serb knows more about Italy or Germany than about Romania. This seems unfortunate to me, and we all are probably missing out on opportunities that don’t even cross our minds.

Speaking of uniting, Romanians have a very positive perception of Serbia, and there is even a saying that Romania has only two true friends: Serbia and the Black Sea. How did this say-

ing come to be? Why Serbia? What is it that, from the Romanian perspective, binds these two nations?

To be fair, Serbia is the only country in our neighborhood with which we have not had a conflict - and I think this is where the real sympathy that many Romanians feel towards the Serbs comes from. I remember that in my grandparents’ village in South-West Romania, on the banks of the Danube, the romantic image of Serbian and Bulgarian outlaws who fought against the Ottomans and sometimes crossed the Danube into Romania persisted even in the 20th century. When I was a child, in the 80s, I watched more of the Yugoslav television than the Romanian one and Lepa Brena was part of my growing up. In the summer I would go to the „Serbian market” in Drobeta Turnu Severin, and buy „guma za žvakanje”, and my parents appreciated Vegeta spices or Serbian cigarettes. But, on the other hand, also in the village of my grandparents, something else was said: „A wise Serb and a green horse have never been seen.”, this refers to the stubbornness of the Serbs, which is sometimes beneficial, sometimes not.

Photo: Brasov, Transylvania. Romania. The medieval Castle of Bran is known for the myth of Dracula / Shutterstock

Have you had any chance to look into how Serbs perceive Romania and the Romanians? What are your impressions?

Yes, I think that broadly speaking, Serbs also sympathize with Romanians, but it probably also depends on the region of Serbia. In Romania also, Serbs are better known and more liked in the South of the country than in the North. As a foreign minister, I was invited in 2007 by my Serbian counterpart, Vuk Jeremić, to speak in front of the diplomats from Belgrade. I was honoured and I think we understood each other perfectly. From a diplomatic point of view, we have only one subject of discord: in Bucharest, we do not understand why our Serbian neighbors call the Romanophones from the Balkans “Wallachians” and not “Romanians”. Otherwise, I think that most Romanians are surprised when they find out that Serbs are much more Russophile than the Romanians.

Your academic work has touched upon the role of dictatorship in Romania. When I talk to Romanians, they would frequently emphasize the brutality of the regime. What kind of an imprint has this left on the Romanian soul, you think, and how would this be mirrored in day-to-day life? Honestly, I believe that Romanians, as a people, are hard to lead. We are individualists, we have greater confidence in our families than in institutions, and submission to authority is more often declarative than effective. As a historian, I am convinced that this is the reason why, in Romania, the communist regime began, in 1945-1948, by scaring the society - precisely to anesthetize the independent thinking of individuals. Of course, the communist regime had many common features in all the Eastern countries. But, comparing the communist regime in East Germany and the one in Romania, I realized that the Romanians are much harder to drive - because they are less disciplined, nonconformists, more willing to favour negotiation rather than the firm contract, and more capable of concealment. In a way, this ability to cover up or say one thing at home and a completely different thing at work, even if it is not morally correct, has saved us during the decades of the communist regime.

WE DO NOT YET HAVE THE INSTINCTS NECESSARY TO PRESERVE OR DEVELOP OUR HERITAGE

My opinion, as a historian, is that the communist regime hasn’t changed the morals in Romania, but rather our morals and traditions have shaped the local communist regime. And I think this is true for Serbia, as well.

In what way has this underprivilegedness of the societies of the East been seized as an opportunity and what do you perceive their political and economic role might be, now that the world seems to have entered an era of a somewhat more polyphonic narrative, where the Western set of beliefs is observed from a variety of new perspectives if not altogether questioned?

In my opinion, Romania’s accession to NATO in 2004 and then to the European Union in 2007 represent stages of historical importance for my country. In the years 1986-1987, as I said, I was watching the Yugoslav television and I remember how the Yugoslavs were discussing, then, about the chances of the Dinar joining the European Common Currency and such. At that time, the Serbs were light-years away in front of the Romanians, in their relationship

with the generic West. Of course, today, in many spaces, we are witnessing a challenge to the Western narrative, but this challenge is cyclical. I believe that we’ll enter again an „era of empires”, in which great powers, or regional powers, such as the United States, China, India, Russia, Iran, and so on will develop their narratives. And the European Union will have to act as such, as an entity because no longer are France, Germany, or England strong enough to determine world geopolitics. Therefore, I think the European Union will be increasingly integrated, to count as a political actor in the following decades. The partnership between the European Union and the United States will continue in the foreseeable future.

As the former ambassador to UNESCO, do you feel that the Eastern part of the Roman Empire has been given sufficient credit when it comes to the number of monuments and the size of the protected area and how are the Romanians and the residents of Serbia treating this heritage?

Neither the Romanians nor the Serbs have that culture of the heritage that the French or the Northern states have, for example. We are young states and we do not yet have the instincts necessary for preserving or developing our heritage. What I say is not a criticism, but a historical conclusion. I am convinced, on the other hand, that the situation now, in the ministries in Bucharest or Belgrade, is better than a hundred years ago. To give you an example: numerous museums or libraries in Romania have not yet completed the inventory of their pieces; so, technically speaking, the Romanians still do not know the complete value of their national heritage. As an ambassador to UNESCO, I was informed by my colleagues from Serbia about the Orthodox churches in Kosovo, which were in danger of degradation, for various reasons. On the other hand, I know for sure that in Romania or Serbia, there are countless historical buildings whose renovation is always postponed, because our political officials have other priorities. I remain optimistic: our heritage culture is in evolution and, from one decade to another, we will be more aware of the treasures we have.