Belgrade Insight by Jelena Bralic

Mark R. Pullen

litical Predictability DITOR’S WORD page 10

With an election due in autumn, the new interim premier will have a hard task delivering on his pledge to reduce the burden of austerity while retaining the confidence of Romania’s creditors.

Marija Ristić and Gordana Andrić

settlement that’s in the middle of nowhere,” one Roma said. “Six of us will share one metal container. I don’t want to go but do I have a choice? No. It’s like we are not human. I am Roma and I am a human being and I am a citizen of Serbia.”

omania’s new prime minister-designa te, Victor Ponta, faces a long list of economic challenges after having named his cabinet on May 1st. Ponta said his broad aim was to continue the country’s existing economic policy while easing the burden of austerity on the population, boosting economic growth and creating jobs. “Our political and economic vision will ensure predictability and boost job creation in Romania,” he said. “This is a special government designed for a special times. [But] It has [only] a limited mandate, until the parliamentary elections in November,” he noted. Ponta, 40, is a card-carrying leftist. A jurist by formation and a big fan of car racing, he is a declared fan of the Latin American revolutionary and close Castro ally, Che Guevara. But the new governing Social Liberal Union, USL, is not only made up of Ponta’s Social Democrats. It also includes Liberal and Conservative groupings. The USL toppled the two-monthold centrist government in a vote of no-confidence on April 27th, seizing on mounting popular discontent with tough austerity policies.

Continued on page 4

Continued on pages 6 - 7

The authorities support commemorations of the RTS attack, but cannot lay to rest doubts over the deaths.

on whether a preliminary investigation has made any progress. The campaigners now fear time is running out for judicial action, with the statute of limitations set to expire in two years’ time. They have accused the authorities of impeding their efforts to hold an inquiry.

Their suspicions have been fuelled by reports of an internal memo which supposedly confirmed that defence officials knew beforehand of plans to target the RTS building. However, the defence ministry has denied the existence of any such document.

Photo by Beta

“There is no political will to deal with these political murders,” Žanka Stojanović, the mother of one of the victims of the bombing, told BIRN. Leaders from Milošević’s Socialist Party of Serbia, SPS, are key players Continued on pages 2 - 3

Mass eviction of Roma families from capital’s Belville settlement casts poor light on Serbia’s respect for international laws on human rights.

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Marian Chiriac

Roma eviction sullies Belgrade’s image ore than a thousand people have quietly packed their belongings and got on buses that drove them far from their old homes in Belgrade in the last few days.

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Romania’s new leader battles temptation to spend

Delays and “missing” documents damage hopes for an official inquiry into NATO attack on state broadcaster.

Gordana Andrić

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Searching for buried truth at RTS

hirteen years after a NATO air-strike killed 16 RTS employees, Serbian officials are facing fresh criticism over their failure to address the suspicion that lives were deliberately put at risk. Campaigners want to examine whether the government of the time, led by Slobodan Milošević, ignored warnings of an attack on the state broadcaster because it intended to use civilian casualties as propaganda against NATO. The relatives of those killed in the bombing of April 23rd 1999 asked for an inquiry more than five years ago, with the backing of legal activists and NGOs. However, despite recent assurances by officials, no trial date has been set. BIRN has also uncovered uncertainty over who is in charge of prosecuting the case, casting doubt

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Issue No. 114 Friday, May 4, 2012 - Thursday, May 17, 2012

At least half were not sure where they were being taken. In a drive to clean up the city, the Belgrade authorities evicted about 250 Roma families from the informal settlement in New Belgrade called Belville on April 26th. The families were onlzy informed they were being taken away two days earlier.

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About 110 of the families - either official residents of the capital or with the status of Kosovo refugees - were relocated to metal container homes in suburbs far from the city centre. Another 112 families were sent back to their places of origin, mainly in southern Serbia. “My family got to go to Makiš in a

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Belgrade Insight, Friday, May 4, 2012 - Thursday, May 17, 2012

serbia

serbia Continued from page 1

Describing RTS as Milošević’s “ministry of lies”, NATO said the broadcaster had been a legitimate target because it produced propaganda in support of the regime. Serbian officials condemned the attack as a war crime. Amnesty International also said the alliance had failed to abide by the laws of war in its targeting of a civilian institution. Soon after the bombing campaign ended, the families of the people killed in the RTS building accused Milošević of “sacrificing” lives in order to score propaganda points against NATO. Milošević was overthrown amid street protests in 2000. In 2002, the former director of RTS, Dragoljub Milanović, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for failing to carry out an order to evacuate the broadcaster’s offices. The relatives of the dead, and the NGOs, who had campaigned along with them, were not satisfied with the verdict. They argued that Milanović was effectively a scapegoat, as he would not have acted against the wishes of superiors who were known to exercise direct influence over RTS. Over the last decade, the war crimes trials of Milosevic and his allies at The Hague have repeatedly cited their tight control over state institutions such as RTS.

Dispute over File 466

Bereaved mother Žanka Stojanović claims there is a lack of political will.

in the current coalition government, whose term expires before elections this month. While the SPS did not answer BIRN’s calls for comment, the defence ministry has said it is co-operating fully with prosecutors and has passed on to them all material that is relevant to the inquiry.

War crime allegations The attack on the RTS building was one of the most controversial strikes during NATO’s 78-day bombing campaign. The alliance went to war against Belgrade when Milošević refused to back down over the province of Kosovo, where his security forces had been accused of

Photo by Beta

persecuting the ethnic Albanian majority. According to Serbian official data, the NATO campaign killed between 1,200 and 2,500 people, including 89 children. About 120 people were working in the RTS building on the night that it was bombed. Of the 16 who died, most were production staff.

The campaigners’ hopes were bolstered by reports that a document, held by the defence ministry, proved that the Serbian authorities had ample warning of the attack on the RTS building. The claim was made by Colonel Lakić Đorović, a legal officer from the military who was tasked with gathering evidence for the Milanović trial. He said a certain file, numbered 466, contained papers showing that an army command centre had overheard NATO pilots’ plans and passed the information to their headquarters. However, the defence ministry denied the existence of any such docu-

Press Round-up Serbia condemns Limaj acquittal as ‘shameful’ May 3rd | Večernje Novosti erbia’s Prosecutor for War Crimes has slated the May 2nd decision of the Pristina District Court that declared Fatmir Limaj, vice-president of the ruling Democratic Party of Kosovo, and three other former Kosovo Liberation Army fighters not guilty of committing war crimes against civilians and prisoners of war at the Klečka detention camp in 1999.

NATO opens doors for Serbia May 1st| Blic ATO is prepared to deepen its cooperation with Serbia if Belgrade continues its Euro-Atlantic integration process following upcoming elections, announced Elizabeth Sherwood Randall, special assistant to U.S. President Barack Obama.

Dutch Friesland Campina buys Imlek, Mlekara Subotica April 27th| Politika erbia’s Competition Commission approved Netherland’s dairy giant Friesland Campina’s takeover of Serbia’s Imlek and Mlekara Subotica dairies from private equity firm Salford Capital. Imlek and Mlekara Subotica generate a combined annual turnover of around €270 million. Speaking in February, prior to the purchase, Campina representatives said that Imlek’s “strong position” on the Serbian retail market would provide the Dutch company with “an attractive entry point” into western Balkans and neighbouring markets.

ment, in response to a request by an information commissioner and by the families of the dead. The ministry also published several papers which it said were the entire contents of file number 466. In an interview with BIRN in April, Đorović insisted he had seen the key documents. “I gathered the file and marked it myself. I have not made a mistake. I know what is in it. I know where it lies in the ministry,” he said.

“Determining the truth is a priority for the prosecutor’s office and we will take further steps.” Tomo Zorić, spokesperson for the Prosecutor’s Office Campaigners say they have yet to receive a response to their requests for the key documents. The requests were submitted under freedom-ofinformation laws. “There is no doubt that these documents [file 466] exist,” said Milan Antonijević from the Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights, YUKOM, one of the NGOs working on behalf of the families of the dead.

Ticking clock Some campaigners suspect that politicians who are currently in power are obstructing their quest for the truth. The outgoing coalition government includes Milošević’s old party, SPS. According to Jelena Milić from the Centre for Euro-Atlantic Studies, another NGO that is aiding the families of RTS victims, the delays

Coming up Serbs to vote on general, presidential, local and provincial elections

ore than seven million Serbian citizens will vote in general, presidential, local and provincial elections on May 6th. While it’s a crucial day for the government and local self-governments, Serbia will only elect a new president following a second round of presidential elections scheduled for May 20th.

EBRD to elect new president

he 65 country shareholders of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, EBRD, will vote on a new president at the bank’s annual meeting in mid May. One of five candidates for the post is Serbia’s former deputy prime minister, Božidar Đelić. Đelić, currently a member of the ruling Democratic Party, has been a minister in the Serbian government twice. From 2001 to 2003 he was finance minister and from 2008 to 2011 he served as minister for science and deputy prime minister.

Serbia to renovate four main public clinics

erbia will announce a public call for the renovation of four main public clinics in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niš and Kragujevac in May. The works are to be carried out by year’s end 2015 and will cost about €200 million, to be financed from the state budget and a loan from the European Investment Bank, EIB.

Jelena Milić of the Centre for Euro-Atlantic Studies (centre) says that delays in this case are partly due to individuals still active in the army and politics.

in the case are partly down to “the fact that some people who were working during the war are still active in the army and in politics”. While officials from the SPS did not respond to BIRN’s request for comment, the defence ministry insists it is co-operating over the case. “The ministry has submitted all documents to the prosecutor and now the case is in the hands of the judiciary,” a spokesperson told BIRN.

“There is no doubt that these documents [file 466] exist.” Milan Antonijević, the Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights The public prosecutor’s office also recently said it had received the documents from the ministry. The statement by Tomo Zorić, a spokesman, was the first official confirmation from the prosecutor’s office that it was looking into the RTS case. It was issued in April, just before the 13th anniversary of the NATO strike – and some five years after the prosecutor was first presented with evidence by the campaigners. The families of the victims doubt whether their case will reach a court before the statute of limitations expires in 2014. “In 2006, Zorić said the prosecutor would look into the case – and nothing happened. And now we are in 2012 and we hear the same thing,” said Stojanović, the mother of one of the people killed in the bombing. “We have spent the last ten months having discussions in the office of the prosecutor for organised

crime,” she told BIRN. “There are no new details in this case. There is only a tonne of old evidence that no one has followed up.” However, doubts remain over which prosecutor is managing the RTS case, or indeed, whether it is being managed at all. The special court for organised crime, which liaises with the prosecutor in the same field, said it had not received any information on the case since the end of the Milanović trial. Maja Kovačević Tomić, a spokeswoman for the court, told BIRN that while all investigations were handled primarily by the prosecutor, “what I can say is that we would know if the case was being investigated”. Zorić also told BIRN he did not know which prosecutor was in charge of the case. “Maybe they are doing it together,” he said. He was also unable to confirm whether the material handed over by the ministry included the full contents of file number 466. “I don’t know exactly what documents have been sent by the defence ministry, but I do know they sent us everything,” he said. In an interview with Tanjug news agency on April 6th, Zorić sought to allay concerns that time was running out to bring a prosecution. “Determining the truth is a priority for the prosecutor’s office and we will take further steps. The office is taking care about time limits,” he said. He added that there was “no fear” that the case would expire under the statute of limitations.

Advanced knowledge The families’ campaign for an investigation has been championed by several other groups in recent years, including a Serbian independent journalists’ association and NGOs such as the Humanitarian Law Centre and the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights. The European Parliament’s rapporteur for Serbia, Jelko Kacin, also recently sent a let-

Photo by Media Centre Belgrade

A simple granite memorial commemorates the 16 deaths caused by NATO’s bombing of RTS HQ.

ter to the defence minister, urging an investigation into the deaths at RTS. Colonel Đorović, the military official who gathered evidence for the Milanović trial, is certain that the truth behind the deaths of the 16 RTS employees will be revealed. “One day, someone will be held responsible for what happened that night and for all that followed,” he told BIRN. Several claims made by top Serbian officials suggest they had advance knowledge of NATO’s bombing plans. Momir Bulatović, the former president of Yugoslavia, wrote in his book, Rules of Silence, of listening to an intercepted communication between NATO pilots during a visit to a Serbian command centre. Colonel Momir Stojanović, a former head of military security, told the Nedeljni Telegraf newspaper in 2003 that his team was able to stay abreast of NATO’s plans. “We knew when the bombardment would start, how it would go

on, what targets NATO would hit. We informed the army and state leadership about this all the time,” he was quoted as saying. Amateur radio operators in Serbia were also able to pick up NATO communications and pass them on to the authorities. Numerous buildings were evacuated on time. The offices of TV Vojvodina in Novi Sad

Photo by Beta

were hit by NATO on April 4th, after all its employees had left. The Ušće business complex in Belgrade was bombed on April 21st. Although it had not been seen as a possible target, the building was evacuated before the raid. NATO also bombed Milošević’s residence on April 22nd. The president was not there at the time.

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Belgrade Insight, Friday, May 4, 2012 - Thursday, May 17, 2012

Belgrade

belgrade

Roma eviction sullies Belgrade’s image

Voters face array of choices on election day Belgraders will have 13 choices on their local election ballots.

Families struggle to cope with the latest forced evictions from this New Belgrade settlement.

As he is being sent to Makiš, a settlement some 40 minutes far from the city centre, he is comparatively lucky. A dozen other families were sent to Dren, a settlement some 20 kilometres from Belgrade. Most had no idea where they were going, as no one had explained to them where Dren actually is.

“Six of us will share one metal container. I don’t want to go but do I have a choice? No. It’s like we are not human. I am Roma and I am a human being and I am a citizen of Serbia.”

ore than 1.5 million Belgraders who are eligible to vote will choose a new city government in 1,172 polling stations on May 6th. Miloš Todorović, secretary of the city’s Election Committee, said that the ballots will be on white paper and that citizens will choose between 13 candidates’ lists. The list of candidates was concluded at midnight on April 20th, when the deadline expired for parties to submit their lists.

The first on the ballots is the list of the Democratic Party and the city’s current mayor, Dragan Đilas. The second is the Serbian Radical Party, followed by United Regions of Serbia, while the Liberal Democratic Party is under number four. The Serbian Progressive Party is fifth, the Democratic Party of Serbia sixth, while the Socialist Party of Serbia is seventh. After the Socialists, five smaller parties will try to pass the five per cent threshold; the Group of Citizens Movement of Suburban Municipali-

Consumer Watch

Continued from page 1

“That settlement is terrible. You go off from the main road, turn left and enter a swamp,” Danilo Ćurčić from the NGO Praxis, which monitored the eviction, said. “One part of the swamp is dried and they have put containers there. It is in a Belgrade municipality, but it is not Belgrade. It’s an hour from the city,” he added. “I don’t know what these people can do for work there.” Families sent back to other cities across Serbia haven’t even been provided with metal containers, nor did they all know where they were going. “I don’t know, I think it’s in Bornik

Chris Farmer

Belgrade voters to be spoilt for choice.

ties is in eighth place, the Movement of Workers and Peasants is ninth, New Social Democracy Belgrade is tenth, Dveri is 11th, the Communist Party is 12th and the Social Democratic Union is 13th. In Belgrade the elections are being held on two levels, as the city is divided into 17 municipalities. Along with general, presidential and local elections, Belgraders will also vote for municipal assemblies. As the assemblies of two municipalities, Zemun and Voždovac, were formed in 2009 and 2010, elections

Photo by Beta

for assemblies in these two municipalities will not be held along with the other 15 on May 6th. The mayor and the presidents of the municipalities are elected by the municipal and city assemblies. Seats are awarded through a partylist proportional representation system with a five per cent threshold for all but ethnic minority parties and with every third candidate on the lists having to be a member of the less represented gender. The Belgrade assembly has 110 members serving a four-year mandate.

Little relief for Belgrade drivers

Although drivers welcome the new parking garage with 250 spaces, the city’s decision to start charging for parking in Vračar is less of a cause for celebration.

and I think mum and dad are from there, but they don’t know where we are going to sleep,” one eight-year-old boy said, mispronouncing the town where he is being sent. His grandfather, a thin Roma in an old but clean suit and hat, helplessly raised his hands in the air and shrugged, as if he had nothing to add. About 40 families are supposed to go to Bojnik, one of the poorest municipalities in southern Serbia. But six of the families never got on the buses that carried the other families to this distant town. Almost all who went said they were not planning to stay. “I left Bojnik as I did not have any-

thing to do there and couldn’t earn any money,” said 45-year-old Sefik. “Nothing has changed; there is no way I’ll be able to support my family in Bojnik.” Representatives of the city in charge of the eviction told the families being sent from Belgrade that they will be provided with a one-time grant of 20,000 dinars [€200]. They said the local authorities where they have been sent would inform them about their prospects for accommodation and jobs. But families from Belville were not consulted prior to their eviction. They also had no access to legal aid. Human

rights NGOs say that the metal containers are substandard. “By law even prisoners are entitled to four square feet of space, while six members of one family from Belville are put in a metal container measuring 15 square metres,” Ćurčić from Praxis said. Belgrade Mayor Dragan Đilas, who was also present at the eviction, said the authorities aimed to improve conditions both for the Roma and their neighbours. “This is a question of law and respect of the rules in Belgrade and anyone who does not comply will be penalised,” Đilas said. The Belville operation is the 17th forced eviction in Belgrade since 2009. According to Amnesty International, none has been conducted with due respect for human rights. “The Serbian government is flagrantly violating international law by allowing the Belgrade city authorities to carry out this eviction,” John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International’s Europe and Central Asia Director, said. Both Amnesty and local NGOs maintain that the evictions conducted by Belgrade authorities are not a per-

Photos by Beta

manent solution to the problem. Although the Belgrade authorities say they cannot spend money on social housing for Roma families while many other Belgraders lack apartments, the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights says providing social housing is, in fact, cheaper than metal containers. “A simple calculation shows that social housing for about 100 Belville families would cost about half of a million euro while the city paid about a million for the metal containers,” the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights said. “Containers also can’t be used forever and in two or three years they will be useless.” NGOs say the government should adopt an action plan or a law that would set better standards for such resettlements. Amnesty International, meanwhile, has launched an initiative that aim to outlaw forced evictions. “We reiterate our call for a law which would prohibit forced evictions and stipulate safeguards for all evictions to prevent the blatant breach of international law we have seen again in Belville,” wrote Amnesty after the carrzing out of the eviction operation.

Photo by Beta

Hidden Belgrade

You’ve Got Mail

new parking zone with a three-hour time limit in the Belgrade municipality of Vračar will start working on May 10th, when the city will start charging for parking in the area. The so-called green zone, with about 2,300 parking spaces, is bordered by the streets Bulevar oslobođenja, Sklerliceva, Bore Stankovića, Mačvanska, Cara Nikolaja II, Mileševska, Žička, Grčića Milenka and Južni bulevar. One hour in the zone costs 31 dinars [€0.3], while residents of streets in the zone have the privilege of parking without a time limit. Tickets for residents cost 457 dinars [€4.5] a month for individuals and 4,106 dinars [€45] for companies. Although drivers do not see the new parking zone with charges as good news, the opening of a new parking

nyone opting to cross Brankov Bridge on foot over the next couple of weeks will have the chance to see Belgrade smiling at them. That’s because the grass along the riverbank has been mowed in the shape of smiling faces as part of a project organised by eco-art group Arijadnina nit that aims to raise awareness of environmental issues.

garage in Dorćol is welcome. As it is hard to find a parking space in the city centre at any time of the day, Belgraders welcome the new parking garage with 250 parking places near Botanical garden. The underground garage in Vojvode Dobrnjca Street started working on April 26th. “In the last two decades there was just one new underground garage, in Pionirski park, so these garages are especially important for those areas where a parking place is considered a real treasure,” said Mayor Đilas at the opening. An hour in the garage costs 50 dinars [€0.5], while the whole day costs 6,875 dinars [€68]. Privileged tickets for residents of nearby streets cost 2,200 dinars [€22] per month, while tickets for those who work in the area cost 4,000 [€40] per month.

hat happened to the friendly neighbourhood postman? When I was growing up, the mail used to be delivered every morning at around ten. Whenever I was home it was always a big deal to meet the postman and see what he would bring. If I remember correctly, we all knew our postman’s name. He was a real person and would sometimes stop to chat, drink a cup of coffee or shoot the breeze with us before moving along to the next house. Come to think of it, it is little wonder that postmen tend to go crazy and shoot people: too much caffeine. The postman’s bag was always full of promise. Inside were letters from family and friends, catalogues from mail-order companies, postcards from holiday destinations and anything else on paper which needed transporting from Point A to Point B. At Christmas time the postman was the vital link between us children and Santa Claus, as we confided our Christmas wishes and professions of good behaviour into a letter and addressed it to Santa Claus, North Pole, bez broja. And in the middle of this, the postman came every day as we waited for a response to our letters. Sometimes he would give me a sympathetic smile as if to say, “Sorry, nothing yet.” But we knew he would be back tomorrow. There was something special in the anticipation of a letter. Today, we do not have to wait for anything. Email carries our thoughts across oceans and continents in the blink of an electronic eye. We no longer set aside time to “catch up on our correspondence.” Often we dash off half-sentences and symbols (such as the ubiquitous and somewhat annoying punctuation smiley faces :) or deeply grieving sad faces :( in order to convey emotional states). We do not bother with dictionaries as our email client usually relies on Microsoft to correct our spelling. In business, the usual etiquette is to send a response to email within 24 hours of receipt, but often it goes much faster. An exchange of contracts used to take anywhere up to a month just for transit – now it can be done in a minute or less. And with friends, even email is not fast enough anymore. IM exchanges are instantaneous and replace the need for composition. Today the postman is a stranger to us. He only brings us news from Infostan, from Telekom Srbija and EPS. He does not stop to chat anymore and risk becoming the object of rage at the monthly increases in the bills he brings. And Santa Claus can be reached at www.santaclaus.com. I think we should take a minute and meet the postman again, humanize him again, offer him some (decaffeinated) coffee. Maybe he has a Twitter account… Christen Bradley Farmer is founder and president of MACH IV Consulting. Farmer also regularly shares his observations on life Serbia in Politika daily, LivingIn Belgrade.com, and in his B92.net VIP blog.

Belgrade Insight, Friday, May 4, 2012 - Thursday, May 17, 2012

regional

REGIONAL

olice swooped on 20 alleged radical Muslims on May 1st on suspicion of involvement in the murders of five young men in Skopje on April 12th. Police said the men, some of whom are Macedonian nationals, were motivated by a desire to spread fear in the country. They will be charged with terrorism. The bodies of four victims, all aged between 18 and 20, were discovered on the northern outskirts of the capital. All had gunshot wounds. The body of 45-year-old Borce Stevkovski was a short distance away from the rest.

Region in brief

Continued from page 1

Macedonia police arrest 20 over Skopje murders

Romania’s new leader The government cut civil servants’ wages by 25 per cent in July 2010, while thousands of state jobs were axed and VAT was increased by 5 per cent to 24 per cent. Falling wages and the effects of the austerity measures prompted thousands of people to take to the streets in January and February, demanding the resignation of both the government and President Traian Basescu. Emil Boc’s cabinet survived 10 noconfidence votes before falling on February 6th. Basescu then nominated Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu, head of the Foreign Intelligence Agency, SIE, hoping a fresh face might turn matters around. But Ungureanu’s government ruled for only 78 days. The new government, made up of politicians from the USL and some independents, faces many dilemmas. “Although they’re expected to gain parliamentary backing on May 7th, months of instability may lie ahead of the autumn elections,” political analyst Dan Pavel noted.

New Romanian PM announces cabinet

omania’s Prime Ministerelect, Victor Ponta, presented his new cabinet on May 1st. It is expected to gain the backing of the country’s parliament on May 7th. The government’s 20 cabinet seats have been split between the major parties of the Social Liberal Union, USL, coalition. The new government aims to maintain economic continuity while also boosting jobs. General elections will be held this autumn. The government of former Prime Minister Ungureanu fell on April 27th after only 78 days in office.

Croatia’s Sanader faces new embezzlement probe

“Our political and economic vision will ensure predictability and boost job creation in Romania.”

ormer Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader is now under investigation for embezzlement in relation to an office building in Zagreb, his lawyers said on April 30th. It is not clear when he will be questioned over this case. Sanader and two other men are suspected of irregularities in the purchase of an office building for €3.5 million. Sanader, Croatian PM from 2003 to 2009, is currently on trial together with seven other HDZ party officials for allegedly illegally drawing millions of euros from public firms and enterprises to support a “slush fund”.

Victor Ponta, Romanian Prime Minister

Montenegro sells bankrupt steel mill to Turkey

ontenegro sold its bankrupt Željezara steel mill in Nikšić to Turkish metals company Toscelik Profil ve Sac Endustrisi AS for €15.1 million on May 1st. The mill was declared bankrupt last year, with debts of some €193 million. Two previous tenders for the company failed to attract any bidders. The government this year took on debts of €32 million from the steel mill and another €132 million from the country’s aluminium producer Kombinat Aluminijuma Podgorica, KAP. Taking on the debts forced Montenegro to downgrade its growth forecast from two per cent to 0.5 per cent in 2012.

Albania indicts four over protester killings

former head of Albania’s Republican Guard, General Ndrea Prendi, and former chief of staff of a special unit of the Republican Guard, Agim Luppo, have been indicted along with two other officials for the murders of three protestors in 2011, the wounding of two others and concealing evidence. On January 21st 2011 several hundred opposition marchers attacked a police barricade set up to protect Prime Minister Sali Berisha’s office. The subsequent riots saw four protestors killed and dozens wounded.

New Romanian PM Victor Ponta will strive to keep finances in order.

Photo by Vadim Ghirda/AP

“The main question is whether Romania has the will to continue implementing measures needed to keep the IMF precautionary credit line on track,” he added.

Montenegro veterans face ‘pact of silence’ Veterans of the 1990s wars accuse the authorities of neglecting those who were called up to fight, out of a desire to distance themselves from what are now seen as embarrassing conflicts. Milena Milošević

ontenegro’s war veterans say they have become an awkward embarrassment to the

authorities. Standing in front of the Army building in Nikšić, Slobodan Žugić, who fought in the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s, speaks of “how unfairly and unprofessionally veterans are treated.” He says that although he survived the war, he is psychologically devastated.

Another veteran, Desimir Hajvaz, points out that although the United States lost the war in Vietnam “its soldiers were not humiliated” as they have been. A soldier in the old Yugoslav Army, the JNA, Hajvaz fought in the 1992-5 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina and was injured in a shell explosion. In 1999 he fought again during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. Today Hajvaz suffers from emphysema, spinal injuries and thyroid problems, the result, he says, of his injuries in Bosnia and of radiation from NATO bombing. His monthly pension is only €100, which he receives

from the state as a disabled veteran. But Hajvaz says the extent of his disability was not properly assessed. “The commission assessed my level of disability as 60 per cent,” he explains. “But the Military Academy in Belgrade told me that it should be assessed as at least 80 per cent, because my lung condition cannot be treated by surgery or any kind of drugs.”

Pact of Silence?

Radan Nikolić, chairman of the Montenegrin Association of 1990s Veterans, argues that the people he represents were sent to war by the state, but that their problems have become a taboo subject.

battles temptation to spend “If the government learns from the lessons of the past and refrains from populist spending, Romania could return to sustainable growth.”

Ilie Serbanescu, economic analyst “The new government has to produce a credible programme of public policy initiatives, tackle corruption at all levels and get the country moving forward,” economic analyst Ilie Serbanescu said. “It has to ease economic burdens on people, but at the same time can’t just drop the austerity measures agreed with the IMF and the EU,” he added. Ahead of the presentation of his cabinet, Ponta met IMF representatives hoping to persuade Romania’s international creditors of his will to maintain “continuity” in economic policy. However, he sounded an uncertain note on the subject. “My cabinet will respect all the international agreements agreed by the previous governments but some of the financial and economic aspects should be re-negotiated to ease the austerity burden on the population, boost economic growth and create jobs,” he said. The IMF and European Commis-

He says both government and opposition observe a “pact of silence” on veteran issues. Although the small republic avoided the harshest consequences of Yugoslavia’s dissolution, its 35,000 JNA veterans constitute a sizeable group in a population of just 620,000. But “war veterans have a negative image, which is the result of a political deal between Serbia and Croatia which assigned all the guilt for the wars of the 1990s on the former JNA and Serbia,” Nikolić claims. Montenegrin reservists took part in the JNA war against newly independent Croatia in the early 1990s. But Nikolić recalls that Stjepan Mesić, former president of Croatia, formally stated in 2004 that Croatia and Montenegro had “never fought against each other”. Partly as a result of such gestures, Nikolić says, “Montenegrin officials behave as if the 35,000 veterans from the 1990s do not live here.” In Croatia, by contrast, veterans receive a range of welfare benefits, as well as enjoying sympathetic media coverage.

Victor Ponta accepts the challenge of leading Romania’s government through this period of austerity.

sion said they expected Romania to “continue to observe its economic policy commitments to its international partners”. Romania depends on a €20 billion rescue package from the IMF, the European Union and the World Bank. It obtained the loan in May 2009 in exchange for agreeing to push through austerity measures aimed at taming the country’s yawning deficit. Last March Romania signed a new agreement worth €3.6 billion, following the conclusion of the 2009 standby-agreement, worth €20 billion. Following the latest assessment mission to Bucharest, in February the IMF prescribed strict spending discipline and further cuts to the health system.

The Croatia-Montenegro rapprochement began when Montenegro consciously distanced itself from Serbia and took steps toward regional reconciliation – a process that gained extra momentum when it declared independence from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro in 2006. In 2000, the government formally apologised to Croats for the suffering and losses that Montenegrin soldiers had caused them, especially in the area of Dubrovnik, which is not far from Montenegro and was besieged by JNA forces.

A good law badly applied

Under Montenegro’s Law on the Rights of War Veterans and Disabled Persons, veterans from the 1990s, apart from bereaved families or those disabled in combat, are not entitled to “special treatment”. Thus, only 254 veterans from this period are entitled to receive state assistance on grounds of disability, the Labour and Welfare Ministry says. Nikolić says that only 23 seriously injured veterans receive adequate assistance.

Meanwhile uncertainties about a new government sent the Romanian currency tumbling to a new low on May 1st, mainly due to jitters about the measures that the new government will take. The stability of the new government will also depend on its relations with the powerful President, Traian Basescu. Basescu’s decision to nominate Ponta as Prime Minister took his supporters by surprise: last year the President declared he would never name the Social Democrat head as premier. But the President has defended his choice as “completely legitimate” on the grounds that Ponta was clearly the candidate of a new parliamentary majority, while Basescu further backed his decision as an effort to

“Montenegrin officials behave as if the 35,000 veterans from the 1990s do not live here.” Radan Nikolić, chairman of the Montenegrin Association of 1990s Veterans

Photo by Octav Ganea/AP

calm financial markets. “Basescu was forced to quickly appoint Ponta because the IMF was in Bucharest and he could not afford to let the usual bickering take place. But he is unhappy with the situation,” journalist Ion Ionita said. “Another important question is whether the new governing coalition will push on with their obvious desire to impeach the President and trigger an early presidential election,” Ionita added. Ahead of last week’s no-confidence vote, the USL, while in opposition, had repeatedly said it would initiate moves to suspend the President should the alliance come to power. The issue has not come up again

since Basescu nominated Ponta as Prime Minister - possibly an indicator of potential future cohabitation between the President and Ponta. Analyst Ilie Serbanescu says that one of the biggest dilemmas for the government would be whether to spend money ahead of the elections later this year. Local and general elections take place in mid-June and late November respectively. “If the government learns from the lessons of the past and refrains from populist spending, Romania could return to sustainable growth,” he said. “Otherwise, it may have to go through the same painful lesson yet one more time.”

He also argues that while the law is reasonable in theory, its implementation is not. The “rigorous attitude” of the assessment commission works against the interests of veterans, he says. “Many sick people were not given the status of disabled veterans,” according to Nikolic. “And many suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome. Montenegro is the only country in the region that has not addressed this issue.” Hajvaz agrees. “The psychological consequences hurt more than physical injuries,” he says. “But the commission does not deal with that. Even today, I wake up in the night, partly because my chest hurts and I can’t breathe. Then the sweating begins. It’s stress. I have to use medication regularly.”

veterans, they would be drawn back into issues related to the war – and that’s something they want to wash their hands of,” he says. By contrast, World War Two veterans, “have preserved their rights, acquired under the old federal [Yugoslav] legislation,” Nikolić says. “They receive a veteran’s allowance, while none of us do.” Vukadinović suggests that different treatment reflects the differences between the two conflicts. “In World War Two, we were fighting against a foreign enemy, a huge empire, [Germany] while in the 1990s the fighting was among ourselves [among former Yugoslavs],” he says. He is not that sympathetic to the veterans’ cause, saying that “it should be openly stated that most of them joined the army in the 1990s because they expected some reward.” Nikolić rejects this, insisting that the mass response to mobilisation in Montenegro in 1991 was a reflection of the country’s martial traditions and unfolding events in Croatia.

Different conflicts

Sociologist Srđan Vukadinović says the mobilisation was orchestrated by the Milošević regime, not the pliant Montenegrin elite. “The elite point out that after 1997 they moved away from Milošević. So, if they spoke openly about the 1990s

Belgrade Insight, Friday, May 4, 2012 - Thursday, May 17, 2012

Meraktor centre closed for renovation

elgrade’s Meraktor shopping centre was closed for renovation on May 3rd and will only be reopened in September. Company Merkator-S will invest €12 million in renovating the retail mall, which opened in 2002. The company said that following completion of the works the popular shopping centre will meet the highest technical standards and quality of service. Merkator-S also announced the broadening of its offer, with the aim of becoming the best equipped retail outlet on the Serbian market.

Serbian exports down on last year

erbian exports fell by

9.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2012, compared to the same period last year. By the end of March the country’s exports amounted to about €1.9 billion. The main export products were grain and grain products, electrical machinery, non-ferrous metals, garments and iron and steel. Most Serbian goods were exported to Germany, Italy and Bosnia.

Bids submitted for Smederevo steel mill

nited Pilsen S.A. from Luxembourg, Donetsksteel Group from Ukraine and Russia’s Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company have all applied to participate in the tender for the Smederevo steel mill, the Serbian government announced on April 30th. The government, which bought the mill back from U.S. Steel in February, issued a public call for a strategic partner on April 18th.

Out and About Business in brief

business

‘Hidden’ taxes hinder investment in Serbia Rising charges that businesses have to pay apart from regular tax are making investors in Serbia more cautious when calculating the costs of their operations.

There is more to Serbia’s spas than cures for rheumatism and sciatica. Many also come for the walks, sports and gathering herbs.

Stevan Veljović

t the end of last year Serbia increased the fee on mineral companies from 3 to 5 per cent of revenue, which put additional burdens on the companies, given that this is only one of many duties businesses have to pay in Serbia. A recent study by the National Alliance for Local Economic Development, NALED, and USAID found that businesses in Serbia pay more than 370 different non-fiscal charges. This term combines various duties paid to the state or local authorities, institutions, agencies or public enterprises that businesses pay on top of regular taxes. Darko Vukobratović, general manager of Contango and owner of the Rudnik lead, zinc and copper mine, says industry representatives immediately complained to the Ministry of Environment about this duty, but their complaints had no effect, Vukobratović said.

Spas offer Serbs a healing touch Nemanja Čabrić

Darko Vukobratović: industry complaints have had no effect.

“Based on last year’s turnover, we could pay around €600,000 in 2012 for this charge alone,” he said. “This is almost 70 per cent of projected amounts allocated for investments and exploration drilling this year,” Vukobratović added. Though Serbia is one of the more favourable investment destinations in Europe, with corporate income tax of only 10 per cent, the number of “hidden” taxes – duties which are not part of the regular tax system – complicate this picture. These non-fiscal charges are often determined without any clear rationale behind them, creating legal uncertainty and undermining the predictability of the business environment that investors seek. No value for money In 2011, 77 non-fiscal charges that NALED tracked through the Treasury filled the state budget

Photo by Media Centre Belgrade

what the benefit any one enterprise gains from forests. The authors of the study argue that this charge most hurts companies that operate on the basis of a high turnover and low profit margin. Another example is the utility tax that companies and entrepreneurs have to pay for displaying their company name on the office space. The amount varies from municipality to municipality, but the study found that the total revenue earned from this charge last year was nearly five billion dinars. The total amount that the state collects through these charges, at two per cent of GDP, is still relatively low compared to overall public expenditure, which exceeds 40 per cent of GDP. But, as Nikola Altiparmakov, member of the independent Fiscal Council, points out, these duties don’t correspond to the strength of most

than reliefs, labour cost or location, which is why para-fiscal charges are hurting Serbia’s chances of presenting itself as an attractive destination for investment,” she said. In the past years, the non-fiscal burden was a problem mainly for investors already operating in Serbia. However, as Milan Kovačević, an expert on FDI, notes, their concerns now stand as a warning to all those willing to follow in their footsteps. Amalija Pavić, acting Executive Director of AmCham, confirms that unlike a few years ago, para-fiscal charges are now part of the mandatory set of questions that potential investors like to ask. “Such charges obscure the effective burden on companies and pose a problem in predictability and making plans once on the market,” Pavić says, adding that changes must be far-reaching, not ad-hoc interventions over a single charge.

“Such charges obscure the effective burden on companies and pose a problem in predictability and making plans once on the market.”

Amalija Pavić, acting Executive Director of AmCham

with €730 million, which is around 40 per cent of the value of Foreign Direct Investment or €570 per employee working in the real economy. The figure of 370 different charges includes more 179 for various para-fiscal duties – charges that businesses pay for goods or services that they either don’t receive or whose price goes well beyond the value of the delivered service. An example of this kind of hidden taxation is a charge for the protection and use of forests, which all legal entities have to pay in the amount of 0.025 per cent of total revenue, no matter

businesses. Nor do they reflect the real value and cost behind the services that the public sector provides, while they are often introduced and changed on an arbitrary basis. Ad-hoc changes not enough Ana Trbović, professor at the Faculty of Economics, Finance and Administration, FEFA, says that this lack of clear criteria in determining forms and amounts of charges creates a sense of insecurity that worries investors. “Stability is the most important factor with investors, more important

Among other proposals, the authors of the NALED study call on the government to make a precise classification of all charges that exist and reassess the usefulness of taxes that do not show a significant fiscal capacity. They also call for the integration of so-called “own revenues” of public agencies and administrative authority into the state budget, while financing their operations from general taxes. In return, this would allow the state to abolish most charges for registrations, certificates, permits and so on, currently performed by public authorities.

erbia may not have a coastline but it makes up for that, at least in part, by being rich in warm water of another kind - spas. Lying at the feet of the mountains, surrounded by forests and in areas with a mild climate, most of these spas also have other attractions, such as cultural monuments, mountain resorts or hunting grounds. Almost all of Serbia’s popular resorts and healing places are built on the sites of older Roman, Turkish and Austrian baths. After the liberation of Serbia from Ottoman rule at the beginning of 19th century, they were largely rebuilt or upgraded to become fashionable summer resorts for respected guests. Vrnjačka Banja and Soko Banja are of this kind. Besides their main purpose - treating patients for different kinds of ailments - they are also cultural and recreational resorts. Vrnjačka Banja, Serbia’s Karslbad: Vrnjačka Banja is a mineral spa with four mineral springs of cold and warm water that are used for treatments. Lying on the slopes of Mt Goč, 200km from Belgrade, it is in the Raška district. The spa building, where therapies take place, is surrounded by a great park. Treatments combine several natural mineral waters to help patients recover from chronic conditions such as diabetes, diseases of the digestive tract and rheumatism. Besides treatments with warm mineral water, there are other treatments with electricity, magnets, paraffin and lasers. The warmest spring, Topla Voda, is the exact same temperature as

the human body. Vrnjačka Banja has a long tradition as a centre of tourism and medicine. On the very site of the hot mineral spring called Vrnjci the Romans once built a centre for medical treatment and rehabilitation. Archaeological finds from this era include a swimming pool, a mineral water spring and coins thrown into the spring as an expression of cult beliefs. The spa was rebuilt by the Czech Baron Herder in 1835 after Prince Miloš Obrenović decided he wanted something resembling the famous Karlsbad [Karlovy Vary] resort in Bohemia. It has always been popular in the region, as well as hosting many visitors from abroad. Surrounding Vrnjačka Banja are UNESCO-protected medieval buildings, including monasteries with valuable frescos and military forts. Sopoćani Monastery, which dates back to the 13th century, is only 2.5km away and contains some of the finest frescoes in Serbia, painted by artists brought from the then Constantinople by King Uroš I. Another half-hour ride from Vrnjačka Banja to the west is Žiča Monastery, built in the same period, which was the first seat of Serbia’s Church leaders. Hotels are numerous in Vrnjačka Banja and most have swimming pools and games rooms. In summer there are cultural events, such as poetry readings in the modern library, classical concerts under the columns and a film festival. Soko Banja, home of legends: About the same distance from Belgrade as Vrnjačka Banja, to the southeast, lie Soko Banja and nearby Soko Grad. In the 17th century, when Serbia

was part of the Ottoman Empire, this spa had six mosques and 200 wooden houses as well as a public bath. After the liberation of Sokobanja in 1832, Prince Miloš Obrenović, who evidently had a passion for spas, ordered the spa be rebuilt and its water analysed in Vienna, from where he brought the first doctor, Leopold Erich. Legend has it that a powerful ruler of Soko Grad once fell from his horse, was badly injured and was near death when he noticed the spring, from which he drank and washed. When his wounds healed and he recovered, the thankful ruler spread the word about the miraculous spring. In reality, settlements were built near this spa from Neolithic times onwards and iron and copper finds suggest that there was a spa here at least as far back as the 7th century BC. The miraculous effect of the water recounted in the legend could be explained by the fact that the water here is the most radioactive in Serbia. Radioactive gases vaporise from six springs with temperatures ranging from 25 to 45 degrees. They are good for the breathing system, so are inhaled in special chambers. People also come here to recover from broken limbs or sciatica by bathing in the hot water. The numerous parks of Soko Banja

are well-arranged gardens for relaxation. The biggest is Gradski park, the City Park, which is rich in fountains and intersected by two streams, one hot and the other cold. In the centre of town is a 600mlong walkway covered with marble, which passes near the “Park” spa, which is an old Turkish stone hamam consisting of ten separate pools with hot water from geo-thermal springs. One of the tubs belonged to Miloš Obrenović himself and cannot be used without special permission. Milos also had a summerhouse here, which to-

day houses cafes, inns, dancing clubs and shops. Located between Ozren and Rtanj Mountains, Soko Banja is a good place for off-road cycling or hiking. The area is also good for collecting medicinal herbs, which grow abundantly. There are over 200 species, including the herb used to make Rtanjski caj, (Rtanj tea). Other activities in the vicinity include fishing and hunting. An aqua park in Soko Banja was opened with several swimming pools and tobogganing last autumn. house of relaxation

www.inhotel-vrnjackabanja.com Located in the centre of Vrnjacka Banja, along the promenade. • 11 luxury rooms • Internet access • Parking • Vrnjačka bb, 36210 Vrnjačka Banja, Srbija tel/fax: 036 611.021, 611.022 info@inhotel-vrnjackabanja.com

10 Belgrade Insight, Friday, May 4, 2012 - Thursday, May 17, 2012

Belgrade Insight, Friday, May 4, 2012 - Thursday, May 17, 2012 11

ARTS

Dining Out Wine Corner

Here’s one battleship that deserves to sink

t is not unfamiliar for moviegoers to walk out of a blockbuster feeling disappointed about the lack of a decent scenario, acting achievements or directional quality. Battleship lacks them all. In absence of new military conflicts in the world, Hollywood seems to have decided to spice up U.S. presidential election year with patriotic films. As creativity and hard-core Hollywood seldom walk hand-in-hand, they borrowed this story from a video game. This is becoming increasingly frequent, but not all films based on video games turn out wrong, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time being the most recent proof. With the Transformers films breaking records among very young audiences, Universal Studio took on a story about machines fighting brave, young military officers and threw in some aliens. The good guys this time are young Marines on a military exercise off the coast of Hawaii. Among them is a particularly problematic soldier, Alex Hopper, who falls for the admiral’s daughter. But, owing to his rebellious attitude, he is facing the end of his military career after the exercise finishes. However, aliens appear and the exercise becomes a fight to save the planet. This time, the representatives of foreign species come invited, as the

plot informs us that scientists have built a powerful satellite to contact a planet that they believe contains life similar to that on Earth. We are soon shown that the members of this species are not a peaceful lot, however, as they blow up several American warships and make preparations to conquer our planet. In their way stands Alex who learns that muscles and hasty decisions serve little purpose when you need to save the world. Films based exclusively on someone or something blowing up landmarks while heroes try to stop their evil intentions can work - if steered by an experienced director. Though Independence Day or the Day After Tomorrow are not works of cinematic art, their director, Roland Emmerich, knows that large amounts of special effects must be matched by an entertaining if not believable storyline. In Battleship, we just don’t buy pop-star Rihanna blowing alien heads off with a gun from a destroyer, or Hong Kong buildings collapsing in 9/11 fashion, nor can we ignore factual inconsistencies so flagrant that one wonders if there was a scenario at all or they just used the text from a video game CD cover. One could also easily dispute the use of disabled and retired American military men to add a patriotic boost to the film. The special effects here comprise a few alien ships and probably the largest number of onscreen explosions ever recorded on film.

As the viewer is taken on a tour of American military steal on water, we also get some nice shots of ships in the open seas. Sound effects are enhanced to the level of taking away any doubt that you are actually on the ship. While seats shake, you may want to start covering your ears every time you see a gun ready to fire. Patriotic films containing many toys may have a sound financial logic. You get the boy toy audience as well as the patriotic one. Battleship gives solid evidence that this is so. In just a few weeks it returned most of its 200 million dollar budget, taking over Titanic 3D in cinemas worldwide. There is something that audiences clearly like about films in which the human race is saved from almost certain extinction by a group of heroes. Battleship speaks in favour of the fact that these films need only be expensive, not good.

- Wine List Reviews

La Piazza Pavle Golicin

do not remember how many times people have asked me what to drink with pizza. Without going into long discussions about wine pairings, which would depend on the type of pizza and toppings, I preferred to put it bluntly – take a beer instead! Every single time I enjoyed their surprised faces since they did not see it coming. Do not believe me? Ask an Italian. Going to one of the most popular places for pizzas in Belgrade, I decided to give it another try and somehow convince myself to do the opposite. ‘La Piazza,’ however, helped prove my initial statement about the beer. The wine list is organised in an ordinary way – divided into white, rosé and red; sparkling, as always, aside. There is information about the producer, commercial name of their wines, price and even vintage. In addition, tasting notes are given for each wine, although I seriously doubt that it can help customers make up their minds about the choices. Sometimes it can also be misleading, for example, Lambrusco is described as fruity, cheerful and refreshing (sic)! The small but clear wine list has a lot of spelling mistakes, which will not significantly influence your choice. The French, however, might not find it as amusing as we did that the wine list stated that ‘Moet&Chandon’ came from Italy. The more important problem is that you can only find Italian wines on the list. At first, we tried to find additional pages of the list, which we thought were missing; but when we spotted another table order the local Tamjanika wine, we asked a waiter to tell us what else was available. It would help if those wines were at least written on some of the boards in the restaurant. In any case, only approximately 10 wines are available by the glass. I decided to go for a safe choice, finding a wine based on Sangiovese which would be a good marriage with my favourite pizza, margharita. This time it was Toscana Rosso ‘Remole’ by Frescobaldi, a blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a classic example of wine suitable for all dishes and occasions. I found my ‘cup of tea’ afterwards. Sipped at the end of the meal, grappa tradizionale by ‘Nonino’ gave me a real pleasure. It was appropriately served in the perfect glass and conditions. This grappa made in Friuli (North-East Italy) showed the best of its elegant style. I also appreciated the chivalrous and friendly service, which always leaves a lasting impression. At ‘La Piazza’ there is no doubt that you will be able to find your wine and food pairing after all. A clearer and more correctly laid out wine list, however, could ensure that the full profitable potential of the wine offering is realised. Furthermore, more wines offered by the glass, and more adventurously chosen options, would have made this list a lot better.

New all-American top blockbuster glorifies warfare against alien enemy to the point of nonsense - and not even the super-expensive special effects can redeem it.

Andrej Klemenčič

Wishful Drinking

La Piazza La Piazza opened in our neighborhood in the spring of 2007. It was an instant success, and after only one year or so, it doubled in size by extending to the shop next door. Duda i Vlada

he interior is pleasant, not really original or memorable, on the modern side. The best thing about it is the atmosphere – casual and always crowded. There is also an outdoor sitting area. In the summertime it is just as popular, despite simply being an elevated fenced-in section of the path, with a constant flow of pedestrians and cars on either side. With good food and company, the traffic that is inches away, blends into the background and adds some weird urban charm to the experience. The menu is short, written on the paper placemats. It is Italian to the bone, dominated by simple and authentic dishes. Living next door, we used to come regularly to La Piazza. After a while, the lack of length and change in the menu prevented us from coming as often as in the beginning. It appears they have become aware of this problem because we have finally noticed a shift in the right direction. There are new options on the menu and some more written on the boards inside. There is still a problem, however, because the waiters are not mentioning that there are more options outside the main menu. Unless you are lucky enough to be seated next to one of the boards, it is likely that you will miss them. Pizza is definitely La Piazza’s signature dish. There are about a dozen options, each with thin, well-done, crisp crusts that are made in a proper pizza oven. The elongated, combined “pizza for two” (in reality it could feed 3 or 4) is a great, fun thing to share with friends. But this time we headed for something different – Margherita Napoli style with original buffalo mocarela. Eagle eyes are needed to find it written above the pizza oven, but the effort is rewarded with the real thing – simplicity at its best. We ordered salad Sergio as anoth-

er starter – a pleasant mix of greens, chicken, blue cheese and roasted almonds, served in an inventive way – in a bowl of crisp pizza dough. For the main courses, we couldn’t skip our favorites – fettuccine tartufo & mixed funghi and straccetti on rocket. Fettuccine are made in-house, covered with rich, creamy sauce and generous with the mushrooms. Although a bit heavy, they are truly delicious. For those who are up to venturing outside the world of pizza and pasta, straccetti is a recommended option. It is another Italian classic that is seldom seen in Belgrade, despite the number of Italian restaurants present in our city. It is made of long, thin slices of veal served on a bed of rocket, covered with cherry tomatoes and sprinkled with coarsely grated Parmesan. We ended our dinner with pizza with Nutela and Brestovik strawberries with mascarpone cream. Pizza with Nutela needs no explanation – it simply satisfies the kid inside. The local (Brestovik is a village near Belgrade) fresh strawberries paired beautifully with Italian cheese cream. It was refreshing and topped with some mint leafs for the final touch. The two opposite sweets went together really well. The service wasn’t perfect. Our waiter seemed to be somewhat confused and/or distracted. It would be unfair, however, to dwell on that since our earlier experiences were really positive. Normally waiters in La Piazza are pleasant and efficient. Maybe he just had a bad day. La Piazza is all about keeping it simple, fresh and authentic – and its full tables are proof that one can’t go wrong this way. As an added bonus, you might be rubbing shoulders with the Mayor of Belgrade who is a regular here – outside the election campaign, that is. La Piazza, Mileševska 54, tel: 011 3836634 price guide: 1400-2300 per person for three courses without wine

Basic Info

Rating

Overall

Average

Wine selection

Average

Wine service

Good

Wine pricing

Average

Wine and food pairing

Good

Price guide: 1,250 - 6,900 RSD [€12 - €69]

12 Belgrade Insight, Friday, May 4, 2012 - Thursday, May 17, 2012

Belgrade Insight, Friday, May 4, 2012 - Thursday, May 17, 2012 13

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what’s on  L ive Jazz Duets and Trios, Iguana, Karađorđeva 2-4, 7pm Monday May 7

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Friday May 4 

Cinemas

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Belgrade’s cinemas only publish their schedules one week in advance. Listings for future weeks are available from the cinemas. All provide information in English.

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_________________________ RODA CINEPLEX / Požeška 83A, tel: + 381 11 2545260 Legend of a Rabbit – 3.30pm Journey 2. The Mysterious Island – 4.30pm The Avengers (3D) – 5.15pm, 8pm, 10.45pm Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax (3D) – 4.20pm American Reunion – 6pm, 8.15pm Project X – 8.20pm Lockout – 8.20pm Clip – 10.25pm __________________________ DOM SINDIKATA Trg Nikole Pašića 5, tel: + 381 11 3234849 Lockout – 4pm, 6pm, 8pm, 10pm The Avengers (3D) – 5.30pm, 8pm The Artist – 8m, 10pm Clip – 10.30pm __________________________ CINEPLEXX / Delta City, Jurija Gagarina 16, tel: + 381 11 2203400 Titanic (3D) – 4pm, 7.30pm The Iron Lady – 10.50pm Clip – 11pm Project X – 7pm, 8.40pm Battleship – 4.40pm, 7pm American Reunion – 3.50pm, 6pm, 8.20pm, 10.30pm Lockout – 3.50pm, 7.20pm Wrath of the Titans (3D) – 4.40pm, 5pm The Avengers (3D) – 2.40pm, 5.20pm, 8pm, 9.30pm, 10.40pm Safe – 3.10pm, 5.40pm, 6.50pm, 8.20pm, 10.30pm __________________________ TUCKWOOD CINEPLEX / Kneza Miloša 7, tel: + 381 11 3236517 Drive – 3.30pm Battleship – 8.15pm, 10.45pm

T he Avengers – 8.15pm, 11pm Lockout – 8.30pm, 10.40pm American Reunion – 3.50pm, 6pm, 10.10pm, 10.10pm Project X – 3.30pm, 5.15pm, 7pm, 8.45pm, 10.30pm Titanic (3D) – 5.30pm Wrath of the Titans – 4.30pm, 6.30pm The Hunger Games – 5.25pm Clip – 6.15pm Wrath of the Titans (3D) – 4.15pm Man on a Ledge – 10.20pm __________________________ KOLOSEJ CINEMA / Usce Shopping Centre, Bulevar Mihaila Pupina 4, tel: + 381 11 2854495 M elancholia (VIP Hall) – 2.15pm, 7.30pm Titanic (3D) – 7.15pm Clip – 10pm Alvin and the Chipmunks. ChipWrecked – 2.30pm Safe – 2.45pm, 4.45pm, 6.45pm, 8.45pm, 10.45pm The Avengers – 2.45pm, 5.30pm, 8.15pm, 11pm Jane Eyre – 2.50pm, 9.50pm Mirror Mirror –5.30pm Journey 2. The Mysterious Island – 4pm The Avengers (3D) – 4.15pm, 7pm, 9.45pm Lockout – 4.20pm, 6.20pm, 8.20pm, 10.20pm Man on a Ledge – 10.40pm The Hunger Games – 5.05pm, 7.50pm Legend of a Rabbit (3D) – 3.20pm Wrath of the Titans (3D) – 5.15pm, 10.50pm Le Havre – 5.20pm, 10.15pm Project X – 3.10, 5, 6.50pm, 8.40pm, 10.30pm John Carter – 5.10pm, 10.10pm Wrath of the Titans – 2pm, 6pm,

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Clubbing: Sensation White Warm Up Party, Magacin,Karađorđeva 2-4 MashUp or ShutUp,DJ MeHighLow, Divljina, Bulevar Vojvode Bojovića (6-8), 10pm House Night, The Tube, Simina 21, 11pm Disco House, Mr Stefan Braun, Nemanjina 4, 11pm House Night, Fabrika, Bulevar Despota Stefana 115, 11pm House , Plastic, Corner of Takovska and Dalmatinska, 11pm St.Louis & DJ Ike, Brankow Bar, Crnogorska 12, 9pm Live music: Ladies singing on Friday & DJ Kizami, Lava bar, Kneza Miloša 77, 11pm Live act, pop-rock, Opposite, Mitropolita Petra 8, 11pm Neša & 100% band, Serbian folk, Hua Hua, Ada Ciganlija bb, 12am Acko, F6, Francuska 6, 11pm No Comment Band, Box, Karađorđeva 9, 11pm Live Jazz Quartets And Quintets, Iguana, Karađorđeva 2-4, 10pm Live Jazz Duets and Trios, Iguana, Karađorđeva 2-4, 7pm Serbian Traditional Music, restaurant Milagro, Kej Oslobođenja 55, 9pm

Saturday May 5 Clubbing:  DJ Night – Magacin, Karađorđeva 2-4, 12am  Club House, Mr Stefan Braun, Nemanjina 4, 11pm  Mainstream Pressure, Plastic, Corner of Takovska and Dalmatinska, 11pm  Disco Fever , Opposite, Opposite, Mitropolita Petra 8, 11pm  Sensation White Worm Up Party, The Tube, Simina 21, 11pm  DJ Night, Barock, Admirala Geprata 14, 11.30pm  DJ Night, Mladost, Karađorđeva 44, 10pm  Mirko&Meex, Fabrika, Despota Stefana 115, 11pm  Sensation White Warm Up Party, Soho Republic Club, Pariska 1a, 11pm Live music:  Serbian folk, Kolektiv, Vase Pelagića 54, 11.30pm  Stage band, Dobrila, Dobračina 30, 9pm  No Comment band, Lava Bar, Kneza Miloša 77, 11pm  Bossa Nova Luz Azul, Bar Latino, Turgenjeva 5, 9pm  Inspiracija band, Box, Karađorđeva 9, 11pm  Live Jazz Quartets And Quintets, Iguana, Karađorđeva 2-4, 10pm  Live Jazz Duets and Trios, Iguana, Karađorđeva 2-4, 7pm  Serbian Traditional Music, restaurant Milagro, Kej Oslobođenja 55, 9pm Sunday May 6      

Clubbing: Sunday lounge, Brankow bar, Crnogorska 12, 9pm Live Music: Extra Orchestra, Mr Stefan Braun, Nemanjina 4, 11.30pm Sportsmen’s evening, Teatro Bar, Sarajevska 26, 12am Two Fingers band, Red Shoes, Ada Ciganlija BB, 10pm Rock festival, Crazy Horse, Skadarska 40c, 10pm Live Jazz Quartets And Quintets, Iguana, Karađorđeva 2-4, 10pm

Clubbing: H umanitarian evening, Disco House, Mr Stefan Braun, Nemanjina 4, 11.30pm Live music: D ie Beste, Cantina de Frida, Karađorđeva 2-4, 9pm  K araoke, Danguba, Ćirila i Metodija 2, 10pm  Ž eljko Šašić, Serbian Folk, Acapulco, Kej Oslobođenja bb, 11pm  L ive Jazz Quartets And Quintets, Iguana, Karađorđeva 2-4, 10pm  L ive Jazz Duets and Trios, Iguana, Karađorđeva 2-4, 7pm  P op/Rock evening, restaurant Reka, Kej Oslobođenja 73b, 10pm Tuesday May 8 Clubbing: D ance 90’ party, Stefan Braun, Nemanjina 4, 11.30pm Live music: M usix Box, Cantina de Frida, Karađorđeva 2-4, 9pm  Teatro Stars, Serbian Folk, Teatro Bar, Sarajevska 26, 12am  L illy Band, Red Shoes, Ada Ciganlija BB, 10pm M aja Višić, Acapulco, Kej Oslobođenja bb, 11pm  L ive Jazz Quartets And Quintets, Iguana, Karađorđeva 2-4, 10pm  L ive Jazz Duets and Trios, Iguana, Karađorđeva 2-4, 7pm  P op/Rock Music, restaurant Reka, Kej Oslobođenja 73b, 10pm Wednesday May 9 Clubbing:  B uzzin’ RnB party, Plastic, Corner of Takovska and Dalmatinska, 11pm  DJ Night, Villa Maska, Rankeova 7, 9pm D isco House, Mr. Stefan Braun, Nemanjina 4, 11pm Live music:  S uperstars band, Dobrila, Dobračina 30, 10pm  J azzanje band, Brankow bar, Crnogorska 12, 9pm  S erbian folk music stars live, Magacin, Karađorđeva 2-4  K ameleon band, Red Shoes, Ada Ciganlija BB, 10pm M arko St. Louis Band, Cantina de Frida, 10pm  L ive Jazz Quartets And Quintets, Iguana, Karađorđeva 2-4, 10pm  L ive Jazz Duets and Trios, Iguana, Karađorđeva 2-4, 7pm  P op/Rock Music, restaurant Reka, Kej Oslobođenja 73b, 10pm Thursday May 10 Clubbing:  R nB & Hip Hop party, Mr Stefan Braun, Nemanjina 4, 11.30pm  B eats, Dimes and Pipes, Divljina, Bulevar Vojvode Bojovića (6-8), 10pm  Tango Night, Havana, Nikole Spasića 1, 10pm  “Do you remember plastic” House music, Plastic, Corner of Takovska and Dalmatinska, 11pm Live music:  B alkan Expres band, Dobrila, Dobračina 30, 10pm M uzički Voz, Red Shoes, Ada Ciganlija BB, 10pm  L ive Jazz Quartets And Quintets, Iguana, Karađorđeva 2-4, 10pm  L ive Jazz Duets and Trios, Iguana, Karađorđeva 2-4, 7pm  L ibertango, Cantina de Frida, Karađorđeva 2-4, 10pm  S erbian Folk, Kolektiv, Vase Pelagića 54, 11pm  P op/Rock Music, restaurant Reka, Kej Oslobođenja 73b, 10pm  R ock Music, club Fest, Gradski Park 2, 10pm Friday May 11 Clubbing: D J Night, Magacin,Karađorđeva 2-4

M ashUp or ShutUp,DJ MeHighLow, Divljina, Bulevar Vojvode Bojovića (6-8), 10pm H ouse Night, The Tube, Simina 21, 11pm D isco House, Mr Stefan Braun, Nemanjina 4, 11pm H ouse Night, Fabrika, Bulevar Despota Stefana 115, 11pm D J Night, Plastic, Corner of Takovska and Dalmatinska, 11pm Live music:  L adies singing on Friday & DJ Kizami, Lava bar, Kneza Miloša 77, 11pm  L ive act, pop-rock, Opposite, Mitropolita Petra 8, 11pm N eša & 100% band, Serbian folk, Hua Hua, Ada Ciganlija bb, 12am N o Comment Band, Box, Karađorđeva 9, 11pm A ll That Kink, Brankow bar, Crnogorska 12, 9pm  L ive Jazz Quartets And Quintets, Iguana, Karađorđeva 2-4, 10pm  L ive Jazz Duets and Trios, Iguana, Karađorđeva 2-4, 7pm  P op/Rock Music, restaurant Reka, Kej Oslobođenja 73b, 10pm  R ock Music, club Fest, Gradski Park 2, 10pm  S erbian Traditional Music, restaurant Milagro, Kej Oslobođenja 55, 9pm Saturday May 12                    

Clubbing: D Js Night – Magacin, Karađorđeva 2-4, 12am C lub House, Mr Stefan Braun, Nemanjina 4, 11pm M ainstream Pressure, Plastic, Corner of Takovska and Dalmatinska, 11pm D isco Fever, Opposite, Opposite, Mitropolita Petra 8, 11pm H ouse Night, The Tube, Simina 21, 11pm The Beatshakers, Barock, Admirala Geprata 14, 11.30pm D J Night, Mladost, Karađorđeva 44, 10pm M irko&Meex, Fabrika, Despota Stefana 115, 11pm Live music: S erbian folk, Kolektiv, Vase Pelagića 54, 11.30pm M akao, Bitefartcafe, Square Mire Trailovic 1, 11pm S tage band, Dobrila, Dobračina 30, 9pm N o Comment band, Lava Bar, Kneza Miloša 77, 11pm B ossa Nova Luz Azul, Bar Latino, Turgenjeva 5, 9pm I nspiracija band, Box, Karađorđeva 9, 11pm L ive Jazz Quartets And Quintets, Iguana, Karađorđeva 2-4, 10pm L ive Jazz Duets and Trios, Iguana, Karađorđeva 2-4, 7pm Vesko Vučković Band, Cantina de Frida, Karađorđeva 2-4, 7pm P op/Rock Music, restaurant Reka, Kej Oslobođenja 73b, 10pm R ock Music, club Fest, Gradski Park 2, 10pm S erbian Traditional Music, restaurant Milagro, Kej Oslobođenja 55, 9pm

Sunday May 13          

Clubbing: B lack Meets House, F6, Franucska 6, 11.30pm R nB Night, Hyde, Kralja Petra 11, 11pm S unday lounge, Brankow bar, Crnogorska 12, 9pm Live Music: E xtra Orchestra, Mr Stefan Braun, Nemanjina 4, 11.30pm S portsmen’s evening, Teatro Bar, Sarajevska 26, 12am Two Fingers band, Red Shoes, Ada Ciganlija BB, 10pm R ock festival, Crazy Horse, Skadarska 40c, 10pm L ive Jazz Quartets And Quintets, Iguana, Karađorđeva 2-4, 10pm L ive Jazz Duets and Trios, Iguana, Karađorđeva 2-4, 7pm P op/Rock Music, restaurant Reka, Kej

Oslobođenja 73b, 10pm Monday, May 14 

     

Clubbing: H umanitarian evening, Disco House, Mr Stefan Braun, Nemanjina 4, 11.30pm Live music: D ie Beste, Cantina de Frida, Karađorđeva 2-4, 9pm K araoke, Danguba, Ćirila i Metodija 2, 10pm Z eljko Sasic, Serbian Folk, Acapulco, Kej Oslobođenja bb, 11pm L ive Jazz Quartets And Quintets, Iguana, Karađorđeva 2-4, 10pm L ive Jazz Duets and Trios, Iguana, Karađorđeva 2-4, 7pm P op/Rock evening, restaurant Reka, Kej Oslobođenja 73b, 10pm

Tuesday May 15 Clubbing: D ance 90’ party, Stefan Braun, Nemanjina 4, 11.30pm Live music: M usix Box, Cantina de Frida, Karađorđeva 2-4, 9pm  Teatro Stars, Serbian Folk, Teatro Bar, Sarajevska 26, 12am  L illy Band, Red Shoes, Ada Ciganlija BB, 10pm M aja Višić, Acapulco, Kej Oslobođenja bb, 11pm  L ive Jazz Quartets And Quintets, Iguana, Karađorđeva 2-4, 10pm  L ive Jazz Duets and Trios, Iguana, Karađorđeva 2-4, 7pm  P op/Rock Music, restaurant Reka, Kej Oslobođenja 73b, 10pm

Live music

Thursday May 17 Clubbing:  R nB & Hip Hop party, Mr Stefan Braun, Nemanjina 4, 11.30pm  B eats, Dimes and Pipes, Divljina, Bulevar Vojvode Bojovića (6-8), 10pm  Tango Night, Havana, Nikole Spasića 1, 10pm  “Do you remember plastic” House music, Plastic, Corner of Takovska and Dalmatinska, 11pm Live music:  B alkan Expres band, Dobrila, Dobračina 30, 10pm M uzički Voz, Red Shoes, Ada Ciganlija BB, 10pm  L ive Jazz Quartets And Quintets, Iguana, Karađorđeva 2-4, 10pm  L ive Jazz Duets and Trios, Iguana, Karađorđeva 2-4, 7pm  L ibertango, Cantina de Frida, Karađorđeva 2-4, 10pm  S erbian Folk, Kolektiv, Vase Pelagića 54, 11pm  P op/Rock Music, restaurant Reka, Kej Oslobođenja 73b, 10pm  R ock Music, club Fest, Gradski Park 2, 10pm Programmes may be subject to change. Please check online for more information at http://www.hot-spot.rs/

Centre, Milentija Popovica 9, 8:00pm

SATURDAY MAY 5 Exh ibition and workshop: Silvana Rucnov, calligraphy, Singidunum Gallery, Knez Mihajlova 40, 2:00pm

THURSDAY MAY 17 FRIDAY MAY 4 Kev lar Bikini, While, BIGZ, Bulevar Vojvode Misica 17, 10:00pm Ale ksandra Radonjic, Akademija 28, Nemanjina 28, 10:00pm

SATURDAY MAY 5

Bal let: La Bayadere, The National Theatre, Francuska 1, 7:30pm

Theatre

Inj e, Hemendex, GRAD Cultural Centre, Brace Krsmanovic 4, 10:00pm

TUESDAY MAY 8 Met allica with Machine Head and Gojira, Usce, 5pm

WEDNESDAY MAY 9 Dea dhorse, Fest, Gradski Park 2, Zemun, 10:00pm

THURSDAY MAY 10 Nov iot Pocetok, GRAD Cultural Centre, Brace Krsmanovic 4, 10:00pm

FRIDAY MAY 11 Xan ax, Dom Omladine, Makedonska 22, 9:00pm

SATURDAY MAY 12 Mil an Petrovic Quartet, Akademija 28, Nemanjina 28, 10:30pm

MONDAY MAY 14 Bra nko Dzinovic, Dom Omladine, Makedonska 22, 8:00pm

THURSDAY MAY 17 Rin g Ring Festival: Ultima Armonia, El Infierno Musical, Rex, Jevrejska 16, 8:00pm Bee and Flower, Gun Club, Milosa Pocerca 10, 10:00pm

Wednesday May 16 Clubbing:  B uzzin’ RnB party, Plastic, Corner of Takovska and Dalmatinska, 11pm  DJ Night, Villa Maska, Rankeova 7, 9pm Live music:  S uperstars band, Dobrila, Dobračina 30, 10pm  J azzanje band, Brankow bar, Crnogorska 12, 9pm  Vesko Vuckovic band, Mr Stefan Braun, Nemanjina 4, 11.30pm  S erbian folk music stars live, Magacin, Karađorđeva 2-4  K ameleon band, Red Shoes, Ada Ciganlija BB, 10pm M arko St. Louis Band, Cantina de Frida, 10pm  L ive Jazz Quartets And Quintets, Iguana, Karađorđeva 2-4, 10pm  L ive Jazz Duets and Trios, Iguana, Karađorđeva 2-4, 7pm  P op/Rock Music, restaurant Reka, Kej Oslobođenja 73b, 10pm

Op era: Rigoletto, The National Theatre, Francuska 1, 7:00pm Edi n Karamazov and Krakow Philharmonic’s String Quartet, Ilija M. Kolarac Endowment, Studentski Trg 5, 8:00pm

SUNDAY MAY 6 FUN DAY SUNDAY Theatre, music, circus acts, magic tricks, workshops, Bul. kn. Aleksandra Karađorđevića 6, Sunday 11 -13.30 pm

MONDAY MAY 7 Exh ibition: Goran Vejvoda, French Cultural Centre, Knez Mihajlova 31, 7:00pm

TUESDAY MAY 8 FRIDAY MAY 4 Chi cago (Fosse, Kender, Ebb), Teracije Theatre, Terazije 29, 8:00pm

SATURDAY MAY 5 Pla y It Again Sam (Allen), Belgrade Drama Theatre, Milesevska 64, 8:00pm

MONDAY MAY 7 Tri este (Radovic), Atelje 212, Svetogorska 21, 8:00pm

TUESDAY MAY 8 Lif e is a Dream (Calderon), The National Theatre, Francuska 1, 7:30pm

WEDNESDAY MAY 9 Gla ss Menagerie (O’Neill), The National Theatre, Francuska 1, 8:30pm

THURSDAY MAY 10 Two -Scented Rose (Carballido), Terazije Theatre, Terazije 29, 8:00pm

SATURDAY MAY 12 Nor way Today (Bauersima), Belgrade Drama Theatre, Milesevska 64, 8:00pm

SUNDAY MAY 13 The Celebration (Vinterberg, Rukov, Hansen), Atelje 212, Svetogorska 21, 8:00pm

MONDAY MAY 14

Exh ibition: Zlatko Cvetkovic, ULUPUDS Gallery, Uzun Mirkova 12, 7:00pm

at 11 – 13.30 pm

TUESDAY MAY 15 Exh ibition: Black Box – set and costume design, Singidunum Gallery, Knez Mihalova 40, 7:00pm

WEDNESDAY MAY 16 Exh ibition: Branka Nedimovic and Andrej Filev, Gallery of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Rodoljuba Colakovica 2, 7:00pm

Friday May 25 The Story of Tea“ (in English/Serbian), DAH Theatre, Marulićeva 8, 20h „

Friday May 26 „Crossing the Line” (in Serbian/English), DAH Theatre, Marulićeva 8, 20h

WEDNESDAY MAY 9 Fil m vs. Book: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, screening and discussion, American Corner, Makedonska 22, 5:30pm

THURSDAY MAY 10 44t h May Exhibition of the Association of Fine and Applied Arts, Museum of Applied Arts, Vuka Karadzica 18, 7:00pm

FRIDAY MAY 11 Ex hibition: Tijana Fisic, paintings, Belgrade City Library, Knez Mihajlova 56, 7:00pm

SUNDAY MAY 13 Swa p Fair, Dom Omladine, Makedonska 22, from 12:00pm to 17:00pm FUN DAY SUNDAY Theatre, music, circus acts, magician, workshops, Bul. kn. Aleksandra Karađorđevića 6, Sunday

Opera, Ballet, Classical

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SATURDAY MAY 5

FUNDAY SUNDAY

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Ope ra: In Love with Three Oranges, The National Theatre, Francuska 1, 7:30pm

SUNDAY MAY 6 Win ners of the Isidor Bajic Memorial, Ilija M. Kolarac Endowment, Studentski Trg 5, 11:00am

MONDAY MAY 7 Fla uto Dolce Ensemble, Studentski Grad Cultural Centre, Bulevar Zorana Djindjica 177, 8:00pm

TUESDAY MAY 8 Mus ic Academy Choir, Studentski Grad Cultural Centre, Bulevar Zorana Djindjica 177, 7:30pm

WEDNESDAY MAY 9 Ope ra: The Marriage of Figaro, The National Theatre, Francuska 1, 7:00pm

THURSDAY MAY 10 Bal let: Sleeping Beauty, The National Theatre, Francuska 1, 7:30pm

Family event, every Sunday at 11 AM

Storytelling performances in English, Serbian & French, Magic & illusion, Circus acts: juggling, unicycle, acrobatics, aerials, stilts, Visual arts & music workshops, Face paint Bulevar Kneza Aleksandra Karadjordjevica 6, Dedinje Tel: +381 11 2661 140 www.nassvet-eduarts.org The Importance of Being Earnest (Wilde), The National Theatre, Francuska 1, 8:30pm

THURSDAY MAY 17 Hed da Gabler (Ibsen), The National Theatre, Francuska 1, 8:30pm

Exhibitions and Events

Deb orah Cheetham, Children’s Cultural Centre, Takovska 10, 7:00pm Ope ra: Carmen, The National Theatre, Francuska 1, 7:30pm

WEDNESDAY MAY 16

______________________________

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Welcome to Event Club! All events in Serbia are now available on www.eventclub.rs. Event categories include culture, sport, music, business, performance, fashion, festivals and so on. Our website is available in Serbian and English and you can follow us on Facebook and Twitter. We hope you enjoy our site!

MONDAY MAY 14 FRIDAY MAY 4 Exh ibition: Six Legs, Museum of Natural Sciences, Kalemegdan Park, 7:00pm Bel docs documentary film festival: Biba Struja, The Face of the Revolution, Sava

belgradeinsighteditor@birn.eu.com Sales & Marketing: Marija Petrović Phone: +381 11 6 5555 86 marija.petrovic@birn.eu.com Subscription & Distribution: Ivan Lakatoš belgradeinsightsubscriptions@birn.eu.com Printing: POLITIKA štamparija d.o.o. ISSN 1820-8339 = Belgrade Insight COBISS.SR-ID: 149132556 Circulation: 4,000

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TUESDAY MAY 15 All About My Mother (Almodovar), Belgrade Drama Theatre, Milesevska 64, 8:00pm

SATURDAY MAY 12 Ope ra: Il Trovatore, The National Theatre, Francuska 1, 7:00pm RTS Choir and Symphonic Orchestra, Ilija M. Kolarac Endowment, Studentski Trg 5, 8:00pm

Where the right people are easy

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14 Belgrade Insight, Friday, May 4, 2012 - Thursday, May 17, 2012

Belgrade Insight, Friday, May 4, 2012 - Thursday, May 17, 2012 15

sport

going out

Striving for musical independence

FOOTBALL

Partizan claim title yet again

Belgrade’s independent music scene flourishes as more underground venues appear in the Serbian capital. David Galić

“S

ometimes I sing about the city with anger, sometimes with love. But in any case, I have strong emotions towards my city,” Pavlica says. He believes that the independent music scene in Belgrade has really blossomed over the last several years and that this has had a profound effect not only on him, but everyone involved in this scene as well. Damjan od Resnika practice and perform in the old Bigz building, which is known as the absolute epicentre of creativity for independent music being produced in Belgrade. Many Belgrade bands rent practice space there and it is also the location where underground venues have appeared over the last several years as the number of legitimate venues in the city centre dwindles.

Due to these reasons, the band chose one of the Bigz building’s venues to promote its new album and play a set with the entire band last Saturday. They also played an acoustic gig at club Žica recently. Pavlica addressed the difference between the new album and the band’s debut, “Pored Vatre” (Next to the Fire), stating that while the first album was mainly acoustic and ambient, the new one will be much rawer and more aggressive. Pavlica describes the new sound as “a combination of atmospheric music and new wave.” Lyrically, Pavlica says that “social themes are at the forefront again, mainly despair and the hope that is born from it.” Even though Pavlica remains the main songwriter, singer and lyricist, the band has grown into an entity of its own with its new material. They now have four permanent members – Pav-

lica on guitar, Ivana Blažević on violin and vocals, Miloš Bakalović playing drums and percussion and Nemanja Jovanović on bass and accordion – but when playing live and in the studio, the band calls on various musicians and instrumentalists to make the sound more unpredictable and richer. When asked about further plans for promoting the new album, Pavlica says that the band intends to play most of the important summer festivals happening in Serbia this year. They especially look forward to playing Prnjavorstock, which is a sentimental favourite of the band and is organised by their drummer, Bakalović. “Protiv Tebe” is expected to be released in the near future by record labels Slušaj najglasnije! in Croatia and FairShare in Serbia, and the new single “Mali” has already been released on the band’s official Facebook and Youtube pages.

National theatre

PREMIERE “HENRY VI”

DIRECTED BY NIKITA MILIVOJEVIC, MAY 11th, AT THE GLOBE THEATRE

ondon’s mythical Globe Theatre will celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday this year with an original production cycle that lasts six weeks and includes performances of all 37 works penned by the most famous English bard and figure of world literature. In order to complete the production of this project, entitled “Globe to Globe”, and properly reflect Shakespeare’s universal impact on world literature and theatre, each of the plays will be performed in another language. The project opened on April 23rd and the honour of representing Serbia in this unique theatrical event has been granted to the Belgrade National Theatre, which will make its premiere performance of “Henry the Sixth,” directed by Nikita Milivojević, on May 11th.

The Serbia Open transforms the Danubde-side sports complex that becomes its home for a week in ealry May.

TENNIS

ATP spotlight on Belgrade

elgrade is currently hosting the annual Serbia Open tennis tournament, but for the first time the event is taking place without world number one and local favourite Novak Đoković, who pulled out last week following the death of his grandfather. Speaking prior to the beginning of

the tournament, Đoković – whose family’s company, Family Sport, organises the event – said he felt emotionally drained and unable to summon the mental strength to play tennis following the recent death of his grandfather. The world number one admitted that his decision to miss the Serbia Open “was one of the most difficult decisions in my career, but it is impossible for me

to play and think about tennis.” Despite being unavailable to play, Đoković still managed to fulfil his role as a National Ambassador for UNICEF in Serbia and as an advocate for children’s rights to play and gain an education when he helped UNICEF and Family Sport host the tournament’s ‘Family Day’. Children were welcomed to Belgrade’s

“Novak” sports centre for the second annual Serbia Open Family Day, which is held just prior to the start of the ATP World Tour 250 tournament. More than 300 children participated in the event, playing in two teams called “Fair” and “Play,” highlighting the theme of fair play as an important part of sport and life in general. The tournament runs until May 6th.

artizan FC secured the club’s fifth domestic league title in a row after beating Čačak club Borac 4:0 in round 27 on

April 29th. Partizan only required a single point to confirm the club’s 24th title overall and 13th since 1993, but the team pulled out all the stops in Čačak to demolish the locals with goals from S. Marković, Ivanov and Diara(2). Speaking afterwards, coach Avram Grant said that the most important thing was that his team had secured the title and had done so by playing good football. “We are happy about the victory and the title. Perhaps it looked easy on the pitch, but the opposition put up a fight and it was much harder than the result suggests. Of course, the most important thing is that we have mathematically secured the championship trophy. We won ten games in a row, continued to score goals and play good football,” said Grant.

VOLLEYBALL

National team prepares for qualification

The lead role is played by Hadži Nenad Maričić, while the cast also includes Predrag Ejdus (Bishop of Winchester, later Cardinal), Tanasije Uzunović/Miodrag Krivokapić (Duke of Gloucester), Boris Pingović (Duke of Somerset), Nebojša Kundačina (Lord Talbot), Branko Jerinić (Earl of Warwick), Branislav Tomašević (Earl of Suffolk), Slobodan Beštić (Richard Plantagenet), Aleksandar Srećković (Charles, Dauphin of France), Pavle Jerinić (Vernon), Bojan Krivokapić (Basset) and Jelena Đulvezan (Joan of Arc). The production team includes Ivana Dimić (dramatist), Boris Maksimović (set design), Marina Medenica (costume design), Dr Ljiljana Mrkić Popović (stage diction), Amalia Benet (movement), Bora Dugić (music) etc. This play is co-produced with the Globe Theatre and the Laza Kostić Fund, while the Belgrade premiere is expected to take place on the Raša Plaović Stage in June. Mikojan Bezbradica

NATIONAL THEATRE IN BELGRADE, Francuska 3, 11 000 Belgrade, tel. 3281 333, www.narodnopozoriste.rs Do or die time approaches for Serbia volleyball team as players strives to qualify for London.

he Serbia national team prepared for its upcoming Olympic qualification tournament with two friendly matches against Iran on April 26th and 28th. The Serbian team won both matches, which were played behind closed doors at Belgrade’s Šumica Hall. National team selector, Igor Kolaković, rotated every player in his squad to strike a balance prior to Olympic qualifications. Serbia’s top performers were Aleksandar Atanasijević, who secured a personal tally of 23 points, and Milan Rašić and Nikola Kovačević, who each scored 14 points. The games were held in preparation for the Olympic qualification tournament, which will be held in Sofia from May 8th to 13th. Serbia will compete in a group that includes host country Bulgaria, as well as Slovenia and Spain. Only the tournament’s eventual winner will be guaranteed a place at this summer’s London Olympics.

Also speaking to press afterwards, Partizan defender Nemanja Rnić said that the club deservedly won the title. “I am glad that we finished the championship race so convincingly and won the new title. The trophy totally deserves to belong to us – we led the league practically from the beginning of the season. Next up is the eternal derby, then we will immediately turn to the new challenge of securing a place in the Champions League.” Partizan’s Senegalese striker Lamina Diarra, whose current contract expires this summer, also expressed his satisfaction, saying: “I’m delighted because of this fourth title with Partizan and I believe this triumphant series will continue next year. I have gotten used to success and victory with the black-and-whites and would like to stay and for us to continue to celebrate together…”

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