CorD Magazine No.26

Editor: Mark Pullen m.pullen@cma.co.yu Art Director: Branislav Ninković studio.excentric@gmail.com Editorial Contributors: Milovan Jauković, Marina Desivojević, Ivica Petrović, Žarka Radoja, Sonja Ćirić Photo: Jelena Mandić, Stanislav Milojković, FoNet, Tanjug, Beta Translators: Zoran Milosavljević, Dejan Zubac, Aleksandra Čikić Subscriptio on: Biserka Terzić b.terzic@cma.co.yu General Manager: Ivan Novčić i.novcic@cma.co.yu Financial Manager: Snežana Batričević s.batricevic@cma.co.yu Sales Manager: Gordan Žakula, g.zakula@cma.co.yu Office Manager: Jelena Vignjević j.vignjevic@cma.co.yu Printing: Politika AD CorD iss published by: CMA (Consulting & Marketing Agency), Kneginje Zorke 11a, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro Phone: +(381 11) 30 87 335, 30 87 066, 244 72 70 Facsimile: +(381 11) 2456 564 E-mail: cordeditorial@cma.co.yu ISSN no.: 1451-7833 All rights reserved © CMA 2004/2005

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CorD | April 2004

Four years after the adoption of the Belgrade Treaty, christened by EU high representative Javier Solana, and the subsequent establishing of the State Union of SCG; and three years after the Constitutional Charter of that sluggish and dysfunctional union, the citizens of Montenegro will decide their own fate in a referendum scheduled for 21st May

UNDISPUTABLE CHARTER Vuk Drašković, Serbian Foreign Minister

Director: Ana Isaković a.isakovic@cma.co.yu

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The second round of talks on Kosovo was held in Vienna's Palais Auersperg on 17th March.

During the talks, British Foreign Minister Jack Straw said that Kosovo's independence was almost imminent, prompting the SCG Foreign Ministry to lodge a strong protest.

Following the trail, CorD interviewed Vuk Drašković, SCG Foreign Minister.

THE HUMAN CORE

Speaking exclusively to CorD this month about Kosovo's final status negotiations and ICTY co-operation, U.S. Ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro, H.E. Michael Polt, insisted that it is the human factor and the future of the real people of Serbia and Montenegro that is at the core of the whole transformation process, and not the appeasing of political factions or the punishing of the Serbian people.

H.E. Michael Polt, Ambbassador US in Belgrade

April 2006

INDEPENDENCE JUNCTION

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FOSTERING BROTHERHOOD

Speaking exclusively to CorD this month, ambassador of Italy in Belgrade, H.E. Alessandro Merola, explained that one of the diplomatic missions of this EU power and virtual Serbian neighbour is to "foster contacts in all major and minor fields by encouraging the improvement of relations between businesses, universities, artists, museums, scientists and sporting bodies", amongst others.

Vlade Divac, basketball legend

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H.E. Alessandro Merola, Ambassador of Italy to SCG

contents

DETERMINED INVESTOR

Vlade Divac is a national sporting hero in Serbia. Respected around the world and idolised in his home country for his achievements in the world of basketball, this Yugoslav and SCG representative and former center of the L.A. Lakers, Charlotte Hornets and Sacramento Kings is exerting efforts to transform himself into a business entrepreneur by investing in Serbia. This month he visited CorD.

72 LUXURIOUS BEAUTY

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No26

I enjoyed making the very complex ballet role of Queen Margo my own: a role that in fact presents the eternal themes of love, politics, hate and evil - Serbia's prima ballerina Duška Dragičević told CorD magazine this month.

SHOPPING

FASHION

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VRŠAC VERVE

CorD | April 2004

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Comment

"Caricature Crises" - a provocation?

In the past several months, we have all witnessed dangerous developments instigated by the publication, in a number of European newspapers, of a series of caricatures depicting the Prophet Mohammed. fter the publication of these insulting caricatures, considered blasphemous by Muslims and deeply offensive by many others, a wide range of reactions came from many Muslim countries, in the form of street rallies and protests, attacks on some European embassies and boycott calls for Danish products - since the caricatures had first been published by one of Denmark's newspapers.

Some circles in the West regarded H.E. Hasan Servet these incidents as an over-reaction by the Ă–ktem, Ambassador Muslim world and had difficulty in of Turkey to SCG understanding why a few caricatures had created so much "trouble". This is a just question and constitutes the initial step for developing cross-cultural skills that will help us to understand the "other", the "different" one from one's own culture and religion!

Muslims are angry not only at how Prophet Mohammed was depicted, but the fact that he was depicted at all. In Islam, it is forbidden to depict Prophet Mohammed in any way (a prohibition to prevent

world does not aid reconciliation, but inadvertently helps those who benefit from conflicts and tensions among civilisations.

We should resist provocation, overreaction and violence. We must refrain from policies that can cause "Islamophobia" to take deeper roots in Western societies. If we do not want the world to polarise once again - this time along religious lines, we should not allow the Muslim and Christian fundamentalists to divide us along any artificial cultural or religious fault-lines.

The latest incidents over the caricatures have shown us how fragile we are when it comes to religion. We should keep in mind that the latest incidents were just the sparks of potentially bigger flames. So, when we see such sparks we should immediately extinguish them.

To assess the damage resulting from the caricature crises in all its dimensions, we have to ask the following question: Who has benefited most from this crisis? Who got happier to see this crises deepening and enlarging? The answer is clear: Osama Bin Laden or, in more general terms, those circles that want to see the realisation of the "clash of civilisations". I am sure that Al Qaeda leaders greatly enjoyed this crisis pitting the West against the East. The sectarian extremists wishing instability to continue in Iraq and calling for the departure of international troops before the restoration of peace, stability and democracy in Iraq are wholeheartedly grateful to the Muslims are angry not only at how Prophet Mohammed was Danish caricaturists and newspapers.

Muslim and Christian world, it is a depicted, but the fact that he was depicted at all. In Islam, it mustFortothereplace the thesis of the "Clash of is forbidden to depict Prophet Mohammed in any way Civilisations" by the "Alliance of Civilisations".

For this we need to cultivate peaceful coexisworshipping the image). Muslims take Prophet Mohammed as a model tence, which is only possible with genuine respect for, and understandin their lives and, according to Islam, criticising Prophet Mohammed is ing of, other cultures and civilisations. We should employ cross-culturequal to attacking the Koran. Therefore, one should not easily expect al skills that facilitate mutual understanding among societies and focus tolerance to insults against the most sacred of Muslims, given the fact on our commonalities, rather than highlighting our differences. that Muslims don't even draw images of Prophet Mohammed.

Actually, there is a concrete initiative called the "Alliance of Some other circles tried to justify the publication of those cariCivilisations", officially launched by the UN Secretary General in July catures by citing "freedom of the press". Press freedom and expres2005. Turkey and Spain are co-presiding over this initiative aimed at facilsion is an indispensable element of democracy, but this right canitating harmony and dialogue by emphasising the common values of our not be used as a pretext for incitement to hatred or insult to the cultures and religions. The call for an alliance of civilisations is an appeal deeply held belief of any community. This freedom should be to all who believe in building rather than destroying, who embrace diverapplied with a sense of moral responsibility. No culture has a given sity as a means of progress rather than a threat, and who believe in the right to insult the sensitivities of other cultures. Here, I have to comdignity of humankind across religion, ethnicity, race and culture. mend the Serbian newspapers that have presented an example of During all the phases of the latest crisis arising from the publicaresponsible journalism by not using such caricatures as provocation of the insulting caricatures, Turkey, together with many countries tion. If the Serbian media had published the caricatures, strong and which are members of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference violent reactions would have occurred against Serbian representa(OIC), called for restraint and calm, as well as for acting with wisdom tives in Muslim countries, due to Miloťević's negative legacy. and common sense, striving to prevent the escalation of incidents to a Looking at the other side of the coin, while reaffirming the point where it could further threaten international peace and stability. right to peaceful protest against the insulting caricatures, violent Let me conclude that the respect for and understanding of other reactions, which resulted in loss of life and damage to property in nations, cultures and civilisations is a must for peaceful co-existence in a several countries, are similarly regrettable. The attacks on globalised world. In that sense, politicians should take heavy responsibilEuropean embassies and offices could not be condoned under ity to make sure this approach is embraced by their respective media and, any circumstances. Also, the publication of some humiliating carin the long run, to make sure that the history books be reviewed and reicatures about the West as retaliation in some parts of the Muslim written from that point of view employing a cross-cultural approach.

A

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CorD | April 2006

Politics

Independence Junction Montenegro at the Crossroads of Independence

Four years after the adoption of the Belgrade Treaty, christened by the EU high representative Javier Solana, and the subsequent establishing of the State Union of SCG; and three years after the Constitutional Charter of that sluggish and dysfunctional union, the citizens of Montenegro will decide their own fate in a referendum scheduled for 21st May. 8

CorD | April 2006

Politics

By Vojislava Vignjević

he referendum's question will be: Would you like Montenegro to be an independent state with full international - legal subjectivity? The right which they will use is guaranteed by the aforementioned documents. In the same way, incidentally, Serbia could exercise its right to a referendum if its political leadership had an opposed position to the one they have at represent, i.e. the preservation of the state union.

The scheduling of the referendum in Montenegro was announced at the beginning of March when, at the proposal of Montenegrin President Filip Vujanović, the republic’s parliament accepted both the date and the Referendum Law. The key article of this law that 55% of the votes will be required for the validity of the referendum's decision under condition that the majority of the whole electoral body voted, was determined by the EU. The law predicts that the plebiscite can be repeated after three years if the citizens vote against the issue of the state-legal status of Montenegro.

The result of May's referendum should put an end to divisions between the two blocs - the sovereign one and the unionist one. The first one has the advantage because the governing coalition won all previous elections exactly on the idea of Montenegrin independence, therefore the number of supporters of independence has presented the majority for some considerable time. The other bloc is made up of members and supporters of pro-Serbian opposition parties who are openly supported by Belgrade in their intention not only to preserve the State Union of SCG, but also to strengthen and centralise it.

Brussels' administration tried to prolong the referendum in the fear of opening up the Kosovo problem. However, it is indicative that there are no SCG representatives in the Serbian negotiation team for Kosovo status, thus the negotiations will be led on the relation Belgrade - Priština - the international community.

The EU has permitted negotiations regarding the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with three teams - SCG, Belgrade and Podgorica - by which it showed respect for the reality that the two state union members do have two different currencies, separate customs and tax systems and that each member controls its own territory.

On giving the green light to the referendum, the EU appointed Javier Solana's special envoy, Slovak diplomat - Ambassador Miroslav Lajčak, to establish a dialogue between the Montenegrin Government and the opposition.

Lajčak managed to come to an agreement with both sides regarding the conditions for the referendum. The EU, other international organisations, international non-governmental organisations and authorised representatives from foreign countries will register for monitoring this referendum. According to Referendum Law, the members of the Republican Commission are appointed on the basis

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of the equal presence of both options participating in the referendum process and the president of the Commission was elected from the relevant European organisations by the Montenegrin Parliament.

The governing coalition and other representatives of the sovereign bloc had criticised the projected census of 55 per cent, explaining that it is much higher than is usual in European practice and that this is unfair because it could turn out that, if the referendum's result falls into the so-called 'grey zone' (50.1% to 54.9% of valid votes for independence) the winners will become the losers. However, according to the president of the Democratic Party of Socialists' (DPS) Montenegrin Parliament MP Club, if that situation happens, Europe will have to explain it, since that is their "invention". Europe will have to prevent misunderstandings which could arise, even theoretically, if the idea of the Montenegrin referendum obtains between 50 and 55% of the votes.

The Montenegrin opposition, aware of its possible defeat, wants to turn the majority into a minority. According to them, the idea of a sovereign Montenegro will lose even if it gets 54.9% of the votes. However, Miodrag Vuković, head of the Montenegrin Parliament's Department for International Relations, claimed that this was "Nonsense".

"A result of between 50.1 and 54.9% would also represent a victory for sovereign Montenegro, but with the obligation to hold talks with Serbia regarding the relationship and to rationally disassemble the irrational State Union," Vuković explained to CorD. Vuković underlined that in that case a solution could be sought in the Czechoslovakian model, according to which Montenegro and Serbia would separate and mutually recognise each other, or in some other model which would certainly be better than the current one. Anything else would be on the level of the twisted interpretation of the Montenegrin opposition and the Serbian authorities too.

That would mean that 54.9% of the citizens vote for an independent Montenegro, but that those who win will have to realise the project of strengthening the State Union.

"It is enough work for Europe to prevent any potential misunderstandings and for Serbia to understand that Montenegro is closing the circle. Montenegro was independent 150 years ago and at that time lived in its best relations with an independent Serbia. The coastal nation ended its one and a half century long roaming and its mistaken impression that others wanted it as an equal partner. It is also enough that the opposition understands that its retrograde idea of the continuation of Montenegro's life in provincial inferiority in comparison with others becomes the footnote of the democratic future of Montenegro."

However, underlined Vuković, "it is most important that Montenegro obtains the democratic chance to finally ensure its equal position in Europe, not with guns, but with a pencil and the free will of its citizens."

The opposite opinion was expressed by executive director of the Group for Changes (GZP), Nebojša Medojević.

Medojević told CorD magazine that his non-governmental organi-

Polt Supports EU Efforts U.S. Ambassador Michael Polt has commended the EU for its efforts in the Republic: “We have supported the EU process all along. I’ve worked throughout the process with Ambassador Lajčak, who I think has done a wonderful job in his mediating role. I think the EU did a masterful job of acting in the entire international community’s interests in once again resolving a remaining and outstanding issue here. We hope for, and will help monitor, a transparent, open and fair process. And I hope and trust that the people of Montenegro will make a clear decision, one way or the other.” Asked what he thought would happen if 54.9% of voters opted for independence, Polt said: “It’s best right now to stick with what’s on paper and to avoid speculation of this nature. It’s natural that one would think about this, but there’s something on paper: this is the number; these are the kinds of rules we’re going to try to observe. So, let’s go ahead and go through this process and then see what the outcome is.”

Monte Someone's Flying Circus Montenegro’s pro-State Union coalition aired unabridged video footage in March allegedly showing pro-independence DPS activists, Ranko Vučinić and Ivan Ivanović, persuading a Montenegrin citizen to vote in favour of independence. Vučinič and Ivanovič claimed they were the victims of a scam led by former Montenegrin secret police man, Vasilije Mijovič. The pair said that Mijovič asked them to help Bošković (the subject of the film) decide to vote for independence by telling him that the Montenegrin Government would donate money to pay his bills. They then proceeded to put words into action and the forces campaigning for union with Serbia secretly recorded the meeting. The Montenegrin Interior Ministry earlier filed criminal charges against Mijović, accusing him of forging a law degree.

CorD | April 2006

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Politics sation warned the Montenegrin administration as far back as two years ago that it was necessary to open up internal Montenegrin dialogue in the aim of achieving at least the minimum consensus regarding such an important issue as the state’s status. Since the administration refused the idea of establishing a transitional government in order to approach the opposed positions, there was the danger of a onesided referendum organised by the Government according to the existing law, with an almost certain boycott from the opposition. Such a scenario provoked justified fears in Brussels of the possible escalation of clashes and instability in Montenegro, which in turn led to them pursuing a course of active mediation.

"What the current political elite have been unable to do themselves for years was done in a month and a half under pressure from the EU and we received a compromise proposal for both sides. From the aspect of the equality of all citizens, that proposal is not fair, but also the misuse of the state and para-state apparatus in support of a sovereign option is not fair either," insists Medojević.

"Nevertheless, this proposal was accepted, the law was adopted and on 22nd May we will finally know where we are. And here things are clear." Medojević is convinced that the EU will not recognise independence if the qualified majority of 55 per cent of valid voting slips in favour of independence are not submitted.

Medojević believes that the regime is aware that it will hardly reach the required majority and is now looking for an alibi for its defeat, which would be the introduction to the final political fiasco in the elections in autumn, for which the Group for Changes is preparing with the establishment of the Movement for Democratic Changes after

Interview

the referendum. Namely, the change of the 'corrupted and compromised' regime is a more important state issue. And it was for that reason that a meeting between the president of the Socialist Peoples Party, Predrag Bulatović, former Police Minister Andrija Jovičević and former SCG Ambassador to Italy, Miodrag Lekić, was held.

The leader of the GZP emphasised that, as a citizen, he will vote for the independence of Montenegro, but not for the current regime, which he blames for numerous acts of fraud. In response to our question of why that organisation did not join the referendum campaign, Medojević responds by insisting that GZP has many members who are in favour of the State Union.

Commenting on statements made by some Serbian officials, such as Prime Minister Koštunica, who have estimated that the referendum will "fall through", Miodrag Vuković explained that that was in fact the disappointment of official Belgrade, because Podgorica replied positively to Brussels's high demands.

He said that the Serbian administration has tried everything to prevent the referendum: demanded its delay; tried to push for Montenegrin citizens - who have lived and exercised their political and civil rights in Serbia for years - to be appended to the electoral lists; led secret diplomacy with part of the Brussels's administration; actively helped the Montenegrin opposition … but all in vain.

Vuković thinks that, as a direct result of Koštunica's estimation, Serbia has refused to talk with Montenegro about the post-referendum period, and warns that the reason for such a position lies in still strong ‘greater Serbia’ nationalism as the basis of all Serbian administrations, including this one - which considers Montenegro as part of Serbia.

Brussels Expects

By Aleksandar Stošić; Photo: Stanislav Milojković aradoxically perhaps, it is these - the first two former Yugoslav countries to gain independence (Serbia and Montenegrin received international acknowledgement of statehood even in the 19th century) that are today the only two states that do not have fully defined statehoods. Moreover, the clouds of doubt questioning the union ensure that citizens cannot look to the future with complete clarity.

The European Union is well aware of the bonds that bind Serbs and Montenegrins. So much so that it is actively seeking to project this picture of unity into the far future. As relations between the two republics continued to cool and impatience and intolerance took hold on the Montenegrin scene, Brussels decided to allocate a special delegate for Montenegro; a man who would mediate between the two options and relay messages and viewpoints from Brussels.

The job of EU Envoy to Montenegro went to Miroslav Lajčak, who certainly seems to have proved the right man for the job. Perhaps because he is the former ambassador of the Slovak Republic to SCG, he speaks the language as though he were a native and he boasts excellent knowledge of the problems confronting SCG society; he is a career diplomat with both feet on the ground and a knack for interpreting Brussels' viewpoints; he is not of former Yugoslav

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Miroslav Lajčak, EU Envoy to Montenegro

The question surrounding Montenegrin statehood has drawn much political and media attention and prompted many to predict that the secession of the coastal republic is merely the prophesized 'final stage' of the break-up of Yugoslavia, while it has prompted many others to prognosticate that Montenegrins will vote in favour of union, thus staving off the final parting of the sister republics.

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CorD | April 2006

Politics

Nebojša Medojević

Filip Vujanović

Milo Đukanović

The Montenegrin opposition accuses the Republic's governing coalition of being anti-European and of using this referendum to consolidate the private state of the most powerful in power.

Srđan Milić, member of the Executive Council of the biggest opposition party - the Socialist People's Party (SNP), claims that the referendum's rules set by the EU "strike" the pillars of electoral fraud,

manipulation and blackmail. Milić claims that they have documentation, part of which was sent to European institutions, about the pressure exerted on supporters of the joint state.

"The massive presence of relevant international observers at the referendum, which we claim to be a dangerous and unnecessary adventure, still guarantees a good base for the adequate answer in the

Background, ensuring neutrality; and, finally, his country also underwent the process of separation about ten years ago, which provides him with an empirical argument for the function that Javier Solana appointed him to.

Noting that the situation in the State Union differed greatly from the achieving of mutual independence of Slovakia and the Czech Republic, Ambassador Lajčak told CorD: "First of all, I would like to accentuate that we did not separate from the Czech Republic. Rather, we spontaneously underwent growth and took different paths. Here, however, the image that has been created in the public is such that Montenegro is intending to separate from Serbia. Thus, there is no mechanical parallel upon which I could draw a particular conclusion. But if someone were to ask me about a recommendation of how a state union parting should look like, then that is definitely the example of Czechoslovakia".

They told me that it eradicates the principle of the equality of the vote. They said that it is not fair for one side to need 45, and the other ten per cent more in order to reach its aim. But, it is exactly the Venice

As you have said yourself, both sides are required to be constructive. However, we have seen Podgorica refuse your offer of accepting a positive result provided that 55 per cent of voters support independence. Nevertheless, the figure they are protesting against is completely atypical.

I would like to state that Montenegrin President Filip Vujanović and PM Milo Đukanović have not rejected this suggestion…They clearly don't agree with it, but they have not said that they will not accept the suggestion either. Everyone, however, should know that the EU is a perspective, which opens its doors to all, but also that this door is open under given conditions. The EU does not force anyone to endorse its suggestions, but it does decide whether it will accept someone who will not accept European standards. We say this is our offer, it is fair, but you do not have to accept it. In the end, that is really just an offer that does not have to be applied if the authorities and the opposition agree differently. But, they will not agree on anything without the presence of a third party.

What did the premier and president of Montenegro tell you that evening when you put Brussels' offer on the table?

MISTRUST IS A MILD WORD FOR WHAT I HAVE SEEN. THE DOSE OF MISUNDERSTANDING IS A SUBSTANTIAL OBSTRUCTION TO CONSTRUCTIVE AGREEMENTS… POLITICIANS NURTURE A GREAT SENSE OF MISTRUST AND THAT IS A FACT THAT WASTES BOTH TIME AND ENERGY Commission which states that this is according to European standards. It is the Commission that insists on the need for a substantial majority in matters of serious importance, such as the gaining of independence of a country.

Nevertheless, Podgorica was unpleasantly surprised?

The standpoint from Brussels is not unexpected, though. During the months since I have been appointed as the special EU delegate there has been a lot of speculation about this final stance or offer from Brussels.

There was also talk about various formulas and modalities, and everyone knows how many suggestions went through paper. No matter how angry they get, they knew that this was one of those formulas.

Do you want to say that they are angry because their suggestion did not pass?

Well, probably.

Which criteria did Brussels adopt that led it to opt for the 55% option?

We evaluated that it reflects the current situation in the best possible way. In Montenegro you have a situation where more people are for independence, at least if you take into consideration results form previous elections, but it is still less than the absolute majority. This is the best formula with which results are not prejudiced and no

CorD | April 2006

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Politics aim of preventing such a phenomenon and restraining its protagonists. The fact that the expert from the EU will be the head of the referendum commission offers certain security from the aspect of a timely reaction to the appearance of the various abuses of the referendum process," says Milić, who is convinced that the victory of the supporters of the joint state would provide for the hastening of SCG's journey towards Euro-Atlantic integration.

In contrast, Vuković rejects accusations that the administration is exerting pressure on the unionist block and claims that those accusations come from the suddenly 'Europeanised' opposition: "The Montenegrin opposition, which is openly supported by the Serbian administration, was in fact created by the 'greater Serbia' policy from Belgrade and, until yesterday, was in alliance with Milošević, provoking conflict with the whole world, provoking NATO's attack on Yugoslavia and judging the "aggressors" (Solana, Clinton, Chirac and others) who were sentenced in absentia to 20 years imprisonment by the "patriotic" courts. Such an opposition expected that the Government would refuse the offer from Brussels, and is now already trying to find reasons for their certain defeat," thinks Vuković.

The referendum campaign, in full swing in Montenegro, is also reflected at the level of the State Union. SCG President Svetozar Marović recently stated that he will actively join his party, the Democratic Party of Socialist's, campaign. The first, and perhaps the last president of the state union, said that while he remains in this position he will do his job responsibly, but emphasised: "I cannot, and do not wish to hide the fact that I come from Montenegro and that I belong to the democratic majority in Montenegro".

option is disqualified. I would also like to say that this recommendation is not an offer in the "take it or leave it" sense, as it is seen in Montenegro. This is a hard compromise that the EU has agreed to.

Was there talk of 41 per cent from all of the registered voters in Brussels?

That was the formula that was suggested by President Filip Vujanović. He thinks that that is 50 per cent of the active voting body (electorate). I said "yes," if the opposition accepts that suggestion.

However, the opposition didn’t accept it.

After the EU laid its cards on the table, Serbian PM Koštunica very precisely disclosed Belgrade's official stance on the matter when one of his senior advisers warned that Belgrade would not recognise the result of the referendum if less than 50 per cent voted for independence. Montenegro's leaders responded by branding the call 'interference in the country's internal matters'.

I met PM Koštunica at the beginning of my mandate. Otherwise, I have regular contact with him and his associates over the phone.

How important is it for you to be in contact with him? I ask you this in the context in which a part of Montenegro regards this as interference in the internal matters of a country?

Well, Serbia and Montenegro are still (for now) one country. Yes, I do think that it is important that we are in contact with Koštunica and that he is a part of the conversation, because Serbia is also a part of the whole problem. Even EU High Commissioner Javier Solana cooperates with him. All of those who can help need to involve themselves in this question and to make a contribution with their constructive suggestions and advice.

Confusing statements are circulating in the public, such as the one about a possible referendum for northern Montenegro to join Serbia if Montenegro votes for independence?

My mission stems from the stance of the Venice Commission.

That is a fact that presents the arrangement within which I work and give out statements, so there is no reason for me to comment about something that is not in my remit.

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CorD | April 2006

CorD WEBSITE POLL Is the EU's 55% minimum 'yes' vote requirement for the Montenegrin independence referendum fair?

Yes:

44.8%

No:

37.9%

I don't care:

17.2%

Marovic's statement provoked a stormy reaction in Belgrade's political circles, where the loudest were the Radicals. Their acting leader, Tomislav Nikolić, earlier warned that the Montenegrin referendum will be the "night of the long knife".

However, it is interesting that the referendum campaign in Montenegro provoked some earlier reaction for Serbian independence. President of the Demo-Christian Party and former Serbian justice minister, Vladan Batić, visited Speaker of the Serbian Parliament, Predrag Marković, to announce that he will again activate 400,000 signatures of citizens who demand a referendum on the independence of Serbia, which he collected four years ago.

In response, the Parliamentary Speaker, and (pro-independence) G17 Plus member, promised to consider that issue when all conditions have been fulfilled, adding that he is himself for an independent Serbia. Whether this demand will find its way onto the agenda of the highest legislative body or whether Serbia will become independent on 22nd May, but not by its own merits, remains to be seen.

You spoke about the mistrust between the government and the opposition in Montenegro. To what extent is it expressed?

Mistrust is a mild word for what I have seen. The dose of misunderstanding is substantial and it is an obstruction to constructive agreements. At the beginning, in particular, we lost a lot of time in order to reach the most basic agreement. At expert meetings, however, the atmosphere was far more professional and we were able to agree on the text for the law. Thus, government and opposition experts are one, but the top, i.e. politicians, nurture a great sense of mistrust and that is a fact that wastes both time and energy.

Montenegro has been generally divided between independents and "Yugoslavians" for a long time now. Do you fear disorder or even bloodshed after the referendum?

I am not afraid of any incidents; I am certain that there will be none. I think that circumstances today are totally different than they were a few years back, and that there is no more capacity for violence of this sort, regardless of the unmeasured statements of some politicians.

The text for the referendum question was also disputed?

Both sides accepted this without much difficulty. At the beginning there was an option for two questions to be listed, but we overcame this very quickly.

What will happen if, for instance, 54.9% votes for independence?

If an agreement of a required 55 per cent majority is reached, then it must be respected. Evidently, 54.9% is not 55.

Will Brussels accept the results of the referendum if one side boycotts it?

The referendum will not be legal if it is one-sided and if the opposition boycotts it. A referendum which would be openly onesided and which the opposition would boycott would not help Montenegro and I expect that Montenegro will respect the EU's suggestion about the majority of 55 per cent of those that vote, because it is logical that a country that aspires to the EU also respects the wishes of European officials.

Interview

Undisputable Charter

CorD EXCLUSIVE

Vuk Drašković, SCG Foreign Minister

The second round of talks between Belgrade and Priština on decentralisation in Kosovo was held in Vienna's Palais Auersperg on 17th March. The negotiations focused on the reform of local authorities in the southern province, with a special emphasis on financing local institutions, co-operation between Kosovo's municipalities and liaison outside its administrative borders.

By Zoran Panović and Milovan Jauković; Photo: Stanislav Milojković

nlike the first round talks on decentralisation, which were preceded by a series of very candid statements from senior international officials to the effect that nothing but independence can be Kosovo's final status, the only politician that went to those lengths this time was British Foreign Minister Jack Straw, who said that Kosovo's independence was almost imminent. In response, the Serbia & Montenegro Foreign Ministry lodged a strong protest to British ambassador in Belgrade, David Gowan.

In remains to be seen whether the protest was a mere formality, as western diplomats in Belgrade say it has been made clear to the Serbian authorities that independence for Kosovo is reality.

Following the trail, CorD interviewed Vuk Drašković, the Serbia & Montenegro Foreign Minister.

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Sources close to international mediators in the talks between Belgrade and Pristina say that during the build-up to the negotiations, the Serbian authorities have been told that independence for Kosovo is reality even though the international community is looking at all options. Have you been told this?

No I haven't, because they know what arguments I use to refute any thoughts in that direction. I have never come to a situation, either in the United States or Europe, where I have had my arguments questioned, as they are based on the fact that one cannot forcibly declare independence in the territory of a sovereign and internationally recognised state.

Over the last two months you have had many meetings with your foreign counterparts and other senior officials. Have you mentioned in your talks with them the position you hold that Kosovo is a part of Serbia and that it is unacceptable to have two Albanian nations in the same geographic area. If you have, what was their reaction?

They are well aware that the United Nations Charter is undisputable, as is the final act from Helsinki 1975. They also know that NATO stopped short of violating the U.N. Charter after defeating Milošević in 1999. Hence, the UN Security Council's Resolution 1244 observes Serbia's territorial integrity, in spite of the fact that the army, police, the judiciary and all symbols of Serbia's authority have been driven out of Kosovo.

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CorD | April 2006

The Contact Group is adamant that there will be no return to the pre-1999 status, which is automatically interpreted as imminent independence for Kosovo. According to some sources, the Serbian authorities asked the ambassadors of the Contact Group countries to declare themselves on the validity of such interpretations back in December. What answers did the Serbian Government get; was anything controversial said regarding Resolution 1244 and does the resolution contravene some positions of the Contact Group?

The Resolution is unambiguous regarding the territorial integrity of Serbia & Montenegro. Regarding the Contact Group's position that there can be no return to the pre-1999 status, this leaves enough room for various interpretations. However, a stringent analysis of that position leaves no room for any doubt. The Contact Group says there can be no return to the status prior to March 1999, which no one in Serbia has asked for anyway. No one has asked for the army and the police to return to Kosovo, nor any such action to be taken.

Resolution 1244 was passed after the war, which ended when Milošević, the Radicals and the Yugoslav Left (JUL) capitulated in a senseless conflict that they had provoked with the world.

I don't understand slogans saying that Serbia can no longer rule Kosovo. Our offer is one of maximum compromise: to satisfy all the legitimate rights of Kosovo Albanians, to have maximum protection for the rights of the province's Serbs and all other ethnic groups, as well as to ensure respect for the UN Charter and international law. More precisely, that means the Albanian majority is entitled to all minority rights and the right to manage Kosovo.

We do not deny either Kosovo's right to head towards the European Union on its own or its right to have independent representation in international organisations, which is the prerequisite for receiving financial aid. The only thing we do deny is a separate seat for Kosovo in the United Nations and other such organisations symbolising full independence. We will also not allow the present, and I repeat 'the present' status of the state borders with Albania and Macedonia to be changed.

Can you be more specific; what status is that?

Completely European. These borders are defined by documents and maps, while they are invisible on the ground if our troops and police can neither control them nor see them.

Interview

Vuk Drašković Does that mean a compromise by the Albanian side implies they would need to be accept some kind of ‘virtual’ sovereignty for Serbia in Kosovo?

I wouldn't call it virtual sovereignty of any kind. Let's call things by their proper names, as defined by the UN Charter and UN Security Council Resolution 1244. Let me be even more specific: the EU recently adopted a declaration asking Georgia and South Ossetia to resolve their serious problem through dialogue and, I quote, "with respect for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity." In my capacity of Serbia & Montenegro Foreign Minister, I said at a recent meeting in Brussels that my country strongly supports the EU Declaration on Georgia and asks for nothing more than the same approach in resolving Serbia's problem with Kosovo. There cannot be two sets of rights and principles for an essentially identical issue.

Nevertheless, the U.S. embassy in Belgrade has said that even though international law will be observed, the unique solution applicable to Kosovo cannot be implemented in any other situation, as this is the realistic situation here. How can those two positions be made compatible?

I am not sure that's the right way. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that a solution to Kosovo can in no way be such that it can't be implemented anywhere else. If Serbia's territorial integrity is broken forcibly, by the will of the more powerful, if our state borders are forcibly moved several hundred kilometres inwards towards central Serbia, no legal team assembled by Martti Ahtisaari will be able to tell people in many crisis spots around the world not to go for what the Kosovo Albanians stand to gain by shredding

Serbia's territorial integrity to pieces. If that happens, how does one stop independence for South Ossetia, Aphasia and NagornoKarabakh; how does one resolve the Pridnestrovie problem; how does one deny independence to the Turkish part of Cyprus; how does one stop ethnic Albanians in Macedonia from declaring a third Albanian nation in Europe; how does one tell people in Bosnia's Republika Srpska that they are not entitled to same right?

What will happen with the territorial integrity of Spain, Italy and Great Britain? How will the China-Taiwan issue be resolved and, finally, what would such a bizarre decision produce for the territorial integrity of the United States in around 20 years time? This is a very serious issue.

The U.S. External Relations Council has advised Washington to take matters into its own hands and make Kosovo's independence a fait accompli for Belgrade, to prevent the Serbian authorities from dragging the negotiations on indefinitely. On the other hand, it has also suggested that Serbia should be offered economic aid and have some of its foreign debts written off as compensation.

We cannot trade our borders and no one has the mandate to do that. In terms of law, there are no grounds for violating the UN Charter regarding Kosovo. Hence, a story has been set in motion that backward and anti-European forces in Serbia, meaning those that caused the disaster in Kosovo 1998 and 1999 and lost the war with NATO, have grown so strong that Serbia has apparently failed to learn its lesson from the vicious Milošević era and, therefore, needs additional punishment. That is the main argument of those advocating such a course of action at present. A lack of valid arguments has prompted the champions of that cause to resort to political tricks.

CorD | April 2006

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Interview During your meeting with tage of the fact that people with princiGerman Foreign Minister Frankples and a strong desire to keep their Walter Steinmeier, you said that prosanity are reluctant to get into any kind European forces in Serbia needed of debate with them. Lies and stupidity, help to counter their backward on the other hand, are always more adversaries. Exactly what kind of impressive and appealing. help did you have in mind?

I keep saying I have no doubts Declaring the occupation of Kosovo about the best intentions of Brussels in the event of its independence is the or Washington for Serbia & main course on the political menu of Montenegro and our people. I also these so-called patriotic forces. maintain, however, that the policy of I believe that the electronic media, exerting persistent pressure on Serbia and in no way do I wish to play down is wrong and that it unfortunately the significance of print media, should favours the policy of these backward refresh people's memories by playing forces and coincides with them growback the start of Serbia's ordeal in ing stronger in Serbia & Montenegro. early 1990 without having to comment You can't put more water into a Let me explain: war crimes suspects at all. The people need to be reminded bottle than it can hold. Conditions, wanted by The Hague Tribunal are of how Milošević, the Yugoslav Left deadlines, punishment…Serbia declared as heroes in Serbia, a measand the Serbian Radical Party deliberure of national honour and dignity. ately provoked a war with NATO; how can't take it anymore. It is yearning The support for their harbouring is they rebuffed an offer in Rambouillet for encouragement and support. strong and very transparent, with the that was very favourable at one point; sole intention of closing Europe's how they tore those negotiations to doors to us. On the other hand, if they pieces and invited the NATO bombing keep telling us in Brussels and Washington that we can't join the campaign with the aim of losing Kosovo and promoting their antiPartnership for Peace without handing over General Ratko Mladić European and anti-western sentiments over a lost province and a devto The Hague, that the keys to our talks on joining the EU and to astated country; how they did everything they could to turn Serbia negotiations on Kosovo's future status are in Mladić's hands, one into a concentration camp and used state-sponsored terrorism to get can only assume that the end goal of that strategy is to put us in the political opponents out of the way. How can those who did all that position of being one man's hostages, in spite of the best intennow be seen as forces fighting to defend Kosovo? Why is there no tions of our European and U.S. friends. response from the government, the parliament or the intellectual elite What is the strategy of anti-European forces in Serbia? To turn us to demands that occupation should be declared and diplomatic relainto the hostages of one man. I have no explanation or excuse for the tions severed with the UN? What does that mean? Nothing but a comfact that this obstacle in co-operation with The Hague has not been plete isolation of Serbia from the rest of the world. No one here will removed. Of course "one for all" would be the best thing that could accept independence for Kosovo, but I am certain that Kosovo will happen, but I also think "all for one" is most certainly the worst. It not be declared an independent state if we reconsider our policy, if we is a difficult situation, but I hereby implore our friends in the U.S. confront the tidal rise of backward ideas and our friends in Europe and the EU to change their position and counter the anti-European and the U.S. change their policy on Serbia. You can't put more water bloc with a pro-European strategy. That means admitting us into the into a bottle than it can hold. Conditions, deadlines, Partnership for Peace unconditionally, continuing the negotiations punishment…Serbia can't take it anymore. It is yearning for encouron joining the EU, increasing European funding for Serbia and allowagement and support. ing a less stringent visa regime, regardless of whether we get this Having said how surprised they are with poor pro-European, obstacle out of the way or not. I am certain that making these moves democratic and economic potentials, they should now give us a will spell political defeat for backward forces and war crimes sushelping hand and push us forward. If the country is nudged towards pects wanted by The Hague and, thus, also for those still defiantly Brussels, its movement in that direction will automatically vanquish supporting that state of mind. Only then can a tide of pro-European forces in this country that are more arrogant than they ever were sentiment reach Serbia. between 1990 and 2000.

The EU Council of Ministers has issued a serious warning that the next round of Stabilisation and Association talks with Serbia & Montenegro will be suspended unless there is full cooperation with The Hague War Crimes Tribunal. You said in Brussels this has been taken seriously in Belgrade, underscoring that Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica and other senior officials also maintain that handing over Mladić is necessary in order to fulfil the obligation of co-operating with The ICTY. If I had any doubt that Prime Minister Koštunica and the Serbian Government wanted to get this issue out of the way, I would say so in public and walk out of the coalition instantly. I am certain they want this done as much as I do, but I am also quite sure that the search for Mladić has been launched belatedly. We are paying the price for the naive belief that Milošević's regime was ousted on 5th October 2000 along with the man himself. He was toppled, but his entire regime stayed more or less intact for a long time, with only a few cosmetic changes being made. Milošević's men have been able to hold on to their positions in the judicial system and the prosecution department.

They have taken control of the entire media sphere and taken advan-

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Is Serbia considering what will happen after the Montenegrin referendum on independence, either if the coastal republic goes its own way or remains a part of the state union?

If I knew we were to get The Hague obstacle out of the way by the end of March, I would be very optimistic about the future of Serbia & Montenegro. I am sure we would be admitted into the Partnership for Peace the morning after and just as certain that an offer to join NATO by summary procedure, along with Croatia and some other countries in 2008, would follow. I am convinced that EU economic aid to Serbia would rise instantly and that talks on joining the organisation would end successfully in June. In such an atmosphere, as a supporter of keeping the state union together, I believe that most voters in Montenegro would opt to stay in a prosperous union. I am sure that the international community's attitude on Serbia would change fundamentally. All these stories that we deserve additional punishment for Milosevic's crimes and the Serbian Radical Party's policy would go out the window overnight and an amicable solution to the Kosovo problem would be found within the limits of our project called "more than autonomy - less than independence."

Interview

The Human Core Speaking exclusively to CorD this month about Kosovo's final status negotiations and ICTY co-operation, U.S. Ambassador to Serbia & Montenegro, H.E. Michael Polt, insisted that it is the human factor and the future of the real people of Serbia and Montenegro that is at the core of the whole transformation process, and not the appeasing of political factions or the punishing of the Serbian people.

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Interview Serbian people find the future that they are seeking, and settling Kosovo is part of doing that."

How would you assess the first two rounds of the Vienna negotiations on Kosovo's final status and is there any truth to the claim that the final result of these negotiations has been predetermined?

In answer to the first part of your question, I think the first two rounds have gone very well, to some degree even beyond the expectations of either side - in terms of putting the issues on the table and having as little polemical discussion as possible on the issues.

I give a lot of credit to Mr. Ahtisaari and his team for facilitating the constructive nature of those discussions. So, progress has been made. The key issue of decentralisation is on the table and being discussed in a straightforward and direct manner; we're not talking around the issue anymore - the elephant in the centre of the room is now being discussed. And I think both sides feel that, while they're clearly not getting agreement yet, they are having an opportunity to

What this is all about is where these people are going to go… It's not about what flag flies where at what time. It's about these very human issues, which are at the core of why we're engaged in this discussion. go head and present their case, and they understand that there are certain things that one can agree on. So, in that sense both sides realise that there's progress.

Predetermined outcome? No. In spite of everything that you're reading and everything that you're hearing, despite proclamations from one side or another or from inside or outside Serbia, of course there's no predetermined outcome. At the same time, of course there are thoughts as to what dimensions a future status agreement could have and what is likely to be 'in' and what is likely to be 'out'.

But those are all assessments by individuals.

Maybe what you have noticed is that in trying to come to an agreement in 2006 - and that's certainly the U.S. view - it has become necessary to be more open about the various possibilities, but that's not the same thing as predetermined outcomes.

H.E. Michael Polt, U.S. Ambassador to Serbia & Montenegro

By Mark Pullen & Milovan Jauković; Photo: Jelena Mandić

ith the final status talks for Serbia's breakaway province of Kosovo now well underway, the U.S. has found itself heavily criticised by Serbia's nationalist media and political sphere for its perceived bias towards the southern Serbian province's ethnic Albanian majority.

However, Ambassador Polt insists: "We're trying to help the

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The very idea that the province of Kosovo could gain independence is a notion that members of the international community are insisting that Serbia at least has to get used. During your discussions with leaders here have you been attempting to encourage them to grow accustomed to the idea that independence is a very real possibility?

I'm not going to comment on our private conversations with officials here. But I will say this: yes, one has to accept independence as one possible outcome, by virtue of the fact that one side (the Kosovo Albanian side) has said that this is their undeniable demand, just as the demand by the Serbian side - of autonomy in an extended sense - is a possible outcome. So, therefore, those things are out there.

Both sides have to think about the possibility that events may go in either direction. Each side can judge for itself as to which is the most likely of the two extremes, or if there has to be something in between. But the fact is that six years have passed since NATO had to step in and stop Milošević from his actions in Kosovo and it's time to go ahead and come to a conclusion. So, it's time to talk about things that people may not necessarily want to hear about.

The Serbian side often state that granting Kosovo independence would be in breach of international law. However, you recently stated that a solution of independence for Kosovo may not necessarily contravene international law. Would you like to elaborate on this standpoint?

CorD | April 2006

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Interview What I meant to say by that is that one of the key players in establishing certain parameters for international law is the United Nations, and within that the Security Council. The Security Council will play a central at the end of this negotiation in terms of acknowledging the outcome and, therefore, enshrining it in the international community's set of future actions and acceptances. I'm no lawyer, but that means that it'll take on a certain meaning in international law when the UN Security Council makes such a decision.

that what they're going to be engaged in has long-term standing. And for that a country would have to know: where are my borders? What are my limitations? What are my possibilities?

Until the point comes when the borders are no longer important - when all of Europe is truly united - that kind of certainty is still going to be necessary.

Officials from Western countries of the Contact Group say that the reality is such that Miloševic lost Kosovo, which may be interpreted here as a message that Serbia must be punisIt would certainly be an hed for Miloševic's political sins. international legal preceCan the act of an ousted regime dent. But could that precelegitimise the confiscation of the dent be used by others hopterritory of any country? ing to follow the KosovoMilošević and his actions Albanian model? caused, precipitated, the current Our position is firmly that situation in Kosovo. The internaKosovo should be treated as tional community, NATO, did There's no such thing as 'punishing' the Kosovo. It is not a universal not step into Kosovo because it Serbian people for what Miloševic did. solution for territorial issues thought 'let's take an outing in around the world or even in the Balkans one day'. That wasFirst of all, the Serbian people aren't the region. Kosovo is a specific n't the intent here. What we being punished for anything. We're tryproblem. We want to help ended up having to do together ing to help the Serbian people find the resolve this specific problem was to stop something that was without any reference to any absolutely inimical to everything future that they are seeking, and setother conflict or any other diswe all believe in: ethnic cleanstling Kosovo is part of doing that. pute that may exist anywhere ing and the persecution of peoelse in Europe or elsewhere. ple purely on the basis of their ethnic heritage. That's what we The US External Relations Council has advised the American had to stop. So with that we had a fait accompli. The international Government to take matters into its own hands by declaring the community had to get involved and do this. That then meant that independence of Kosovo as a final act, because Belgrade could there were certain consequences to this. prolong the negotiations indefinitely. However, by way of comI would argue that we wouldn't be discussing the future of pensation Serbia should be offered economic assistance, the Kosovo, certainly not in the way we are right now, if there had been writing off of some foreign debts, etc. How would you comment a liberal, free market, open democracy that had been spawned in on that advice?

Serbia and Montenegro back during the times when the former We're not going to go ahead and force anything unilaterally.

Yugoslavia was breaking up and Kosovo was a happy member of First of all, we are very happy with Mr. Ahtisaari's appointment by that democratic society. That did not occur. So now we have to live the Secretary General to lead this process. The Contact Group, with those consequences. which we are a part of, plays a major role in working with Mr. But there's no such thing as 'punishing' the Serbian people for Ahtisaari to come to a conclusion. The word 'imposition', which is what Milošević did. First of all, the Serbian people aren't being punconstantly being bandied about, is not where we are. We are at ished for anything… It's not about punishment and the Serbian people bringing the parties together to try to find a solution that, inevitably, are not responsible. We're trying to help the Serbian people find the will not give either side everything it wants, but one that both sides future that they are seeking, and settling Kosovo is part of doing that. can live with, and, much more importantly, that provides a future perspective for Serbia and Montenegro, Kosovo included.

Democratic powers in Serbia are warning that the independWhat this is all about is where these people are going to go. ence of Kosovo may bring the Radicals into power. How much What are the people living in Serbia, the people living in Kosovo, the does that concern you; and would the U.S. offer support to any people living in the entire region, going to be doing with themselves eventual Radical-led government? and their lives; and what will their children be doing? That's what Back in October 2000, the Serbian people made a very clear this is really about. It's not about what flag flies where at what time. choice. They told Mr. Miloševic to go. A year plus ago, Boris Tadić It's about these very human issues, which are at the core of why was elected to be president of Serbia by a majority, running we're even engaged in this discussion. against a Radical candidate. Again the Serbian people said who they wanted. In my opinion, that's enough. The Serbian people Do you think, ultimately, it's also about providing clarity on have said what they want. They're clear about what their interests the ground in order to be able to determine where the borders are; they're clear about what kind of people they want to lead are and identify the demographic of the country, etc.? them into full democracy, a free market, a successful economy, a Correct. Going back to the economic argument, investors want future for their children, integration into Europe, a security relaclarity. Investors want a certain level of stability and assuredness tionship with the United States. They want all that. So at that point

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CorD | April 2006

Interview then, I think the option of a Radical government taking over is not really as prominent on the agenda as some of the hysterics that happen from time to time would suggest.

We have made our position very clear. We will work with all the democratically minded, reform-committed elements of this country, wherever they may come from. And we will support them as we see them supporting the interests of the Serbian people. Those who do not, we will not work with.

fulfil its commitments to the Hague Tribunal, or are there reasons of a completely different nature?

Number one, we have not deferred our decision. That's been written in the press and it's not true. This misconception may have come from the fact that there is a legislatively mandated date when it has to happen, which is a matter of public record and is a law passed by the U.S. Congress. We can do it anytime we wish to up until the time when we have to do it. The final date hasn't been decided. We will do this when we think it's the most appropriate time to make this decision. And there can be no question of 'breathers'; there can be no questions of 'postponements'.

This goes back again to the entire issue of deadlines: there are no future deadlines. There are only the ones that have been missed in the past.

The administrations of the state union and Serbia promised that they would hand over Ratko Mladić to The Hague by the end of March. How important is Ratko Mladić?

I know where the United States stands I have basically refused to talk about deadlines or any on the issue of war crimes. But, as far kinds of future prospects, as Serbia's concerned, it's not really because it's meaningless. Ratko important where we stand on this Mladić should have been turned over years ago. If there ever was issue. It's important where Serbia a deadline, that was it, then. So How would you respond stands on this issue. to talk about whether the to the events and media coverGovernment will act to do this or age - both domestic and interthat at the end of March, the national - surrounding the beginning of April or the end of May or next June is totally irreledeath of Slobodan Milošević? vant to the debate. And it's also irrelevant in terms of the discussion I am reasonably content with what I would consider to be a over the International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague and the conpretty pitiful end; a very tragic and sad period of Serbian history ditions it has set, or the conditions that the U.S. has set, or the conended. Let's remember: this man died a prisoner in his cell. He ditions that the European Union has set. came back to a tirade of speeches from the past. He was buried - I Your question was how important is Ratko Mladić. The first and don't care how many people attended - pretty much alone in the foremost individuals that need to be asked that question are the backyard of his house. And his era ended six years ago in October people of this country. 'How important is it to you?' 'Do you believe 2000 when the people said "you're finished, goodbye". The body that he is a national hero who has done great things for Serbia and dying at this point is just one more biological reality that all of us whose image and memory will bring this country into an even betface. He was finished long ago and he's finished now. The coverage ter future?' 'Or do you accept the fact that at Šrebrenica thousands of his funeral and the speeches at this staged rally, were just one of people were killed and this man stands accused of having more attempt by people who are no longer relevant to Serbia to try ordered, or played the major role in, the carrying out of this grueto become relevant. They didn't achieve it. some deed?' You decide, Serbia, how important Ratko Mladić is. I know where I stand on the issues war crimes. I know where the Finally, you recently signed an agreement with the heads of United States stands on the issue of war crimes. But, as far as ten municipalities in Serbia, thus instigating a programme to Serbia's concerned, it's not really important where we stand on this encourage the economic development of municipalities. You issue. It's important where Serbia stands on this issue. And - again also took the opportunity to express concern for current U.S. and going back to October 2000, going back to Tadic's election - I have other foreign investments in the municipalities in question. my suspicions where the majority of the people of this country …With my comments at the ceremony in the town hall I wantstand on this issue: I think they want this done and I think they ed to take the opportunity in which we were celebrating a new want this done yesterday… agreement with partner municipalities in which we will work …The nature of democracy is that you will allow different opindirectly on economic development, to also highlight the responsiions even if you violently disagree with them. So, if some people bility of government, at all levels, to work very hard on supporting here consider Ratko Mladić to be a hero, I vehemently disagree with the existing investors in Serbia. that, but it is their right to think that way. And if the majority of a There are not just still barriers to entering the Serbian market, country chooses, by electing a government, to make an accused there are also problems for existing businesses - international as war criminal a national hero, and wishes to live with that reality, well as Serbian - in terms of their ability to make money and grow that is its choice. As I tell my children, "you can go ahead and do this economy and create jobs. this. Here is the consequence. Good luck".

The government needs to pay continued attention to its responsibilities toward these businesses who are the drivers of this econoReaching an agreement about America's financial aid to my. It's nothing revolutionary. I would consider that to be the Serbia has been deferred until the end of May. Has this been responsibility of any government in any place where the economy done in order to give Belgrade a chance to take a breather and has to thrive.

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In the News

Visionary Remembered

Zoran Đinđić

By M. Jauković

he anniversary of the PM's untimely death was marked in various ways throughout Serbia - from Belgrade to Novi Sad, Kragujevac, Kikinda and other towns. By laying flowers and lighting candles on his grave, several thousand citizens paid tribute to the fallen visionary.

Serbian President, Boris Tadić, members of Đinđić's Cabinet and Democratic Party (DS) officials joined the fallen leader's family in paying tribute to Đinđić. Serbian PM Koštunica laid a wreath on the memorial plaque in the yard of the government building at the very spot where Đinđić had been assassinated.

DS held a memorial academy, "We will meet in the future", in the Sava Centre, where a film about Zoran Đinđić was screened.

After paying his own personal tribute, former Serbian PM, Zoran Živković, stated that three years on Serbia is still in the same position it was before Đindic came to power. Meanwhile, Deputy PM in Đinđić's Cabinet, Čedomir Jovanović, told press that he believes that Serbia now has enough strength to carry on the journey which was halted by Đinđić's murder.

The PM's widow, Ružica, said she believes in the positive future of Serbia and is convinced her husband's ideas about the Europeanisation and democratisation of Serbia will survive.

Zoran Đinđić is still considered as the only person capable of rapidly leading Serbia on the way to democratisation and modernisation, while his opponents, perhaps more so now than ever, insist that it is Đinđić who is to a large extent "to blame" for the criminalisation of Serbian society.

Just as he never left anybody indifferent while he was alive, these days too Đinđić simply lures many to declare themselves as his successors. Both analysts and those who knew him for a long time agree that he does not have a real successor. As Živković said, "all those trying to wear his suit now simply look silly."

"Zoran Đinđić was the biggest political visionary in Serbia's recent history", stated Serbian President and fellow DS member, Boris Tadić, in his speech at the memorial assembly in Vienna, entitled: "In the name of democracy - the retrospective of the development of Serbia".

Zoran Đinđić was assassinated on 12th March 2003 in front of the Serbian Government headquarters. He was hit in the heart by a sniper's bullet at 12.25 PM in the parking space in front of the staff entrance to the Government building in Nemanjina Street. Đinđić was born on 1st August 1952 in Bosanski Šamac, Bosnia. He graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade

T

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CorD | April 2006

The final message of assassinated Serbian PM Zoran Đindic that "Europe is our home, no price is too high for me" gained new meaning this 12th March, three years after his murder in Belgrade, when thousands of citizens all around Serbia marked the third anniversary of the death of this the first democratically elected Serbian Prime Minister. in 1974. Between 1977 and 1990 he resided in Germany, where he worked in several universities - Konstanz, Bonn and Frankfurt. He completed his PhD in philosophy at Konstanz University, where he worked as a research assistant. Đinđić was one of the founders of DS, in which he was elected president of the executive board in 1990 and party president in January 1994. He was party leader until his assassination. Đinđić worked as a senior research fellow in Belgrade's Centre for Philosophy and Civil Theory. He was a Serbian MP three times and a deputy in the Yugoslav Federal Parliament. Đinđić was also a professor at Novi Sad's Philosophy Faculty and was elected the first non-communist mayor of Belgrade on 21st February 1997, as a member of the Zajedno coalition which won the local elections in several cities in Serbia. He was dismissed from that post on 30th September 1997 at the demand of Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO) MPs, who had the support of the Radicals and the Socialists.

In June 2000, Đinđić became the head of the central electoral headquarters and the co-ordinator of the Democratic Opposition of Serbia's (DOS) campaign for the elections of September 2000.

He was appointed prime minister of Serbia on 25th January 2001, following DOS's victory in the parliamentary elections in Serbia in December 2000.

In September 1999, American weekly Time ranked Đinđić among the 14 leading European politicians of the third millennia.

In 2000, Đinđić was awarded Germany's prestigious Bambi Award in the field of politics.

In 2002, he won the Polak Foundation's award for the development of democracy in Serbia.

In 2004, he was posthumously awarded by Germany's Friedrich Schiller University's Foundation for International Understanding and Human Rights.

Two years after his assassination, SCG President Svetozar Marović awarded Đinđić with Nemanja's first class medal.

The indictment against 44 persons charged with Đinđić's murder was filed on August 21st 2003. Chief suspect of organising and co-ordinating the attack is former commander of the now disbanded Special Operations Unit (JSO), Milorad "Legija" [Legionnaire] Luković. Former JSO deputy commander, Zvezdan Jovanović, has been accused of shooting and killing the Prime Minister.

The scheduled continuation of the trial for the murder of Đinđić - in May this year - will see the hundredth session of the main court proceedings. The trial commenced over two years ago, on 22nd December 2003.

In the News

Death of an Epoch Slobodan Milošević was finally laid to rest on 18th March in the garden of his house in his hometown of Požarevac. This, the most infamous war crimes defendant and the man dubbed by western media as "the Butcher of the Balkans" a decade ago, had died of a heart attack in his cell at the ICTY's Scheveningen detention centre a week earlier.

By M. Jauković

o members of his immediate family attended the funeral, but letters from his son Marko and wife Mirjana Marković were read out at the service. Milošević's daughter Marija, who expressed her bitterness over the decision for her father to be buried in Požarevac, announced that she had made a legal demand for the exhumation of the body in order to bury him in Montenegro.

The funeral was neither of a state nor religious nature, and was carried out without the presence of any state representatives. The coffin was interred to the accompaniment of Russian songs, Moscow Night and Rjabinuska, and the wailings of those loyal to the former SPS leader to the end.

Milošević's burial brought an end to a week of melodramatics which had seen accusations of murder by poisoning, the twoday 'exhibiting' of the former Yugoslav and Serbian president's casket in Belgrade's '25th May' Museum of Yugoslav History and the subsequent transporting of the ousted leader's mortal remains to the entrance of the SCG Parliament for a mass rally which, according to police, was attended by 80,000 supporters of his politics - mainly members of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) and the Serbian Radical Party (SRS).

Speakers at the rally used the chance to turn the commemorative event into a political demonstration of support for Milošević and everything he did to the detriment of Serbia and its neighbours.

Only a kilometre away, in Republic Square, a different Serbia gathered. There were no official organisers or speakers at this gathering, which saw opponents of Milošević's policies gather spontaneously, on the basis of SMS and e-mail messages, under the slogan "Spring in Serbia three days early - Milošević not to be repeated ever again".

Milošević's death prompted enormous publicity in the international and local media, but also a chain of controversies mirroring the controversy of his leadership. Meanwhile, Socialists and Radicals decided to use Milošević's funeral for their own devices: the Socialists as a unique opportunity to launch their return to political life and the Radicals as a chance to perhaps gain some new voters. Officials from both parties expressed their suspicions regarding the cause of death and accused the ICTY of "murdering Milošević".

The Dutch toxicologist's statement that he had found traces of an antibiotic used to treat leprosy and tuberculoses in Milošević's blood, with the assumption that Milošević was tak-

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Slobodan Milošević ing the medicine of his own accord, served as the basis for conspiracy theory speculations.

Former Montenegrin President and FR Yugoslavia PM, Momir Bulatović - who had seen Milošević just days before his death - told a press conference that Milošević strongly believed that The Hague Tribunal was poisoning him.

A few days before his death, Milošević sent a letter to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in which he claimed that doctors were poisoning him with an antibiotic for leprosy.

Lavrov also expressed suspicions about the expert results regarding the death.

Even Serbian President Boris Tadić stated that the ICTY had been responsible for Milošević's death. However, he emphasised that this would not jeopardise Serbia's future co-operation with the court.

The autopsy established that Milošević died of a heart attack. Head of the Russian medical team, Leo Bokeria, inspected autopsy materials and stated that he was "absolutely satisfied" with the work of the Dutch pathologists.

The Hague Tribunal formally closed the Milošević case on 15th March. During a discussion which lasted less than three minutes, presiding Judge Patrick Robinson expressed regret that this untimely death had deprived all sides of a just verdict.

Slobodan Milošević was born on 20th August 1941 in Pozarevac, where he completed primary and secondary school before attending the Belgrade Law Faculty. He married his first love, Mirjana Marković, in 1965. He started his career in the Tehnogas Company, where he served as deputy director and then director for five years. He then moved to Beogradska Banka, where he finally became the bank's general director.

Milošević was elected president of the Presidency of Serbia in 1989. He was the president of SPS from its establishment (through the merger of the Serbian Communist Party and the Socialist Alliance of Workers) in July 1990, until his death. He was elected president of Serbia in December 1990, and again in December 1992.

After leading the country through a decade of war, international sanctions and domestic popular protests, Milošević lost to the Democratic Opposition of Serbia's (DOS) candidate, Vojislav Koštunica, at the presidential elections in 2000. After mass demonstrations and a so-called 'bloodless one-day revolution', Milošević admitted his defeat live on television on 6th October.

Milošević was arrested on 1st April 2001 - two years after first being accused of crimes against humanity in Kosovo by then ICTY chief prosecutor Louise Arbour - and on 28th June was extricated to the Hague Tribunal.

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Politics

Destination Brussels Serbia & Montenegro has found itself at a crossroads following Slobodan Milošević's death in The Hague and with a continuing lack of co-operation with the ICTY. Now negotiations with the EU have been jeopardised as a result of the government's failure to show its readiness to fulfil key international obligations and this decisive month and challenging year have raised the question of whether SCG will stay on the EU track or remain an isolated ghetto in the heart of Europe.

By: Aleksandra Sekulić-Stojanović; Photo: CorD archives

he last train Serbia & Montenegro needs to catch in order to maintain full co-operation with the ICTY and remain on track to join the European Union departs in early April.

The European Commission has made a final decision that there will be no further negotiations on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) if the most wanted war criminal, General Ratko Mladić, hasn't been arrested and sent to The Hague. The scheduling of the next round of SAA negotiations, due to take place at the beginning of April, has already been debated - thanks largely to the fact that the confusing false tales of Mladić's arrest in late February had negative repercussions, prompting international officials to again question the readiness of the Serbian Government to fulfil its international obligations.

After Slobodan Milošević was found dead in his cell in the Scheveningen detention centre on 11th March, the situation grew more complicated than ever. The death of the former Yugoslav and Serbian president has divided the nation and led to further questioned being raised on co-operation with the ICTY. One thing,

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though, is certain: Serbia & Montenegro has been told to stay on the EU track and to hand over other war crimes suspects in order to continue negotiations with the European Union.

Being the most important issue - and the only condition SCG still needs to meet in order to successfully continue with the SAA negotiations - full co-operation with the tribunal is a non-negotiable fact. Along with permanent political and economic reforms, it was the first condition set before the negotiations started on the 10th October 2005.

In the '3 Cs' enlargement strategy - Consolidation, Conditionality and Communication, which applies to every country wishing to join the EU, it is clear that conditionality is at the heart of EU enlargement. When negotiations officially opened last autumn, SCG representatives shared the positive opinion and hope that a four-year period, which had been lost while waiting for the positive Feasibility study, would be made up in the coming negotiations.

"We are determined not to lose a month, a week, a day, in the coming period, in order to make these negotiations successful to the very end, considering the interest of our European future," said SCG President Svetozar Marović at the opening of SAA negotiations in October 2005.

Politics The official and technical negotiations with the European Union and the work done by the Serbian Government can be summarised as follows:After receiving a positive Feasibility Study in April 2005, SCG formed special negotiating teams for the State Union and the sister republics. With the "twin track" approached duly adopted, the state union of Serbia & Montenegro officially began discussing issues specific to the SAA with the EU. Certainly the most important element of the Agreement is economic co-operation, and in particular trade liberalisation, with the EU. This, though, will only become a reality once the Agreement is signed. As such, the pace of trade liberalisation is of great importance, particularly as high tariffs remain in place for a number of export products (i.e. protected tariffs for meat stand at 50%, milk - 50-80%, sugar - 90%) and the standards of every EU member state must be applied in Serbia & Montenegro in order for a free trade zone to be developed.

According to the European Commission's annual report for Serbia & Montenegro, the country has been doing its job very well, particularly in terms of the reform of public administration and the efficient work of the Serbian Parliament in adopting a number of vital laws. In

Svetozar Marović: "We are determined not to lose a month, a week, a day, in the coming period, in order to make these negotiations successful to the very end, considering the interest of our European future"… the field of economics, SCG has developed a strong tax policy and managed to decrease its trade deficit. Nevertheless, there are a great many points remaining to be addressed. In particular, there has been no development of visa, border control, and asylum and migration policies, and there remains a distinct lack of communication and cooperation between the State Union's two member states.

Other priorities are detailed in the European Partnership paper a document of great importance, which details the most crucial issues to be dealt with. Serbia & Montenegro still has a lot of work to do: the revision of the Constitution; the reform of the judiciary system; macroeconomic stability; advancing the privatisation process; developing a new approach to controlling the borders; enforcing the law against money laundering and further advancing democratic control of military forces.

The scope of these obligations has affected the process of negotiations with the European Union, though Serbian representatives are certain they will break records in negotiations and sign the agreement in November 2006.

The second round of technical negotiations took place in midFebruary this year. According to Serbian & Montenegrin representatives, it was so successful that they thought there should be just one more negotiating round in order to "finish the job" and sign the agreement. However, latest events relating to the lack of co-operation with the ICTY ensured that this positive opinion became uncertain. The most important conclusion after the second meeting was the suggestion of EU representatives to shorten the period of adaptation to one year. Serbian deputy PM Miroljub Labus, who heads the Serbian negotiating team for the SAA, said that his team was positively surprised with the suggestion coming from the European Union.

"When we were given a mandate we were told that we couldn't completely adapt in a period of less than ten years. We made our list of industrial and agricultural products and planned to have a free trade zone with the EU in six years. According to our plans, the agenda was to finish the whole process by 2012. Now they have suggested shortening this period by a year. We will take this into consideration and decide whether we are ready for such a step or not," said Labus.

The stabilisation and association process for the entire Western Balkans has been one of the top priorities of the European Union this

year. The importance of this region was highlighted during the "Balkan week" of European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and EU Enlargement Commissioner Olly Rehn. The pair visited Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia & Montenegro to show their commitment to the development of the Balkans and to assure its citizens that there is a clear European future for every country in the region.

Barroso and Rehn visited SCG at a very sensitive moment - during the opening of final status negotiations for Kosovo and at a juncture when the scheduling of the referendum in Montenegro had been decided and it had become clear that the continuing lack of co-operation with the ICTY would jeopardise the future of SAA negotiations.

President Barroso said that it was crucially important that reforms not be undermined by the lack of co-operation with The Hague. He addressed representatives of the State Union Parliament and said that the future of the region depended on the country's readiness to adopt European standards. He gave a message of hope, confidence and encouragement to Serbian citizens and their leaders.

"By concluding the agreement your country signs up to the principles of the EU, the principles of democracy, the rule of law, respect of human rights and minority rights. It is, thus, a major stepping stone towards fulfilling the criteria for full EU membership.

"Serbia & Montenegro is currently facing challenges. This will make you to turn the page and turn to the future for the prosperity and security of Europe", Barroso told State Union parliamentarians.

The most successful form of European integration is certainly the free trade zone and regional co-operation. Visiting Sarajevo, Zagreb, Tirana, Skopje, Priština and Belgrade, Barroso and Rehn suggested that the existing 31 bilateral economic agreements should now be replaced by a common agreement on a free trade zone. This will make the Balkan region more attractive to foreign investors, developing trade and creating new jobs.

"Once the country is be able to undertake necessary reforms and clear remaining obstacles, there is tremendous economic and intellectual potential to be liberated in this country", said Mr. Rehn, speaking to CorD at a Belgrade press conference.

Meanwhile, Barroso assured the country’s citizens that Serbia & Montenegro deserves a future in the European Union.

"We have great respect for your country and your people. We know about the history. You are a European country and you deserve an EU future. Serbia is a central country of the region and very

Miroljub Labus: "When we were given a mandate we were told that we couldn't completely adapt in a period of less than ten years. We made our list of industrial and agricultural products and planned to have a free trade zone with the EU in six years…Now they [the EU] have suggested shortening this period by a year." important, and I want to say this to the Serbian people because I honestly believe that sometimes, because of a painful recent past, there is a perception in some circles that Europe doesn't respect you. This is not true. We want to work with Serbia. That's why I am here," Barroso told Belgrade's gathered press.

In Brussels there is no feeling that the Balkans is an isolated ghetto waiting to be accepted in the European Union, though the acceptance of the region's countries is a process which takes some time to be fully completed. However, it is clear that once SAA negotiations have been halted they will prove extremely difficult to re-start.

If the EU member states and the European Commission are not satisfied with the process of reforms and ICTY co-operation, negotiating will become much more difficult. Results in political and economic reforms, regional co-operation and full commitment to the Hague tribunal are the key priorities. The message from Brussels is clear: if Serbia & Montenegro doesn't play by the rules set up a long time ago, it will remain an isolated ghetto of Milošević's heritage.

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Privatisation Serbian representatives gathered within the Centre for Dialogue are of the opinion that Serbia could strengthen its position in Kosovo by refusing to allow Serbian-owned companies to be transferred to the authority of the breakaway province's administration.

By Dunja Miloťević

he Serbian Centre for Dialogue’s representatives insist that Serbs living and working in Kosovo would be able to participate in the privatisation of companies located in or around the province's Serb enclaves if a team of top lawyers be assembled and adequate funds be earmarked to help companies remain under Serbian ownership.

As the Serbian Government confronts the major challenge of negotiating on the future of its southern province, the problems of Kosovo's property rights and debt remain unresolved.

While Serbian representatives claim that the province's privatisation process (which they deem as being illegal) should be halted

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CorD | April 2006

forthwith, the province's UNMIK administration believes that the sale of public property is crucial to the economy of a province where as many as two million people depend on foreign aid contributions.

Serbia has opposed the sale of Kosovo-based companies by the Kosovo Trust Agency since the very start of the privatisation process in the province, arguing that the state had spent decades investing in the construction and maintenance of companies in Kosovo. Moreover, the current Serbian Government, and the preceding DOS administration, noted that if Serbia is forced to pay Kosovo's debts to international organisations, then it should be party to the profits yielded through the privatisation process.

Economics - Kosovo this area. Trajković worries that "many of those in senior administration do not understand that".

The situation is different in areas that Serbs have already vacated than it is in those where they still live. As such, differing areas must not be treated in the same way: "Serbia can say that it will return, through the court system, privatised compa-

President Expects…

Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu expects the World Bank to support Kosovo in its economic development, as well as in other fields during the period of "the creation of the state of Kosovo".

Serbian news agency BETA reported that after meeting with the World Bank's representative, Kantan Sankar, in Priština, President Sejdiu thanked the World Bank for the "aid provided to Kosovo and its readiness to carry on doing that".

Sejdiu spoke of the readiness of the World Bank to engage itself in education, health and other fields, particularly considering that the establishment of the province's status will enable them to approach financial institutions.

While Presidnet Sejdiu emphasised the need to offer support to the economic development of Kosovo, Sankar expressed satisfaction with the current progress of co-operation with Kosovo's institutions and said that they will co-operate with the Government on the realisation of plans for Kosovo's economic development.

& Debt Participants of a recent Belgrade roundtable devoted to privatisation in Kosovo concluded that Serbia would find it impossible to hold on to the province if it fails to prevent the privatisations of Serbian companies located in Kosovo.

Momčilo Trajković, director of Laplje Selo's Ratar and a former Kosovo-Serb political representative, believes that the Serbian state has no genuine interest in Kosovo-based Serbian companies, which in itself is enabling "the most direct ethnic cleansing" of the province.

Trajković ponders, "how can we preserve Kosovo and Metohija if the Albanians purchase the ski resort on Brezovica or the Ratar company, with its 600 hectares of land?"

This is a realistic possibility because the ski resort on Brezovica Mountain, which lies next to a large Serbian enclave, has been put up for sale. Almost the entire enclave lives from that resort and, in the case that some Albanian buys it, the Serbs fear that they would lose their jobs and, thus, their very livelihoods. That would, naturally, force them to relocate from

nies in areas no longer inhabited by Serbs, but it cannot think in that way in the cases of the upcoming privatisations of companies in areas where Serbs still live".

Dragomir Janković, Executive director of the UN's Economic Centre, is of the opinion that Serbia can hold onto the territory by preserving economic sovereignty over Kosovo: "Serbia must get involved in the privatisation process and establish consortiums and funds to help protect Serbian companies. In that way people will find employment which will in turn unburden the budget".

If Serbia wants the Stabilisation and Association (SAA) negotiations with the EU to succeed, it has to participate in privatisation in Kosovo and should not contest the fact that this privatisation is carried out by the international community, considers Janković.

According to the Economic Centre official, the state can initiate various court proceedings regarding privatisation, but it will only be able to protect its interests through the establishment of consortiums and funds which will enable Serbs who live and work in Kosovo to participate in privatisation and, thus, achieve at least economic sovereignty in those areas. However, both politicians and economists agree that the problem of resolving Kosovo's status has pushed the province's privatisation process out of the limelight.

"Even though the state of Serbia does not recognise the process of privatisation taking place in Kosovo, ethnic Albanians, under the patronage of UNMIK and the Kosovo Trust Agency, are continuing the sale of properties owned by Serbian companies. The legal titular of that property is the UN Security Council. Even though the European Union recommended the reconsideration of the privatisation process in Kosovo as far back as 2003 - a year after the process started - nobody in Serbia wanted to deal with this problem seriously," claims the Dialogue and Reconciliation Centre.

CorD | April 2006

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Economics - Kosovo

Momčilo Trajković

Dragomir Janković

On several occasions, Kosovo and Metohija Chamber of Commerce's representatives in Zvecan have expressed their disappointment at the fact that official representatives of Serbia did not display readiness to offer concrete answers to people in the province about how to protect properties located in Serbian enclaves. The Serbian Chamber of Commerce sent a protest letter to the UN Security Council and other international institutions last year demanding the suspension of the privatisation process, but there has been no response to this letter as yet.

Independent observers think that, as things stand now, it is hardly likely that any company from Serbia will participate in the privatisation process in Kosovo, which shows that there is no equality of participation. However, the other side of the story also merits attention: currently there are around 350 state-owned and 65 public companies whose property is gradually being decreased. The process which was characteristic to all former communist countries is also present in this instance: operating without profits and the gradual illegal transformation from a state property into a private one. The position of the UNMIK administration is that there is no economic progress without direct private investment, and there will be almost none if the privatisation process is not previously carried out, the same as in Serbia.

Serbian officials emphasise that state-owned property and public companies in Kosovo are (mostly) the result of Serbia's investment in this undeveloped province; that the workers do have rights to the state and publicly owned properties and that privatisation cannot be carried out without the return of seized properties and the establishment of debts owed to Serbian banks and companies by companies from Kosovo.

Investments in Kosovo (economy, infrastructure and socalled civil activities) were, until 1990, higher than in other

Veselin Kočanović

parts of the former Yugoslavia, financed from investment funds, in which, apart from Serbia, all other republics invested money through the former Fund for Undeveloped Areas. That aid was established by federal law, and the right to the return of this kind of aid does not exist.

The return of seized properties should certainly precede the privatisation process, in order to avoid a situation of the sale of property which already has an owner. The process of restitution itself, in both Kosovo and Serbia proper, is long and painstaking, thus the supporters of the idea of selling companies in Kosovo emphasise that the least damaging method is to start privatisation (with all of the injustices which can be corrected later), rather than postpone the sale of state-owned and public companies. In the Serbian case, the Serbian Government and Parliament both share the same position - the privatisation process is being carried out under an accelerated procedure, and restitution regulations are being continuously delayed.

Serbian representatives in Kosovo think that the economic situation is now even worse than in 1999, when international forces first entered the province. The enormous amounts received through donations from abroad were mostly spent on consumption instead of financing the economy, thinks Veselin Kočanović of Serbia's Co-ordination Centre for Kosovo.

Kočanović thinks that there has been no progress in the economy, there is no competitive production for export, there are no direct foreign investments and, thus, unemployment is growing.

Morevoer, Kočanović claims that only wood building material, mushrooms and waste materials are being exported from Kosovo.

For instance, exports in 2003 were around 36 million euros, while imports were just under one billion euros.

Who's Debt?

Kosovo's debts amount to a total of 1.4 billion dollars. According to an earlier statement made by Deputy Serbian PM Miroljub Labus, this issue is fully open because nobody wants to negotiate about it. Rather, they all claim that is not under their jurisdiction. That issue remained unresolved during the return of FR Yugoslavia to the World Bank, and at that time authorised officials claimed that flexibility and understanding would come later on.

So, while on one side privatisation takes place in Kosovo, on the other side Serbia pays off Kosovo's company debts without a single dinar in tax revenue from the province. According to Labus, that is simply not maintainable. Serbia currently pays off interest, but since between 2007 and 2009 Serbia will enter the position of the biggest pay off of its debt (of a billion dollars per year), the pay off of Kosovo's debts would be too high a burden without any participation in the province's income.

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Interview

Fostering Brotherhood H.E. Alessandro Merola, Ambassador of Italy to Serbia & Montenegro

Speaking exclusively to CorD this month, ambassador of Italy in Belgrade, H.E. Alessandro Merola, explained that one of the diplomatic missions of this EU power and Serbian neighbour is to "foster contacts in all major and minor fields by encouraging the improvement of relations between businesses, universities, artists, museums, scientists and sporting bodies", amongst others.

By Mark Pullen; Photo: Jelena Mandić

espite language and cultural barriers dividing Serbia and Italy, Ambassador Merola insists: "I don't consider Serbia as a foreign country, but rather a neighbour country. And, as a neighbour country, you can't merely foster economic or cultural relations. You have to foster everything; every form of contact. I consider Serbia as a brotherly partner, part of the family."

Ambassador Merola succeeded Antonio Zanardi Landi just a few months ago, but he has already made himself at home in the SCG capital. Thankfully, though, Belgrade was not a complete shock to the seasoned Italian diplomat: "I had the chance to come here a couple of times to experience the reality of Belgrade; to look at things and talk to people. So I came here with a certain background, which is very good because this is a complicated city… It has many layers that you have to discover one by one; you experience the initial reality, then turn the page and find another reality, and so on and so forth."

Perhaps it is the ambassador's impression that Belgrade is a complicated city that leads him to suggest that it is not the most open city he has had the chance to see: "… cities like Rome or London are much more open. You go there and the reality is more or less that which you see. Here the reality is covered and you

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have to delve into the book to find out what it's all about.

"Because of the history and development of this city, there is a different 'chapter' uncovering the city's economy, culture, society, etc.

When you first arrive it may seem easy to read, but it's not. Belgrade is a city requiring keys to the various realities it hides."

CULTURAL ADVANCES Bilateral relations between Italy and Serbia & Montenegro have been flourishing over recent years, both in the cultural and economic fields.

Expressing his satisfaction with the notable advances made, and unveiling plans for longer-term co-operation, Ambassador Merola tells CorD: "We were very happy about the exhibition of Italian Classics and have excellent collaboration with the National Museum.

"We took this exhibition as a starting point for our wider collaboration. So, our institute for installations will have a longer collaboration with the national Museum to create a restoration laboratory here in the National Museum. But this is just an example of the absolutely excellent cultural ties enjoyed between Serbia and Italy.

However, this is not just Italy and Serbia as countries. This is about a constant interchange of individuals coming and going, exchanging

Mistaken Media Approach "I don't like that the international media talk about Serbia only because of the past. I think this is the wrong approach - remembering and reminding and recalling the bloodshed, Šrebrenica, Mladić, Milošević. We have to focus on the new Serbia. I'm fully convinced that it must be finished. We won't forget, but we don't need to be reminded anymore. With this in mind, I would call on Serbia's leaders to get rid of this bombed building in the middle of the city. Demolish it. I understand that there are logistic, bureaucratic and economic problems, but they have to put these buildings down. If somebody comes to Belgrade and the first thing he sees in the heart of the old city as he comes from the airport is bombed buildings on both sides of the road it sends entirely the wrong message… I can understand if somebody wants to keep this as a memorial, but it's exactly the wrong signal to send to visiting potential investors…"

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Interview

H.E. Alessandro Merola, Ambassador of Italy to Serbia & Montenegro ideas, co-operating culturally."

Certainly the most exciting news on the further growth of already excellent cultural ties between the two countries is the forthcoming opening of Italy's own cultural and economic centre in Belgrade. Ambassador Merola explains: "We are to have our own Palazzo d'Italia on Kneza MiloĹĄa Street.

The building - the former home of the Albanian Embassy - is now under restoration (by the Serbian state in co-operation with us) and will become the seat of the cultural institute. There we will be able to make exhibitions and it will become the focus for Italian cultural activities in Belgrade.

"There, at Palazzo d'Italia, we will concentrate the Cultural Institute, plus the Italian Foreign Trade Institute, plus the co-operation office, plus Media d'Italia‌ "This nice building, which we hope to have opened by the summer, will be our flagship centre, so to say, with a coffee shop, library, lecture halls, etc. It will become a point of Italian reference for Belgraders. Still, this will not be the only place where we are going to make initiatives.

"Two weeks ago the director of the Contemporary Art Museum in Rome visited me here. They have agreed with the Museum of Contemporary Art here to bring an exhibition of the work of a very important Italian contemporary sculptor, and there are other initiatives going on‌ Italian art is not only about the classics, but contemporary fields as well."

Ambassador Merola is of the opinion that a process of continual co-operation must be maintained - a requirement he himself is spearheading: "What I'm trying to do is to establish regular, stable contacts between the various cultural institutions of the two countries.

"It's not a matter of making a one-stop initiative - a single show,

theatre performance, concert or exhibition - but rather creating a network and indefinite institutional co-operation."

EASING EXCHANGES Reiterating that he feels completely at home in Belgrade, and that it's "quite difficult to feel abroad here", the Italian ambassador explains that he is exerting every effort to allow people from Serbia & Montenegro to feel equally at home when they visit Italy: "There are a lot of Italian speakers here and the country has an historic frequency with Italy. Of course, that was much more the case in the former Yugoslavia, while now there are visa problems. We are trying to push to ease, as much as possible, the visa system within Schengen: trying to accelerate the process and make it easier.

"This is because one of the first things I felt strongly is that people are suffering because of the visas - particularly here, where they grew accustomed to travelling without visas. Before, anyone choosing to take a weekend trip to Venice could simply take the plane and go.

Now they have to wait a month to get a visa. They can't just say 'ok, I'm leaving tomorrow to France' and then go. This makes people claustrophobic.

"Now we have formed special units to help people with regular visas and we have almost eliminated the queue. We also have another person tasked especially with arranging business visas, which makes sense if we are trying to encourage economic relations.

"We are discussing now and pushing Rome to establish a special agreement between Italy and Serbia & Montenegro to give certain facilities to specific categories of Serbian and Montenegrin people, such as students, sporting professionals, academics, politicians, artists, etc. You can do whatever you want to develop cultural relaCorD | April 2006

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Interview tions, but if people can't move freely your efforts will always be stunted. We cannot do too much because we are restricted by Schengen, but we are doing all we can to help those who want to study in Italy or improve other areas of cultural relations. Visas are a key 'pre-priority', because they touch all areas of collaboration."

es and now we have a number of realities. So now I think the time has come to start thinking about forming a kind of umbrella agreement between the two governments. This is because, first of all, it will help to develop synergy amongst all those that are here; and secondly because now we have reached the point that there are certain complex sectors - such as energy, transport and general BOOSTING BUSINESS infrastructure - where you cannot make any moves if you don't Praising the numerous have a specific agreement with Italian companies that have the government." opted to expand into Serbia, Turning to the troubling Ambassador Merola drew particareas of Serbia's breakaway ular attention to major Italian province of Kosovo and relations bank, Banca Intesa, for the way between the State Union partner this leading financial corporation republics, the ambassador notes: has stamped its brand on the "I hope there won't be any Serbian market in a very short major changes, or problems, space of time: arising in Serbia because of "The first thing Banca Intesa Montenegro and Kosovo. I don't did that I greatly approve of is think there will be and I certainthat they made their brand very ly hope there won't be. Provided visible. After two months I found there aren't, we will be able to that I could literally see Banca build on and strengthen our …at Palazzo d'Italia we will concenIntesa everywhere. The transibilateral relations, and can tion from Delta Banka to Banca work on a number of other ideas trate the Cultural Institute, plus the Intesa was very swift and sucand numerous projects."

Italian Foreign Trade Institute, plus the cessful…I hope that Generali will Insisting that redefining the co-operation office, plus Media do the same. People have to size of the nation's market folknow that you are here. They lowing any secessions of d'Italia…This nice building will be our need to see the image projected Montenegro and Kosovo would flagship centre…It will become a point on the streets." have no affect on Italian producAgreeing with CorD's sugers operating here, Merola says: of Italian reference for Belgraders gestion that the visibility of the "when they [Italian manufacturbrand is itself encouraging to ers] produce here they don't propotential Italian investors who duce solely for the internal, visit the country, Merola says: "This is the first time in the history of domestic market. They produce here to export to other potential marmy career that I have seen a country offering our financial support to kets in the region. So even if Serbia's market reduces from 10 million our investors before they have arrived. As a rule, our investors comto 7.5 million it won't affect investors, whose primary targets are the plain that the country they are investing in does not offer the finanneighbouring markets. That's globalisation." cial support they need. Banks are a privileged channel for our investors - they can offer support and assistance, they know the conGOLDEN TRIANGLE ditions available on the market and can provide information. Intesa, for instance, is planning to establish a special desk here for Italian Plans are underway to establish a new regional foreign trade firms. Fin Domestic is another of our banks - albeit a smaller one association that would perhaps boost Italian investment in the operating on this market, and there may even be a third or even a country even further. However, Ambassador Merola feels that fourth bank coming here. So, at least in the financial sector, things Italy's investors would not be deterred even if such a body was not are going very well." formed soon:In addition to marked advances in Italian investment in the "Establishing a regional FTA would be a very good thing. But I financial sector, Ambassador Merola notes progress in other ecothink, again, that the goal of our investors is not so much to sell on nomic fields: "Things are going pretty well in the business sector. this market, but to produce on the market. Belgrade, and the rest of There have been a number of Italian businesses that have come here Serbia, sits in what I would call a 'golden triangle' - in the north you and opened plants here and there. They're very satisfied and very have Hungary, east you have Romania, south-east you have Bulgaria. happy about the market, about the labour force and the human level, Hungary is already in the European Union, while Romania and which I think is most important if you go somewhere - if you work in Bulgaria are about to get into the Union; Serbia and Albania and otha country which is completely alien to you, things will not develop the ers are moving towards the Union. So, it's not about seeing Serbia as way you want even if the market is good." a single country and market, but rather as part of a system… Thus Explaining plans to strengthen Italy's position on SCG's develit's quite natural for Italian companies to expand into Serbia…" oping markets, Ambassador Merola says: "Everything is still very Concluding with the message that Italy and Serbia should be new and what I would like to do [in time] is to consolidate this busias close culturally and economically as they are geographically, ness climate, which is very favourable, a little more at the official Ambassador Merola says: "exchanges between our two countries level. This is because this transition has been going a little wildly don't have to be episodic. It should be a part of every day life for until now: everybody came independently and set up their businessboth countries."

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CorD | April 2006

Bulletin...Bulletin...Bulletin...Bulletin...Bulletin...Bulletin...Bulletin...

Interpol Drops Warrant Interpol officially withdrew a warrant for the arrest of Kosovo PM Agim Ceku in late March, citing his appointment as the province's premier as the main cause.

The move follows the publishing by AP of UNMIK Chief Soren Jessen-Petersen's letter stating that the UN mission did not recognise the validity of warrants against Ceku and fellow Kosovo-Albanian leader Hashim Thaci.

The Serbian judiciary issued the international warrant for the arrest of Agim Ceku in 2002, accusing the new Kosovo PM of genocide against Serbs during the conflicts in Kosovo and after KFOR's arrival in the province.

The indictment brought by the Serbian judiciary holds Ceku, in his capacity as commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army, responsible by command responsibility for the murder of 669 Serbs and 18 members of other ethnic minorities, 518 counts of grievous bodily harm and wounding, and 584 abductions.

Responding to the news, President of the Serbian Government's Coordination Centre for Kosovo, Sanda Raškovic-Ivic, accused Petersen in an official letter of being "one of the most influential promoters of the Albanian separatists' goals".

Bombardment Anniversary Marked NATO commenced its 78-day bombardment of the then FR Yugoslavia on 24th March 1999.

The air raids began at around 7:30pm, prompting the then government of Slobodan Milošević to declare a state of war between Yugoslavia and the Western Alliance.

The air strikes resulted in the Yugoslav Army retreating from Kosovo, and international forces entering the region. Many industrial buildings, schools, health centres, media buildings and monuments were damaged or destroyed in the bombings, during which around two thousand citizens lost their lives, including 90 children and 1,002 Yugoslav Army members.

The Serbian Government's commemorative service was conducted

by Bishop Atanasije Rakita and attended, amongst others, by Serbian PM Vojilsav Koštunica, ministers Radomir Naumov and Aleksandar Popović and nearly 200 citizens.

Almost every major urban centre in Serbia was targeted during the bombardment. Bombs hit the centres of Aleksinac, Niš and Ćuprija; the hospital and old-peoples home in Surdulica, Novi Pazar, the Vavarin bridge, a train in the Grdelica gorge, buses near the village of Lužane in Kosovo-Metohija and near Savine Vode.

Targets in Belgrade included the building of state television RadioTelevision of Serbia (RTS), where 16 workers were killed, as well as the Dr. Dragiša Mišović hospital.

Two convoys of refugees were also bombed in Kosovo-Metohija on the road near Đakovica and in the village of Koris.

al political parties, ambassadors of European countries, representatives of the diplomatic corps and the media.

The photographs on display were taken by a group of young Poles who went on a pilgrimage of monasteries in the Kosovo province in October 2005.

Joca Amsterdam extradited The judicial authority of the Netherlands extradited one of Europe's most infamous suspected drug smugglers, Sreten Jocić - aka Joca Amsterdam - back to Belgrade on 23rd March.

Jocić, accused in Serbia of having ordered a murder, was transferred from Belgrade airport to the city's central prison under tight security, with police deployed along the road. Jocić had been arrested in 2002 in Bulgaria on a Serbian arrest warrant, but was first handed over to the Netherlands, where he was already facing a prison sentence and from whence he had escaped in 1993.

Jocić, born 1962 in Smederevska Palanka, is accused of being one of the chief drug bosses in the region. His name is also mentioned in relation with murders committed on behalf of Serbia's State Security Service.

Jovica Stanišić, former chief of the Service, allegedly recruited Jocić - widely believed to be the most dangerous Serb criminal. It is believed that late leaders of the Zemun gang, Dušan Spasojević and Mile Luković purchased drugs for the Serbian market via Jocić's Colombian connection. He was in close relation with Željko 'Maka' Maksimović.

Belgrade media reported that Milorad ‘Legija’ Ulemek, chief suspect in the assassination of PM Zoran Đinđić, turned himself in to the Police last year after hearing that Joca Amsterdam was arriving in Serbia. Allegedly, Legija feared that Jocić was returning to murder him.

It is widely believed that the extradition of Jocić will help solve numerous unsolved murders in both Serbia and Montenegro.

Warsaw Exhibition of Orthodox Monastery Images The SCG Foreign Ministry released news in late March that a photographic exhibition on the Christian legacy of Kosovo as a common responsibility, "dealing with the consequences of the biggest ethnic cleansing conducted by Kosovo- Albanians against Kosovo- Serbs in March 2004", had been opened in the hall of the Polish Parliament, with the support of the SCG Embassy in Warsaw.

The opening of the exhibition, showing the desecration of Kosovo's many Serbian Orthodox monasteries, was attended by MPs of severCorD | April 2006

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Interview

Determined Investor

Vlade Divac, basketball legend, entrepreneur

Vlade Divac is a national sporting hero in Serbia. Respected around the world and idolised in his home country for his achievements in the world of basketball, this Yugoslav and SCG representative and former center of the L.A. Lakers, Charlotte Hornets and Sacramento Kings is exerting efforts to transform himself into a business entrepreneur by investing in Serbia.

Vlade Divac discusses his investment aspirations at CorD’s offices 36

CorD | April 2006

Interview

By Mark Pullen; Photo: Jelena Mandić

ivac, who is already an active restaurant investor in the U.S., proved unsuccessful with his first privatisation endeavour in Serbia, failing to buy mineral water company Knjaz Miloš. Now, though, he has turned his attention to popular Serbian daily Večernje novosti, but the takeover of the Belgrade-based newspaper is proving far from straightforward…

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The Commercial Court has rejected the public prosecutor's request to forbid you from making further approaches to Večernje novosti until ownership relations between Serbia and the State Union have been resolved. What do you expect to happen next?

Obviously, I believe in the objectivity of the institution of the commercial court. Now they have a second eight-day phase in which to resolve the problem and I believe that they are going to make the right decision, which would open the door for me to register my company with the commercial court.

According to a recent CorD online poll, the majority of voters believe that the government will not allow you to buy novosti. Do you share this view?

No. I wouldn't be here if I didn't think I'd be able to make it to the top. Maybe the government is not happy to have to sell novosti but, again, I believe strongly in the legal institutions here.

months getting to the Prime Minister and his staff. I didn't ask for help or assistance, but simply asked if I would have a political problem investing in novosti. They assured me that it wouldn't be a problem, so my next step was to act, which I did.

Then the game started.

As for the President of the Republic, he called me actually.

Again, I didn't ask for any help and I told him "I don't need anybodies' help or intervention in this process". Again, this is because I believe in the courts and the system of justice here, and all I need now is for that to work properly.

Do you think it would be the same no matter who wanted to buy this company and that it's nothing personal and has nothing to do with the fact that it's you, rather it's just that they don't want to sell it now?

That phrase is used a lot in America - it's nothing personal, but here it's always personal. Still, I'm convinced this is not the sentiment of the government as a whole, but rather some individuals in the government; the problems lie in individuals and not the institution of the government.

Despite being directly responsible for this matter, the Ministry of the Economy has maintained silence. Meanwhile, the public prosecutor's office has announced that they are to seek €10million in compensation from you - supposedly due to your depreciation of the state package. Do you believe this is being

Do you believe that the problem lies in the fact that you want to do everything honestly and above board, without having to pay 'backhanders' to anyone?

I believe exactly that. My, I would say, 'mission' here is to do something positive and to do it the right way. I don't want to pay anybody on the side; I want to follow the legal requirements in order to show people that this way of doing business

I'm determined to be an active part of this society and no matter what they do I will remain determined to do the positive thing here. If they stop me in this process, there's always a next step for me. is the future here. A lot of business has been done 'on the side' in the past here, but that should remain in the past.

[Moreover], moving into the media is a good step to ensure I can be part of this society.

Do you think the reason your purchase offer is being blocked is purely political - motivated by the State's reluctance to sell one of the country's highest-circulating influential newspapers; do you think it would have been easier if you'd gone for a lesser newspaper?

I'm sure it would have been easier, but I am of the opinion that all media has to be privatised and, sooner or later whether that be now or in two years, the State has to be separated from the media. This would be better to achieve sooner rather than later.

It could be argued that you yourself politicised this matter by speaking personally with PM Koštunica and seeking assurances that your bid would not be opposed politically, as well as speaking later to President Tadić about problems related to your bid.

I had a bad experience here in my bid to buy the mineral water company [Knjaz Miloš], so I spent more than six

Divac - admirer of the Knjaz Miloš brand CorD | April 2006

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Interview Regardless of the outcome of the novosti sale, are you going to consider other investments in Serbia?

Yes. You're not going to be put off?

No. I'm determined to be an active part of this society and no matter what they do I will remain determined to do the positive thing here.

If they stop me in this process, there's always a next step for me.

Novosti shareholders are themselves divided over the sale, with one group supporting your purchase and another siding with Manojlo Vukotić - Večernje novosti chief editor and Večernje novosti Company managing director, who is arguing that they will get a better price at a later date. Does this concern you?

Shareholders comprise 64 per cent of the ownership of novosti, and the remainder is owned by the government. These shareholders are divided into two groups - one controlling 19 per cent and the other controlling 45 per cent.

The 19 per cent group are those going with the managing director and opposing my bid…

I'm not worried about that because my aim is not to divide, but rather to unite people. If the court allows me to do that which is legally permitted, I'm sure that everybody will unite in the same place.

Divac - aiming to be a positive influence done without the knowledge and consensus of the government?

Definitely. Again, this comes down to individuals. I don't think there's a consensus. I don't know why these individuals are doing this. I can guess, but I don't really know.

What made you decide to go specifically for Knjaz Miloš and then Večernje novosti?

Knjaz Miloš was a company that I admired and respected a lot in my youth. In the middle of the privatisation I made the decision to go with French company Danone. Obviously, we ended up short in the end, though again it's not clear why.

With novosti, I decided on that purely because it's a media company and it allows me to have a positive influence on the society in which my people are living.

So, it's about trying to help reform the Serbian media from within; from the helm of one of the biggest newspapers?

Exactly. I could easily open restaurants and cafés and make money that way, but that's not going to help me make a difference to the society.

CorD WEBSITE POLL Will the Serbian Government allow basketball-playing entrepreneur Vlade Divac to purchase "Novosti"?

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Yes:

5.9%

No:

47.1%

I think it should:

35.3%

I don't care:

11.8%

CorD | April 2006

You have two citizenships - Serbian & Montenegrin and U.S. The Serbian Government has responded positively, in principle, to your interest in the privatisation process in Serbia. How has the American side responded?

They're very happy. I spoke to U.S. Ambassador Polt here and, obviously, he wants to see Serbia going forward. He was very glad that I'm interested in investing here.

After U.S. Steel-Serbia and Ball Packaging Europe, your investment could be seen as the next biggest U.S. investment in Serbia.

I would look at it as a Serbian investment... I want to set an example to other Serbian people living abroad and holding foreign citizenships by encouraging them to come back to their homeland to try to help.

Do you think you are morally obliged, as someone who is idolised here, to be a role model both in business and in life, and to help reverse the so-called 'brain drain'?

I think I am, and I'm trying to do my best to help reform this country, which is still home to a lot of my friends and family…

I don't like to put pressure on my compatriots (sports stars abroad) to invest here, but - as I've said - I am determined to follow the letter of the law and invest here without personal help from the prime minister or the president or anyone else.

How important do you think it is to repatriate the many Serbs who left the country en masse during the '90s?

It's very important. I had the opportunity to meet a lot of students, particularly at Berkeley University, who left the country to study in the U.S. These people certainly have a lot of 'quality brain' and we really need to start bringing them back because they can help a lot. Right now they don't see any prospects here, so we first have to carry out the reforms and improve the situation in order to encourage them to come back.

Nothing changes overnight, but if people start being able to see positive changes then I'm sure they'll start coming back because this is their home.

Economics

Inflation or Growth The Serbian Government is confident of keeping this year's inflation rate under 10 per cent, despite failing to do so in 2005. Last year's figure soared to 17 per cent, prompting the government to concede that it was their greatest failure. The inflation rate has reached 1.9 per cent in the first two months of 2006, and Serbian National Bank Governor, Radovan Jelašiđ has duly warned it is time for the alarm bells to ring.

Economists agree with the governor that the state must cut public spending.

By Milan Obradović; Photo: CorD archives

erbian Finance Minister, Mlađen Dinkić recently announced: "This year we will invest a billion euros in various fields in Serbia." His bold statement came with a vivid touch of self-satisfaction over the fact that he will be able to spend somewhat lavishly from the state budget in a country whose citizens are accustomed to a restrictive economic policy.

This time around, they had an almost unique opportunity to hear a minister promising a wide range of investments aimed at improving Serbia's roads, sewer systems, hospitals, public toilets, schools and tourist facilities, among other things.

Economic experts see Dinkic's promises of greater investments as a hint that the government is about to call fresh elections. Quite possibly, with major challenges confronting the government this year, the Executive's slender parliamentary majority may be unable to keep it afloat, and the steady two-year crumble will ultimately cause its collapse. The other even more realistic fear is that the government will not be able to live up to its promise of keeping this

S

year's inflation rate below 10 per cent: there is barely room for optimism, considering that it stood at 1.9 per cent at the end of February.

The government made the same promise last year, but had to concede a 17 per cent inflation rate at the end of 2005 as its greatest failure. Serbia's citizens are highly sensitive to inflation, as memories are still fresh of the 1993 catastrophe when hyperinflation saw the value of the dinar drop by the hour.

Throughout the course of last year, Dinkić was willing to wager economic experts that he would be able to keep the inflation rate under the projected figure, but he was proved wrong even after shifting the original figure of 9.1% to 13.8%. Serbia ended 2005 with an inflation rate of 17 per cent and Dinkić wasted no time in coming up with numerous excuses - the rise in the price of crude oil on the world market, the introduction of Value Added Tax (VAT) in Serbia and a dramatic rise in the prices of public services last autumn. Economists underscored that the three reasons Dinkić cited accounted for a mere three or four per cent of the inflation rate, while the bulk of the 17 per cent was down to internal factors.

TRADE Analysis performed by the Ministry of the Economy that profit margins in Serbia's chains are up to three times higher than those in the neighbouring countries has triggered a fiery public debate.

Merchandise companies had no answer to the open accusation by the Trade Ministry that their profit margins, some of which exceed 30 per cent, are the most direct source of inflation in Serbia. Finance Minister Dinkić went a step further, suggesting that the state will limit profit margins to 15 per cent if entrepreneurs don't do so themselves.

"Administrative barriers to profit margins are not desirable because they eliminate competition - the best indicator of whether someone is claiming excessive profit," Gligorov says. That signal entices others to compete on the market with their goods and services, meaning that prices and profit margins come down to a market level after a certain period of time.

Kori Udovički maintains that it is far more important to have state-controlled prices in truly monopolistic fields, such as communal services.

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CorD | April 2006

Economics

Mlađan Dinkić, Serbian Finance Minister Neighbouring countries also had to import oil, but managed to keep their inflation rates well below Serbia's.

Nonetheless, the government was able to honey-coat its inflation woes with a number of achievements suggesting that Serbia's economy was recovering. The World Bank declared Serbia a leader in reforms and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development followed suit shortly afterwards.

The government was also able to introduce VAT with hardly any turbulence and then reached agreement with the International Monetary Fund to write-off Serbia's outstanding $700 million debt to the Paris Club.

Many experts, however, pointed out that implementing the economic policy was quite an ordeal, namely because of the government's intention to delay, if not avoid all together, making unpopular decisions. Danica Popović, a professor of the Belgrade Economics Faculty, criticises the government for refusing to give up control of public companies and for subsidising loss-makers. A 30 per cent rise in exports and a simultaneous decrease in imports are the government's most notable achievements, but the foreign trade deficit has nevertheless remained too high for anybodies’ liking.

CAUSES OF INFLATION High public spending, the costs of which have eaten up nearly half of the Gross National Product, as well as heavy subsidies to loss-making companies, are seen by economic experts as the two major reasons for last year's undesired inflation rate.

It was palpably clear in the second half of 2005 that a sudden rise in credits, especially cash credits allowed to consumers, played a major part in the soaring inflation rate. Citizens started taking loans in numbers to buy consumer goods, such as household appliances, television sets and cars. The consump-

tion fever gripped Serbia after a decade of poverty. The banks took advantage of the situation immediately by imposing high interest rates with the plausible explanation that Serbia is still a risky country for doing business. This triggered a silent war between the NBS governor and the finance minister.

The governor set a higher foreign currency reserves ratio for the banks on three separate occasions to discourage them from granting credits to consumers: the compulsory minimum hard currency reserves ratio reached 38 per cent by the end of 2005.

The NBS itself issued a statement to the effect that expectations of the country's monetary policy are perhaps too high and that the government must do its part of the job to help the NBS keep the inflation rate under control Diana Dragutinović, an NBS deputy governor, said shortly before the New Year break that she thought another rise would be quite distasteful, while the NBS itself issued a statement to the effect that expectations of the country's monetary policy are perhaps too high and that the government must do its part of the job to help the NBS keep the inflation rate under control.

Meanwhile, commercial banks managed to silence the governor's warnings to make sure that citizens do not become overindebted, having offered consumer credits of up to €50,000 to their clients, as well as the option of financing other loans, overdrafts and regular pay cheques on the first day of every month, even if employers are late with the wages. Loans to citizens rose by six billion dinars in January 2006 and increased the overall debt to 130.8 million. The NBS reacted by setting more stringent CorD | April 2006

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Economics terms for granting loans and said it would set an even higher hard currency reserves ratio if these measures do not bear fruit.

The IMF warned Serbia once again earlier this year that a quick rise in granting credits has undermined the country's financial stability. "The measures adopted by the National Bank of Serbia last year have not been successful," the IMF said.

Summing up the Serbian Government's achievements after two years in existence, Economy Minister Predrag Bubalo said

Predrag Bubalo: "The government's 2006 plan is to work on three vital areas: improving industrial production loans, creating the conditions for a rise in employment and curbing inflation." with some degree of confidence that "inflation is the only issue in which the government has failed".

Bubalo said foreign partners would directly invest two million euros in Serbia this year: "The government's 2006 plan is to work on three vital areas: improving industrial production loans, creating the conditions for a rise in employment and curbing inflation."

Boosting state-sponsored production and employing more people, however, is in discord with the intention to curb inflation. Bubalo said a number of public sector employees would be laid off, just as a section of those working in health care and education have already been made redundant.

"The inflationary expectations of entrepreneurs and citizens, rather than high demand, are the root case of Serbia's

Predrag Bubalo greater public spending at the same time. Entrepreneurs anticipating that the state is willing to spend more than it should are prepared to step over the inflation rate in order to avoid paying excess tax through a rising inflation, meaning that they play a part in the rise of prices. "The state benefits from inflation only if prices rise more quickly than liabilities. It's a kind of an inflationary tax," Gligorov elaborates, adding that it would be very difficult to keep this year's inflation rate under 15 per cent.

The most immediate danger is that the inflow of cash generated through privatisation may spill over into public spending, thus causing a dramatic rise in the amount of money in circulation. This is imminent if the €600million the government stands to collect from selling the Mobtel Company is converted into dinars once the money has been transferred to the NBS.

Economists underscored that the three reasons Dinkić cited accounted for a mere three or four per cent of the inflation rate, while the bulk of the 17 per cent was down to internal factors

Vladimir Gligorov inflation," says Vladimir Gligorov of the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies. According to Gligorov, expectations must be kept under their present rate of between 15 and 20 per cent. "An inflation rate under 10 per cent requires a restrictive monetary and fiscal policy, which is in stark contrast with stories of investing billions, building roads and other such projects," Gligorov warns.

Kori Udovički, head of the Economic Science Development Fund at the Belgrade Economic Faculty, acknowledged the main problem in Serbia was talk of curbing inflation and allowing

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CorD | April 2006

Gligorov maintains that in order to keep inflation at bay, the NBS can issue bearer bonds in that amount and collect €600million-worth of dinars from citizens and companies. In that case, the price to be paid by the state will effectively be the interest rate on the bearer bonds issued.

The other option, according to Gligorov, is to use the money to repay a part of the country's debts - a move that would alleviate the country's budget expenditure and improve its credit rating. That, in turn, would open the door to loans at lower interest rates for everyone and, consequently, to completing the required infrastructure projects on a commercial basis without boosting the inflation rate. Apart from infrastructure, the areas in need of investments include education and the judiciary, quoted many times as being the "black spot" of Serbia's state institutions.

The dilemma of whether to go for economic growth or settle for a higher inflation rate is a matter of deciding what Serbia wants to achieve - short, medium and long term. It appears the ministers want everything and that they want it now, even though they keep conceding it is impossible while making excuses for last year's inflation fiasco.

In The News

Serbian Government representatives (left), prepare to debate the issues with the FIC panel

White Book Launch The long awaited launch of the Foreign Investors Council's White Book 2006 took place in Belgrade's Hyatt Regency Hotel on 15th March. n an auditorium fit to bursting, the FIC handed out the book, which has been compiled by 22 contributors (ranging from the EU Delegation to Colliers and DUNAV TDI) and details proposals for the improvement of the investment climate in Serbia.

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CorD | April 2006

Senior members of this Council, whose members include almost 120 companies, then took part in a question & answer panel discussion, dubbed 'A Reality Check', with members of the Serbian Government - most notably Serbian International Economic Relations Minister, Milan Parivodić, and National Bank of Serbia Governor Radovan Jelašić.

Despite being billed on the programme, Serbian Finance Minister, Mlađen Dinkić, and Deputy Serbian PM, Miroljub Labus - both of whom are members of the ruling coalition's G17 Plus Party - were unable to attend.

Addressing the gathered economists, investors, businessmen, journalists, lawyers and political figures attending the launch, FIC President Mike Ahern explained the FIC's intention to focus on making the tone of the discussion constructive.

He began by explaining that the six top priorities of the White Book 2006 were EU Stabilisation and Association (SAA) negotiations; the formation of a regional free trade area, land reform - identified as a fundamental obstacle to Greenfield investment in Serbia; labour and competition laws; and Greenfield investments themselves.

The reality Check Panel Discussion got underway with Ahern asking about the implementation of laws and the time frame for regulatory bodies becoming fully functioning.

Parivodić, leading the government team on the night, explained that the crux of the problem was that the state is not fully accustomed to freedom and that laws are interpreted restrictively as a result of the "state of mind of bureaucrats". As for the telecommunications agency (specifically mentioned by Ahern), Parivodić said that no specific deadline for it to become operational had been set.

In The News "Independence within these bodies", he noted, "depends entirely on the people in the institution".

Ahern, who is a parent at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, next asked how the Government planned to counter Greenfield investment trends. Parivodić again responded, insisting that the Government perceived the land issue as a number one problem. However, he noted, changing the current law that ensures that only the State can own land

Jelašic, whose vice governor Dejan Simić was arrested earlier this year in possession of a reporte d 100,000 and is awaiting trial on corruption charges, warned that "corruption was more talked about than committed" in Serbia - a message echoed by Finnish Ambassador in Belgrade, H.E. Anna-Maija Korpi, who was invited to give closing remarks on the panel discussion.

The FIC White Book has grown to become a quintessential reference guide for existing and potential investors in Serbia.

With 19 comprehensive chapters covering issues ranging from the legal and regulatory framework to the agriculture industry and corporate social responsibility projects, the White Book 2006 details progress achieved to date by the government, positive signals, outstanding issues and the recommendations of the Foreign Investors Council.

The format of the Book, and the inclusion of easy-toread charts and tables, ensures it is easy to digest and simple to follow.

It is perhaps the books approachable concept, objective analyses and practical recommendations that have helped it become The essential reference for investors heading to Serbia.

M.P.

would require an amendment to the Constitution. Citing a "fundamental inefficiency in the system", Parivodić said that the Government was seeking help to reform land ownership rights from Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Land ownership rights are assessed as being perhaps the biggest hindrance to long-term Greenfield investment in Serbia. The White Book 2006 is highly critical of the government in the area of real estate ownership, noting that the process of land acquisition, particularly in central city areas "lacks transparency and is long and bureaucratic". It also notes that the "Law on Urban Planning and Construction was not fully enforced with regard to undeveloped land".

Although the Book acknowledges the government's initiative to change the Constitution to allow freehold status

Citing a "fundamental inefficiency in the system", Parivodić said that the Government was seeking help to reform land ownership rights from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. over urban and properties, it still recommends that the Constitution of Serbia be changed forthwith to allow freehold ownership of land.

Other highlights of the discussion, which was followed by a festive reception included Parivodić's explanation that negotiations on the new regional Free Trade Area would begin this June and that the FTA would hopefully be formed by January 2007. However, noted the Serbian minister, it appears as though it will have to be called CEFTA "because Croatians insist they are in Central Europe"; NBS Governor Radovan Jelašić's insistence that the central bank would be even more unpopular in 2006 because of the fact that inflation rates are likely to be even higher and more foreign currency will be sterilised.

However, noted the NBS Governor, "there is an abundance of money in Serbia".

CorD | April 2006

45

HONDA AUTO CENTRE OPENS NEW BUSINESS CONCEPT Serbia's Kopaonik Mountain played host to the 12th annual YU INFO Conference - organised by the Information Society of Serbia & Montenegro - between 6th and 10th March this year. As has become tradition, Telekom Srbija participated in this conference of achievement, business results and plans for the upcoming period.

The participation at this year's YU INFO conference of Telekom Srbija's Head Office for services marked the presentation of a new concept of business dealing and market approach, as well as the relaying of achieved business results for the year of 2005.

Telekom Srbija's involvement also included the detailing of the company's major contribution to the widening of the country's information society and information culture with the presentation of its www.nadlanu.com web portal.

Company Delta M, the exclusive distributor of Honda cars in SCG, has opened its Honda Auto Centre in Belgrade at Omladinskih Brigada 33.

Honda Auto Centre extends over 3,500m2 and is an investment of Delta M company worth 4.5million euros.

"We built this centre in less than a year, since Delta signed the contract for exclusive representation with the renowned Japanese manufacturer," said Ivana Veselinović, General Director of the Delta M group, speaking at the opening. "Delta will work according to the highest standards, which Honda expects from its partners worldwide. The fact that 250 cars were sold in pre-sales before the centre was opened shows that there is great interest among buyers for the purchase of Honda cars."

The Honda Auto Centre was officially opened by Japanese ambassador in Belgrade, H.E. Tadashi Nagai.

David Strangeway, Director General for Honda sales on the European market, was also present. Keys were handed to the first Honda buyers: singer Alexandra Radović and actor Branimir Brstina.

Over the past ten years Honda has maintained constant growth in the European market place. In January this year 7.4% more cars were sold in comparison to the same period in 2005.

BMW INVITES YOU TO TAKE 5 BMW Diplomatic Sales invites you to TAKE 5 and create your own great deal on the following model range: 5 Series Saloon, 5 Series Touring and X5.

It is BMW's pleasure to present you the 2006 Sales Promotion, which starts with immediate effect for ordering before 31st October 2006 and for delivery and registration in 2006.

TAKE 5 is applicable for Diplomats, embassy fleet cars and members of International Organisations.

In order to TAKE 5, all you have to do is order one of the aforementioned models and, in addition to the special price that you already receive, BMW will pay for options up to the value of €2,500 - on your behalf.

You are more than welcome to contact your nearest BMW importer for a test drive.

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CorD | April 2006

MOST FAVOURABLE MORTGAGE LOANS IN SERBIA Raiffeisenbank has decreased its mortgage loan interest rates by 2.4 index points for mortgage loans insured with the National Mortgage Loan Insurance Corporation. The new interest rates now amount to 4.99% for loans based on deposit (indexed in euros) and 3.99% for loans indexed in Swiss francs. The loan with downpayment has an interest rate of 6.95% (loan indexed in euros) and 4.45% for loans indexed in Swiss francs.

"By having made mortgage loans the most attractive and most competitively priced in the market, Raiffeisenbank focused in its lending policy on solving the citizens' housing issues and on establishing long-term relations of trust between the bank and its clients. We believe that the citizens will return that trust", stated Mr. Svetozar Ĺ ijaÄ?ić, member of the Managing Board of Raiffeisenbank in charge of retail banking.

Raiffeisenbank was the first bank to offer mortgage loans to the citizens of Serbia, starting as early as 1st April, 2002. So far the bank has realised a total of 3,454 mortgage loans amounting to 96 million euros. In the course of 2005, the bank approved 1,460 mortgage loans, 370 of which were realised with state subventions.

Having signed the contract with the government of the Republic of Serbia and the National Mortgage Loan Insurance Corporation on 26th August, 2005, Raiffeisenbank was the first to start the programme of subventioned mortgage loans. So far, a total of 474 loans of this kind were issued in the value of 13 million euros. Of all the banks that entered this programme, the greatest number of loan requests granted are from clients of Raiffeisenbank.

Raiffeisenbank a.d, Belgrade, is a member of Raiffeisen International, one of the largest banking groups in Central and Eastern Europe. It started its business activities in Serbia in 2001, as the first bank with 100% foreign capital.

Today, four years later, Raiffeisenbank is the leading bank in the domestic banking industry, with a market share ranging from 18 to 20%. The bank develops its activities in several important segments: retail banking, SMEs, corporate banking and treasury and investment banking.

CorD | April 2006

47

ENDURING PASSION DaimlerChrysler SCG promoted Mercedes-Benz brand and the RClass at the Third International Wine Festival IN VINO in Belgrade.

From 16th to 18th February in Sava Centar, visitors had the opportunity to try almost five hundred wines from fourteen countries and to enjoy various specialties, ranging from the greatest cheeses to fish dishes. Being the part of this exclusive event, Mercedes-Benz stayed loyal to its customers, showing one more its commitment to the product excellence.

A constant live music programme on the festival stage with the participation of the best resident and foreign musicians, the lectures and workshops, as well as video projections of the films and TV shows dedicated to wine and food, perfectly promoted a merger of wine, gastronomy, tourism, wine culture and tradition in various world regions as a synthesis of different aspects of modern life and culture.

At the same time, DaimlerChrysler SCG attended BG Auto Show in Belgrade, promoting its brands: Mercedes-Benz and Chrysler/Jeep In order to retain a sense of being special, Mercedes-Benz used the wine fair as an opportunity to express the true meaning of mobility.

Mobility which was at the heart of the Mercedes-Benz brand in its earliest days is today being redefined to embrace not only physical mobility but mobility of information and lifestyle of home and work.

In order to love and understand the Mercedes-Benz brand today we need to explore the origin of the brand arriving at the clear view of how the brand started and how it became what it is today: a character of excitement and desirable authenticity, luxury and enjoyment, true passion for perfection in life.

Two words perfectly sum up what is at the heart of the MercedesBenz brand: Enduring Passion

NET ACCESS TO WORLDWIDE PRODUCTS Shopping over the Internet is becoming a popular way of paying for goods and services thanks to the fact that from your home,

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in a few seconds and at the click of a mouse, you can buy and pay for almost everything that is on offer and on sale in the biggest shopping center in the world today- the Internet.

For transactions over the Internet Vojvođanska Bank a.d. Novi Sad prepared a special Visa debit card, Visa Internet, which the client obtains quickly and uses simply. The Visa Internet card is explicitly easy to use and presents a safe option of Internet shopping, because it is secured with multiple systems of security from misuse, which understands the card's blockage in the period when it is not being used and a daily limit for paying on the Internet. Thanks to the fact that Vojvođanska Bank has its own processing center certified by Visa International, with a complete overview and control of all card activities, the Bank can quickly and efficiently react upon all irregularities and, therefore, secure its clients from possible financial losses.

Further information about this card can be found on Vojvođanska Bank's new and contemporary Internet presentation: www.voban.co.yu. In addition to the information about offers and terms of use for the Bank's products and services, all visitors of this website can also use the extremely simple converter of 18 currencies, as well as the credit calculator with which citizens themselves can simply estimate terms of use and paying off of credits.

The Vojvođanska Bank site is one of the most visited sites of corporate banks in Serbia.

NEW NEEDS, NEW SOLUTIONS The Piraeus Group is one of the most dynamic and most active financial organisations in SouthEastern Europe. The group is distinguished with exceptional knowledge of capital and investment banking, leasing and financing of the freight sector. Piraeus Bank heads the groupation of companies that cover all financial and bank activites in the market of Southeast Europe, as well as in Egypt, London and New York.

The Piraeus Group finished 2005 with extremely good results. Net growth increased by 107%, 40% growth of assets was marked, the branch network was expanded by 45%, and the number of employees increased by 37%. In the last twelve months, the price of Piraeus bank shares was between a maximum 21.47 euros and a minimum 12.79 euros per share. At the beginning of this year, the market value of the bank was 4.7 billion euros, which brought it the 9th place on the Athens share market and the 4th place amongst companies in the private sector.

During 2005 the group strengthened its position due to the acquisition of banks in Serbia and Egypt. In October 2005, the basic capital of Atlas banka increased and its name was changed to Piraeus Atlas Bank.

Piraeus Atlas Bank entered 2006 with new products and conditions which, besides mortgages, credits for reconstruction and construction, also encompasses credits for adaptation to the value of 100,000

THE AUDI Q7 - CREATING NEW TRENDS Those who are at the top do not need a compromise, but a solution.

Do you want a car that will take you to the mountains as comfortably as it will take you to work? Do you want a passenger with a spacious flexible boot and almost unlimited pleasure whilst driving?

Audi Q7 creates new trends even if we were to look only at its design.

The characteristic dynamic of Audi is reflected in the wide curve of the roof top and especially in the raised surface of the body work in comparison to the windows. Audi's typical formation is the back part and the dynamic side line. The option of two different body colours creates a particularly striking look. There are 11 basic colours on offer, out of which three are specified exclusivley for Q7.

With a 5.086mm length and an axis distance of exaclty 3.002mm (width 1.983mm/ height 1.737mm), Q7 is the first in the competition of sports cars. Feel and enjoy the uncomparable big space and the new dimension of multiple aspects: 28 ways of adjusting seat and load possibilities.

Up to 7 passengers can be accommodated in three rows of seats.

Seats in the second row are equally adjustable, and, in addition, pas-

euros, the refinancing of different banks and new terms for the use of revolving payment cards. Opportunities may be seen through acceptable interest rates, acceptable payment deadlines, the lowest reimbursements and minimal instruments of insurance charges. The complete offer of Piraeus Atlas Bank has been adapted to the market and the actual needs of Serbia's citizens, regardless of whether they are clients of the bank or not.

Piraeus Atlas bank opened several new branches at the beginning of the year, and its plan is a total of thirty in all major towns and cities in Serbia by the end of the year. With the enlargement of its network and offers, the bank is able to meet the everyday needs of citizens and companies of different sizes and structures.

sengers can enjoy leg space, which is the biggest in this car range.

Both of the last two rows of seats can be lowered, creating a load space of 2.035 according to the need, so that they do not have to be removed at all.

If used as a vehicle with 5 seats, the Q7 may be appraised with a load space of 775L, which makes it the best in its class!

Audi Q7 is offered with two strong motors: new motor 4.2 and V8 with FSI direct fuel injection develops 257kWs (350KS) and reaches its maximum turn/rotation/revolution moment of 440 Nm. The 3.0 TDI six-cylinder motor characterises the system of common rail injection of the latest generation, which uses piezo direct injectors and, thus, combines a high performance of 171kW (233 KS) and a rotation moment of 500 Nm with an unusual sophistication and excellent economics.

The transfer of gear for both versions of the motors comes from Tiptronic with 6 gears.

Experience the Audi Q7! Through exceptional quality, power, speed and prestige, safety, security and the most advanced technology! Feel the moment when Audi becomes a part of your life!

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Society Human Trafficking

SLAVERY IN SERBIA Human trafficking is a serious problem in Serbia, whichever way one looks at it. This wholly unacceptable act creates victims of modern-day slavery and causes illegal migration. After illegal arms dealing and drug trafficking, human trafficking is the most profitable criminal activity in the world.

By Jasmina Čolak

erbia & Montenegro has been fighting to combat human trafficking since 2001. The issue is within the competence of the Interior Ministries of both Serbia and Montenegro, as well as the governments of the two republics.

Speaking to CorD, Lieutenant Dušan Zlokaš, national co-ordinator of the fight against human trafficking and the head of the border police department, says: "A number of problems related to human trafficking were first spotted in Serbia five years ago. It became very apparent after 1999, when many foreign troops were deployed in Kosovo following the NATO bombing of the country. There were a large number of foreign troops around us, namely in Kosovo, Macedonia, Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina. This resulted in the presence of many girls and women brought in to satisfy their needs.

"A very specific migration of this kind kicked off in the former Soviet Union countries as traffickers from that part of the world started exporting women and our country provided the ideal transit route. That opened the door to human trafficking in our territory.

Naturally, all mafia organisations operating in Europe got involved, as human trafficking is highly profitable and the risk of getting caught is negligible, compared to other illegal activities."

Zlokaš explains that the Serbian Government named him as the national co-ordinator before it had even set up a committee for com-

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bating human trafficking. Zlokaš’s job is to co-ordinate a team comprising state bodies, non-governmental organisations and international organisations. The team undertakes strategic actions aimed at preventing and curbing human trafficking, as well as punishing offenders when they are caught. Special emphasis is given to providing decent treatment to the victims.

"The Interior Ministry has set up special units to combat illegal migrations and human trafficking, meaning that we separate illegal migration and human trafficking leading to sexual and all other forms of exploitation. This also involves exploitation of labour intentions to plunge young people into all kinds of illegal activities ranging from pornography to war operations. Criminal legislation recently separated illegal migration from human trafficking, although both are part of the same criminal activity in a certain way," Zlokaš noted.

Serbia's judiciary has included human trafficking as a felony since 2003, and the amendment allows police, as well as judicial bodies, to counter this criminal activity in an organised way. The previous regulations only pertained to parts of the whole picture, such as prostitution brokering, kidnapping and ransom, slavery and other crimes defined by the law and sanctioned by the Interior Ministry as such. Not before 2003 was Serbia able to start clamping down on the perpetrators of this heinous criminal activity.

"We have achieved outstanding results. Offenders are now sen-

tenced to prison terms ranging from one to eight years, which was unthinkable only four years ago - when human traffickers were able to get away with either suspended sentences or minor prison terms.

This was the case even though the judiciary was aware that human trafficking is a serious crime requiring stronger sanctions. The situation is much better now, bearing in mind the situation the judiciary, police and the society were in four years ago," Zlokaš says, further stressing that countries prone to human trafficking should not be defined separately as starting points, transit areas and destinations.

"Serbia is mainly a transit country, but also a starting point and a destination. Bearing in mind that we are a transit area for all kinds of illegal migrations - due to our geographic position - Serbia is the centre of what is known as the Balkan human trafficking route. The victims of human trafficking in Serbia are usually from impoverished East European countries, namely Moldova, Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria. The victims, mainly young women, are taken across Serbia to Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Italy, which is usually their final destination," Zlokaš says.

He added that more then 200 victims have been sheltered in an asylum set up in 2002: "Last year we identified 44 cases of human trafficking. Though most of the victims we identify here come from Moldova, last year 23 of them were from Serbia & Montenegro, while 21 were Moldavan. Many of these women come from Ukraine and Romania too. Incidentally, the team has not yet spotted any male victims. Last year we filed 20 lawsuits against 36 human trafficking offenders," Zlokaš says.

The fact that offenders have been punished indicates that things are moving in a positive direction: "It is very commendable for the judiciary, which has been subject to criticism from non-governmental organisations for quite a while. But the situation is a lot different now. Of the 20 lawsuits filed last year, we've already had one positive verdict and 17 investigations against these individuals. That's a major success," Zlokaš notes.

Speaking about the most common methods of recruiting human trafficking victims, Zlokaš insists they have remained unchanged for a long time. Offenders have a wide range of methods: "It's a wellorganised activity. They appear as escort agencies and those helping

lonely individuals find a spouse or a partner. It still goes on, even though we have been able to clamp down on many of them. The most recent case we have dealt with is that of a Ukrainian woman recruiting girls from her home country. These women have very poor living standards and she promised them a good job, easy access to visas and travelling expenses paid in full. It's the same old script that works and this is how people become sex and human trafficking victims. Children are promised things like seminars, courses, beauty contest prizes, nannying jobs, education, modelling careers and other things. Offers for a better life appear to be there for the taking.

"The activities of the Interior Ministry and NGOs are very

Serbia is the centre of what is known as the Balkan human trafficking route. The victims of human trafficking in Serbia are usually from impoverished East European countries, namely Moldova, Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria. important in curbing human trafficking. We have also been able to educate many people through the media. We went to primary and secondary schools and universities; we have run courses for police officers, judges, social workers and prosecutors. This has all bore fruit, as they now take on and tackle this problem very seriously," Zlokaš stresses.

There are still random cases of parents selling their children, but Zlokaš adds that this custom is becoming a thing of the past: "our police have stopped dozens of young men and women, promised to someone for marriage and other purposes, from leaving the country because they had false travel documents. They were being escorted by people who identified themselves as their parents. Any offer to a young person that looks too good to be true should be assessed with utmost caution and suspicion. There is no such thing as an ideal passage to a better life. It's a poison chalice CorD | April 2006

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Society Human Trafficking

luring many young people to go off the rails. Fantastic promises from strangers are not be trusted," Zlokaš warns.

Recent reports from Albania show that between 7,000 and 10,000 children from this country have been sold, while as many as 30,000 Romanian youngsters have suffered the same fate. All of those saved were eventually adopted by foster parents.

Speaking about the profit from this illegal activity, Zlokaš says that SCG has, unfortunately, had plenty of "cheap merchandise" to sell: "The price is low. Children in our country used to be sold for 200 Deutschmarks; the most recent case is that of a man selling his daughter for 300 euros. That, of course, is the lowest price… they range from 1,000 to 3,000 euros, depending on supply and demand."

Hearings and trials are especially traumatic for the victims, as they have to tell the stories of their ordeals several times over. Zlokaš points out that few things have changed in the treatment of victims.

"They usually don't want to talk about the torture they have suffered. They want to forget what they've been through. Some methods have changed. Foreign women are given the option of staying in our country and undergoing a full rehabilitation programme, including re-socialisation and psychological treatment. We try to arrange for them to go back to their native countries and make the rehabilitation process as painless as possible. Last year we approved 13 such cases. Human trafficking victims are always in a very specific psychological situation. They no longer have to go over their ordeals many times though - only once or twice in order to get the offenders convicted," Zlokaš explains.

Asked whether Serbia's taskforce assigned with curbing human trafficking had any problems, Zlokaš says a lack of financial resources was the chief obstacle to police work aimed at preventing this criminal activity. He adds that police also need to address the population on the issue more frequently, through some kind of brochure or newsletter.

"This is done by non-governmental organisations at present. On the other hand, the Serbian Government will start doing its share, having already set up a Council to finance some of the activities undertaken by the Human Trafficking Victims Asylum. So far, aid and shel-

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ter have been provided by international migration organisations, foreign embassies and the governments of other countries.

"The problem is that we do not have enough financial resources to take more responsibility in sheltering human trafficking victims.

What we have done is to exempt all such victims of the tax they would normally have to pay for taking residence in our country and provided free medical care to foreign women who have fallen victims to human trafficking," says Zlokaš.

Recent reports from Albania show that between 7,000 and 10,000 children from this country have been sold, while as many as 30,000 Romanian kids have suffered the same fate. All of them were eventually adopted by foster parents.

He points out co-operation between the Serbian taskforce for curbing human trafficking and international organisations is outstanding.

"The task force includes representatives of international organisations, such as the IOM mission in Serbia & Montenegro, OSCE, UNICEF, UNHCR and others. We also have good multi-level co-operation with foreign embassies, especially if the victims are from those countries. We also co-operate with the embassies of western countries - the destinations of victims en route from Serbia. There are many bilateral contacts and meetings on this problem. We've already had several meetings with the Foreign Ministry, attended by foreign diplomats in our country. This co-operation works on a daily basis.

"We have outstanding contacts with international organisations, such as Interpol, Europol and the Seki centre in Bucharest. We have multi-level co-operation with regional neighbours such as Albania, Greece and Bulgaria. Co-operation at national level is between the Interior Ministry and operative units in the field," Zlokaš says in conclusion, before going off to continue leading the fight against this evil trade.

Culture

Roma Dream

Our neighbours love Roma music, but turn their heads the other way in the streets when they hear us speak in our language.

That's why I thought we should get to know each other better because we live and grow up together, says Zoran Jovanović, the mastermind of the Roma Suno e Rromego Theatre.

By Žarka Radoja; Photo: Jelena Mandić

ovi Karlovci, a picturesque village near the town of Inđija in Serbia's northern Vojvodina province, will soon get a proper Roma theatre called Suno e Rromengo, the first of its kind in Europe. In English, the name means 'Roma Dream' and its aim is to preserve the ancient culture of this ethnic group.

The initiative to set up a specialised Roma theatre brought together a diverse group of people from all segments of society - young amateur Roma actors, headed by Zoran Jovanović, the director of the theatre's fundraising committee, members of the Serbian government's minorities council, head of the Serbian and Montenegro UNESCO Committee Jovan Ćirilov, prominent actresses, such as Olivera Katarina and Zlata Petrović, actor Milenko Zablačanski and a number of other individuals who took part in the fundraising organised by the HVB bank.

The initiative was marked by a donors' dinner in Belgrade's Atelje 212 Theatre on 7th March, when a total of over two million dinars was raised. This amount should be sufficient to complete a semi-built facility in Novi Karlovci and turn it into a Roma theatre open to all people of good will who are eager to enjoy a new cultural endeavour on offer.

The fact that all this is happening in the midst of the Roma decade (2005-2015), a decade the World Bank and the Fund for an Open Society have set as the period for a speedy integration of the Roma people into society, is a fortunate circumstance for the future cultural headquarters in Novi Karlovci.

The initiative has been welcomed by eight countries in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, while the Serbian Government

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has vowed to help this socially most deprived ethnic group to integrate into Serbia's society by providing better conditions for education, health care, housing and employment.

The idea of having a Roma theatre first emerged 10 years ago, when Roma Dream mastermind Zoran Jovanović - at the time a young man from Novi Karlovci with nothing but enthusiasm at his disposal - came to Belgrade to publish his first book; a Roma-Serbian-English book of phrases called 'Do You Speak Roma?'

"Language and culture bring people together. I was convinced the book would be a step forward in improving communication between the Roma and people around them. Our neighbours love Roma music, but turn their heads the other way in the streets when they hear us speak our language. When you come to a country and speak to its inhabitants in their language, they are happy and treat you as one of their own. Hence, I thought that we should get to know each other better because we are not just passing by. We are neighbours, we live and grow up together," Jovanović says.

Shortly after the release of his first book, a second work, entitled Roma Stories In The Night, was published. Its objective is to explain the Roma tradition and heritage to other ethnic groups.

Acting came into the picture thanks to the Stari Grad Cultural Centre workshops managed by Ljubica Beljanski Ristić. Jovanović realised that a Roma theatre could succeed where books have failed, by bringing people together.

"If you want to win, you can't afford to lose. When I decided to set up a play, I knew it would be hard work requiring plenty of energy. My first play, A Ship of Wishes, was for children and it got a very good review. The second one, Darkskinned Angels, also had the elements of a creative workshop for 40 primary school children from the village of Krcedin. It also went down very well, so I decided it was time for a real play. Five years ago, I rounded up my old buddies from the workshop and formed a theatre company to start working on the Roma Dream play. It took us two years to complete, but it paid dividends," Jovanović says. His company will perform at

Culture a number of festivals over the next three years and is set to win a dozen or so awards.

After the first premiere, the theatre won a UNESCO donation, as well as receiving costumes and necessary equipment from the international organisation. Shortly afterwards, they were invited by the Serbia & Montenegro Embassy in Paris to take part in the Days of Roma Culture event. It was a real breakthrough for the band. One of its girls, Nataša Tasić, mesmerized the audience with her voice, none more so than Jovan Ćirilov.

On Cirilov's recommendations, Nataša Tasić, who graduated from the Petar Drapsin aircraft technical secondary school, entered and passed a solo singing exam at the Faculty of Musical Arts in Belgrade. She is now a full-time member of the Belgrade National Theatre's Opera. Ćirilov says Nataša Tasić and Roma like her should be an example to everyone.

"It is very important for the Roma people to be emancipated and have representatives of their ethnic group who will promote them. They are talented, but need assistance to upgrade their desires to a professional level, to come up with a good script, to make good costumes for a play and to enable their children to enrol into the Faculty of Dramatic Arts after they have completed secondary school. It is also time for us, their neighbours, to realise that they need help. Culture is the easiest way to get to people and the quickest route to education, but we need to take those facts into account as do the Roma," Ćirilov says.

The awards have given the young amateur actors the strength and the motivation to carry on. With no scene of their own and no roof over their heads, they kept rehearsing every day and produced an admirable play that forced their friends and relatives in Novi Karlovci to hire a bus to see the premiere in Belgrade's Cultural Decontamination Centre. All the company members have completed secondary school in the meantime, as this was one of the basic conditions to keep working with Jovanović.

"Many parents approach me after each play and ask if their kids can join in. I always say that they can only do so if they are intent on graduating. I have known the young people working in the theatre since their primary school days. I've insisted all these years that they must get an education. They went to school to become actors, because they fell in love with the theatre. Once you feel that applause from the audience, the adrenaline rush of being on stage, you are contaminated and there is no way back," Jovanović says with a broad smile on his face.

He explained that love for absolute and unrestricted freedom is one of the reasons that Roma are generally uneducated: "Our living space knows no boundaries. We live wherever and any which way we can. We are untameable. In spite of all the misery and problems the Roma lifestyle inevitably inflicts, we have been able to preserve our spirit that I am trying to share with all good-natured people."

Jovanović believes that one must grasp the Roma spirit in order to understand the ethnic group itself. An ancient myth has it that it's called ‘Đi’. It was performed by prominent actress Olivera Katarina in Belgrade's Atelje 212 theatre.

The decade-long effort has yielded a building that remains unfinished, but now finally belongs to the Roma theatre. It so happened that Jovanović and his company met Miroslav Stojklović, an exiled neighbour from Novi Karlovci living in Sweden. Stojković showed keen interest in aiding the theatre and gave up a semi-finished facility with an area of 400 square metres originally designed as a truck wash. Now that the company has its own premises, a lot of work needs to be done to complete the Roma theatre and turn it into a genuine cultural centre, but one can say with a fair degree of certainty that the Roma dream is finally coming true.

AWARDS The Suno e Rromengo play won the top award at Vojvodina's 26th experimental scenes festival and the company also won awards for the best script, the best costume, the best original music and the best scene setting. It won special awards for the musical dramaturgy, the equipment used in the play and the illumination dramaturgy.

They play won the top award at the Days of Drama Studio festival in Subotica too, as well as awards for the best directed play, the best scene setting and the best collective dance energy.

At the FEST-po Joca Savić international festival in Novi Bečej, the company shared the top award with legendary actor Zijah Sokolović, ahead of 15 international and domestic theatres. They were ranked in the top 30 most prominent international plays after performing at the Budva festival.

The company also won a special award at the Vojvodina festival for theatrical research of Roma heritage.

THE ROMA SPIRIT "I am Đi, a Roma soul. I stayed by their side when everyone else abandoned them because no one like the Roma can defy life and death, no one is so sophisticated in mocking anyone who even thinks of humiliating them…The Roma spirit is like a street roulette ball. Now you see it, now you don't. The moment you think it's yours, it disappears. You can step on it all you want but you can't conquer it. You can't take away their spirit," Olivera Katarina recited at the fundraising dinner in Atelje 212.

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Society

Jousting for Serbia’s Soul Serbia is definitely divided into two camps, jousting for the hearts and minds of the nation. But no one dare define the rift; it appears the slogan of 'two Serbias' is generally being used for political purposes, without a clear intention of scratching beneath the surface, and is motivated primarily by the desire to highlight political differences.

By Ivica Petrović

f you start a debate on the two images of Serbia, what you really want is to distance yourself from political adversaries you deem undemocratic and backward. The most recent major event that launched the debate was the Democratic Party (DS) congress in February, when DS leader and Serbian President Boris Tadić spoke about divisions in Serbia, leaning heavily on that approach.

He said that the country could choose between its democratic forces on one side and the radicals on the other, thus adding weight to what has become a standard image of Serbia as a country with two faces.

The radicals and their disciples, battling like medieval knights against democratic politicians and their followers, is the first association and the most common answer to the question of whether Serbia is really a country with two different faces. This definition is the

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one you are most likely to hear in public debates, or whenever strife and turmoil rock Serbia's political boat.

The Serbian Radical Party (SRS), personifying one of the two ‘jousting’ camps, has protested strongly a number of times over such interpretations of divisions in Serbia, but has done everything humanly possible to justify its juxtaposition through hate speech, nationalist slogans and the reluctance to face up to its political sins of the past - ranging from support for war crimes to crackdowns on independent media and physical violence against opponents.

Oddly enough, there is a part of the so-called democratic bloc that is trying as hard as it possibly can to give the Radicals a better name and image, but SRS officials keep shooting themselves in the foot with acts that leave little substance for counterpoint to the prevalent

belief that they do indeed belong to a very different kind of Serbia. What remains unclear is who the Radical Party's political partners really are.

Much like their SRS rivals, some representatives of the democratic bloc have also voiced their discontent with the simplified interpretation of Serbia's deep divisions. Tadić's definition has been strongly criticised by the ruling Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), whose officials said they will not stand for Serbia being halved into two confronted camps.

Accordingly, the government party's officials poured scorn on Tadić for "acting in that direction". Their reaction stirred up some confusion, because it is still anyone's guess whether DSS was trying to get in bed with SRS or voice its discontent over the fact that few people see it as a part of the democratic bloc.

Pitting one side of Serbia against the other is hardly a new trend. During the Milošević era, a group of intellectuals formed an association known as the ‘Belgrade Circle ‘to confront the late strongman's regime. Their bulletins, assembled through the public debates of many prominent intellectuals and politicians of the former Yugoslavia, were issued under the headline "Another Serbia". The 'Circle' was the first attempt to show the world a different face of a country whose international reputation was unenviable, to say the least.

Democratic changes in 2000 ended the Milošević era, but it is widely believed that burying its legacy has yet to start.

Milošević's death in The Hague Tribunal's Scheveningen detention centre has rekindled the all too visible aspects of the rift; the frantic tussle for political profit from Milosevic's demise, that his aides hoped would give a new lease of life to his policy, overshadowed all humanitarian, legal and social aspects of the event.

The Radicals, in all truth, never denied the fact that they always stood for the forces in charge before the events of 5th October, meaning that they feel no moral responsibility for anything that happened prior to Milošević's ouster. His death, on the other hand, paved the way for all kinds of confrontations between Serbia's two camps: the one that mourned him by glorifying an obviously suicidal policy gave the other a perfect opportunity to remind everyone of its tragic consequences once again.

Nevertheless, it would be harsh to define Serbia as a country split into supporters of just the Radicals and the democrats. Social rifts are sometimes related to political divisions, but a less superficial approach reveals a range of more subtle differences. Quite a few people will tell you that Serbia is divided between its rural and urban populations; there are also more than just a handful of those who would pit the worshippers of its turbo-folk music culture against fans of west-

ern pop idols. Following the trace of that particular rift, democratic bloc supporters will certainly say they love Coldplay and Depeche Mode, while they detest the populist sound of the harmonica, adding that those susceptible to the oriental tunes of turbo-folk can't be anything other than SRS followers.

Thereafter, the Radicals and their supporters are seen as country hicks, while the opposite ambient is defined as the urban culture.

Hence, the pro-democratic forces would have it that a Europe feeding itself on fresh salad, fast food and takeaway coffee is the perfect environment for a Serbia that needs to bury, once and for all, the tradition of hefty national dishes, mind-boggling plum brandy and roast pork.

Whichever way you look at it, you would be well advised to be careful what you order next time you go the restaurant and what music you put onto your car stereo if you want your democratic political credentials to remain impeccable.

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Culture

Woven from Love

Recent decades have seen the Pirot Rug®, Serbia's first export product, enduring its biggest ever crisis. But no crisis, no matter how deep, can lessen the worth of this strategic Serbian product.

By Sonja Ćirić

he town of Pirot, on the banks of the River Nišava in the mountainous territory of eastern Serbia, lies on the shortest trade route between the traditional eastern and western 'worlds'. This fact has proved to be of particular importance to the story of its traditional rugs.

The resurgence of Pirot's rugs was insitagted by the staging of a major exhibition at Belgrade's Museum of Applied Arts in 2001, which drew the attention of the public to this kind of applied art. However, much more is needed for Pirot's rugs to enjoy the status they deserve.

Apart from in this museum, Pirot rugs can also be seen in Belgrade's Ethnographic Museum and the Ponisavlje Museum in Pirot. If you are buying one, check its authenticity by seeking out the Ponišavlje Museum's certificate.

The word "ćilim" (rug) originates from the Persian word "gilim" or "gelim". The rug is a wool fabric intended to decorate floors, walls or some parts of furniture. Rugs are smooth on both sides, while carpets have fleece on the top side.

Pirot's rugs are woven by the kneeling technique: patterns are woven with colourful threads of wools. In contrast to western tapestries and Coptic fabrics, Pirot's rugs are identical on both sides - the change of colour cannot be noticed on the back. This effect is achieved by the use of strongly woven wools. Pirot's rugs differ from other kinds of rugs made in Serbia in the way they are woven, their decoration and quality.

Namely, Pirot's rugs are considered to be the most beautiful and are of the best quality.

T

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Before we describe the characteristics which made them famous, here are some references about the history of Pirot's rugs: in the 16th century, rugs became a highly demanded article in Europe and Asia. It is known, for instance, that merchants from Dubrovnik imported rugs from Turkey and Turkish dignitaries sent rugs as presents to people from Dubrovnik and Venice. The great demand and popularity of rugs led the Turks to set up production on the borders of the Ottoman Empire. The arrival of the Turks in Pirot at the beginning of the 15th century had a crucial influence on rug manufacturing in that area, but it is not known exactly when rug production in that region started. While some people think that the Turks brought rugs to the Balkans, others claim that rug making existed here before the Turks, and that they only spread it and enriched the decoration.

In any case, it is known for sure that rug production in Pirot emerged as the consequence of the good quality of wool and the local citizens' good knowledge of the weaving skill. Thanks to the favourable geographical conditions of this region, sheep breeding was very developed. The specific kind of sheep, krivovirska (created by crossing domestic and sjenicka species - bred by newcomers), produced the silky fleece for rugs. The Turks used that potential and in 1869 they opened the first factory for wool processing in Pirot and organised the mass production of rugs.

Milena Vitković-Žikić, authoress of the Pirotski Ćilimi monograph, published in 2001 on the occasion of the exhibition in the Museum of Applied Arts, emphasises that, apart from the factory, the Turks also brought "various Eastern fabrics, carpets and rugs (Persian, Anatolian, Simian) to Pirot, which were given to Pirot's weavers as samples. Therefore, in addition to the already known

Culture ones, the weavers were weaving new, Eastern patterns.

Traders exported rugs to Belgrade, Sarajevo, Skopje, Thessalonica, Sofia, Jedrene and Istanbul. They were in demand because of their excellent quality, perfect manufacturing and impressive beauty. The best yarn was from silver fleece sheep, whose wool had not yet been sheared, thus it was bright, soft and gentle and the rugs made of such wool were soft, thin, light, and exceptionally durable.

Famous Austrian travel writer, Felix Kanic, attended Pirot's annual fair in 1871 and wrote that the rugs from Pirot were real competition to the products from Asia. It is known that Kanic saw that year a rug made by Jelenka Rabadži, the most famous weaver from Pirot, intended for the salon of an Istanbul Pasha, which was decorated with someeight colour patterns. It was exceptionally expensive - 650 pjesters, which would be around 130 Deutschmarks.

The most important moment in the modern development of Pirot rugs was the establishment of the Ćilimarsko Society in 1886, as consequence of various social circumstances. At that time Pirot had already been under Serbian rule for nine years, and rug manufacturing had become the main economic branch.

Milena Vitković-Žikić states that "the weavers were women, usually very poor and uneducated, who supported and even led households with their painstaking work, with earnings which were not at all appropriate to their work.

Their modest earnings were in huge contrast to the significance of the rug industry in the town's economic life. "The government in Belgrade paid attention to the weavers and the conditions they lived in only when a drop in the quality of the rugs was noticed in international trade. At the same time, information arrived about numerous undertakings for the preservation of rug

The most important moment in the modern development of Pirot rugs was the establishment of the Ćilimarsko Society in 1886, as consequence of various social circumstances. manufacturing in Switzerland, Croatia, Turkey and other countries, thus Belgrade realised that something had to be done for the domestic rug industry. At the very same time the Serbian Agriculture Society in Belgrade sent a letter to the Minister of the National Economy, informing him about the weavers' law wages, about their need to be supported in the acquisition of wool and also about the importance of the use of stable colours to ensure the quality of the rugs. They also stated the importance of establishing an association which would unify the weavers. The Ministry adopted all of these proposals and, crucial to the establishment of the Cilimarsko Society, 5,000 dinars was set aside in both 1886 and 1887 from the state budget.

"Through the good organisation and effort made by its members, the Society prepared rugs for the sale exhibition held during the Christmas holidays in Vienna that same year, as well as for the industrial products exhibition in Budapest the following year," says Vitković-Žikić.

The biggest buyer of rugs at that time was Turkey. The biggest exporter was the trade company with the longest tradition, Pirot's Rugs - Brothers Garotić Domestic Industry, which was established in 1869. Soon after the company's establishment, Brothers Garotic exported a thousand serdzadas for the religious needs of Turkish army soldiers, and their annual income from exports was a hundred thousand dinars.

Four tradesmen invested 6,000 dinars in the establishment of the Pirot Rugs Trade Society and started to export rugs to

Thessalonica, Skopje and Bitolj, soon earning an annual income of 80,000 dinars!

Under the patronage of Her Majesty Queen Draga, the wife of Aleksandar Obrenović, the Pirot Rugs Guild was established in 1902 and, thanks to its protector, received 50,000 dinars from the state fund. With that money the Guild provided the colours and materials for its members and sold their products. At exhiCorD | April 2006

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Culture bitions in Liege and Lion, the Guild's weavers won first prizes and earned over 100,000 dinars. The Guild had its branches in all the bigger towns in Serbia, but also in London and Geneva.

Between the two World Wars, the Guild won around fifty international awards, whilst producing around 12,000 square metres of rugs per year.

The difficult period of Pirot's rugs started after the Second World War. In the last years of the last century the following figures were recorded: in the rugs, carpets and yarn manufacture industry, 18 weavers were employed to make 320 square metres of rugs per year.

Weaving in Pirot is performed exclusively on vertical looms another specificity of the rugs. The loom is made of two horizontal and two vertical wooden cylinders. The vertical one enables the weaving of a rug of unlimited width, and that is its advantage in comparison with the horizontal loom, which is more prominent elsewhere in the Balkans.

"As far as it is known, the biggest looms were made on the occasion of King Aleksandar Karađorđević's wedding in 1921 and the christening of the heir to the throne Petar 2nd Karađorđević in 1922. A square rug with seven metre sides was ordered for the

The recipe for the Pirot Rug colours was top secret, passed on only from father to son.

There are stories that Bulgarians were even marrying girls from this area, from dyer families, just to find out the recipe for making colours, but they did so in vain. wedding, and for the christening a rug 11 metres long and six metres wide", said Vitković-Žikić.

The warp of a Pirot rug is of double thickness, single yarn wool. Vitković-Žikić describes that "before weaving, the main directions for the patterns are marked with coloured spots in the warp. Usually, weavers work without samples, while singing and talking, from memory, precisely, almost to perfection, fast and accurately. Even though there are many complicated patterns, for which it is needed to separate different numbers of strings, they very rarely make mistakes. And if they do make any, that is on purpose, because of a charm. When the rug is woven, the warp gets cut and its strings are bound in 15 to 20 centimetre-long fringes with one or more knots. The rug is then unfolded on the floor, sprinkled with water and cleaned with a broom."

The colours, and patterns made with colours, are also a speciality of Pirot's rugs and are the most frequent reason why we admire them. Until the second half of the 19th century, natural plant colours were exclusively used. The recipe for the Pirot Rug colours was top secret, passed on only from father to son. There are stories that Bulgarians were even marrying girls from this area, from dyer families, just to find out the recipe for making colours, but they did so in vain. According to Golub Ria - one of the oldest and best dyers working in Pirot today - the yarn was coloured in cinnabar, indigo, light and dark blue, ultramarine, blue-green, black-green, dark red, coffee brown, yellow, cherry and black. One of the originality signs of Pirot's rugs is the colour red, which was for Southern Slavs the symbol of the biggest glory and for Christians the symbol of resurrection. Dark red spoke about fascinating beauty and hidden imagination. The combination of red and blue, so called folk colours, is a favourite in Pirot's rug industry. Meanwhile, yellow has healing powers, and browngreen denotes deep tenderness. Green, on the other hand, was for telling tales and casting spells."

The weavers expressed their emotions and thoughts through their selection of colours and patterns. They gave the patterns

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symbolic names - birds, dear, turtle, wood, holy tree, church, altar, rifle, fish, cannon - and with them told stories about their lives. A woven rose told of a young woman, the frog about her happiness, the comb about her purity, flowers about joy, a tree about wealth, grapes about serious worries, a bird on the branch about maturity, etc.

The kolo (ring) ornament was popular and important because of the belief in its magic powers: it was said to give power and protection from every evil. The motif of "five fingers", five lines, five feathers, five lilies had the same meaning - they all bring luck.

"When five rings are connected with two lines, it creates the shape of a cross whose ends end with small circles, and that cross was very frequent in Slav decorations. The symbol created in this way has the power of a double spell, because it unites the old, pagan, and new, Christian, religion", explains Vitković-Žikić.

It has not been ruled out that this old pattern from some of today's Pirot's rugs will defend this art craftwork from eyes which in the last decades have looked on it with scorn.

Sport

Become a MASTER OF CHARITY For the second consecutive year, CorD Magazine is inviting you to participate in the CorD Charity Masters Race, which is to take place in the context of the upcoming 19th Belgrade Banca Intesa Marathon - to be staged on 22nd April 2006.

Registering to participate in the Charity Masters is completely free of charge and all money raised by racers through private sponsorship will be donated to UNICEFs School without violence (Ĺ kola

bez nasilja) programme.

Every CorD Charity Master will receive a commemorative t-shirt as proof of their participation, and the results of the race and details of funds raised will be published in CorD’s May issue.

Racers can compete as individuals or as part of a team, as the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade and Coca-Cola HBC did last year.

Apply today and make a difference.

CorD Charity Masters - FAQs How can I apply to compete in the CorD Charity Masters race?

Apply by sending an email or fax expressing your interest and detailing the number of racers you would like to register (e-mail - cordmarathon@cma.co.yu; fax/tel - (+381 11) 30 87 066). You will then receive an official application form, to be completed and returned by 17th April.

Who will check how many kilometres have been completed by the runners?

This is charity race and each runner is expected to calculate the length of their own race. In addition, special referees will be tasked with assisting.

How does one either become a sponsor or obtain a sponsor?

Sponsors can be any individual, company, organisation, association or mission which accepts to finance the runner. Sponsors could also include work colleagues who would collect the budget to finance your race.

You can obtain sponsorship within your company or from family members, friends...whoever wants to join this charity race.

How many participants will be accepted for the CorD Charity Masters?

In agreement with organisers of the 19th Belgrade Banca Intesa Marathon, all participants who apply for the CorD Charity Masters will be accepted.

Is there a minimum sponsorship level per kilometre?

The amount of money for sponsoring charity efforts depends on the task. In this case, we are talking about one of the most difficult sports races, so the award should be appropriate. We would suggest that the minimum should be 5 euros per kilometre.

What percentage of the money raised will go to charity?

100% of the money raised is to go to charity. Collected funds will be gifted to UNICEF’s School Without Violence programme.

Will CorD Charity Masters run alongside all other participants of the Belgrade Marathon?

Yes. Members of the CorD Charity Masters team will start the race at the same time as all other runners competing in the 19th Belgrade Banca Intesa Marathon.

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CULTURE NEWS 78TH ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS The 78th American Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements were presented on 5th March this year. As with every other year, members of the U.S. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voted for the favourites among the award nominees. This year didn't see any one production dominate the Oscars. And, although the event itself was pleasantly non-political, many of the films on offer were of a political nature. The Oscar for the Best motion picture of 1995 went to Paul Hedges' "Crash", a story about inter-racial fights in America today. The film's unambiguous moral message is that it is time for Americans to concentrate on themselves and their problems, which reflect an inflated atmosphere of fear and mutual mistrust, especially after 9/11. "Crash" also won the Oscar Original screenplay - written by Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco - and the Oscar for Achievement in Film Editing.

Ang Lee took the Achievement in Directing Oscar for "Brokeback Mountain" - a strong, touching story about a gay relationship between two cowboys in 1960s puritan America. The movie was also awarded the most Original Screenplay Oscar (Screenplay by Larry McMurtry & Diana Ossana; based on a short story by E. Annie Proulx), and the Most Original Score Oscar (Mark Isam).

The Best actor in a leading role Oscar was, expectedly, awarded to Phillip Seymour Hoffman for "Capote", directed by Bennett Miller. Hoffman's role was based on the American author Truman Capote. The Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role Oscar went to "Walk the Line's" Reese Witherspoon. In this biographical movie about legendary country singer Johnny Cash, Witherspoon played famous singer June Carter, the love of Cash's life. Oscars in the categories of Best Actor and Actress in a Supporting Role went to George Clooney, for his performance in Steven Gaghan's "Syriana" and Britain's actress Rachel Weisz. Weisz won the Oscar for her part in Brazilian Fernando Meirelles' "The Constant Gardener".

Interestingly, Steven Spielberg's film "Munich" was left unnoticed and without awards, whilst "Memoirs of a Geisha" received the awards for achievement in costume design, achievement in art direction and achievement in cinematography. Peter Jackson's "King Kong" was awarded Oscars for Achievement in Visual Effects, Sound Mixing and Sound Editing. The Best Foreign Language Film of the Year went to South Africa's "Tsotsi", while the Best Documentary Feature Oscar went to "March of The Penguins".

This year's Honorary lifetime achievement Academy award went to popular filmmaker Robert Altman. The eighty-year-old had been nominated for best director five times and never won an Academy award before.

It may be said that "Brokeback Mountain" and "Walk the Line" started their cinema lives after their premieres at FEST, the Belgrade Film Festival. The premieres of "Crash" and other films, which were also noticed achievements during the FEST, are expected to start screening in cinemas throughout Serbia & Montenegro in the coming months.•

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107 YEARS OF THE "MOKRANJAC" MUSICAL SCHOOL Belgrade's "Mokranjac" Musical school celebrated its 107th year of existence on 7th March, with a concert at Kolarac. This concert was held during the year that marks 150 years since the birth of famous Serbian composer Stevan Stojanović Mokranjac. The concert featured soloists, a camera ensemble and a choir. The programme consisted of renditions of the works of Mokranjac, Mozart and other composers, such as Vivaldi, Beethoven, Miloje Milojević and Đela Jušić.

The "Mokranjac" school, established in 1899, represents the foundations of Serbia's musical culture and education. Among professors and students, many famous musical individuals from across the former Yugoslavia attended this school. The concert and opera lives, orchestras and camera ensembles, other institutions and faculties all stem from the work of this school, whose director today is Mr. Bodin Starčević.

INTERNATIONAL THEATRE FESTIVAL The festival of international student theatre was held in Belgrade for the second time this year between 23rd and 26th March at the University of Belgrade's Faculty of Fine Art. The festival was founded with the intention of discovering and showcasing new ways of educating young theatre creators. Thus, Belgrade was visited by students from international Academies in China, Bulgaria, The Czech Republic, Italy, Romania, Spain, The Netherlands, and Pristina. The work of students from Serbia & Montenegro was also presented. The festival also encompassed workshops held by visiting professors, such as Claudio de Maglio, Ricardo Camacho, Mira Erceg, Saša Denić and Balbir Singh. The support programme featured an exhibition and a party, which students organised for the guests of the festival.

7th INTERNATIONAL SHOWCASE OF ARCHEOLOGICAL FILMS The 7th International Showcase of Archaeological film was held at the National Museum in Belgrade from 10th to 19th March. Ten countries produced 27 films, which were presented at the museum - six from Germany, four from France, five from Italy, one from Switzerland and Belgium, two from Iran and Cyprus, one from Russia and three from Serbia & Montenegro. The showcase has been held at the museum every year since 1998, when it was established. Every year it attracts great attention from specialised audiences and the general public, as well as the media. The showcase is not envisaged as a contest. Rather, it is a review of the latest achievements in documentary film making. Whilst archaeology is the subject of these films, in a wider sense they contribute to the world's cultural heritage. "Between culture and continents - 175 years of exploration of Germany's archaeological institute," is the photography exhibition that opened this year's archaeological showcase. The National Museum realised this exhibition with help from The Germany Archaeological Institute and Goethe Institute. Other supporters of this year's International Showcase of Archaeological Film in Belgrade were the French Cultural Centre, Italian Cultural Institute, The Russian House and the Embassies of Switzerland, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Belgium and Cyprus.

"INTERNATIONAL STYLE" EXHIBITION The "Neues Bauen International 1927-2002" exhibition represents one hundred archaeological projects from of an "international style" and dating from the period 1927 to 2002. "International style" is based on the "International exhibition of archaeological projects and models of new construction art", which was held in Stuttgart in 1927 and marked the beginning of a completely new architectural era that changed the foundations of European cities. The exhibition was opened on 11th March at the Belgrade Museum of Contemporary Art. It was opened in co-operation with the Goethe Institute, and arrived in Belgrade via Skoplje's Museum of Contemporary Art. Consisting of seven themes, the exhibition represented models, projects and drawings from Gropius, Ludvig Mis van der Roe, Le Korbiz, J.J.P Oud, Rush brothers, Frank Lord Right, Kazimir Maljević and others.

MASSIVE ATTACK IN BELGRADE British group Massive Attack will perform in Belgrade's Pionir Hall on 11th June. Multimedia Concerts Agency has also confirmed that Belgrade will also host famous musician Sting and rock group Simply Red this year.

Sting's concert will be held on 19th June, while Simply Red will perform on 31st August.

CULTURE CALENDAR April Firewall Opens: 6th April

Date Movie Opens: 20th April

Direction: Richard Loncraine Starring: Harrison Ford, Virginia Madsen, Paul Bethany

Direction: Aaron Seltzer Starring: Alyson Hannigan, Adam Campbell, J. Coolidge, T. Cox Plot: Spoof of romantic comedies which focuses on a man (Campbell), his crush (Hannigan), his parents (Coolidge, Willard), and her father (Griffin).

Computer security specialist Jack Stanfield (Ford) works for the Seattle-based Landrock Pacific Bank. A trusted top-ranking executive, he has built his career and reputation on designing the most effective anti-theft computer systems in the industry, but he soon becomes the system's vulnerability.

FILM - CYCLE WINNERS OF GOYA (famous Spanish movie awards) Sava Centre, 30th March to 2nd April Opening Thursday, 30th March 30, 8.30pm Lucky Number Slevin

Opens: 13th April Direction: Paul McGuigan Starring: Josh Hartnett, Bruce Willis, Ben Kingsley, Morgan Freeman Plot: A case of switched identities leads to a case of murder organised by a major New York mafia boss.

Antarctic - Eight Below Opens: 20th April Direction: Frank Marshall Starring: Paul Walker, Jason Biggs, Bruce Greenwood Plot: the tale of a group of investigators on Antarctic and their struggle to survive the lonely continent's wild nature.

Failure to Launch Opens: 27th April

TESIS (1996) Directed by Alehandro Amenabar Awards - Best film, best young director, best original screenplay, best young actor, best montage, best production, best sound Friday, 31st March, 7pm COUNTED DAYS (1994) Directed by Immanuel Uribe Awards - Best film, best direction, best actor, best supported role, best young actress, best screenplay based on a literature, best montage, best special effects Friday, 31st March, 9pm LUCKY STAR (1997) Directed by Ricardo Franco Awards - Best film, best direction, best actor, best original screenplay, best music

Direction: Tom Dey Starring: Matthew McConaughey, S. J. Parker, Zooey Deschanel Plot: A Romantic comedy about a 30-year-old boy who suspects that his parents have arranged him a date with beautiful girl.

Saturday, 1st April NOBODY WILL TALK ABOUT US WHEN WE DIE (1995) Directed by Agustin Diaz Janes Awards - Best film, best actress, best supporting role, best young director, best original screenplay, best music, best montage, best production

Yours, Mine and Ours Opens: 13th April Direction: Raja Gosnell Starring: Dennis Quaid and Rene Russo Plot: Single parent Frank (Quaid) prepares for a wedding with Helen. But 18 kids (his and hers) want to stop them.

V for Vendetta

Saturday, 1st April, 9pm SMART GUY (2000) Directed by Acero Manias Awards - Best film, best young director, best young actor, best original screenplay

Opens: 20th April Sunday, 2nd April, Direction: James Mcteigue Starring: Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, S. Rea and S. Fry Plot: A shadowy freedom fighter known only as "V" uses terrorist tactics to fight against his totalitarian society. Upon rescuing a girl from the secret police, he also finds his best chance at having an ally.

ON MONDAY, AT THE SUN (2002) Awards - Best film, best direction, best actor, best supporting role, best young actor CorD | April 2006

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CULTURE CALENDAR April CONCERTS - POPULAR MUSIC Dom Omladine

D. Shostakovich- The golden age R. Schumann- Symphony no.1 Monographic concerts 28th April Cristian Mandeal Soloist- Stefan Milenkovic, violin P.I. Tchaikovsky- Concerto for violin and orchestra, op.35, D major P.I.Tchaikowsky- Manfred, op.58 FOUNDATION OF ILIJA MILOSAVLJEVIC KOLARAC

Saturday, 15th April, 9pm Nouvel Vag Nouvel Vag is group whose leaders, French musicians, Mark Kolin and Olivie Lebo, celebrate "new wave" culture that was popular in the 80 is. They made new arrangements for some "new wave" songs by using various music genres- samba, bosa nova, pop‌They rearranged songs by Joy Division, The Class, The Cure‌Beside Colin and Lebo in the group are 8 young singers that were not even born in the time of "new wave".

Friday, 21st April, 9pm EZ3 Kiel Concert of French group that plays reggae, ska and funk music.

CONCERTS - CLASSICAL MUSIC BELGRADE PHILHARMONIC HALL

Belgrade String Orchestra "Dusan Skovran" 1st April, 8pm Conductor - Tony Kaliuste Programme - Arvo Pert and Isidora Zebeljan Jurij Basmet quartet 2nd April, 8pm Victor Trekjakov, violin, Jurija Basmet, viola, Tatiana Vasiljeva, violoncello, Vasilij Lobanov, piano Programme - Beethoven, Schumann, Brahms Night of making peace between Mozart and Salieri 11th April, 8pm Conductor - Pavle Medakovic Soloist - Sjavni Gadzijev, piano Programme - Mozart, Salieri International Science Meeting "Music culture and memory" 12th April - 14th April Milan Grol hall Organized by FMU

Conductors Choose For You th

7 April Conductor Jiri Kout Soloist - Robert Bokor, violin Programme - A.Khachaturian- Concerto for violin and orchestra Dvorzak - Symphony No.7, op.70, D- minor Homage a Hans Swarowsky 14th April Conductor Bruno Weil Soloists - Andreja Brlec, sopran, Elsa Giannolidov, alt, Rey Alan Lacuini, tenor, Yasushi Hirano, bass, Students of Musikuniversitaet, Vienna, Programme- J.Brahms- Symphony no.4, op.98, E minor, W.A. Mozart- Coronation mass K 317, C major Choir Obilic Artistic Association- Krsmanovic The Great Anniversaries 20th April Conductor Uros Lajovic, W.A. Mozart- Cassation no.1

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Great World Orchestra 12th April, 8pm Janacek Philharmony Conductor - Gaetano Delogu Programme - P.Popovic, Prokofiev, Dvorzak Ensemble "Renaissance" 13th April, 8pm St. George String Orchestra 17th April, 8pm Soloists - Sreten Krstic, violin Borislav Nestorov, piano Svetlana Nestorov, sopran Night of Wagner's music 18th April, 8pm Symphonic Orchestra RTB Soloists- Urs Markes (Germany), bariton

CULTURE CALENDAR

FRENCH CULTURAL CENTRE

April Tamara Markovic, mezosopran Conductor- Bojan Sudjic Jazz Orchestra RTB 19th April, 8pm Vlada Maricic and Guests 29th April, 8pm Piano duo- Nebojsa Maksimovic and Milica Sekulic 30th April, 11am Russian music for piano- XX Century INSTITUTE CERVANTES Evening of Spanish Songs Monday, 3rd April, 8pm Students of FMU Programme- De Falia, Joakin Rodrigo, Fernando Sor, Fernando Obradors and chosen songs by Federico Garcia Lorca Entrance free, Reservations on 30 34 182 ART EXHIBITIONS Project Paris-Belgrade (as part of "Belgrade days") City Assemble, Belgrade Cultural Centre, Movie bar, CafĂŠ "Paleta" From 14th April - 3rd May Project was made by Erik Korn, curator from France (who has visited Belgrade several times). He made a choice of art couples.

- Belgrade architect Ivan Kucina will be connected with architect in France, Hans Walter Miler, through big installations. One of them will be cupola with 20 m diameter. Inside it people will be able to walk. Installation will stand for 3 weeks in front of City Assembly and its aim is to provoke questions about city life and to try to answer them.

- French artist Natasha Nizik will have dialogue with Serbian artist Ivan Grubanov, about emigration problems, exhibitied on posters.

- Film Piera Kulibefa "Balkan barok" is real and imaginary biography of world-famous Serbian artist Marina Abramovic Opening- Friday, 14th April, 6pm

Design 2006 From 17th April to 6th May The Design 2006 exhibition is a result of a collaboration between the FCC and the Agency for promotion of Industrial Design. This promotion of French Industrial Design is part of Belgrade Design Week.

MOBILE STUDIOS, INTERACTIVE EXHIBITION Trg Republike, from April, 11th- April 18th Goethe Institute and Remont gallery Mobile studios will travel from Belgrade, Bratislava, Budapest and Sofija to Gdanjsk with an invitation for artists to join.

THEATER-DANCE Belgrade Drama Theatre, Wednesday, April, 19th, 20 00 "O. More" National Choreographer Centre, Tour Directed and choreographed by Bernarde Monte.

6 dancers from 6 African countries and 3 musicians from Morocco participate in this play with different interpretations of Othello.

LITERATURE WORLD BOOK DAY Sunday, 23rd April Institute Cervantes will celebrate world book day in front of their building in Knez Mihajilova Street. The day also marks the anniversaries of the deaths of two great world writers - William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes.

In Front of the City Assembly 6pm - Performance- Ivan Grubanov 7pm - Hans Valter Miler opens his sculpture- great cupole named "On the edge of the air", in which people can walk 7pm - Conversation with Ivan Kucin 7.30pm - Open-air Reception Sunday, 16th April, 5pm DKC, Kolarceva 6 5pm and 8pm - Film "Balkan barok" by Piere Kulibef 6.30pm - Presenting of the project Belgrade/Paris and meeting with artists Every day, from 6pm - 7pm CafĂŠ Paleta, Trg Republike Video works by Natasa Nizik and Ivan Grubanov

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Culture

Diverse FESTival This month CorD speaks to Miroljub Vučković, art director of FEST 2006, about his post-FEST impressions and how satisfied he was with this year's festival.

By Jelena Jovanović; Photo: Jelena Mandić

his year's 34th Belgrade International Film Festival, FEST, presented 74 films from around the world and attracted great attention, captruing the imgainations of the media, public and filmmakers alike. The Festival's official guests, amongst others, were famous French actress Anna Karina and famous German director, Wim Wenders.

This year’s FEST saw the introduction of a new element: its business component, B2B, wich was supported by the film programme, Europe out of Europe - a window into the frame of FEST's entire programme.

Speaking to CorD after the close of yet another successful FEST, Miroljub Vučković, art director of the festival, said: "The function of the film festival is to bridge the gap between the film and the public; to make it easily accessible; to provoke curiosity and to meet the expectations of those who create the festival. And to to satisfy the attending public.

“However, the Festival is not only that. It is also an excellent place of gravitation to which different structures of film professionals should gravitate, in order to detect and improve business relations. In that sense, B2B, i.e. Back to Business, Back to Belgrade or Business to Belgrade or "to be or not to be" or Back to Bioskop (cinema) was the real hit of FEST 2006.”

Explaining the notion further, Vučković explained: “Of course, this idea was not born yesterday and this was not the first case that FEST, within its main dimension (presenting films to the public), has made an attempt to gather film professionals together... FEST 2001 made an important step by staging the conference, ‘Co-production, technical services, new possibilities’.

“In accordance with the changes which took place in our society (prior to 2001), several producers from Europe, representatives of European TV channels, such as Arte and ZDF (German TV) and representatives of other festivals (Rotterdam, Cannes, Berlin) came to Belgrade. The representatives of the cinematography structures from the region also came. I think that this was a good beginning, or initiation, but sadly the following festivals did not have such a content."

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Does the B2B segment mark the future direction of the Festival?

"B2B is FEST's business content. The Festival is a sort of holiday and at the same time the place where contacts and certain business effectiveness can be achieved. Because of that, I would say, that it is only one of the elements of the film festival. In that sense, I am very glad that Belgrade city (with its bodies) and the Ministry of Culture (with its bodies) recognised the need for such a project to be accomplished in Belgrade.

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Miroljub Vucković, art director of FEST 2006 "The fact is also that this business component was selected very carefully, because festivals in the surrounding area (Thessalonica, Sofia, Sarajevo, Motovun) had already developed mechanisms to attract film professionals and it was essential to find a solid model which does not "endanger" but, rather, ensures that all segments connected with film production are universally presented. The essence of this is that 18 countries which are not EU members and are from Europe, as well as countries from other continents in which the European tradition and the need to cooperate with Europe exists (Israel, Moldova, the Ukraine, Kazakhstan), were present in Belgrade. Apart from the film programme, which was the window of FEST's industrial component, the spine of B2B was the pitching sessions, during which 10 projects were discussed. Two of the pitches were granted 10,000 euros for development. Those are the projects of Milutin Petrović from Belgrade and Artan Mizerani from Albania.

"This year's FEST guest list was very long. The biggest stars were certainly French actress Anna Karina, German film director Wim Wenders and legendary local flimmaker Emir Kusturica."

To what extent did they contribute to the whole picture of FEST? "Every guest is more than welcome and every artist and director, actor, screenplay writer, cameraman, producer is very welcome, and not only to our Festival. Festivals always try to attract as many guests as possible because they help to enrich communication. I am very glad that Emir Kusturica, who is a resident of our town and one of the rare people from the film world with such important awards, had time and found a few hours between his great obligations to open our Festival. Also, Anna Karina is an inspiration and muse and one of the important elements not only

Culture

Wim Wenders and Miroljub Vučković of French new wave, but of European film in the '70s. And in the last several years she has reoriented from acting to directing and music. She held an exceptional concert in Terazije Theatre and sang songs which Serge Gainsbourg composed for her and music from Jean Luc Goddard's films.

“Wim Wenders is one of the greatest contemporary artists, he is very versatile. FEST 2006 presented Wenders in a very complex, rich and detailed programme. We have been negotiating his coming for the last few years. Last summer he said that there was the possibility for him to come to Belgrade, and here we are, that happened. I was very glad that his film Don't Come Knocking closed the Festival…

After the festival, comments about the quality of the films are always varied. One of the opinions is that of film critic, Aleksandar Kostić, who told me that this year 4-5 films were exceptional while the rest were average.

“Once the announcement of the programme has been made I enter into a dialogue with everybody - the public, critics, readers (those who read and don't watch films). What I have applied since the beginning of my work is the respect for the idea of the film festival established in 1971 as the festival of festivals, under the slogan "A Brave New World". What I very consciously gave up is the notion to present FEST's programme as a selection of the best films in the world. FEST 2006 presents a film season that had its highs and lows, which had its great moments and also certain failures…

I suppose you were trying to hear the pulse of the public, critics and film people who were watching the Festival. What did you manage to hear?

“I am neither deaf nor blind. Not during the selection of films, nor whilst they are being shown at FEST. In our country, in the last two to three years, there has been a steady fall in the number of visits to cinemas, which was caused by the many - economic, cultural, social, aesthetical, and other factors. The language of statistics, which concludes the factual situation, states that the turn out to cinemas is experiencing a drastic drop. We are facing a tragic crypto-depression, not in a geographical sense, but in that the turn out at cinemas is under zero. Last year, FEST 2005, with 72 films on the programme, sold 74,000 tickets. At the same time, during FEST 2005, for 48 films in around 60 cinemas in SCG just over 20,000 tickets were sold. That shows that FEST 2005 was the exception in that dropping line. This

year was even better in more difficult conditions…

A review of contemporary Spanish film will take place in SC at the end of March-beginning of April. There were no Spanish films at FEST. Why? “There weren't enough British films at FEST 2006. I am sorry that there were very few films from Asia - there were 5-6, which is not sufficient considering the quality of Asian films.

FEST 2006 was supposed to present a complex, exceptional programme of Indian films, but it turned out that this was, from an organisational point of view, very complex. In the end weand we gave up. That is why there were no Indian films in any of FEST's programmes - we thought that the whole corps of Indian film should not be divided, and when the idea of nine films in focus fell through, we remained without Indian films in other programmes too…

What FEST really needs is good films; what it definitely needs is the public and that context dedicated to professionals.

Those are elementary things.

What kind of future would you like for FEST? Do you have a vision of what FEST 2007 will be like?

The fact and the basic issue in the approach to and view of film is the acceptance of the simple truth that things change, that we should decode; that I, as a member of the public, should transform… In that sense FEST should really change. What FEST really needs is good films; what it definitely needs is the public and the context dedicated to professionals. Those are elementary things. To this we add offering a warm welcome to guests, journalists and those who enable us to perceive ourselves better. What I have been doing in the last few years is an attempt to establish some sort of creative dialogue between the cultural manifestations in this city, such as interweaving the contents of BITEF, BEMUS, the October Salon. The consequences of that are Sherin Nehsat and Matthew Barni's films at FEST; guests like Wim Wenders, Hana Shigula and Anna Karina with their films, their work and performances. I think that this is something which points to not closing ones eyes in front of the diversity and wealth of people who make films.

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Culture - Ballet

Luxurious Beauty I enjoyed making the very complex ballet role of Queen Margo my own: a role that presents the eternal themes of love, politics, hate and evil - Serbia's prima ballerina, Duška Dragičević, told CorD magazine this month.

have witnessed the great tradition of this theatre, the great choreographers we used to have, but also the opening up of our house towards the world which, for me, is one of the most important elements we are missing today, when everything has turned towards computers and the theatre has almost lost its meaning. Those who remain are the last Mohicans, the hungry ones. And it is thanks to them that performances still attract full houses - Duška Dragičević told CorD.

Theatre Ballet as mentors, choreographers or art directors of a ballet school which has entered the eighth decade of its life and whose beginnings were marked firstly with Russian ballet artists on whose base the National Theatre Ballet came of age. Belgrade's public was raised on the foundations of this clear classical ballet inheritance, and the performances of the most honoured pioneering prima ballerinas, Nina Kirsanova and Ana Pavljovljeva.

The National Theatre Ballet scene has hosted foreign choreographers, such as Lavrovski, Zaharov, Nina Anisimova, Balasin and Darel, but also our own Nada Kokotovic, Milko Sparemblek and others.

SERBIAN NATIONAL THEATRE BALLET

IN THE STEPS OF A BALLERINA, GENTLY AND LIGHTLY…

Generations of Serbian ballet artists were nurtured in the classical ballet arts, leaving an inheritance of streams of artists of great individuality, with strong stage presence and great popularity among both the public in Serbia and those experiencing their guest performances around the world.

During their performing years, or at the end of their dancing careers, many of these great performers remain loyal to the National

“…All that gets into your blood - the dressing room, the intrigue, the smell of the theatre itself. So much that you can't realistically perceive where the Serbian ballet is today in comparison with what it was before, because ballet has been in me all this time and was part of my personal history,” said Duška, speaking to CorD on 13th March - a night when she had treated the Belgrade public to her stunning performance of Queen Margo. The performance was her eighth

By Marina Desivojević; Photo: Jelena Mandić, Belgrade National Theatre, Srđan Mihić

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in the role of Queen Margo, and how well received it was. Her dance, expressing harmonious, emotional movement, to this, one of the most beautiful stage Adagios, was, of course, welcomed with thunderous applause; applause that was all one would need as a final word to leave a lasting impression.

SERBIAN BALLET'S GOLDEN AGE Comparing Serbia's modern ballet scene to the one she remembers fondly from her childhood, this prima ballerina says: "as the child of a ballet dancer I witnessed all the goings on in those golden times of Serbian ballet - the time of Tito, when ballet artists seemed to be lucky to live in a time of mass travelling and massive performances in massive arenas in the real world, where they had the possibility to compare, to breathe some other air and not to turn around in one's own cage, in which the artist spends a long time.

"The period of 15 years of sanctions had consequences for the country, not to mention on the artist for whom that represents an entire career," thinks Duška.

"I am not one to fly the coup, to run away from Serbia, even though that was unavoidable for my profession and a good choice for

DUŠKA DRAGIČEVIĆ completed her studies in the famous ballet school of Moscow's Bolshoy Theatre School in 1982. As a member of the Belgrade's National Theatre, she soon became a ballet soloist. In 1991 she become the National Theatre's prima ballerina and played many solo parts and main roles in such ballets as Ohrid's Legend, Aphrodite's Triumph, Swan Lake, Giselle, Carmen, Samson and Delilah, Don Quixote, the Resurrection, Romeo and Juliet, Scheherazade, Bachisarajska Garden, the Wolves, Autumn Rain and Pictures, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Poet Tchaikovsky, and many more.

In 2000 she received the Belgrade National Theatre Medallion. In December 2006 she marked the 20th year of her career with the role of Queen Margo, directed by Goran Bregović.

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Culture - Ballet

my career. However, I stayed here. I had a house, family, marriage; I had a child," says Dragičević, adding, however that "that was also the time of some breathing and artistic freedom and the feeling of an energy exchange. I think that this represents the essence of this profession, and because of that we are on this stage today.

"As a generation, we did not have the base of the golden times and I can only, with longing, conclude that. On the other side, it was almost fascinating that in that situation of closed isolation, we nonetheless succeeded as a generation… and there were several prima ballet dancers who kept this house on its feet!”

WITH FAIRY TALE COMPLEXITY "Children who come from art schools to the theatre take ballet too easily at the beginning, thinking that their talent is enough. That is why on arrival in the real theatre they have many problems to deal with. They always need to change their way of thinking.

I love Serbian ballet because there are a lot of talented people, and I think that it is currently under expansion in terms of quality…

"But all of that is youth, which carries that sort of positive madness, should be simply well directed, changing all those minuses into pluses. Since there are people for that - and I think that the national house has such people - our ballet will be on a good level, with a good repertoire," concludes the Belgrade National Theatre's prima ballerina with a confident smile.

Reminiscing about her own studies, Duška explains: "I studied in Russia and the moments of my solitude were hard, lingering times of loneliness. On Saturdays and Sundays you were completely alone, and all those who have been through that story know how difficult it is when the phone doesn't ring and when you are so lonely. But a 12-year-old child cannot know that something which is hard today will be good for something tomorrow…

"I learnt early on what responsibility and work is and I went through a great dictatorship during my studies in Moscow. Even in

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difficult moments, when everything seemed without meaning, I could not leave and say to myself "this is the end. I will go to Canada to make sandwiches or something and have lots of money and I will finish with this ballet story!" And what do I have left after all those troubles? The memories of all those rare telephone conversations with my friends who also had their own destinies developing in some other parts of world. We were really lucky that we were in the right places. That kept us and maintained us in this cruel discipline.

In the end, each one of us understood that we were the leader of our own destinies and that there was no way back.

"I would not have persevered if I had not loved ballet so much; if I had not been fascinated with myself, with my body while dancing … Man cannot succeed in anything through force."

ART FROM THE DARKNESS "Art for me is something else, because I did not hide the fact that I believed that it could happen in the darkness we were in and that, at the end of all that, the light we made again would be waiting for those of us who believed that this light exists and that what we do is worthy. However, Serbs are a mad nation, what they love the most is to spit on themselves and on those who make the most effort for things to survive and have meaning," considers Duška.

"While making guest performances around Serbia I experienced people crying with happiness because the ballet had come to their town, and in some of them it had not been there for forty years. Not many people here in the capital know that. That is the sadness of this nation, you go 50 kilometres from Belgrade and realise that there is nothing there…

"I love Serbian ballet because there are a lot of talented people, and I think that it is currently under expansion in terms of quality …

What is obvious is that what is missing in our ballet is only in the schools and the approach to the profession, which, though it is highly expressive, has a sense of being geared towards mirroring sporting preparations for a very hard physical career.

"Now we know that there is no deal with life that everything will make everything okay, and it is particularly that drill and the illusion which the stage and our profession itself creates that gives us the strength to survive in a milieu such as ours."

Culture - Ballet

Duška Dragičević's definition of ballet

QUEEN MARGO - REBORN IN SERBIA The director of the Ballet, Konstantin Kostjukov, and Goran Bregović's manager, Edi Galičić, got the idea that it would be nice for Bregović to come to the National Theatre stage with his Queen Margo - a ballet for which he has been preparing the film score for several years. This idea was proposed to the Belgrade National Theatre's management, which they accepted, and the role of Margo was offered to the National Theatre's prima ballerina Duška Dragičević. With this role, Duška celebrated 20 years of work and made a great opus.

"It seemed to me - and I was later proved right - that this was the role which would give me the dimension of a role which spreads from the licentious and nonchalant to the full tragedian of Queen Margo. It was a pleasure for me, throughout the two hour performance each night, to include some of the personal opus from my career and the range of situations that I think I used to colour this current, my Margo."

During her dancing career, Dragičević has co-operated with international composers whom she said included their opinions in their work, and that that was needed to be understood.

"While working on Margo, perhaps like never before, I was very free and very happy in the wonderful atmosphere which dominated Bregović's music, the music which marked my youth. This music has elements of desperation, but elation too, to the sky, which to me, as a woman, helped a great deal in the whole creation of the role of Margo the lover. A woman who, because of a man who loved her so much, perceives that there is actually some sense in living in blood and family madness because it’s the price of experiencing that feeling.

"I admit that Margo did move me somewhere and I was jealously keeping that state of mind, the state for which I can say now was the complete universe… She was my friend, that Margo, for many months. I was really trying to fully understand what it is to be the victim of politics, the victim of family, the victim of the time you live in and, then again, just a woman who just wants to love and be loved above anything else…

"You have to be a fighter to persevere through all that. That is what ballet is! Everything else is the nicer part and lasts for a much shorter time, and is called pure creation and the sweetest living but, nevertheless, it is an illusion.

Duška Dragičević sees her definition of ballet exclusively through the processes of her maturing in her profession.

"After all these years, ballet is not a profession anymore, but part of me. The ballet art was simply constantly coming out of me and it had its procedures, in keeping with my maturity. When I was a child I experienced that as a competitive process within myself, as a kind of difficulty which I would run away from, or a peak that I would never surmount to the perfection I long for and will never attain; to a pure spiritual source and the liberation of myself, to such an extent that those states in fact, if you do not channel them well, could be dangerous in some moments, because they are genuine, strong and come from within.

"I think that life roles do not exist, because it is only important that the feeling is authentic. A life role is to be alive, and that doesn't happen often.

"The perception of what you can feel while dancing various destinies and roles, which you can definitely not live yourself, is simply unbelievable. My procedure on the stage was to feel that, to say something and pass it on to the public because of who I am there. All that is happening in the work procedure under tight control, it is exactly known why you make which step, but when you enter the emotion, when you get into that film, you are so alone after the performance - empty and exhausted because you gave yourself so completely.

Those are the dangerous moments and if you do not have that source in your privacy where you will recharge after giving illusions, where you will recharge as a personality then you will face the cruel draining exhaustion of your own emotions. That has happened to me more than a few times".

The Serbian ballerina talks honestly about herself, concluding that at the end of the whole whirlwind of emotions "you bring yourself to zero and say - I cannot do it today! I came to such a situation so many times. Then you do not ask the question as to whether everything that was given to the audience was worth it, but that it really cost a lot. Because ballet in my life has not only been a profession; Ballet for me has always been, and will always remain, a state of being.

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Tourism

Vršac Verve This month CorD and the Tourist Organisation of Serbia recommends a visit to Vršac, a business centre and lure for tourists from far and wide, and a town steeped in spiritual and creative energy.

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CorD & TOS

he Vojvodina town of Vršac boasts many parks and open spaces, a total of 19 categorised and protected cultural monuments, is home to the famous national theatre, the regional museum, a town library, the Concordia building, St. Gerhard's Roman Catholic Church, St. Nicholas's Cathedral and other buildings of great cultural-historic significance. The oldest city park in Vojvodina, which is protected as a horticultural monument, can also be found in the town.

Dominating the Vršac skyline is the town's Vršac Tower, perched on top of the hill overlooking the town. The tower represents all that remains of the medieval fortress, which was once itself the town of Vršac. Though the fortress was probably built at the end of the 14th century, little is known about its origins. There is a genuine possibility that the fortress was built by the Serbs, after the fall of Smederevo, because there are certain similarities with its towers.

The Tower is also said to have been built by "King-Despot" Đurad Branković, who had land in this area at that time. The Banat Episcopacy Residence, Vladika's Residence, was built by Vladika Jovan Đorgijević, who moved the seat of the Orthodox Eparchy from Karansebes back to Vršac in 1750.

The building was constructed to the design of a Prussian architect, whose name was not recorded, and it lasted until 1760. The first restoration and rennovation came as early as 1787. The residence was also renovated during the 19th century, but its appearance was changed only in the restoration which took place in 1902. The building is freely located on a large plot of land, with the flat façade facing the street. In the same year, 1902, the residence obtained a completely new eclectically shaped main facade and lost a great deal of its complex roof construction. In addition to the iconostasis painted by Neskovic, there is a remarkable gallery of portraits of Vršac vladikas and a rich treasure of church objects, icons, and rare manuscripts.

The Serbian Cathedral dedicated to St. Nikola is situated on the site of the former church dedicated to the same saint. The new church was completed in 1785 and consecrated by Vladika Vicentije Popović.

Its decorations were finished in 1805, during the time of Josif Jovanović Šakabenta. The building is composed of a single arched nave with a two-story bell-tower in the west, where two porches and the baptistery are located, while in the east there are three shallow altar apses. During the unsuccessful electrical restoration, the church lost the strictly classicistic characteristics of its outer appearance. A large number of famous painters worked for the Cathedral in Vršac, and their works are still to be found there. These artists include the likes of Nikola Nešković, with ten icons, Pavel Đurković, who painted the iconostasis, Simeon Jakšić and Mihajlo Popović with wall paintings and two large canvases by Paja Jovanović.

St. Gerhard's Church is located on the site of the former church dedicated to the same saint, which existed until 1860. The new church, which today represents one of the most representative buildings in the town, was built between 1860 and 1863, based on the projects of an unknown architect from Vienna. His project was made

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Routes Vršac lies 83km north-east of Belgrade on the international highway to Romania, 14km from the border.

Vršac offers good transport - road and rail - connections with surrounding destinations in this part of Banat and greater Vojvodina.

The railway border crossing to Romania is in Vršac itself, while the road link border crossing is near Vatin.

You can get from Belgrade to Vršac by bus, which leaves every 30 minutes. The drive takes around two hours.

You can get to Vršac from Belgrade by car, using the M19 motorway through Pancevo.

Hotel Villa Breg The Hotel Villa Breg lies on the west side of the Vršac hill, at 170 metres above sea level, just above the Millennium sport-business centre. The hotel has 48 luxuriously equipped rooms, each with air-conditioning, satellite TV, bar, safe and cable internet.

The hotel also has a great restaurant, business zone, fun and recreation zone, and a garage spreading over 8,400 square metres. Besides the international restaurant, Eopl, the VIP Fireplace Bar and the gallery, guests can also enjoy the spacious terrace with 100 seats and a view over the tower bells, roofs and Banat's immense plane. The structor of this object houses the business zone, with a large conference hall, equipped with first class projectors and plazma screens, a multifunctional banquet hall, two meeting halls and a business centre. The spa Centre has two swimming pools (indoor and outdoor), two jacuzzi baths, a fitness room, a Turkish bath, two massage parlours, two meditation rooms, a solarium and a coffee bar.

Address: Goranska bb, Tel: 013 831 000, Fax: 013 831 007, office@villabreg.com; www.villabreg.com in detail according to medieval Gothic architecture. The sumptuous decoration of the church's façade is concentrated on the portals, windows, rosettes, counter forces and bell-towers.

Theatre life has lasted for more than two centuries in Vršac.

The first performance at the Sterija National Theatre, made between 13th and 14th April 1773, was given by artists from Timisoara. The cities of Vienna, Budapest, Prague, Venice, Trieste, Bratislava and others had a great influence on the development of theatre life in Vršac. In 1777, Vršac was the most populated town in Banat and boasted all necessary requisites to host theatrical companies, who came from many different centres of European culture. In 1761, the Great Serbian Magistrate was built and it served as the permanent theatre building for more than 100 years.

The Vršac Town Library was founded following a decision of the Magistrate at the end of 1887. It began its work with the public on 15th January 1888. The founder of this library and its first librarian was Felix Milleker (1858-1942) - a famous historian and archaeologist and author of a great number of books and studies. After the foundation of the Museum in 1897, the Town Library and the Museum worked as one institution under the same roof, and then as separate institutions from 1947 onwards, when they started to develop their activities more intensively.

Jovan 'Sterija' Popovic (1806 - 1856) is the most eminent Vršac native, and it is with good reason that he has been given the title "the father of Serbian drama".

Popović wrote the first real tragedies in the Serbian language and also authored a number of brilliant comedies. As a tragedian, following in the footsteps of the great French and German tragedians, he described events from the history of the Serbian people.

Sterija, who is buried in the Orthodox cemetery in Vrsac, showed genuine artistic worth as a writer of comedies. His comic literary talent has created strong and great literary works: Sterija paved the way for Serbian comedy in Serbian literature in general. The first period of Sterija's writing of comedies falls during the time of his life in Vršac, between 1830 and 1840. Versatile in his writing, Sterija also wrote satires, novels, dissertations about literature and language, and reflexive poetry, published in the anthology 'Davorje', one of the best books of reflexive poetry in Serbian literature.

While serving as Serbia's minister of education, Sterija founded The Society of Serbian Letters (now the Serbian Academy of Science and Art) and the National Museum. He laid the foundations of the modern Serbian school system and was the author of many textbooks.

Paja Jovanović (1859-1957) was born in Vrsac, the son of eminent photographer Stevan Jovanović and Ernestina Jovanović, nee Deot. Paja spent his childhood and early youth in the town, where his talent was first recognised. Whilst growing up he had the opportunity to see the iconostasis of Pavel Đurković and Arsa Teodorović in the town churches, as well as the works of Jovan Popović. He achieved notable fame with his genre-scenes Izdajica, Macevanje, Kicenje neveste, Borba petlova and others from that period.

The most important events in his career were two great exhibi-

Tourism tions: the Millennium exhibition in Budapest in 1896, (he prepared Seoba Srba for it, but Vrsacki triptihon was sent instead), and the World Exhibition in Paris in 1900, for which he painted the great historical composition, Proglasenje Dusanovog Zakonika. At that time, at the height of his artistic talent, celebrated and praised, he made a number of great compositions. After 1905 he devoted himself exclusively to painting portraits in the style of academic realism for his rich clientele, becoming very famous for works including his Portrait of the Painter Simington, Portrait of Mihajlo Pupin, Portrait of the Artist's Wife Muni, Portrait of the Sculptor Đoka Jovanović, and others.

In 1940 Paja was given the title of honorary citizen of Vrsac, and in 1977 a permanent commemorative exhibition of Paja Jovanović was opened in the building of Vršac's Old Pharmacy on the Stairs.

Vrsac boasts some of the oldest vineyards anywhere in Yugoslavia.

These wineries, well known as far back as Roman times, are still respected worldwide.

Vršac's 'modern' vineyards have been cultivated for more than five centuries. Records suggest that famous 14th century 'Furmint' wine, popular throughout Europe, was produced here.

Useful information The Vršac Tourist Organisation Trg Pobede 1, 26300 Vršac 013/822 554, 822 909 toovrsac@yahoo.com; www.to.vrsac.com Events in April Viorel Flora Exhibition The Folklore Ensembles Review Recommended eateries Restaurant M, Omladniski trg 17, 013 800 158 Ikar, Podvrsanska 146, 013 830 650 Fontana, Trg Stevana Kovačevića bb, 013 822 556 Arena, Gradski Park, 013 821 163 Vršacka Pivnica, Žarka Zrenjanina 4, 013 822 525

Hotel Srbija Hotel Srbija is located in Vršac. This three star hotel has a modern architectural appearance and fully functional facilities. The hotel has 170 beds, half of which are of luxury category. Each room is equipped with air conditioning, TV, telephone and everything else needed to ensure a comfortable stay. The hotel has a good restaurant, a large parking area and is situated in the town centre.

Svetosavski trg 12, Tel: 835 545, Fax: 835 252 office@hotelsrbija.co.yu; www.hotelsrbija.co.yu Around 300 grape types have been cultivated and about 120 kinds of wines produced in the hilly vineyards of Vršac, and great world wine shows were held here. And not without reason: it is claimed that the white wines from these vineyards are among the best in the world, since the vineyards lie at a latitude point of 45° north, where the sunlight and warmth are ideally distributed throughout the year, which is best suited for wine types such as Muscat - Bekman, Trolinger, Italian Riesling, Bouvie, Othello, Silvanac, Sauvignon, Semion, Burgundy, Traminac, Cabernet, Merlot, Buse, Chardonnay...

Customs and rituals in honour of grapes and wine have been rooted in Vršac since ancient times, and still continue in contemporary wine festivals and fairs.

Today, the vineyards of Vršac cover over 2,000 hectares, 1,700 hectares of which are owned by the Vršacki Vinogradi company. The white grape types used in the production of topquality wines are the most represented.

Vršacki Vinogradi's cellar [ 013 822 835] has always been an architectural attraction. The cellar, which can store 3,400 tonnes of wine, was built between 1964 and 1967. Vršacki Vinogradi was one of the main symbols of the former Yugoslavia. The cellar is in the shape of the letter 'Y' (the first letter of Yugoslavia). It is one of the three largest wine cellars under one roof in Europe (the other two are in Listel, France and Logrono, Spain). The cellar has five galleries one underground and four above ground level - which store 580 stone tanks, tiled with glass plates.

Deliblatska Sands Deliblatska Sands, unique in Europe, lies in the south-eastern part of Vojvodina, in South Banat. This spacious area of 300 square kilometres, with its main sand masses of elliptical shapes surrounded by fertile agricultural land, spreads between the Danube and Carpathian slopes. This monument of Panonian depression history is one of the rare habitats of many specific flora and fauna, which represent natural rarities of world proportions. The Sands represent a geomorphologic and ecological bio-geographical phenomenon, not only of the Panoinan depression, but of the whole of Europe. The Sands are also an important genetic resource of our planet.

Deloblatska Sands is the island of steppe and forest-steppe, characterised by an authentic mosaic of grass, bush and forest habitats. The wealth of flora in this area is reflected in the existence of 900 sorts of higher plants, out of which many are ancient and rarities, as well as certain species which are limited to the Panonian depression. Only here, in the whole of Serbia grow the Banatski peony, the steppe peony, Pancic's absinthe and the seret and Degenova kockavica. 20 kinds of orchid also "find" their domicile here. The natural characteristics and uniqueness of this area makes it suitable for recreation, hunting and fishing, sailing tourism and, above all, ecological tourism. In the aim of protecting this area, Deliblatska Sands has been declared a Special Nature Reserve.

SCG Foreign Minister, Vuk Drašković, and his Hungarian counterpart, Ferenc Somogyi, pictured on 13th March toasting an official visit of the Hungarian official to Belgrade.

Ružica Đinđić, widow of assassinated Serbian PM Zoran Đinđić, lights a candle at the New Cemetery grave of her late husband on the third anniversary of his death on 12th March.

Ambassador of the Czech Republic to SCG, H.E. Ivan Jestrab, Hungarian Ambassador, H.E. Sandor Papp, Polish Ambassador, H.E. Maciej Szymanski, and Ambassador of the Slovak Republic in Belgrade, H.E. Igor Fudrik, pictured on 1st March at a celebration marking the 15th anniversary of the Višegrad Declaration.

Russian Ambassador to SCG, H.E. Aleksandar Alekseyev, welcomes SCG Parliamentary Speaker, Zoran Šami, to a 22nd February Reception marking Russian Defenders Day.

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French Ambassador in Belgrade, Hugue Pernet, pictured on 16th March presenting 'Academic Palm' medals for services to education to professors Dejan Popović and Mihailo Pavlović.

Bulgarian Ambassador in Belgrade, H.E. Georgi Dimitrov, welcomes Croatian Ambassador to SCG, H.E. Tonči Staničić, to a 2nd March reception held to mark Bulgarian National Day.

Delta Holding President, Miroslav Mišković, and Generali Group Managing Director, Sergio Balbinot, celebrate the signing of a contract between the two companies on 13th March.

Pakistani Ambassador to SCG, Rasheed Saleem Khan, pictured discussing cricket and economics with CorD on 7th March during a visit to Belgrade from his Athens residence.

Head of the World Cup 2006 organising committee, Franz Beckenbauer, pictured alongside Dragan 'Piksi' Stojković and Mrs. Stojković in the Hyatt Regency's Crystal Ballroom on 9th March.

Vladimir Stanković, editor of CMA's Guide to the 2006 World Cup (Vodič na Mundijal), pictured at a promotion of the publication on 17th March.

Celebrated pianist Anika Vavić, pictured performing a solo concert in Belgrade's City Hall on 6th March.

Models of the Iranian Fashion Review, pictured in Belgrade's '25th May' Museum of Yuguslav History on 14th March. This was the first time that such as show, which presented 30 modern and 30 traditional outfits, had taken place in Belgrade.

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Ambassador of Switzerland in Belgrade, H.E. Wilhelm Meier, pictured in Intercontinental's Pacific Hall on 6th March at the opening of the first national conference held for the project "Supporting the Strengthening of Citizenship Participation at Local Level".

Tunisian Ambassador in Belgrade, H.E. Abdelwaheb Bouzouita, pictured chatting with a guest at a 20th March reception held to mark Tunisian National Day.

Belgrade tourist guide, Zoran Ilić, pictured leading the project 'Belgrade - my City' in the Skadarlija Primary School on 10th March.

Outgoing Goethe Institute director, Folker Marvic, (right) pictured at his farewell reception in Belgrade's Goethe Institute on 27th February.

A scene from the opening ceremony of Belgrade's 2006 car show on 13th March.

A member of the general public, pictured enjoying a Cervantes Institute exhibition, entitled 'VIII Bijenale Spanish Architecture', on 15th March

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Celebrated German film director, Wim Wenders, and FEST '06 Art Director, Miroljub Vučković, pictured at the opening of an exhibition of Wenders' photography in Belgrade's Museum of Modern Art on 3rd March.

Dragan Šakan, Magdalena Grossman and Zoran Simjanović, pictured in Belgrade's New Moment agency discussing the Council of Europe's 'Creating Cultural Capital' project on 10th March.

NEWLY ACCREDITED The newly accredited Ambassador of Brazil to SCG, H.E. Dante Coelho de Lima, was born on 28th September 1943 in the Brazilian province of Tocantins. After graduating law in Rio de Janeiro (1969), Mr. de Lima completed his two-year course at the Diplomatic Academy and joined Brazil's diplomatic service in 1976. Between 1979 and 1983 he served as Second, and then First, Secretary of the Brazilian Embassy in Washington DC. He next served as Deputy Consul General in Abidjan, Ivory Coast ('83-'86) and Asunción, Paraguay ('86-'88). Between 1990 and '94 he served as Political Counsellor of the Brazilian Embassy in Caracas, before moving to Lisbon, where he held the post of Economic and Commercial Officer ('94-'96). The married father of two served as Alternative Permanent Representative of the Brazilian Mission to the Organisation of American States (OAS) until 2002, when he returned to Brazilia to serve as Alternate Governor of Brazil in several international and regional financial institutions. Between 2003 and his arrival in Belgrade, this career diplomat, who is married to Maria Tereza and has two sons - Andre (32) and Eduardo (25), served as Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Brazilian Embassy in Rome.

The newly accredited Ambassador of Cuba in Belgrade, H.E. Julio Cesar Kansia Ferriera, was born on 19th February 1943 in Sankti Spiritus, Cuba. A career diplomat, Ferriera completed Havana's Foreign Affairs School in 1962 and, in the same year, began working for Cuba's Ministry of foreign affairs, Western Europe directorate as Country Counsellor. The new ambassador in Belgrade, was immediately posted overseas, serving as Attaché of the Embassy of Cuba in Lisbon, Portugal, from 1962 to 1965. Other foreign postings include serving as Third Secretary of the Embassy of Cuba to the UN, New York (1967-68); Second Secretary (minister a.i.) of the Embassy of Cuba in Copenhagen (1972-74); First Secretary and deputy Head of Mission of the Cuban Embassy in Stockholm (1975-76); Political Advisor of the Embassy of Cuba in Bulgaria (1983-88). Ambassador Ferriera received his first ambassadorship in 1988, serving as Ambassador to Albania until 1992. A married father of three, Ferriera was based in Cuba between 1992 and 2005, serving the Ministry of foreign affairs as ministry first deputy Political advisor (1992-2002) and Head of the administration directorate (2002-2005) The newly accredited Ambassador of Belgium to SCG, H.E. Denise De Hauwere, born in Anvers on 5th August 1949, joined Belgium's diplomatic service in 1987. With a licence in commercial and consular sciences, she first served in Belgium's Central administration (October 1987 to August 1989), before being appointed Attaché at the Embassy of Belgium in Jakarta, where she remained until returning to Belgium in 1992.

From August 1995 to September 1999, she served as Secretary (until March 1996), and then First Secretary at the Embassy of Belgium in Santiago. Between September 1999 and June 2002 she served as First Secretary at the Embassy of Belgium in Vienna (plus mission to Skopje from August to December 2001). Her current functions include attaché at Belgium's Central Administration (June 2002 onwards) and Director of the External Personnel Service (June 2004 onwards). De Hauwere receives her first ambassadorship in Belgrade.

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Techno Talk N ikon Coolpix S4 url: www.nikon.com Nikon's S4 combines faultless functionality with quirky appeal. In fact, the S4 combines no fewer than 6 megapixels to deliver pinsharp images, while heralding the return of Nikon's utterly fruitcake swivelling body.• Price: €475

D Y M O LabelW riter 320 url: www.global.dymo.com Fed up of your masking tape 'kick me!' signs peeling off your colleagues jackets? Why not get hold of the most versatile label printer on the market and kiss goodbye to short-lived stick-on insults? The Dymo 320 prints on 17 standard label sizes and gives you over 50 label templates to choose from. The software is easy to use and integrates with popular programs such as Microsoft Word, Outlook, the Palm Desktop, Goldmine, ACT, Cardscan, etc.• Price: €100

Specialized S-W orks Tarm ac

url: www.specialized.com This is the bike that'll set you off down the road like a whippet on whiz, if only because you're determined to get your money's worth. Even though there's enough carbon in this racer to spawn a whole new ecosystem, the carbon monocoque frame weighs less than a kilo and the whole bike weighs a mind-boggling 7.6kg!• Price: €5,200

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Techno Talk

Sony Ericsson P990i url: www.sonyericsson.com This updated Sony Ericsson smartphone supports 3G and Wi-Fi, has a new software system and much improved ergonomics.

The screen is slightly smaller, but the phone itself remains much the same as its predecessor - the P910i - despite the addition of a 2MP camera and FM radio. In short, it does it all.• Price: €820

A pple Pow erbook G 4

url: www.apple.com This is truly a God-like laptop, packing enough portable power to annex a small continent. A 1.67GHz G4 processor lies inside the 17in and 15in models, while 512MB of DDR RAM and Airport Extreme are installed as standard for easy Wi-Fi action. The G4 proves a peach fir multimedia work and film watching with its ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 graphics card and 128MB of memory.•

O ptom a D V 10

Price: €1,500

url: www.optoma.com One reason you should buy this projector: the awesome images, filled with detail and boasting solid black reproduction, whilst being completely devoid of visible pixels. A few more reasons you should buy the Optoma DV10 are: the projector's capable of shifting high-def content; there's a VGA socket allowing you to plug in a Media Centre PC to play HD flicks off the web.• Price: €1,225

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Techno Talk Canon D igital Ixus W ireless url: www.canon.com Digital cameras with built-in wireless tech are undoubtedly the wave of the future. Even something as mundane as transferring photos to a computer or printer can be made sexy with wireless tech. Canon's wireless latest has the added bonus of being based on the celebrated Ixus range. All we need now is for camera makers to make it possible to send pictures instantly over IP, rather than just one's home or office network.• Price: €575

Sam sung M iniket V P-X 110

url: www.samsung.com Give a warm welcome to the aptly nicknamed 'Jackass 'corder'. This Samsung model may well be overshadowed in the performance field by rival Sanyo Xacti VPC-C4, but the memory-stick munching 1GB Miniket has a secret weapon up (or rather sheathing) its sleeve - a waterproof detachable lens.

Nevertheless, regardless of how frightening the antics that you use the Miniket to film are, they're bound to pale in comparison to the knee-tremblingly high price tag.• Price: €685

Panasonic D M R -ES10

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url: www.panasonic.com It might not have a 300GB hard drive, but the Panasonic DMR-ES10 does boast a top-notch DVD recorder and astonishing picture quality for such a modestly priced model. This is one of the best of the new breed of stripped-down, ultra-cheap DVD recorders.• Price: €210

Techno Talk

N EC M ultisync LCD 2080U X i

url: www.nec.com NEC's latest LCD 2080UXi offers unsurpassed image quality with a resolution of 1600 x 12000; crystal clear right down to the last detail for multiple open windows and extensive representations including menu bars and palettes without irritating scrolling. The display is also ideal for digital photography, allowing you to view your images with accurate colour and at full size.• Price: €880

Sennheiser R S 130 url: www.sennheiser.com Your MP3 player needn't sound like a fly in a tin can with these aurally perfect headphones from Sennheiser. The top selling points of these beasts are: the easily adjustable on-ear tuning and volume controls; the clean, crisp delivery and the fact that they're wireless and easy to use.• Price: €150

Sony D SC-T7

url: www.sony.com Join us in kneeling down to pay homage to the camera that created a whole new category - the pancake compact. At 15mm thick, the DSC-T7 can't quite claim to be 'credit card thin' but it can brag about fitting perfectly into a pair of Levi's.

The flash range is a little short, but this is hardly a terminal flaw, considering that the build quality and photos produced are second to none in this range.• Price: €350 CorD | April 2006

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Column - Notes from the Big Plum 2nd Instalment

Who are the Serbs?

The Serbs are a very uninhibited group of people populating part of the Balkan Peninsula, where they arrived in the sixth century A.D., long before other ethnic groups in that region, no matter what those may dare to claim or prove. ince that time, the Serbs have lived in tribes, a kingdom, an empire, a principality, a republic, a federation, and a union. The Ottoman Empire, the only invaders to have truly conquered Serbia, has come and gone, leaving behind its indelible marks on just about every aspect of Serbian culture from syrupy-sweet Turkish Delights (a diabetic's nightmare), gritty Pat Anđelković, Turkish coffee (don't slurp up Independent Authoress the sediment), to physically challenging Turkish toilets (leap before you flush). "We were under the Turks for 500 years" has long been a blanket excuse for anything from garbage in the streets to lack of ambition. Throughout the centuries, Serbia has been admired, feared, mocked, scorned, envied, sanctioned, and manipulated, but never truly beaten.

(Okay, except by the Turks for a little while, but the Serbs later got even by stopping their advance into the rest of Europe!)

For over fifty years, Serbia, along with the republics of Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Macedonia, and Montenegro, had been lumped into the same country, Yugoslavia, or South Slavia. For almost as many years it was a no-no to admit being anything other than a Yugoslav.

Anyone who then openly called himself a Serb, Croat, Slovene, Bosnian, Macedonian, or Montenegrin was a raving nationalist. So those ethnic groups remained raving nationalists on the inside until Yugoslavia's break-up in the early 1990's. Then, like rats fleeing a sinking ship, Serbia and Montenegro's neighbours leaped overboard and sailed out on their own, some being rescued and aided by friendly Western ships lurking in nearby waters.

Serbia and Montenegro are still staunchly afloat, despite having been navigated through treacherous seas by a very perfidious captain (recently deceased), who managed to rally his crew to stave off an attack in 1999 by an armada of nineteen foreign ships for seventy-eight

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days. Serbia and Montenegro mutinied in October 2000, sending the captain to a faraway land, which is, ironically, below sea level. Despite this, sailing has been anything but smooth, because Serbia and Montenegro's present crew has not yet been able to choose a suitable replacement. Discouraged by their plight, some of the younger crew have paddled off on their own to foreign shores to seek their fortune. Those who remain aboard fear sharing the fate of the Flying Dutchman, doomed to sail troubled seas forever.

And why didn't Montenegro also abandon ship along with the other republics?

The simple reason, at least in terms of Serbian simplicity, is that Montenegrins ARE Serbs, even if they do not like to admit it. Montenegrins share a common background with the rest of the Serbs. Spared from Turkish domination by their

Anyone who then openly called himself a Serb, Croat, Slovene, Bosnian, Macedonian, or Montenegrin was a raving nationalist. So those ethnic groups remained raving nationalists on the inside until Yugoslavia's break-up in the early 1990's. high, craggy mountains, the Montenegrins never directly fell under Turkish rule. Montenegrins are Serbs with an overdose of nationalism and male chauvinism; Serbs with an attitude.

Simply put, there are Serbs who are not Montenegrin, but there are no Montenegrins who are not Serbs.

But even if Serbia appears lost in choppy seas, the Serbs still know where they are, even if the rest of the world isn't so sure. Their little Yugos, the laughing-stock of the automobile world, first sported YU stickers, which were then briefly changed to SER, and finally to SCG (Srbija/Crna Gora). Many Serbs, with typical self-deprecating humour, were hoping SERIMO (Serbia i Montenegro) would win out, since that acronym would spell in Serbian, "We sh…."

NOTE: Pat Anđelković’s ‘Notes from the Big Plum’ are protected by copyright law

Bulletin...Bulletin...Bulletin...Bulletin...Bulletin...Bulletin...Bulletin...

Belgrade: Best Investment Location London's Financial Times declared Belgrade the "City of the Future of South-East Central Europe," in a competition to find the best investment location in the region. Belgrade is also a serious candidate to win the same award for the wider region of southern Europe.

The Serbian Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SIEPA) said that the Financial Time's competition for European Cities and Regions of the Future 2006/07, saw Belgrade become one of the winners after the first round of the three-round competition.

Belgrade won the award of the "City of the Future of South-East Central Europe," as this famous economic magazine dubbed the region in which Serbia is located.

All winners from the region compete for the award "City of the Future" in one of the five larger regions - central, western, eastern and southern Europe.

According to unofficial data, Belgrade has a big chance of winning the "City of the Future of Southern Europe" award. SIEPA representatives are in permanent contact with Financial Times representatives, from whom they have obtained information that Belgrade is a serious candidate for the new award.

In co-operation with SEDP, the USAID's project for Serbian enterprise development, SIEPA prepared Belgrade's application and is following the course of the competition.

It is a recommendation and recognition of locations suitable for future investments, given by this the most renowned economic magazine in the world.

French Interested in Investing Milan Parivodić, Serbian International Economic Relations Minister, announced in late March that great interest in investing in Serbia had been expressed by French business leaders.

Insisting that there is an apparent separation of political and economic opinions, Parivodić said that the overriding impression is that businesses are not politically influenced and that investors are aware that political issues facing the country will not affect the safety of their investments, which is why interest is very high.

The news came whilst a State Union delegation was in Paris attending a large investment conference for Serbia & Montenegro.

According to Parivodić, 250 French business representatives attended the conference, displaying an obvious, radical change of interests.

He said that the fact that the climate has improved was demonstrated by a ten-fold increase in interest over the course of a year.

Serbia Lacking Students Serbia has the least number of young people enrolled in university, compared to the rest of Europe. Only ten per cent of Serbia's schoolleavers go on to higher education, while other countries in transition, which were once behind Serbia, have averages of 20 per cent or higher. Experts are warning that this is the last sign for the Serbian Government to complete a new strategy for higher learning.

In Germany, 40 per cent of senior school graduates continue their education, while in England and France 50 per cent of school-leavers go on to university and in the U.S. 55 per cent go on to higher education.

Education experts say that educated societies progress faster because the society ends up being more creative generally. The statistics in Serbia point to a large percentage of unused potential.

Lacking higher education in the community also leads to an inadequate cultural matrix and the perpetuation of stereotypes.

This also has an effect on industrial development and has political consequences as well. The main reasons for the small number of students continuing their education are tied to the lack of political development and urbanisation. Serbia also lacks adequate services in higher education.

Serbia also suffers from having obsolete university programmes, which prepare students for jobs and positions which have already been rendered obsolete in a modern society.

Srpska and Serbia Discuss ICTY Leaders from Serbia and the Bosnian Serb entity, Republika Srpska (RS), held face-toface talks on co-operation with the UN war crimes tribunal in late March.

With pressure mounting on both governments ahead of an EU deadline for the handover of top war crimes fugitives, RS President Dragan Čavić, Serbian President Boris Tadić and Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica participated in the meeting. Serbia is under mounting pressure to track down Ratko Mladić, while RS and Montenegro are being urged to locate Radovan Karadžić.

Montenegro Waiting for Serbia to Mature Montenegrin Parliamentary Speaker, Ranko Krivokapić, has said that Montenegro will patiently wait for Serbia to appoint democratic forces that are ready to rule and discuss relations with Montenegro.

He said that Montenegro had held out its hand and would wait for a long time for a Serbia where true democratic awareness would rule and where Belgrade would be ready for a constructive dialogue with its neighbours.

"Serbia has a strong interest in good relations with Montenegro and we want to hear that from them, at last. We are patient because the policy we pursue can stand the test of time and we shall wait for political situation in Serbia to become mature," Krivokapić said. He is of the opinion that it is better for both Podgorica and Belgrade to discuss relations before the referendum takes place than after, when Serbia would be in problems over its lack of co-operation with the ICTY.

Dinkic Possible "Finance Minister of the Year" Michael Buhl, a member of the Management Board of the Vienna Stock Exchange (VSX), announced in late March that Serbian Finance Minister Mlađan Dinkić has been nominated for the award "Finance minister of the year 2005" in a competition being organised by European economic magazine "Euromoney."

Speaking at a press conference in Belgrade on the occasion of announced co-operation between the Vienna and Belgrade stock exchanges, Buhl said that "special credit" for the successful reform of the Serbian economy goes to the Serbian government, and especially Finance Minister Dinkić, who achieved great success in his former capacity as National Bank of Serbia Governor.

According to Buhl, Dinkić deserves praise for excellently implementing tax and banking reforms in Serbia, as well as for spearheading the signing-off of Serbia's foreign debt.

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Highly Recommended by...

Alex Papke Alex Papke is a freelance writer and student at the University of Arts in Belgrade. Originally from sushi-deprived Wisconsin, his taste for Japanese food was developed while living in London and San Francisco.

Dju Dju hen I lived in San Francisco I once saw a woman eating sushi while crossing the street - using chop-sticks, of course. We ate a lot of sushi in California. We were spoiled with sushi there. You often saw it pre-wrapped in delis next to a turkey sandwich (a tuna roll goes better with a ham on rye than potato chips in this writer's opinion). I guess San Francisco was closer to the sea than Belgrade. And probably Japan too. So when offered the opportunity to write a restaurant review for CorD, I knew this fish-out-of-water in Belgrade had to write about his favorite fish-out-of-water treat.

Japanese food in Belgrade isn't easy to find, there are only two Japanese restaurants in the city. One of them is Dju-Dju (Japanese onomatopoeia indicating the sound of meat cooked on a grill), previously on Krunska and now located just off Strahinjica Bana on Rige od Fere. Dju-Dju offers up an authentic Japanese menu, supplemented by the only Korean fare in the city, prepared in the kitchen of a native tetsujin - meaning great or master chef.

Descending into the newly refurbished subterranean DjuDju, you are greeted by current and classic Japanese music and a kimono-clad wait-staff ready to cater to all your sushi desires in a surrounding of imported items that recall an Asian feel.

The menu (in English as well as Serbian) is delightfully long and includes much more than the expected sushi, sashimi and tempura - ranging from agemono (breaded

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meat dishes), yakimono (Japanese barbecue), yakimeshi (fried rice with vegetables), donburi (traditional simmered rice bowl dish of meat, fish or vegetables), nudle (soup-like dishes made of different noodle types), sukiyaki (traditional Japanese barbecue), and Korean specialty barbecue.

While some of these dishes may be a mystery to Belgraders, they're not to the wait-staff, who will guide you through your selection to ensure a satisfied appetite.

What fresh fish can't be sourced from Montenegro's coast is imported through the highest quality facilities in Vienna and Budapest, while spices not found locally are all

imported directly from Japan, along with all the accoutrements of a traditional Japanese restaurant. Starting dinner with a nigiri set of sushi selected by the chef, I followed with a scrumptious and light teriyaki salmon with a beautifully presented Tokyo salad. For dessert the green-tea ice cream capped off a wonderful meal.

Curious about how a Japanese restaurant came to be in Belgrade, I sought out the owner to ask his connection to the city. Hitoshi Matsuoka was travelling through Eastern Europe in 2000, and travelled through Serbia & Montenegro on his way. What he found here was a warm and inviting population that was extremely curious about Japan, but had little opportunity to find out more about its culture. Proud of his heritage, he decided that the best way to spread Japanese culture would be to open a restaurant that gave people the opportunity to try the food he grew up on, but not just the commonly thought of sushi; he wanted to expose people to more and different traditional Japanese dishes that they weren't familiar with. Luckily, he found in his travels master chef Kiyomitsu Kabasawa, who had been working at a Japanese restaurant in

Belgrade that had just closed down. They shared their dreams of their own restaurant and within a couple years had realised Dju-Dju. While the modest Matsuoka misses Japan (especially spring's cherry blossoms), he is enjoying the slower and relaxed pace Serbia has to offer, along with the vibrant and emotional people living here.

Mastuoka also wanted to point out that his restaurant probably offers the best priced Japanese food in Europe, with a set menu for lunch at 600 dinars and dinner entrees starting at just 500. While I'm not expecting that Japanese food will make a big splash in Serbia (nigiri set with your punjenjo belo, sir?), I do think that Belgraders will warm up to these delightful and beautifully presented dishes, learning by trial how to manage their chop sticks around delicious but sometimes slippery sushi.

Dju-Dju www.djudju.co.yu 16 Rige od Fere, Tel: 011 218-6276 Open for Lunch and Dinner CorD | April 2006

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2nd instalment

PIGS DO NOT EAT BANANA SKINS Andrew Beresford, having come to a blistering end in a fire in a pornographic cinema, has been crema ated for a second time and his ashes thrown into the river from the garden of his favourite pub in hiis home town of Elmsbridge in Hampshire. His third wife, Slavica, a post office clerk who has just sttarted to write a novel, is talking with Andrew's father, George, about the ancient Elmsbridge bridge e that crosses the river just upstream from the pub...

T himothy B yford any strange things have happened at this spot. In 1624 a man called John Taylor was travelling by boat upriver to Salchester and when he reached Elmsbridge he saw a butcher crossing the bridge with a large mastiff, while two men were bathing in the river below. The butcher threw a stone at a duck and the mastiff leapt over the bridge into the river, grabbed one of the bathing men and killed him. The butcher jumped into the river to try to save the man and the dog killed him too."

"His own dog?"

"His own dog."

My novel would start here. But not with these people, except maybe Grandpa, of course. He was a wiser, more loveable version of Andrew. But the others? Peter and his unspeakable wife Rosemary, who suffered from verbal diarrhoea, Andrew's sister Angela and her fawning girlfriend Helen, and Masha and her beautiful children Andrew's children - Ana and David. They were the family. Then there was Norman, Andrew's friend from his youth, who talked exclusively to a huge ruddy-faced man who looked like something out of Charles Dickens. He was Jack Bingley and he ran the Elmsbridge undertaking firm that had organised the cremation.

Finally, all on his own, there was an Indian man, Gopal, from the Seaton Park International School near Wintonsbury, where Andrew had taught six or seven years previously. Apart from Gopal, who was constantly smiling at me with his pristinely white teeth, they were all so ordinary, so predictable, so excruciatingly boring…

Gopal and Grandpa were the only ones present who were ignorant of the precise manner of Andrew's gloriously ignominious and ignominiously glorious end. Peter and Angela had decided that the sordid truth should be kept strictly in the family, but that Grandpa should be spared as he had already had one heart attack. He was told that Andrew had been knocked down by a Number 73 bus while crossing the road in front of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields after leaving a lunchtime concert.

"Andrew did so love Handel's organ concertos. He was probably so swept away by the music, he didn't see the bus. At least his last moments were beautiful ones, heavenly ones…"

And everyone hoped that Grandpa would never find out the precise nature of the throbbing organs that had actually accompanied

"M

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CorD | April 2006

Andrew's last moments. Unfortunately, Rosemary had counted her best friend Miriam as family and had related to her in strictest confidence the facts as she knew them, with a few extra juicy details to fill in the gaps. Miriam in turn had told, in strictest confidence, her friend Hilda, whose best friend happened to work on [ITALICS] The Elmsbridge Journal. When the headline: A TIME TO BE PORN AND A TIME TO DIE: Sex shame of Elmsbridge family - appeared in the local paper it didn't take long for Peter to trace the source of the leak and find himself obliged to shelve his plan to sue the newspaper which had somehow got hold of the idea that Andrew was a homosexual and that when the flames engulfed him he had been having anal intercourse with a tramp. Great care was taken to prevent a copy of the incriminating newspaper falling into Grandpa's hands and he was successfully discouraged from making his fortnightly trip down the lane to the Elmsbridge Bookshop by being unexpectedly presented with a hardback copy of the latest Julian Barnes novel and both the BBC and Classic FM music magazines with their free CDs. Suddenly I realised I could not face the others and mumbled something about having to go to the loo. I left the pub by the front entrance and walked onto the bridge. It did not matter that they could see me from the garden of The George. What mattered was that I could not see them. All I could see was the river…

The bridge had stood for over six hundred years, but the river had probably flowed for well over six thousand years. And the water flowing under the bridge at this moment was water that had been evaporating and falling, evaporating and falling, continuously recycling itself for well over six hundred million years. It had travelled the earth and the earth's atmosphere and would continue to travel the earth and its atmosphere for more than another six hundred million years. With or without the human race. But with my Andrew.

I was blown back to the reality of the present by a gust of wind from a giant articulated lorry that roared over the bridge, passing inches from me. There was no pavement on the south side of the bridge; on the north side a pedestrian walkway had been added to the outer side of the stone wall. Rosemary was screaming at me from the George garden to get off the bridge. I pretended not to hear her and calmly crossed the busy road to the other side of the bridge, causing several cars to brake suddenly. But nobody sounded their

horn. In Belgrade someone would have leapt out of his car and exhorted me to disappear up my mother's vagina. But this was Hampshire. Vaginas were private. I clambered over the stone parapet to the safety of the walkway.

I now found myself staring into unfamiliar waters. In the shadow of the bridge I could see a trout swimming against the stream; several ducks were foraging among the waterweeds, and at the point where the river bent to the right and disappeared from view there were two swans. But no Andrew. This part of the river was Andrewless and would always be Andrewless. No, that was not strictly true. Eleven miles upriver from Elmsbridge lay the city of Salchester where, sixty years previously, Andrew had emerged from his mother's vagina. Yes, this was truly Andrew's river, if not from its source - somewhere in the Marlborough downs, I think Grandpa had said - then from Salchester, through Elmsbridge, to Sandchurch; and from there to the ends of the earth. I would go to the ends of the earth to find my Andrew. But to start with I would go to Sandchurch.

Paul was lying face-upwards on the grass in a small park overlooking the harbour, his arms and legs outstretched Leonardo-fashion, his right arm pointing towards the imposingly splendid Priory.

Beside him, open but face-downwards, lay his 1956 Oxford University Press pocket edition of Palgrave's Golden Treasury. Gently kissing the closely mown, daisy-studded, emerald green grass, shielded from the early afternoon sunlight by the book's fading navy-blue cover, lay poem number 329, [non italitc] Tears idle tears, by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Number 329. Three plus two plus nine equals fourteen.

One plus four equals five. By the rules of numerology, the letters of the name Alfred Lord Tennyson add up to eighty-six. Eight plus six equals fourteen. One plus four equals five. The letters of his first name Paul also added up to fourteen and his surname King, twenty-three - two plus three - both five. Five. Stretched out on the grass, Paul formed a pentacle, as endless, as eternal as a circle. The number five. Endless.

Eternal. But the fifth line of each verse of Tennyson's poem included the words 'the days that are no more'…

'So sad, so fresh, the days that are no more.' There was no going back, and Paul knew it. Susan could never have been eternal. Susan added up to two, the number of duality, of conflict, of otherness.

Plato said that two was a digit without meaning, since it implied relationship, thus introducing a third factor. The third factor in their relationship had been Adrian, also a two. Two plus two was four - wholeness, totality, solidarity. But five minus two was three - body, soul and spirit, birth life and death, beginning, middle and end, past, present and future… Paul decided he was better off without Susan.

"So sad, so strange, the days that are no more.'… Just as Paul was reflecting that the present was also oppressively sad and strange, he noticed a young woman gazing at him from a green wooden bench.

As soon as she became aware that Paul had noticed her, she looked away, but when he half-closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep, he could see her looking towards him again. Through his half-closed eyes, Paul caught a glimpse of the future and decided he agreed with Thomas Jefferson that the dreams of the future were so much more attractive than the history of the past…

I was not at all sure that I saw eye-to eye with the 'hero' of my novel, Paul. Alfred, Lord Tennyson was more my man of the moment: Tears from the depth of some divine despair Rise in the heart, and gather to the eyes…

Sandchurch did nothing for me. True, the Elmsbridge Avon joined the ocean at this spot, but Andrew was not here. Andrew was not his ashes. His ashes were no more than a symbol; a disappearing symbol. Symbols are important, yes - symbols show us the supremacy of the celestial over the terrestrial. Symbols are sacred what religion could exist without symbols? Symbols, not superstitions. Andrew was not his ashes, but the scattering of his ashes.

Andrew was still here, with me; with all those, young and old, who had come in contact with him during his sixty years on this earth.

Especially with those who had come in contact with him. I had only known him for two, a modest pair, of his sixty years.

Andrew was an artist who probably never found his true outlet.

By the time I met him he had lost for ever his onetime passion for the theatre and television and I had the impression that he was still searching for something to take their place. Teaching English had not proved the answer. I persuaded Andrew to write his autobiography; he started with a certain amount of trepidation, but completed the first volume, Shades of the prison-house, covering his childhood and youth, in less than a year; and the second, Endless Imitation, covered the period from when he left home to work in the theatre up until his decision to take up teaching. But publishers had not been impressed and his only readers were those closest to him, who, on the whole, were offended by the honest and less-than-flattering way he had portrayed them. I was probably the first and only reader who appreciated Andrew's writing for what it was. But perhaps that was because I had been spared the ironic bluntness of his pen. I had not existed.

Perhaps it was precisely to protect me that he had been loath to start an account of the third twenty years of his life… That was now to be my task.

A little more than two years ago I was pacing up and down the foyer of the National Theatre during the interval after the second act of Nabucco, deliberating whether to stay for the third or to leave and go to light a candle to Giuseppe Verdi in the cathedral and apologise to him for my fellow-countrymen's barbaric treatment of his genius, when just behind me I heard a gasp, quickly followed by a bumping sound, and before I had time to turn round a man appeared on the floor at my feet. My first thoughts were that he was dead, and I let out a resounding scream. Fortunately he had only tripped and fallen down the final two stairs leading from the dress circle.

"I'm terribly sorry!" he said in clear, but strange-sounding Serbian, trying to smile. I decided he must be either a Serb with a speech impediment or a foreigner. Logical thinking told me he must be English. Only an Englishman would fall down the stairs and then apologise.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes, quite all right thank you. Nothing broken."

The man leapt up and tried to look as though nothing had happened. He was in his fifties, bald, with a white beard and reminded me a little of Tolstoy. He was evidently still in one piece, but the fall had given him a shock and he had turned quite pale.

"Can I get you a drink of water?"

"No it's all right, really. I'll be fine when I get out into the fresh air. I'm going, actually. Quite frankly, I can't take any more…"

"Neither can I - I was about to leave as well."

And so my decision had been made for me - but instead of lighting a candle in the Cathedral I found myself drinking strong black coffee and Napoleon cognac in the Russian Emperor with Andrew Beresford, television and theatre director turned English teacher.

Did I seduce him? I suppose I did, really. But Andrew seduced me as well - with his twinkling eyes and sweet toothy smile. I wanted him, and put up only-too-easy-to-counter resistance to his offer to see me home. Gentleman that he was, he refused my invitation to come in, but womanizer that I hoped he was not, he asked for my telephone number before he left. The following morning in front of my door I found a bunch of roses that he must have bought in the street after he had left, and in the evening he telephoned to ask me if I would accompany him on Friday to a piano recital at Kolarac. It was a Russian soloist so it should be better than the Verdi.

It was.

Much better.

I am truly sorry, Masha, but all is fair in love and war.

To be continued…

CorD | April 2006

93

Quotes...Quotes...Quotes...

New 9th March Needed Speaking on 9th March at a gathering to mark the 15th anniversary of the 1991 protests against Slobodan Milošević, Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO) leader and SCG Foreign Minister, Vuk Drašković, warned of the return of Milošević's supporters, saying that a "new 9th March is necessary to oppose" the Milošević forces that a returning.

"Some new kids have grown up in Serbia today. Some new 9th March has already been calling them not to allow the dark to fall again.

After all battles, SPO and I shall be with them in that new battle too," Drašković said.

Constructive Talks a Must EU High Representative, Javier Solana, and SCG President Svetozar Marović advocated "constructive" and meaningful relations between Serbia and Montenegro in March, regardless of the outcome of the referendum in Montenegro.

Marović said he was certain the majority of Montenegrins would vote in favour of independence, but added that, after the referendum, Serbia and Montenegro should "not only be friends, but connected" in the functions they decide could be useful for both republics.

"This is why I believe it is important not to waste time, because if we say we should leave that for a later date, and then the majority votes for independence in the referendum, such talks would prove much more difficult to organise," Marović said.

PM Denies Bosnian Genocide Serbian PM Vojislav Koštunica said on 3rd March that genocide was not committed during the war in BosniaHerzegovina, adding that that country's genocide lawsuit against the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia "is questionable both in essence and from a formal standpoint."

"The essential part of the

94

CorD | April 2006

problem is their intention to prove something that did not happen, genocide, and formally speaking, the lawsuit was filed by an unauthorized body," Koštunica said at a news conference held on the second anniversary of his cabinet.

He went on to say that each of the three constituent nations of Bosnia-Herzegovina needed to approve the lawsuit, which the Serb nation did not. Koštunica stressed that the lawsuit will hardly encourage reconciliation in the region, adding that this is something that SCG and Serbia have been working to achieve for years.

Sloba Murdered?

Immediately responding to news of his leader's death in The Hague, Socialist Party leader Zoran Anđelković said on 11th March: "Slobodan Milošević, the president of the Socialist Party of Serbia and a former president of Serbia and Yugoslavia, was murdered today at the Tribunal in Hague. The decision of the Tribunal to forbid Milosevic's medical treatment at the Bakunin Institute in Moscow represents a prescribed death sentence against Milošević. Truth and justice were on his side and this is why they have used a strategy of gradually killing Slobodan Milošević. The responsibility for his death is clearly with the Hague Tribunal."

No Post-Đinđić Progress Speaking on the third anniversary of the assassination of Serbian PM Zoran Đinđić on 12 th March, the Democratic Party leader's short-lived successor, Zoran Živković, said: "Serbia lost too much with Djindjic"…

"He had more wisdom, strength and commitment to fight for a better Serbia, a Serbia of hope, than anyone else. He is irreplaceable and no one can fill the void left behind"… "The problems that Serbia is facing today are the same that it was facing three to four years ago, and there is no one showing that they have a desire to solve these problems in an adequate way."

No Name, No Eurovision Speaking about the scandal surrounding sup-

Quotes...Quotes...Quotes... posed vote rigging by Montenegro jury members in the 'BeoVision' song contest, RTS General Director Aleksandar Tijanić explained: "The Montenegrins were demanding for the group No Name to be recognised as the winners, while the Serbian side was asking for a new set of competitions and complaining of a lack of ethics on the part of the Montenegrin team.

Unfortunately, there was no room for compromise, and I refused to sign and confirm the selection of the No Name group as the representatives of Serbia & Montenegro at the Eurovision song contest." Tijanić said. Serbia & Montenegro will not compete in the Eurovision song contest for the next four years as a result of the scandal.

No Name, No Point!

Also speaking about the BeoVision-Gate scandal, Director of Montevision, Velibor Čović, said that the fact that the Serbian side would not accept the victory of No Name shows that none of the institutions within the federal union function properly.

"Members of the Serbian delegation did not accept the winning song, so No Name will not be going to Athens. The RTS delegation, by not respecting the laws, chose not to respect the spirit and point of the contest," Čović said.

DS Offer Support to Government Serbian President Boris Tadić said in March that his Democratic Party would assist the Serbian Government if it needs support in completing its obligations to the Hague Tribunal. "There have been announcements in the public that the Government will be attacked if it tries to cooperate further with the Tribunal. The Democratic Party will not take down the Government if it intends on solving the central problems of the country," Tadić said.

Serbia's Fierce Interference Montenegrin PM Milo Đukanović said in March that Serbia is trying to “brutally interfere” in the Montenegrin referendum process. However, the Montenegrin PM said that this interference will not have any effect on the formation of a Montenegrin state: "I am certain that this will not have an effect on the outcome of the referen-

dum. I am certain that we will gain independence, but what is indicative in this story is that the Serbian administration is not showing decisiveness to back away from the hegemonic model of politics with its neighbours," Đukanović said.

Lajčak Calls for Negotiations Seaking in March, EU Envoy to Montenegro, Ambassador Miroslav Lajčak, again called for Belgrade and Podgorica to stage crucial negotiations, saying: "Brussels will keep on insisting on the necessity that Belgrade and Podgorica start talks about post-referendum relations as soon as possible. Before going to the polls, the citizens of Montenegro must not fear, but know, what is expecting them afterwards".

Penniless Serbs to Drop Budget Kosovo Serbs announced that they would terminate their agreement with UNMIK for receiving funds from the Kosovo budget on 24th March at the latest. Criticising the move, senior Kosovo-Serb leader Oliver Ivanović said: "This is an important element and we are playing with these kinds of things at the wrong time." … "I think this is very dangerous for Serbs because they are already concerned and unstable and are just waiting for a reason to leave Kosovo, which is very damaging for the Serbian negotiating team's position. I warned Serbian President Tadić and Prime Minister Koštunica that talks about territory are useless if Serbs leave the region and the negotiating team's position becomes very weak."

CORRECTIONS 1) The CorD editorial team would like to apologise to BMW for publishing their CorD Club text, entitled 'BMW Invites You to TAKE 5', (CorD 25, page 44) alongside the Mercedes-Benz logo. We would also like to take this opportunity to apologise to Mercedes-Benz for the same error. We would also like to apologise to CorD readers for any confusion caused.

2) The CorD editorial team erroneously omitted from Telekom Srbija's 'Humanitarian Action Aids Crash Victims' news (CorD 25, page 47, CorD Club) that SMS messages supporting the action would cost 100 dinars per message for post-paid users. CorD apologises to CorD readers and Telekom Srbija for this error.

CorD | April 2006

95

Belgrade Directory

Theatres, Venues & Museums

THEATRES & VENUES • ATELJE 212, Svetogorska 21, tel. 324-7342 • BELGRADE DRAMA THEATRE, Milesevska 64a, tel. 2423-686 • BELGRADE PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA, Studentski trg 11, tel. 3282 977 • 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 • MADLENIANUM OPERA & THEATRE, 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

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CorD | April 2006

CULTURAL CENTRES • BRITISH COUNCIL, Terazije 8, tel. 3023-800 • CENTRE FOR CULTURAL DECONTAMINATION, Bircaninova 21, tel. 681-422 • CERVANTES INSTITUTE, Cika Ljubina 19, tel. 3034 182 • DOM OMLADINA, 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 • STUDENTSKI GRAD CULTURAL CENTRE, Bulevar AVNOJ-a 179, tel. 2691-442 • 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 • GALLERY OF THE FACULTY OF PORTRAIT ART, Knez Mihailova 53, tel. 635-952 • FRESCO GALLERY, Cara Urosa 20, tel. 2621-491 • GALLERY OF THE GRAPHICAL COLLECTIVE, Obilicev venac 27, tel. 627-785 • GALLERY CHAOS, Cara Lazara 12, tel. 627-497 • GALLERY OF THE BELGRADE CULTURAL CENTRE, 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 • GALLERY PROGRESS, Knez Mihailova 22, tel. 182-626 • GALLERY OF THE NATURE MUSEUM, Mali Kalemegdan 5, tel. 328-4317 • MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, Pariska 14, tel. 630-940 • GALLERY STARA KAPETANIJA, Zemun, Kej oslobodjenja 8, tel. 612-023 • GALLERY SULUJ, Terazije 26/II, tel. 685-780 • GALLERY 73, Pozeska 83a, tel. 557-142 • GALLERY ULUS, Knez Mihailova 37, tel. 2621-954 • GALLERY OF THE YUGOSLAV ARMY, Brace Jugovica 19, tel. 323-47-12 • GALLERY 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

AMSJ road assistance

987

Ambulance

94

Police Emergency

92

Fire Department

93

Belgrade Bus Station

636-299

Belgrade Airport

601-555

HISTORICAL MUSEUMS:

Wake-up calls

9811

• 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

Humanitarian line

9862

MEMORIAL MUSEUMS:

Telegrams by telephone

• 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

JAT ticket reservations Long distance calls (international)

901

Phone line malfunction

977

Information Exact time Information - directory inquiries

Medical Centre Emergency Room Dr. Ristić Clinic, Narodnih heroja 38 Weather 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 TECHNICAL MUSEUMS: • YUGOSLAV AERONAUTICS MUSEUM, Belgrade Airport, tel. 670-992 • RAILWAY MUSEUM, Nemanjina 6, tel. 361-0334 • AUTOMOBILE 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 • POSTAL MUSEUM, Majke Jevrosime 13, tel. 3210-325 • ARCHITECTURE MUSEUM, Djure Jaksica 9, tel. 187-360, 3281-479 NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUMS: • MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, Njegoseva 51, tel. 344-2149, 344-2568 • MUSEUM OF SERBIAN MEDICINE, Dzordza Vasingtona 19, tel. 3245-149

311-2123

Chemists, "Prima 1", "Sv. Sava"

9812 95 988 96 3618-444 2693-282, 2697-808 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

Maxis taxi

581-111, 9804

Naxi taxi

215-76-68

NBA taxi

318-57-77

Pink taxi

9803, 488-99-77

Plavi taxi (Čukarički)

ART MUSEUMS

Taxi Bell

• 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

Zeleni taxi Žuti taxi Inbaco taxi

3-555-999 9808 323-36-66, 324-25-55 9802 3077 000

CorD | April 2006

97

Personal & Professional

By Tanya Singh y life in Belgrade, both professionally and personally, has been an extremely challenging and enriching experience to the say the least. After living in, and travelling through, many cities - Minneapolis, Dubai and Bombay, to name a few - I can truly say that living in this dynamic and evolving city has so far been the most exciting, and continues to amaze me on a daily basis.

'Year 2000, a near empty JAT aeroplane, the pilot and male stewards are inquisitive as to my motives for visiting and, as usual, inquiring about my personal life 'What is a young Indian woman doing in Serbia?' (To this day I am still continually asked that same question). I was invited to experience take off and landing from the cockpit, a security breach in most countries. I didn't know if we would crash and burn, but we made it and I have to say what an awesome experience it was! That trip with my Serbian boyfriend of the time, during my two-week winter break while at university, was the first time I had visited Serbia. My first impressions of Belgrade were of grey, dull looking buildings, many damaged from the war, little or no landscaping in residential areas of the city and very few foreigners.

Coming from the States at that time, I had very few preperceptions about the place; also my boyfriends' family was living in the suburbs of the city. Over the course of my time here, I have learnt that the suburbs differ markedly from the city in terms of the culture and values of the inhabitants. A fact I was unaware of. Also at the time, the country and its culture were too new to me, and I had not been exposed to Eastern European history in school or college, thus there was no obvious culture shock per se.

However, this has changed. I experience culture shock more now, especially on the professional front - after the initial honeymoon period of the culture. I experience key cultural differences more vividly as I have gradually matured and acquired knowledge of my surroundings.

Fast forward to 2005, my boyfriend asks me to join him once again in exploring his native country. I say, 'why not?

Should be fun'; besides, I was tired of a perfectly organised, predictable and robotic life and was in search of something deeper and wider in scope, both personally and professionally. Belgrade's nightlife was projected as diverse, cosmopolitan and affordable - café's and bars on almost every corner of the city. I told myself 'if it's an adventure you're looking for, this is it!'

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My life in Belgrade

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As I write this article and look back at the year gone by and with my 'Serbian' getting progressively better (mnogo bolje), I can say with certainty that I would not give this experience up for anything. Living here has been the complete package of rather insightful challenges. On the personal front, the challenge of understanding and assimilating to the culture and people, not to mention the language barrier, has humbled me over the course of the year, to say the least.

Adaptation and Improvisation - my two favourite words.

On the professional front, working in multinational corporations in Serbia very early in my career has enlightened and enhanced my knowledge of the notion that 'one rule does not apply to all'. Culture, history, and perceptions/biases have to be taken into account, before applying universal business laws to any culture. Reality check!!

Fast forward to 2006, still asked the same question (s), 'why are you here? What brought you here of all places you could choose around the world?' 'Ooh! Ti si Indijka! Kako

The charm and the soul of the city attract me, both as a tourist and as someone who considers the time spent here an invaluable learning experience. ti se sviđaju Srbi? Koliko godina živiš ovde?' [Ooh! You're an Indian girl! How do you like Serbs? How many years are you living here?']...

As I look at my phone, packed with a ton of messages from friends - invitations to numerous private parties - the dynamic nightlife is explained away; while professionally, I do not regret the decision to experience Serbia because of the opportunity to make an impact. The charm and the soul of the city attract me, both as a tourist and as someone who considers the time spent here an invaluable learning experience.

I hope that my time here will be utilized positively to make a difference in many cultural and professional contexts, as well as to create lasting relationships.

For those who have yet to explore this dynamic city, I would first recommend trying the 'one of a kind' Pljeskavica and Palačinke.

Tanya Singh, born in New Delhi, India, is a 25-year-old marketing consultant who has been living in Belgrade for approximately a year. She possesses a B.Sc. Marketing (USA), MBA Project Management/International Business (USA) 98

CorD | April 2006