D I P L O M A CY
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British
NATIO NAL DAY IN FOCUS
LAR GEST ROYAL H O ME
BIG BEN IS THE BELL
WHA' D ID YO U SAY, MATE?
Windsor Castle is the largest royal home in the world, having been built by William the Conqueror around A.D. 1080.
Big Ben does not refer to the famous clock, but actually to the bell. This tower is one of London’s major icons.
In the UK, accents change noticeably about every 25 miles (40km).
B A N K SY
THE SHORTEST OF THE SHORT
The artistic antihero Banksy is the world famous for his guerrilla graffiti but his true identity is a secret.
The world's shortest scheduled airline flight lasts 2 minutes (record is 52s). It connects two islands in the UK, Loganair Westray and Papa Westray. The route is flown by Loganair, and costs £17.
British N AT I O N A L DAY
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Our relations Are on the Rise We want to broaden our cooperation this year – the 180th since we established diplomatic relations. The importance of our close bilateral relations remains as important as ever
INTER VIEW
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ver the course of this year and the celebrations we have organised as part of the 180th year I have been struck by just how long and deep our relations run. The event to mark exactly 180 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations in Kragujevac in June was a wonderful event and illustrated very well how much closer we are than one might think Following Brexit, how do you now view the importance of Great Britain's presence in Serbia, and the bilateral relations between the two countries? › The importance of our close bilateral
relations remains as important as ever, regardless of the realities of Brexit. As our Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary often say, we are leaving the EU but we are not leaving Europe and therefore our desire to see a safe, secure and prosperous Europe has not changed. And Europe of course includes Serbia. The UK presence in Serbia is as big as ever and will continue to be as we support the reforms that will bring about the integration of Serbia into the EU. Serbia has a key role in ensuring the stability of this region and we respect that through maintaining political interest, fostering cooperation and continuing financial support for key reforms.
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This year, we are celebrating an important jubilee – 180 years since the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Serbia and Great Britain. How would you rate the current relations relative to the historical period behind us? › Relations between Serbia and the UK
are on the rise. Our Foreign Secretary and the new Serbian President enjoy a warm personal relationship, our Embassy is growing as we broaden and deepen our cooperation, and bilateral trade is growing in double digit percentage points each year. Nobody would deny that our relationship suffered at the end of the last century and the beginning of this one - and of course there are some areas where we still do not see eye to eye - but in relative terms our relationship today is much better. Of course, relations can always be better, and we hope to continue to develop that trend of improving relations as Serbia nears EU accession, as our bilateral trade and integration grows, and as our programme funds help Serbia to make important reforms. Over the course of this year and the celebrations we have organised as part of the 180th year I have been struck by just how long and deep our relations run. The event to mark exactly 180 years since the establishment of diplomatic
H.E. DENIS KEEFE Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Serbia
relations in Kragujevac in June was a wonderful event and illustrated very well how much closer we are than one might think. What impact do these redefined relations between the EU and Great Britain have on your involvement in Serbia's accession to the EU? › It is important to underline that until the
We also want to support Serbia in promoting regional stability and prosperity
UK formally leaves the EU we are a fully functioning member of the Union and will continue to play our full part, including enjoying all the rights and obligations that entails. That means that whilst the Article 50 negotiations continue – and until such a point that they are formally concluded – we will continue to support Serbia’s accession path and play a full part in pushing for reforms and movement in the opening of Chapters of the Acquis. In reality, once we leave the EU we don’t anticipate that we will change our support for Serbia’s accession; we just won’t be part of the EU. We will continue – through mechanisms like the Good Governance Fund – to provide real support for real reform that support Serbia’s efforts to progress in areas crucial to its EU accession. These are all reforms that are important for Serbia to make in of themselves, for the good of its citizens, not just for the sake of accession to
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the EU. Ultimately, successful reforms would mean a better court system, less corruption, less bureaucratic government institutions, a better environment for business, a better natural environment, and freer media to reference only a few. Quite simply, we want Serbia to achieve all of these things, so we will continue to support its EU accession. Do you think that Britain leaving the EU will encourage eurosceptics that are vocal in Serbia too? › As I said at the beginning of the inter-
view, the UK is not leaving Europe. This may sound like semantics, but it is important. The EU is part of Europe, so it follows that we want the EU to prosper when we leave. It is not in our or anyone else’s interests to weaken the EU, as that will weaken Europe. Of course, the fact that we are leaving may well encourage others who want to pursue their own aims, but
us to suggest that we wouldn’t like progress to come more quickly, but reform of institutions such as the tax administration and the judiciary take time to get right. We hope that with the promotion of Ana Brnabic to the position of Prime Minister – and given her energy in pushing crucial reforms in Serbia – we will now see greater impetus in making these critical changes, all with the full support of the UK Government. At my meeting with Ana in early July, we agreed that we would continue to work closely together, as we had done when she was Minister of Local Government and Public Administration. She welcomed the UK’s role through the Good Governance Fund (GGF) in supporting reform and we are happy to continue to do so.
terrorism and organised crime. My team working on these issues in the Embassy is growing and we continue to enjoy good cooperation with the Minister of Interior, Nebojsa Stefanovic, and his team. In defence, we want to develop our relationship, adding value where we can – the joint operation Platinum Wolf in June was one such excellent example. We also want to support Serbia in promoting regional stability and prosperity. So we will continue, through our multi-million pound Good Governance Fund, to support Serbia in encouraging connectivity and investment in the region, whilst making the internal reforms that are good for Serb citizens. Those reforms will also encourage investment from British companies that see greater stability and security in the business environment. With the Western Balkan Summit to be held in London in 2018, we are keen to take forward the work already done by our partners in Berlin, Paris and Rome. This means providing real support for regional integration and development, including on digital connectivity, youth and security. This will feature strongly in our development support leading up to July 2018.
Apart from the EU integration process, Serbia and Great Britain have
How much did Serbia progress in the economic reforms in the last three years in terms of becoming more of a market economy? › Progress in economic and fiscal reform
we will continue to support Serbia on its path towards the European Union, and we continue to think that Serbia’s interests are best served through joining the EU. In the last two years, through its Good Governance Fund, Great Britain has been lending support to the tax administration and judicial reforms in Serbia. Why is Serbia's progress in these areas still relatively slow? › Serbia has a lot to reform, and good
reforms are only ever done carefully and thoroughly. It would be wrong for
been cooperating on a number of issues – from political reforms and conflict prevention to collaborating in defence, commerce and investments, as well as in fighting organised crime. What do you think are the top priorities in regard to this cooperation at the moment? › We want to broaden our cooperation
this year – the 180th since we established diplomatic relations. In the light of the awful attacks in Manchester and London, our key priority in cooperation with the Serbian Government will be on fighting
SUPPORT
EU INTEGRATION The UK presence in Serbia is as big as ever and will continue to be as we support the reforms that will bring about the integration into the EU.
has been one of the key successes in recent years for Serbia. The decision to invite the IMF in, and to stick to the Standby Arrangement, was a very important one. The reforms that Serbia has made in keeping with that agreement, alongside a real desire to improve the business environment and to encourage foreign investment has meant that Serbia now looks much more like a fully functioning market economy than it did before. The work done to reduce the fiscal deficit and stabilize public debt has contributed to increased confidence in Serbia and calmed fears on financial markets. The continuing work on loss-making state-owned enterprises and companies in bankruptcy proceedings has shown that it is possible to turn around these seemingly intractable problems with hard work and dedication. But much more needs to be done – a lot of the quick wins have already been made. A functioning market economy also needs a stable, fair and reliable rule of law environment. The other reality is that the rest of the world does not stand still. Serbia needs to maintain this momentum; there is no room for complacency. <
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British N AT I O N A L DAY
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We Offer Our Clients a Complete Set of Services The Aleksić and Associates Law Firm practices all legal areas, and its clients include a number of leading banks, insurance companies, large corporations and foreign investors
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e are talking to the CEO and Managing Partner of the Aleksic and Associates Law Firm, Nemanja Aleksic about his office’s expertise, and the characteristics of the Serbian legal framework which are important to business clients. Which areas of law does your firm practice? › Our law office represents clients in the
field of commercial law, civil law / family law, inheritance law, labour law, criminal law, banking law, administrative law, constitutional law, international law… How many members does your team have and what is their expertise? › The Aleksic and Associates Law Firm
has its own offices spanning around 1,600 square metres, and we currently have 158 employees. The firm itself is divided into departments, and each department – civil, commercial, executive, criminal and labour – has a head of the department who also has a deputy, and who all, together with Ne-
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CORPORATE
manja Aleksić, PhD, make the office collegium along with three special advisors. Which legal issues do foreign investors usually ask your help for? › Most of the issues that foreign compa-
nies need help with fall under corporate law, i.e. advisory and representation services in the process of setting up and managing companies, banks, insurance companies, leasing companies, and factoring companies, including mergers and acquisitions. Also, a substantial number of issues are related to copyright law and industrial property rights (protection of trademarks and patents), public procurement procedures and privatizations of large state-owned companies, as well as consultation and representation in front of state bodies. A segment, which has been gaining on importance, is foreign investments and public-private partnerships, and especially investments in energy and infrastructure facilities. Which of your cases would you like to single out as the most complex?
N E M A N JA ALEKSIĆ Attorney – CEO and Managing Partner of the Aleksic and Associates Law Firm
Our firm’s advantage lies in the fact that we can offer to our clients a complete set of services and legal assistance in all stages of collection of receivables
› I would like to single out the following as the most complex cases that our firm has worked on: 1. Transferring (assignment, cession) of non-performing claims to SPVs, the required analyses and drafting of relevant acts and assessments especially with the view of classification and management of risks in accordance with the Decree on Classification of Bank Balance and Off-Balance Assets and the Decree on Managing Bank’s Risks, as well as tax and other related regulation, including representing SPVs in front of courts and other proceedings; 2. Legal due diligence review - preliminary check of legal and financial status of a domestic bank owned by shareholders from the EU; 3. Harmonization of all contracts and General Business Terms of large domestic banks which operate under the EU banking groups with the amendments to the Law on Protection of Financial Services Users and the Law on Payment Services.
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Your office is well-known for representing banks in collection of receivables. What is your firm’s advantage in this respect? › Our firm’s advantage lies in the fact that
been substantially harmonized with the European regulation. With these two, recently opened chapters, Serbia will have opened a total of ten chapters in the accession talks with the EU, with two of them already temporarily closed. The EU has announced the opening of new chapters in the second half of 2017.
we can offer to our clients a complete set of services and legal assistance in all stages of collection of receivables, as well as in any other area of law. Our years of experience in representing clients in out-of-court and court proceedings, and providing consultant and legal opinions have resulted in collaboration with most of the leading banks and financial institutions. Also, what sets our law firm apart from others is having the latest technical, technological, security and software solutions which are necessary for us to keep up with our clients, primarily banks and other financial institutions.
In which areas do you see the need to further improve both legal framework and legal practice? › I see the need for further improvement
To what degree is the Serbian legal framework compliant with the European and Anglo-Saxon standards in terms of economy? › The harmonization of the Serbian legal
framework with the European and Anglo-Saxon standards in the field of economy is carried out, first and foremost, through the EU integration process. On 29th April, 2008, in Luxembourg, Serbia signed the Stabilization and Association Agreement which, after it was ratified by all EU member states, came into force on 1st September, 2013. The candidate countries are obligated to accept the EU's Acquis in its entirety before they can join the EU, i.e. they need to include the EU regulation into their national legislation and implement it as soon as they join the Union. These rules and regulations are divided into 35 different chapters of the EU's Acquis, generally known as negotiation chapters. Serbia has opened a total of 6 out of 35 chapters in its accession talks with the EU, with the biggest emphasis put on chapters 23 and 24. By the end of 2016, and as a result of the amendments to its existing laws, Serbia has managed to achieve a significant level of harmonization between its laws and the EU's Acquis in terms of company law, intellectual property laws, telecommunications law, copyright and related laws, accounting laws, public information laws, and advertising and media laws which all come under our firm's expertise. Serbia is a country where European
continental law is implemented. The Anglo-Saxon standards are accepted into the EU's Acquis, and through the harmonization process, they are finding their way into the Serbian legal framework. However, some important legal institutes are taken directly from the Anglo-Saxon law like prosecution investigation in criminal law, and reorganization of bankruptcy debtors in commercial law. On 20th June, 2017, the European Union opened two more chapters in accession negotiations with Serbia. These are chapter 7 (intellectual property rights) and chapter 29 (customs union). The customs procedures have been singificantly expedited already, while both areas have
FACTS
POSITIVE CHANGES The news that foreign companies will be able to own up to a 49% share in our defence industry speaks volumes about positive changes in the business environment.
of both legal framework and practice primarily in continuation of efforts on harmonization of the Republic of Serbia's laws with the EU's Acquis through opening of new chapters concering the free movement of goods, labour and capital, the right to taking up business residence and freedom of providing services, public procurement, competition policies, financial services, energy, taxes and financial control. In the said areas we need to facilitate access to our market and investment of capital for the EU investors, which include acquiring property rights on real estate, primarily agricultural land and facilities, through changing the existing and passing of new regulation, while guaranteeing legal security for their investments and providing fast and efficient legal protection in court proceedings, in front of administrative bodies and other state bodies of the Republic of Serbia, territorial autonomies, or local self-governments. In practice, we need to further work on reducing piracy and counterfeit products on the market. Last year, foreign investors invested close to 2 billion euros in Serbia. State subsidies for new jobs are one of the incentives available to investors. However, a lot still needs to be done in this area in order to attract more foreign investors, including having a more efficient judicial system, preventing corruption and removing administrative obstacles to investments. The news that foreign companies will be able to own up to a 49% share in our defence industry speaks volumes about positive changes in the business environment, and this was made possible owing to the relevant law amendments prepared by the Serbian Defence Ministry. <
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British N AT I O N A L DAY
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Innovation is at the Core of Our Company As a global company, which operations contribute to better health of millions of people worldwide, we should demonstrate our innovative approach also through cooperating with the local community, while considering having a wider reach and forging partnerships that could bring long-term health benefits to our fellow citizens and the environment
INTER VIEW
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nnovation is at the core of our company, both globally and in Serbia. GSK focuses solely on meeting the patient needs, and is committed to discovering new treatments and ways to prevent illnesses. There are over 13,000 scientists working towards discovering and developing new drugs or vaccines by using the most advance scientific resources. This is a complex process that lasts between 12 and 15 years with substantial investments of over 500 million British pounds in one new drug alone. How available are GSK's innovative drugs to patients in Serbia? › Easy availability of innovative drugs
for patients is very important, because, according to the data collated by the OECD, innovative therapies contribute to longer life expectancy and lower mortality more than any other factors. When we look at the big picture, population’s health is also closely related to the productivity of the entire nation, and, in turn, to a country’s economic growth. This is why the chapter on healthcare is one of the key chapters in Serbia’s accession
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talks with the EU. Last year, the Health Insurance Fund of Serbia has extended to include more innovative drugs for patients which was a step forward towards health treatments in Serbia becoming more like those in the European Union and in developed countries in terms of the availability of the latest therapies. We are encouraged by the fact that, in regard to the quality of its healthcare Serbia has advanced among European countries over the period of last two years according to the Consumer Healthcare index. I expect this positive trend in Serbia to continue so that we can keep up with the global innovative standards in the quality of provided treatments. In which healthcare areas in Serbia is GSK the most active? ›During more than two decades of our
operations in Serbia, we have helped patients here to have access to latest therapies thanks to our very diverse portfolio – we are leaders in treating respiratory diseases and HIV, in addition to immunization. Furthermore, we are present in treatment of systemic infec-
M A R I JA K R ST I Ć Director General of GSK Serbia and Montenegro
During more than two decades of our operations in Serbia, we have helped patients here to have access to latest therapies thanks to our very diverse portfolio
tions, lupus, rare diseases, nervous and urolgenital diseases. We also produce Consumer Healthcare products. Panadol, Coldrex, Sensodyne, Paradontax, Aquafresh and others are just some of our leading brands in Serbia. As the recognized leader in treating respiratory diseases, and thanks to our long tradition in providing successful treatment for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, we are eager to see the launch of our innovative therapies in September which could significantly contribute to improving the quality of life of the patients with respiratory diseases. Additionally, our innovative therapy for HIV is now available on prescription. In regard to his, we have had significant global scientific advances that could substantially better the quality of life of the people with HIV. How does GSK promote preventive therapies? › I understand the state’s interest in in-
vesting long-term in preventive activities and its population’s health which is demonstrated through adoption of rele-
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vant healthcare laws in the segment of infectious disease protection. In the following period, and following the adoption of the relevant bylaws covering this segment, we expect to draw closer to the developed European countries and thus improve access to modern vaccines. As the global leader in immunization, our company is willing to support initiatives in this area. Apart from providing beneficial vaccines and therapies, we are also implementing a programme called Positive Partnership in Serbia which provides support to people with HIV through facilitating a multi-sectoral access and assistance to numerous programmes and initiatives in local communities. GSK has also been actively participating in various campaigns which goal is to raise public awareness and informing medical community about the importance of a healthy lifestyle, prevention, early diagnostics, and timely treatment of illnesses that are typical for Serbia. You are also very active in volunttering and other CSR activities. Could you tell us something about the most important campaigns you participated in last and this year? ›It gives me a great pleasure to see how
long-term efforts and investments by our company in CSR have been recognized by the local community. GSK has been acknowledged for its corporate social responsibility initiatives and volunteering of our employees in the local community, as evidenced by 10 prestigious awards we have been given in the last five years. With the goal of contributing as much as possible to advancing the health of our popoulation and helping in areas where the needs are the biggest, we have forged long-term partnerships with institutions and numerous organizations. We have launched a three-year programme with the UNICEF called „Together for Better Health“, focusing on health of the Roma children. The aim of this partnership is to improve access to healthcare services, hygiene, nutrition, immunization and early stimulation of children and positive parenting practices in the Roma communities.
Apart from working with the Roma population, we have also forged a partnership with the Save the Children organization in order to support the state in its efforts to mitigate the consequences of the migrant crisis and help the children from refugee families. This support also entails setting up the Mothers and Babies Corner and the Children Corner in Belgrade, as well as our employees volunteering in the migrant reception centres. For this partnership our company was given two awards – the Serbian Chamber of Commerce’s National Award for Social Responsibility, and
CS R
EFFORTS It gives me a great pleasure to see how longterm efforts and investments by our company in CSR have been recognized by the local community.
SmartKolektiv’s Award for Corporate Volunteering. I believe that improving the healthcare environment has a much wider reach than providing innovative therapies alone. As a global company, which operations contribute to better health of millions of people worldwide, we should demonstrate our innovative approach also through cooperating with the local community, while considering having a wider reach and forging partnerships that could bring long-term health benefits to our fellow citizens and the environment in which we live and work. <
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Encouraging External Trade Results Last year, Serbia increased its export to Great Britain by 35% relative to the year before while experts expect this positive trend to continue, and for Serbia to start exporting more products with a high added value. Brexit should not jeopardize this good news
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number of Serbian companies is present in United Kingdom, primarily in the sectors like agriculture, furniture, IT and automobile production, while Serbia's external trade results are looking much better. According to the data collated by the Serbian State Statistical Office, in 2016, the external trade between the two countries amounted to 500 million euro which is a 35% hike compared to the year before. In the first two months of 2017, this amount grew by approximately 12 million euros relative to the same period in 2016, i.e. to around 70 million euros. This is just a continuation of the sustained growth in external trade between the two countries. According to the relevant statistical data, in 2011, the total external trade amounted to 295.5 million euros, in 2012 it stood at 289.2 million euros, in 2013 it was 307.9 million, and in 2014, 297.9 million euros. In 2015, the value of external trade grew to 377.1 million euros, while, in the first half of 2016, this value was tantamout to 2/3 of
E C O N O MIC COOPERATION
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FOUR SECTORS British companies in Serbia are mostly interested in the following four sectors â&#x20AC;&#x201C; mining, financial and professional services, automobile industry and retail.
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the external trade value for the entire 2015. Also, in 2016, the first external trade surplus was recorded in the amount of almost 50 million euros. As the data collated by the State Statistical Office shows, in 2015, the value of the total external trade stood at 377.1 million euros, which is a 26.6% hike compared to 2014. In 2015, Serbia exported 177.3 million euros worth of goods to United Kingdom, which was 1.5% of the total Serbian exports that year. The same year, United Kingdom was ranked 19th on the list of the biggest countries Serbia exports to with a 53.2% growth relative to the period January-December 2014. Serbia imported 199.8 million euros worth of goods from United Kingdom (a 9.7% hike compared to 2014) which was 1.2% of the entire Serbian imports that year. The export-to-import ratio stood at 88.8%. In 2013, the export-to-import ratio stood at 71.2%, in 2012 it was 63%, and in 2011, it was 81.6%. In 2016, Serbia mostly exported the following products to United Kingdom - electric machines, appliances and devices (24.4% of total exports), rubber products (19.2%), and fruits and vege-
tables (15.4%), while the country mostly imported the following products from Britain - electrical machines, appliances and devices (8.6%), road vehicles (7.8%), medical and pharmaceutical products (7.8%) and chemical substances (6.1%). In the period from January 2014 to March 2016, United Kingdom made a total of 99-million-euro worth of investments which puts the country in the 13th place in terms of net investments by non-residents in Serbia. British American Tobacco (BAT) is the biggest British investors so far. In 2003, the company privatized the second biggest cigarette factory in Serbia, the Vranje Tobacco Industry. The following are the areas in which the British companies (Gowi Group, Andrew Hunter, Albon Engineering plc, Ashmor investment Mgmt, Mineco, Greenhouse investments etc.) have invested in â&#x20AC;&#x201C; food industry, IT, automobile industry, chemical industry, and ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy. Many British companies operate in Serbia via their agents, distributors and representatives. <
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PostIndustrial Revolution World's Financial Capital
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hen we think about the British economy, what we will imagine and what image we will have in mind really depends on the decade and the century. The 19th century could be the image of working class flats and Dickens’ novels, the factories and the Industrial Revolution. At the beginning of the 20th century it could be something like the scene from Peaky Blinders. In the pre-Thatcher era it could be coal mines, while during her era it could the City of London and yuppies. Nowadays it is gentrified and polished, even in the areas of Manchester that were dangerous in 1985. It is post-Industrial. BIG, VERY BIG Well, the economy of the UK is, as the figures say, and which we will cite, the fifth-largest national economy in the world, measured in terms of nominal gross domestic product (GDP), the ninth-largest in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP) and the nineteenth-largest measured according to GDP per capita, comprising 3.9% of world GDP. It is the second-largest economy in the European Union by both metrics, after Germany, of course. Now it is clear how much the EU is going to lose because of Brexit, but the UK economy is still very open to foreign investments and is traditionally liberal, even in the days of Labour rule, which is why it is one of the most globalised economies. It had the second-largest inward foreign direct investment and the third-largest outward foreign direct investment in 2016. Of the world's 500 largest companies, 26 are headquartered in the UK… Not bad at all.
ECO NO MY
SERVICE ORIENTATED One of the main features of the British economy is that it is service-orientated and has strong ties with the banking sector and real estate, all of which fuelled the financial crisis that was particularly harsh in the UK. Luckily, they had their pound and not the euro, like
Spain, otherwise they would have shared the same fate. The UK gradually relocated its agriculture to its colonies, while the remaining factories were shook up by Baroness Thatcher’s reforms, dubbed Thatcherism, i.e. neoliberalism. This makes the financial services industry particularly important, and makes London the world's largest financial centre. A lot of the economy is reliant on oil. This is all strikingly different from the image we have from the First and Second Industrial Revolutions. Well, those were the days! The British economy accounted for 9.1% of the world's GDP in 1870! The U.S. and Germany later accelerated their growth, but Britain remained strong.
POUND STERLING Before switching to the decimal system, the pound sterling was a strange currency, and its name was derived from the fact that one Norman ‘pound’ had 240 sterlings or silver pennies. This was a stubborn currency and, prior to decimalisation in 1971, the pound was divided into 20 shillings, with each shilling worth 12 pence, making 240 pence to the pound. That seems preposterous to us, but was normal for the Brits. However, forget the history... The UK pound is still strong: it is the world's third-largest reserve currency after the United States dollar and the euro, and is also one of the ten most-valued currencies in the world. This is not a joke, even if the Empire’s glory days are over. <
One of the main features of the British economy is that it is serviceorientated and has strong ties with the banking sector and real estate 9
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One of a Kind Funny, charming spirit PEOPLE AND C U S T O MS
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be avoided - the weather; in England, if you do not repeat the phrase "Lovely day, isn't it?" at least two hundred times a day, you are considered a bit dull.” Not to offend anyone, right?
HOW TO BE AN ALIEN Everybody seemed quite shocked by the results of the Brexit referendum, but I wasn’t – I even predicted the outcome. That’s because I have read extensively the works of George Mikes, a Hungarian Jew who fled to the UK and became an English writer. With typical Jewish humour and British precision, he juxtaposed the customs of the UK and the Continent, and it was hilarious. The book, entitled ‘How To Be an Alien’ was an instant hit. It pokes gentle fun at the English and their relationship with foreigners, with “alien” in this context meaning any non-English person. The book is characterised by much humour, affection and a total lack of rancour or bitterness. Some typical things that people in the UK adore include neutral conversations about politics or the weather. Mikes states “On the Continent there is one topic which should
UNDERSTATEMENT AND OVERSTATEMENT There is a well know story about the British understatement, as opposed to the Italian or even American overstatement. When a Brit wants to explode with excitement, he will say “Not bad, Really not too bad at all”. And when something is absolutely awful it might be “Not particularly good”. An unfortunate story from the Korean War illustrates this. “In April 1951, some 650 British fighting men – soldiers and officers from the 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment – were deployed along the most important crossing of the Imjin River to block the traditional invasion route to Seoul. The Chinese sent an entire division – 10,000 men – to smash the isolated Gloucesters aside in a major offensive aimed at taking the entire Korean peninsula, with the small British force gradually surrounded and overwhelmed. After two days of fighting, an American, Major General Robert H Soule, asked the British brigadier, Thomas Brodie: “How are the Glosters doing?” The brigadier, schooled in Britain and thus armed with British humour, replied: “A bit sticky; things are pretty sticky down there”. To American ears, this did not sound desperate, and so
here is a common anecdote that sounds so true that nobody really bothered to check its veracity, ye, somehow it doesn't need verification, as it is certainly accurate. Namely, there was a thick fog over the English Channel (it is funny enough that the Brits call La Manche that way, right?) and the BBC reported “There is a thick fog over the Channel; the Continent is cut off from Britain”. Not vice versa. Britain cannot be cut off, because it is the centre of the word, the planet’s navel. That speaks volumes about the Brits and their mentality.
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When a Briton wants to explode from excitement, he will say “Not bad; really not too bad at all”. And when something is absolutely awful it might be “Not particularly good”
he ordered them to stand fast. Only 40 Glosters managed to escape” – that’s according to the history book. And the Brits maintain a deadpan expression when telling jokes, which makes it even funnier. Being cool is a British invention. Even when under ultimate peril, the coolest guy in the world used understatement in his announcement. His name is Eric Moody. During the Kuala Lumpur-toPerth leg of British Airways Flight 9 on 24th June 1982, volcanic ash caused all four engines of his Boeing 747 aircraft to fail. Although pressed for time, with the aircraft rapidly losingt altitude, Captain Moody still managed to make an announcement to the passengers: “Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your Captain speaking. We have a small problem. All four engines have stopped. We are doing our damnedest to get them going again. I trust you are not in too much distress.” Cool, huh? And nuanced. As Mikes says: “On the other hand, people on the Continent either tell you the truth or they lie; in England they hardly ever lie, but they would not dream of telling you the truth.” Funny, charming spirit! <
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Unique Fusion Legacy of Empire and Pop Music
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CULTURE
ritish culture is polyvalent and complex, with identities varying and interlacing. It is both deeply Celtic and Germanic, for the last 1500 years. Let us take one example. In Scotland there are three spoken languages. Three! Not two? No! Scottish Gaelic, English and Scots. And what on Earth is “Scots”, you may well ask. It is the earlier form of English used by the Scots even prior to the forming of the Union of the Crowns in 1606. The Scots then acquired the English language for the second time, this time the modern variation, with their own accent, of course. Complexity it is.
The Isle of Man might be deeply Celtic, but it has preserved its old Viking parliament. Manchester and Liverpool are even predominantly of Irish origin. All four members of The Smiths were of Irish descent, including “Irish Blood, English Heart” Morrissey and Johnny Marr. Both Lennon and Macca were Irish. In Ulster they are divided by faith, but the Scottish mixture adds some fire. And wait, 1500 years ago the homeland of Scots was Ulster and they moved to Scotland, which was Pictish. They were replaced by the Irish and 1000 years later they... just came back? Not to mention
that football club Celtic from Glasgow was founded by Irish Catholic immigrants to Scotland. Yes, it is complex. TEA, BEER, FOOTBALL, QUEEN One feature inextricably linked to British culture is tea. Many forgot, or perhaps never knew, that tea was brought to England by a Portuguese queen, since the queen of their longstanding ally was already acquainted with this magical potion, having had a lot of experience with Portugal’s conquests in India and China. But now we have all forgotten the Portuguese tea-drinkers and everyone associates tea with Britain or, less frequently, Russia. Beer? Well, The Irish and Scottish might have their whisk(e) ys, the English can have their apple cider or whatever, but what connects all Brits is beer. Every region has its own varieties and pub culture is one crucial element of UK culture… Just like football. Even though England only won the FACT
INFLUENCE All the important bands were either British or under influence of some British bands. Milan might be a fashion show capital, but what is worn on the streets of London is what matters.
World Cup once, in 1966, the English see football is their own invention and insist that the best football is played there. Okay, in the Premier League. But in the old days, prior to 1950, the British islands’ four nations (Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England) refused to compete in the World Cup, claiming that it would be “ridiculous” since they were “superior”. Cold shower in 1950. And then, the Queen. Except for some hard anti-monarchists, like the aforementioned Morrissey or Irish Catholics, almost everyone in the UK considers Queen Elizabethe II the cohesive tissue of the nation. She has ruled so long that it is hard to even imagine the postal stamps of pounds without her face. LITERATURE AND POP CULTURE The English are very proud of their literary tradition. They claim that the word was for England the same as music was for Germany or painting for Italy. The national expression tool. Dickens, Wilde, Shakespeare, Christie, Doyle, Shaw, Austen, Byron. Who can disagree? And still don’t forget the popular culture, where the Britons rule. The pop music was essentially accelerated by the Brits, and all the important bands were either British or under influence of some British bands. And the fashion. Street fashion is deeply English. The fashion trends start here. Milan might be a fashion show capital, but what is worn on the streets of London is what matters. <
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SONJA LAPATANOV
IN FOCUS
Aleksandar in Wonderland Don't miss out on your own life
L
ife is one big miracle. Discover it bit by bit every day and just laugh. Life is precious and irreversible – says Aleksandar Saša Ilić, a ballet dancer, choreographer and poet who even as a child knew that he would become an artist one day. Aleksandar left his hometown of Šid, in West Srem County, for Novi Sad where he attended a music school after which he moved to Belgrade where he enrolled into the Luj Davičo Ballet School. In his final year, Aleksandar started his professional career as a member of the National Theatre Ballet Troupe where, after a string of soloist roles, he was given the status of the principal dancer. Choreography was both a gift and a challenge that he succumbed to. Aleksandar also wrote two poetry books – „The Holiday of the Heart“ („Praznik Srca“) and „In the Presence of Whisper“ („U Prisustvu Šapata“). On top of that he graduated communicology and has a Masters degree in choreography. In 2015, he became an associate professor teaching Drama and Audiovis-
ual Arts. He is an artist of unique sensibility, schooled in Belgrade and London, who decided to share his knowledge with the students of the Institute of Artistic Dance (IAD), the first higher learning dance institute in Serbia which he both founded and is a professor at. If you lived abroad, you would be well compensated for your knowledge, education, experience, creativity and ideas. Still, you have decided to live here. What is the price that a successful artist has to pay in Serbia today? › An artist has to travel, expand his or her
horizons, and constantly seek new challenges. My decision was to leave from time to time while still living here. It is a great privilege being respected and acknoweldged in your surroundings. For me, the financial compensation doesn’t mean anything compared to the love I feel for my city, Belgrade, and my country. All the road signs keep telling me that I made a good decision when I chose to live and work here.
INTER VIEW
A L E K SA N DA R SA ŠA I L I Ć Ballet dancer, choreographer and poet
good upbringing, sincerity and steadfastness.
The life of a ballet artist is a difficult one. What have you sacrificed for ballet all these years, and what has ballet taught you? › Everything I have sacrificed has
brought, in return, multiple benefits. Ballet made me disciplined and taught me that sleep is one of the most important aspect of properly looking after your body. The classical ballet, and dance in general, is a way of life, and its routine actually always stay with you.
I am proud to say, without referring to any titles, once a ballet dancer, always a ballet dancer 12
Is money still a measure of value, or does soul play some part in it? › For me, the real measure of value is
What were the biggest challenges in your career and your private life ? › The challenges are always the same –
TO DARE and TO KNOW, and TO KNOW when TO STOP.
In 2012, at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, you presented your Master’s thesis – “My Phobia – Pteronophobia”, which was inspired by the Act 2 of Swan Lake, and your own fear of feathers. Where does this fear originate from?
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› Never before had I dealt with my personal issues through art (apart in poetry) until I stepped into the world of dance education at the Laban Conservatoire in London. Our mentor, Tony Thatcher took us all the way to the beginning. This is where the idea of a personal phobia – the fear of feathers – came up. A bird is an infite symbol of everything earthly, and it gave me an opportunity to translate that into my Master’s degree. I cannot tell you whether Rudolph Laban smiled after I presented my Master’s thesis and whether I have made peace with my phobia, but I can tell you that today I share my home with three feathery rascals. We all remember your iconic role of Miško in the ballet that became a cult classic – “Who’s Singin’ Over There?” (“Ko to tamo peva?”). On 2nd June, 2017, on your 40th birthday, you announced that you would be dancing in this role for the last time at the National Theatre on 27th June. What prompted you to make such decision? › There is an old saying that goes – know
when it’s time to leave. Although I am a classically trained ballet dancer, the role of Miško was very significant for my career. I played him, to my great satisfaction, for 13 years, i.e. over 100 times, or rather around 150 times. Now, with heavy heart, I will leave the role to younger dancers, because they are our successors. Your role models are rather peculiar. Who are they, and how much did they affect your artistic development? › I would like to single out two people
who have influenced my professional development and success – ballet maestro Bakhram Maripovich Yuldashev and Staša Zurovac. I am fortunate enough to have them as my friends and colleagues
Madlenianum Opera and Theatre and for me personally. On our first trip to China in 2012, we were given an award for the best performance at the Youth Festival in Shanghai. This made it possible for us to come back next year with the same performance. Last year, I cooperated with my colleague, the director Aleksandar Nikolić, on the Don Giovanni opera at the Sarajevo National Theatre, which was a great success too. This year, at the same theatre, I choreographed ballet Alice in Wonderland.
I am cooperating with. Apart from these two, I have to mention my choreography professor Tony Thatcher from London. You debuted as a choreographer at the Festival of Choreographic Miniatures in 1999. How did your career as a choreographer develop after that and how many projects have you done so far? › The Festival of Choreographic Minia-
tures is the most important festival for young artists not only from Serbia, but also from the region and the world too. In Serbia, I choreographed four fulllength performances, as well as many operas and children plays. In the region, I was given an opportunity to work in Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and soon in Macedonia too.
What are your future plans and do you have new projects in the pipeline? › There is the 26th Belgrade Summer
Festival – BELEF - of which I have been the artistic director since January this year. The festival started on 23rd June and will last until 23rd July. This is the biggest BELEF so far with a total of 29 programmes. In Vranje, I am overseeing the third Summer Dance Camp, while in July and August this year, the newly formed IUI Transition Dance Company will have a guest appearance with the Nušić Triptych dance performance at the Summer Festival in Ohrid and the Nis-
How did the idea of the project called ‘Madam’ come about and what inspired you to do it? › The idea was to talk about the golden
age of our lives, the so-called third age, which is somehow pushed aside here. This was also the main prerequisite for the audition, namely for all the participants in the Madam project to be over 60 years of age, to have never performed on a stage, and to be eager to show to their peers (as well as younger generations) that, regardless of the status or age, you can enjoy in every moment of life. You have also had a successful collaboration with the National Theatre from Sarajevo, while you’ve been twice to China with your dance The Holiday of Love. › The Holiday of Love is a dance perfor-
mance based on Teodora Sujić’s book Capsella Bursa Pastoris. The performance was a great success both for the
MY CI TY
ROAD SIGNS For me, the financial compensation doesn’t mean anything compared to the love I feel for my city, Belgrade, and my country. All the road signs keep telling me that I made a good decision when I chose to live and work here.
ville Jazz Festival in Niš. We have already staged this performance at the Raša Plaović Stage at the National Theatre on 26th June. In September, I am going to back to Sarajevo where I am launching a new dance project under the auspices of the Balkan Dance Project Vol. 3, which is inspired by Ivan Cankar’s book The Scandal in the St. Florian Valley. In October, we are going to have our first graduation ceremony at the Institute of Artistic Dance which I am really looking forward to. In November, I am going to promote my third book of poetry, and, in December, I have a premiere at the National Theatre Opera in Sarajevo. <
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Ž I K ICA MI L O Š E VI Ć
IN FOCUS
Branded Beauty Rough charms, gentle charms
TOUR ISM
S
omeone once said that Brits are fascinatingly good at successfully turning everything into mainstream pop culture, while still preserving high taste, and that was the reason why the UK (and other Anglo-Saxon countries) became the world’s leaders of pop culture, despite being very traditionalist. Brits actually invented tourism. Namely, they were the first to go somewhere just to see it: Swiss mountains, Italian culture and islands, French castles. When the railways arrived, trains were immediately packed with people wanting to see what the world looks like, and, of course, what Britain looks like. The working class was suddenly aware of the benefits of sea air, so rail lines were laid from major industrial cities to Bristol, Southend, Blackpool etc. Of course, somehow brilliantly awkward, the Brits managed to marry all that with drinking tea, eating fish and chips, going to cloudy resorts on the Irish Sea like Blackpool, pubs and a strong working class attitude. Not our kind of seaside holiday, we would say, but neither is it British anymore, as they opt to go elsewhere nowadays. The facts show that the UK has a longstanding history of travelling to coastal resorts, like Blackpool in Lancashire and Swansea in Wales, with many families using a type of accommodation called holiday camps. This tradition has now faded significantly, due to competition from overseas package holiday operators, rising operational costs, and rapidly shifting demand that forced the closures of many traditional holiday camps in the 1980s and ‘90s. That’s too bad, but there are still hotels and hostels there. And these are British holidays in the old fashioned manner, which should be sampled.
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This year we saw the return of Trainspotting, with the release of T2, which returned us to Scotland and the streets of Edinburgh, with its castles and clouds. And speaking of films, Brits have always been adept at transforming their nature and architecture into something so pretty, to the point at which it becomes an object of desire. Everyone can picture the countless images of the English countryside and castles, where Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy conduct unpleasant con-
versations, and nobody is to blame but us for the fact that we didn’t brand our beauties like the Brits. Simply, they know how to present themselves as a desirable destination. London is the hub of the world, and Manchester is one of the world’s music capitals, along with Seattle. It might be the rain that makes the Brits creative, as they cannot simply hang around in the streets like the Mediterranean folks do. Wales, with its old traditions, ancient language and stubborn people, the Midlands with its castles, destroyed monasteries and vibrant music and nightlife, northern Scotland, with spectacular landscapes from the film Highlander, Liverpool, with the breath of The Beatles all
around. Cultural tourism is omnipresent in the UK. You cannot go to Wales without a thought of Eisteddfod (Wales), or Scotland with its Highland Games, bagpipes and men dressed in kilts. Northern Ireland, aka Ulster, can also offer a lot, from UNESCO heritage sites to contemporary art and street life. From castles to meadows, city centres to hills and cottages, the UK is a tourist superpower, with images carved into our minds by books and films. <
From castles to meadows, city centres to hills and cottages, the UK is a tourist superpower, with images carved into our minds by books and films
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1 5.0 6. 2 0 1 7
Queen’s Birthday Celebrated
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ritish ambassador to Serbia H E Denis Keefe held a reception at his residence celebrating Queen Elisabeth II’s 91st birthday which falls together with the 180th anniversary of diplomatic relations between United Kingdom and the Republic of Serbia. “Diplomatic relations between Serbia and United Kingdom have lasted since 1837, when the first British diplomat submitted his letter of accreditation to the then Knjaz.” - he said. The celebration was attended by government officials, the diplomatic corps, religious leaders and many guests from public life. <
Dušan Mihajlović, H.E. Denis Keefe, British Ambassador to Serbia with spouse and Colonel Simon Fitzgibbon, Military attaché, with spouse Isobel
H.E. Denis Keefe
H.E. Arne Sannes Bjørnstad, Norwegian Ambassador to Serbia, Ambassador Andrea Oricio, Head of the OSCEMission in Serbia and H.E. Alexander Chepurin, Russian Ambassador with spouse
Michel Saint-Lot, Director of the UNICEF Office in Serbia, H.E. Isabela Cristina de Azevedo Heyvaert, Brazilian Ambassador to Serbia and H.E. Denis Keefe
Nevena Scott and H.E. Kyle Randolph Scott, US Ambassador to Serbia
H.E. Kyle Randolph Scott, H.E. Tanju Bilgiç, Turkish Abassador to Serbia and H.E. Oleksandr Aleksandrovych, Ambassador of Ukraine to Serbia
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