CorD Magazine No.16

8 TRANSITION PLUS interviews | opinions | news | comments | events

The West Balkans has an 'EU perspective' and it is only a question related to their potentials and the necessary changes and reforms that Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia & Montenegro, Croatia, Macedonia and Albania need to fulfil.

No16 - May 2005

Director: Ana Novcic ana.novcic@cma.co.yu Editor in Chief: Dragan Bisenic d.bisenic@cma.co.yu

Janez Potocnik

Deputy Editor: Mark Pullen m.pullen@cma.co.yu

EU Commissioner for Research and Development

Art & PrePRESS Director: Branislav Ninkovic b.ninkovic@cma.co.yu Editorial: Milan Culibrk, Dragan Bisenic, Nina Nicovic, Rajka Sinik, Vojislav Stevanovic, Zeljko Jovanovic, Tanja Njezic, Slobodan Vucicevic, Zoran Knezevic, Aleksandra Sekulic-Stojanovic, Marija Krickovic, Maja Vukadinovic, Jelica Putnikovic Photo: Andy Dall, Stanislav Milojkovic FoNet, Tanjug and Beta Translators: Milos Milosavljevic, Dejan Zubac, Dusan Jelic, Milica Kuburu-Jovanovic Subscription: Ivana Petkovic i.petkovic@cma.co.yu

30 2 1 ST C E N T U R Y IMPERIALISM The European Union is not just a zone of law, it's actually a zone of prosperity.

The sooner all the countries of the Balkans can join, the better for all the citizens and for us as well.

Robert Cooper Director General for External and PoliticoMilitary Affairs, EU Department of Foreign and Security policy

Advertising Sales: Milos Maksimovic m.maksimovic@cma.co.yu Project Manager: Dragana Indjic, d.indjic@cma.co.yu Anica Divac, a.divac@cma.co.yu Olga Bracconi, o.bracconi@cma.co.yu Sales Manager: Spomenka Bojanic s.bojanic@cma.co.yu General Manager: Ivan Novcic i.novcic@cma.co.yu Printing: Politika AD CorD is published by CMA (Consulting & Marketing Agency), Kneginje Zorke 11a, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro.

Phone: +(381 11) 30 87 335 +(381 11) 30 87 066 +(381 11) 444 72 70 Facsimile: +(381 11) 456 564 E-mail: office@cma.co.yu ISSN no.: 1451-7833 All rights reserved Š CMA 2004/2005

www.cordmagazine.com

4

CorD | May 2005

SOLID STEEL

44

You have to develop a climate where companies want to relocate here; there has to be a good overall package that fits their business needs and stresses the opportunities for growth, not only within Serbia, but also in Central and Eastern Europe.

Michael Fedorenko General Director, U.S. Steel - Serbia

54 CONFIDENCE LACKING It doesn't matter what Ireland, Slovakia or Estonia does. Unless the French and German economies really start to grow again we won't have any significant change in Europe.

Paul Skehan Deputy Secretary-General, EuroChambres

contents

14 HISTORIC ALLY As far as the State Union of Serbia & Montenegro is concerned, we not only reject the separation of the two republics, we advocate the strengthening of the State Union.

H.E. Alexander Alekseiev Nikolaevich Ambassador of the Russian Federation in SCG

20 INDEPENDENCE ENVISAGED

34

Bajram Kosumi, President of Kosovo's Interim Government

It has been a goal for five centuries, to have one European Kosovo where all of Kosovo's citizens will be together, not only Albanians, but also Serbs, Romas, Bosnjaci…

PREREQUISITE STEPS Accession of the EU to the European Convention on Human Rights and the ratification of the Constitutional Treaty will link Europe's most advanced institution to Europe's oldest and widest organisation.

René van der Linden President of the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe

DESTRUCTIVE MONOPOLIES Monopolies are a negative thing, not only because somebody is collecting extra profit, but because monopolies are a guarantee that the allocation of capital will not be optimal.

46

Stojan Stamenkovic Economist and editor

38

INDIA: ASIAN GIANT

India doesn't like to be described as a superpower.

We happen to be the biggest country in the subcontinent, so when we are labelled as a superpower it can be a bit misleading because we have no ambitions of becoming a superpower.

H.E. Lavanya Prasad

90

Indian Ambassador in SCG

66 BELGRADE MARATHON A combined total of an amazing 21,000-plus runners took part in 23rd April’s full marathon, half marathon, Nike 5-kilometre Fun Run and CorD Charity Master’s race

FASHION CorD | May 2005

5

Comment

Group Hug for Europe Nenad Stefanovic, Editor in Chief of Informative Programme, RTS

W

e have always belonged in books in blue covers laden with yellow stars entitled "Europe A Europe and we see the to Z". The Radicals already have a tradition of wearing badges European Union as our with the face of their Hague-indicted leader Vojislav Seselj, but home - this is what Vojislav others might soon take up the fashion and stick badges to their Kostunica stated as the President of collars with slogans such as "Reformist and Euro-minded". What the former FRY, speaking in October is likely to follow is a debate among various strains of democrats 2000 in Biarritz, France. The high about who has the right to adduce reforms and Europe in their class summer resort was the venue arguments. of a summit of EU leaders, held just At a juncture when Serbia & Montenegro is truly facing a 10 days after the fall of Milosevic's European perspective and when it is clear that we have finally regime in Belgrade on 5th October entered a train with a known destination, the contest to see who 2000, who then expressed relief that should receive more credit for getting the Feasibility Study is the last clot in the heart of Europe overshadowed by the fact that the criteria for European accession had been dissolved. were no more lenient in our case than those set for other counEvents recorded at the summit tries in the neighbourhood which had gone through the same Nenad Stefanovic clearly show French President ordeal.

Jacques Chirac clutching Kostunica's hand and French Prime The mould designed for restructuring states that wish to join Minister Jospin heading a queue of a number of European leadEurope was no different when our turn came. Moreover, The ers waiting to congratulate the newly-elected president in order Hague Tribunal and some other factors had placed our starting to show that Europe was greeting us with arms open wide. position further from the rest. If we take into account that we had Kostunica and the new government in Belgrade were also handcome out of Milosevic's era with the gloomiest prospects among ed 170 million dollars and given promises of more of the same in store as a sign of support and incen- More than four years had to pass after the tives to speed up and finish the process of "dissolv- group hug at the Casino for Serbia & ing the clot". The meeting took place at the luxurious Casino Hotel and it seemed that we were on a Montenegro to become the last country in roll in the European casino as well. Some analysts Europe to receive a positive Feasibility Study claimed our position was so good that Kostunica could dare to ask for Slobodan Milosevic's trial to stay local, European nations and that if we wanted to be included in the which would have left Hague Tribunal Prosecutor Carla Del global community we had to meet certain standards, then maybe Ponte without a job. the journey from Biarritz to the Feasibility Study had to take this The open arms from Biarritz did not stay open for too long, long after all. however, just as the infatuation of European capitals with the Just as the way to Brussels had to pass through The Hague new democratic authority and its leaders in Belgrade quickly with no cutting of corners, the second step to Europe does not faded away. More than four years had to pass after the group hug envisage some rules and conditions designed especially for us. at the Casino for Serbia & Montenegro to become the last counThe "A to Z" guide does not say anything about Europe measurtry in Europe to receive a positive Feasibility Study and for ing and limiting the length of our cucumbers, or that Parliament Vojislav Kostunica, now in the role of Serbian Prime Minister, to Speaker Predrag Markovic will spend sleepless nights memorisrepeat the statement from Biarritz that "we have always ing the hundreds of thousands of pages of EU legislation. The belonged in Europe and she is our home". owner of the Study is not required to transcribe and adopt these Who should be held responsible for the (self-proclaimed) laws, but rather try to implement them and turn the state into a fastest transition in the post-Communist era coming last in line veritable ally of serious economic reforms. for the EU Feasibility Study will probably be a matter of debates Some believe that we have a clear shot at goal with no one in that are most likely to feature in the campaigns for parliamensight for the third time since 5th October. We just need to reach an tary elections, when the contest in disfigured perceptions of agreement on whether we want to score, for once, and secure a patriotism will be replaced by an equally disfigured understandplace in qualifiers for the European League of Champions. Or do ing of European affiliation. we want to continue squabbling over who should take the penalThe contest has already begun, it seems, after a number of ty kick or whose merit it was that ensured we have this opportuMPs have replaced their regular daily dose of tabloid press with nity in the first place.•

6

CorD | May 2005

Interview

Janez Potocnik, EU Commissioner for Research and Development

TRANSITION PLUS Exclusively for CorD

Having presented the report entitled "The Balkans in Europe's future", the International Commission on the Balkans called upon the European Union to speed up the accession of the Balkan states. Mr. Janez Potocnik, Slovenian EU Commissioner, speaks to CorD about the dangerous status quo and the "transition plus" this region, and especially SCG, are dealing with.

By Aleksandra Sekulic-Stojanovic, Photo M. Milic

P

Convinced that Balkan countries are dealing with the status quo, sixteen members of the International Balkan Commission suggested an urgent need to resolve the status and institutional issues in the Balkans. A new contract between the Balkans and the European Union is essential for international security and further development of Europe.

After five study tours to SCG Kosovo, Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Croatia, the report, entitled "Balkans in Europe's future", recommends that the only way to prevent the West Balkans from turning into "an isolated ghetto" of Europe is to hasten their respective accessions to the European Union.

Commission member Janez Potocnik said that the changes a country makes prior to becoming a full member state are the

8

CorD | May 2005

most important, and are a should for further development. He is convinced that Serbia & Montenegro belongs to be a high priority for the European Union.

What are the most urgent things that this region, and especially Serbia & Montenegro, need to fulfil?

I think it is important to understand that this status quo without solutions is neither helping the country nor the region of the West Balkans. I think that the route to the European Union, as we see it in our International Commission's report, is somehow different for these countries than it was for the previous countries [that have recently joined the EU]. We had to pass the transition and it was quite difficult for all of us to implement all the neces-

Interview sary changes. But here there are also some institutional changes and some questions that are more than just transition. I think that these countries need to pass a "transition plus", considering some important questions. It would be valuable to orientate towards trying to find proper answers with appropriate energy to those questions, because it would definitely speed up the efforts of the country for the accession.

Serbia & Montenegro recently received the positive feasibility study from the European Commission. How would you compare it to the Commission's report on the Balkans?

The feasibility study is a good message, definitely. It is the message saying that you have done quite a good job over the past couple of years and that you have earned something which is the start for the stabilisation, association and negotiations. That is the first contractual agreement with the European Union and it is undoubtedly a major step forward. The positive feasibility study given for Serbia & Montenegro is also a confirmation that you have done a lot to establish economic and political stability in the country. It is also in line with what we are proposing and we need to review the Stabilisation and Association process and to find the clue to the situation in Serbia, and not only in this country but in all the countries we are talking about in the report.

What are the most important changes the Balkan region needs to undergo on its way to the EU? This is an integration challenge. I think that Serbia belongs high on the agenda because of your country itself and because of the European Union. That's why the feasibility study is the first step in establishing communication with the European Union. It is also important to consider it like this: if the country is moving, then the European Union is moving too. But the changes are not happening when a country enters the EU or when it becomes a full member state. On the contrary, all the changes happen before, and they happen in the process of preparation for full membership. It is also important to understand that these changes are made for our own interests and not to please somebody else or some institution in the European Union. And, as I said before, it is not enough when a country is in transition, but it should be a transition plus; something even more in order to fulfil all the important tasks and questions. We should also consider the conclusions from the EU Summit in Thessalonica, where it was clearly stressed that countries from the Balkans should become member states of the European Union. I still believe that it depends on the efforts these countries make in order to achieve full EU membership.

Also, the status of Kosovo is one of the biggest challenges and it is important to try to find a sustainable, long-term solution. That's why the process of preparation is of utmost importance, because changes and reforms happen before entering to the European Union. There are so many things done to stabilise this region. I am convinced that the EU wants to see the countries of the West Balkans as full member states. That's why it is significant to abandon the status quo, in order to speed up the reforms and the process of transition in the region in order to achieve their aim.

Can the Slovenian experience be of great significance to the region; and what role can Slovenia itself play in the Balkans?

Yes, Slovenia can be a good example to show how a Balkan's neighbouring state can deal with all the tasks in an efficient way.

I want to stress that Slovenia can play a very important role in this region. The West Balkans has an 'EU perspective' and it is only a question related to their potentials and the necessary changes and reforms that Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia & Montenegro, Croatia, Macedonia and Albania need to fulfil.

Although the progress is progressing in some countries in the

West Balkans, such as Croatia and Macedonia, the other three countries are facing certain difficulties. The Balkans cannot be left aside in the policy of EU expansion. On the other side, the European Union must strengthen those changes and help these countries on their way to becoming full member states of the European Union.

Turning specifically to the issue of Kosovo, Potocnik spoke of a four-stage strategy for Kosovo.

The key recommendations on the present situation and further development of Balkan countries suggested by the International Commission on the Balkans are: closing the status issues in the Balkans by autumn 2006; an EU-Balkan summit in autumn 2006 in order to move the Balkan states to the EU accession phase; an EU roadmap for each Balkan country by the end

Janez Potocnik of 2006; NATO membership as the second most important pillar of an integration strategy, as well as co-ordinated EU-US policies towards the Balkan region.

"One of the main risks is that the region will remain the prisoner of the past. Status quo is inappropriate: it could only deepen the differences between Balkan countries. 2006 is the year when this dangerous status quo is going to abandoned, because it is extremely costly for the people living in this region", said Giuliani Amato, chairman of the Commission.

In order to emphasize the urgent need for further development and the stabilisation of the region, the International Commission on the Balkans has also suggested a transition of Kosovo in four stages. Though the Commission does not believe that Kosovo's independence would solve the territory's problems, it is convinced that the postponing of the status of Kosovo would lead to further deterioration in the region. It is stressed that Belgrade should not oppose the process, because it would increase problems in Bosnia, Montenegro and Macedonia.

That's why the four-stage transition of Kosovo is one of the possible solutions.

In the first stage Kosovo would separate from Serbia, as is implied in UN Resolution 1244, which has transformed Kosovo into a UN protectorate. The second stage of Kosovo transition is called "independence without full sovereignty", where the interCorD | May 2005

9

Interview national community would reserve its powers in the area of human rights and the protection of minorities. Kosovo will legally remain a UN protectorate, but the International Balkans Commission suggests the transferring of the UN's authority from UNMIK to the European Union. At this point, Kosovo should be treated not as a sovereign state, but as an independent state, and it would be essential to move from the "standards before status" policy towards a "standards and status" policy. The questions are the return of refugees, decentralisation and the clarification of proper rights. The third stage is called "guided sovereignty" and it would coincide with Kosovo's recognition as a candidate for EU membership. The final stage would be full and shared sovereignty and it would mark the absorption of Kosovo into the European Union, with a shared sovereignty to which all EU member states are subject.

One of the conclusions of the "Balkans in Europe's future" report is that the necessary precondition for the Serbian government and Serbian public to the EU is linked together with guarantees for the protection of the interests of Kosovo Serbs.

The West Balkans has an 'EU perspective' and it is only a question of their potentials and the necessary changes and reforms that BiH, SCG, Croatia, Macedonia and Albania need to fulfil.

EUROPE In your capacity as EU Research and Development Commissioner, how do you envisage the future of research investment across Europe?

In terms of EU research policy, let me leave you with two messages relating to the on-going effort in the area of research investment and international S&T co-operation, which are relevant to the internationalisation of the R&D debate. First of all, we must continue to make every effort possible to maximize the attractiveness of the European Union as a location for private R&D investment. The internationalisation of private R&D weakens the local link between public and private research. It has also led to a decline in basic research by firms. On the other hand, it has raised the extent to which firms increasingly take decisions on where to locate their R&D laboratories. These decisions are taken not only in order to optimise the efficiency and effectiveness of their in-house research, but also with respect to the quality of the local research capacities in universities and research centres. This is a challenge which is taken up within the EU's Lisbon Strategy and, in particular, under the Commission's research investment or '3 %' action plan. This plan aims to help raise R&D investment in Europe to 3 % of GDP by 2010, twothirds of which should come from private sources - the latter being the main reason for the major R&D investment deficit in the EU compared to the U.S. or Japan.

What can be done to ensure that Europe is able to compete with the likes of the U.S. or Japan?

To make Europe an attractive location for private R&D investment, the plan advocates a broad policy mix approach addressing a wide range of factors, such as direct and indirect financial incentives such as grants, tax credits and loan guarantees; ensuring favourable framework conditions; a sustainable supply of high quality human capital; predictable conditions regarding the

10

CorD | May 2005

protection and exploitation of results; a fertile environment in terms of excellent public and basic research infrastructure to attract the 'best scientists in the world'. This needs to be done on the basis of good co-operation with the private sector. Progress on these and many more related fronts is, unfortunately, slow and needs to accelerate, especially within the Member States. At the EU level, the 7th Framework Programme, which is to be adopted by the Commission next week, will foresee a number of new activities to further boost the attractiveness of the EU. These include a bottom-up EU-wide scheme for basic research to be handled via a European Research Council, the establishment of public-private partnerships for major research-based technological initiatives and the development of new European research infrastructures.

What else can be done, particularly in terms of engaging more developing or transitional nations?

Well, Secondly, mutually beneficial international research co-operation with new emerging economies needs to be stepped up. International S&T cooperation is already a high priority for the EU. Its activities under the Framework Programme to date pursue objectives, such as Reinforcing European competitiveness via strategic partnerships with Third Countries in selected sectors; Attracting the best third country scientists to Europe; Addressing problems common to third country partners and Europe on the basis of mutual interest and mutual benefit; Reinforcing relations with third countries and supporting the Union's position on an array of common scientific policy issues; and Sharing and disseminating knowledge of EU cultures and values. However, in order to maintain the relevance and effectiveness of the EU's S&T co-operation activities, a new integrated international co-operation strategy is called for, which should be built in close co-ordination with the Member States and via dialogue with our co-operation partners.

What other factors need to be taken into account?

The internationalisation of R&D, the rise of China, India etc., and the consequent reduction in the relative size of the EU's contribution to the global knowledge system, seem to be facts to be taken into account. Therefore, such a new strategy could be to improve the co-operation between the developed countries, as well as to considerably strengthen the co-operation with the emerging economies in the area of research and innovation, involving both EU and national programmes. In this regard, Europe has to make intelligent choices which further improve its competitiveness while being of mutual benefit to all parties concerned. Reinforcing collaboration and technology transfer will also provide access to knowledge developed in those countries helping at the same time to further improve EU competitiveness.

Europe's world-leading position in sustainable development, for example, lends itself to a major co-operative endeavour with China and other fast-growing emerging economies. This is to help them to move onto a sustainable development path by reducing the pressure on global environmental problems (greenhouse gas emissions) through more intensive research collaboration and technology transfer.•

Comment

Ollie Rehn:

PROGRESS RECOGNISED Ollie Rehn, EU Enlargement Commissioner

R

ehn said: "I congratulate the political leaders who have long advocated greater co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal, and those who have had the courage to ensure that persons indicted for war crimes are now regularly boarding the plane for The Hague. I also welcome the agreement on the Constitutional Charter that has ensured the legitimacy of the State Union Parliament.

"These recent events are signs of improvement in the rule of law in SCG. This positive momentum must be maintained. It is not time to sit back and relax. Quite the opposite: the momentum must be maintained until every one of the persons indicted for war crimes has been brought to justice. The tenth memorial of Srebrenica is approaching in a few months. The attention of the world's press will be on this region, and especially on the tragic events of the 1990s. But that interest and attention could be used positively, to show the world how far Serbia has moved on, if full co-operation with the War Crimes Tribunal is achieved before then. It is now time to clear away the legacies of the past, and to move on to realise your future in Europe.

"Let me explain the process that will now follow the Feasibility Study result. The Commission's positive recommendation will now go to the EU's member-states. If they accept it later this month, they will ask the Commission to start preparing a mandate for the negotiations for a Stabilisation and Association Agreement. This Agreement is known by an unattractive acronym - 'SAA' - but it will bring benefits. It will be the first contractual relationship between the EU and your country. This

The positive result of the Commission's Feasibility Study is the result of reforms that are now beginning to show results, and especially of the determined efforts to improve SCG's compliance with its international obligations so said EU Enlargement Commissioner Ollie Rehn, speaking to CorD this month. dation upon which the EU accession process will be built. For Serbia & Montenegro, EU membership is a realistic and valuable goal, certainly worth the effort required. EU membership would mean better rights for citizens, better economic prospects and living standards, and better neighbourly relations.

"Regional co-operation is an essential part of the Stabilisation and Association Process and is the vital ingredient for economic development. The economies of the Western Balkans are small, but if they are linked as an open, unified market, they will be much more attractive to foreign investors. This can be best achieved in the European framework.

Moreover, the legal certainty provided by EU rules will itself help to attract foreign investment. The Union is not a military alliance like NATO, nor an international talking-shop. Instead, it is a community of law and a community of values. Prospective members of the EU have to respect European values and, most importantly, to practise them. This particularly concerns the rule of law in all spheres of life. Key issues here are rooting out corruption and organised crime, as well as respecting and protecting minorities.

"Accession is about taking European values into the fabric of daily life. 'Values' sound rather vague, but they are spelled out clearly in the EU's new Constitutional Treaty.

They include democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights, and the protection of minorities - these are fundamental pre-conditions for closer relations with the EU. To implement them, candidate countries have to ensure these values are respected throughout society - so that police officers respect human rights at every arrest, for example, that judges are impartial, that teachers don't discriminate against children of different ethnic origin, and that soldiers obey the rule of law. In Serbia & Montenegro, it is the academics, the intellectuals and civil society who need to lead the debate on European values, to ensure that the people in your country know what the EU is really about. You also have to keep your country's politicians up to the mark, so that everybody in Serbia & Montenegro knows what the politicians have to do in order to achieve EU membership.

"As a wise man once said "Prediction is always difficult, especially of the future". But I aim to ensure that by 2009, when my term as Commissioner is complete, your country will be well on its way towards integration into the European Union, through the rule of law in all walks of life, through an open, competitive economy, and through a capable and well-organised public administration. These are achievable goals. As the history of the EU's enlargements have shown, countries can really transform themselves over a short period of time when they are motivated by the prospect of joining the EU. Together, let's make that transformation happen for Serbia & Montenegro as well."•

As a wise man once said "Prediction is always difficult, especially of the future". But I aim to ensure that by 2009... your country will be well on its way towards integration into the EU‌ year will see another anniversary as well: this autumn will be the fifth anniversary of the democratic elections of 2000. I would like to see Serbia & Montenegro move towards SAA negotiations around that time.

To make sure this can happen, there is a lot of work to be done over the next few months.

"The Feasibility Study is a long, technical document, and it does not make for exciting bed-time reading. But it is the all-important guidebook for the road towards EU membership. The Study assesses the progress of SCG in moving towards the EU's political and economic conditions. It covers a vast range of areas related to the contents of the future Agreement, including political dialogue; regional co-operation; the creation of a free trade area; and preparations for taking on the EU's rules in the fields of competition, intellectual property rights and public procurement. The Agreement will also start wide-ranging cooperation in all of the EU's policies, including justice, freedom and security. The SAA negotiations will prepare the ground for Serbia & Montenegro to move towards European norms and standards. They will help your country to develop the administrative capacity to apply EU rules properly. The trade provisions will start to open up markets, and ensure that Serbia develops a functioning market economy that has the capacity to cope with competitive pressures within the EU's internal market. The SAA is the foun-

12

CorD | May 2005

Interview

HISTORIC ALLY

H.E. Alexander Alekseiev Nikolaevich, Ambassador of the Russian Federation in SCG

By Dragan Bisenic, Photo Stanislav Milojkovic

A

complete revision of the history of the 20th century is taking place in some European countries that are attempting to wholly reject their communist past. In part, this entails whitewashing historical connections and rejecting the role of communism in the victory over fascism.

Revisions and reinterpretations of history have brought fresh confusion and led to the tolerating of ideologies that were faithful allies of fascist movements. It is these very debates which prompted our exclusive interview with H.E. Alexander Alekseiev Nikolaevich, Ambassador of the Russian federation in SCG. We are about to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the victory over Nazism in World War II. What is the significance of this celebration for Russia and Europe?

The 60th anniversary of the victory over fascism in World War II is to be marked shortly. The largest and most central event marking this anniversary will be held in Moscow on 9th May, and will be attended by high-ranking officials from across the globe.

The former Yugoslavia contributed greatly to the defeat of fascism. However, the anti-fascism heritage of Yugoslavia and other former socialist and communist countries has become the subject of ideological re-thinking.

Today's united Europe has yet to provide a clear answer as to the significance of anti-fascism.

The day when World War II ended was declared a Day of Europe. Can we infer that such an action made provisions for anti-fascism to become a part of European tradition?

Not only anti-fascism, but also those democratic values which blossomed after World War II and which, henceforth, established themselves in the Europe of that time. I think that an important history lesson learned from World War II is the conclusion that it is impossible to forcefully resolve our problems. It is much easier to deal with such problems through co-operation and common actions, instead of nurturing clashes and conflicts. You asked whether I take into account that the victory over fascism became a turning point in the European history. I am of that opinion that it was not only the turning point in Europe, but was actually a turning point in the entire world. As a result of the victory many new international organisations were created, particularly the United Nations, which established a new quality of inter-state relations and formulated the security principles we still adhere to. That is why I would not limit the significance of the victory only to European values.

We are ready to proceed with military-technical collaboration with SCG‌. We have joint plans to appear on the 'third countries' markets, and there are plans for modifications of certain weapons.

You are aware that that day is of special significance to us.

Obviously, all countries of the Anti-Hitler Coalition contributed towards the general victory over fascism. However, the contribution of the Soviet Union was indeed decisive. We lost in excess of 20 million people. Soviet armed forces severely dented the German military machine. That is why I believe that the importance of that day for our country, and for Europe as a whole, is impossible to overestimate. The victory over fascism was the beginning of a new era for the development of our continent.

14

CorD | May 2005

This celebration was not accepted by all European states. Some of the EU members maintained a standpoint that it was not a victory day for them - instead they were occupied by the Soviet army. How important is the role of historical remembrance and relationships towards fascism to contemporary political processes?

During the celebrations in Moscow, that will undoubtedly possess special importance and grandeur, almost all European and North American leaders and high officials shall take part. We are extremely pleased to see them participating and I believe that such a joint celebration will have profound significance for the present Europe, as well as for her future. This manifestation supposes to demonstrate that we are on the right track, and that we learned his-

torical lessons from World War II. Unfortunately, it is true that not all of us are willing or ready to accept the Victory Day appropriately.

The countries you were referring to would not only fail to celebrate the Victory Day with dignity and pride, they would also set off in a wrong direction contrary to the others. They celebrate those who participated in the SS military units. Let me remind you that a decision to qualify SS units as war crime units was not made by the Soviet Union, instead that was an outcome of the Nuremberg process. On the same side, among those rehabilitating that legacy, we find those who claim that concentration camps were actually 're-education camps', and even the liberation of those camps was questioned‌We do not have here some sort of opposition or dissent of those unwilling to mark the anniversary of this Victory accordingly, and alleged perception of World War II by the Russian Federation. It is a much more serious division between them and the progressive and democratic world.

The end of Communism and the Cold War opened the way for countless revisions of history. Occasionally, the roles are swapped in the name of denying any Communist legacy. What is your attitude when it comes to justification of the historical revisionism towards World War II? I think it would be a major mistake to believe that Communism won in World War II. The people won, namely the nations who were primarily fighting for their independence, and for those values we discussed. Any attempt to revise and re-interpret history represents an oversimplification and an incorrect depiction of the events from the past. Not only World War II history, but some other facts from our history were considered in such a way that the accent had changed. In their interpretation the simplest road would have been taken. They would simply exchange 'pluses' for 'minuses'. In that direction of minimalist thinking, an impression of fresh assessment and understanding was created. If we, however, are to discuss the victory of Communism, I would like to mention that the German anti-fascists immensely contributed in the victory over fascism, while at the same time not all of them belonged to the Communist Party.

tribute of SS soldiers. We are extremely concerned by that development. We often point out to our colleagues and friends about such worrying situations and tendencies surfacing in certain countries in the aftermath of the end of the Cold War. What are your impressions about contemporary Belgrade, since there is no Liberation Day any more; names of some streets

H.E. Alexander Alekseiev Nikolaevich changed [we have lost streets of Marshal Tolbuhin, General Zhdanov and Marshal Tito too‌]?

I would not make any comments in this regard related to the functioning of the Belgrade authorities.

However, let me state that we properly celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of the Belgrade liberation in October last year. We tremendously appreciate that the state officials took part in these celebrations, including military and civilian power structures. It is also very important that President of Serbia & Montenegro, Mr. Marovic, will participate in the celebration to be held in Moscow. In addition, we will see in Moscow the representatives of those who took part in the war - namely the war veterans of Serbia & Montenegro. When we see data about war losses and compare them with total population, we see that our two countries, the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia, suffered the greatest number of casualties.

We appreciate immensely all the efforts of the local authorities, primarily City of Belgrade officials, as well as other municipal authorities in Serbia. In the wake of the celebration on 9th May, we

As far as the State Union of SCG is concerned, we not only reject the separation of the two republics, we advocate the strengthening of the State Union.

A real historical picture cannot be simplified and treated as a black-and-white image. I am sure that we are about to give up such 'historical Daltonism' soon, and it will be much clearer and visible what happened in these years and what else is supposed to be done in order to get away as much as possible from these tragic pages of world history.

Germany, as a defeated country from that war, maintains various monuments and anti-fascistic symbols, while in some other countries, former members of the Warsaw Pact, the monuments are being removed, names of streets changed‌ How important is to take care of those symbols?

THE LESSON OF FASCISM Let me emphasize that we value highly the efforts of our German I think that an important history lesson learned friends in connection with the from World War II is the conclusion that it is upkeep of monuments and memorial sites from World War II. That is impossible to forcefully resolve our problems. extremely important indeed.

It is much easier to deal with such problems As far as the positions of some through co-operation and common actions, other countries in this regard are concerned, I tend to believe that this is instead of nurturing clashes and conflicts. I am one of the consequences of oversimof that opinion that the victory over fascism plification and an incomplete historiwas not only the turning point in Europe, but cal outlook. Instead of erecting monuments in honour of the liberators, was actually a turning point in the entire world. the monuments are constructed in

CorD | May 2005

15

Interview usually try very hard to revitalize local monuments of fallen Soviet soldiers. To this end we receive truly great assistance from local authorities. It is probably known to you that both Soviet and Yugoslav fallen soldiers were buried together on the cemetery dedicated to the Liberators of Belgrade. We always treat the memory of those people as sacrosanct.

SLAVIC FIRENDSHIPS We see amongst Serbs and Montenegrins our closest allies and friends. Consequently, we would like to see our friends together, in order for them to be very strong and more self-confident. We discuss this topic openly, and we understand very well that the final say in this regard is reserved for Serbs and Montenegrins alone. In the end, the citizens themselves will promulgate whatever decision they reach.

I recently purchased an interesting Russian book from the edition 'Who was who in the World War II', entitled 'Allies of the USSR'. The authors included many individuals who were later penalized and even killed by the new authorities. The applicable criterion understood that the countries they led joined the anti-Hitler coalition forces. When it comes to Serbia & Montenegro, we have Draza Mihailovic, generals Milan and Milutin Nedic, executed after the war, and royal generals who found themselves in German camps. Is it possible to achieve a national reconciliation based on such criteria?

I have already mentioned how complicated World War II history can be. There are a couple of different meanings pertaining to

Turning to more contemporary issues, how you would evaluate current economic co-operation between Russia and Serbia, as well as political relationships between the two countries?

Generally speaking, I am contented with the way this co-operation is developing. As with history my feelings are ambiguous, to put it mildly: on the one hand there is obvious progress; on the other hand, there are still many possibilities not properly explored and we have to examine that further. Henceforth, there is no room for any self-satisfaction. We are aware of the problems as well. I am not referring here to political problems or anything related to our outlook on the world. Instead, these questions are merely particular issues requiring concrete efforts. Our embassy is trying hard to assist in resolving these issues. That is why we approach 9th May with great enthusiasm and by particularly highlighting the closeness of our peoples. We pay the utmost attention to all outstanding issues and problems.

When it comes to Kosovo, we attempt to take the most active role in all processes leading to the resolution of the Kosovo problem. We believe that any decision for Kosovo can only be made with the agreement of Belgrade.

Which Russian companies are present in our economy and in what direction can we expect this presence to continue? this matter. I am not a historian. I cannot simply talk about who Our trade is steadily increasing, and that is not a novelty anytook part in the war or failed to take part. I will leave this to histomore. I would describe it as a pattern of the traditional relationship rians. The most important thing would be to strengthen the unity between our nations. In terms of some new developments over of Europe through this joint celebration during the sixtieth anniverrecent months, I would like to single out fresh investments. There is sary of the victory over fascism. This makes provisions for us to feel great interest for investments in the economy of Serbia & more solidarity with one another and to strive towards fewer diviMontenegro. Of course, first and foremost I refer here to investments sions and disagreements amongst us. in the field of energy production. We are very strong in that sphere That is a basic philosophy of all similar manifestations that are and are ready, at the same time, to help our Serbian and scheduled, and basically that is the issue I would like to emphasize Montenegrin friends, and not only that. For instance, a Russian comthe most. We learned the lessons from World War II, Europe is unitpany recently won a tender for the privatisation of the Aluminium ed and all our different approaches are supposed to be resolved by Enterprise in Podgorica [Aluminijumski Kombinat Podgorica]. We political means based upon common understanding, respect and are also prepared to take part in tenders for other large companies in due attention paid when it comes to our partner's opinion. Within Serbia & Montenegro. Russian capital is also very active in tourism. the framework of these celebrations we should leave historians to However, this is based on a new foundation, with the purchase of consider and talk about accurate involvement of the various parties real estate intended for tourism development. We also have a wide and the total contribution of all nations. spectrum of interests and activities.

It is my firm belief that we should simultaneously improve our relationKOSOVO CONTACT GROUP ship in all directions. There is no need I do not see any serious possibility of the to wait for certain improvements in one area in order to move to the other.

Contact Group being sidelined and removed The most pragmatic standpoint for from the process of resolving the Kosovo issue. both sides and their respective interThat is not even a topic for discussion. The func- ests should be determination and execution of various projects, including tioning of the Contact Group is an essential in the area of high-end and state-ofitem. In its work we have representatives of the the-art technologies, where Russian most important foreign factors that participate to companies are greatly active. I said a couple of times, and would like to a different extent towards the search for solu- state once more, that a Russian company that enters the world market is tions to problems emanating from Kosovo. absolutely capable and competitive.

16

CorD | May 2005

Interview And the only thing we strive for is to have equal conditions for our participation in the world market.

We do not seek any mitigating circumstances. In the last year alone the total trade between our two countries was in excess of $1.5billion.

In accordance with information available to me, during the first two months of this year we already achieved bilateral trade figures of $300million. These are obvious examples of how we develop our relationship in the economic sphere. In the political domain, we have very strong and intensive contacts, and topics under our consideration include almost all issues relevant to both countries. We superbly understand one another and, therefore, I do not see any issue whatsoever, including all relevant political topics, that are potentially capable of creating divisions between us.

alone. In the end, the citizens themselves will promulgate whatever decision they reach.

When it comes to Kosovo, we attempt to take the most active role in all processes leading to the resolution of the Kosovo problem. We believe that any decision for Kosovo can only be made with the agreement of Belgrade.

That decision supposes to strengthen the security situation in the Balkans and Europe as a whole. And that decision supposes to intensify and further develop co-operation in the region. The region should develop further instead of getting weaker and bringing about fresh tensions and hostilities. The issue of Kosovo is extremely complicated.

There are lot of different components and now is not the best time to pay attention to these details. We maintain the closest possible contact and conduits with our colleagues in Belgrade and they are familiar with our standpoints in this regard.

The reception in honour of Russian Army Day was attended by almost all senior staff of the SCG Army. Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica discussed last year with President Putin the issue of military and technical co-operation.

However, no significant improvements in that field occurred. What obstacles are hindering co-operation in that area?

Military-technical co-operation was absolutely a normal ingredient of any bilateral co-operation. We are ready to proceed with military-technical collaboration with Serbia & Montenegro.

However, I would not say that this cooperation is almost non-existent. We have joint plans to appear on the 'third countries' markets, and there are plans for modifications of certain weapons. It is obvious that this collaboration requires a great amount of money.

Military-technical co-operation belongs to the sphere that is much more commercially viable and that is why this is not often depicted on front pages of newspapers, as it normally happens with various contents related to bilateral cultural contacts.

We are ready for further development of these relationships. A great quantity of weapons used by the Serbia & Montenegro Army originated from Russia or the Soviet Union. We have a lot of experience, not only when it comes to production of new types of weapons, but also in the modification of old weaponry.

Our trade is steadily increasing, and that is not a novelty anymore.

I would describe it as a pattern of the traditional relationship between our nations...There is great interest for investments in the economy of SCG‌

Serbia & Montenegro is facing internal problems, particularly regarding the internal relationship between Serbia & Montenegro as well as the issue of Kosovo. What is the standpoint of your country towards each of these problems?

As far as the State Union of Serbia & Montenegro is concerned, we not only reject the separation of the two republics, we advocate the strengthening of the State Union. Why we do that? We simply see amongst Serbs and Montenegrins our closest allies and friends.

Consequently, we would like to see our friends together, in order for them to be very strong and more self-confident.

We discuss this topic openly, and we understand very well that the final say in this regard is reserved for Serbs and Montenegrins

18

CorD | May 2005

What is your personal opinion about Kosovo?

For us, the most important issue is the fulfilment of standards‌We believe that the key issues in this regard are the living conditions of the non-Albanian population, the return of refugees and displaced persons, securing safety, freedom of movement and the rule of law. In addition, it is crucially important to complete decentralisation, as well as resolving all issues related to ownership and the inclusion of non-Albanians as equal participants in economic, social and political life.

Our assessment is that there is a lot of room for improvement and we act according to such appraisals.

You were a member of the Contact Group - the body dealing with the issues originating from the Yugoslav crisis. Is it true that this body fine tuned political standpoints of the most important countries; how justifiable is its further existence, taking into account that there are attempts to exclude the Contact Group from the decision-making process in Kosovo?

I do not see any serious possibility of the Contact Group being sidelined and removed from the process of resolving the Kosovo issue. That is not even a topic for discussion. The functioning of the Contact Group is an essential item. In its work we have representatives of the most important foreign factors that participate to a different extent towards the search for solutions to problems emanating from Kosovo.

In this regard, I am of the opinion that the Contact Group plays an important and, above all, very interesting role. Also, issues related to Kosovo shall be referred to the Security Council of the United Nations.

In the process of searching for a solution, the Contact Group plays an indispensable role. Apart from that the Contact Group often holds meetings and keeps its focus on the Kosovo situation. I would like to especially emphasise the importance of the latest meeting of the Contact Group in Belgrade. For us it is a matter of principle to see that the Contact Group closely co-operates with Belgrade.•

Interview Since the beginning of his mandate, Bajram Kosumi the new president of Kosovo's interim government, has already had the opportunity to talk with representatives of the Contact Group about the most important issues regarding Kosovo's future status. In his first interview with the Belgrade media, Mr. Kosumi stressed his strong belief that "Kosovo will be independent in June 2006", but at the same time he admitted that the Contact Group considers an independent Kosovo as just one of the options.

Bajram Kosumi, President of Kosovo's Interim Government

Exclusively for CorD

By Dragan Bisenic, Photo M.Milic

P

ristina, the capital of Kosovo-Metohija, has had a drastic increase in population since the end of conflicts in 1999, with some estimates putting the number at around 200,000 new inhabitants. On the hillsides around the city sit hundreds of newly built and unfinished homes and in the streets traffic jams are adding to the problems of overcrowding.

While a Belgrade registered car doesn't make you any new friends, other passengers are more than ready to help in the orientation of Pristina's streets. The building of the former Kosovo Parliament houses the temporary bodies of the new Kosovo government, with President Ibrahim Rugova's cabinet on the first floor and Kosumi's modest office on the second. Kosumi recently replaced Ramus Haradinaj as interim president after Haradinaj received an indictment from the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), and since taking over has held talks with the Contact Group and scheduled more with Serbian representative Oliver Ivanovic. Kosumi asserts that he is satisfied with the Contact group meetings.

- Today we met with the Contact Group and that was a very good meeting. That was our first meeting with the Contact Group; the first time that a president of the government, president of

Kosovo and other institutions, talked with the Contact Group about Kosovo's status and independence. So, it's time for these processes to be opened. The Contact Group set some basic points for the final status. They presented that in Pristina. There are some points based on which the future status of Kosovo will be based: no going back, no splitting Kosovo, no changing of borders, no joining of Kosovo territory with some other federation, confederation, some other state or territory in the region. Regarding connection with Serbia there is no decisive stance, although I think that that stance also

We believe that any decision for Kosovo can only be made with the agreement of Belgrade.

20

CorD | May 2005

exists, but it's not said publicly because the unity of the entire region is to be kept with the goal of moving forward.

Your answers correspond fully with the Contact Group's presentation in Belgrade. Which other options are left, bearing in mind that the Contact Group's plan represents something that is unacceptable?

The Contact Group does not have a precise, fixed idea of what will happen. On the table is not a single option, it's not solely

Kosovo independence. The same thing was also said by Russian representative Chizov. There is that option as well, but it is not the only one. That is what is considered on the table and in the talks. I think there is one solution, and that is an independent Kosovo. I think that is a priority that will calm Kosovo because a huge majority of Kosovo inhabitants want independence. That would have a calming effect on a large number of countries in the Balkans: Macedonia, Albania, Greece and Bulgaria.

There are some misunderstandings with Serbia, actually more like a lack of understanding. I have to say that Belgrade's official politics has changed. They now use new vocabulary where they say "more than autonomy, less than independence", but chances are 99% that Kosovo will become independent in June 2006. I will stress one difference regarding Kosovo's final status between Pristina and Belgrade. This is the standpoint I heard from one Serbian colleague from Kosovo: Belgrade is territorially interested in Kosovo, to keep that territory under control. For us, Kosovo is our destiny. We live here, and will continue to live here. We are interested in creating and building our future, our happiness, our lives in any way, and that is what I said to the Contact Group as well. We want our voice to be decisive in the decision about our destiny. Why would somebody else decide the destiny of Kosovo's children, how they are going to live after 10 or 20 years? The Kosovo people need to decide this.

We have noted that the Contact Group insists there can be no changing of borders, no dividing of Kosovo and no annexing of the province to another state. With this in mind, what is your opinion on the meaning of an independent Kosovo?

Lately, in a joke, a half sentence exists that can be an answer to this question: 'Then, it will be an independent Serbia', meaning that Serbia is becoming independent as well as Kosovo. So, the Kosovo state will be like other states in the region. It will have its independence and all institutions that one state has. And that will be a state that goes toward the European Union and that has been our objective for centuries. It has been a goal for five centuries, to

Streets of Pristina Yes. Absolutely. That is the process that is happening, which is developing. We discussed that in talks with the Contact Group.

How do you evaluate the prospects of such a solution; for the creation of a new state in southern Europe that will be called Kosovo? What is the stance of the Contact Group regarding your aspiration?

I am a big optimist and think that it will happen; although today the Contact Group did not say that it will be like this, nor did they say that it would be different. They said that Kosovo independence, Kosovo as a state, is one of the options. Thus, they only mentioned this. They did not say that is the only option and did not mention other options.

It has been a goal for five centuries, to have one European Kosovo where all of Kosovo's citizens will be together, not only Albanians, but also Serbs, Romas, Bosnjaci‌ have one European Kosovo where all of Kosovo's citizens will be together, not only Albanians, but also Serbs, Romas, Bosnjaci‌and by that it means that Kosovo will be a citizens' state where all citizens are equal in front of the law and not only have equal rights, but also have equal responsibilities. Now, we are working on solving the problem between Serbia and Kosovo. That is progressing very slowly and with difficulty. But really 'good-neighbour' relationships can be built only when Kosovo is independent and Serbia realises that Kosovo cannot return to Serbia.

When the Contact Group says 'no changing of borders' that means no changes of Kosovo's borders. There was no word about Serbia's borders, only Kosovo's borders. And that is very clear. This implies that there can be no dividing of Kosovo‌ When you consider an independent Kosovo, does that mean making it into a new, internationally recognised state?

You point out that the Belgrade stance has changed, and it seems that you evaluate that positively.

How do you regard this change of attitude?

It is slightly positive. Actually, I do not think that Kostunica changed the concept, but the European integration processes will make us all change something in our concepts. And we must change on our own. I think that those changes are happening in Belgrade.

But Serbia does not have another solution. Serbia has to be part of Europe, and to become a part of Europe, Serbia has to release the burden of the past. Therefore, the change of position has manifested itself in terms of a suggestion that the status should be "less than independence, more than autonomy". For me that is not acceptable, but I have to say that that is a change.

How do you see the need and possibility of direct talks between Belgrade and Pristina. Members of the Contact Group

VIOLENCE CONTINUES

In Kosovo many tensions and controversies still exist with Albanians. The number of Serbs in Pristina can be counted on one hand, but besides that there is no peace in the city. Only two days after our interview, Ramus Haradinaj's brother, Enver Haradinaj, was killed in Kosovo. He was the third of five brothers to die. His much more famous brother, ICTY-indictee Ramus Haradinaj, travelled to the funeral. According ICTY regulations, it was forbidden for him to have contact with the media or witnesses. Bajram Kosumi evaluated that it was an act of those who "have been threatening for years that they will burn Kosovo". A day later, an incendiary device hit the headquarters of Veton Suroji's Party in Pristina, injuring three boys.

CorD | May 2005

21

Interview have specified in their timeframe that talks between Belgrade and Pristina will start in September. Has that also been said to you?

Not really like that. In September, talks about the final status of Kosovo will start, but it's still unknown who, with whom and how.

Direct talks with Belgrade have already begun. The Kosovo and Serbian Government's committees addressing missing persons have met and talks about energy will start by the end of this month.

Next month, it will be talks about the return of refugees, and then it will follow with talks about the return of land registration documentation that the Belgrade Government took with them from Kosovo. We will try to talk about all these problems that are standing between Kosovo and Serbia and to solve those problems.

We are interested in discussing other problems as well, which are not problems between Kosovo and Serbia, but which are beneficial to both sides. However, we have differing views on talks regarding Kosovo's status. I think that Belgrade politics, or let us say the Belgrade Government, is not ready for talks regarding Kosovo's final status, regardless of all the public statements. They are not ready to sit at the table and talk about final status. I have to stress one more thing: whenever Belgrade and Pristina discuss some final status of Kosovo, something bad always happens: conflicts, incidents, murders. That is not just for the past 5, or 10 years, but the past century. So, for 100 years we have not found a solution.

Why would we try one more time when we already know that there is no solution? If we were capable of finding a solution, what happened would never have occurred.

MICHAEL SCHAEFFER,

In some way, you already answered that you are not really ready for direct talks between Belgrade and Pristina, because you think those talks would not bring a solution. But still, how

How do you estimate the readiness of the Serbian side for dialogue?

What is of special importance is the building of trust.

Last year both sides did not communicate with each other. We were very encouraged when President Tadic provided the basis for the participation of Serbs in different working groups for the implementation of standards. He also said that he will invite President Rugova for talks in Belgrade. That is very good news which will certainly contribute to the building of trust. Building trust is essential and is the basis for the negotiations about the status.

Bajram Kosumi talking to our editor do you comment on President Tadic's invitation to President Rugova to have talks, or similarly at the Prime Minister's level? Your predecessor, Mr.Haradinaj, publicly showed readiness to come to Belgrade and talk about that. What is your stance on this?

I also said that I am ready to talk about technical issues with Belgrade, but not about final status. Why should I ask Mr. Kostunica how my children will live after 15 years in Kosovo? I will talk with Serbs from Kosovo and endeavour to reach a united stance with them. For me, this is the essence of problem.

Do you think that the Contact Group and the international community at large accept your stance?

That is a different question. What I will insist on with the Contact Group, and others from the region, is that we decide on certain points in the framework for Kosovo's final status‌ I have already mentioned some of these points earlier. Some other issues should be cleared up as well. If they manage to do this and complete it, the Contact Group will make an easier job for us and for Belgrade.

If that will be so, then we can sit at the table at some international

22

CorD | May 2005

POLITICAL DIRECTOR OF THE GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTRY

FINAL NEGOTIATIONS IN AUTUMN "We are still in the phase of the implementation of standards and it is still too early to talk about things which have yet to come from that process", said the Political Director of the German Foreign Ministry, Michael Schaeffer in an interview for CorD magazine. "The time plan which was accepted is to begin with the process of the appraisal of the standards in mid-July. That will take six to eight weeks. Then we will be able to establish whether there have been any improvements in the process of implementation of the standards. If a positive appraisal is made, and that can happen if the conclusion is reached that the process is moving in the right direction (because we cannot expect those standards to be met in only several months) then the process of talks about the final status will follow in autumn this year", stated Schaeffer.

Do you expect the Secretary General Kofi Annan to appoint his representative?

The task of checking the implementation of the standards will be under the wing of the UN Secretary General, thus he will decide whether he is going to appoint his own representative for the appraisal of the achievement of those standards. As regards the status, it is expected that the UN Secretary General, who is responsible in accordance with Resolution 1244, will appoint an envoy. That should be a political individual who is acceptable to both Belgrade and Pristina. As to who that will be, I cannot say right now.

Austrian Chancellor SchĂźssel proposed the "Tyrol model" to American President Bush for the resolution of the Kosovo issue. Will that be some sort of road sign for Kosovo's final status?

I believe that we have plenty of cases in today's world which could be of use. Such a situation exists both within Europe as well as outside its borders.

That is something which will be on the table when the negotiating process starts.

Interview conference involving Pristina, Belgrade and the Contact Group and, within such a forum, solve the issue of Kosovo's final status.

What is your relationship with Kosovo Serbs to date?

We are not very satisfied. What is especially important for us is that today we have a lot of cases where Serbs can freely walk around Pristina and cars with Belgrade registrations come and do not have any problems. In my government, one minister is Serb and two Serb parliamentarians voted in the Kosovo Parliament for my candidature. I have one more ministerial position in my government for a Serb and that is for agriculture. However, Mr. Ivanovic's party still has not appointed their representative. Regarding that, I will talk with Mr. Ivanovic and members of his party. I will meet him straight after this meeting with you. I have sent my representative to talk with Mr. Ivanovic and ask him to appoint their representative, but Ivanovic is torn between Belgrade and Pristina. I think he is wrong.

Kostunica does not live in Gracanica or Mitrovica. Ivanovic lives there and he shouldn't hesitate between Belgrade and Pristina, but work together with us for a future. I think that Kosovo's politicians and UNMIK made one mistake: they remained slaves to the politics of Rada Trajkovic, Ivanovic and some other Serbs.

What is the Kosovo government doing regarding the reconstructions of Orthodox Monasteries and the return of refugees?

Regarding the cultural heritage of Kosovo and Serbian religious objects, we are working on renewing them. The Minister of Culture in my government has signed a memorandum with Patriarch Pavle on the building and reconstruction of Serbian religious objects that were destroyed last year. Next month, in Paris, we will organise a donor meeting, where we will gather donations for the renewal of the cultural heritage of Kosovo and orthodox religious objects. That is our initiative. I want to say one more thing, we will equally take care of Gracanica like we take care of the Memet Mosque or any catholic church. I studied literature, history and philosophy and I know that in Gracanica's Church a document is written: This Church was renewed by King Milutin. So there is nothing in this world that was made from zero, rather everything has been inherited from something that was previous.

That Monastery in Gracanica is not only Serbian, but Kosovo's as well. We can be happy for having that Church, but I am also happy because it is in Kosovo.

You used a term that is derisive in Serbia and within the Orthodox Church: "Kosovo's heritage". What is the meaning of this terminology for you?

Maybe we will not go now into details regarding that. That is Serbian and Orthodox cultural heritage, but it would be bad to remain merely the inheritance of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

And the return of refugees?

That is a process that is very difficult to achieve, but something is happening in that direction. Politicians from Belgrade never mention one fact: around 100,000 Kosovo Serbs never left Kosovo, not during the bombing, not after, not now. They have been living all this time, and now, with difficulties. That is very difficult, but there are some advantages in that. But we live together. A portion of the refugees are coming back. The biggest problems facing the return are finances and Belgrade. Until now, other countries were ready to give money. However, Belgrade has politicised that and used it for a very narrow personal interest. That is very bad; that is a shame.

BAJRAM KOSUMI- BIOGRAPHY

For which interest?

The Minister for Local Self-Management, Lutfi Haziri, and the Minister for Return, Slavisa Petkovic, have been in Montenegro recently, talking with Serbian refugees. The first problem they were faced with was to convince those people that they can still live in Kosovo, because Belgrade managed to convince those people over there that is very hard to live in Kosovo‌ That is very bad politics and that will serve as a very negative legacy of those Serbian politicians. •

Bajram Kosumi was born in 1960 in the village Tudjep within the municipality of Kamenica, at the border of Kosovo and Serbia. In 1981, while a student in Pristina (he has an M.A. in literature), he was one of the leaders of the Student Movement and as a result was arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison, parts of which he served in Pristina, Belgrade, Nis and Zajecar. "I spent 10 years in prison, minus 3 months because by then the communist regime in the former Yugoslavia had already collapsed and a general amnesty was announced. That amnesty touched me too, so I was released from prison before time. If communism lasted longer, I probably would have spent all 15 years in prison. After that I started to work as a journalist, first as a culture editor and then as political editor of magazine Zero. I worked there for nine years", Kosumi said.

Kosumi started his political life in Kosovo in 1994, when he became president of the Parliamentarian Party of Kosovo. With exception of the period between 1996 and 1997, when Adem Demaci led the party, Kosumi remained president until 2001 and was a member of the delegations to the Ramboulle conference and Paris. He spent the first days of the 1999 bombing in Pristina and then left for the KLA base in Lab, where he was in contact with Remzi Mustafa. After the war he became Minister for Public Information in the transitional government, politically allying himself with Ramus Haradinaj when they formed the party "Alliance for Kosovo Future". He is married and has 4 daughters aged between 10 months and 12 years.

24

CorD | May 2005

Trade deficit

BANANAS & CIGARETTES

By Dejan Berkovic

Serbian citizens love to smoke and have a voracious appetite for bananas. Indeed, last year alone imports of bananas equated to $27million (more than the combined total of all the former Yugoslav states) and a staggering $93million was spent on the importation of cigarettes, despite Serbia boasting two major tobacco plants of its own (Vranje and Nis).

S

The fact that Serbia spent $891million on crude oil is not out of the ordinary, considering that the country does not have enough domestic supplies, but can the same be said for the $8million spent on importing chewing gum; or the $30million spent on importing leather footwear, while domestic footwear factories reduced production levels to a virtual trickle?

In total, Serbia exported goods to the value of $3.7billion last year, while imports totalled an alarming $11.1billion. Top import commodity last year was crude oil and petroleum derivatives, which totalled in excess of $1billion, followed by imports of road vehicles at $842million.

Last year's import-export imbalance led to the foreign trade deficit hitting a record level of $7.4billion - a third of Serbia's

The national current account deficit has hovered within a margin of 11-13 per cent of GDP (twice the critical rate) for a number of years. This deficit features as the most seismic point of Serbia's economy, with major quakes only being avoided to date thanks to the significant influx of non-market funds, such as donations and loans with long grace periods. Moreover, fiscal stability has been aided by the fact that the servicing of existing debt has been postponed.

However, these resources will not be forthcoming for much longer: "the inflow of such funds is to markedly diminish over the course of the next few years, while debts will increase. This calls for vigorous measures to prevent a debt crisis and the crash of the national currency", said Pavle Petrovic PhD, referring to the findings of a multiyear macroeconometric study of the Serbian economy, presented to the public during March by CES Mekon.

Professor Petrovic was a member of the research team, as were Zorica Miladinovic PhD, Aleksandra Nojkovic MSc and Milojko Arsic MSc. The team conducted a detailed econometric study of the Serbian economy for the period from 2001 to August 2004, taking into consideration relevant data on the status of the economy immediately after the bombing campaign in 1999.

According to Petrovic: "the critical deficit of the current balance of payments is a consequence of a high and rising foreign trade deficit, which has experienced a dramatic surge in the last

Serbian commodities are overpriced, while local demand for imported goods is in discord with the sustainable performance limits of the local economy.

GDP. According to market experts, this factor is one of the main impediments to the country's economic development.

Serbia's trade deficit peaked in 1997, when imports exceeded exports by some $304million. A year later the figure dropped to $158million, while in the year of NATO's bombing campaign the export shortfall was just $24million. However, by 2001 it had risen again to $165million.

26

CorD | May 2005

Trade deficit four years. The study has determined that the main reason for extensive import and the foreign trade deficit since 2001 has been an overrated exchange rate of the national currency and excessive market demand that encouraged importing commodities from abroad. This "heretical" discovery refutes the commonly accepted belief that the exchange rate of the dinar is of no relevance to the balance of payments deficit".

Excessive appreciation of the dinar, especially in 2002, was an example of giving precedence to the short-term goals of stabilising the national currency and cutting inflation, as opposed to the strategic goals of preserving a macroeconomic balance and growth on solid economic foundations.

Although the monetary policy altered its course two years ago and depreciated the dinar to some extent, the national currency is still overrated according to certain indices, which anticipate further growth of the foreign trade deficit.

Converted into euros, wages in Serbia are higher than in neighbouring countries with a similar level of development (Serbia - 200 euros, Bulgaria and Romania - 150 euros). This indicates that Serbian commodities are overpriced, while local demand for imported goods is in discord with the sustainable performance limits of the local economy.

The other crucial factor of import and foreign trade deficit growth is the expansion of domestic demand fuelled by Serbian fiscal and income policy. The survey also revealed that the reduction of customs rates encourages import, as does FDI and rapid spending of income generated through privatisation.

"All this was not necessary. The effect of reduced customs tariffs in August 2003 could have been neutralised with an appropriate policy in managing the exchange rate of the national currency, while a more stringent expenditure policy of income generated through privatisation would have slowed down the growth of demand on the domestic market," Petrovic claims.

After diagnosing the state of the Serbian economy, CES Mekon's experts believe it is necessary to conduct an urgent depreciation of the dinar and bridle rampant domestic consumption.

They also insist that the government should consider lowering trade barriers with caution and refrain from being lavish in spending assets gained through privatisation, because the Central Bank is not capable of "sterilising" the affects of foreign capital inflow.

The CES Mekon team recommend that these measures be applied forthwith, as it is neither justifiable nor sustainable to wait for a more energetic export policy and final restructuring of the economy, which are key steps towards levelling the country's foreign trade balance.

Experts say that the direct impact of the exchange rate on

inflation through expenditure is 25-30%, contrary to the common belief that the exchange rate is the key inducer of retail price growth.

A policy of real depreciation of the dinar and maintaining single-digit inflation are possible if other stimulators of retail price growth - wages and public expenditure - are reined in.

In practice, this means wages of the working population will have to be harmonised with productivity, which has not been the case up to now, since they grew faster than the cumulative growth of prices and productivity. Moreover, public expenditure must not exceed 41-42% of GDP. Harmonising wage policy with productivity, along with real depreciation of the national currency, would result in reducing salaries to a

Serbian produce is in high demand in European Union countries and further potential lies in untapped markets such as the Russian market‌ competitive level.

Petrovic added that the National Bank was unjustifiably the dominant factor in currency issues, with strict control over the exchange rate of the dinar during the past four years. "It is time to reduce and change the role of the National Bank and let the competition in, which would in turn lead to an exchange rate that will mirror real market relations. Under these circumstances, the National Bank would occasionally intervene in the exchange market to prevent extreme fluctuations of the exchange rate. Instead of minding both the exchange rate and inflation, the National Bank should clearly define a monetary regime and take the responsibility of managing the increase of retail prices within set limits, while the exchange rate should be guided by the market", Petrovic explained.

Vladana Hamovic, Director of the Centre for Macroeconomic Research, expressed concern over the structure of commodities that are being imported. Imports are dominated by consumer goods, while there is little equipment, which is a pernicious trend bearing in mind that Serbia's technology levels are 19 years behind EU countries and 7 years behind developing countries.

As a result of the country's technological setback, Serbia is unable to produce goods of sufficient quality to sell on the world market. Instead, they are imported. Serbia is importing a lot of commodities that could be produced domestically, such as personal hygiene products, cleaning products and clothing.

According to Hamovic, this situation could have been averted by a more responsible economic policy.

"We [Serbia] liberalised import too quickly, though only the most developed countries can afford to liberalise trade completely. We lowered these barriers too early and an avalanche of all sorts of goods poured in", Hamovic said, adding that domes-

OVERPRICED DINAR HINDERS PROGRESS "‌the study has determined that the main reason for extensive import and the foreign trade deficit since 2001 has been an overrated exchange rate of the national currency and excessive market demand that encouraged importing commodities from abroad. This "heretical" discovery refutes the commonly accepted belief that the exchange rate of the dinar is of no relevance to the balance of payments deficit".

CorD | May 2005

27

Trade deficit EXCHANGE RATE CUTS After diagnosing the state of the Serbian economy, CES Mekon's experts believe it is necessary to conduct an urgent depreciation of the dinar and bridle rampant domestic consumption. They also insist that the government should consider lowering trade barriers with caution and refrain from being lavish in spending assets gained through privatisation, because the National Bank is not capable of "sterilising" the affects of foreign capital inflow. tic products would be more affordable to our citizens if there was less control over the industry.

Officials of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce remain optimistic, despite the negative statistics. Vojislav Stankovic, a researcher of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce's Department of Science, explained: "Our top export commodities last year were iron and steel ($464million), fruit and vegetables ($245million) and non-ferrous metals ($209million). In 11 months of last year, Serbia imported 750.5 million dollars and exported 712.2 million dollars of agricultural and food products, which makes the deficit only 38.3 million dollars. The

has also recorded the highest growth of export rate (58.4%)", Stankovic noted.

A surplus of $11.4million was made in trading wines and alcoholic beverages. Serbia exported $43.4million worth of these products and imported only $32million. The country exported $74.4million of livestock, meat and fish products and imported $122.9million, producing a deficit of $48.5million. The bottom place on the export list is held by tobacco and cigarette producers, with exports equating to a modest $6.9million dollars, while imports reached $106.3million, producing a record trade deficit among all commodity groups of $99.4million.

Mladen Obradovic, independent advisor of the Chamber of Commerce's Board for Foreign Economic Relations, said that the amount of raw and semi-raw materials being exported, compared to finished products, was not good; while another worrisome fact was the number of road vehicles being imported. He cited expenditure figures of $175million on used cars alone last year. The trend has been such that bananas could have become the national fruit of Serbs and Montenegrins in the new millennium.

In 2003 FR Yugoslavia imported 113,000 tonnes of bananas, which was twice the amount the former Yugoslav state had imported prior to dissolution. That year, fruit and vegetables were the top export commodity, followed by cereals and sugar, while fruit, vegetables, coffee, tea, spices and cattle feed were the top import commodities.

Milan Prostran, Secretary of the Association for Agricultural, Food and Tobacco Industries within the Chamber of Commerce, said that Serbian citizens are used to coffee and tropical fruits and the chances are that imports of these commodities will increase in the future.

In 2002 alone, Serbia imported $89million of coffee ($17million more than the previous year) and $92.5million of tropical

"We have often struggled to produce enough for the domestic market, let alone export surpluses. Another problem is creating a quality brand that will satisfy EU standards and be competitive on foreign markets" foreign trade balance of these commodities showed a continuing tendency of surplus in the second half of 2004".

Agriculture and the food industry comprised a quarter of the entire export revenue in 2004, but for some mysterious reason agricultural products are also the number one import commodities. Instead of a having surplus in trading agricultural products, Serbia is deficient here as well, but the Chamber of Commerce insist that this as a positive trend and interpret it as a high level of harmonisation and reform of the national agricultural policy in line with EU standards. They argue that the export/import ratio of 94.9% in this sector of foreign exchange is far above the average ratio of 34.4%.

"The fact that we have a trade surplus with 25 EU countries is an exceptionally positive trend. We have achieved good results in trading fruit and vegetables where exports amount to 220.7 million dollars compared to 130 million dollars of imports. Sugar products have also achieved good results - with exports valued at 178.4 million dollars. This group of products

EXPORT INCREASES NEEDED "We have to increase production, research foreign markets and consumer habits and develop a marketing strategy that can fully exploit the results‌More attention should be given to exporting raw meat and meat products, fruit, vegetables and confectionery‌In the last ten years, excluding 1999, the former federal state maintained a negative export/import ratio and this will remain the same unless some changes are made"

28

CorD | May 2005

Trade deficit fruit (an annual increase of $25million).

Prostran said: "We cannot change that so we should focus our attention on exports. First of all we should take advantage of the EU quotas for meat exports, since we delivered only $10.67million of meat and meat products. We can realistically hope to raise exports of fruit and vegetables by $20-30million, as well as sugar and confectionary. We should focus more on exporting vegetable oil and fat, another $20million could be made by exporting seeds (grain, sunflower, vegetable seed) and grape vines�.

Director of the Serbian & Montenegrin Fruit and Vegetable Fund, Jovan Djilas, said the amount of fruit and vegetables exported in 2002 reached record levels in terms of weight and income. He said it is hard to expect any improvements in that area.

"We exported 78,000 tonnes of raspberries for an income of $90million. Sour cherries brought $16million, blackberries

...we have to modernise our facilities for vegetable processing so that we can export lager quantities of canned vegetables. $9million and plums hauled in $5million. With more investments and trade subsidies we could increase exports of frozen sour cherries and plums. We exported only 670 tonnes of plums last year, compared to 30,000 tonnes a decade ago.

Annual sour cherry exports could reach 45,000 tonnes if the aforementioned conditions are met. The situation is different with vegetables, where there is much more opportunity for increasing exports. The key commodities are green peas, corn and peppers. Aside from increasing yield, we have to modernise our facilities for vegetable processing so that we can export lager quantities of canned vegetables. We are very expectant in terms of what privatisation could bring in that respect," said Djilas.

According to the fruit and vegetable fund's director, Serbian produce is in high demand in European Union countries and further potential lies in untapped markets such as the Russian market, to which the country exported a lot in the past.

Vesna Parausic, an associate at the Institute for Market Research, warned that Serbia cannot expect to increase food exports and achieve a trade surplus in these areas without certain prerequisites. "We have to increase production, research foreign markets and consumer habits and develop a marketing strategy that can fully exploit the results," Parausic insisted, adding that cattle breeding and husbandry should be the foundation of the country's export boosting strategy. "More attention should be given to exporting raw meat and meat products, but also fruit, vegetables and confectionery.

"In the last ten years, excluding 1999, the former federal state maintained a negative export/import ratio and this will remain the same unless some changes are made", Parausic said. She pointed out that the country has a lot of potential to export food, but the domestic market had dictated modest production levels during the sanctions and years of economic isolation.

"We have often struggled to produce enough for the domestic market, let alone export surpluses. Another problem is creating a quality brand that will satisfy EU standards and be competitive in foreign markets", Parausic said. She concluded that the government should adjust its policy to give export primacy to raw meat and meat products, followed by fruit, vegetables and other commodities.•

DEFICIT PROGRESS Serbian Finance Minister, Mladjan Dinkic, has stated that in the first two months of this year the foreign trade deficit is 42% lower than in the same period last year. "Serbia has exported goods to the value $602million, which was 57% higher than in the same period last year.

Moreover, the country imported goods to the value of $1.14billion, which is 13% less," said the Finance Minister, speaking at a press conference.

Dinkic highlighted that one of the characteristics of Serbia's foreign trade in January and February this year was an increased share of export to developed countries - to 63% - with

leading exports to Italy and Germany.

According to Dinkic, Serbian exports to Slovenia have increased by 75% and to Croatia by 64%. In terms of imports, Russia is Serbia's number one partner because of fuel and gas.

Dinkic mentioned that in the first quarter of this year the republic's budget deficit was recorded at 2.4billion dinars, which is half the figure recorded in the same period last year.

Meanwhile, Dinkic noted that budget income was $87.8billion, and expenditure $90.2billion.

He said that budget reserves on 31st March totalled 22.5billion dinars, which he claimed had mostly come from the privatisations of state enterprises and state banks.

Serbian Deputy PM, Miroljub Labus, explained upon his return from IMF negotiations that the decrease in trade deficit was partly a consequence of introducing VAT, which forced enterprises to calculate imports really accurately.

"Previously, it hadn't been possible to explain around a billion dollars of import" said Labus.

"It was a way to transfer money abroad and put it on foreign accounts. Now, when you have to pay VAT on every transaction, that operation is no longer worthwhile for those wishing to transfer money out of the country".

CorD | May 2005

29

Robert Cooper, Director General for External and Politico-military affairs, EU Department of Foreign and Security Policy

ST

21 CENTURY IMPERIALISM

By D. Bisenic & M. Pullen ooper served as British Ambassador to West Germany during the period of Germany's reunification and the coinciding collapse of the former Yugoslavia. He is also a former foreign advisor to British PM Tony Blair and is considered to be the architect of the new global role of Europe and the European Union's common Foreign and Security Policy.

The senior British Diplomat currently holds the post of Director General for External and Politico-Military Affairs within Javier Solana's department of Foreign and Security Policy of the Council of the EU. Cooper has authored a number of personal essays examining the state of global security and nationhood. In his latest book, "The Breaking of Nations" - based on an essay that has been hailed as one of the most influential policy pieces published in the past decade, Cooper ponders and propagates a new form of Western interventionist imperialism to tackle the problems of 'failed states' and ensure security in the unpredictable world of the 21st century.

Described, amongst other things, as 'Europe's pre-eminent scholar-diplomat', 'one of the world's most thoughtful diplomats' and a 'formidable thinker', we spoke exclusively to Robert Cooper

C

30

CorD | May 2005

Exclusively for CorD

Robert Cooper is undoubtedly one of the Western World's most controversial thinkers; discussion of Cooper’s notions of post-modern imperialism and proposed methods for ensuring global security are bound to provoke heated debate among the most open-minded of scholars and theorists.

for this month's issue of CorD. It seems that the Balkans provided you with a lot of arguments for the ideas you interpreted in your book.

I wrote the book, at least partly, because of the Balkans; because the crisis in the Balkans in the 1990s was a big shock for all of us in Europe. So, the original motive that made me write the book was the contrast between the two conflicts that took place in the early '90s: the war in Iraq and the wars in the Balkans. The different reactions of European countries to the two crises created the beginning of the thinking that led to the book.

The book seems to describe not a post-modern world order, but rather a post-'Westphalian' World order. What happened to make this world order collapse?

There are many reasons, I think. If you wanted to take a kind of Marxist, materialist view you could say it was a result in changes of technology. I think there's some truth in that. If you look at Western Europe you could say that nation states were created by the railways. But then, when road transport became more important boundaries between states became much more difficult to control.

The classical theme of the railways is the train stopping at the border. You can take off everybody's passports, etc. Railways represent a situation where the state is more-or-less in control. By the time most people had cars it became much more difficult to control the movements of people‌technology began to break down the borders of states. It breaks down borders in other ways as well.

Looking at the pictures of people on the streets in Beirut, I'm sure that some of them had seen what had happened on the streets in the Ukraine. The news media already ensures that ideas flow across borders much more quickly than they did before. At the same time, the Westphalian Order was already being undermined in other ways because the Westphalian Order probably worked best when you had dynastic states, essentially states that had a king who could make war rather quickly, could make deals and agree on small exchanges of territory for payment of indemnity. In those days you could operate the balance of power system. When you have national consciousness this system gets out of control. The balance of power no longer works when you have a mass of people involved.

War becomes an uncontrollable experience and people themselves are less easy to manipulate. So for all of these reasons I think the two really big reasons for the collapse are changing technology and changes in consciousness and political systems. I don't think the classical Westphalian system really works in a democratic world.

thing happening in Yugoslavia and the 'German question'. So these were both very much related to the state of the Cold War. On the other hand, sometimes I think that maybe Yugoslavia could still have worked if it had been governed better.

I don't believe that nations are inevitable and exist in a kind of hysterical, unchangeable way. I am English, British and a citizen of the United Kingdom. Is that one nation, or two or three or four?

Actually, the British were created from two nations: England and Scotland. They were thrust together and, eventually and with some difficulty, it was made to work. So I don't believe that there's some kind of historical thing called 'the nation'. I think that nations are created.

The current Balkans provides good examples for two of your arguments: imperialism and protectorate states, particularly Bosnia and Kosovo. How can these issues be solved within the framework of the European Union and with the future development of a common foreign and security policy?

I don't think that empires or protectorates are desirable. They may occasionally be necessary as a temporary phase, but in the long run the world we live in now is one of democracy and of selfdetermination. But to make democracy work you need to have a

It seems to me that in some ways the requirement of the Cold War was that Germany should be divided and that Yugoslavia should be united.

Yugoslavia was unique because it was a union composed of various republics and had a very influential role in the Cold War. Was the break-up of Yugoslavia, in effect, the last, decisive act of the Cold War, rather than the fall of the Berlin Wall?

It seems to me that in some ways the requirement of the Cold War was that Germany should be divided and that Yugoslavia should be united. In a sense, the pressure of the two sides in the Cold War kept Yugoslavia together. Every scenario that NATO ever created for World War Three, as far as I know, started with some-

domestic compromise and a basic agreement on the structure of the state: people in England have to realise that the Scots have a special identity and special rights, while people in Scotland have to recognise that separation from England is no longer sensible or possible.

However, sometimes, particularly after there has been conflict, it's extremely difficult for people to reach those kinds of fundamental comprises. And so there is a case for the international community to fill the vacuum on a temporary basis while local people sort themselves out. But it must be temporary.

You mentioned that you could be coming to Serbia and Belgrade more frequently for another reason. Is that linked with the status of Kosovo or involvement of the European Union in the area?

I would hope for both of those reasons.

What sort of a role could the EU play in the Balkans as a whole to resolve crisis issues?

The Balkans is geographically a part of Europe and I think everybody knows that eventually, some day, all of the countries of the Balkans are going to be members of the European Union. The European Union is an area of law and that's really the important part‌the European Union can only function if there are well-functioning legal systems everywhere. The essential requirement for any country to enter the European Union is that it should be able to administer European Union law. That means it must have reliable courts and an administration that is honest and trusted in Brussels.

So, that's the problem that has to be solved and when it is every-

P R E - M O D E R N S TAT E S

M O D E R N S TAT E S

POST-MODERN STATES

The pre-modern world is a world of failed states which have lost legitimacy for, or monopoly over, the use of force.

Examples of total collapse are relatively rare, but the number of countries at risk grows all the time. Some areas of the former Soviet Union are candidates, including Chechnya. All of the world's major drug-producing areas are part of the pre-modern world.

Traditional 'modern' states such as India, Pakistan or China behave as states always have, following interest, power and raison d'ĂŠtat. If there is to be stability among states still operating by the principles of empire and the supremacy of national interest, it will come from a balance among the aggressive forces. There are few areas of the world where such a balance exists. A nuclear element in the equation in some areas sharpens the risk.

The postmodern world has to start to get used to double standards. Among ourselves, we operate on the basis of laws and open co-operative security.

But, when dealing with old-fashioned states, we need to revert to the rougher methods of an earlier era force, pre-emptive attack, deception; whatever is necessary to deal with those who still live in the nineteenth century world of every state for itself.

CorD | May 2005

31

Interview body in the Balkans will be a part of the European Union. I am absolutely confident that that will happen one day.

What would you recommend to Serbia and Montenegro if they want to join the European Union as quickly as possible?

My first recommendation would be to get to work on what has to be done as quickly as possible. We all know where the process ends and there are, no doubt, some difficult decisions to make and

Robert Cooper talking to CorD difficult things to do to get there. But it doesn't help anybody, especially those in Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania and Macedonia, to delay. And the European Union is not just a zone of law, it's actually a zone of prosperity. The sooner all the countries of the Balkans can join, the better for all the citizens and for us as well. So what has to be done is settling the issue of The Hague Tribunal. I don't think that it's necessary for everything to be done absolutely immediately, but co-operation with The Hague Tribunal is clearly important. We are, as I said, a community of law. And this is fundamental law: the law of nations.

How do you see the relevance of the EU’s common security and foreign policy in the Balkans?

The Balkans is one of the causes of the common foreign and

I

security policy, but the shock of the wars in the Balkans was what caused the European Union to wake up in the 1990s and realise that it was not enough to sit and meditate in a post-modern paradise and that there were other problems outside that could affect us very badly; both directly through refugee flows, but also psychologically because the kinds of atrocities that took place in Bosnia are not psychologically acceptable and we cannot allow things like that to happen on our borders while we do nothing. So it was essentially because of that that the common foreign and security policy really now exists.

What differentiates modern and post-modern states in Europe now, as defined in your book?

Well, I think everything is exaggerated to some extent because the world is much more complicated than the books which describe it. While, on the whole, I would regard America as being a modern state rather than a post-modern state because, for instance, its relationship with Canada is, in some ways, no different from the relationship between France and Germany. But, fundamentally, the modern states are the states that we have grown up with through history: the nation states with the first rule that 'thou shalt not interfere with internal affairs'. This is a state which conducts its relations with other states mainly on the basis of power. The post-modern state is a state which conducts its relations mainly on the basis of law. The modern state is made in terms of keeping its internal affairs internal and not allowing interference, while the post-modern state accepts that it's a fair bargain that others can have some ability to interfere in your affairs if you have some ability to interfere in theirs.

But that's the only way that you can regulate markets properly.

Does this system lead to the strong states becoming stronger and the weak states becoming weaker?

I don't think that Germany is a weak state because it's integrated into the European Union. I don't think that North Korea is a strong state because it manages to isolate itself completely from the world. In many ways North Korea is such a weak state that any change there might mean the collapse of the state. Whereas Germany and the other states of the European Union are much stronger than what you would typically call a modern state, like Egypt or China. In many ways modern states are weaker than postmodern states. But the weakest of all are the failed states; the states where order has collapsed and there is almost no state.•

COOPER'S POST-MODERNISM

n his essay "The Post-Modern State", which was included in a recent Foreign Policy Centre Publication entitled "Re-ordering the World: long-term implications of September 11th", Robert Cooper interprets the post-modern system that rose from the ashes of the Cold War in 1989.

According to Cooper, "The post-modern system in which we Europeans live does not rely on balance; nor does it emphasise sovereignty or the separation of domestic and foreign affairs. The European Union has become a highly developed system for mutual interference in each other's domestic affairs, right down to beer and sausages. The CFE Treaty, under which parties to the treaty have to notify the location of their heavy weapons and allow inspections, subjects areas close to the core of sovereignty to international constraints. It is important to realise what an extraordinary revolution this is. It mirrors the paradox of the nuclear age, that in order to defend yourself, you had to be prepared to destroy yourself. The shared interest of European countries in avoiding a nuclear catastrophe has proved enough to overcome the normal strategic logic of distrust and concealment. Mutual vulnerability has become mutual transparency."

Cooper describes the main characteristics of the post-modern world as: - The breaking down of the distinction between domestic and foreign affairs.

- Mutual interference in traditionally domestic affairs.

- Mutual surveillance of neighbouring states.

- Rejection of force as a means to resolve disputes.

- The codification of self-enforced rules of behaviour.

- The growing irrelevance of borders, caused by changing roles of 'the state,, but also through missiles, transport advances and satellites.

- Security based on transparency, mutual openness, interdependence and mutual vulnerability.

32

CorD | May 2005

Interview

PREREQUISITE STEPS

By Tanja Jovic

René van der Linden was appointed as the new president of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly (CEPA) at the assembly's first session this year.

This month the Dutchman spoke to CorD in his first interview for the SCG media.

René van der Linden, President of the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe

he President of the Strasbourg-based pan-European parliament said "You can never enter the European Union as long as you are not a fully committed member of the Council of Europe; as long as you are on the monitoring procedure of the Council of Europe. The best thing to do is work very hard so as to fulfil the commitments of the Council of Europe, and forget about things which would block this development".

Mr. van der Linden is the 23rd President of CEPA, and the second to hail from the Netherlands. Born 1943, he is a graduate of the Tilburg Catholic faculty of Economic Sciences. As well as serving as State Secretary of the Netherlands, responsible for European issues, he was the Council of Europe's president of European People's parties and has acted as liaison for Albania, Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina.

T 34

CorD | May 2005

Van der Linden knows the Balkan region very well and has participated in many debates regarding Serbia & Montenegro. The attitude of this key practitioner has been critical to the Council's approach to the state union, as has his interpretation of the violation of human rights, particularly against Albanians in Kosovo.

Mentioning his vision of a united Europe without dividing lines, he spoke of his expectation that the Council of Europe will actively contribute to a more prosperous future in Kosovo & Metohija.

He explained: "I pointed out that it is necessary to avoid new dividing lines in Europe, and for that reason we need the Council of Europe and Parliamentary Assembly, because this is something that represents 800 million people. There is no other example in the whole world in which more than 630 representatives of the people, directly elected, can debate, make resolutions, conventions and stand for the values of the Council of Europe.

"There must be no new dividing lines in Europe, nor a return to old East-West antagonisms. There is only one, single, Europe.

And here I would quote Jacques Delores, who said: "Pour ma part, je suggere trois objectifs pour cette Grande Europe: un espace de paix active, un cadre pour un développement durable, et enfin un espace de valeurs vécues dans la diversité de nos cultures et de nos traditions" [For my part, I suggest three objectives for this Grand Europe: a space of active peace, frame for lasting development and, finally, space of values experienced in the diversity of our cultures and our traditions], he added.

ICT Y

KOSOVO

"I hope that the decision of certain people from Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Kosovo, who were indicted by the Tribunal in The Hague for war crimes in the former Yugoslavia, to voluntarily surrender will send a message to those governments who persistently refuse co-operation with the tribunal that this is their obligation.

"This should send a message to those governments who still refuse to understand that co-operation with the tribunal is not an option, but a legal obligation; and that justice cannot forever be a hostage to nationalism and narrow political interests."

Linden believes CEPA has not discussed the status of Kosovo and the Serbian side should not be concerned. Speaking to the national news agency, Linden stressed that the CEPA continues to devote great attention to the situation in Kosovo regarding the protection of human rights and the rule of law.

"The resolution adopted in January pointed out that in the Kosovo case the Council of Europe is not dealing with an independent European state," said Linden. According to him, the resolution neither supposes nor wishes to influence a possible solution for the political status of Kosovo.

He explained that the Council represents Europe "as an important part of the international community, as embodied in the United Nations and its specialised agencies, with which we co-operate in many fields. We should strongly promote our values at a global level and stand ready to act as a regional organisation when needed."

His secondary priority is relations with external partners, which are more important today than ever. "My conviction, knowing both organisations [the CoE and EU] very well, is that the European Union should make better use of the experience, institutions and instruments of the Council of Europe. The present debate on the creation of an EU Human Rights Agency is a good example. As a member of the Convention which prepared the Constitutional Treaty for Europe, I feel strongly about the importance of the Council of Europe in many areas of concern to the European Union. The European Union's neighbourhood policy could be so much more effective if better and more systematic use were made of the Council of Europe's framework."

The CEPA President stressed that: “Accession of the EU to the European Convention on Human Rights and the ratification of the Constitutional Treaty will link Europe's most advanced institution to Europe's oldest and widest organisation. It will also be a major step towards the creation of a common European legal area”.

Referring to the example of the Balkans, you have been quoted as saying that the establishment of democracy and respect for life were basic preconditions for stability and lasting peace. In the meantime, Serbia & Montenegro has become a member of the Council of Europe. How do you envisage the future of Serbia & Montenegro in the European family?

That's always the first responsibility of individual members.

If they live in the past and want to stay in past, and cultivate differences, then it would be very difficult to create a new future and be part of a new, modern Europe. But instead of looking to

the past, close the door to the past and step into a new room of the future, and then it is necessary to forget about a lot of things that happened. I know it's very difficult, and in many cases it's enormously, tremendously difficult to accept that things happened, but if it blocks the way to the future then it will be on the account of the new generation in your country.

What about other integrations? Is there a future for us?

I cannot speak on behalf of the European Union. I know the European Union, of course, very well. I was spokesman of European affairs for a long time, and I was in charge of European affairs in my own country. Of course, the door of the European Union stays open, but you have to open it yourself and you have to fulfil the conditions. It's not up to the Council of Europe to judge whether you are able to join the European Union or not, but it's certain that you need to fulfil, firstly, commitments to the Council of Europe. As you can see in all cases, the so-called Copenhagen Criteria have to be fulfilled before you can discuss possible membership of the European Union, and the Copenhagen Criteria are the criteria of the Council of Europe…

How do you see the future of the Council of Europe?

It is certain that we have a strong and positive future because Europe needs more and more to be a value community. We have a lot of discussions about the common market; we talk about the euro, trade, economic development, financial developments.

That is very important, especially if you live in a country with low economic development. But in the meantime, if you want to live in peace, if you want to have stable development, stability in Europe, and a secure Europe, the first priority is to fulfil commitments concerning democracy, rule of law and human rights.

That is the main task of the Council of Europe, and I'm sure that we have added tremendous value to all the other organisations to fulfil these commitments.•

DIVISIONS

EU - EC

FUTURE COUNCIL

It is necessary to avoid new dividing lines in Europe, and for that reason we need the Council of Europe and Parliamentary Assembly, because this is something that represents 800 million people. There is no other example in the whole world in which more than 630 representatives of the people, directly elected, can debate, make resolutions, conventions and stand for the values of the Council of Europe…There must be no new dividing lines in Europe, nor a return to old East-West antagonisms.

"My conviction, knowing both organisations [the CoE and EU] very well, is that the European Union should make better use of the experience, institutions and instruments of the Council of Europe. The present debate on the creation of an EU Human Rights Agency is a good example. As a member of the Convention which prepared the Constitutional Treaty for Europe, I feel strongly about the importance of the Council of Europe in many areas of concern to the European Union.

It is certain that we have a strong and positive future because Europe needs more and more to be a value community. We have a lot of discussions about the common market, the euro, trade, economic development, financial developments…the first priority is to fulfil commitments concerning democracy, rule of law and human rights.

That is the main task of the CoE, and I'm sure we've added tremendous value to all the other organisations...

CorD | May 2005

35

12th April

Members of the International Community’s Contact Group for Kosovo

DAY OF

DIPLOMACY

Following this month's earlier visits to Belgrade of Messrs Javier Solana, EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, and Paddy Ashdown, International Senior Representative for Bosnia & Herzegovina, the 12th April saw the visits to Belgrade of Austrian Foreign Minister, Ursula Plassnick, Hungarian Foreign Minister, Ferenc Somogyi, Political Director of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, John Sawers, and members of the International Community's Contact Group for Kosovo.

By Mark Pullen

A

ustrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnick met several senior members of the Serbian and state union governments on 12th April. Top of the list was SCG President Svetozar Marovic. After congratulating Marovic on the country's positive Feasibility Study assessment, Plassnick expressed her belief that SCG would successfully continue along its path towards membership in all European institutions.

Perhaps the most significant meeting of the day for the Austrian minister was with SCG Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic. After dispersing with formalities, the counterparts jointly signed an agreement which abolishes visas for diplomatic and official passports and, thus, marks the first step towards the full abolition of the visa regime for citizens of Serbia & Montenegro.

Later that day Serbian PM Kostunica hosted Hungarian Foreign Minister Ferenc Somogyi. Speaking on the issue of Serbia's troubled southern province, PM Kostunica said that the position of Serbs in Kosovo remains extremely difficult, with the minority community deprived of basic human rights.

Insisting that the fulfilment of standards in the province was crucial, Kostunica said that a 'future status' solution must be sought through compromise, which he envisages through the granting of the widest autonomy to the province's leaders within the SCG state union.

Minister Somogyi fully endorsed respect for human rights in Kosovo and noted that a lasting solution for the province could not be found without the consent of Serbia & Montenegro, Belgrade and the province's Serbian community.

Turning to EU accession and neighbourly relations, the Hungarian foreign minister confirmed his country's full back-

36

CorD | May 2005

ing for SCG's EU integration efforts and expressed Hungary's willingness to share its own EU accession experiences.

Kostunica and Somogyi agreed that SCG and Hungary presently share excellent relations. They also agreed that the two countries are ready to further improve bilateral relations and economic co-operation.

PM Kostunica's busy day continued as he hosted John Sawers, political director of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Sawers congratulated Kostunica on the Serbian Government's recent results; results that, he said, represent an important step in the process of European integration.

The Serbian premier reiterated previous statements that the Serbian Government is committed to fulfilling its international obligations, adding that the model adopted for co-operation with the ICTY had yielded significant results.

Members of the international Contact Group for Kosovo were also in Belgrade on 12th April for talks regarding standards in Kosovo.

Members of the Contact Group hail from Germany, France, Italy, the Russian Federation, the UK and the U.S., and also include representatives of the EU. Speaking in Belgrade, the Group said that solutions could not be one-sided and must be geared towards the European future of the West Balkans, with an emphasis on promoting democracy and multi-ethnicity in the troubled breakaway province.

The majority of Contact Group officials are in agreement that the United Nations must appoint a special representative to the province who will monitor and report on the implementation of prioritised standards in the province.

According to a statement released by SCG President Marovic following meetings with members of the Contact

12th April Group, principles of multi-ethnicity continue to struggle in Kosovo and a dialogue on various levels is needed to achieve a long-term solution.

In the interests of commencing a positive discourse, Serbian President Tadic has requested a meeting with Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova. Michael Schaeffer, German member of the Contact Group, confirmed that Belgrade officials are ready and willing to talk to Pristina, and Serbian officials will also support and encourage Kosovo's Serbian community to participate in decentralisation discussions and, eventually, to be fully represented in Kosovo's institutions.

Schaeffer said: "it seems that the two sides have agreed upon two things: that there can be no return to the 1999 situation and there will be no division of Kosovo. That means that things have started to move towards a compromise".

The 12th April also saw the release of the feasibility study for the state union, which marks the country's first official step towards EU integration. However, it may be a tad early to react with too much euphoria as the Study will lead to the country's reform process and fulfilment of international obligations being brought under ever greater scrutiny. Moreover, the Study is hardly an achievement when one considers that even troubled neighbours Albania and Macedonia have long-since received their positive feasibility studies.

Speaking from Strasbourg on 12th April, European Union Enlargement Commissioner Ollie Rehn confirmed that the European Commission delivered the positive study in light of the fact that the SCG State Union has finally made significant progress in its obligations to The Hague Tribunal (more than a

dozen Serbian or ethnic-Serb suspects have voluntarily surrendered to the ICTY since November 2004).

Rehn said that the decision of Europe to create closer ties with Serbia & Montenegro confirmed to the state union's citizens that "meeting critical international obligations is bringing the country closer to the European Union".

Although it remains unlikely that SCG will achieve full EU accession prior to 2012, the positive Feasibility Study is expect-

Ollie Rehn: the decision to create closer ties with SCG confirms to state union citizens that "meeting critical international obligations is bringing the country closer to the European Union". ed to significantly broaden Serbia & Montenegro's economic horizons and bring a fresh influx of investment, boosting development and adding to the pace of stalled reforms.

International representatives have also congratulated the state union on the result of the Study. Speaking to Serbian President Boris Tadic in Berlin on 13th April, German Foreign Minister, Joscha Fischer, expressed his personal satisfaction that Belgrade has received a positive feasibility study and agreed that the country has achieved significant progress. He also promised that Germany would offer SCG its full backing on the path towards Europe. Meanwhile, Konstantin Kosachev, head of the Russian Duma's Foreign Policy Committee, said that news of the result had been expected for some time. He added that it was good news that the European Commission had evaluated that Belgrade was ready for the onset of negotiations on stabilisation and association with the European Union.•

Interview As the biggest and most heavily populated country on the 'subcontinent', India has always been a serious Asian nation. Now, however, with the country developing at an alarming rate in unison with neighbouring China, India is fast realising its potential and becoming one of the world's economic and political powerhouses; a true Asian giant. To find out more about the wide-ranging development and future plans of the world's biggest democracy, we spoke to H.E. Lavanja Prasad, Ambassador of India in SCG.

H.E. Lavanya Prasad, Indian Ambassador in SCG

INDIA:

ASIAN GIANT

By Nina Nicovic, Photo Mirjana Kotlaja ue to the sheer size of India, in terms of land and population, coupled with the country's military capability, quickening development and global potential, many people are predicting that India will grow into a superpower. How is that claim supported by happenings in the country?

First of all, I have to say that India doesn't like to be described as a superpower. We happen to be the biggest country in the subcontinent, so when we are labelled as a superpower, it can be a bit misleading because we have no ambitions to become a superpower. But yes, since 1991 India has undertaken a series of economic reforms: we moved from a centralised economy to a market-based one, and continuing economic reforms have made us stronger.

Before 1991, for example, India had foreign exchange reserves of less than $1billion, while today these reserves amount to more than $121billion, which makes us the sixth largest country in the world just

D

exponentially. Also, when you look at gems and jewellery you will find that nine out of ten diamonds have passed through India, having been processed, polished and cut in India.

How is the English speaking middle class of young educated people in India going to help your country become the main service provider for the western companies that come there?

India has had a strong English-speaking middle class since Independence, and even before. From the 1950s, whether one liked it or not, there existed a middle class that had an English education. This produced scientists, engineers and doctors of a class and calibre that could easily work in any part of the world. Today, because of social, political and economic changes in India, English is perhaps not the most important language, but it is still the language of business. The middle class is huge, numbering some three hundred million out of a total population of about 1.73 billion. It is this middle class that can afford a very comfortable lifestyle.

They are looking for homes with two cars and holidays abroad, far more than their parents or grandparents could ever hvae dreamt of.

The purchasing power of these three hundred million people is really what influences the market.

And for the most part, it is young. 80% of India's population is under 50, while a staggering 50% is under the age of 25.

IT and IT-based industries are powered, naturally, by younger people, and foreign companies who come to India hire them because they are competent and skilled, in addition to being fluent in English‌This versatility in an enormous pool of highly skilled, technical, semiskilled and unskilled labour is perhaps our greatest asset today.

We started economic reforms far later than China, but, despite a slow start, we are already seriously looking to equal China, if not go beyond.

We have been telling the world for a long time that the problems in Kashmir were created as a result of the militant groups that used to cross the border between India and Pakistan. in terms of the level of foreign exchange reserves. In terms of industrial production, improvement has been most noticeable in the areas of heavy engineering, information technology and pharmaceuticals.

The automobile components industry in India is one of the largest in the world‌ India has emerged as an outsourcing centre for auto parts for companies like Ford, Daimler Chrysler, Fiat, Volvo and Renault.

Toyota has made India the global hub for transmission systems‌India is one of the top ten bulk producers of drugs, and 60% of her bulk drug production is exported. India is home to the largest number of pharmaceutical plants (61), approved by the United States Food and Drugs Authority outside the U.S. In biotechnology, there are over 150 companies and research institutions whose businesses are growing

38

CorD | May 2005

How did relations with China come to deteriorate due to the border dispute; and how did they slowly begin to take a positive affect on relations so that, in the end, we saw the signing of a very important

H.E. Lavanya Prasad (beside her picture of Mahatma Ghandi) agreement between the two countries in mid-April?

The border dispute began in 1962 and remained a thorny issue until the 1980s. This was when both countries slowly began re-engagement, firstly with border discussions and talks. A border committee has been meeting every two years and their quiet backstage work has been responsible for confidence building and greater co-operation, culminating in the visits of former Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee to Beijing in 2003, and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to India in April 2005. During these high level exchanges, the political issues that clouded the relationship were clarified to a great extent, thereby allowing both countries to focus on trade and economic relations.

In April, one of the agreements signed was on Comprehensive Trade and Economic Co-operation. This looks at trade in goods and services and bilateral investments. It identifies areas for investment promotion and facilitation...During the April visit, an MOU on civil aviation was also signed, with an open skies policy for cargo, thereby making it easier for business and people-to-people exchanges.

Similarly, an MOU on an India-China Financial Dialogue was launched, enabling the two sides to improve bilateral co-operation in the banking sectors, budget and taxation authorities, financial regulatory agencies and capital markets. This MOU, coupled with another

administrative agreement signed at the same time for co-operation on customs matters, will greatly help to facilitate the movement of goods and services across both borders.

What areas of trade would contribute the most to the announced boost in bilateral trade between India and China of $20billion by 2008?

Even before the signing of the aforementioned agreements, India's exports to China registered a 60 per cent growth in the first 10 months of 2004-05, while imports from China increased by 70 per cent. As per figures released by the Commerce Ministry, India's exports to China between April 2004 and January 2005 were $3.4billion, while its imports during the 10 months stood at $5.4 billion. Given the rapid growth in trade, China may soon overtake the U.S. as India's largest trading partner…

For its part, China has started taking an interest in joint ventures.

Chinese companies have started operations in software manufacturing in Bangalore; Chinese telecom company Huawei has started chip manufacturing in Bangalore. At the moment, India's trade with China is still a fraction of China's global trade. Trade between India and China in 1994 was about $1billion; by 2003 it had risen to around $7billion. The

INDUSTRIAL CAPACITY

UN SECURITY COUNCIL

INDIA - PAKISTAN

India's reserves amount to more than $121billion, making us the sixth largest country in the world in terms of the level of foreign exchange reserves. In terms of industrial production, improvement has been most noticeable in heavy engineering, I.T. and pharmaceuticals. The automobile components industry in India is one of the largest in the world…India is home to the largest number of pharmaceutical plants (61)…

India's candidature and credentials for being a permanent member of the Security Council are impeccable, and India is working together with Brazil, Germany, Japan and many other countries for a consensus on the reform of the UN …Our peacekeeping record in the UN, our role in decolonisation, the dismantling of Apartheid in South Africa, our efforts at disarmament, nuclear and conventional, speak for themselves.

The Indo-Pakistan Joint Commission will meet at a date to be announced later, after a gap of several years…The leaders of both countries have clearly stated that the peace process is "irreversible"... Indians and Pakistanis belong to the same ethnic group, they eat the same food, they enjoy the same films and music, and it is not our differences, but our commonalities, that must always be the base for any relationship.

CorD | May 2005

39

Interview figure almost doubled in 2004, hitting $13billion. Now, following the discussions of April 2005, it is estimated that it will increase to $20billion. There is a definite possibility that India could generate a trade surplus in the coming years, if it manages to do well in these sectors.

of the Security Council are impeccable, and India is working together with Brazil, Germany, Japan and many other countries for a consensus on the reform of the UN, and exactly what these reforms are, and how they should be implemented.

India is a founding member of the United Nations by virtue of having been a memThere are some media reports that ber of the League of Nations, even though Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro we were a British colony at that time. Our Koizumi is going to visit India in late peacekeeping record in the UN, our role in April this year. What aspects of the two decolonisation, our role in the dismancountries’ relations do you see develtling of Apartheid in South Africa, our oping in the future? efforts at disarmament, nuclear and conThis will not be the first visit of the ventional, speak for themselves. India has Japanese Prime Minister, and Japan is a played a leading role in every aspect of UN partner of India in many ways. Mr. life, and by any criteria that you apply Koizumi himself, during his last visit, India qualifies for a seat in the expanded referred to the happy relations existing Council as a permanent member. It is between us. Japan is the fourth largest quite obvious that the structure created in foreign direct investor in India. Japanese 1945 doesn't represent what's happening FDI in India from 1991 to 2004 was about in 2005. It's as simple as that. During $3.2 billion, which is around 4.8% of total Rice's visit to India, and the visit of the Indian approvals for all FDIs. Japan's Indian Foreign Minister, Mr. Natwar trade with India in 2003 stood at $3.94bilSingh, to the U.S. last week, we conveyed India doesn't like to be lion. While exports to India stood at India's position to the U.S., but we were described as a $1.86billion, imports stood at $2.08bilgiven the impression that the U.S. was lion, leaving a trade deficit balance of looking at a complete overhaul of the UN, superpower. We happen to $219.96million with India. The trade balincluding the Security Council. So at this be the biggest country in ance in fiscal 2002-3 tilts in favour of moment I don't think so. Miss Rice was India, with a surplus of $27.7 million. The noncommittal on the issue during her disthe subcontinent, so when visit of the Japanese Prime Minister, cussions. We may get U.S. support in the we are labelled as a therefore, promises that bilateral ecofuture, but don't forget this is no easy nomic relations are set to improve. issue for any country. In the Asian bloc, superpower it can be a bit In terms of other areas of co-operawe have two very big contenders, India misleading because we tion, one must think unconventionally: and Japan, both of whom have very nursing, medical care, environment and strong claims. In Europe, you have have no ambitions of pollution control and waste disposal, Germany as a fresh contender, and becoming a superpower quite apart from biotechnology and inforEurope already has the U.K., Russia, and mation-based industries.

France in the Security Council. Latin America, too had at one time two candiThe visit of Condoleezza Rice and the members of the U.S. dates. Yes, we need the support of many countries, but the question of Congress to India show the strengthening of India-U.S. relations. membership to an expanded Security Council is not an easy one.

How would you assess relations between the two countries?

Condoleezza Rice's visit to India was the first at Cabinet Minister What sort of improvement can we expect to see in relations level in the second Bush administration. Rice's visit served to emphabetween Pakistan and India? sise the growing level of ties between the US and India. Rice's visit As you know, despite the attempts of terrorists to stop it, the first underlined the need to accelerate the next steps of the Strategic bus from Srinagar in India to Muzzafarabad in Pakistan crossed over Partnership Initiative. This included three main areas: high technolothe Indo-Pakistan border, and thus underlined the will of both coungy trade, energy, including civil nuclear energy, hydrocarbons, cleantries to ensure that the basic contact between the two peoples was er technologies and a defence co-operation relationship. The U.S. has established. For us, it was very moving to see so many families reunitoffered to assist India in building nuclear power plants to meet its ed after nearly half a century, and a very unhappy half-century at that. energy needs. An agreement on civil aviation was signed with the U.S. It was an historic moment for India and Pakistan. Both governments prior to Rice's visit, and this means the beginning of an open skies condemned the attack on the bus, and said that the incident should policy for India. not undermine the efforts that are underway for maintaining peace between India and Pakistan.

What are the most obvious developments resulting from this President Musharraf was in India for the cricket, a long and eagerly meeting and how will India-U.S. co-operation on the fight against awaited event. India lost the one-day match between India and Pakistan terrorism develop? during the President's visit, but the plus to the visit lay in the developWell, we expressed our concerns about cross border terrorism ments at the political level. For example, the two sides agreed on more and the Bush administration agreed to do everything they can to suproutes for more bus services, thereby opening up greater people-to-peoport our efforts to ensure the return of a better life in Kashmir. We ple contact. These routes would also enable trucks to ply their trade have also explained that our commitment to the peace process with between various points, thereby encouraging cross border trade. The Pakistan is utterly serious, and we are happy that the U.S. underConsulates at Mumbai and Karachi will be reopened. The Indo-Pakistan stands our concerns.

Joint Commission will meet at a date to be announced later, after a gap We have been telling the world for a long time that the problems of several years. The Joint Business Council is also to meet soon. in Kashmir were created as a result of the militant groups that used to President Musharraf's team and the Indian delegation discussed the oil cross the border between India and Pakistan. Part of the discussions pipeline from Iran to India. The leaders of both countries have clearly with Miss Rice also focused on how to combat terrorism. stated that the peace process is "irreversible", to use President Musharraf's own words. Finally, Indians and Pakistanis belong to the In addition to Chinese support, are you expecting U.S. support same ethnic group, they eat the same food, they enjoy the same films for India's permanent membership in the UN Security Council? and music, and it is not our differences, but our commonalities, that India's candidature and credentials for being a permanent member must always be the base for any relationship.•

40

CorD | May 2005

Infrastructure

By Dragan Bisenic

The Serbian Government has announced proposals to grant concessions for those offering to build, use and maintain proposed motorway upgrades from Horgos (Northern Vojvodina / Hungarian border) to Pozega (West-Central Serbia), which will run via the Vojvodina capital of Novi Sad and Belgrade. Meanwhile, concession proposals linked to the construction, maintenance and usage of the E-80 Motorway from Nis to Dimitrovgrad (Eastern Serbia / Bulgarian border) have already been forwarded to the Parliament for urgent consideration.

A

ccording to Vlatko Sekulovic, deputy International Economic Affairs Minister, "in an economic sense, this year will certainly be marked by the first granting of concessions in Serbia's new history." He continued, "Together with the current privatisations of companies and the banking sector, as well as increasing green-field investments, these concessions will significantly contribute to surpassing the billion dollar mark for foreign investments in 2005".

Sekulovic said that announcements, and subsequent completions, of tenders for other concessions could be expected in the coming months. These, he noted, related specifically to the construction of a river port at Kovin, Vojvodina; as well as collieries for the exploitation of copper, gold and other metals in the Crni Vrh area of Eastern Serbia, and mining of boron ore in the nearby Jarandol region.

The deputy minister said: "all the proposed subjects for concessions were identified in response to interest expressed by foreign partners, as well as by identifying the country's strategic priorities."

Explaining the vast sums of money needed to complete the projects in question, Sekulovic said: "for instance, â‚Ź527million alone is needed just to build a section of the Nis - Dimitrovgrad motorway. â‚Ź15million is needed for its design and servicing and â‚Ź8million is needed to expropriate the land."

He continued, explaining provisions envisaged by the law: "according to the Concession Law, after the 25 years until expiry

42

CorD | May 2005

of the legal limit [the time period for the concession to last is 30 years] that section of the motorway will be fully owned by the state. The State has estimated that it will have insufficient means to complete construction of this crucial motorway section and, thus, has offered 25-30 year compensation-free building and exploitation rights to those interested. After that period the company in question would return control of the toll's 'till' to the State."

Sekulovic emphasised that the time is ripe for the granting of concessions in Serbia, also noting that a solid legal framework has been prepared.

The deputy minister said: "We have a modern Concessions Law which was adopted in 2003 and has since been subjected to all necessary legal amendments."

As well as having a maximum limit of 30 years, concession procedures are standardised and not susceptible to free interpretation. As such, they are deemed to be protected against potential manipulation or other abuse.

Sekulovic explained: "after fulfilling the legally established procedures, the standard contract is signed. This contract was prepared in co-operation with the World Bank and is the basis for

Vojvodina is considered to be one of the most outstanding water resource areas in Europe, thanks largely to its integrated system along the Danube - Tisa - Danube canal, which has a network covering 930 kilometres, and an additional 15,000 kilometres of smaller canals which are intended to regulate underground waters. defining the actual job." He continued, "We expect the World Bank to provide certain technical assistance for the issuing of the first concessions. It is usual for concessions to be issued for infrastructure projects, communal services, railway traffic, etc.

Concessions are also granted in developed countries, albeit in those sectors in which the state cannot operate profitably."

Noting the lack of interest to date, Sekulovic admitted: "with regard to concessions in our railway system and communal services, no special interest has been forthcoming as yet. At a recent meeting of water resources management experts, it was determined that this issue should be approached very carefully because all of our country's water currents are considered as natural resources that should remain the major property of the State."

Infrastructure and science is not listened to, we risk pushing water resources management into an even deeper abyss than the one we are already in".

Turning to the issue of motorway concessions, deputy minister Sekulovic warned that the country should not repeat the mistakes made by neighbouring Hungary and Croatia. He explained: "Those counties were obliged by contracts with the concessionaires to guarantee the expected profit, i.e. that they would compensate the concessionaires profit if the traffic dropped under the expected level. That was shown to be a very bad move that presents a hidden threat to the Budget."

Information regarding the Serbian Government's plans for the E-80 Motorway (Nis to Dimitrovgrad) was widely covered by Bulgaria's media. The building of this key transport artery has been in doubt for some time, despite unwavering interest from hauliers, potential foreign investors, European institutions and, particularly, neighbouring Bulgaria, for which the shortest route to Central and Western Europe is via Serbia. Bulgaria has strongly supported the building of this motorway, even going so far as to declare the project a state priority.• Engineer Tomislav Sarovic, a land reclamation expert, stressed that "privatisation of water resources companies is a normal thing. They must be sold, with only one remaining Public: this would be the one that has already been established - Vode Vojvodine - and we will control and direct development of that area. Water companies should operate as market entities and, thus, a most appropriate solution would be to offer the water pipeline system for rent. That would solve the problem of maintaining the whole hydro-system because those renting pipelines will be responsible for their maintenance."

The State believes that concessions on water pipeline networks should be issued for shorter periods of between 20 and 30 years. This period is considered as the optimum period during which a concessionaire can return the money initially invested and generate a significant profit.

Sarovic said: "Anything beyond those time limits would put the State's interests at risk because nobody can predict what climatic conditions will be like in three or four decades and how much water will be needed."

Calling for pricing controls, Vojvodina's Executive Council has stated that contracts should precisely stipulate that water irrigation prices must not be overly expensive.

Stanko Zrakic, president of Jugoagrar's managing board, said that "the pipeline lessee will have to ensure provision of water to those needing it, though that service will have to be paid at a later date. This may not be welcomed by everyone, but we have to reconcile ourselves by acknowledging that water is a commodity. Nevertheless, concessionaires should generate their biggest profits from the use of the pipeline system for transport and fishing, not irrigation."

Vojvodina is considered to be one of the most outstanding water resource areas in Europe, thanks largely to its integrated system along the Danube - Tisa - Danube canal, which has a network covering 930 kilometres, and an additional 15,000 kilometres of smaller canals which are intended to regulate underground waters.

Dr. Slavko Bogdanovic, a well known Water Law expert, is of the opinion that announcements pertaining to the privatisations of water resources management and leasing of the pipeline network are shocking, particularly considering that the basis upon which conclusions were drawn is unclear.

Dr. Bogdanovic said: "A thorough reorganisation of all water resources management in Serbia should be undertaken first.

Only then, and after detailed check ups, should steps be taken towards privatisation. Also, there is no chance that the transformation of the water resources management can be carried out without the help of international institutions. If the profession

HISTORICAL CONCESSIONS

The beginning of concessions in Serbia dates back to the 19th century, when the state first made deals with foreign companies, issuing concessions for the exploitation of mines, the building of railways and, later, the establishing of telephone and telegraph networks.

The first concession granted in Serbia was in 1859, when France was granted concessions to exploit the Majdenpek Mine. The 30-year exploitation concession was granted to French naval captain Manjan. Initially, Manjan only requested that he be granted concessions on river traffic along the Danube and the Sava, in return promising to establish a direct line between Belgrade and Marseilles.

Negotiations were prolonged, due to suspicions harboured by the Serbian Government. However, Serbian ruler Knez Milos exerted substantial pressure on the government for Manjan's proposal to be accepted and, reluctantly, the Ministry accepted, though on condition that Manjan's company also leased the Majdenpak mine. The contract was signed on 5th September 1859 for a period of 30 years.

In the field of infrastructure, the first concession in Serbia was granted for the building of the national railway system in 1881. Speaking before the Berlin Congress in 1878, Knez Milan Obrenovic requested that the Austro-Hungarian Emprie act as the protector and defender of Serbian interests in the congress. In return, Serbia signed a convention obliging the Empire to construct a railway from Belgrade to Nis. The Austro-Hungarian Empire, unwilling to grant Serbian railway concessions to anyone who may harm the interests of Serbia, attempted to find an appropriate company which could be entrusted with developing Serbia's rail network. Austro-Hungarian experts skilfully used the offer from the Director of the General Union from Paris to establish the Lender Bank in Vienna in 1880 and request the concession from Serbia.

CorD | May 2005

43

SOLID STEEL

By D. Bisenic & M. Pullen peaking exclusively to CorD this month, Federenko said that U.S. Steel - Serbia has some very big plans in the pipeline. "This year our major project will be restarting our number one blast furnace.

This furnace has been idle since 1987 and we will be bringing it online mid-year. Along with that, we will also be doing some major work in our steel shops and also in our continuous casters. With the additional blast furnace coming on we will be increasing our capacity to about 2.2million metric tonnes a year, which is the design capacity for this facility. I'm confident that our team will even take it a little bit higher once we learn to operate the new equipment and put our continuous improvement processes to work and allow our talented workforce to do their jobs."

S

What are your personal priorities for the plant?

Safety is our number one business objective. It always has been that way for U.S. Steel and it will continue to be so. We continue to do more training of our employees and our managers on safety. These are what we call 'safe job procedures', where we analyse how a job is going to be done, develop the procedures that we're going to use to do the job safely, communicate those procedures to our employees and maintenance crews and then we observe, follow-up and make any changes necessary to that. ‌We conduct drills, where we simulate incidents and practise that with our safety and fire teams. We want to be ready in case there is such an emergency. We are also looking at doing some more training on what we call 'principles of accident prevention' - PAP for short. This is a course where we teach our managers and employees how to look at a job and go about doing it safely; how to observe other employees when they're performing a job to make sure it's being done safely. If we see something that's out of line we take immediate corrective action. Those are always the opportunities for improvement in safety.

The second priority is our product quality. We have very good measurement methods in place for determining our product quality. We track it on a daily basis and, again, we have continuous improvement teams working on how to make our product better. When it comes to quality, we can make our own internal judgements, but what we are really looking for is for our customers to make us their supplier of choice. In other words, they come to us first because they know that we can deliver a quality product on time and will continue to look at our product quality.

Where do you see other areas for improvement?

In addition to safety and quality, we can improve our reliability and our maintenance practices. One of our goals and focuses this year is to improve the availability of each of our key units. The steel industry is a very capital intensive business and facilities cost a lot of money to operate and install. Those facilities have to be available when we want them to operate, so we are working with our teams to improve reliability. They look at what is failing on our equipment and identify what we can do to prevent it from failing, in terms of making design changes or making modifications; or developing new methods‌ If you have improved reliability you get better quality and more production.

Are you actively involved in promoting business here in Serbia?

We have an organisation that's part of U.S. Steel - Serbia called EDC (Economic Development Centre). The mission of the people in that Belgrade-based office is to assist companies in recruiting them and educating them about opportunities here in Serbia. That organisation has

44

CorD | May 2005

Michael Fedorenko, General Director, U.S. Steel - Serbia

U.S. Steel - Serbia continues to stride ahead from its position as Serbia's number one exporter. The recent departure of the company's first general director, Thomas Kelly, may have caused eyebrows to be raised, but the foundations he laid have paved the way for further development of steel production in Serbia. The arrival of Kelly's successor, Michael Federenko, is to coincide with a new wave of investment and development.

Federenko is ultimately qualified to spearhead the company's continued growth, having personally led the team that achieved unparalleled success in U.S. Steel's Slovakian operations

been in effect now for about a year and a half and is very active. Last year they did what's called a 'road show': they travelled to the U.S. - major cities such as Chicago, Cleveland and New York - and gave presentations to many different companies about the business climate in Serbia. They talked about the opportunities that are available, the Serbian economy and workforce. I am pleased to say that as a result of their efforts we recently had a small engineering company decide to set up an operation here in Smederevo, and we hosted a company last week. I see opportunities not just for U.S. companies, but also for European and possibly Asian companies.

You were previously based in Slovakia. What experiences from your time there would you transfer to Serbia and what requirements are needed here to achieve similar success?

Number one: there needs to be political stability; number two: there needs to be a climate to recruit businesses. That climate could include things like opportunities for transportation networks. For example, the Danube River flows right through Serbia and is one of the busiest rivers in the world, as far as freight and passenger traffic is concerned. That's an excellent opportunity for a company that might want to get involved in the shipping business. The other item would be the workforce. There is a very talented workforce here in Serbia. We have a lot of people who are applying for work here everyday and we're very careful who we recruit and train. The other thing would be the investment climate. You have to develop a climate where companies want to relocate here; there has to be a good overall package that fits their business needs and stresses the opportunities for growth, not only within Serbia, but also in Central and Eastern Europe.

we will need the co-operation of the railroad to make that happen.

U.S. Steel has become crucial to Serbian industry. How would you evaluate your contribution to the country's re-growth?

We've added something that we're very proud of and I'd like to express my thanks to my predecessor, Mr. Kelly, for laying the foundations for developing those markets and our ability to service those markets. But also, now that we have that foundation we're going to build upon it. We're very proud that we are the largest exporter in Serbia. This year we hope to further increase what we did last year. We continue to look for customers for the export market, as well as the internal Serbian market.

How do you plan to further integrate your company into Serbian life?

We have an ongoing public relations programme - perhaps you've seen our billboards in Belgrade. That's something that we're very proud of. Those are our employees, not actors or models, but our people. And, as you can see from the posters, everybody has a smile on their face. We

Slovakia has been very aggressive in recruiting automotive companies to go there. I don't see why Serbia wouldn't have the opportunity to do the same thing.

What specific factors led to U.S. Steel choosing to invest so heavily in Serbia?

I can't speak about that too much because I wasn't on the original team that was here to investigate purchasing the assets of Sartid.

However, U.S. Steel does what's called 'due diligence'. In other words, we will send a team of cross-functional people: financial people, technical people, transportation people, who will come into a business and do an extensive 'due diligence' study. They list all the pluses and minuses of the acquisition of the assets of a business. I think our team did a good job in analysing this. They published a very comprehensive report and, based upon the results of that report, we decided to go ahead and make the investment. I have to say that it's been a good investment.

You mentioned transport infrastructure and particularly the Danube. How do you feel transport can be better exploited here?

The steel industry uses a lot of raw materials and we ship our products by barge, rail and truck. In fact, most of our shipments now are by barge. We are very reliant on the services of the railroad to transport our materials to and from our plant and the port in Smederevo and we will continue to be more reliant as we increase our volume, both in the amount of raw materials that we will be bringing in and the commercial goods that we will be sending out.

It's advantageous to be this close to the Danube, obviously. Most steel plants are actually located on the water. In this case we're relatively close, but we have invested in our port on the Danube and have installed two new cranes and will be installing additional equipment to help improve our ability to unload raw materials and load commercial goods. However,

think that, here in Smederevo and the surrounding area, we offer employment, quality jobs, the opportunity to train people and for people to develop in their careers. Also, in the communities we are very much involved as what we'll call "a good corporate citizen". We participate in community activities which is something that U.S. Steel has always done in all their plants. We pride ourselves on being good corporate citizens and we will certainly continue along those lines.

What are your further investment plans for the area?

Last year we invested in modernising our coal reduction mill, which is a key unit in making our sheet and tin products. This year, as I mentioned earlier, we're going to be investing in restarting the blast furnace. We're converting our steel shop to make bigger heats of steel - instead of 95 tonne heats we're going to be making 112 metric tonne heats. Also, we're converting our continuous casters to what we call variable width moulds. This allows us to change the width of the product that we're making on a continuous basis - we don't have to stop and start the process and, therefore, we gain productivity and quality benefits, and also yield benefits. We're also looking to take our investments further downstream into more valueadded products. We're going to be installing a side tremor at our Sabac tin line, which will help improve product quality and provide the widths necessary for our customers. And also we'll be investing in our pickle line this year to improve its capability and quality to produce a product called 'pickled in oil' that's primarily used by oil manufacturers. So, our investment programme this year will exceed $50million in capital investment.

Can the success of Slovakia be taken advantage of by U.S. Steel here in Serbia?

I think it can. As I was out yesterday I saw a barge load of cars going down the Danube. Now, somebody is making those cars and somebody is shipping those cars and they are going right by our steel plant. U.S. Steel Kosice is increasing their performance in the automotive market and Slovakia has been very aggressive in recruiting automotive companies to go there. I don't see why Serbia wouldn't have the opportunity to do the same thing.•

C O R P O R AT E C I T I Z E N

FURTHER INVESTMENT

LURING BUSINESS

"In the communities we are very much involved as what we'll call "a good corporate citizen". We participate in community activities which is something that U.S. Steel has always done in all their plants. We pride ourselves on being good corporate citizens and we will certainly continue along those lines…There is a very talented workforce in Serbia. A lot of people apply for work everyday and we're very careful who we recruit."

"This year we're going to be investing in restarting the blast furnace, converting our steel shop to make bigger heats of steel…converting our continuous casters to what we call variable width moulds… We're going to be installing a side tremor at our Sabac tin line, and also we'll be investing in our pickle line to improve its capability and quality…Our investment programme will exceed $50million in capital investment this year.

"There needs to be a stable policy to ensure that the environment for businesses is an environment that will be stable for several years; provide opportunity for businesses in areas such as land availability, public transportation, utilities, etc. I think you have to focus on what you have to offer to those companies and put that together in a package that would make it attractive for them to relocate here."

CorD | May 2005

45

Interview

DESTRUCTIVE

MONOPOLIES

If the EU Council of Ministers confirms the result of the positive Feasibility Study for Serbia & Montenegro, it represents a positive signal for the state union.

However, it will be the only positive signal to date. Nonetheless, the European Union has assessed that reforms in Serbia are heading in the right direction, and they are encouraging investment here, having positively evaluated the country's economic prospects - so said Stojan Stamenkovic, one of Serbia's most prominent economists.

Stojan Stamenkovic, Economist and editor

S

tamenkovic is a senior economist of the Belgrade Economic Institute, and editor of influential economic magazine 'Macroeconomic Analyses and Trends' (MAT). This month he speaks exclusively to CorD about the economic climate in Serbia.

What is the first thing that needs to be done to improve the domestic situation?

Everything possible should be done to speed up growth and improve both the competitiveness of the economy and its export capabilities. In the next four to five years we will need to see very slow growth in the standard of living. For the implementation of such a programme we need a Government with a four-year mandate. This would allow them to complete unpopular tasks in the first year and, thus, by the fourth year positive results would already be visible.

By Jelica Putnikovic

Radicals come to power. I do not claim that the Radicals are bad and dishonest, but the way the world views them is crucial.

Are there any obstacles preventing the influx of foreign capital?

One often hears talk that the level of corruption is very high.

That is not specific to us. Just look at Russia. Corruption took roots in Russia, but Putin arrested half of the tycoons there and the other half dispersed. As a result, capital is now coming to Russia.

What specific elements are obstructing the development of the Serbian economy?

Our biggest problem is the judicial system. For instance, the IFC (World Bank Financial Corporation) showed in one study last year that our country has the longest bankruptcy period; even as long as 7.5 years.

From a systematic point of view, the problem has been solved by adoption of a good Bankruptcy Law. However, there is no infrastructure for its functioning: there are no court institutions, the Agency has not started to function yet, the bankruptcy trustees are yet to receive some licences ‌ As to when that will happen, or if that will happen at all, nothing is known.

The second thing is that the Commercial Court is fining the National Bank. That is complete nonsense to me. But in the Commercial Court they probably found the base in some law and there is probably conflict between some laws.

Monopolies are a negative thing, not only because somebody is collecting extra profit, but because monopolies are a guarantee that the allocation of capital will not be optimal.

However, if the Government is continually threatened with being brought down because of one issue or another, then it is forced to lead a populist economy.

The current Government depends on Milosevic's political party.

Along with that, there are some 'strange' people in some ministerial positions. And the radical danger is also there. That is why I say that somebody is constantly disturbing my optimism. The American Ambassador visited Vojvodina and did not want to meet with the Mayor of Novi Sad. That is a clear signal of how the developed world will behave if the

46

CorD | May 2005

Are you referring specifically to the case of Creditno eksportna bank?

Yes. Whose lobby is that? Whose interests does that serve? I do not know, but I am inclined to believe that the NBS (Serbian National Bank) acted correctly, as it acted some time ago in the case of Astra

Interview bank. That is a positive thing because those foreign banks which are coming to our market have to have a clear legal situation.

Which laws is Serbia missing in order to create a clear legal situation?

Anti-monopoly legislation has yet not been touched in the system of legislative regulations. There we have quite a big monopoly problem concerning what is owned by the state. The latest example is the union strike in the Serbian Petrol Industry (NIS). That was a strike of self-management character. They said that the company was doing well and operating profitably and, thus, they think that they have the right to a pay rise. That is typical of self-managing systems: when management unilaterally decides how much is to be earmarked for investments and how much for wages. If NIS were privatised this issue would not arise at all. The issue of profit would be the owner's business, who would distribute the labour costs the way it should be done, i.e. the way the market demands. But in this way we have the situation where NIS did well and made a profit because four years ago the former Government passed a decree which banned others from importing derivates. NIS has a monopoly. The question remains as to whether NIS would have performed so positively if that decree had not been passed.

How do you see a way out of this situation?

State companies should be privatised as soon as possible.

Yet European norms shows that energy companies are able to operate positively, in accordance with market conditions, even though the majority of them are state-owned?

Whether private capital will be the minor or major share is a question open for discussion. However, even if it is minor, private owners will not allow the state to manipulate the profit.

When that oil decree was passed I warned that it was unnecessary; that tax evasion could be prevented by allowing traffic with derivates to pass through only three or four border crossings. Oil cisterns are not matchboxes which you can hide in your pocket. The state was probably counting on the fact that they would be able to sell NIS and other companies for a higher price if they had such a monopoly.

On several occasions I suggested that Telekom's monopoly be revoked. This company's monopoly runs out in the middle of this year.

They did not do that and Telekom has remained uncompetitive as a result of that very monopoly. Here, you now have the dispute with internet providers in which Telecom cites its monopoly. If it did not have it, it would have to have more varied and favourable packages. And now we have the situation where phoning from Belgrade to Germany is three times more expensive than phoning from Germany to Belgrade.

What is the solution for monopolies?

I would revoke all of those monopoles by decree. After all, in Portugal the last monopoly was revoked two years ago. The EU would

H.E. Lavanya Prasad not revoke them if this was something good. We will have to revoke them because of the Feasibility Study and because of the beginning of negotiations regarding stabilisation and accession to the EU, regardless of which year that will take place.

Monopolies are a negative thing, not only because somebody is collecting extra profit, but because monopolies are a guarantee that the allocation of capital will not be optimal. From a reasonable point of view, they are always an obstruction. Therefore they should be eliminated as soon as possible.

How much will the Feasibility Study influence the economy?

That is now a positive signal mainly for foreign investors and it could be a positive signal for the activation of domestic savings.

Investments started here in the second half of the year, but the level is

MOBTEL CONFUSION

It is unknown whether Mobtel has been sold or not. It remains a question as to whether the BK Company has any shares in Mobtel at all. Not if they are the majority shareholders, but whether in the meantime they "ate" their shares through the connected companies and loans from Ericsson.

The situation is very dodgy and it might have been better if another mobile operator was allowed on the market two or three years ago. Along with that, there is the question as to whether the contract founding Mobtel is valid at all, because there are three different names for Karic's company in three consecutive contracts.

These days, the mobile telephone business is the most profitable business in the world. However, PTT, as the owner of 49 per cent of Mobtel shares, did not receive a single dinar in profit. That is absolutely impossible, there is serious fraud there. My thesis was that the unfortunate extra-profit tax should not have been introduced at all because if somebody is using the favourability of some system then he is a good businessman.

With the retroactive tax we give a bad signal to potential foreign investors. He (Karic) should have been pursued and chased exactly for those, let's not say criminal acts, but for fraud connected with profit. It is obvious that they were committed. When you publish this he can sue me. But what can I do? All of his story about chains and chain locks is a fraud. It is also unclear to me either whether BK Trade was sold to the Russians or whether everything was just one canard.

CorD | May 2005

47

Interview still low: they make up around 17 per cent of GDP. There is not a single successful transitional country which in the fourth or fifth year did not have an elevated level of foreign investments by between 25 and 30 per cent. Here I am thinking about Estonia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovenia.

That is the condition we cannot avoid.

We too have to have a high growth rate of investment.

In the investment balance we have domestic savings with a negative sign.

Why is that?

That is because capital is pouring into spending. The state takes the money from tender sales and puts it into the budget, then that money goes towards paying pensions… For the time being we have only foreign investments, donations and remittances from our countrymen working abroad. We have to activate domestic savings in order to set in motion the second component of economic development - small and medium-sized companies - with domestic capital.

Do you think that that would be feasible?

The mass is being created. Hungary is cited as a successful example, and the whole secret is the model of privatisation which was carried out successfully.

What was talked about during Milosevic's time did not happen: that foreigners purchased Hungarian companies in order to close them. They purchased them because they wanted to transfer their production because of cheaper labour and other favourable conditions. Along with that, public spending dropped in Hungary in the first four years by one per cent per year. Only in the eighth year of transition, in 1998, did they experience growth in public spending of four to five per cent. And in our country, from 2001, public spending has been growing on an average of eight per cent per year. Investments cannot be built in such a way. In that way any development is being cut off. Because of that we are not competitive. That is the story of average wages in Bulgaria being 150 euros and 200 in our country.

What we need is foreign direct investments. Apart from U.S. Steel, the tobacco industry and cement factories are positive examples. Now we will see Knjaz Milos.

Is this Government working to cut public spending?

This Government is doing a lot. The IMF is on its back. There is a great mass of wages in public companies. That is why Dinkic does not give out money. If he did, the arrangement with the IMF would blow up, and if that happens those 15 per cent of debts which are conditioned by the successful implementation of the agreement with the Fund will be activated. In fact, it is the Fund which has limited the wages because public companies are overloaded with manpower.

They can introduce redundancies for the manpower surplus and then increase wages.

What should be done in order to begin the development of the economy in our country, as has occurred in other transitional countries?

When public companies are privatised the owner takes care of them. And for the small and medium-sized firms we should create appropriate conditions. People will, somehow, find money. It is good that some loans are also being provided. And through the work of small and medium-sized companies we can solve the problem of redundant labourers from the large public companies.

48

CorD | May 2005

You headed the macroeconomic team which studied the Competitiveness of the Serbian Economy. What is the appraisal?

The competitiveness of the Serbian economy is still low. When we talk about competitiveness we have to differentiate between two things: the so-called comparative advantages, i.e. micro-competing at company level, and competing at macro level, i.e. the competitiveness of the whole economy. If we take a look at micro-competition, then we can say that the number of companies which are competitive is growing. Through the process of transition and privatisation they are increasing their productivity. Foreign partners are bringing knowledge and technology to the market, and they are also managing to penetrate foreign markets. The best example is the Smederevo forge which, for all intents and purposes, had worked so ineffectively that it should have been closed down. However, when the professionals of U.S. Steel came they turned the company into the greatest single exporter in Serbia.

Economists are divided as to whether liberalisation was too wide in our country. I don't think it was because the only correct assumption for the relatively fast improvement of the economy is to expose it to real competition on the domestic market too. That does not mean that all customs should immediately be revoked, but we should definitely not introduce preferential measures, for which some experts were in favour…

Regardless of our needs and wishes, foreign investors are coming slowly to Serbia.

We have missed out on two decades of investment. Since the '80s, when we fell into the debt crisis, investments dropped by six per cent a year and had a negative effect.

Then came the breakdown of the economic system in the former Yugoslavia. The '90s do not need to be explained: sanctions, the bombing …, there was no real investment in this period.

What we need is foreign direct investments. Apart from U.S. Steel, the tobacco industry and cement factories are positive examples. Now we will see Knjaz Milos. I do not say that things are going perfectly, but it is good that last year's slowdown in privatisation has been overcome.

The problem of high interest rates in Serbia is obvious. When will they be cut both for the economy and for citizens?

The privatisation of more banks has just been announced and that will increase the competition. The interest rates will have to drop. With lower interests the banks will profit because of the difference on foreign interest rates. However, in the world there is a general tendency to increase interest rates. In the last two years interest rates have reached a historic low, and now the U.S. Federal Reserve has increased the basic interest rate. In Europe too interest rates will increase this year and in 2006. How that will be reflected here? We will see.

The essence lies in the fact that those interest rates are still so high that no investor can project a profit rate able to pay off such high interest.

Where is Serbia in comparison with the EU? According to domestic production per capita, Serbia could be compared to Portugal in 1979…Just before the collapse of the former Yugoslavia, domestic production in Serbia was 50 per cent of that of Slovenia, and in 2002 it was 12.5 per cent. We need decades in order to get back to where we were. That is what Mr. Milosevic succeeded in doing. •

bulletin...bulletin...bulletin...

Constitutional Charter amended

C

hief of EU Common Foreign Policy and Security, Javier Solana, was in Belgrade during April to oversee the signing of an Agreement to change the Constitutional Charter of the SCG State Union.

The agreement remedies problems relating to the legitimacy of the SCG Parliament, with the mandates of representatives having expired.

The agreement was signed by SCG President Svetozar Marovic, Serbian PM Vojislav Kostunica, Montenegrin PM Milo Djukanovic, Serbian President Boris Tadic, Montenegro President Filip Vujanovic and Solana.

Solana also participated in the signing of the Belgrade Agreement, upon which the state union of Serbia & Montenegro was formed.

According to the new agreement, extraordinary elections for the parliaments of Serbia and Montenegro will be held separately in both states and federal elections will be announced afterwards.

Until such elections are forthcoming, the terms of current SCG parliamentarians will be extended in order to maintain legitimacy.

The document also states that "possible referendums can be founded on internationally recognised standards" and that "the state which organises the referendum must cooperate with the European Union in order to respect those standards."

The new agreement also calls, once again, for full and complete co-operation with the ICTY. The meeting between Solana and SCG leaders was followed by discussion of The Hague. Solana later told press that he is satisfied with the successful solving of the problems of the functionality of the federal union and co-operation with the ICTY.•

marked his époque and that is why the whole world is in mourning for him today", said Draskovic, who met the late Pope in Spetmeber last year.

Pope John Paul II angered many Serbs during the break-up of the former Yugoslavia by offering support to independence-minded Croats.•

Officials respond to Pope's demise

Labus visits Euro Powerhouses

S

erbian officials reacted to last month's death of long-serving Pope John Paul II by sending a telegram of condolence to the Vatican in Rome.

The telegram, personally signed by Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Pavle, also included the names of SCG President Svetozar Marovic, Serbian President Boris Tadic and Serbian PM Vojislav Kostunica.

The Serbian PM and Patriarch Pavle also signed the official book of condolence at the Vatican's consulate in Belgrade.

Also responding to the demise of the head of the Roman Catholic Church, SCG Foreign Minister, Vuk Draskovic, said that John Paul II had been a great pope and leader, as well as one of the greatest missionaries of ecumenism and peace.

"With solid Christian virtues, he has

According to the OSCE chief, positive moves have been made in legislative reforms, with new international standard legislation having been introduced at the federal level and in both republics. He noted that these laws had been necessary to help to consolidate the credibility of democratic institutions.

Noting that the voluntary surrender of General Lazarevic this February had prompted many others indicted by the ICTY to follow suit, Massari said that cooperation with the ICTY had marked one of the most crucial successes of the past six months.

Massari also commended the Serbian government and the National Council for Cooperation with the ICTY for playing an important role, without which these results would never have been seen. •

M Massari Reports on State of the Nation

A

mbassador Mauricio Massari, head of the OSCE Mission to SCG, has submitted his report on the current situation in the state union, in which he said that he is satisfied with the trends evident in the state union - trends that are characterised by continuing progress in democratic reform and consolidation.

iroljub Labus, deputy Serbian PM, visited both France and Germany during April to discuss, as he put it, all the steps necessary for Serbia to achieve accession to the EU. Labus met French Foreign Minister Francois Loos and French presidential advisor Gurdo Montane, as well as Political Director of the German Foreign Ministry, Michael Schaeffer.

Labus said of his hosts: "They are open to co-operation and talks about Kosovo and other topics as well. When talking about the economy, it was stressed that all French companies who invest in Serbia are satisfied with the business they are doing and their level of profits, and they believe that these trends will continue."• CorD | May 2005

49

Judiciary The goal of this Government is not to judge me in the courtroom, but on the street - so said Cedomir Jovanovic, former deputy Serbian PM and close associate of assassinated Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic. With statements like this, Jovanovic, who is currently involved in several legal proceedings in Serbia and is a stern political opponent of present Serbian PM Vojislav Kostunica, implies the domination of the Serbian Government over the judicial system.

By Jasmina Lukac

GAVEL OF

JUSTICE J

ovanovic, whose own integrity was brought into question following the murder of PM Djindjic in March 1993, is mentioned in investigative court procedures as a person who 'attended the physical molestation' of the arrested members of the so-called "Maka's" criminal group (named after the gang's leader Zeljko "Maka" Maksimovic). Members of Maka's Gang are about to be tried for the June 2002 murder of Bosko Buha, after the first trial of this case was abandoned due to a lack of evidence.

Just a glance at the state of affairs is sufficient to see how the governing rules and independency of the Serbian judicial system is complicated. Journalist Milos Vasic's book about Djindjic's demise, "Assassination of Zoran", became an overnight bestseller. He sums up the situation as it stood at the time, stating in the opening section of his book that a "non-state" existed in Serbia two years ago, in the absence of an efficient judicial system.

Vasic writes: "‌it is humiliatingly obvious that the assassination of Zoran Djindjic was directly connected with Serbia's 'nonstate' character, whereby conditions meant it was not possible to precisely identify the state. In conditions like that it is not known

ZORAN STOJKOVIC "14 laws have already been adopted and eight are in process. When we adopt four more, we will have passed a certain benchmark. As such, we will receive the Stabilisation and Accession Agreement for joining the EU without problems."

50

CorD | May 2005

who has the right to employ instruments of physical force and who doesn't‌moreover, reliable rules did not exist to separate what is permitted from what is forbidden".

The dramatic events of Djindjic's murder and the subsequent announcement of a State of Emergency represented a major turning point in the Serbian judiciary. Ahead of Serbia's justice system is a huge task, although there are no reliable signs that the judiciary is ready to fully cope with such major issues.

It is more likely that the judiciary will not be able to cope unless political bodies provide firm support. The Serbian Government of PM Vojislav Kostunica criticised Djindjic's administration, referring to the system as "Columbian". Kostunica's Government has taken great responsibility by vowing that their objective is the implementation of "rules of governance".

Zoran Stojkovic, current Minister of Justice in Serbia, was targeted heavily by the domestic media when appointed to the post in Kostunica's cabinet. The reasons for the attacks were that he had, 20 years prior, been one of a panel of judges who had outlawed a controversial book and administered the trial of six dissidents. However, Stojkovic also believes that Serbia's justice system is at a major crossroads: "the problem of our judiciary today is that we emerged from a political state and entered a state of splintered government. Now we are at a point when we know not what to do. Do we deserve to get a modern state with balanced laws, executive powers and governing justice‌?"

Today, European institutions evaluate that steps in judicial reforms and implementation of governing rules have been made in Serbia. However, they further assess that the system remains weak and the needs of an independent judiciary have not been satisfied. The assisting role of the international community is by no means negligible, for instance the U.S. has provided $28million to help the Serbian court system since 2001.

Judiciary Minister Stojkovic remains moderately optimistic: "all the laws that we are implementing now have to be checked to ascertain if they are compatible with European standards. Despite those who say that we can easily adopt European models, we know that we cannot. We cannot copy Swedish or German models simply because we could use those. We go step-by-step, which is the only appropriate way for us."

He continued: "We became a member of the Council of Europe and signed the convention on the protection of human rights. We have to fulfil all of these standards. Each of the regulations so far implemented matches the Charter on the protection of human rights. 14 laws have already been adopted by parliament and eight are in process. When we adopt four more laws we will have passed a certain benchmark. As such, I think that we will receive the Stabilisation and Accession Agreement for joining the EU without problems."

Also speaking to CorD, Vladan Batic, Justice Minister in Djindjic's cabinet, was positive about the current process: "the organised crime and war crimes trials presently going on in the Special Court are the best led processes and there is no need to be pessimistic if minor oversights have been identified because these are very complicated proceedings.

Moreover, we should not forget that mafia lawyers have been using every possible loophole to block the proceedings".

According to Batic, a qualified lawyer and head of the Christian-Democrat Party, any oversights in the proceedings are due to inexperience, deficiencies in procedures and incompleted laws. All in all, evaluates Batic, these trials are contributing to the stabilisation of the justice system and implementation of governing rules. The majority of legal experts agree with the former minister's view on this issue.

However, Batic insisted that certain parts of the justice system continues to cause problems, is overwhelmed by corruption and has inherited the bad habits of communism and Milosevic's dictatorship. These, he explained, are the lesser courts of justice and, particularly, the Supreme Court of Serbia. Batic claimed that "in the Supreme Court the influence of political power holders is obvious and it is also apparent that some political decisions have been made".

The former justice minister said that Djindjic's government commenced reforms that are only now showing positive results which are being positively evaluated by European institutions.

However, he added, the current government has halted many of those reforms and the strategy for justice reforms that was adopted by Djindjic's government in 2002 was never implemented.

Asked if he regretted not doing anything that he could have done whilst he held the post of justice minister, Batic said that looking back from the current situation it might have been effective to fire all the judges in one day. According to batic, the effect

of this would have been instantaneous: "Serbia would have been without judges for one day and the next day we would have appointed those who would do the function of judging with honour and dignity". The law to which Batic was referring is the Lustration Law, which is currently in existence but was never implemented due to a lack of political will.

Experience is teaching Serbia that adopted laws are dead documents on paper if they are not implemented and justice is pressured and, thus, cannot be labelled as independent. It is widely perceived that the State of Emergency enforced after Djindjic's assassination, in the interests of the fight against organised crime, resulted in a victory for executive power over judicial power. Sinisa Simic was one of the highest practitioners in that period and has since been replaced in his post as the Republic's Public Prosecutor. Speaking to CorD, he explained the happenings in the prosecutor's office - a key element of the judicial system. Simic, who held the post of Public Prosecutor for two years, considers

"the problem of our judiciary is that we emerged from a political state and entered a state of splintered government. Now we know not what to do."

SINISA SIMIC "the inappropriate leading of the procedure before the Special Court is a result of the poor quality of pre-trial proceedings and the methods of gathering evidence.

This caused delays in the procedures."

that Serbia's judicial system is still in an extraordinary state akin to "sailing a ship with nobody at the helm".

Simic explained: "a set of judicial laws was adopted during the autumn of 2001. During that period the Serbian Parliament appointed me as the Serbian Public Prosecutor. The basic premise of those laws, the preparation of which I participated in, was to devise a strategy of judicial development, which was commenced by their adoption. Those laws, developed in close co-operation with the OSCE and the Council of Europe, were developed with the joining of the Serbian judicial system to the European system in mind.

"During implementation we were very aware of recommendation No. 19 from the EU Council of ministers in 2000. In the longterm, this recommendation brings order to the modern European state within the prosecutor's department and that was our goal…We were working specifically to harmonise the law on public prosecutions, as requested by the EU. Their positive evaluation of that Law came from representatives of the prosecutors' offices from some European countries, such as Switzerland and the Netherlands, as well as Candido Cunha, Head of the Council of Europe's Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Division.

"On the basis of this recommendation the law governing the Public Prosecutor's Office was changed. Then came 12th March 2003 and PM Djindjic's assassination. Massive pressure was subsequently exerted over the prosecution by the executive power in an attempt to bring the prosecution department under total control after the PM's tragic murder. However, they did not manage to do so because the prosecution had the strong support of the OSCE, and Stefan Sanin, then head of the OSCE Mission to SCG, helped by giving personal support to the formation of the Society of Public Prosecutors and Deputies. At that time, the Prosecution Department was responsible for compiling draft legislation of the law on organised crime, which was carried out in close co-operation with the OSCE".

Experts of the domestic legal scene consider that Simic was replaced because of his conflict with Vladimir 'Beba' Popovic, then director of the Serbian Government's Communication Bureau. However, Simic himself believes he was replaced as a result of his resistance to the implementation of regulations permitting suspects to be held in police custody for 30 days without the right to legal representation or pre-trial procedures, coupled with his open opposition of the State of Emergency being enforced nationwide.

Simic said: "the inappropriate leading of the procedure before the Special Court is a result of the poor quality of pre-trial proceedCorD | May 2005

51

Judiciary ings and the methods of gathering evidence. This caused delays in the procedures. The aim of the law on organised crime was to allow the full gathering of information and evidence, culminating in the raising of charges supported by such a body of evidence that the Court Council would have a very easy job. Practically, their job would be simply to establish the validity of evidence without the previous active role of the Court Council in gathering evidence".

According to Simic's evaluation, despite the prosecutor's office being under considerable political pressure prior to Djindjic's death, the declaring of the State of Emergency and the second amendment to the law governing the public prosecution

V L A D A N B AT I C "as a minister, I never called any judge or anyone associated with the courts to demand anything, to intervene or give orders. We tried to create an atmosphere within which a legal state and an independent judiciary could be developed‌" department brought the entire department under the direct influence of the justice minister, thus ensuring that the independence of the public prosecutor, guaranteed by the Constitution, was lost.

"Following the arrival of the present government, fresh changes were made to the law governing the public prosecution department. However, despite these changes the prosecutor's office, unfortunately, did not receive the status it enjoyed prior to the State of Emergency - a status formed in the legal framework adopted to European standards in conjunction with the recommendations of the OSCE and the Council of Europe and, subsequently, given the 'green light' by these organisations. What is even more surprising is the fact that the Democratic party of

instance, the Serbian Radical Party (SRS) - the strongest single party in Serbia - has publicly displayed a lack of respect for the decisions of the court in proceedings relating to the party's rental of its Headquarters in Zemun's Magistrate's building. The court decided that the rental contract for the SRS HQ was not legal and, as such, the Radicals should vacate the premises. In response, SRS invited media representatives to visit their HQ to announce that they refused to vacate the premises. They argued that it was not possible for the country's strongest political party to be evicted from its headquarters during, for example, an election campaign.

The local elections that followed saw SRS retake control of the Zemun municipality and, subsequently, withdraw the accusations instigated by the municipal authority against themselves.

Furthermore, legal experts note that the Serbian judiciary is under added pressure from financial power holders and the general public. The contribution of the media to this pressure is twofold: firstly, local newspapers have published police records of the investigation into Djindjic's assassination - records from protected sources with unclear motives; secondly, the media collective have openly criticised the work of the judiciary in certain areas, to which they are, of course, entitled.

Serbia's 2,400 judges are accused of dawdling, being corrupt and working incompetently. Moreover, the media note that judge's salaries, some of which are as high as â‚Ź1,800 per month, is a cause of irritation to the public.

One example of sluggish court proceedings is the case of the Ibar Highway attack of current SCG Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic and members of his party, which took place in October 1999. The case is the result of a staged car crash on the Ibar Highway, which left four members of Draskovic's Serbian Renewal Movement dead.

Draskovic, who personally formed the legal team responsible for gathering evidence in this case, claims that the trial is a farce.

The Foreign Minister himself failed to appear before the court prior to the deadline of the end of February and was subsequently fined 10,000 dinars.

Batic, who now heads a coalition of small reform-oriented parties under the name '5th October', insisted that during his attempts to implement reforms he was "crucified by the media". Batic explained: "as a minister, I never called any judge or anyone associated with the courts to demand anything, to intervene or give orders. We tried to create an atmosphere within which a legal state and an independent judiciary could be developed. We raised the salaries of judges, which was a big thing at that time. We were trying to encourage the judiciary to do its job efficiently and independently. However, every time we began changes in personnel accusations arose from the media that we were instigating partisan replacements or the like. We didn't manage to separate the wheat from the chaff at all".

Batic further claimed that the country was close to being granted the right to domestically try four army and police generals indicted by the ICTY. The accused in question were Sreten Lukic, Vladimir Lazarevic, Nebojsa Pavkovic and Vlastimir Djordjevic.

According to Batic, the government of Djindjic's successor, Zoran Zivkovic, failed to deliver these indictees to The Hague on time.

Lukic and Lazarevic eventually made their trips to The Hague, a year after Kostunica took the helm of the government, while Djordjevic is reputed to be in hiding in Russia and Pavkovic remains at large.

A decision of the ICTY to allow the Serbian judiciary to try some war crimes cases domestically would, undoubtedly, provide confirmation of the quality of the judicial system and the success of reforms. However, the question remains as to when it is realistic to expect something like that to happen.•

"the laws we are implementing have to be checked to ascertain if they are compatible with European standards... We cannot copy Swedish or German models simply because we could use those. We go step-bystep, which is the only appropriate way for us."

Serbia was responsible for suggesting this set of laws in 2001 and fought strongly for their reinstatement whilst in opposition."

Simic, who is now representing ICTY indictee Streten Lukic, continued: "a prosecutor for the republic still hasn't been appointed in the Prosecution Department; rather there is only an 'acting' prosecutor. This confirms that the prosecution department remains under the direct authority of any elected executive government. Such conditions ensure that the Prosecution Department cannot perform its job successfully."

In late March this year, media speculation was rife that special prosecutor Jovan Prijic would be replaced because he was not positively viewed by the Government. However, Prijic remains at his post. Speculation arose when the Republic's Prosecution Department announced that Prijic's term was valid until 1st March.

Prijic responded by insisting that his mandate would run until July.

In terms of pressure on the judiciary, special attention should be given to the fact that this pressure need not come only from the Government, but rather any side of the political spectrum. For

52

CorD | May 2005

bulletin...bulletin...bulletin...

Ashdown in town

I

nternational High Official for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, visited Belgrade on 11th April to meet officials of the Serbian Government, including Serbian PM Kostunica, Serbian President Tadic, SCG Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic and Patriarch Pavle, head of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

The talks centred on co-operation with the ICTY and Republika Srpska and, displaying a degree of local knowledge, Ashdown said: "One of your most well-known proverbs is 'may the neighbour's cow die' and when I was in Belgrade last December to discuss co-operation with The Hague Tribunal, I thought this proverb best described the opinions of the governments in Belgrade and Banja Luka regarding Hague co-operation. This has changed, it has astoundingly changed."

However, Ashdown noted that the two most wanted suspects - General Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic - remained at large and must be apprehended and extradited by the Serbian Government and the BiH Government respectively.

SCG Foreign Minster Draskovic admitted that if he knows where all of the nation's ambassadors are located, then certain government bodies and agencies must know where Ratko Mladic is.

Draskovic, known for his witticisms, insisted: "The Security Services must know whether he is in Serbia or not, because they are paid to know. If I am not thinking logically and if this is not logical in this country and all other countries, then I have a suggestion for the security services, that they change the name on their building to read Ministry of Agriculture."

Explaining the logistical problems of apprehending Karadzic in Bosnia, Ashdown said: "It is very hard to complete a military operation in which you must catch one man, who is moving amongst a populous that, unfortunately, still looks at him as a hero.

Not to mention that we're looking in one of the most mountainous wildernesses of Europe. Let's not forget that this is where Tito hid 7,000 Partisans from 16 German divisions. This is not an easy job".

Ashdown also made mention of his notion that there should be one police force for all

of Bosnia & Herzegovina. However, he stressed that this is neither an effort to revise the Dayton Agreement, nor to abolish Republika Srpska. •

New Kosovo Plan Proposed

K

osovo-Albanian media released the International Balkans Commission's latest proposed plan for Kosovo in April.

The plan calls for Kosovo to achieve full independence from Serbia during this year or by 2006. However, the report adds that Kosovo would not have full sovereignty because the question of human rights and minority protection would still need to be worked on with the help of the international community. The report calls for Kosovo to remain an international protectorate of the EU, and not the UN, until it has gained full independence and sovereignty.

Meanwhile, UNMIK Chief, Soeren Jessen Petersen, has congratulated Agim Ceku, Commander of the Kosovo Protection Corps, for implementing the standards of the Standards for Kosovo document.

In particular, Petersen mentioned the

the EU, is due to take effect on 1st June.

Signing the agreement, Milan Parivodic, Serbian International Economic Relations Minister, said that the signing of this agreement has great political significance and will boost Serbian economy.

It is estimated that the agreement will enable the revival of Serbia's flagging textiles industry to 1991 levels, when the industry grossed almost a billion dollars annually. Parivodic said that it is important for Serbian textile producers to find serious partners and re-establish old business ties.•

Tadic visits Bulgaria

S

eighth standard, which calls for members of Kosovo's ethnic minority communities to be accepted into the organisation.

Petersen's commendation came just days prior to the visit of the international Contact Group for Kosovo.•

Serbia Secures Textile Deal

S

erbian officials signed a trade agreement with the EU on textile products in Brussels during April. The agreement, which puts into effect a free regime of the export of textile products from Serbia to

erbian President Tadic made an official visit to Bulgaria on 7th April at the invitation of Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov.

Tadic and Parvanov held closed discussions before meeting with two delegations.

Tadic also met Bulgarian Prime Minister Simeon Saxe Coburg-Gotha.

The main topic of discussion during Tadic's visit was Bulgaria's support for Serbia's Euro-Atlantic integration, as well as the possibility of bilateral economic trade.

The visit coincided with the one-year anniversary of Bulgaria joining NATO, and a declaration was adopted that supports "open door" policies of NATO and the Euro-Atlantic integration of the South Balkans.

According to the declaration, "Bulgaria firmly supports the open door policy of the Alliance and the projected entrance of Macedonia, Albania and Croatia into NATO, as well as the Euro-Atlantic integration of Serbia & Montenegro and Bosnia & Herzegovina. Bulgaria also supports the integration of the Ukraine into NATO."•

CorD | May 2005

53

Interview

ber of years and, primarily, it's the German and French economies that have not performed. Until they perform, the averages are never going to come up. It doesn't matter what Ireland, Slovakia or Estonia does. Unless the French and German economies really start to grow again we won't have any significant change. And I think there are certain changes, at least in Germany. You see certain reforms being proposed by Schroeder in terms of his 2010 targets. I don't see the same thing in France, yet. And I think it's very important that they do start putting in significant labour market reforms to stimulate their economies. Until that happens I think the average performance will be disappointing and there will be no chance of reaching the Lisbon Goals.

Paul Skehan, Deputy Secretary-General, EuroChambres

The Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry (EuroChambres) represents 43 national associations of Chambers of Commerce and Industry and a panEuropean network of 2,000 regional and local Chambers, with over 18 million member enterprises in Europe.

By Mark Pullen For this month's issue we spoke exclusively to Paul Skehan, EuroChambres Deputy Secretary-General, about the current economic situation in the EU and future prospects of the continental group as a whole.

T

We hear many contrasting opinions on the overview of the economic situation in Europe. How would you assess the mood in the EU, in terms of the collective's economy and the economic potential of short-listed states and those on the fringes of the Union?

I think it varies a lot. So, when you look at Germany and you look at France - these should be the motors of Europe and they're not. If you look at the European economy compared to Asia or the U.S., it has been very average in terms of growth over the last num-

54

CorD | May 2005

You mentioned that the French and German economies are crucial to the development of the EU. What are the prospects of those economies developing sufficiently?

It's very difficult to say. I don't see significant economic changes in the next year. We surveyed about 100,000 businesses in Europe just before Christmas and the responses from Germany were much less positive than the responses from most other European countries. The responses from France were slightly better than Germany, but not significantly better. So I don't think business confidence is there. I don't think the governments are necessarily doing enough fast enough and I think that is a problem. So I don't see significant change, frankly. That said, I come from Ireland and what we've seen there is very rapid growth in a very short space of time. So, everything is possible, but it requires political willingness and support from the citizens that there needs to be change to encourage the business community to grow.

In your view, what caused the negative responses that came from the German companies you surveyed?

I think you still have an extremely regulated environment in terms of social protection in Germany and France. I think all of these things are very well protected and that is not necessarily what entrepreneurs look for. I don't think it stimulates entrepreneurial activity or growth, and I think that is an issue. Also, you have a reticence to look at corporate taxation cuts and instead they put pressure on new member states to raise their corporate tax rates, which I find extraordinary.

How was the pace and extent of Ireland's unprecedented growth actually achieved, bearing in mind that SCG really needs the same scenario?

It's impossible to say how, in short. It was a number of factors that came together at the same time. Ireland, when it got its independence from Britain, was totally dependent on Britain for trade.

And, right through until the early 1960s, Ireland followed a very protectionist, isolated approach. Then, in the '60s, the Irish Government took a decision to open the country up to free trade with the rest of the world. That decision had disastrous short-term consequences because many people lost their jobs and many industries went out of business because they were totally inefficient, but the longer term effect of that process has been that Ireland is a very open economy. That, allied to the fact that we have probably the lowest corporate tax rates in Europe and are going to stay that way, coupled with the fact that we had a population bubble that came through at the right time, ensured that we had a well educated labour force ready to take advantage of an upturn in economic growth worldwide. If you look at how much of Ireland's GDP growth is based on foreign trade, then we are very dependent on sales to America and elsewhere.

Also in Ireland, a critical point has been a very clever approach towards FDI. Various agencies in Ireland take a lot of responsibility to go out and entice real industry leaders in interesting industries.

And this is not just the old, traditional industries. In fact, one of the things of benefit to Ireland now is that we've leapfrogged the industrial age. We didn't have coal or steel, so there isn't any heavy, dirty industry in Ireland. What we have instead is a lot of electronics, a lot of pharmaceuticals and an agribusiness sector that is extremely efficient. So, it's in these new, modern businesses and sectors that Ireland has done well. Maybe in another ten years they'll be old fashioned and it'll be service centres and nanotechnology and maybe someone else, in Serbia or other places, will have taken that on. But, up until now, I think the Irish agencies have been extremely good at identifying what the growing industry sectors are and then going after the industry leaders to relocate in Ireland. Then the low corporate tax base is what keeps them there.

Which experiences and factors do you think could be transferred from Ireland's case to that of our own?

I think the Irish situation is not exactly unique, but it is a strange and positive situation because the two main political parties in Ireland are both centre parties. So what you've had over the last 30 or 40 years is a fairly consistent policy. It doesn't swing from right wing to left wing and back again.

It swings from centre right to slightly centre left, to slightly centre right again. And so, for 40 years you've had absolutely consistent policy from successive Irish governments, which say "business is good for the economy.

The economy is good for the citizens of Ireland, so let's look at the taxation environment and an environment for business that is quite supportive." Without the government all those things cannot change. You can have higher corporate taxes coming in, higher income taxes coming in and a whole different set of spending priorities. I think the single biggest thing has been the consistency of government decisions, regardless of which parties were in power.

Also, I think we've been fortunate in the demographic trend in Ireland, which has meant we've had a bubble of young people coming in at exactly the right time, which enabled this huge growth to take place - because without that there would have been stagnation, as labour would have been so tight.

Turkey that took place in December and over the past years, many EU governments that are now facing referendums about passing the constitution will be fearful of going to the people to look for acceptance of the constitution at the same time as Europe still talks about further and further enlargement.

I do think that there will be further enlargement and the area that sticks out as not being part of it so far is the Balkans. I think that has to follow and I think there'll be a huge amount of goodwill within the EU to see all of the Balkan countries become part of the European Union.

I think sometimes we lose sight of what the EU has been. We talk more now about an economic bloc and a free-trade bloc, but I think what it's done is bring peace and relative security to a continent that has never enjoyed lasting peace. So I think that's the main thing and if you look at the Balkans and the troubles through the '90s there, then that peace and security should be what's on offer as well. And, hopefully, the outcome will be that if they're part of the union, or have the promise of being part of the union, it also makes sure that there is an environment that's good for the people and not just business. Within the European Union, I think, you'd have a great deal of goodwill towards that, but at the right time. I think now it's difficult

The appetite for further [EU] enlargement is there, though I think it will take time for the EU to digest the ten new members that are there.

How would you assess the prospects of the countries on the periphery of the EU: South-East Europe and the other regions earmarked for involvement in the EU enlargement process?

From the position of EuroChambres, does EU enlargement look like one comprehensive and sustainable process; and how are feelings of the EU citizenry after the latest wave of enlargement that took place last spring?

The appetite for further enlargement is there, though I think it will take time for the EU to digest the ten new members that are there. I think it will take time for them to really be integrated, rather than merely members. And, I suspect, with the discussions about

to imagine current European governments pushing very rapidly for yet another large and potentially difficult enlargement towards the Balkans. But I think it will come in due course.

The EU has become a bit of a complicated entity and a lot of ambitions exist to recreate the EU with political unity, in the form of the constitution and some kind of EU government, news agencies, army, and so on. How is that process progressing and how is it being accepted by the citizens?

I think the key test for that will be whether the constitution is passed. Do the citizens feel that they are part of it or not? Do they see the value in having a more systematised way of making decisions? With the constitution, that's what it’s going to be.

Now, if you look at the way the European Parliament has been elected over the past few years, the number of voters turning out for European parliamentary elections has steadily fallen. Currently, only around 50% of the electorate vote. So, I don't think the ordinary citizen in Europe feels particularly close to Europe. That is an issue and is something the new commission, under Barrosso, is very aware of.

I know the European Council is very aware of it because all the European states now have to go and sell this constitution.

There are undoubtedly tensions there and, in fact, I think it's very good that there are tensions there. I think it's extremely healthy that you have Euro-sceptics as well as those who are in favour; I think it's extremely positive that certain people constantly question whether it's a good thing or not, whether there should be more centralisation

EUROCHAMBRES' MISSION

EUROCHAMBRES' VISION

To represent the needs, aspirations and opinions of its members; promote European integration; provide information on European Union policies and programmes; promote economic and trade relations between the European Union and non European countries and assist its members in upgrading and adapting the services they provide to their member enterprises in view of the rapid changes of the European Union.

An enlarged, competitive European Union where entrepreneurial behaviour is promoted and rewarded; where the legislative and physical environment for profitable business is the best in the world; where small and medium-sized enterprises are encouraged and supported; where competition is free but fair and which is open to free and fair trade with the rest of the world.

CorD | May 2005

55

Interview or not‌ I think some of the objections that the British Euro-sceptics come out with, while I might disagree with them, are very healthy because they force others to stop and think "hold on, should this particular area come under the EU or should we leave it to the member states?" I think there should be a balance between these two.

Which European economies would you say are in the best situation at present?

It depends how you view it. Do you judge it on growth, employment figures or the quality of health and education systems? I think

it's extremely difficult. What you have, in general, is that most of the Scandinavian countries would be well perceived at the moment.

They would be viewed as being competitive, efficient and dynamic.

That said, when you look at the rankings (world competitiveness reports) Finland came first last year. So Finland, of all the EU countries, was the first and most competitive. But Finland has an unemployment rate of about eight per cent. So, at what point do you say

had to contend with currency fluctuations and all of the fees that the banks were taking. So I think massive savings have been made there. I think at the moment, certainly, exporters from the Euro zone are suffering because the currency is so strong against the dollar. And so, when you look from August last year until now, the depreciation of the dollar is causing huge difficulties for those companies that haven't hedged. But that will only last so long and I think, once that hedging runs out and if the dollars stays as it is or worsens - as many people are predicting - European exporters will have huge difficulties. Obviously, importers benefit corresponding-

ly and so there is a balance there somewhere.

In your view, which factors will dominate the European economy this year and next?

I think, in terms of the economy, what should dominate is reform of labour markets to make them more flexible. I think that single thing would have a significant impact on the French and German markets and potentially make them start to motor. And if they started to motor I think the rest of Europe would get a huge spin off. However, I'm not too sure that'll happen. I think governments will have to look, not just this year and next, at the ticking time-bomb of the question of demographics of European countries. And, generally speaking, the 15 that were there before are getting much older much quicker and, by 2020 and 2030, huge percentages of the population will be elderly and very significantly fewer percentages of the population will actually be making money.

I think that is a significant problem that has to be addressed now.

Some governments are starting to address it by putting aside funds, others aren't, and others promote a private sector approach. But I think that is the single biggest issue in terms of the economy in the longer term.

I also think the environment is something that needs to be addressed, but needs to be addressed in line with America and others. I think Europe tries to go too far, too fast on its own in terms of environmental protection. While I agree with the protection and I agree we should be doing more, I think, for the sake of European business, it has to be done in parallel with U.S. industry.•

It doesn't matter what Ireland, Slovakia or Estonia does.

Unless the French and German economies really start to grow again we won't have any significant change. "well it's efficient and competitive, but why aren't more people in jobs?" Ireland has difficulties, but it only has 3.8% unemployment.

Luxembourg has just over three per cent. So, I think people get what they want and the government you vote in is what you end up with.

If you vote in a government that says they're going to slash all taxes with a view to promoting business, then you know there's something that's going to come of that. If you have a government like in Sweden or elsewhere that says it won't reduce taxes, but healthcare and education will be absolutely excellent and every home in the country will have broadband, then that's also what you get. I think that's fair and how it should be and the European Union shouldn't have anything to say about that whatsoever. It should be up to each government to decide what their citizens want and invest accordingly.

We can now see the Euro is outperforming the US dollar at the highest level. How healthy is this for the European economy?

I think there are huge benefits for businesses that previously

56

CorD | May 2005

Vatican

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger

Pope Benedict XVI On 19th April 2005, German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected as the successor to Pope John Paul II on the second day of the papal conclave after four ballots.

Coincidentally, 19th April is also the feast of St. Leo IX - a German pope and saint.

B

efore his first appearance at the balcony of Saint Peter's Basilica after becoming pope, Pope Benedict XVI was announced by the Jorge Cardinal Medina Estévez, proto deacon of the College of Cardinals. Cardinal Medina Estévez first addressed the massive crowd as "dear(est) brothers and sisters" in Italian, Spanish, French, German and English - each language receiving cheers from the international crowd - before continuing in Latin.

He announced the decision with the words: Fratelli e sorelle carissimi; queridísimos hermanos y hermanas; bien chers frčres et sśurs; liebe Brüder und Schwestern; dear brothers and sisters: Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum.

Habemus Papam: Eminentissimum ac Reverendissimum Dominum, Dominum Iosephum Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalem Ratzinger qui sibi nomen imposuit Benedicti Decimi Sexti Which translates to: Dear brothers and sisters, I announce to you a great joy: We have a Pope!

The most Eminent and Reverend Lord, the Lord Joseph Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church Ratzinger, who has taken to himself the name of Benedict the Sixteenth.

At the balcony, Benedict's first words to the crowd, before he gave the traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing, were in Italian: Dear brothers and sisters, after the great Pope John Paul II, the Cardinals have elected me, a simple, humble labourer in the vineyard of the Lord.

The fact that the Lord knows how to work and to act even with inadequate instruments comforts me, and above all I entrust myself to your prayers.

Let us move forward in the joy of the Risen Lord, confident of His unfailing help. The Lord will help us and Mary, His Most Holy Mother, will be on our side. Thank you.

He then gave the blessing to the people.

Before becoming Pope, Cardinal Ratzinger was a well-known and quite controversial figure inside and outside the Catholic Church, for a number of outspoken pronouncements. Many find the controversy around Ratzinger's statements puzzling as his views tended to be very close to the views of Pope John Paul II, who has not been subject to criticisms on the same scale as Ratzinger.

Cardinal Ratzinger had repeatedly stated that he would like to retire to a Bavarian village and dedicate himself to writing books, but more recently he told friends he was ready to "accept any charge God placed on him." After the death of John Paul II on 2nd April 2005, Ratzinger ceased functioning as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. As he is now pope, it will be up to him to decide who will follow him in the role of prefect.

Joseph Ratzinger - Pope Benedict XVI Benedict has criticized genetic manipulation and the cloning of embryos, saying that "good goals" cannot justify the means of such research.

In Latin America, during the 1980s, as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, he silenced outspoken liberation theologians and clergy.

Ratzinger criticized the U.S. war against Iraq in 2003, saying that it could not be justified. In selecting the name Benedict, he is joining the tradition of Pope Benedict XV, who worked on behalf of peace during World War I. Ratzinger has maintained that the concept of female priests does not fit into the Catholic faith. He has also rejected the idea that divorced people can remarry and said they have no right to receive communion. He has repeatedly criticized the materialization of life and the "greed society".

In The Spirit of the Liturgy in 2000, Ratzinger attacked Rock and Roll as "the expression of elemental passions" and described rock concerts as becoming "a form of worship ... in opposition to Christian worship." However, he is a great lover of classical and folk music. He plays the piano with a preference for Mozart and Beethoven.

Ratzinger's brother has stated that he hoped that his aged sibling would not be elected to the papacy due to the pressures of the office and the fact that in 1991 Cardinal Ratzinger suffered a brain haemorrhage. "At age 78 it's not good to take on such a job which challenges the entire person and the physical and mental existence," George Ratzinger, then 81 years of age, said in an article published in British newspaper The Guardian on 20th April 2005. "At an age when you approach 80 it's no longer guaranteed that one is able to work and get up the next day." Given this history, John Allen noted that the pope likely has "a very keen sense that this may not be a very long pontificate and there's an awful lot to do."• CorD | May 2005

57

I.T. Society

The prevailing opinion that the Internet alienates people and is generally frequented by the socially abandoned or the socially inept will have to be revised as a result of researched facts that the majority of web users actually click online in search of communication, rather than information.

By Dijana Ivanovic

58

he influence of modern information technology, particularly the genius-like technological dimension of the Internet, is well known to us. In fact, we have grown so accustomed to the 'web' that we often struggle to recall how we managed to live without it just a few years ago.

However, despite the all-encompassing influence the Net has had over society, there are, as yet, no sociological explanations of the possible societal effects this fundamental shift in communication could have over civilisation and its development.

The questions arise, to what extent does the Internet and IT actually influence modern society, lifestyle and socialisation in general? Does the Internet inadvertently raise more questions

T

sumers researched by standard sociological methods because their profile is much more similar), was published in prestigious sociologist magazines. It stimulated researchers of the largest sociological centre in the Balkans - the Belgrade Transportation Faculty's Sociological Cyber Centre, managed by Snezana Pantelic Vujanic PhD, to conduct even more detailed research on a sample of 550 users. The British Council offered to carry out the presentation of that research.

Speaking to CorD, sociologist Dalibor Petrovic, one of the members of the Sociological Cyber Centre, explained: "We were interested in which social needs people are able to satisfy on the Internet. The research was always carried out in chat rooms. This was not a classic questionnaire with twenty general information

about ourselves than it provides answers: the very purpose for which it is utilised? Is it only in that 'virtual' space that we can really be what we are in essence - when we leave our appearance, mannerisms and gender behind? It is only when online that we abandon our vestments of society: vestments that we wear unconsciously and that change as we are shaped by society around us.

Research into the reasons why we are visiting the virtual world more and more have been carried out across the globe, but the first real surprise for sociologists resulted from research carried out among Internet users in America's Carnegie Mellon University. The simple question was why people go on the Internet and the answer, shockingly for sociologists, was that the majority of Internet users actually use the net in search of communication and not in search of information.

The Carnegie Mellon research, carried out on 250 internet users (one internet user is equivalent to a hundred standard con-

questions, but rather a detailed interview by which we wanted to penetrate the psychological structure of those tested in order to establish to what extent the relations in communication on the Internet are sincere; how much time they spend chatting, what they see as the advantages to this kind of associating, and what are the disadvantages.

"Then, to what extent they are prepared to transfer the relationships they have established in virtual space into the real world.

We came across what was, for us, very interesting data: that those are not alienated people. On the contrary, the majority of them expressed a high level of pragmatism. In two researches it was confirmed that as many as 75 per cent of chat rooms users have experienced getting to know their "virtual acquaintances" in real life, which certainly shows that the purpose of their communication on the Internet is not the Internet in itself, but the need to get know people and associate with them".

CorD | May 2005

I.T. Society According to the Cyber Centre research, over half of all Internet chat room users are highly educated and, thus, far above the average of the general population. A third of these users are married or in long-term emotional relationships and almost 40% are employed, thus are not idle. This led researchers to conclude that chat, as a kind of communication, fulfils certain purposes for them. As many as 43% of them had formed at least one strong, emotional relationship through the Internet; 15% had done so several times and 42% never.

have Internet citizens. They refer to themselves as such; they feel like that and have such rights and obligations. We have the terms 'connected' (on the net) and 'unconnected' (off the net), and these are not only individuals, but groups and even nations. There is Cyber Yugoslavia with its sixteen and a half thousand Internet citizens, of whom only 4,000 are from this area. Those people are creating the society they want and which is in accordance with their immanent human needs. The Internet is a parallel social community, some people are part of it and some are not. Those who are 'connected' do have a perspective, while the 'unconnected' are out of the stream; written off. This is because everything which is important today takes place on the Internet, including financial exchanges. Everything which is important transfers to the era of the Internet.

"Is the Internet society better because of that?

It is not better, it is simply, and this word might be too strong, more authentic. The real world is full of limitations: time, space and financial limitations. In the virtual world there is no such thing. Society is a pyramid; its base and its peak are known. The peak of the pyramid of real society is the Internet world. The biggest part of the world's money is invested in the development of information technology, so that the peak of all individual world societies' represents a global community.

Information technology facilitates the development of society, whether we like it or not".

The fact that the virtual reality of 'connected' society will grow into "real virtuality" is acknowledged by the declaration of the independence of cyber space, brought by the United Nations in 1998. According to that it is said, amongst other things, that the Internet will, according to its far-reaching freedom, become more advanced than any real society‌Are you 'connected'?•

The real world is full of limitations: time, space and financial limitations. In the virtual world there is no such thing. Society is a pyramid; its base and its peak are known. The peak of the pyramid of real society is the Internet world.

Males and females transfer acquaintanceships from virtual space into the real one in different ways. Males, like in "normal" life, are ready for a live meeting very quickly, even after only an hour or two of chatting, but also experience disappointments more often, while females prepare for the first meeting very carefully. They firstly exchange text messages, then photographs, then conversation over the telephone and only then are they ready for live contact.

In half of the cases the acquaintances established through the Internet became lasting relationships, and as many as 70 per cent of those interviewed get to know some new person through a chat room every day. In cyber communication males more often falsely present themselves than females. Most often they alter the portrait of themselves regarding their looks and education - as many as 25% of them do that.

Petrovic said that people present themselves falsely for several reasons. Some of them do so just for fun, and the others have discovered an interesting way of playing with their identity. In the real world that would be a major undertaking, but in that way the hidden desire to be different is tested. That was done much more often by males than females, although males often use female nicknames so that more people contact them. Chat room users who are married or in a permanent relationship often give false details about themselves because that is the way to satisfy their needs for flirtation and, according to their own acknowledgement, 90% of those interviewed do flirt on the internet. The number of divorces because of the internet is increasing.

As the biggest advantage of chatting, Internet users cited the ease of offering opinions and positions to a person they do not know, because that person is invisible and cannot jeopardise them if they discuss confidential issues. However, a third of users said that chatting is not better than ordinary communication in any way at all.

According to Petrovic, "One socially engaged mentality dominates among people who chat, which supports the opinion that they are not alienated, but that they do have a certain dose of activism, they do not want to sit with their arms crossed and wait while life passes them by. The internet does not alienate, but rather encourages contact. We are already alienated, the alienation phenomena has existed for a thousand years, but it is authentic for the modern western society, which is by its very nature alienated because it is individualistic. Because of that the Internet cannot further alienate people, on the contrary, it connects them and gives them the feeling that they are alive. Through the internet people ask you how you are and what you are up to, while, in contrast, when you sit in your home by yourself nobody asks you anything. As such, Internet communication certainly cannot add to your alienation".

Professor Vujanic emphasized that the Internet is no longer a thing of the future, but a parallel social reality. "We already now

Feature

TITO

By Dr. Predrag J. Markovic

‘’Dear Comrade Tito, I was not crying when you died. I have been crying since’’, - entry in the visitor's book at Tito's graveside April 2001.

A spectre is haunting the former Yugoslavia: The spectre of Tito, late leader of the people in this part of the world.

O

pinions on Tito are sharply divided. Some regard him like in the quotation opposite, while others blame him for the bitter destiny of his now disintegrated country. Oddly enough, there are still no serious historical books on Tito. There is one anti-Tito book, written by law expert K. Cavoski, and one pro-Tito book, written by sociologist T. Kuljic. In the ocean of the publicist books, the most serious are written by Pero Simic, for his are the only such books that use archive documentation.

Historians tend to justify their lack of intellectual courage by the fact there is not enough data on Tito. It may be true for the clandestine period of his life before World War II, or for some most secret political event from the period of his power, but it is his public life that counts the most, and his was one of the most public lives of all time.

Tito was a prototype of the superstar political personality, the darling of international public opinion. One could say that all this was only a result of a tremendous propaganda effort: namely, the entire state was engaged in the personality cult making, both in the country and abroad. However, I do not agree. Just like in show business, advertising cannot create a star out of nothing.

And, of course, there is an element of sheer luck involved in his destiny. For example, he died just in the moment when the state and economy were beginning to crumble, under the impact of internal weakness as well as the global debt crisis after 1979.

Before that, he also had the best possible timing for all crucial events of his life. First, he got the credit, deserved or not, for the largest and most successful resistance movement in Europe. The famous split with Stalin in 1948 occurred at the moment when

Tito was a prototype of the superstar political personality, the darling of international public opinion

Josip Broz ‘Marshal Tito’

60

CorD | May 2005

the West was desperately seeking for the Trojan horse within the Communist camp. Twenty years later, Ceausescu tried a similar manoeuvre, with modest success. In the melting period of the Cold War in mid 50's, when the 'special' position of Yugoslavia was threatened, Tito found new allies among the 'non-aligned' countries of Africa and Asia, raising again his (and his country's) international credit. When the students demonstrated in 1968, challenging the legitimacy of the regime, he supported them in a TV address, though, not surprisingly, he changed course in the weeks thereafter. As a Communist dictator, he avoided extreme brutality against his enemies, unlike Stalin and Mao. Some compare him with Franco, although during their lifetimes Tito enjoyed more prestige, especially abroad.

One of the wittiest of Tito's opponents, Matija Beckovic, described Tito as a "great man with small achievement." Tito sometimes seemed as a creature bigger than its state.

Unfortunately, the Yugoslav regime made him into one of the most important pillars of the common Yugoslav identity. The others were Yugoslavia's special international position and the better living standards of Yugoslavs in comparison with other Communist states. The last two factors made a rational reason for Yugoslavs to stick together.

Rather oddly, Tito was made into the father figure that emotionally bonded his quarrelsome children. The most fatal political turn deriving from his personality cult was the decision to prevent regular succession of power after his death, made during

REVISITED the 1970's, particularly by the Constitution of 1974. He was still alive, but effective power passed to the loose coalition of republic oligarchies. They had a tacit agreement that nobody should interfere in the business of the other republics. These mediocre bureaucrats tried to prolong such a situation as long as it was possible. The period after his death coincided with global and internal economic crisis and with the diminishing of Yugoslavia's international importance in the late 1980's.

It was at that time that Slobodan Milosevic challenged the basic principle, attempting to gain control outside Serbia.

Slovenes, already doubting that living in such a community was worthwhile, reacted. Everybody knows the end. Here we come again to Franco. His state not only remained, but grew stronger after his death. Whose achievement is better then? Of course, there were many historical and structural differences between Spain and Yugoslavia.

Anyway, how exactly is Tito responsible for the consequent fate of his country? It seems that he was not much interested for the internal matters during the last decade or so of his life. The frequent accusations for his anti-Serb attitudes and feelings underestimate his self-perception. He probably saw himself as being too big to be too attached to some particular Croat or Slovene national programmes. Whatever we could think today about the impact of some his actions upon destinies of this or that Yugoslav people, the simple conclusion remains: None of them, with the possible exception of the Slovenes, made a bet-

ter, more respectable or more viable state than his Yugoslavia.

Certainly, credit for that should not be given to him personally.

However false it may be, the memory of him is to remain coupled with the memory of this land. If it is a fraud, then it is among the most ingenious historical deceptions.•

TITO: POLITICALLY AND PERSONALLY

The 4th May this year will mark the 25th anniversary of the death of Josip Broz 'Tito', ruler of the "second", Socialist, Yugoslavia. Since his demise the land in which Tito ruled has also disappeared. However, a comprehensive evaluation and assessment of "Tito's time" hasn't even started. Was it a time of one-party rule and limitation of certain liberties, a time of "Pericle's democracy" for the Southern Slavic people?

Or was it undoubtedly a time of dictatorship? What is Tito's place in the history, not only of the people of Yugoslavia of that time, but also in the global history of the Cold War period?

Tito and Jean Paul Sartre

By Dragan Bisenic

O

Even thieves didn't lose their interest in the life-long President of Yugoslavia. Last month some twenty clocks that Tito had received as gifts during his many years of rule were stolen from the Contemporary History Museum.

Peculiarly, these historic and invaluable timepieces were left by the Museum management and the authors of the exhibition without any kind of protection!

The dilemma about the topic "to whom did Tito politically belong" has been opened by the most prominent British intelligence officer from the Second World War, better known as "Intrepid". In his book he came to the conclusion that the key to understanding Tito's post-war political strategy was his possession of a British passport issued to him as a Canadian citizen

Tito after Tito: Celebration of Tito’s birthday on 25th May

Feature

Masses gather at Tito’s funeral in 1980 under the name of Spiridon Mekas. Stevenson hints that Tito's relationships with the Western powers derive from that fact, especially with the Brits and the Americans. Those relationships became very important on the eve of the Second World War in the Balkans, when the allied countries began their war of attrition for their 'friends' in the Balkans, especially in Yugoslavia.

McLean could possibly know?

An especially interesting period in Tito's life was the end of 1939, when he resided in Istanbul. According to Tito's then wife, Herta Has, at that time Velebit, who recently passed away, brought Tito a fake passport.

Herta Has is today one of the rare living witnesses to Tito's work and life prior to the outbreak of war. Herta Has confirmed to us that Tito was really Tito born in Zagorje, Kumrovec. "His living relatives are still alive, born in Kumrovec and physically so much resembling Tito that people openly tell them so when they meet them in the city streets", says Has, speaking to CorD. In 1939 when Tito began his journey from Moscow to Istanbul, he still had the passport issued to Spiridon Mekas.

"When he travelled to Moscow, Tito did not use the Spiridon Mekas passport, but from Moscow to Istanbul he was Spiridon Mekas. He had passports under several names; every year another one. One year he was Karlos Rajnar, but I know that he didn't use the Mekas passport for travelling, primarily because in Yugoslavia he was permanently using his Yugoslav ID. He came from Moscow to go to Istanbul. He first headed to Paris, from Paris to Moscow, then from Moscow to Istanbul. He did this because he could not return using the Western path, as a result of the war. He could only come to the country via Istanbul".

Before starting his round trip, Tito was together with Herta in Selca, close to Kraljevica. Due to the strict regulations of the time regarding the carrying of foreign currencies, Vladimir Velebit was given another mission - to deliver the money from abroad to Tito in Selca. Herta Has and Tito spent two weeks in Selca waiting for the money.

"We came from Zagreb to Crikvenica. He came to Crikvenica because he had already planned to cross the border in Susak and, therefore, he was located there. You must know that in that time police has been intensively searching for Tito. The party organisation even succeeded in receiving a picture from one policeman, which that policeman claimed had been sent to all borders and central points. He said that all policemen had that picture in order to remember Tito's face and arrest him if they met him by chance. Therefore, we had to be very cautious. An until now completely unresolved coincidence was that in Selca there was a rest home called Decje selo (Children village), which was constructed for Yugoslav children by American citizens Mabel and Slavko Grouch. Those names do not say a lot, but it is important that Mabel Grouch was for decades the closest friend of one of the most prominent members of the American State Department establishment - Hamilton Fish Armstrong. Hamilton Fish Armstrong was the Editor in Chief of Foreign Affairs magazine for five decades, and the Chairman of the influential and then newly formed Foreign Affairs Council. In 1912, when he was a student at Princeton, Fish Armstrong met Mabel Grouch, who was fighting for the Serbian position in the First Balkans War. Throughout his life, which came to an end in 1974, Hamilton Fish Armstrong remained attached to Serbia and Yugoslavia.

"He was completely dedicated to your country. He knew all its rulers and did everything to make your country progress.

Every year he visited Serbia and Yugoslavia at least once", Fish Armstrong's third wife, Christa Fish Armstrong, told CorD. Did the man who already knew the whole American establishment meet Tito before the Second World War, maybe exactly

Herta Has is today one of the rare living witnesses to Tito's work and life prior to the outbreak of war.

In January 1941, Chief of the newly formed American Secret Service OSS (Office of Strategic Services), British colonel William Donovan, promised that the allies would generously assist those who helped them achieve victory over Germany and her allies. This promise followed the signing of the "Tripartite Alliance" by the Royal Yugoslav Government and Prince Pavle.

Among the allies who later followed Donovan's instructions "via the agent", Stevenson especially stresses the communist leader, Josip Broz 'Tito'. One of those agents that appeared in Yugoslavia, in partisan headquarters in 1943, was a British officer of the SOE, Sir Fitzroy McLean. In his biography, McLean states that he was already predicting in 1944 that Tito "could be an independent leader". A close friend of McLean and of Tito, Vladimir Velebit, with whom we have held intensive talks during the last couple of years, comments that "it is possible that McLean knew something more at that time". What is it that

STALLONE AND DE NIRO SHOOT TITO FILM As is often the norm, art is a few steps ahead of the debate. Last year two strange pieces of news from Hollywood appeared. The first was that superstar actor Sylvester Stallone wants to shoot a movie about Tito, in which he would show that Tito was a "Soviet spy" planted to show the West a "more acceptable version" of communism. The second item of news, conversely, claims that Robert De Niro has provided the budget to shoot another movie on Tito, in which the former Yugoslav leader will be portrayed as an "American man in a communist flock".

62

CorD | May 2005

DEVOTED TO SERBIA Hamilton Fish Armstrong was born the youngest of seven children on 7th April 1893 in New York. Following his graduation, Armstrong worked in the business department of The New Republic, before entering the army in 1917. Commissioned as a second lieutenant in October 1917, Armstrong advanced to first lieutenant and became Military Attaché to the Serbian War Mission to the United States in December 1917. In November 1918 he received orders to relocate to Belgrade to become Assistant Military Attaché to Serbia where, in January 1919, he became Acting Military Attaché.

His time in Serbia kindled in him a lifelong interest in foreign affairs, and in 1921 he became involved with the newly-formed Council on Foreign Relations, created to ensure the United States' growing role in world affairs would be informed and responsible.

In 1922 Armstrong accepted a position as managing editor of the Council's magazine, Foreign Affairs, and served as the first Executive Director of the Council (1922-1928) and as a Council director from 1928 until 1972.

As editor, Armstrong travelled frequently, visiting policymakers including King Alexander of Yugoslavia, Raymond Poincaré, Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, and Neville Chamberlain. He was also well acquainted with many prominent Americans, such as Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Henry A. Kissinger.

Armstrong held many prominent positions during the Second World War. From 1942-44 he served on the U.S. State Department's Advisory Committee on Post-War Foreign Policies, which produced the original plans for the United Nations.

His activities received much recognition, both at home and abroad. His time in Serbia earned him the Order of the Serbian Red Cross (1918), the Order of St. Sava Fifth Class (1918), and the Chevalier of Order of the White Eagle with Swords (1919). during the two week stay in Selca? "Tito was, as you know, working in Kraljevica, so it could be possible for him to be met or seen by someone from Kraljevica, from the shipyard where he was working. He could find himself in Selca, because Selca and Kraljevica are quite nearby. Great caution was required. We didn't even move around Selca, let alone around Crikvenica, but we were merely looking for maximum seclusion", explained Herta Has. She added that she does not believe that Tito met anyone at that time.

Vladimir Velebit admitted that he met Mabel Grouch and Hamilton Fish Armstrong but just after the war. Historians from Princeton University cannot confirm if Tito and Hamilton Fish Armstrong ever met, but they do not reject such a possibility.

This is primarily because Hamilton Fish Armstrong wrote a very influential book just after the war during the dispute between Tito and Stalin, entitled "Tito and Goliath". Prior to the outbreak of the Second World War, Fish Armstrong maintained intensive communication with William Donovan. In the case that there was a meeting between Tito and Hamilton Fish

Armstrong in Selca in 1939, many things would become clearer and more logical.

The more time passes, the stronger the mythological dimension grows. Doubt that Tito really was Tito has existed in Serbia for many years; that is, was the man who led the country the same man that was born somewhere in Kumrovec in May 1892?

The theory is that Josip Broz died and the International Communist Movement, Kominterna, "installed" a completely different person who later achieved everything we now know.

Our magazine is in a position to exclusively publish testimonies of the closest collaborators and relatives of Tito.

Confusion about Tito's identity has been greatly fuelled by authors abroad, but also by certain state officials. Long-time Austrian Chancellor, Bruno Kraisky, retells the story in his diaries, which he allegedly heard from some Serbs while in Sweden during the Second World War. According to Kraisky's story, "Tito, along with most of the Croats, had sympathy for Austria. He even served the Austro-Hungarian Army by taking charge of guarding the prisoner-of-war camp with Serbs". From this story, numerous speculations arose about Tito, who was an Austrian-Hungarian intelligence officer during the First World War, in charge of examining the Serbian prisoners of war.

Tito's son Zarko, from the former leader's marriage with Pelagija Nilovna, lived modestly in Belgrade until his death. With Herta Has he had a second son, also called Zarko, who spent many years as a manager of oil company INA, and, later on, served as a Croatian diplomat. During the war, Josip Broz 'Tito' and Herta Has separated and never met again. In 1952 Tito married Jovanka Budisavljevic. Jovanka is still alive, but lives in very strange status and circumstances.•

Royal Diary

DAYS OF

SADNESS

AND JOY

April saw a wave of international events attended by the world's dignitaries. These included the funeral of Pope John Paul II, the wedding of Prince Charles to the new Duchess of Cornwall, and the funeral of Monaco's Prince Rainier. All of these global events were attended by Serbia's very own Crown Prince. This month, HRH Alexander Karadjordjevic shares his thoughts with CorD's readers.

Photo Stanislav Milojkovic

M

y wife and I witnessed three incredible days this month. First of all we flew to Rome with The Prince of Wales to attend the funeral of His Holiness Pope John Paul II on Friday 8th April. It was an extraordinary funeral, attended by world leaders and senior officials of all religions. People from across the globe were represented, with a large delegation from our country. The universality of the thousands of people in the congregation in St Peter's Square was impressive.

Following the funeral, officiated by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger - the then Dean of the College of Cardinals and now His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, we spoke with The King and Queen of Spain and the King and Queen of Belgium, as well as conversing with President and Mrs. Chirac.

During our flight on the Prince's aeroplane, my wife and I had the opportunity to answer questions about our country. We warmly thanked Prince Charles for his humanitarian aid (medical equipment). In addition, we conversed with Mr. Michael Howard (the leader of the Conservative Party) and Mr. Charles Kennedy (the leader of the Liberal Democrat Party). On the return flight from Rome to the United Kingdom we had the pleasure of talking with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams.

Prince Charles had postponed his marriage by one day to Saturday 9th April, owing to the funeral of the Pope. After the funeral in Rome, it was a joy to be present at the wonderful wedding of The Prince of Wales. The whole of the British Royal Family and guests thoroughly enjoyed the marriage ceremony, and the newlyweds were glowing. We have always admired Duchess Camilla and were thrilled that the wedding was such a great success. Princess Elizabeth also came from Belgrade for the wedding.

The reception in Windsor Castle following the Service of Prayer and Dedication at St George's Chapel was extremely

64

CorD | May 2005

The funeral procession of Pope John Paul II pleasant. I spoke with Mr. Tony Blair about the hard times confronting our people. The Queen delivered a superb speech, which was followed by the speech of the bride's father. Prince Charles's speech was outstanding and humorous. The wedding cake was splendid, and from Wales.

Prince Charles has an open invitation to come to Serbia and this is in the hands of the British Foreign Office. I hope it will not be long before the Prince and Duchess come to our beautiful country so that they can see first hand how wonderful and hospitable our people are.

Following the joyous day at Windsor Castle, we went to Monaco for the funeral of Prince Rainier III. My wife and I were deeply saddened by his death; Prince Rainier was a dear friend and had always been so good and cordial to us.

We flew from London to Nice on Friday 15th April, where we were met by the French and Monegasque authorities before

The funeral of Prince Rainier

Royal Diary being driven to the Palace of Monaco. Immediately upon arrival at the Palace we went into the Palace Chapel to pay our respects to Prince Rainier. It was a very moving experience. We then expressed our condolences to the Monegasque Family.

The chamberlain and aide de camp of Prince Rainier reminded us of our visits over the years. There were anecdotes about Prince Rainier, who had reigned for 55 years, and the incredible time we had when we once came to stay at the Palace for a Grand Prix. The Prince and his staff were always so good to us. The Chamberlain told me the Prince was happy that we had returned to our homeland. What also touched us was the presence of Prince Rainier's faithful dog, Odin, who looked very sad. The funeral brought back memories of Princess Grace. Prince Rainier was a student before me at my Swiss school, Le Rosey.

The funeral was held in the beautiful neo-Roman Monaco Cathedral and the service was very moving. The whole of Monaco was brought to a standstill. Many relations attended the funeral service, including the King and Queen of Sweden, King Juan Carlos of Spain, the King of Belgium, the Queen of Norway, the Duke and Duchess of Luxembourg, Prince Andrew and many more. We saw President and Mrs Chirac, with whom we last talked at the pope's funeral. I spoke with President Dr Janez Drnovsek of Slovenia, whom I had met many years ago. We also met Mrs Kwasniewska, the wife of the President of Poland.

The relatives inquired about conditions in our country. We sat with the King and Queen of Sweden and Prince Albert, who deeply impressed everybody and will, undoubtedly, do very well

Prince Charles has an open invitation to come to Serbia and this is in the hands of the British Foreign Office. I hope that it will not be long before the Prince and Duchess come to our beautiful country‌ as the Sovereign of Monaco. We spoke with Princess Caroline, who is going through a sad and tough time with the death of her father and the illness of her husband, Prince Ernest.

On Monday 18th April, I hosted a successful business conference at Claridge's Hotel in London to promote investment and partnership opportunities in Serbia. I introduced Dr Milan Parivodic [Serbian Minister for International Trade Relations], who addressed the conference and provided a detailed explanation of the economic and legal situation in Serbia. Mr Danko Djunic [director of the Serbian Economic Institute] followed, speaking about privatisation and other economic issues. Over a hundred important business representatives were present from the United Kingdom's Banking, Construction, Advertising, Energy, Insurance and Telecommunications sectors. The conference was attended by His Excellency Ambassador Dragisa Burzan of Serbian & Montenegro, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer (Minister of Finance) of the United Kingdom, Lord Nigel Lawson, and the former Minister for Europe, Sir Nicholas Bonsor.

It is my belief that more conferences like this should take place in other capitals, and elsewhere, to promote our country. It is crucially important that employment and the economy should be at the top of the agenda in our country. I see a great deal of politics and worry about the welfare and future of our people.

Next month we will have a joyous family event when we travel to Athens for the wedding of my wife's son, David, on 7th May. David is marrying a lovely Greek girl and the godfather will be His Excellency Mr. Prokopis Pavlopoulos, Greek Interior Minister. We are very happy for David and his bride Angeliki. Peter, Philip and Alexander will also go to Athens for the wedding.

After the wedding in Athens, we will fly to Pittsburgh to be present at a U.S. Steel Charity for the hospital in Smederevo. My

The marriage ceremony of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles wife and I will be the patrons for this very important humanitarian event. Following Pittsburgh, we will be visiting Washington before returning home.•

Traffic in central Belgrade came to a standstill on Saturday 23rd April as the city readied itself for the start of the long awaited 18th Belgrade 'Delta Sport' Marathon, which marked the return of the Belgrade Marathon to the international marathon circuit after an absence of three years.

Course record breaker Derba Bedada Medeksa (left), and exhausted competitor, wheelchair racers

RECORD BREAKING

By Mark Pullen, Photo Andy Dall

A

s if knowing the significance of the day, the weather gods cleared away the rain clouds that had hovered over the city for a week and the sun put its hat on as the crowds made their way towards the start line on Revolution Boulevard.

Flocks of competitors, well-wishers, enthusiastic spectators and lovers of sport lined the streets of the Serbian capital as race day got underway in fine style. Despite a dispute between the Belgrade City Council and organisers ensuring that it was unclear up until just two months ago whether the marathon would take place at all, a combined total of an amazing 21,000-plus runners took part in the day's full marathon, half marathon, Nike 5-kilometre Fun Run and CorD Charity Master race, which stands as testament to the outstanding efforts of the Marathon's organisers, Beogradski Maraton d.o.o., led by Dejan Nikolic.

The day proved to be a record-breaking return for the marathon, with Ethiopian Derba Bedada Medeksa breaking the course record, set in 1994 by Ukrainian Vladimir Bukanov, by almost 20 seconds with his winning time of two hours, 12mins and 10secs - almost two minutes faster than his previous personal best. Medeksa walked away with prize money of â‚Ź12,000.

Second place in the men's race was taken by Kenyan debutant David Chepkwony, 19 seconds behind Medeksa, while third place was taken by fellow Kenyan Collins Edep. Indeed, the competitive men's race was dominated by the African contingent, with all of the top ten finishers hailing from the continent.

66

CorD | May 2005

Fastest domestic men's finishers were Apatin's Goran Cegar, who finished in a time of two hours, 35mins and 20secs, followed by Dejan Cakic, 11 seconds later, and Branko Stevic, four seconds behind Cakic.

In contrast, the women's race was dominated by Europeans. The Women's Marathon was won by Russian Inga Abitova in a time of two hours, 38mins and 10secs. Four Russian women made the top six, while SCG's very own Marjana Lukic finished fifth with a time of two hours, 42mins and 48secs.

The course record also fell in the half marathon, with Kenyan winner Sammy Karanya breaking the record of Moldovan Jaroslav Musinski, set in 2002, by almost three minutes with his time of one hour, 3mins and 28secs. Musinski also broke his old record as he settled for second in a time of one hour, 4mins and 24secs. Third place in the men's half marathon went to Hungarian Miklos Zatuko, who finished in one hour, 8mins and 56secs.

The women's half marathon was won by another Kenyan, Maslia Ndunge, who recorded a time of one hour, 15mins and 7secs. Second and third place in the women's half marathon went to domestic runners, with Snezana Kostic of the Uzice Youth Athletics club finishing second in a time of one hour, 16mins and 3secs, and Surcin's Ana Subotic finishing third, 54 seconds behind Kostic.

The CorD Charity Masters race was won by the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade's Ryan Leong, who completed his half-marathon in two hours and one minute.

Explaining that it was the farthest he'd ever ran in his life, Ryan said:

Photo: Andrej Isakovic (Blic)

CorD runners from the world of film and TV: Milenko Zablacanski & Marija Karan (left), Snezana Dakic (centre)

CorD Charity Master’s Coca-Cola HBC team prepare to race "the thing that struck me the most was the wide spectrum of runners, from sporty old guys, to young teenagers; and there were at least a dozen women I saw who'd obviously really trained for the event and were leaving me in their wake".

Ryan, who works in the Political Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy, added: "the crowds were very encouraging, shouting "bravo" and "svaka cast" [well done], and I also got to see parts of Belgrade that I've never seen before."

Just prior to the marathon, CorD spoke to Englishman Pat Butcher, a former athlete and sports correspondent who has been helping the team at Beogradski Maraton d.o.o. promote the event internationally.

Despite the wars and sanctions during the last decade, the Belgrade marathon continued to be staged. How much credit do the organisers deserve for managing to achieve this feat?

Well, I go to many marathons and, without pointing the finger at some relatively close by marathons in the Balkans area, I have to say that some of these people don't have a clue. Federations are not the ideal people to organise and run marathons because they're highly conservative and don't think outside the box. You need to think laterally and take on board the examples of the other big marathons in the world and that's why Dejan Nikolic joined the AIMS organisation very early‌ I just think that if these guys had lived in a society which operated normally then this race would be huge because the team really stands out for me, in my experience with other marathons, as some of the

brightest and most capable people that I've met in athletics. There's a real 'can do' attitude about the team and it was a real shame that it was taken away from them and put into hibernation, as it were, for three years.

However, I think the proof of their capacities is that inside two months they put together a great bunch of sponsors. That's pretty impressive.

How can the marathon positively affect the image of the city?

I think the Belgrade Marathon has already done that. My press release for the IAAF this morning starts off with "throughout the '90s just about the only good news to come out of Yugoslavia was the Belgrade Marathon", and I think that sums it up. It presented a positive image that the people were getting on with their lives and it wasn't them that were to blame for whatever was blameworthy.

Considering the size and significance of the city, what would be needed for the Belgrade marathon to become the type of event that could rival such marathons as the London, New York and Chicago marathons; is it purely a case of having more competitors and enticing the world's top marathon runners, or is global PR the key?

They all go together really. This year there hasn't been enough time to do anything fantastic, but the record should be broken this year because it's a relatively slow course compared to many other big city marathons‌ CorD | May 2005

67

Belgrade Marathon I think the first stage is trying to attract tourist runners. Marathon running has become a huge industry around the world and there are travel companies that just organise tourist trips to marathons. Now that things are calmer here and the situation is much more stable you can get the tourists in, which will build up a corpus of people and, obviously, help to finance it too. It all generates good publicity. You know, in the '90s when there were all the problems people found it fascinating that something like the marathon could even go on while there was such general mayhem.

And, ultimately, you need good backing; good sponsors and you need finances to get the top athletes, which I think will happen once the Belgrade Marathon is back on a stable footing, which I fully expect it to be certainly by next year. All of those things can be done gradually.

Finally, you need to offer bigger prizes. There're no secret formulas.

For example, the Boston Marathon is nothing like its 109-year history dictates that it should be. They've simply gone backwards because they don't have a clear sighted view of where they should be going with the marathon. It really is a simple rule: if you don't put up the finances then you're not going to get the top athletes. It's no secret. So, I think, now that the Belgrade Marathon has got sponsors like this and people, both domestically and internationally, can see that it's back on a firm footing and being run properly again, those things will just come in time. It's not going to happen overnight, but I think within five years the Belgrade Marathon could be huge.

How important is the humanitarian aspect of the marathon, bearing in mind that the attention of many of the world's large char-

CorD MASTERS OF CHARITY CorD managed to put together a modest field of competitors for this year's event, despite the extremely short notice. Next year we expect to attract hundreds of humanitarian-conscious competitors and, ultimately, we are certain that the CorD Charity Masters will become a traditional and integral part of the Belgrade Marathon for years to come, recognised and appreciated by Belgraders.

This years Masters of Charity are: U.S. Embassy - Belgrade €105 · Ryan Leong 21 km €105 · Roderick Moore 21 km €105 · Jorge Lopez 21 km €35 · Ekaterina Dmitrieva 7 km €105 · Jonathan Post 21 km €105 · Branislav Jevtic 21 km €105 · John Miller 21 km €35 · Goran Sovtic 7 km €35 · Karen Zareski 7 km €105 · Richard Danicic 21 km All €840 raised by the U.S. Embassy competitors are to be donated to the Geriatric Centre in Zemun.

Coca-Cola HBC €250 · Milos Petrovic 5 km €250 · Predrag Marinkovic 5 km €150 · Maja Radosavljevic 3 km €250 · Marko Kostic 5 km All €900 raised by the Coca-Cola HBC competitors are to be donated to Belgrade's Dr. Miroslav Zotovic Rehabilitation Clinic.

Rosa €250 · Snezana Dakic - TV celebrity 5 km All €250 raised for Rosa by Ms. Dakic are to be donated to Belgrade's Dr. Miroslav Zotovic Rehabilitation Clinic.

CorD €50 · Marija Karan - Actress 5 km €50 · Milenko Zablacanski - Actor 5 km All €100 raised for CorD by Ms. Karan and Mr. Zablacanski are to be donated to the Children in Kosovo fund and the Belgrade Council for Invalid Sport and Recreation.

Competitors, young and old, enjoy race day MARATHON RESULTS ities is turning away from the former Yugoslavia?

It has become an integral part of marathons. The London Marathon does a tremendous job, though not so much in New York. There are different traditions in different cities. It is quite difficult to attract humanitarian support at the moment because of the problems going on elsewhere in the world, such as in Darfur. It's as if the world can only concentrate on one tragedy at a time, so if you get a Darfur everybody forgets about Yugoslavia and if you get a tsunami everybody forgets about Darfur.

The publicity generated by the team here, with the help of Aleksander Djordjevic in his capacity as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, can only help increase the profile of the event. I think it will go in stages and take time, but I think it's going in the right direction.

Finally, do you think the general public really appreciate the true level of endurance and fitness needed to complete a marathon?

I've been running since the early '60s and I always say that by the middle of the 1980s suddenly my next-door-neighbour's grandmother knew more about distance running than I did, simply because of the phenomenon of 'fun running'.

If I had a quid for every person who told me they ran a four-minutemile at school I'd be a millionaire by now. But once people start running and see how difficult it is they soon understand what the great marathon runners do.•

68

CorD | May 2005

MEN 1 MEDEKSA Derba ETH 2 CHEPKWONY David KEN 3 EDEP Collins KEN 4 KILONZO Onesmus KEN 5 KIPRONO Isaac KEN 6 YEGO Josephat KEN 7 TOLA Adugna ETH 8 NGULU Thomas TAN 9 KIPTOO Francis KEN 10 MWOLO Gregory KEN

2:12:10 2:12:29 2:13:02 2:14:01 2:14:08 2:15:19 2:16:08 2:17:42 2:17:54 2:17:58

WOMEN 1 ABITOVA Inge RUS 2 ZOUEVA Viktoria RUS 3 SHIFERAW Tiringo ETH 4 PEREPELKINA Ttatyana RUS 5 LUKIC Marjana SCG 6 MALKOVA Zhanna RUS

2:38:20 2:38:40 2:39:47 2:42:12 2:42:48 2:44:45

History "BLACK HAND" IN THE U.S. (part 1)

FROM "GREATER SERBIA"

TO "GREATER EUROPE" Dimitrije Mitrinovic

Dimitrije Mitrinovic (1887-1953) was born in Bosnia-Herzegovina. As a young student he took a leading role in the movement to create a united Yugoslavia. Having studied art history in Munich, he travelled to England in 1914, moving within the UK's most influential cultural circles. He relocated permanently to England later that same year, where the 'Serbian Legation in London' employed him to promote the national cause.

By Dragan Bisenic

D

uring late 1914 and early 1915 there was an exhibition of Serbian sculptures and architecture in the Victoria & Albert Museum. The exhibition included a model of a monument Mitrinovic had designed, named Kosovo, to commemorate the defeat of the Serbs by the Turks. This project was to contribute to the formation of Yugoslavia (south-Slavland) to include both Croatians and Slovenes. There was, however, a problem: The monument was too Serbian, with connections to notions of a 'Greater Serbia', and, hence, it wouldn't work. In these two aspects of Mitrinovic's life we have a capsule of the history of the region, from World War I to the eventual break-up of Yugoslavia and the current situation in Kosovo.

From pan-Serbian peoples, Mitrinovic moved on to panEuropean ideals, and then pan-human aspirations. Between the wars he was concerned with organic world order, and was a major contributor to the radical journal "New Age", writing a column on world affairs. In the early 1920s New Age, then edited by A. Orage, was the most important journal for radical political thinking in Britain, supporting both Guild Socialism and Social Credit.

Mitrinovic met many of the leading contributors and, in 1926, he himself became associated with a group of them, known as the Chandos Group, and thus influenced their thinking. With them he gave the impulse for the formation of the New Europe Group, a British initiative for a European federation, of which sociologist Sir Patrick Geddes was the first president.

Mitrinovic felt, however, that before effective political action could be achieved in this country a new attitude towards social problems was necessary. This required the study of psychology and the application of its principles to political and social problems, and to the relationships between those persons who wished to bring about social change. Adler's psychology appeared to him to be the most significant due to its concern with the relationship of the individual in society, and the problem of the struggle for power. The desire of the group to derive practical results from their psychological studies, and association with like-minded radical groups, led to the formation of The New Europe Group, aimed towards forming a European federation and re-evaluating European culture. From this proceeded the New Britain Movement in 1932, with proposals for national changes in society, federation and devolution, reform of the financial system, workers' control in industry through National Guilds and a House of Industry and House of Culture to supplement the House of Commons. The movement was supported by the journal "New Britain" and its successor "The Eleventh Hour". The New Britain Movement dissolved in 1935-36, but the New Europe Group continued to be active for many years and its cultural programme, the Renaissance Club, held lectures and concerts.

In 1927, with the agreement of Dr. Alfred Adler, Mitrinovic founded the English Branch of the International Society for Individual Psychology. He and others lectured extensively on psychology and related subjects. Soon some members wanted to take their psychological studies to a practical conclusion by engaging in

KGB GENERALS AND EUROPEAN VISIONARIES Serbian spiritual and revolutionary organisations in the early 20th century were famous, and not limited merely to the country's original territory. The most famous group, called "Black hand", became famous after a military coup d'ĂŠtat in May 1903. The group of young officers brutally ended the reign of the Royal Dynasty of Obrenovic in Serbia when the monarch and his queen were slaughtered. In almost all dramatic periods of Serbian History, like WWI (Killing of the Austrian Duke Franz Ferdinand and Sofia in Sarajevo) and WWII ("Black Hand" came to the fore once again. This organisation's has its origins in another group, "Mlada Bosna" (Young Bosnia) - an organisation whose members were Serbs, Muslims and Croats from Bosnia who fought for a liberated and free Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as unification of the South Slavs. Members of "Mlada Bosna" were later Nobel winner for literature Ivo Andric, president of the Serbian Academy of Science and Arts, Vasa Cubrilovic, assassins of Franz Ferdinand - Gavrilo Princip (who killed the Austrian Royal Couple), Mustafa Golubic (later KGB general and military instructor operating in the U.S.), Bogdan Zerajic and other personalities who were active in culture, politics and the military. But this story will be dedicated to two of them: Dimitrije Mitrinovic and Mustafa Golubic.

70

CorD | May 2005

History political action. From this the New Britain Movement emerged in 1932. It was a proposal for national renaissance based on the need to re-order society so that material plenty could be achieved at the same time as the maximum individual freedom. Simultaneously, the New Europe Group was directed towards achieving European federation, and a re-evaluation of European culture. The principles on which this New Order was based were: first, the devolution of power and responsibility to the smallest possible units of society the individuals, and the federation of these units into progressively larger units, up to the world whole; secondly, that power and responsibility should be given to individual persons and groups only on the basis of their function, whether economic, cultural or political; and thirdly, that the realms of economics, culture and politics should each be autonomous, so that economics should be separated from politics, and culture no longer dominated either by economics or politics.

When speaking among those with whom he worked, Mitrinovic used the phrases "Self-change for world-change" and "From individual initiative, through personal alliance to the Absolute Collective". Mitrinovic was working towards the creation of a totally new social function which he conceived to be necessary for the establishment of an organic threefold social order. Community and individuality inevitably conflict, as do the three functions of society: economics, culture and politics.

RADICAL CHANGES The practical programme of the New Britain Movement was a revolutionary one: radical change of the financial system, based on the work of Professor Frederick Soddy; workers' control in industry through National Guilds, as proposed by S.G. Hobson, and a House of Industry independent of the House of Commons; Cultural Guilds with an autonomous House of Culture in place of the House of Lords; and radical devolution and federation, national, European, Commonwealth, and world-wide. Groups were formed all over the country, and the movement was supported by a weekly paper, New Britain, and later by the Eleventh Hour. phlets. The group remained in touch with the Ordre Nouveau Movement in France which, like the New Europe Group, advocated a European federation. After the war, from 1946 onwards, the New Europe Group sponsored regular lectures and discussions on aspects of religion, philosophy, the arts and education. The meetings were held in the name of the Renaissance Club.

Mitrinovic returned to his original conception of a renaissance of culture as the prelude to any change in the social system. After the death of Mitrinovic in 1953, the New Atlantis Foundation initiated a number of cultural activities. These have continued until more recent years when priority has been given to the work of publishing in the expectation that today the ideas of Mitrinovic will be found to be even more relevant than they were during his lifetime.•

Mitrovic felt that before effective political action could be achieved in this country a new attitude towards social problems was necessery Guidance by a fourth function is necessary to induce a social order in which the three others are fully related. This guidance should be in the nature of intermediation, coming from within the group and not from above. Those who perform this function do not take sides in any conflict, but help the contending parties to appreciate the point of view of the other side, and to reach a creative solution which satisfies all sides. Mitrinovic called this creative approach "Third Force": it was not compromise, but rather "above, between and beyond the opposites".

This new function, which is Mitrinovic's particular contribution to social thought, and which he called "Senate", would be a loosely connected body of individuals with members in all parts of society. Its function would not be leadership, or governance, but that of relating all other functions, economic, cultural and political, to one another, so that they would operate in freedom and be kept in balance as an integrated whole. It would correspond to the endocrine function in the living organism, by means of which all the other functions are kept in balance.

Amongst other projects Mitrinovic launched a very modern one called 'Cosmopolitan Citizenship' in 1930. Generations of peace seekers have sought an alternative model of the world beyond the Westphalian system of separate sovereign states.

Recent global trends have raised the possibility of new institutional frameworks and processes for promoting world peace, including that of "cosmopolitan democracy." If the utopian vision of cosmopolitan democracy is to become reality, then the development of new political structures must be accompanied by a growing consciousness of what it means to be a cosmopolitan citizen.

His paper examines the methods developed by one "utopian" to prepare his co-workers and followers for cosmopolitan citizenship in London during the years prior to the Second World War. However, he formed the idea of unification of the Citizens of the USSR and U.S. Simultaneously, he maintained very close ties with the one of the most important proponents of New Age in the U.S.: - Madam Blavatsky.

The New Britain Movement came to an end in 1935-36. The New Europe Group continued, and its activities included the publication of the quarterly journal New Atlantis, as well as numerous pam-

CorD | May 2005

71

Faces & Places Greek and Serbian officials, including H.E. Michel Spinellis, ambassador of the Hellenic Republic in SCG, and Radmila Hrustanovic, Deputy Mayor of Belgrade, gathered beside Belgrade's Riga of Fera Monument on 25th March in honour of Greek Independence Day. Deputy Mayor Hrustanovic laid a wreath at the foot of the monument in respect of fallen Greek soldiers.

Arshed Saud Khosa, ChargĂŠ d'Affaires of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, welcomes Tunisian ambassador, H.E. Radhouanne Larif, to the Pakistan Day Reception held at Belgrade's Diplomatic Club on 23rd March.

Tunisian ambassador, H.E. Radhouanne Larif, and Mrs. Larif, pictured at the Tunisian Residence on the 22nd March during a reception held to mark Tunisian National Day.

Japanese Ambassador in SCG, H.E. Ryuichi Tanabe, addresses attendants of a reception held in the Japanese ambassadorial residence on 29th March. The event was held to mark a number of successful happenings, including last autumn's Month of Japanese Culture, this March's Festival of Contemporary Japanese Film, successful lectures of Japanese professors, March's classical music concert, etc.

French Ambassador, H.E. Hugues Pernet, speaking to guests in the main hall of the French Ambassadorial residence on 21st March at a reception held in honour of Francophone Day and attended by representatives of French-speaking nations, other senior diplomats and friends of the embassy.

72

CorD | May 2005

Faces & Places Serbian PM Kostunica, Head of the Serbian Government's Co-ordination Centre for Kosovo, Nebojsa Covic, and other officials of the Serbian Government, meeting representatives of the OSCE, Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel and Belgian Ambassador Luc Leibaut in Belgrade on 4th April.

Serbian President Boris Tadic and Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov, pictured on 5th April during President Tadic's official visit to Sofia.

Belgrade's police band performing in the streets of the Serbian capital on 16th April as part of the Days of Belgrade celebrations.

U.S. Ambassador in SCG, H.E. Michael Polt, joined representatives of the Commercial Court Administration Strengthening Activity (CCASA) in the Guarnerius Centre of Arts in Belgrade on 18th April to launch a new IT system

for Serbia's Commercial Courts. The CCASA, which is funded by USAID, has the aim of transforming Serbia's Commercial Courts System into a modern, reliable and professional system. According to the U.S. Embassy, the new IT system is just part of a series of improvements that will help the Courts "ensure the fair, consistent and timely application of commercial laws, consistent with international standards and the needs of a modern, growing market economy".

French ballerinas, pictured during the opening performance of the Belgrade Festival of Dance in New Belgrade's Sava Centre on 10th April.

A scene from the 4th April event organised by the Embassy of Sweden and the Swedish Trade Council in Belgrade's Aero Club, entitled “Serbian/Swedish Dialogue on Sustainable Growth�. Speakers at the event included Swedish Ambassador, H.E. Lars-Goran Engfeldt and Deputy Serbian PM, Miroljub Labus.

CorD | April 2005

73

Faces & Places Javier Solana, European Common Foreign and Security Policy Chief, pictured with SCG President Svetozar Marovic during Solana's visit to Belgrade in April. Solana was in Belgrade to oversee the signing of an agreement to amend the state union's Constitutional Charter.

Serbian Economy Minister, Predrag Bubalo, and Israeli Ambassador in SCG, H.E. Jaffa Ben-Ari, pictured at Belgrade's Hyatt Regency Hotel on 5th April at a meeting of the Israeli Business Forum. The gathering, which was attended by domestic officials and representatives of Israel, included a presentation by Minister Bubalo under the heading "Economic Policy of Serbia: plan for 2005".

Serbian Health Minister, Tomica Milosavljevic, Deputy Serbian PM, Miroljub Labus, Japanese Ambassador in SCG, H.E. Ryuichi Tanabe, and deputy Serbian Health Minister, Nevena Karanovic, pictured at Belgrade's Tanjug Press Centre on 4th April at a press conference held to announce an $8.9million donation to Serbia from the Government of Japan.

SCG Foreign Minister, Vuk Draskovic, greets his Hungarian counterpart, Foreign Minister Ferenc Somogyi, in Belgrade on 12th April.

University professors Bozidar Cerovic, Vesna Besarovic and Mijat Damjanovic, pictured alongside French Ambassador H.E. Hugues Pernet after receiving their "akademske palme" [academic palms] in recognition of their contributions to academia.

74

CorD | May 2005

Faces & Places A scene from the Belgrade Fair on the opening night of the 43rd International Motor Show, which commenced on 25th March. This year's Belgrade motor show included 600 exhibitors from 35 countries and was officially opened by Yves van der Straaten, Secretary-General of the Paris-based International Organisation of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers.

Works of art displayed at the Italian Cultural Centre on the opening night of the Centre's latest exhibition of the mosaic works of Predrag 'Pedja' Todorovic. The exhibition opened on 23rd March and ran until 23rd April.

Serbian President Boris Tadic, pictured on 14th April attending the International Tourism fair, which was held at the Belgrade Fair between 13th and 16th April.

The scene from the Austrian embassy on 7th April during the promotion of the latest dual language work of celebrated authoress Marija Knezevic, entitled 'Book of longing'. The promotion was opened by Austrian Ambassador in Belgrade, H.E. Dr. Gerhard Jandl, general director of HVB Bank, Dr. Alexander Picker, and Austrian Cultural Attaché Annemarie Türk

Belgrade Mayor Nenad Bogdanovic addresses guests at Belgrade's Intercontinental Hotel on 4th April during a two day conference entitled 'Belgrade and Vienna: partners in new Europe'.

Newly Accredited H.E. Adel Ahmed Naguib, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Arabic Republic of Egypt Born 1st June 1950, Ambassador Naguib graduated with a B.A. in Engineering from Cairo University in 1973, with a Certificate of Military Science. He served as an engineering officer in the Egyptian Armed Forces, reaching the rank of Major-General, before being appointed as Egypt's Military Attaché in Kenya. He held the post of Engineering Department Director and Chief of Engineering Authority, before being appointed as an ambassador at the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2004. A married father of three, Ambassador Naguib speaks French and English and has been decorated by his country with an Excellent Conduct Medal and the Medal of the Republic.•

CorD | April 2005

75

Interview

TRANSITION FROM HELL TO HELL

By Tatjana Njezic

International Women's Day was celebrated in fine style on 8th March this year when acclaimed Croatian writer Vedrana Rudan, from Rijeka, presented her book 'Me, unfaithful' [Ja, nevjernica] in the Centre for Cultural Decontamination.

There are lots of hippos in Zagreb, as well as Belgrade, and she noted that "it was indeed useless to have a war when all of us are now fucked by the very same hippo".

Rudan elaborated on a local law dealing with domestic violence and noted that aggressive behaviour would cost perpetrators dearly.

However, she noted, Serbs had found a solution by agreeing to beat each others' wives.

This celebrated writer has even managed to penetrate foreign markets, with her works being published in France, Poland, Hungary and the U.S. Describing herself as 'a phenomenon from Rijeka', Vedrana said: "I am flattering myself because no one has done likewise. I had a lovely promotion in Poland and a new theatre in Warsaw is about to stage my piece 'Ear, Throat and Knife'. The play is to be prepared by Kristina Janda, one of Poland's most popular actresses - known, amongst other things, for her roles in Adzej Vajda's films.

"The book was published in New York and is due to be published in Budapest this month. In Slovenia, the release of my book was proclaimed as the publishing event of the year, next to the publishing of Plato's works in Slovenian."

Transition refers to some sort of a passage... What we experience nowadays can simply be described as a transfer from hell to hell.

Your prose are full of swear words, though they simply fit the style. However, do you think the meaning could be lost in translation?

I guess not. Simply, my heroes swear, but Polish do the same, as do the French. My Parisian publisher, when contacting me through e-mail, stated that he intends to publish my book with intense joy and for the simple reason of displaying many profound truths of the French people.

Vredrana Rudan, authoress

T

he book 'Me, unfaithful', published by Rende, is comprised of a collection of stories originally published in column form in magazines Nacional and Feral Tribune. The series was picked up by editor Vladimir Arsenijevic and compiled by the topics covered.

Rudan's presentation was well attended and the authoress was intermittently interrupted by salvoes of laughter and volleys of applause. Rudan's style is awash with expletives, though the use of bad language really does suit her style.

She spoke of how women also masturbate, though in Croatia they are warned that such self abuse is a cause of cancer. She also spoke of billboards, particularly those displaying a hippopotamus.

76

CorD | May 2005

Your stories touch many minor and major issues of the human experience, albeit in a hilarious manner. You are also cultivating a truly interesting attitude towards football.

I may say that I hate soccer and soccer players, to put it mildly.

This is not necessarily a truthful standpoint. However, footballers are coming of age quite early in that game of football. I am probably not fair when saying that their legs are ill-shaped and that these kids are handicapped. However, those guys lying on a couch screaming in vain to support one team or the other should be labelled as the worst. Upon completion of a game, after 90 minutes ending in a nilnil draw and after extra time and again a draw - it seems to me that such development depicts sincerely the very picture about the majority of all men.

In what sense?

Those passionate soccer lovers and soccer players are definitely

cretins. I see nothing beautiful in it. There is no sense at all in following 22 men running after a piece of leather, and when there is a goal, the scorer falls down while the rest of the players ride him, smell him and the spectators roar…I perceive them as a pack of gays or queers, however NOT as homosexuals, that I respect by the way; instead I see them as a bunch of obnoxious queers purposefully excluding women from their lives.

In your book you elaborated on various types of sex, and you perceive sex within wedlock as a nightmare?

Some of my stories deal with sex in long-term marriages. It is an obligation as well as a painful exercise for both spouses.

However, these obligations are somehow fulfilled, since statistics and doctors have proved that sexually active humans, even if it amounts to sex within marriage, are bound to live longer.

What about extramarital sex?

To be honest, extramarital sex may be equally abhorrent as marital sex. I believe that the best possible sex happens between a man and a woman, calculating from a start of flirting, within a period from the first week of the relationship to the end of the first month. Anything else is usually dull and dreary. When you finally acquaint yourself with most men in their human capacity, and NOT in their capacity as fuckers, unfortunately, real sex with them undoubtedly fades away.

Your relationship towards politicians and politics in general, and towards the Balkan region in particular, was interesting and eloquently composed in a very entertaining manner?

I refer to local politicians for the simple reason that I live here and not elsewhere. On the other hand I do read foreign newspapers and am confident that there is no substantial difference among Serbian, Croatian, French, German and other politicians. All of them can be branded as ambitious males willing to cling to power and money at all costs. There is no sacrosanct in their lives, they are ready to kill and slaughter, to lie and to rape…Our politicians successfully proved this hypothesis. However, even the Americans are no better. All those actions lead to a single goal of preserving positions and staying in power.

How we can stop them?

I would say that it is impossible. Something to this effect was attempted by terrorists; however they only kill hostages, namely ordinary laymen. The real bastards are protected and no one can hurt them.

Is it true that the need for self-revelation and personal responsibility is the glue that binds all of your stories?

I was recently very sick. My first diagnosis was that I had a cancer, but that later turned out to be false. However, this helped me to realise that nothing under the skies can be changed by me, irrespective of whether I was upset or not. On the other hand if I am constantly angry or irritated I can only inflict a lot of damage on myself without bringing anything valuable to this world. I realised that there are no so-called great and minor joys and pleasures. It is necessary to conclude that this world is bad both in Serbia and Paris. There is no bad Serbia or good France. [I recently read a book named 'Good day for laziness' describing life in France, which is equally as gloomy as life in Serbia, although it is perceived as much more beautiful to those oblivious of such life]. The world is precisely as we see it and I am unable to change it, however I can alter my perception towards that world. The magic formula shall sound as follows: 'Who gives a fuck for you, dear gentlemen; owners of my life? I shall be cooking meals for my own comfort and satisfaction, playing with a cat's tail, enjoying a breathtaking ocean view, buying some stunning boots and that all will be my happy life'.

What do you think about this time of transition?

Transition refers to some sort of a passage. It is customary to pass from something good to bad, or vice versa. What we experience nowadays can simply be depicted as a transfer from hell to hell.•

PERCEIVING 8 TH MARCH Since the greater part of my life was connected with the former Yugoslavia, I always profoundly detested Women's Day. I felt it as a supreme deprivation to get on the good side of our gender, only a single day of the year when we can drink, sing, smoke and return home inebriated… For me it was an insult. Today in Croatia, however, I feel strong nostalgia for 8th March, since I live in a country without even that single day dedicated to women.

Consequently, although I profoundly disliked flower handouts and festivities, I impatiently waited in Croatia to get a present on that day. That is why I was indeed touched when my publisher 'Rende' organised the promotion of my book in lieu of my Women's Day gift.

THE INCREASINGLY NEGATIVE POSITION OF WOMEN IN TODAY'S WORLD

"The situation is gradually becoming worse and worse everywhere on the planet. Men are definitely masters of the world and of women's lives too.

For instance, women from Afghanistan are totally deprived since they do not have any freedom of choice whatsoever, and they realised after President Bush 'brought about freedom' that the situation is only getting worse. A starting point is choice of husband - that is made by a father or a brother. Then they are forbidden from appearing on the street unaccompanied by a male escort, also there is no schooling for them… consequently suicides of [Afghani] females are set to increase sharply. They do not have any means to commit suicide and are, thus, using petroleum to kill themselves. The West, which plays 'good guy', is kind enough to set-up special hospitals to treatburned Afghani women in order to test its latest bandages. I read that in a German newspaper, which published a bank account number where free women could generously submit funds to purchase the special bandages needed by these scorched Afghani women.

CorD | May 2005

77

New Airline Launched Leading domestic company Delta Holding announced the launch of its new regional airline, Air Maxi, on 14th April.

It is envisaged that the first flight of the new airline will be launched in mid-June this year.

The idea of forming a budget airline is not new to Delta and, indeed, the company has been planning the launch of Air Maxi for the past year. During this time, analyses of the SCG, regional and European markets have been carried out, the results of which were that this business project has major potential.

Air Maxi will commence flights with just two Boeing 737, 300 series, aeroplanes, which will be rented from the U.S. Delta has already signed a business collaboration contract with Aviogenex, which will be responsible for aircraft maintenance and air traffic functions.

Air Maxi will cover popular tourist destina-

New Term Deposit Product Introduced From mid-April, EFG Eurobank a.d. Belgrade has ben offering its clients a new term deposit product named EURO STEP. EURO STEP is a saving product for a minimum deposited amount of 2,000 EUR of twelve months maturity, where annualised interest rate increases on a monthly basis in a step-up form. In such a way, nominal interest rate increases from an initial 3.6% (effective 3.71%) in the 1st month, up to as much as 7% (7.33%) by the end of the 12-month period.

The longer the client saves money with the Bank, the higher the return. The aim of this new offer is to reward client loyalty by offering one of the highest interest rates on the market.

Taking into consideration the specific situation of every individual client, as well wishing to be flexible towards individual needs, EFG Eurobank offers the option that the capital and interest may be withdrawn at the end of every monthly period without negatively influenc-

78

CorD | May 2005

tions such as Greece, Turkey, Egypt and Morocco. In parallel, the company will develop a regional flight schedule as a framework for Air Maxi's future destinations.

New air transporters will be launched with flights to Tivat, though further analysis will lead to other destinations being covered to the east and west of Serbia. The initial field of interest will include Budapest, Sofia, Skopje, Dubrovnik and Ljubljana.

The airline's mother airport will be Belgrade's Surcin Airport, but Air Maxi is not ruling out possible co-operation any of 30 airports within the region.

The second phase of flights will be to countries inhabited by many SCG citizens, such as Germany, Switzerland, France and the Scandinavian countries.

Air Maxi's ticket prices have yet to be finalised, but first evaluations indicate that a one-way ticket to Germany will be between €45 and €55.•

ing the client's previous savings and interest.

Otherwise, if clients wish to continue with the EURO STEP product, EFG Eurobank offers the possibility that they deposit their money for the next 12 months without the necessity of coming to the branch.

The benefits of this product make it unique on the market. Specific benefits include: Annualized interest rate increases at the end of every monthly period in a step-up form, very high nominal interest rates of 7%, automatic renewal of the deposit every month until the end of the 12-month period, the ability to withdraw funds and interest at the end of every monthly period at no cost, new savings with the same product possible without the necessity of going to the branch.

EFG Eurobank a.d. Belgrade, as a full banking subsidiary of EFG Eurobank Ergasias, Greece, commenced operations in Serbia two years ago through the acquisition of Postbank a.d.

Belgrade.

The Bank offers its products and services to both corporate and retail clients, through its extensive network of 14 branches located in Belgrade.

The bank presently employs around 300 people. Another four branches are currently under construction in Belgrade, Pancevo and Novi Sad.•

AdBlue Available OMV has implemented AdBlue infrastructure for low emission trucks across Europe, with their Grand Opening in Serbia at the OMV filling station in Lapovo.

AdBlue enables the reduction of the particle emissions of trucks by 80% and nitrous oxide emissions by a third.

OMV, Central Europe's leading oil and gas group, is adapting 67 OMV filling stations by the end of 2007 for the dispense of AdBlue, a nitrogen oxides reduction agent. As part of this European-wide infrastructure, the official launch of the first AdBlue filling station in Serbia & Montenegro, is taking place in May 2005, at the OMV filling station at Lapovo. The launch event will be attended by local officials, Serbian Government representatives, customers and journalists.

As the precursor in Europe, OMV is putting the necessary AdBlue infrastructure in place for trucks with SCR (selective catalytic reduction) technology that are available on a standard basis from the beginning of 2005. In this way, OMV will ensure reliable coverage of the growing demand for AdBlue and make a significant contribution to environmental protection. With the new urea solution AdBlue, the sooty particle ejection of the diesel engines of trucks will be lowered by 80% and nitrous oxide emissions by a third.

OMV is stepping up the adaptation of its filling stations to enable them to dispense AdBlue. In addition, AdBlue is also available at 98 OMV filling stations in 10-litre cans. OMV is thus also ahead of schedule in meeting the commercial vehicle industry's need for AdBlue infrastructure.

In September 2001, all European producers of heavy-duty commercial vehicles decided in favour of using urea solution as a pollutant reducer in the catalytic converters of trucks.

From the beginning of 2005, trucks equipped with the necessary SCR technology are available on a standard basis. With the expansion of its AdBlue filling station network, OMV is ensuring a supply of AdBlue for these vehicles on its Central European markets.

SCR technology is a prerequisite for the use of AdBlue in commercial vehicles. AdBlue is pumped into an additional tank of the truck and during operation is automatically injected into the exhaust system. With the help of the urea solution, harmful nitrous oxides are converted into atmospheric nitrogen and water in the catalytic converter. In the future, 35 new commercial vehicles using AdBlue and SCR technology will emit the same level of particulates that only one truck without an additional AdBlue tank emitted 10 years earlier. As far as nitrous oxide emissions are concerned, a reduction factor of seven will be attained with AdBlue - that is, seven AdBlue trucks will emit as much as one truck without AdBlue technology. At the same time the use of SCR technology lowers fuel consumption by up to 7%.•

Credit Cards Available Since April, Atlas bank has been offering its clients new credit cards in its crediting portfolio with Visa and MasterCard. The MasterCard Atlas credit cards - 'MasterCard Gold' and 'MasterCard Standard' - allow users to cast aside their cheques and take advantage of credit available over 12 monthly rates with just 1% interest per month. With these cards, customers can buy any number of products and pay services without withdrawing cash - much easier than cheques.

Atlas Bank launched the two credit cards options in a direct response to the National Bank of Serbia's decision to revoke the use of cheques as a delayed payment option.

There are many advantages to using Visa and MasterCard and, moreover, clients automatically receive a one-year line of credit upon receiving their card. Thus it is of no significance to Atlas Bank how the client uses their card, nor is it important to the client if the merchant from which they are purchasing goods or services offer credit, as card holders need only fulfil their credit obligations to the bank.

Provided card holders meet their payment obligations regularly, interest will be 1% per month. However, if clients fail to make two consecutive payments then the card will be automatically blocked.

In order to obtain a credit card from Atlas Bank, applicants must make a dinar or foreign currency deposit, or have existing savings in Atlas

Safest Car Around Euro NCAP has declared the new Lexus GS as the safest car in the Executive class, passing impact resistance tests with the highest scores: frontal impacts - 93%, side impacts - 100%, and achieving 'best in class' for protection of pedestrians. The Lexus GS was also announced as the best car in its class by Euro NCAP, with five stars and 35 points.

Bank. In addition to providing credit services, cards can also be used to withdraw money whilst both in the country and abroad.

Atlas Bank does not charge any extra for processing credit card accounts, although a oneyear Visa or MasterCard costs 6,000dinars and a Classic card costs 3,000dinars.

Atlas Bank is offering a total of 11 types of credit cards under conditions lasting two-and-a-half years. These cards include five types of Visa Cards, four types of MasterCards, the Dina Card and the 'C' Market Atlas Card. Anyone whose salary is deposited in Atlas bank has the right to receive any of these cards, depending on the level of the client's income. The number of credit card users is constantly increasing and Atlas Bank has issued a total of 65,000 cards in

this period.

Atlas Bank is also offering cash and consumer credits to clients for a period of 1 to 3 years, with current monthly interest of 1% expected to be decreased in the next period.

Atlas Bank also announces that it will begin offering mortgages for houses and flats in the next two months, as well as long-term loans for the purchase of cars.

Atlas Bank, in association with new strategic partner Pireus Bank, is also set to begin offering clients a leasing facility, principally for the long term leasing of automobiles.

Pireus Bank has already accepted to provide long-term finance for Atlas Bank's existing clients, particularly SMEs which are expected to develop quickly. •

The safety of the Lexus is achieved by employment of the most developed active and passive protection systems available today, and use of flexible body materials to ensire a light, but solid chasse.

The Lexus GS is equipped with 10 airbags; a supplemental restraint system (SRS) twodegree frontal airbags, left and right side airbags for frontal and side protection of the user, as well as rear and side curtains and, for the first time, lower-leg airbags. Airbags for knees are designed to inflated from beneath the

dashboard, simultaneously with frontal airbags. This is twin system decreases injury during impact with the steering wheel and lower structures of the dashboard. They also help to decrease injuries of head and chests, by decreasing the movement of the pelvis during impact.

"Lexus GS is created with the outstanding goal of achieving maximum safety", said Karl Schlicht, vice president of Lexus in Europe, "Our goal is not only to protect the car's occupants during an accident, but also to develop innovative systems of accident avoidance, such as Pre-Crash Safety system and unique Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management System."

The Lexus GS430 is equipped with the 1st generation of Lexus' unique Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM), which increase performances, control of sliding and vehicle stability.

The new Lexus GS also comes with the option of the most developed Pre-Crash Safety system (PCS), which tightens seat belts during heavy braking and is supported by additional Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), which automatically monitors the speed of ay vehicle in front of the GS. Moreover, Intelligent Adaptive Front Lighting (I-AFS) increases visibility, while the Tyre Pressure Warning System (TPWS) can detect any loss of pressure in one or more tyres.•

CorD | May 2005

79

House of Genuine Values Vojvodjanska banka a.d. Novi Sad is a universal financial institution which successfully combines the functions of modern commercial and investment banking, whilst maintaining numerous banking services in accordance with global standards. In terms of Vojvodjanska's development strategy, new technological solutions are being applied in credit card, credit, securities and e-banking sectors.

Of the products and services offered by Vojvodjanska Banka, we can highlight the following cards: VISA (Business, Gold, Electron, Credit Card, Classic and Internet), and DINA national card. If you are the holder of a VISA Classic or VISA Gold card for payments of goods

New Destinations!!!

Austrian Airlines' constantly growing network of flights is to be enriched with three more Middle East destinations in May and June. On 17th May regular flights to Beirut will begin, on 2nd June flights to Amman will commence and three days later flights to Alexandria will be introduced. These new flight schedules will see Austrian Airlines operate 59 weekly flights from Vienna to the Middle East.

And that's not all! To celebrate the launch of their new Middle East flights schedule, Austrian Airlines is offering promotional fares to these three destinations (valid for travel from Belgrade): Alexandria - €229, Beirut - €229, Amman - €399. Take time out to explore some of the Middle East's gems with Austrian Airlines.

Moreover, Austrian Airlines, in conjunction with Lufthansa, is offering special Spring Action fares for selected destinations from Belgrade. These offers include: Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bologna, Brussels, Copenhagen, Dublin, Geneva, Gothenburg, Florence, London, Madrid, Milan, Oslo, Paris, Prague, Stockholm, Venice and Zurich - €149 plus taxes & TSC; Dubai - €199 plus taxes & TSC; New York and Toronto - €319 plus taxes & TSC; Washington, Delhi, Beijing and Shanghai - €499 plus taxes & TSC. Austrian Airlines is also offering special cutprice fares for selected destinations in Asia and Australia from Belgrade, which are valid for sales until 25th June for travel up to and including 30th June. These destinations include: Singapore - €625 plus taxes & TSC; Tokyo - €700 plus taxes & TSC; Melbourne and Sydney - €850 plus taxes & TSC.•

80

CorD | May 2005

and services domestically and abroad, you are entitled to free-of-charge VISA Internet card for payments exclusively through the Internet. You can obtain a VISA Internet card even if you do not have an account with the bank.

The Internet card is both extremely safe and user friendly. Just before the payment should be made, you can activate your card by calling the Authorisation Centre. The card remains active until you call the Authorisation Centre again, after which it will be de-activated. In this way, misuse of the card and your account through eshopping is minimised.

With VISA credit card you can pay for goods and services in instalments, managing your money in a simpler way. The revolving credit card allows you to increase your credit limit each time an instalment is deposited.

With respect to your precious time, Vojvodjanska banka's 200 branches have made it possible for you to become a card holder or user of one of our packages. These packages include: § E-banking services for individuals and legal

Four Years of Operations in Serbia ProCredit Bank celebrated the fourth anniversary of its business operations in Serbia in Belgrade's Aero Club on 7th April. The bank used the opportunity of its anniversary to launch its new company ProCredit Leasing. The new company will support the SME sector, agricultural producers and private individuals by offering them a simple and convenient way to purchase a wide range of mobile goods for both businesses and everyday use.

On this occasion, General Director of ProCredit Bank, Doerte Weidig, said: "Over the past four

entities, which allow you to manage your money from anywhere at any time; § The securities account, as well as accounts for securities trading, with appropriate and reliable realisation of all transactions through the Custody Management department; § Quick and efficient transactions with countries abroad, thanks to Vojvodjanska Banka's network of 340 correspondent banks world wide. •

years ProCredit has been able to steadily expand its range of products and services and today we are a fully-fledged bank with a network of 25 branches and 3 credit offices throughout Serbia and an ever-broadening range of services.

"We see ourselves as a long term partner in the economic growth and development of Serbia.

Our new Leasing Company is also an important initiative to help stimulate the Serbian economy."

ProCredit Bank was the first international bank to establish its operations in Serbia in April of 2001 after democratic changes. In the past four years the Bank disbursed more than 50,000 loans to SMEs to the amount of 300 million EUR. The deposit base of the bank will soon reach the figure of 100 million EUR and this will continue to be a very important source of financing credit activities.

ProCredit Bank has now expanded its operations to include leasing as a modern and flexible way of acquiring movables. Leasing will be particularly favourable for SMEs as they can develop and expand their businesses with a minimum of their own investment and with preserved credit capability and liquidity of total business activity.

Announcing details of new leasing company Bojan Basa, General Manager of ProCredit Leasing, explained: "ProCredit Leasing will offer a simple, fast and convenient method of purchasing of various movables for all our clients, for existing clients of ProCredit Bank and for all new clients. The simple procedures and favorable terms of agreement that we offer will ensure leasing becomes accessible for entrepreneurs, small and medium companies, agriculture producers, agriculture companies and private individuals."•

Academia

WORDS & MEANINGS

By Jelena Jovanovic

The Belgrade ‘school’ of Russian Language, which stemmed from the Belgrade Faculty of Philology under the leadership of Professor Kornelija Icin, has begun to present its works in Belgrade over the course of the past few months. Since 1997 its representatives have participated in numerous foreign conferences and have published works in world publications.

T

he peculiarity of the school of thought is its unique approach to the semantics of literature, with completely new reading material and studies of the historic works of Russian Literature, as well as the discovery of previously unknown correlations between different arts: literature and film, painting, ballet, etc., revealing a new dimension of literary works and offering new keys to their interpretation. One of the pioneers of this new approach and new method in the literature science is retired professor of Russian Literature, Milivoje Jovanovic.

Professor Jovanovic explained: "the roots of this school of thought date way back to 1973 when I was at a Slavic Congress in Warsaw. Whilst there I met Professor Kiril Tarkovsky, who had authored an essay entitled "Inter-textual research". That was not a completely new thing, but after so many years of inaction, that essay came as a shock. Prior to Teranovsky's work, many people dealt with the area: Viktor Vinogradov, Alfred Ben. Teranovsky gave a new impulse to them all, even to me…"

Professor Kornelija Icin explained that the school's methods, which were supported by Teranovsky, were contested by the USSR and the Eastern Bloc nations of the time, which cherished traditional methods. However, its novel approaches were embraced in the West and discussed at numerous conferences in Bergamo, Paris, Amsterdam, Jerusalem, Nottingham, etc.

Icin recently held a lecture on Russian new-primitives within the cycle "Poetic Word and Visual Art - Russian context" at Belgrade's Ruski Dom. She engaged in creations of Russian painters from the first decade of the 20th century, including the works of Goncarov, Rozanov and Larionov.

Professor Icin explained: "New-primitives have revealed national creativity. They competed with the contemporary Western school and revealed national creativity: children's painting, puppetry, and also the art of advertising, which they included in their paintings. On the other hand, they started to reveal the art of primitive people. Vladimir Markov travelled and performed research related to African art and the art of Latin America and, based on that, they derived a relation and reached new poetry. They also co-operated with futurist poets. The futurists experimented with language, returning to the roots of words, and the new-primitives returned to the beginnings of artistic expression, like cave-paintings…Those paintings were considered to be a part of the text, so that a new genre was created - books were published in 50, 100 copies. Each was specially illustrated and the books were hand-written, using a special graphic solution. That was their invention…"

82

CorD | May 2005

Ana Jakovljevic, professor at the Cathedra for Russian Language and Literature

Ana Jakovljevic, a professor at the Cathedra for Russian Language and Literature, wrote about the work of director Sergey Paradzhanov for her Masters' dissertation. She analysed screenplays as though they were literary texts. The work is completely original research and Ana Jakovljevic stresses that it has to do with inter-disciplinary research: on one side it is film and poetry, while on the other side it is a scenario which started to be researched as

Academia literary text from the 1960s.

"We have two approaches in researching literature-based scenarios, because it forms a foundation for shooting film and on the other hand, it is a work of literature. Those are complicated texts, Paradzhanov has specific poetry. In his work he relies on other arts - painting and ballet. He was inspired by the new primitives.

When the film 'Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors' appeared in 1966 (the scenario of which was a starting point for my research), it was immediately noticed in the West.

Paradzhanov relied on national customs and the film was ordinary, in terms of its theme: it is a love story in one Carpathian village - but unusual due to its characteristics: static resume and frame, personalities which do not develop...In every frame there are so many miniatures with symbolism and meaning and nothing appears in the frame by chance. Paradzhanov is teaching the viewer to see things in the frame because they also 'talk' just like the characters.

"In my work, knowing this specific poetry, I started from the poems of Pushkin and Liermontov - "Demon" and "Boshchirayska fountain", which formed the basis of the scenario. I was interested in the transformation of the literary text into a screenplay. One can immediately notice huge differences there: Paradzhanov is not interested in love stories. He puts a story about a castle at the heart of the screenplay. "Demon" was significantly transformed: in the poem the main character is the character of a Demon, yet in the screenplay the main character is the character of Tamara. The Demon is not a supernatural being, but rather a toy in the hands of supernatural forces. Paradzhanov changes text in order to present his character as a subject of ethical choice, which is important for his new poetry. So, the means are different, but the message is the same", said Jakovljevic.

She noted that the screenplay was previously studied solely through the medium of film language: "There was no research of what was there before the scenario and what is reflected in the scenario from other arts, and the research reflects the way those factors influence the scenario. Through this research I studied the existing links of different art forms in one work. As such, my work was a pioneering attempt".

Jakovljevic began conducting inter-textual research, analysing the motives behind the works of renowned Russian authors of the 19th century, Tolstoy and Fet. She paid special attention to the concept of oak, which is interwoven as a motive of Tolstoy's novels and Fet's poems.

"The oak tree is a very important motive in the works of both authors. For Slavic people the oak symbolises life, which always wins - around which a society gathers. It is a symbol of strength and Christianity.

"Both of the authors see oak in the same way and they need it in order to present how the renewal of life works. For Tolstoy, oak symbolised knighthood, but also a return to life. In Christianity the oak is a symbol of perseverance in one's faith and of virtuous strength. That meaning is also portrayed in Fet's work - oak is a kind of guardian, protecting everyone in its surroundings", said Ana Jakovljevic about the comparative analysis in which she engaged.

Bojana Sabo, a postgraduate at the Faculty of Philology, has so far engaged mostly in Russian dramaturgy of the 20th century. Of late she has been dealing in poetry. In numerous conferences (Saint Petersburg, Czech Republic, "Slavic Days" in Belgrade) she participated with works based on the dramaturgy of modern writers as their topic. One of her more interesting works is a comparison of Chekhov's "Seagull" and the "Seagull" of modern Russian writer Boris Akunyin. In that work, Sabo presented a comparative analysis of the characters. Akunyin wrote a continuation of Chekhov's "Seagull" and offered nine different possible endings for that drama. Sabo announced that during this year in Belgrade a cycle of lectures dealing with the most contemporary and the

most prominent Russian poetry linking natural and social sciences, is to be staged.

Kornelija Icin explained: "It is about the latest scientific trends.

Vector poetry is the name for poetry where the laws of physics are under research, the direction in which the song was written using characteristic signs. The vector is an envisaged direction of movement, and in the poetry it shows the dynamics of paintings tied with rhythm, repetition of vowels and consonants in the rhyme,

Within the Belgrade ’school’ of Russian Language there are various interests tied to various authors and historical and literature periods. etc. The Russian scientists are now dealing with it and research is currently under way.

Within the Belgrade school of Russian Language there are various interests tied to various authors and historical and literature periods.

Amra Latific studies Malyevich and other painters and their relationship towards poetry. In the works about the poetry of Shagal and Malyevich she studies the relationship of the poetic text which is a lesser known part of their creation and of the things which are familiar to all: their paintings. The direction of her

Bojana Sabo, postgraduate at the Faculty of Philology

research is a detailed analysis of all layers of text, uncovering and studying different links between texts and differing art mediums, deepening existing ideas and revealing new methods. That, of course, casts a different light on renowned works of art and offers the possibility for new angles of looking. The Belgrade School of Russian Language continues to work and this year presentations in Belgrade and abroad are envisaged.• CorD | May 2005

83

Techno Talk Apple iBook G4 12in

www.apple.com Apple's iBook now packs G4 processing and looks as cool as ever in its tough polycarbonate armour. It's capable too, with combo DVD/CD-RW drive, 30GB HD, FireWire/USB2/Ethernet ports, Wi-Fi capability and six-hour battery life.

Who said Mac laptops were expensive? This 1GHz, 265MB machine costs more than £500 less than the equivalent Vaio and looks a sight better, too.

Crashy Windows PC or rock-solid Mac? No contest.• Retail price : cca €1200

KonicaMinolta Dimage Z3 www.konica.com We're glad to see that the Dimage Z series of cameras has survived Minolta's alliance with Konica. Not least because this kind of long zoom, high feature count camera encourages creative photography, but also because we still think the Z series cameras look like one of the Cloud City Sky Cars in Star Wars. When we're not making it careen around the office making zoomy noises, we're praising the Z3 for its 12x optical anti-shake zoom and four megapixel CCd mated to a speedy architecture that includes rapid AF, start-up time and 2.2fps continuous shooting. Get out there and do some photography; may the force be with you.• Retail price : cca tba

Acer Ferrari 3200

www.acer.com It's fast. It's very red (about as red as a million tomatoes). It makes a screeching, commuter-scaring, F1-engine noise when you start it up, which is entirely appropriate given that it is Acer's new Ferrari laptop, as used by Michael Schumacher (probably). Now you can use it, if you're the kind of tech-loving petrolhead who really, really likes the colour red.

Unlike the F1 car, it's not the fastest model in its group, but it's fast enough to justify carrying the famous Ferrari logo: an AMD Athlon 64 2800+ processor complements its 80GB hard drive.• Retail price : cca €2500

84

CorD | May 2005

Techno Talk

Philips 32PF9986 www.philips.com Who needs art? Just imagine the look on your mates' faces when they see this vision of beauty hung on your wall (brackets are included). Fitted with Philips' 'Ambilight' technology, the set projects coloured light from the rear of the panel onto your wall to soften the impact of glare and on-screen reflections. Other features include the company's latest Pixel Plus 2 picture enhancement technology and a component video to DVD-I input for transferring video data. Plasma TVs beware! Picture Plus 2 technology gives images a startling sense of depth and three-dimensionality. Contrast levels are spot on, with rich, deep blacks, and the set has no problems dishing up detail in darker scenes. The colour balance is vibrant, yet remains subtle with both DVD and off-air pictures. This is one of the best film screens to date.• Retail price : cca €4500

Palm Zire 21 www.palm.com Quite simply the best-value PDA around. Scoff not at its black-and-white display - anyone wishing to get an electronic handle on life will find comfort in its simple yet powerful OS and its minimalist styling. This genuinely cannot be beaten for value (but if you absolutely can't live without colour you can move up to the Zire 31 for a still far from extravagant €190).• Retail price : cca €100

Creative i-Trigue L3450 www.creative.com We like the Creative i-Trigue 2.1 speaker system because it reminds us of Star Trek. Imagine sitting astride your captain's throne, communicating with a reptilian

Selay from Beta Renner. Its rasping tones are relayed to you on the bridge via the 9w RMA speakers, whose 30w RMS subwoofer beefs up the Selay's strident demands for peanut butter…And back to reality.

Forget stereotypical wooden or mattblack speaker styling; the L3450's gleaming set-up will frame your (admit it) extremely dull computer with its proud purity. • Retail price : cca €200 CorD | May 2005

85

Techno Talk Blackberry 7230 www.blackberry.com The Blackberry 7230 hasn't quite caught on in Europe as much as it hit the States, but it's undoubtedly the best mobile messaging device around, seamlessly integrating text and email alongside basic organiser functionality. A stunning screen and a decent QWERTY keyboard make this a messaging must-have.• Retail price : cca tba

Sanyo Xacti VPC-C1 www.sanyo.com This hybrid model can claim to be both a camcorder and a digicam, though there's an emphasis on movie-making not offered by most digital cameras. The significant point about the Xacti is that it uses solid-state storage. Whether you're shooting movies or stills, they're both saved on the same SD memory card - the VPC-C1 includes a 128MB card. This is still only capable of storing a few minutes of footage though, so you'll have to invest in some very big memory cards to match the capacity of a MiniDV tape or 8cm DVD. The Xacti stores discrete movie files, which you can copy to your computer via a USB cable or card reader. The only noteworthy handling flaws are the piddling LCD display and awkward 'pistol grip' design.

The really bad news, however, is the pretty poor video quality. It might be okay for movie snapshots, but any 'real' camcorder will produce notably better results.• Retail price : cca €700

Orange SPV C500 www.orange.com The arrival of the latest SPV has confirmed suspicions that the C500 is very small indeed. The same height as the Sendo X, the C500 is far thinner, making it look and feel like a normal mobile phone. The matt black chassis is also easy on the eye, giving it a sleek and attractive appearance that we'd never have expected from the SPV range. However, one thing remains relatively unchanged: the Microsoft Smartphone operating system. Despite having apparently been made especially for the format, the Smartphone OS has always had a number of irritating quirks that make it a frustrating platform to use. Still, it's apparent that many of the annoying foibles have now been ironed out. Along with an upgrade from Microsoft, Orange has also added its own layers to the interface. A new home page makes it easy to check for emails and texts, and allows quick access to all your favourite apps. As well as Bluetooth, Orange has also managed to cram in a VGA digital camera, 64MB of RAM and a Secure Digital (SD) slot. The SD is of the Mini variety and is, unfortunately, located under the battery, but we are willing to overlook this in view of the tiny chassis. A couple of times, in use, the C500 froze up, obliging us to remove the battery and power it up again. However, our review unit was a pre-production model, so any glitches should have been fixed before the C500 appears on the shelves.• Retail price : cca €80

86

CorD | May 2005

Techno Talk

HP PhotoSmart 245

www.hp.com We don't all need full-bleed A3-sized photos. What do you do if you just want photo lab style prints with the minimum of fuss? You get the HP PhotoSmart 245. You don't even need a computer - you can slot in Compact Flash, SmartMedia, SD, Memory Stick and the latest xD Picture cards directly from your digicam. There's a colour LCD screen for previewing the shots on any inserted card and choosing which you want to print.

Photos come out on specially perforated HP paper. The PhotoSmart 245 is tiny enough to fit on the smallest desktop, and it can also double as a memory card reader when plugged into your computer. There's even an optional carry case and power adaptor for your car's accessory socket.• Retail price : cca €230

Sharp GX30 www.sharp.com Sharp has shown the other contenders a clean pair of heels in the camphone market since day one, delivering a shock newcomer in the GX10, a worthy successor in the GX20 and now the GX30, the first megapixel camphone to hit the shops. It might be a tad bulky, but Sharp's latest is home to some serious tech. Bluetooth is a given, as is a glorious, pin-sharp, 65k-colour screen; there's also an SD card slot to take care of all the extra storage space your megapixel snaps will claim. And those snaps could have been taken on a camera from any of the top manufacturers, such are the Sharp's photographic skills. Rich, true colours and astonishing detail have you wondering how such a well executed phone can also be such a talented camera. MP3 playback is also included, alongside video playback and recording, reinforcing the GX30's position as the undisputed king of the camphones.• Retail price : cca tba

Shinco 7in DVD player www.shinco.com Shut off the simpering hordes during your daily commute. 'Tell Giles we need a new strategy going forward,' is the sort of phrase you need never hear again, thanks to this portable entertainment powerhouse. A measly £200 buys not only the player itself, with 7inch TFT screen and Dolby Digital output, but also a remote control, AC adaptor and audio/video cables, so you can use it with your home system.• Retail price : cca €330

CorD | May 2005

87

Cuisine

Traditional style It is no mean feat to decide which of Belgrade's veritable abundance of quality restaurants, offering cuisine from all around the world, is the best or the most representative.

Each of Belgrade's top restaurants carries its own story, flavour and aroma. But if a restaurant has been successfully operating in the same location for more than fifty years then it is surely worthy of attention.

By Sonja Rados, Photo Mirjana Kotlaja

R

esava Restaurant, located in the very heart of the city, has been open to diners since 1946. Resava has always offered its customers the highest quality fare, though it has changed styles several times: from a simple city inn serving national cuisine, to an international restaurant, to the Mediterranean restaurant that it is today.

It is common knowledge that Mediterranean cuisine is extremely healthy and an aid to the longevity of those indulging in its culinary delights. With an unparalleled balance of minerals and nutrients, primarily found in the fresh vegetables used throughout the Southern European region as a basis for most meals, Mediterranean fare is both healthy and tasty.

The mainstays of this type of cuisine are those ingredients and products most commonly found in the region, such as olive oil, red wine, garlic, seafood, tomatoes, citrus fruits and various lean meats.

Resava Restaurant nurtures this exact style of Mediterranean cuisine, with their carefully selected menu of dishes from the countries of the Sea separating Europe from Africa.

BEEF BOURGUIGNON (for one) A steak dish named after this famous French region. Exquisite meal, top quality!

Ingredients: 300g beef steak Bourguignon sauce: onions, garlic, red pepper, thyme, dry red wine, salt, butter, flour.

Side dish: artichoke, smoked ham, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, foie gras.

Cut the steak and grill it on a grill or barbecue. Then prepare gravy: finely chop an onion and clove of garlic, crush red pepper, and add thyme. This mixture should then be fried in butter until golden. Then pour over a glass of red wine, sip by sip, and allow to simmer. When almost ready, add a little flour in order to make the mix thicker. Pour the gravy over the grilled beef.

Artichoke should be washed and dried, hollowed out in the middle and stuffed with mozzarella and parmesan, then rolled into smoked ham and very briefly fried. Serve with foie gras as a side dish.

CAPRESE SALAD (for one) A traditional first course that you will find on every menu throughout Italy. Complete refreshment for all your senses!

Ingredients: 2-3 slightly cooked tomatoes, 150g mozzarella cheese, pesto sauce, salt, pepper, sweet basil, olive oil. For decoration: green lettuce, crunchy bread with paprika, garlic and parsley.

The tomatoes should be cooked for a short time and then sliced into discs, plated and covered with slices of mozzarella cheese. Sequence of placing: a row of tomato followed by a row of cheese, then everything should be drenched in olive oil and sprinkled with salt, pepper, pesto sauce and fresh or dried basil.

Among the appetisers on offer at Resava are the extremely popular Prawn Cocktail - a prawn salad dressed in Thousand Island dressing and served in a tall glass, or Antipasto ala Parmigiana - a salad of aubergines, courgettes and fried peppers, with parmesan and mozzarella cheese. Of course, there are many more interesting and exotic starters on Resava's menu, amongst which are typical citrus salads, chicken salads and other typical Mediterranean first courses, which can be followed by a course of pasta.

Among the wide range of main fish, sea food or meat courses on offer are such delights as Turnedo Gorgonzola steak with gorgonzola butter and vegetables, or steak with Green Peppercorn sauce and potatoes.

As you swim in this sea of splendid specialities, you can indulge in wines from Resava's rich wine list, which includes wines of distinction from France, Italy, Macedonia, Croatia and Portugal.

Finally, you can end your meal by delighting in one of this fine eatery's wide selection of desserts, giving the sweetest of climaxes to your journey through this palace of tastes and aromas.

Resava's fully trained staff are on hand to enrich your dining experience from Monday to Saturday, 12pm to midnight, and if you are in the vicinity of the restaurant you can also order your food over the phone and have it swiftly and efficiently delivered to your door. Resava Restaurant is also an excellent venue for organised parties, celebrations or receptions.• Restaurant 'Resava'- Fine Mediterranean cuisine Resavska Street, 24 Tel: 011/323-3192

TIRAMISU (8 servings) Italians are famous for their tiramisu: a cold and refreshing dessert leaving an inerasable impression if you try it just once. Old stories say that tiramisu was the favourite sweet of Venetian courtesans who wanted an alcoholic drink to refresh themselves between love meetings, which in literal translation means "tirami-su".

We do not know if this story is true or if it only belongs to folk lore, but it will surely refresh you and make memories of every other "richer" sweets pale in comparison.

Ingredients: 6 eggs, 1/2l whipping cream, 250g mascarpone cheese, 3 packs of ladyfinger pastry, 6 spoonfuls of sugar, cocoa, amaretto, espresso.

Whip the cream, then egg whites with sugar until peaks can be formed, then add the mascarpone cheese. Ladyfinger pastry should be dipped into cooled espresso coffee, mixed with amaretto and laid into an appropriate dish. After that layer, add a layer of cream and repeat the sequence. When complete, sprinkle with cocoa and leave overnight in refrigerator.

CARPACCIO (for one) Carpaccio was named after Renaissance painter Vittore Carpaccio, who was known for the use of the colour red in his works. This meal was probably so named because of the intense colour of the steak it includes.

Ingredients: beef steak, lemon, salt, pepper, pesto sauce, parmesan cheese, olive oil. For decoration: mixed lettuce, pretzels with caraway seeds.

Steak should be cleaned, placed on foil and rolled into a tubular form, after which it should be placed in a freezer until frozen. The frozen steak is then cut into very thin sheets, covered with pesto sauce, salt, pepper, parmesan cheese and olive oil.

Belgrade Directory

Theatres, Music & Museums

THEATRES • ATELJE 212, Svetogorska 21, tel. 324-7342 • BELGRADE DRAMA THEATRE, Milesevska 64a, tel. 2423-686 • BITEF THEATRE, Skver Mire Trailovic 1, tel. 3220-608 • DADOV, Djure Salaja 6/I, tel. 3243-643 • DAH THEATRE, Humska 12, tel. 2441-680 • ISTER THEATRE, Koste Glavinica 7A, tel. 650-757 • JUGOSLAV DRAMA THEATRE, Kralja Milana 50, tel. 644-447 • KPGT, Radnicka 3, tel. 3055-082, 3055-070 • NATIONAL THEATRE (Opera, Ballet, Theatre Plays), Francuska 3, tel. 620-946 • CHAMBER OPERA MADLENIANUM, Zemun, Glavna 32, tel. 316-25-33 • THEATRE ON TERAZIJA, Trg Nikole Pasica 3, tel. 3245-677, 410-099 • SCENA RADOVIC, Aberdareva 1, tel. 323-8817 • SLAVIJA THEATRE, Svetog Save 18, tel. 436-995 • THEATRE T, Bulevar kralja Aleksandra 77a, tel. 403-570 • THEATRE BOJAN STUPICA, Kralja Milana 50, tel. 644-447 • THEATRE KULT, Bulevar kralja Aleksandra, 77a, tel. 242-860 • ZVEZDARA THEATRE, Milana Rakica 38, tel. 2419-664 CHILDREN’S THEATRES • BOSKO BUHA, Trg Republike 3, tel. 632-855 • MALO POZORISTE DUSKO RADOVIC, Aberdareva 1, tel. 323-20-72 • POZORISTANCE PUZ, Bozidara Adzije 21, tel. 2449-464 • POZORISTE LUTAKA PINOKIO, Karadjordjeva 9, tel. 2691-715 • THEATRE RODA, Pozeska 83a, tel. 545-260 CINEMAS • AKADEMIJA 28, Nemanjina 28, tel. 3611-645 • BALKAN, Brace Jerkovica 16, tel. 3343-491 • DOM OMLADINE, Makedonska 22, tel. 324-8202 • DOM SINDIKATA, Trg Nikole Pasica 5, tel. 323-4849 • 20. OKTOBAR, Balkanska 2, tel. 687-182 • DVORANA KULTURNOG CENTRA, Kolarceva 6, tel. 2621-174 • FONTANA, Pariske komune 13, tel. 602-397 • JADRAN, Trg Nikole Pasica, tel. 624-057 • JUGOSLAVIJA, Bulevar Mihaila Pupina bb, tel. 2676-484 • KOZARA, Terazije 25, tel. 323-5648 • MALA MORAVA, Spasicev pasaz, tel. 623-198 • MALI ODEON, Kneza Milosa 14-16, tel. 643-280 • MILLENNIUM, Knez Mihailova 19, tel. 2623-365 • MUZEJ KINOTEKE, Kosovska 11, tel. 324-8250 • ODEON, Narodnog fronta 45, tel. 643-355 • PALAS SUMADIJA, Turgenjevljeva 5, tel. 555-465 • RODA, Pozeska 83a, tel. 545-260 • SAVA CENTAR, Milentija Popovica 9, tel. 311-4851 • TUCKWOOD CINEPLEX, Knez Milosa 7, tel. 3229-912 • VUK, Bul. Kralja Aleksandra 77a, tel. 2424-860 • ZVEZDA, Terazije 40, tel. 687-320

94

CorD | May 2005

CULTURAL CENTRES • BRITISH COUNCIL, Terazije 8, tel. 3023-800 • CENTRE FOR CULTURAL DECONTAMINATION, Bircaninova 21, tel. 681-422 • STUDENTSKI GRAD CULTURAL CENTRE, Bulevar AVNOJ-a 179, tel. 2691-422 • BELGRADE YOUTH CENTRE, Makedonska 22, tel. 3220-127 • DOM VOJSKE JUGOSLAVIJE, Brace Jugovica 19, tel. 323-99-71 • FRENCH CULTURAL CENTRE, Zmaj Jovina 11, tel. 3023-600 • GERMAN CULTURAL CENTRE, Knez Mihailova 50, tel. 2622-823 • ITALIAN CULTURAL CENTRE, Njegoseva 47/III, tel. 244-23-12, 444-72-17 • BELGRADE CULTURAL CENTRE, Knez Mihailova 6/1, tel. 621-469 • INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL CENTRE - JUBIN, Terazije 26, tel. 687-836, fax. 687-760 • RUSSIAN CULTURAL CENTRE, Narodnog fronta 33, tel. 642-178, 688-300 • REX, Jevrejska 16, tel. 3284-534 • STUDENTS CULTURAL CENTRE, Kralja Milana 48, tel. 659-277 • FOUNDATION OF ILIJA M. KOLARAC, Studentski trg 5, tel. 630-550 • GUARNERIUS, Dzordza Vasingtona 12, tel. 33-46-807 EXHIBITION GALLERIES • GALLERY OF THE SERBIAN ACADEMY OF ARTS & SCIENCES, Knez Mihailova 35, tel. 334-2400 • BELGRADE GALLERY, Andricev Venac 12, tel. 323-8789 • BAZALT GALLERY, Lazarevacki drum 7, tel. 553-689 • PAVILJON CVIJETA ZUZORIC, Mali Kalemegdan, tel. 2621-585 • DOMA OMLADINE GALLERY, Makedonska 22, tel. 3248-202, ext. 25 • THE GREAT GALLERY OF STUDENTSKI GRAD, Bulevar AVNOJ-a 179, tel. 2691-442 • GALERIJA FAKULTETA LIKOVNIH UMETNOSTI, Knez Mihailova 53, tel. 635-952 • FRESCO GALLERY, Cara Urosa 20, tel. 2621-491 • GALERIJA GRAFICKOG KOLEKTIVA, Obilicev venac 27, tel. 627-785 • GALERIJA HAOS, Cara Lazara 12, tel. 627-497 • GALERIJA KULTURNOG CENTRA BEOGRADA, Knez Mihailova 6, tel. 2622-926 • JUGOSLOVENSKA GALERIJA UMETNICKIH DELA, Andricev venac 4, tel. 3238-789; Dositejeva 1, tel. 627-135 • GALERIJA-LEGAT MILICE ZORIC I RODOLJUBA COLAKOVICA, Rodoljuba Colakovica 13, tel. 663-173 • GALERIJA-LEGAT PAJE JOVANOVICA, Kralja Milana 21, tel. 3340-176 • GALERIJA-PETRA DOBROVICA, Kralja Petra 36, tel. 2622-163 • SANU GALLERY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Djure Jaksica 2, tel. 3283-490 • GALERIJA PROGRES, Knez Mihailova 22, tel. 182-626 • GALERIJA PRIRODNJACKOG MUZEJA, Mali Kalemegdan 5, tel. 328-4317 • MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, Pariska 14, tel. 630-940 • GALERIJA STARA KAPETANIJA, Zemun, Kej oslobodjenja 8, tel. 612-023 • GALERIJA SULUJ, Terazije 26/II, tel. 685-780 • GALERIJA 73, Pozeska 83a, tel. 557-142 • GALERIJA ULUS, Knez Mihailova 37, tel. 2621-954 • GALLERY OF THE YUGOSLAV ARMY, Brace Jugovica 19, tel. 323-47-12 • GALERIJA ZADUZBINE ILIJE M. KOLARCA, Studentski Trg 5, tel. 185-794 • ZEPTER GALLERY, Kralja Petra I no.32, tel. 328-1414

MUSEUMS CULTURAL&HISTORICAL MUSEUMS: • VUK AND DOSITEJ MUSEUM, Gospodar Jevremova 21, tel. 625-161 • ETNOGRAPHIC MUSEUM- Studentski trg 13, tel. 328-1888 • SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, Kralja Petra 5, tel. 3282-595 • NATIONAL MUSEUM, Trg Republike 1a, tel. 624-322, 438-886 • MUSEUM OF PEDAGOGY, Uzun Mirkova 14, tel. 627-538 • THE MANSION OF DUCHESS LJUBICA, Kneza Sime Markovica 8, tel. 638-264 • THE MANSION OF DUKE MILOSH, Rakovicki put 2, tel. 660-422 • DJURA JAKSIC HOUSE, Skadarska 34, tel. 324-7334 • MANAK’S HOUSE, Gavrila Principa 5, tel. 633-335 HISTORICAL MUSEUMS: • MILITARY MUSEUM, Kalemegdan, tel. 3344-408 • BELGRADE FORTRESS MUSEUM, Kalemegdan bb, 631-766 • YUGOSLAV HISTORICAL MUSEUM, Trg Nikole Pasica 11, • MUSEUM OF BANJICA’S CAMP, Veljka Lukica-Kurjaka 33, tel. 669-690 • JEWISH HISTORICAL MUSEUM, Kralja Petra 71, tel. 2622-634 • SERBIAN HISTORICAL MUSEUM, Nemanjina 24/VII, tel. 3674-057

AMSJ road assistance

987

Ambulance

94

Police

92

Fire Department

93

Belgrade Bus Station

636-299

Belgrade Airport

601-555

Wake-up calls

9811

Humanitarian phone

9862

JAT ticket reservations

311-2123

Long distance calls (international)

901

Phone line Malfunction

977

Information Exact time Information - phone numbers

9812 95 988

MEMORIAL MUSEUMS: • MEMORIAL MUSEUM JOVAN CVIJIC, Jelene Cvetkovic 5, tel. 3223-126 • NIKOLA TESLA MUSEUM, Krunska 51, tel. 2433-886 • MEMORIAL MUSEUM TOMA ROSANDIC, Vasilija Gacese 3, tel. 651-434 • IVO ANDRIC MUSEUM, Andricev Venac 12, tel. 323-8397

Telegrams by telephone Medical Center Emergency Room Whether forecast Central Train Station Chemists,"1. maj", Kralja Milana 9

CITY MUSEUMS: • BELGRADE CITY MUSEUM, Zmaj Jovina 1, tel. 630-825 • ZEMUN CITY MUSEUM, Glavna 9, tel. 617-752 TEHNICAL MUSEUMS: • YUGOSLAV AERONAUTICS MUSEUM, Belgrade Airport, tel. 670-992 • RAILWAY MUSEUM, Nemanjina 6, tel. 361-0334 • MOTORCAR MUSEUM, Majke Jevrosime 30, tel. 3241-566 • SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY MUSEUM, Djure Jaksica 9, tel. 187-360, 3281-479 • ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY MUSEUM, Skenderbegova 51, tel. 630-285 • POST MUSEUM, Majke Jevrosime 13, tel. 3210-325 • ARCHITECTURE MUSEUM, Djure Jaksica 9, tel. 187-360, 3281-479

Chemists, "Prima 1", "Sv. Sava"

96 3618-444 9823 629-400 324-05-33 361-10-88, 361-09-99

Chemists, "Sv. Sava", Nemanjina 2

643-170

Chemists, "Zemun", Glavna 34

618-582

Alfa taxi

244-11-13

Alo taxi

3564-555, 063/252-002

Beogradski taxi Beotaxi

9801, 064-12-88-000 970

Ekonomik taxi

397-33-27

EURO TAXI (Lux taxi)

334-47-47

Gold taxi

329-18-18

Lux taxi

328-44-44

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUMS:

Maxiss taxi

• MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, Njegoseva 51, tel. 344-2149, 344-2568 • MUSEUM OF SERBIAN MEDICINE, Dzordza Vasingtona 19, tel. 3245-149

Naxi taxi

215-76-68

NBA taxi

318-57-77

Pink taxi

9803, 488-99-77

ART MUSEUMS

Plavi taxi (Cukaricki)

• AFRICAN ART MUSEUM, Andre Nikolica 14, tel. 651-654 • THEATRE MUSEUM, Gospdar Jevremova 19, tel. 626-630 • CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM, Usce, tel. 311-5713 • DESIGN MUSEUM, Vuka Karadzica 18, tel. 626-494 • CINEMA MUSEUM, Kosovska 11, tel. 324-8250

Taxi Bell Zeleni taxi Žuti taxi

581-111, 9804

3-555-999 9808 323-36-66, 324-25-55 9802

CorD | May 2005

95

ENDLESS IMITATION - Part Three of

PIGS DO NOT EAT BANANA SKINS

Photo “Gloria” archive

Tim mothyy Byford for CorD

The story so far: Andrew Beresford has exchanged his secure job as a BBC Television film director for the unpredictability of life as a freelance director in Yugoslavia, a country whose language he has only just started to scratch the surface of. The driving force behind this seemingly insane move is art student Masha Kostich, with whom he falls instantly in love. They marry within the year and Andrew moves into the family home; Andrew finds himself strangely attracted to Masha's music-critic mother, who finds him a job directing music programmes for Belgrade television and the two (three) lovebirds settle down to a life of married bliss…

S

usan, the girl from Swanmore who had 'exchanged' with the Yugoslav girl in my television programme, had described the way people live in Yugoslavia as 'primitive'. True, the Yugoslavs she had met lived simply, even crudely; they didn't play croquet on finely mown lawns or drink tea and eat thinly cut cucumber sandwiches at five o'clock. But they seemed to more than make up for their lack of sophistication; they were nothing if not resourceful. Take contraception, for example. Of course, they'd heard of the pill, but were still very suspicious of it, more preoccupied with its possible side effects than with the potential freedom it offered the female of the species. Contraception in the Balkans seemed to consist of a combination of abstinence, being careful (the local version of the Roman Catholic rhythm method), coitus interruptus, cheap, unreliable and non-sensitive condoms available at newspaper kiosks and at the cash desks of some supermarkets, locking the stable door after the horse had bolted (frantic douching of the vagina immediately after intercourse), and the final solution - abortion. Masha and I had used them all except the final solution, and had so far set ourselves up as living proof of their effectiveness.

"Andrew, sit down please. I have a shock for you. Please don't be angry. Please."

"All right. I won't be angry, I promise."

So this was it. She'd been shagging that fool Stefan who'd been hanging around her for months and now she wanted to leave me. Of course I wouldn't be angry, I'd probably just jump straight out of the window. No, I'd throw myself under a tram so that they'd have to get a crane to free my mangled remains, like they did three weeks ago in Bulevar Revolucije when a little old lady didn't look both ways when crossing the road after leaving the supermarket. Eggs, yoghourt and raw meat - Balkan steak tartar. I sat down.

"I went to doctor's today. I will have a baby. We will have a baby."

I will have a baby, you will have a baby, she will have a baby, we will have a baby… We will have a baby! A baby! This

96

CorD | May 2005

was the third time in my short but turbulent life that I had successfully performed my biological duty, but it was the first time that the news hadn't knocked the legs from under me and sent me running to the chemist's for a supply of quinine. On the contrary, this time it lifted me clean off the ground. I was floating somewhere beneath the ornate plaster ceiling, surrounded by cherubims and seraphims.

"Oh, Andrew, I don't know how it happened. We were so careful. Sorry. Please don't be angry."

"Angry?! Do I look angry?"

"Yes, a little…"

"Oh, Masha, you silly girl. You clever girl. We're going to have a baby! I'm going to have a son and heir!"

I was suddenly aware of no longer being the human being I had been two minutes earlier. I may have looked more or less the same, but I had actually been totally transformed by the physical transformation I had instigated inside Masha.

"Does Mama know?"

"Of course she know. Mama know everything. She told me I was pregnant! Before I go to the doctor. She is very, very, happy."

"And Tata?"

"Tata think I am too young. But when I told him that Mama was my age when she had me, he was quiet. I told him I will finish the academy before I have our baby - and anyway, pregnant girls can paint as good as virgins!"

"Better than virgins, I should think. They are more fulfilled.

More filled, anyway…"

My terrible play-on-words fell on stony ground. Being an Englishman in Yugoslavia was very much a twin-edged sword.

On the one hand I was intriguing, mysterious - an alien almost - and in some quarters I commanded a respect that I could never have dreamed of commanding in England, but on the other hand I was misunderstood, lost in space, a fish out of water. That I had no close friends was nothing new - but at this particular moment I desperately needed someone with whom to share my joy, my apprehensions, my expectations - and I

suddenly realized that I missed my old friend Caroline more than anyone else I had left behind. Caroline, who had always been there when I needed someone, Caroline, who had encouraged me when I had needed encouragement, advised me when I had needed advice, and consoled me when I had needed consolation.

"I expect you miss your mother…"

"No, why?"

"Well, someone to talk to…" …With whom to share my joy, my apprehensions, my expectations. My mother wasn't that someone - not at that particular moment anyway, but it was clear that Maria understood me, that she could read my mind. In many respects I felt closer to Maria than to Masha. Maria had experienced more of life and was in a better position to guide me - to encourage me, to advise me, to console me. Perhaps I simply couldn't manage, couldn't function, without a mother-figure. After all, all my previous 'mates', except that film extra with a flower on her bum, had been older than me. Masha was like a schoolgirl in comparison. Boisterous, silly, moody, gullible, cheeky, dreamy, imaginative - and delightfully sexy. And I loved her.

Maria was serene, level-headed, amusing, affectionate, strongwilled, artistic, imaginative - and delightfully sexy. And I loved her. I, a thirty-year-old schoolboy and father-to-be was in love with two women. And we all lived together under the same roof. Who needed friends?

Masha graduated from the Academy of Art with distinction and a noticeably increased waist-line. The larger she grew, the more beautiful she looked; she remained happy to make love - albeit very gently - well into the eighth month, and it began to seem less impossible that Maria actually derived pleasure from the gentle gymnastics she must have to perform beneath Sreten's watermelon stomach.

"Do you think it would be good for us to have our own flat when the baby is born?"

Funnily enough the thought had never crossed my mind.

Of course it was a good idea - in principle. My mother had always said that a baby who lived with its grandmother was doomed to be spoilt beyond repair and that for a man to live with his mother-in-law he had to be either a saint or penniless - and I was neither.

"Well, yes, I suppose it would - but…"

I suddenly realized that my 'but' was a 'but' that could not speak its name. Any normal thirty-year-old father-to-be would bend over backwards to secure everything necessary to establish a so-called 'nuclear' family. But, on the other hand, no normal thirty-year-old father-to-be would break out in goose pimples every time his mother-in-law put her hand on his shoulder, or every time he 'accidentally' burst into the alwaysunlocked bathroom without knocking, when he knew only too well that his mother-in-law was taking a shower. But surely any normal mother-in-law would have screamed and tried to cover herself and not smiled sweetly and told me to come in if it was urgent.

"But - what?"

"I just thought that it would be better to have your mother at hand."

There - not even a white lie. And it was obvious that Masha felt the same.

"Well, to start with - yes. But I thought that an Englishman's home was his palace."

"Castle, actually. Yes, but Englishmen who love Yugoslav birds are more than happy in the family nest."

Or, in this case, two birds in the bush were infinitely preferable to one in the hand. Masha was understandably more than happy to stay at home, and I was given extra marks

for my unselfish sacrifice.

"If we put the bed on the other side of the room and move Andrew's desk into the corner, the cot can go there, and there'll be room for another cupboard for baby's things…"

Perhaps I had bitten off more than I could chew. Any attempt to assert my masculinity proved fruitless.

"Perhaps it would be better to put the cot nearer the window, where there's more natural light…"

"No, no - then it would be in a draught. You don't want that, do you?"

I could hardly say 'yes', could I? In a draught! I had learnt very quickly that Yugoslavs had a thing about draughts. Even in the middle of summer when the temperature was over 100 (Fahrenheit, of course - I still hadn't got used to Celsius), if there were two windows open anywhere, it would never be long before someone shrieked: "Promaja!" In England when there was a heat wave we had opened everything in sight to create a draught, to cool the place down, but in Yugoslavia, a draught meant certain death.

To women, that is. On the whole I found it was women who had a thing about draughts, but whereas in England women generally manage to have the last word, in Yugoslavia they make sure of having the first one as well. Men have to be satisfied with getting the odd word in edgeways. They do most of their talking amongst themselves in cafés over numerous slivovitzes. Of course, when they come home, three-quartersdrunk, they expect the house to be clean and a hot meal waiting for them. When I half-grumbled to Masha about the bossiness of women she silenced me by saying that it was simply because most men behaved like five-year-old boys and needed looking after.

Maybe she was right. Maybe it was best to accept that I was now living in a matriarchal society. Here, women did almost everything men did, but usually better. There were even women tram drivers, although the ones I had seen looked considerably more masculine than I did. Mens' clubs, sacred havens for the male of the species in England, were unheard of here. Ironically, perhaps the only place a man could be 100% certain of being alone with other men was in a pornographic cinema. But this female dominance didn't really worry me.

First, I was madly in love with the two most dominant women in my life, and secondly, had I not always worshipped the moon, the feminine power, the Mother Goddess? And had I not always got on much better with women than with men?

Women are more instinctive than rational, yet their instinct somehow seems far more rational than male reason. Women tend to think with their heart more than with their head. Like me. Perhaps I was really a woman in a man's body.

Psychologically speaking, of course. I don't think I had serious bisexual tendencies and I certainly had no urge to have a sex change. I was quite happy in my role as a dominated male. I apologize to my fellow men if I appear to be a traitor to my sex, but the female of the species is definitely superior.

Full stop.

Masha provided immediate and incontrovertible proof of this. In less than a month she would do something that creative geniuses the likes of Leonardo da Vinci, Goethe, Beethoven, Renoir, Einstein - never came anywhere near doing. She would create something more wonderful, more glorious and more awesome than the tallest Gothic God-box in England, Salchester Cathedral. She would do something that even God the Omnipotent hadn't actually done himself.

She would give birth to a baby.

My baby.

To be continued…

CorD | May 2005

97

Belgrade Directory holders are permitted to fish on both the Danube and Sava rivers, as well as elsewhere in the area. Angling licences can be obtained from the Sport-Fishing Association of Belgrade (tel: 011 361 3590), the Association of Serbian Anglers (tel: 011 361 3379) or the Serbian & Montenegrin Association of Fishermen (tel: 011 361 3398).

... rent a boat for river cruises?

• For a party, function or reception venue with a difference,

CorD's editorial staff will attempt to find and give answers to questions of current interest to our readers, so please send in your questions for future editions. In this issue, we reply to the most frequently asked questions amongst newcomers to Belgrade.

why not rent a luxury boat and leisurely cruise Belgrade's rivers?

Information on boat hire is available from the Tourist Organisation of Belgrade and prices start at around €60 per hour. For availability and booking information, contact the TOB on 011 635 622, 011 629 992. Alternatively, visit the website at www.tob.co.yu, or visit the TOB's offices in Terazija Square or at 18 Knez Mihajlova Street.

... book tickets online for all events?

... play a round of golf?

• It is now possible to book and pay for tickets for all kinds of

• Now that the snow has melted and the sun has begun to shine, the time is ripe to dust down your clubs and play a round of golf. Why not become a member of the Belgrade Golf Club?

Belgrade's one and only full 18-hole course is located beside Ada Ciganlija lake. For information regarding opening times, membership details and club hire, contact Belgrade Golf Club directly on 011 305 6837 or 063 896 3866.

domestic events via the internet at www.tiketservis.com. This site provides full listings of all upcoming events and tickets can be paid for by credit card and delivered to your home or office anywhere in Serbia.

... become a citizen of Serbia?

• Thanks to recent amendments to existing legislation, it is now possible for foreign residents to become citizens of Serbia & Montenegro without surrendering citizenship of one's homeland. Requests can be submitted to, and relevant forms obtained from, the police HQ in the municipality or district (obstina) where such citizens are declared. For further information, contact SUP-odelenje za strance (Secretariat of Internal Affairs-department for foreigners) on 011 361 8744.

... relax at a spa?

• Serbia boasts a number of natural spa resorts and specialised health centres. Among the country's most popular spas are Vrnjacka spa (www.vrnjackabanja.org.yu), Bukovicka spa (www.bukovickabanja.com), Soko spa (www.sokobanja.co.yu).

Full details of spa holiday deals can also be obtained via the Tourist Organisation of Belgrade (see above).

... prepare your garden/balcony for summer?

• Spring is in the air and summer is on its way. The time is ripe to put some colour in your life with some plants and flowers. If you require horticultural assistance, from the arranging of houseplants, planting of window boxes or landscaping of gardens, help and advice is available courtesy of the expert team at Cvet Express. For further information, contact Cvet Express on 011 545 987.

... go hunting?

• Organised hunting trips are arranged throughout Serbia's countryside for those interested in the wilder side of country life. Detailed information and full permission can be obtained via the Serbian Hunting Alliance and the Belgrade Hunting Society, both of which are located at 19 Alekse Nenadovica Street. For further information, call these hunting organisations on 011 344 3284.

... go fishing?

• Anyone keen on angling or other forms of sport fishing can obtain a licence to practice their hobby. Sport fishing licence

98

CorD | May 2005

... make yourself understood?

Find yourself frustrated by your inability to say simple things in Serbian?

Here at CorD we are endeavouring to make your stay in the State Union a tad less alien by providing a few simple phrases that will help you make yourself understood: Key: Z = as in the 's' in treasure. S = sh, as in shop. J = Y, as in yellow.

C = ch, as in church.

•I'm in Belgrade on business/holiday.

•Ja sam poslovno/na odmoru u Beogradu.

•My car has broken down. I need assistance.

•Pokvario mi se auto. Treba mi pomoc.

•Could you recommend a good restaurant nearby?

•Mozete li mi preporuciti dobar restoran u blizini?

•What's the best way to get to the British Embassy from here?

•Koji je najbolji put do Britanske Ambasade odavde?

•I have an 8 o'clock reservation in the name of Bloggs.

•Imam rezervaciju za osam sati na ime Blogs.

•I'll be back in five minutes/half an hour.

•Vracam se za pet minuta/pola sata.

•What do you do for a living?

•Cime se bavite?

•When does the bus to Novi Sad depart?

•Kada polazi autobus za Novi Sad?