Issuu

INVEST IN EDUCATION, SUPPORT DOMESTIC INVESTMENTS

VALUED BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD

H. E. JEAN DANIEL RUCH

WRITING IS MY ONLY DEFENCE

VLADIMIR MILOVANOVIĆ

GORDAN MIHIĆ

CEO of Energoprojekt Holding a.d., Belgrade

Author and screenwriter

www.cordmagazine.com

AUGUST ’16 / ISSUE No. 142

Ambassador of Switzerland to Serbia

interviews opinions news comments events PRICE 300 RSD COMMENT

The Federalist Threat to Europe DEJAN RANĐIĆ

Innovation and Entrepreneurship - a Chance for Growth How Much Was Euro 2016 Worth? SPORT

BØRGE BRENDE NORWEGIAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Continue the Constructive

DIALOGUE WITH RUSSIA

E XC L U S I V E

ISSN1451-7833

771451

783002

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COVER BØRGE BRENDE, Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs

Continue the Constructive DIALOGUE WITH RUSSIA

CONTENTS

PAGE 8

We must meet the challenges posed by Russia with both deterrence and dialogue. Continued dialogue, predictability and transparency are in our own security interest. However, a constructive and extensive partnership will only be possible if Russia complies with international law, and international obligations and responsibilities - Børge Brende

THE FEDERALIST THREAT TO EUROPE Anders Borg, a former Swedish finance minister, is Chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global Financial System Initiative

CONTINUE THE CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE WITH RUSSIA

Børge Brende, Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs

INVEST IN EDUCATION, SUPPORT DOMESTIC INVESTMENTS

AFTER WORK

CULTURE CALENDAR

CULTURAL TOGETHERNESS

Cultural relations: strategy, vision and perspectives

FACES & PLACES

STANDARDS & STANDARDISATION in Serbia

H. E. Jean Daniel Ruch, Ambassador of Switzerland to Serbia

20 22

GLOBAL DIARY

WRITING IS MY ONLY DEFENCE

Gordan Mihić, Author and screenwriter

OUTDO LONDON IN RIO DE JANEIRO

Damir Štajner, Head of the Olympic Mission of Serbia at the Rio Games

HOW MUCH WAS EURO 2016 WORTH? Sport

CHILL OUT

INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP – A CHANCE FOR GROWTH

A CUTE BEACH OUTFIT FOR THE REST OF SUMMER

Dejan Ranđić, Entrepreneur with initiative

Fashion

INGENIOUS COMMUNICATIONS

Jovana Žuržin Vukotić, Head of Communications and Government Affairs, Siemens d.o.o. Beograd

@CorD_Magazine

CorD

August 2016 EDITOR: Ana Novčić a.novcic@aim.rs ART DIRECTOR: Jasmina Laković j.lakovic@aim.rs CONTRIBUTORS: Rob Dugdale, Maja Vukadinović, Mirjana Jovanović, Miša Brkić, Radmila Stanković, Steve MacKenzie, Zorica Todorović Mirković, Sonja Ćirić EDITORIAL MANAGER: Neda Lukić n.lukic@aim.rs PHOTOS: Zoran Petrović COPY EDITOR: Mark Pullen TRANSLATION: Snežana Bjelotomić, MRP Editorial PROJECT MANAGERS: Biljana Dević, b.devic@aim.rs Aleksandra Ebilji, a.ebilji@aim.rs Ljiljana Knežević, lj.knezevic@aim.rs Nataša trifunović, n.trifunovic@aim.rs OFFICE MANAGER: Svetlana Petrović s.petrovic@aim.rs FINANCIAL MANAGER: Dragana Skrobonja d.skrobonja@aim.rs EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Maja Vidaković m.vidakovic@aim.rs GENERAL MANAGER: Ivan Novčić i.novcic@aim.rs PRINTING: Rotografika d.o.o. Segedinski put 72, Subotica CorD is published by: alliance international media Makenzijeva 67, 11111 Belgrade 17, PAK 126909, Serbia Phone: +(381 11) 2450 508 Fax: +(381 11) 2450 122 E-mail: cordeditorial@cma.rs www.cordmagazine.com www.allianceinternationalmedia.com ISSN no: 1451-7833 All rights reserved alliance international media 2016

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COMMENT

The Federalist

Threat to Europe

The world is fundamentally different after the “Brexit” referendum in the United Kingdom. It will be decades before we know the full effect of British voters’ decision to leave the European Union

ANDERS BORG

ne thing we can know for sure, however, is that it is trol would be a dangerous path to take, for it would increase the in the EU’s best interest to maintain strong ties with risk of other members choosing to leave the EU. And, beyond the UK, despite the fact that British voters made their that hazard, there are other reasons to avoid federalist meadecision unilaterally. Too much is at stake to allow sures. the process to be dominated by petty power games that overConsider the main economic argument offered by federalshadow or undermine common interests, as happens so often ists: the eurozone needs a common fiscal policy to harmonise in European politics. policy decisions, such as taxation. This is wrong for two reasons. Economically, growth in the EU will undoubtedly benefit from First, the EU’s fundamental economic problems are structural. an open trading relationship with Britain. A free-trade agree- Europeans will continue to gravitate toward populism if they do ment that includes financial services will minimise the damage not see improvements in their standard of living, which will hapfrom Brexit for all parties involved, because European firms will pen only with higher productivity growth. A single fiscal policy still rely on London as the region’s only global financial centre. would not bring this about – and could make the problem worse. Even if banking services migrate elsewhere in the eurozone, What Europe needs, instead, is a reform strategy that increases companies like Volvo, Siemens, and Total will still need London competitiveness and reduces barriers to competition. if they are to compete with companies like In particular, EU policymakers should Toyota, GE and Exxon. pursue policies that make labour markets Politically, the EU and Politically, the EU and the UK will benmore flexible. These would include lower the UK will benefit from marginal tax rates, tighter criteria for deterefit from maintaining close cooperation, because neither side is spared from the mining benefits eligibility, stricter requiremaintaining close problems afflicting the region today. These ments for job searches, more resources for cooperation because include increasing aggression from Russia skills training, and less restrictive employneither side is spared and its president, Vladimir Putin; the rise of ment-protection regulation. ISIS and the threat of homegrown terrorThe second reason is political. To put it from the problems ism; and refugees fleeing to Europe from plainly, there is no political support for the afflicting the the Middle East and North Africa. Morehigher taxes and spending cuts that would region today over, the Brexit vote does not change the be necessary with a common fiscal policy. strategic importance of NATO, where conBrussels would be accused of wasting taxtinued cooperation is necessary and where the EU needs the UK payers’ money, and any effort to disregard public opinion and as much as the UK needs the EU. impose fiscal integration on EU members would only backfire So, what should the EU do? European Commission President and fuel the wave of populist rage that carried the Brexiteers to Jean-Claude Juncker has called for more federalism – for more victory. ■ power to be delegated to the EU’s governing institutions. I conProject Syndicate: Anders Borg, a former Swedish finance sider Juncker a close friend, but I strongly disagree with him on minister, is Chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global this idea. Moving toward deeper integration or centralised conFinancial System Initiative. 6 |

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By LJUBICA GOJGIĆ

INTERVIEW

Continue the Constructive

DIALOGUE WITH RUSSIA BØRGE BRENDE NORWEGIAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Photo by Sjøwall / Foreign Affairs

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EXCLUSIVE

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RUSSIA

NATO

DEVELOPMENT

A constructive and extensive partnership will only be possible if Russia complies with international law, and international obligations and responsibilities

I would like to see a further strengthening of NATO-Serbia relations; political dialogue, as well as practical cooperation

We must use all arenas to further both political stability and economic development for our own good, and for the good of our neighbours

orwegian Foreign Minister Børge Brende says that good relations with Serbia, which have been growing continuously since WWII, are today excellent, both at the state-to-state level as well as on the level of civil society. In this interview for CorD Magazine, minister Brende confirms that political contacts between the two countries are very good, close and frequent, while reforms of the business framework could lead to an increase in investments coming from Norway. Responding to the often raised question in Serbia about its future relationship with NATO, which is currently headed by Norwegian Jens Stoltenberg, Brende emphasised that NATO remains the bedrock of Norway’s security, but agrees that it is up to Serbia to decide what kind of a relationship it needs with the Alliance.

supports NATO’s reassurance and deterrence measures. We have already contributed substantially – with sea, air and land forces – and we will continue to do so. At the same time, we also believe that NATO must continue to engage Russia. Continued dialogue, predictability and transparency are in our own security interests. Dialogue is even more important in difficult times. However, a constructive and extensive partnership will only

■ How would you comment on the

messages of the recently completed Summit of NATO, of which Norway is a member and which is headed by Mr Stoltenberg?

- The Summit in Warsaw was, in my opinion, a success. It left the alliance stronger and more capable of taking on a changing and increasingly challenging security environment. NATO will be stronger in defence and deterrence, and will do more to project stability beyond our borders. Furthermore, the Summit confirmed strong unity within the alliance and demonstrated Europe and North America’s firm political will to act collectively to secure all allies. ■ One of the more important issues of

BØRGE BRENDE with TOMISLAV NIKOLIĆ

We must meet the challenges posed by Russia with both deterrence and dialogue. Norway fully supports NATO’s reassurance and deterrence measures. We have already contributed substantially – with sea, air and land forces – and we will continue to do so

the summit was the stance regarding Russia. Are there any signs of a partnership in sight, as was mentioned by the French President, or a continuation of the distance that occurred following the crisis in Ukraine; and what is Norway’s position in this regard?

- We must meet the challenges posed by Russia with both deterrence and dialogue. Norway fully

be possible if Russia complies with international law and international obligations and responsibilities. ■ How important

is NATO membership for Norway and how do you view the enlargement policy, which is hoped for by most of the countries of the Western Balkans?

- Sixty-seven years after it was established, NATO remains the bedrock of Norway’s security. The solidarity of our allies is the foundation of our collective defence. It is our key to peace and stability. Norway is fully committed to NATO’s open AUGUST

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■ How would you comment on the result of the referendum in the UK; could it have more serious implications for security in Europe?

UN Secretary General BAN KI-MOON and Foreign Minister BØRGE BRENDE at Svalbard, seeing the impacts of climate change first hand

door policy. Since we embarked on the last wave of enlargement decisions in 1997, it has brought increased stability and security to Europe. It remains a key element in ensuring peace for future generations in our region. ■ Serbia’s policy is one of military neutrality. How does such a determination seem to you?

- I think our interests would have been better served with the UK inside the EU than outside. As an EU member, the UK has been an important partner for us in the internal market and a driving force in the EU’s international engagement, not the least in the Balkans. But, naturally, we should respect the decision of the British people and work to establish new ways of cooperating to meet common challenges.

■ Why has EU membership never been sufficiently attractive to Norwegians?

- The Norwegian people have voted against

Norway is fully committed to NATO’s open door policy. Since we embarked on the last wave of enlargement decisions in 1997, increased stability and security has been brought to Europe. It remains a key element in ensuring peace for future generations in our region

- It is for Serbia to decide what kind of relationship it wants with NATO. Serbia is a valued partner to NATO and our partnership has grown stronger in recent years. I believe that this partnership benefits both NATO and Serbia, as well as the whole region. I would like to see a further strengthening of NATOSerbia relations, with political dialogue as well as practical cooperation.

joining the EU twice, in 1972 and 1994. Today opinion polls continue to show a majority are in favour of remaining outside of the EU. However, it should be noted that we are part of the internal market, through the European Economic Area agreement, that we are part of the Schengen cooperation and that we cooperate closely with the EU on foreign and security policy. Thus, Norwegian citizens greatly benefit from European integration, even though we are not members of the EU. ■ After a lull during the spring

and winter, a possible new wave of refugees heading towards Europe has been announced. Does this worry you? GLOBAL EDUCATION IS A TOP PRIORITY OF THE NORWEGIAN GOVERNMENT

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- The understandings reached

between the European Union and Turkey, as well tries grew and this development has continued as decisions taken in European states, has now since the establishment of an independent Sersignificantly reduced migratory flows along the bia. Relations are excellent at the state-to-state level, but also when it comes to civil society, not Balkan route. We expect and hope this will releast demonstrated through our people-to-peomain the case. The developments in 2016 created an unsustainable ple cooperation situation for all over the years. The Norwegian people have voted involved, includPolitical contacts ing not least the between our two against joining the EU twice, in 1972 asylum seekers countries are very and in 1994. Today, opinion polls themselves. good, close and continue to show a majority are in frequent. I myself ■ How would you have visited Serfavour of remaining outside of the assess bilateral bia twice in the EU. However, it should be noted that relations with last three years we are a part of the internal market Serbia? and Prime Minis- Norwegian-Serthrough the European Economic Area ter Vučić visited Oslo in June 2015. bian relations are agreement Furthermore, we excellent. There do of course conis a long history behind this that goes back to the Second World sult each other in international fora when the opWar, when thousands of Yugoslav prisoners-ofportunities arise. war spent time in German slave camps in Norway. A unique bond developed between the prison■ One Norwegian consulting company announced a few years ago that it sees Serbia as the best ers-of-war and the Norwegians. In the years folcountry for investment in the Western Balkans. lowing the war, relations between our two coun-

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How do you assess the future trends of Norwegian investments in Serbia?

- I think there is untapped potential with regard to trade and investments between Norway and Serbia. Telenor is the largest Norwegian investor and their biggest investment in the region is in Serbia. Reforms of the framework for investments can lead to an increase of investments. Serbian exports are increasing and the most recent success story is a sharp increase in the export of

future, but our focus will shift towards fewer and larger defence related projects of a regional nature and with strong capacity building properties.

■ The Norwegian government is a donor and financier of the non-governmental sector, but also the Serbian judiciary, especially on matters related to strengthening the rule of law and the protection of human rights. Why was this selected as a priority?

The Summit in Warsaw confirmed the strong unity within the alliance and demonstrated Europe and North America's firm political will to act collectively to secure all Allies, says Foreign Minister BØRGE BRENDE. Here together with Prime Minister ERNA SOLBERG and Defense Minister INE MARIE ERIKSEN SØREIDE

- Norway is assisting reforms in the Serbian judiciary, especially rule of law and human rights, both because it is a priority of the Serbian government and because it is in line with our priorities for development assistance in general. We are also pleased that the Serbian government at the highest level gives such emphasis to support to civil society. Rule of law and human rights are not issues for the government only, but rather civil society has an important part to play as well.

■ Where do you see room for the promotion of bilateral cooperation between the two countries?

- Our bilateral cooperation in Norway is fully committed the future is not limited to a few select areas and it is not excluto NATO’s open door sively the governments which should decide. Civil society policy. Since we will grow and things will natuembarked on the last rally flourish because of the wave of enlargement work of NGOs and individuals. The governments can help by decisions in 1997, creating the right conditions. ■ Serbia and Norway coincreased stability and Trade will also grow on the baoperate in the military security has been brought sis of the efforts of companies sphere, and the ministry of defence announced to Europe. It remains a key in both countries and, again, this year that the element in ensuring peace the governments must help by creating the best possible constrengthening of this cofor future generations ditions. Our political contacts operation is one of its will develop both as a result of priorities. How do you in our region bilateral efforts and as a result see this cooperation? of developments in Europe. We have possibilities - Norway and Serbia have cooperated closely over in both a bilateral context and a European context, several years. In the UN mission to Chad (MINURsuch as the OSCE and the Council of Europe. We CAT), our two countries were jointly responsimust use all arenas to further both political stabilble for the Military Hospital and the Norwegian, ity and economic development for our own good, Serbian and UN flags flew together. Norway was and for the good of our neighbours. We also look instrumental in securing Serbia’s inclusion in forward to closer cooperation with Serbia in the NATO’s Partnership-for-Peace programme (PfP), context of the European Economic Area (EEA), if and our cooperation is in constant development. and when Serbia joins the European Union. ■ We intend to continue our close cooperation in the honey. The free trade agreement from 2014 between Serbia and Norway was a very important step in making investments possible for Norwegian companies.

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By LJUBICA GOJGIĆ

INTERVIEW

Invest in Education,

SUPPORT DOMESTIC INVESTMENTS H. E. JEAN DANIEL RUCH AMBASSADOR OF SWITZERLAND TO SERBIA

From the economic perspective, Serbia is on a better track, says H.E. Ambassador Jean Daniel Ruch, speaking in his farewell interview for CorD. He believes Serbia has overcome the difficulties of the 2008 financial crisis, but suggests efforts continue to clean up the financial system, reform the judiciary and, above all, bring the education system closer to the needs of the market

■ Your Excellency, let us begin with this topic that amazes many people outside of Switzerland – the referendum that was held in your country recently on “the universal monthly income”: a sum of 2,500 francs, which, according to the proposal, every citizen over the age of 18 should receive from the state. The fact that the majority rejected that proposal looks like a typically Swiss attitude. How do you see it?

rom the year 2000 until today, in two placements – first as Deputy Chief of Mission (2000 - 2003) and then as Ambassador (2012 to 2016), H.E. Jean Daniel Ruch has spent six years in Serbia, becoming one of the most active ambassadors in the diplomatic corps. He is now departing Belgrade bound for Israel, where he will continue his mission of representing Switzerland in the best possible way. He granted a farewell interview exclusively to CorD magazine, stating that he is grateful for the exceptional cooperation he has enjoyed with our publication during the previous years.

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- In our constitutional system, a hundred-thousand citizens can propose an amendment to the Constitution and then the government is obliged to organise a referendum around that topic. So, that was it – a bill proposal was signed saying every Swiss citizen should receive 2,500 francs per month, regardless of his or her status – unemployed, student or working professional. I think that the people who did that tried to make some projections for the future of our economic system. They came to the conclusion that, because of the new industrial revolution, there will be fewer jobs and in some cases people will be replaced by robots, as many

BUSINESS

INVESTMENTS

PEOPLE

I hear from Swiss investors of the combination of the legal system and incompetent administration rendering the business climate quite uncertain

We have about 200 companies that have invested more than a billion euros in the last twelve years and employ close to 10,000 people

Somehow you get to love Belgrade as a city. The people are touching, attractive, funny, provocative and creative. I did a lot to try to promote domestic artists

jobs will be automated. In such a situation, the idea was that instead of having an unemployment benefit or more pensions or social support for those who cannot find jobs, everybody would have a basic income of 2,500 francs.

■ Why did the Swiss public reject that? - I believe it was for two reasons. First, the described perspective is very far away. Switzerland has almost no unemployment – it is currently lower than 4 per cent. Plus our industry is doing rather well. The second reason was that the financing of the scheme was not very clear. Nobody could really figure out how much that plan would cost and how it was going to be financed. You know, the Swiss people are usually very mature; they go to the polls with the feeling “the State is mine” and it’s about management of my own budget. If they have to spend money, they want to know where the income comes from.

■ You have often spoken of the need to have a solid, transparent and stable judicial system?

- It is about legal security. I hear from Swiss investors of the combination of the legal system and incompetent administration rendering the business climate quite uncertain. The administration is not always predictable and it is often marked by dirty networks and corruption, especially at the lower levels, which I

■ You are leaving Serbia, with your man-

date having almost come to an end. What impressions will you be taking with you?

- My impression is that, from the economic perspective, Serbia is on a better track. I have seen improvement of the economic situation and it seems to me that the trends also look moderately positive when it comes to public finances, but also call the “deep state”. I can tell you openly to GDP, unemployment rates, export and Serbia is very well that I have a lot of investors who are very foreign investments. Of course, the growth known in Switzerland, happy, but I also have a few who say that is still timid and one would hope for more thanks to a diaspora of if they had known about that, they would robust growth, but it seems that Serbia has overcome the difficulties of the 2008 around 200,000 people. never have invested in Serbia. And here we are talking about major investments financial crisis. I also see a strong deterRemittance from worth tens of millions. This is why I am mination on the side of the government to saying that the whole governance system Switzerland, thanks to continue to work towards a better busicourts and the administration – has ness-enabling environment. Now, what I those families, is around –tothe be professional, effective and servicewould think would contribute even fur300 million euros anually orientated. Too often people within the ther to creating good business conditions administration, especially at the lower in Serbia are two things. The first one is levels, tend to see themselves as some kind of power which is the cleaning up of the financial system, dealing with banks and wielding its authority, rather than providing a service; instead of non-performing loans and the creation of a healthy financial having the “what can I do to help you?” attitude, which we have market in Serbia that would nurture domestic investments. So in Switzerland and most of Western Europe. far the emphasis has been on attracting foreign investments, which has led to some success, but what is still missing is sup■ What can you tell us about Swiss investments in Serbia? port for domestic investors. At the end of the day, what makes - We have about 200 companies that have invested more than a the power of an economy are not foreigners, but rather domesbillion euros in the last twelve years and employ close to 10,000 tic forces. Secondly, I think the reform of the judicial system is people. Additionally, almost every week I am contacted by new urgently needed. AUGUST

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companies who are studying the market. I think Serbia has two assets when it comes to Swiss investments. Serbia is very well known in Switzerland, thanks to a diaspora of around 200,000 people. Remittance from Switzerland, thanks to those families, is around 300 million euros annually. Very often investments come because somebody in a Swiss company comes from Serbia or knows the market. The second asset of Serbia is its cheap labour force and the cheap costs of real estate. That makes it cheaper to invest. Plus, there are government subsidies for foreign investors which also make the country attractive. However, I believe that improvements are needed in the education system. Those who have the best experience in finding new staff are IT companies, so there should be more well-educated people in this field, in order to meet the needs of investors. A problem arises when companies want to invest in the nonIT sector, in industrial production. It is not very easy there to find skilled workers.

- You have to start somewhere. I can tell you that we have projects in the region of Zlatibor and Užice, with some companies involved in wood processing and those companies have hired young people so that they can acquire the necessary skills. The education system should be brought closer to the market needs. This requires partnership between the private sector and the state, where the state would work closely with companies in order to develop a proper curriculum for each profession. There should, of course, be a possibility for a young person who became a carpenter at 19 to go back to university if they wish to do so later, and study to become an architect, for example. We have a system which allows that. ■ In an interview you gave a few

months ago, you said people in Serbia should protect their neutrality and not allow others to tell them they have to make a choice between East and West…

■ How would you describe overall bi-

lateral relations between Switzerland and Serbia?

- Our relations are as good as they can be. We have had numerous contacts during the past couple of years at the top political level. This was especially due to our consecutive OSCE chairmanship, when we were at the centre of the management of the Ukrainian crisis, which has represented the biggest crisis between Eastern and Western Europe since the fall of the Berlin wall. I think that we played a useful role in trying to calm the situation. We also had lots of contacts on the bilateral level, trying to cooperate more closely in certain areas. I mentioned education and during our vice president’s visit last year we discussed the education system a lot.

The economic success of Switzerland is built on an education model where about 70 per cent of the young population leaves school at the age of 16 and then enters companies as apprentices. Only 25 per cent do the “normal curriculum”

■ And dual education? - Precisely, very few people understand that the economic success of Switzerland is built on an education model where about 70 per cent of the young population leaves school at the age of 16 and then enter companies as apprentices. Only 25 per cent do the “normal curriculum”, meaning that they go from primary school to high school and later to university. We have fewer university students and our education is more through companies, and is therefore closer to the needs of the private sector. ■ Because you have so many private companies! Is that system applicable in Serbia’s still weak economy? 16 |

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- What I said, and my foreign minister said the same during the Ukraine crisis, was that it wasn’t normal that countries should be forced to choose between East and West in the 21st century. We have this lucky situation that we are very much anchored in the western model of society, while keeping our independence from military alliances. We are not members of the EU either, and we do not suffer too much from that situation. So, whether Serbia wants to preserve its neutrality or join NATO is something for the Serbs to decide themselves. I give no advice in that respect. Our historical, cultural and geographical situations are so different.

■ Don’t you think that in today’s world the very principle of neutrality is questioned?

- Well, we are neutral; Austria is neutral; why shouldn’t it be possible? It, of course, gets more difficult to be neutral in times of war. We luckily remained neutral during WWII and at the end of it we had an intact industry and that boosted Swiss economic successes. Yugoslavia also tried to remain neutral, but then what happened, happened. But Europe is not at war today; these are peaceful times, despite the Ukraine crisis. ■ You must be aware of the message circulating in this region

which suggests that there is no stability without NATO, which some mention even as a precondition for joining the EU?

- Again, it is up to Serbia to decide what is best for it. I would like to say that I have never seen a document saying that Serbia will not be allowed to join the EU unless it first joins NATO. The other

fact is that you have EU member states which are not members of - I think that Europe has very strong institutions. It is based on NATO. So, there are lots of myths being spread around this quesvery solid foundations that cannot be disrupted so easily. I believe in the strength of European countries, of what we all represent: tion. The second thing I’d like to say is that stability in the region liberal, inclusive, open and tolerant societies. This is a model of is indeed very important. You know the tragic history of the region and you know how much this region has been a battle field society that we want to preserve at all costs. We are confronted in the past 100 years. I do not believe that anybody who has a hiswith challenges coming from the periphery of the Southern Rim torical conscience would neglect and the South-Eastern Rim. The mithe fact that stability in the Balkans grant crisis is a consequence of criI come from a family of farmers. is essential. The Serbian governses in Syria and Iraq. Europe absoWe’ve always had a garden at ment is perfectly aware of this. We lutely has the capacity to cope with are trying to promote stability in it. Sometimes what I miss is the home and I’ve been brought up this region through the re-creation self-consciousness about what Euto eat only the vegetables from of trade and cultural links, and by rope represents. Europe represents our own garden. The climate for fostering political dialogue to overthe way of life and values that most come the bad legacy of the past. migrants are opting for. The soft that in Tel Aviv is even One school of thought suggests power of Europe is actually huge. better than in Belgrade. There The European model is why people that the best guarantee for stabilare papayas and mangoes in from Syria, usually well-educated ity in the region is that all countries and not at all poor, prefer to come join NATO. But, obviously, there are my future garden… to Europe. It is not because there is other opinions as well, which argue a conspiracy to take over Europe. differently. Honestly, this debate seems rather theoretical to me. NO, it is because they admire the model of life and because they know that there they will have a chance to develop their busi■ In spite of the fact that you said you were “neutral Swiss”, I ness, educate their kids and find a job. Here is an example: I have must ask if you fear for the stability of Europe, which is facing two favourite watches – Swiss made, obviously. One is made by many challenges – the migrant crisis, global terrorism etc. a company that was formed by a Syrian. The second is made by

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the Swatch group, which was founded by the saviour of the Swiss watchmaking industry, the late Nicolas Hayek, an outstanding Lebanese-born entrepreneur. So, let’s be confident that not only can we integrate, but we can actually benefit from the skills many of the migrants and refugees are bringing. On the other hand, we should obviously all work more closely to try to put an end to the Syrian conflict.

■ Coming back to Serbia, two years ago you announced that the Swiss Government would spend up to 75 million francs on various projects in Serbia. What can you tell us about those projects?

- We have 60 active projects. Basically, there are three areas of interest – energy efficiency, economic development and good governance. For example, there is a project we ran together with the EU, which aims at developing over 30 poor municipalities in

of the system – former chief prosecutor Carla Del Ponte and her deputies?

- Allow me to speak in my personal capacity, as a former adviser to the prosecutor. In one sentence: if the judges had followed the prosecutors in each and every case, there would have been more justice for all the victims of the Balkans. It is a very sad fact that the victims of Operation Storm and other crimes committed in Croatia haven’t received justice. That also goes for most of the Serbian victims of crimes committed in Kosovo. But, all in all, the work of the ICTY has been useful. Try to imagine for one second what this region would look like if there had been no ICTY… There are two current developments which I would like to stress. One is the creation of the Special court for the crimes in Kosovo. That is a major challenge and expectations are high. Secondly, we follow very closely the work of domestic judicial institutions in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia and Croatia. I must say that we would like to see more effective cooperation between these three countries and also more predictability. It is not sustainable for the next 20 years to have people being afraid to travel from Serbia to Croatia or from Croatia to Serbia, due to some alleged secret arrest warrants and lists – even though both countries insist there are no such secret lists. ■ You have spent more than six years in Serbia, on two occasions. Is there something you will miss?

- The people, of course. Somehow you get to love Belgrade as a city. The people are touching, attractive, funny, provocative and creative. I did a lot to try to promote domestic artists. There is an exhibition at my residence right now and I had one last year. They are always with young, talented artists. I have created a cultural fund at the embassy, which is being supported by Swiss companies. We support local, domestic artists and it makes me very proud to help people who are creative, self-confident and future orientated. This is perhaps the part of my work I will miss the most. I find that positive energy among young people, despite the fact that I often hear how young people are lazy and don’t want to work. This is wrong.

the south of the country. We are goYou know the tragic ing there because these regions are history of the region and you de-populated, have bad infrastructure and fewer investments. We are also know how much this region working with the state on a number has been a battle field in the of issues related to economic developpast 100 years. I do not believe ment, especially public finance management. I think that we have success that anybody who has a because, as you can see, the IMF is historical conscience would satisfied with the progress achieved. I neglect the fact that stability would also mention, as a very important project, the creation of the Techin the Balkans no Park in Belgrade, which supports ■ You are off to Israel. That is your is essential innovation and entrepreneurship. next post. Will you be able to maintain And, of course, our priority now is to your habit of growing organic vegetawork on education, so as to bring the education system closer to bles and raspberries in your backyard, as you did in Belgrade? the needs of the economy. - That’s a family tradition. I come from a family of farmers. We’ve always had a garden at home and I’ve been brought up to eat only ■ You spent several years at The Hague Tribunal, working for the the vegetables from our own garden. The climate for that in Tel Office of the Prosecutor. What do you think about that instituAviv is even better than in Belgrade. There are papayas and mantion and its legacy, which is often questioned by the very stars goes in my future garden… ■ 18 |

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COMMITMENT

GLOBAL DIARY

“There should not be the slightest doubt about our strong commitment to welcoming Serbia into the EU family, where it belongs.” - Johannes Hahn, EU Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Commissioner

THERESA MAY BECOMES NEW BRITISH PRIME MINISTER ▶ Theresa May (59) former home secretary, becomes the UK’s second female prime minis-

ter in the wake of David Cameron’s resignation after the EU referendum. She had previously served in the Home Office for more than six years. In her first public remarks as British Prime Minister she said to continue predecessor David Cameron’s “true legacy” of social justice. May wasted no time getting to work, naming Cabinet members shortly after taking the nation’s helm. Philip Hammond - Chancellor of the Exchequer, Amber Rudd –Home Department, Boris Johnson –Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Elizabeth Truss – Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Michael Fallon – Defence, Damian Green – Work and Pensions, Jeremy Hunt – Health, David Lidington – Lord President of the Council, Leader of the House of Commons, Priti Patel – International Development, Justine Greening – Education, Minister for Women and Equalities, Baroness Evans of Bowes Park – Lord Privy Seal, Leader of the House of Lords, Chris Grayling – Transport, James Brokenshire – Northern Ireland, Andrea Leadsom – Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Sajid Javid – Communities and Local Government, Alun Cairns – Wales, Patrick McLoughlin – Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster; Karen Bradley – Culture, Media and Sport, David Mundell – Scotland, Greg Clark – Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, David Davis – Exiting the EU, Liam Fox – International Trade.

NAADAM FESTIVAL IN ULAANBAATAR

▶ Naadam, known locally as eriin gur-

van naadam dates back centuries and was a way for Mongolians to celebrate community, honor mountain gods, and perform sacrifices. The competitions’ origins are said to predate Genghis Khan and were a celebration between clans and a showcase for weddings and other important gatherings. It was the glorious leader himself, however, that reportedly presided over the first official Naadam around the 13th century. Today’s incarnation formally pays homage to Mongolia’s declaration of independence from China on 11th July 1921. The festival was added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010. Though the largest celebration takes place in the capital city, Ulaanbaatar, there are smaller competitions throughout the country. 20 |

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SLOVENIA GETS SNOW IN JULY ▶ Slovenia saw substantial snowfall in mid July, which is unprecedented for the alpine country. The temperature measured on 14th July was -1 degree celsius. Not to far across the border, snow was noticed on the Italian alps. During the weekend below zero temperatures are expected across much of the country. Major rainfalls and low temperatures were noticed across

speeding up our perception of time, it’s probably going to feel faster than ever.

and Reference Systems Service (IERS) announced that an extra second will be added to 31st December. So when the clock strikes midnight, get ready to see 11:59:60 instead of 11:59:59. Given that 2016 was already a leap year, this means it’s going to take us extra long to get to 2017 - although, given the fact that all our technology is

MYSTERY PHILANTHROPIST HIDING $100 BILLS IN THE CITY OF SALEM ▶ A mystery philanthropist has been spreading cheer a $100 bill at a time for more than three years in and around Salem, Oregon, U.S. He randomly hides the bills to be found at shops, markets, fairs and festivals, surprising and delighting unsuspecting shoppers and

POKÉMON GO MANIA ▶ Kids and adults worldwide are taking to the streets last month to play

Croatia as well. The regions of Dalmatia and Slavonija saw great deal of rain and hurricane level winds.

2016 WILL LAST 1 SECOND LONGER ▶ This December, our New Year’s Eve

countdown is going to have to start a second later, because the timekeepers from the International Earth Rotation

Pokémon Go, a new smartphone app game made by the Pokémon Co. The game uses augmented reality to let players “catch” the Pokémon in real, physical locations, prompting some to applaud the game for getting game-devoted kids, and adults, to actually go outside and exercise. Pokémon Go users are already spending more time on the app than users of WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat and Messenger spend on those apps. But the sensation has also created some safety concerns for younger players, who are going outside to catch Pokémon, sometimes alone. Parents should consider playing the game with their kids, said Stephen Balkam, the founder and chief executive of the Family Online Safety Institute, a Washington, D.C.–based nonprofit. At minimum, they should ask more about how to play the game and be aware of where their kids are going to play it, he said.

SOCIETY

“This type of society is what we want and that is the most significant reason why we remain firmly on the path towards the EU.” - Aleksandar Vučić, Serbian Prime minister

DO YOU KNOW

Of all the countries that celebrate an independence day, 58 are independent of the UK, 26 of France, 21 of Russia and 21 of Spain

SCHWEINSTEIGER AND ANA IVANOVIĆ GOT MARRIED ▶ After months of media speculation whether and when the wedding of tennis star Ana Ivanović and her football-playing fiancé Bastian Schweinsteiger would take place, the couple got married on 12th July in Venice, Italy. Unlike her colleague Dominika Cibulkova, who wore a lavish dress at her Bratislava wedding a week earlier, Ivanović wore a modest halter-neck, ruffled gown in a Greek goddess style and kept her hair totally natural, just her regular loose, slightly straightened hair. Ana’s bouquet was also the simplest it could be, consisting only of white flowers. Schweinsteiger also chose a more relaxed look for his summer wedding, wearing a dark suit without a tie.

shocked when a $100 bill falls out of the packaging of something they just purchased. Bills have been found in everything from breakfast cereals to frozen entrees, and from mouse traps to feminine hygiene products. patrons. To date, he has hidden more than $50,000 worth of $100 bills in the Salem area, and that’s only what has been reported. He has left them in 26 different shops, at eight different events, and in a handful of different neighbourhoods. Those who find one all have a similar tale, about being

MANUEL BARROSO SHOULD WALK AWAY FROM GOLDMAN JOB

Some EU politicians are demanding Barroso be sanctioned for accepting the new position. The “scandalous” move raised questions about the EU’s conflict of interest rules, according to French European Affairs Minister Harlem Desir, who said they should be tightened. “It’s a mistake on the part of Mr Bar-

▶ The French government has called on former European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso not to take a job with Goldman Sachs, Reuters reported.

roso and the worst disservice that a former Commission president could do to the European project at a moment in history when it needs to be supported and strengthened,” Desir said, Last month Barroso was appointed chairman and senior advisor to the international arm of Goldman Sachs.

THE FIRST CANADIAN PM TO MARCH IN TORONTO PRIDE PARADE ▶ Justin Trudeau made history on 3rd

July by marching with tens of thou-

sands of people in Toronto’s Gay Pride parade, becoming the country’s first sitting prime minister to participate. Thunderous applause greeted Trudeau as he paraded down a main Toronto artery, waving a Canadian maple-leaf flag bordered with a rainbow. The youthful politician, whose popularity is soaring, donned a salmon-colored, button-down shirt and white jeans, taking selfies and shaking hands with those lining the parade route. The city tightened security, but kept the enhanced measures discreet to maintain a festive spirit. Toronto police have not released an official attendance count, but organizers had expected one million attendees. Ontar-

io Premier Kathleen Wynne -- Canada’s first openly gay head of a province -and Toronto Mayor John Tory marched alongside Trudeau.

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SPORT

B y RO B E RT M AC I N T O S H

How Much Was

EURO 2016 WORTH?

There are two ways of viewing the fact that a record 24 national teams competed to lift the Henri Delaunay Cup at Euro 2016 in France. Some regarded UEFA’s decision to include nearly half of its 55 members as a move to leverage football’s ability to bring people together in a celebration of sport and national identity 22 |

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he more cynical argued that inflating the scope and scale of the tournament was driven more by financial motives than sporting or political ones. The steady rise from the four teams that contested the inaugural finals in 1960, through the years of eight and 16 teams to the new set-up, has meant more games and therefore more commercial activity. Adding eight extra teams meant an additional 20 matches, not to mention eight extra sets of fans, television territories and commercial domains with a direct stake in who wins. The 2.5 million people UEFA expected to fill the 10 host stadiums, including 1.5 million foreign visitors to France, represented a predicted rise of more than a million on the 2012 tournament held jointly in Poland and Ukraine. No doubt this saw the tournament better the €1.4 billion in revenues generated the last time around.

WINNER DOES NOT TAKE ALL While comparing a European event for one sport and a world The total prize money for the tournament was €301 million event for many sports is only fair up to a point, there is a marked – representing a huge increase on the €194 million total for Euro difference in the investments in infrastructure required of host 2012. The overall winners earned their national association a nations. France has renovated stadiums that will likely be heavmaximum of €27 million, while all participating nations earned a ily used by teams for years to come. Brazil, in contrast, is looking minimum of €8 million. carefully at each and every item in an attempt to control costs. The However, these payments pale in comparison to the prize monOlympic investment budget is several ey available in Europe’s top domestic times bigger than Euro 2016, coming leagues. For instance, Aston Villa The total prize money for the in at around €9 billion came last in this year’s English PreThe Brazilian economy was boommier League, yet the club still pocktournament was €301 million ing in 2009 when it won the right to eted more than €80 million in prize – representing a huge increase host the Rio Olympics and politicians money. This year’s fairy tale winners on the €194 million total there would be forgiven for wonderof England’s domestic club competiing whether “won” is the right word to tion, Leicester City, won in excess of for Euro 2012. The overall use – particularly after the World Cup. €100 million. winners earned their national As well as huge infrastructure projects, The Premier League is a bigger association a maximum of €27 there will be anxieties over the threat of beast, of course. It generates TV rights terrorist attacks and also the challenge of €2.2 billion a year, whereas the million, while all participating of dealing with the Zika virus and its adrights associated with the Euro finals nations earned a minimum verse publicity. are estimated at around €1 billion – Football has become a global though the Euro finals were worth of €8 million sporting juggernaut in recent years. much more per game: about €20 milEuro 2016 may not be the largest tournament in financial terms, lion vs. the Premier League’s €6 million. but it just got a lot bigger. It benefitted from the global popularTo put the Premier League into context, UEFA has said that ity of both individual players and the club teams they normally when the new TV rights deal raises the pot to around €3.3 bilrepresent. Whether the action on the pitch lived up to the hype, lion a year from the 2016-17 season onwards, it will probably of course, is something that only the fans can judge. ■ outstrip the media rights associated with the National Football League, the home of American football in the U.S. This is expected to help the combined financial earnings of European football overtake America’s big four: American football, basketball, ice hockey and baseball. As for other major football tournaments, the UEFA Champions League produced revenues from rights and sponsorship of €1.5 billion in 2014-15, while Brazil’s 2014 World Cup was even more lucrative, generating revenues of €3.5 billion from rights and sponsorship (plus another €465 million from ticket sales). FIVE GOLD RINGS Also crammed into this summer of sport will be the Olympics in Rio. It is expected that more people will watch the Olympics than the Euros, and it represents a different league of financial opportunity. Separate figures for the income of the London Olympics in 2012 are not available, but the combined income for that event and the Vancouver Winter Olympics of 2010 was €13.2 billion.

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INTERVIEW

Innovation and Entrepreneurship

– A CHANCE FOR GROWTH DEJAN RANĐIĆ ENTREPRENEUR WITH INITIATIVE

The projects “New beginning” and “ICT Hub” are two initiatives with the same underlying philosophy: innovation and entrepreneurship are the major drivers of an economy. The first helps beginners enter the waters of private business while the other is focused on supporting young start-ups

There is a lack of accumulation of knowledge and a lack of the hile most initiatives related to entrepreneuradoption of positive examples worldwide. Only at the end would ship are focused on start-ups that emerge and I add the influence of the State, which in recent decades has not are driven by high unemployment, the potenbeen at all stimulating. I have been an entrepreneur for 16 years tially most successful entrepreneurs – those and I can’t say that the State encouraged new domestic initiatives who are now working in corporations and have during that period. The situation was even worse in the decade years of experience and self-confidence – are reluctant to test the before that. That is why success is mostly the result of superhuwater with no incentive in sight, says entrepreneur Dejan Ranđić, who is currently involved in two initiatives supporting entrepreman efforts and the stubbornness of an individual, not a logical neurship: “New beginning”, focused on those who are thinking of sequence of events. This year, through the “Year of Entrepreneurgoing into the private sector, and ship” project, the State has an“ICT Hub”, which introduces innonounced a somewhat different There has been a lot of talk about vation to the process of running attitude, but the electoral process the support of start-ups, primarily and government formation will a successful business. Ranđić, CEO of DNA Communications, certainly slow down the effects of due to the unemployment rate in is Founder and CEO of ICT Hub, these initiatives. I hope this will be Serbia, but too little attention has as well as being involved in the an incentive to entrepreneurs as “New beginning” project, which is been directed at entrepreneurs who, an ongoing programme, not just as run by the Serbian Association of a one-year story. with all their problems, have Managers with financial support managed to persist on the market from USAID. ■ What is it that entrepreneurs ■ What does it mean to be an entrepreneur in Serbia today?

for years

- Being an entrepreneur means being responsible for one’s own company, employees and business partners. Entrepreneurship in Serbia is underdeveloped and we have yet to learn and improve. 24 |

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can do for themselves in order to be more successful?

- Innovation and the creation of new business models are the key to success. In the case of entrepreneurs who are beginning the process of forming their own company, the key is choosing a narrow profile of activity and being

aware that one does not need to confine themselves only to that which is entirely familiar to them. Working on oneself and acquiring new knowledge is necessary to start a business that has the potential to succeed, but that is not a mere replica or déjà vu. This is what we do through the “New beginning” project, which is implemented by the Serbian Association of Managers and DNA Communications with the support of USAID. There has been a lot of talk about the support of start-ups, primarily due to the unemployment rate in Serbia, but too little attention has been directed at entrepreneurs who, with all their problems, have managed to persist on the market for years. How does one help domestic companies that have dozens or hundreds of employees and revenue that can be measured in the millions of euros to be more successful, more competitive and to increase exports? In addition to the need for the State to define its strategy regarding entrepreneurship, it is high time that a change be made to the awareness and management model of domestic companies, through the introduction of elements of corporate governance and the transfer of expertise and responsibility to managers who are not simultaneously owners. Unlike in the corporate sector, in our companies the opinion of one man still rules – he acts as the decision maker in the process of production, sales, staff recruitment, finance and marketing. This Superman demonstrates his commitment to the company which he has founded and leads, but fails to understand that at the same time he is the biggest obstacle to the development of his own business.

■ You have just touched on the dilemma of “entrepreneurship or the corporate way”. Are these two directions completely opposed and what will their relationship be like in the future?

- Unlike before, when at the beginning of one’s career one should choose corporation or entrepreneurship, today’s business model and market demands a more flexible observation of this division. Entrepreneurs need the experience of a corporation and to take on the elements of corporate governance, while corporations increasingly require the entrepreneurial model of thinking and flexibility in order to react to market changes quickly. ■ What changes and needs are you referring to?

- I will illustrate this through two current world trends which, from different points of view, give a clear picture of relations be-

■ Who and when should these changes be introduced in the entrepreneurial sector?

- Such a change must be initiated by the owners of the company. Unfortunately, this happens late or even too late, when the problems of the business become too great to handle. The most successful Serbian entrepreneurs have already recognised that and demonstrated it in practice, but that is still insufficient. On the other hand, the market will inevitably make an impact for this process to come, perhaps not through the improvement of existing companies, but through the correct establishing of new companies in time to come. ■ Do you mean new companies or those just entering “entrepreneurial waters”?

tween corporations and entrepreneurs/start-ups. Firstly, when corporations and start-ups are competitors it is a phenomenon that could be called the rebundling of large businesses. Large businesses are being taken over more and more, sometimes even completely, by start-ups which started with just a few people, such as “Uber” in the transport sector or “Airbnb” in the domain of tourism. There are also other such examples in the financial sector. The portfolio of services that were once marketed exclusively by banks has been used for the development of hundreds of successful start-ups and their market share is growing constantly. Corporations now deal with this trend by acquisition of those who become a threat to the market, but it would not be a surprise if we see acquisitions in the opposite direction soon. Another phenomenon shows the great need of corporations to be innovative in their operations and to implement new business models, but they usually do not succeed due to the fact that their corporate organisation prevents them from doing so. Every

ICT Hub cooperates successfully with corporate partners and offers them the opportunity to approach innovation without the risk of corporate organisation endangering this process

- The greatest potential for the development of entrepreneurship is the people who are now working in corporations, who have years of experience, knowledge and a proper understanding of the market and, most importantly, their entry into “entrepreneurial waters” would not be the result of an emergency, but the desire for success and self-confidence. If Wall Street bankers leave their highly paid positions in large corporations and enter the world of entrepreneurship, I don’t see why it would be impossible for us to do that same. Entrepreneurship is a global trend and it is inevitable that it will happen in our country. But that will not happen if there is no incentive, which will give these great people the signal to take a step that also carries risk.

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successful CEO faces this corporation limit and consumes a lot of energy to overcome these barriers. In fact, practice has shown that the much desired process of innovation hardly ever comes from within and must be initiated from the outside. Here we come to a solution that lies in cooperation between large and small, namely corporations and start-ups that are capable of creating an innovative solution much faster and more efficiently.

■ Does ICT Hub deal with that? How do you see the development of the local start-up scene?

corporations wish to become partners with ICT Hub is proof that this process provides very good results. In addition, this process encourages professionals from various industries to step into IT entrepreneurship and offer their services to large corporations, perhaps those who are their current employers. In the coming months, ICT Hub will launch the first domestic investment fund with the purpose of investing in local start-ups in the early stages of development, which will further stimulate the most successful to opt for IT entrepreneurship. In two years of doing business, more than 250 young people have gone through the ICT Hub and have incorporated about 70 new companies. Thousands of visitors took part in some of the 150 events organised at the ICT Hub. Our start-up scene is rapidly expanding and we can expect great results in the future, not only in IT companies dealing with software development for foreign customers, but also through the creation of local startups that will offer their solutions to the world market. There is already enough capital and investors and it is necessary to encourage a sufficient number of people who have knowledge and experience in various business sectors to form teams and setoff towards the creation of their own business.

Our start-up scene is rapidly expanding and we can expect great results in the future, not only in IT companies dealing with software development for foreign customers, but also through the creation of local start-ups that will offer their solutions to the world market

- In addition to the basic mission, which is related to the development of IT entrepreneurship and supporting young start-ups, ICT Hub cooperates successfully with corporate partners and offers them something called “corpo-startupization”. We provide our partners – big companies – with the opportunity to come to innovation without the risk of corporate organisation endangering this process. In addition to innovation in terms of internal and developmental processes, we provide companies with the ability to find partners on the local start-up scene and thus introduce innovations and new business models to the scope of their business. The fact that an increasing number of

■ Do our companies give enough importance to marketing as a way of achieving their business goals?

- Like in other areas, everything depends on the quality of people who are doing business. Professionals in communications agencies and decision makers in corporations have a key influence on the development of this field. Today, services in the field of communications have slipped too much into the area of commodity services. The main criteria for cooperation are price and delivery deadline, which compensate for the lack of quality of what is offered. Maybe that is the reason why we have so many commercials and advertising solutions such as “beef fillet for only RSD 499”, without a strategic approach with the sole aim of attracting the interest of a consumer immediately. ■

New beginning The “New beginning” project was established back in 2014, long before we discovered that 2016 would be declared the “Year of Entrepreneurship”. Through its activities, materials, communication and entrepreneurship fairs, “New beginning” offers encouragement and the necessary information to those wishing to start their own businesses and become entrepreneurs. Thousands of people of various profiles have passed through this project and through dialogue with them we have received confirmation that such activities are missing and that we should continue in that direction.

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AUGUST BUSINESS LEADERS’ MEETING POINT

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VLADIMIR MILOVANOVIĆ CEO of Energoprojekt Holding a.d., Belgrade

BRANISLAV JOVANOVIĆ Country Manager, Hertz

Valued Both at Home and Abroad

Don’t Disturb Others – Disturb Hertz AUGUST

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CORPORATE

VLADIMIR MILOVANOVIĆ, CEO OF ENERGOPROJEKT HOLDING A.D., BELGRADE

Valued Both at Home and Abroad The launching of major infrastructure projects in Serbia and changes in the state’s policies towards domestic construction companies hasopened the doors to the greater involvement of “Energoprojekt” in the country, along with work on many construction sites elsewhere in the world Waterfront project, building a pipeline from Pančevo to the Romanian border, and as a consultant is implementing several significant projects for EPS, the most significant of which is construction of block B3 at the Kostolac Thermo-Electric Plant.

“E

nergoprojekt” is today working simultaneously on building several of the most important transport and industrial projects in the country, including the Belgrade Waterfront, and on 22 other markets. ■ In relation to the period four or five years ago, when jobs abroad were the company’s main growth engine, in 2015 you had almost equivalent structure of revenues from both domestic and foreign markets. What has changed in the meantime? - Recent years have seen investment in infrastructure projects in Serbia intensified and the conditions provided for the inclusion of local companies in the implementation of these projects. Thanks to that, as well as references and the competitive prices of Energoprojekt in tenders, Energoprojekt is in a position to agree and implement significantly more projects of greater financial value in Serbia. After successfully implementing projects for the construction of a new smelter and sulphuric acid plant in Bor and the first phase of the completion of the new Prokop railway station, Energoprojekt is engaged in the construction of two sections of the BelgradeSouth Adriatic Highway, on the Belgrade 28 |

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■ Working as construction contractors in the country objectively brings lower profits, as you have yourself pointed out often. What kind of calculation have you found in participation in some of the major projects carried out by foreign companies in Serbia? - For us at Energoprojekt it is important that our young experts gain experience in working with large foreign companies that they will be able to implement in our projects abroad, and with all foreign general contractors negotiate the value of our work that

In the coming period the key objectives of Energoprojekt are stability, growth and development, advancing all segments of Energoprojekt and its business activities also contains appropriate profits. ■ You are also participating in the construction of the Belgrade Waterfront, a long-term project that has prompted a lot of public attention. Which part of the project is Energoprojekt’s responsibility? - This is about building two residential and commercial towers, the first buildings of the Belgrade Waterfront project. Energoprojekt is engaged in carrying out all the work except work on the financing of the building. We

hope that we will agree to construction of some other planned facilities at this stage in upcoming construction tenders. ■ Speaking at the celebration of the 65th anniversary of Energoprojekt, Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić said that he is proud of everything Energoprojekt has ever done and built, and that when the Government of Serbia has a problem, either in talking to investors or when planning to build, it always says: “We have Energoprojekt”. Does this mean that Energoprojekt has finally been recognised for the importance it had several decades ago in Yugoslavia, and then in Serbia? - Energoprojekt has always had the support of the state, due to its importance to the national economy and its ability to execute complex projects. We are one of the few companies that have managed to overcome the obstacles and challenges of previous turbulent years. I must point out that in recent years we have had more pronounced support of the state in relation to the previous period, and certainly the public recognition of the Prime Minister is a major incentive for us. ■ Considering your long-standing presence in many markets of the world, in which regions of the world, apart from Serbia of course, do you feel at home? - Energoprojekt has done business in 80 countries worldwide over the past 65 years. On some markets we have been actively present for 50 years, and in the majority for more than 40 years, and in these countries we really feel at home. Here I am primarily referring to African countries (Algeria, Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe),

Eurasian countries (Russia and Kazakhstan), Peru and, in the last 25 years, also in the region of the Middle East – Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

we have to give the greatest importance to planned and continuous development of human resources and the application of modern technologies.

■ To what extent has the recently recorded recovery of the Serbian economy encompassed the construction sector and in which sectors within Energoprojekt is that felt more and in which less? - In recent years, from the start of the increase of investment in the country, a positive impact has been felt on Energoprojekt’s operations, particularly in the areas of transport infrastructure and energy, and, after a long time, in the construction sector too. In the sector of project design services business conditions are slowly changing for the better as investors continue to tolerate the poor quality of these services at lower prices.

■ How possible is it today to attempt to see, for example, two or five years in advance, given the enormous challenges of the international markets where you do business? - Today changes happen faster and there are ever more challenges. It is hard to

■ To what extent have these more favourable trends, both in the operations of the company itself and generally on the market, enabled the consolidation of divisions within Energoprojekt that weren’t operating as well and were burdened by credit obligations? - Every increase in the value of contracts being implemented in the country makes it possible to quickly and completely end negative consequences from the past. Energoprojekt is not a highly indebted company and all obligations towards banks are settled properly. ■ In addition to marking the company’s anniversary, this is also a juncture when Energoprojekt has released a new midterm business plan. What are your key objectives in the coming period? - In the coming period the key objectives of Energoprojekt are stability, growth and development, advancing all segments of Energoprojekt and its business activities. I personally believe that today, during the time of the fourth industrial revolution,

Although we were in the top 10 in the world in the late ‘80s and today we are only in 110th place among international consulting firms, and ranked 224th as works contractors, that all goes to prove that Energoprojekt is a company with vitality predict the consequences of global disturbances on the capital market, rates of major currencies, energy prices, conflict in the Middle East and so on. And despite of all the extenuating circumstances, decades of experience, knowledge and teamwork have created a good basis to recognise the risks and anticipate changes in a timely manner and with considerable accuracy. ■ What is your benchmark when it comes to “knowhow” in your sector?

- There are a lot of innovations in the various works in which Energoprojekt is engaged, but I do not come across a company that I could single out as a benchmark. Energoprojekt is and will remain the best “benchmark” for the quality of services it provides and the quality of construction it realises. Thus, the only benchmark is satisfied investors. ■ How many foreign companies with lists of global references like Energoprojekt’s are present in Serbia and the region? - Increasingly more major European and global companies that are looking to enter new markets are entering this one, which for them is far less interesting. Given that Serbia is on the threshold of joining the European Union, there is an increasing number of potential investors in serious projects, and therefore interest in realising some of these investments is on the rise among companies from Europe and the world. All of those companies know about us and many offer us different forms of cooperation, and time will show whether we will cooperate with some of these companies or whether we’ll be each other’s competitors. ■ Energoprojekt is the only contractor from the region that is on the list of reputable American magazine Engineering News Record. Are you satisfied with your position on this list? - I am primarily satisfied with our operations and our business position in 22 of the world’s countries. From these results our presence on the ENR’s lists follows. Although we were in the top 10 in the world in the late ‘80s and today we are only in 110th place among international consulting firms, and ranked 224th as works contractors, that all goes to prove that Energoprojekt is a company with vitality that monitors and applies modern technology and professionally implements all contractual obligations on domestic and international markets. ■ AUGUST

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LOCAL

NEWS

RECOGNITION “No one is requesting that Serbia recognise Kosovo’s independence, but the EU has an interest in Serbia and Kosovo normalising their relations, in particular in fields that affect people’s everyday life.” — H.E. DAGMAR REPČEKOVÁ, Slovak Ambassador to Serbia

SERBIAN RAILWAYS

LOZNICA

Annex Signed to Russia's $800mln Loan The Serbian Railways company and Russia’s RZD International have signed an annex to a Russian loan worth a total of $800 million. The annex covers the building of a second track on the 40-kilometre Stara Pazova-Novi Sad stretch of railway, and modernisation of the existing track. The value of these works will be $338 million.

Anglo-Chinese Consortium to Build Thermal Power Plant

The Anglo-Chinese consortium of British company Scarborough Group International and state-owned Chinese company China National Electric (CNEEC) has signed an agreement on the construction of a thermal power plant/heating plant in Loznica worth €230 mil-

lion. According to the agreement, the construction of a facility with a capacity of 240 MW will be fully put in charge of CNEEC, and the first phase of the project (120 MW) might start at the end of 2016, after the Government greenlights the project, and be completed by the end of 2018, the consortium announced. The second phase (the remaining 120 MW) should start a year later. The consortium has also received the financial support of the China Development Bank, while Chinese insurance company Sinosure has also shown interest in participating in the project. Source: Tanjug

START UPS

The Stara Pazova-Novi Sad stretch is part of the Belgrade-Budapest line, where passenger trains will travel at speeds up to 200 kilometres per hour. Works are expected to start in the first quarter of 2017. The contract was signed at the Serbian government headquarters by Dušan Garibović, acting director of Serbian Railways Infrastructure, and RZD International President Sergei Pavlov. The signing was attended by Serbian Deputy PM and Minister of Construction, Infrastructure and Transport Zorana Mihajlović and First Vice-President of Russian Railways Aleksandr Misharin. Source: Tanjug

South Central Ventures in Talks to Invest in Serbian Start-ups South Central Ventures (SCV), a venture fund focused on tech startups and small and medium-sized tech companies in the Western Balkans, is concluding negotiations with one company in Serbia and another in Macedonia, the fund’s managing partner, Jan Kobler, told SeeNews. The official, however, would not disclose further JAN KOBLER details about the two companies. SCV, with committed funds of €40 million, does not have a specific amount of funding allocated to individual countries, but rather takes investment decisions based on the opportunities that arise. Investments in a single company range from €100,000 to €3 million. “The fund stays with a company for approximately a five-year period, after which it starts looking for a strategic partner or a buyer for its stake,” Kobler explained. Source: SeeNews ENERGOPROJEKT

ADDIKO BANK

New Brand for Former Hypo Group Alpe Adria AG Addiko Bank was announced as the new brand under which the former Hypo Group Alpe Adria AG and its banking network in Southeast Europe started operating as of 11th July onwards. The new brand identity reflects the bank’s new strategy and positioning, while underlining its commitment to improving the way banking should be done: straightforward. Addiko Bank will focus on essentials, efficiency and simplicity. These three principles represent what ‘straightforward banking’ stands for: a more focused product and service offering, more efficient procedures and processes, and simpler communication through a more client-centric approach. With the rebranding the bank is not only changing its name and visual identity, but also seeks to address customer demands by decreasing complexity. Clearer, simpler and more direct service for its customers will be at the heart of the bank’s future offering.

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New €14.7mln Contract in Uganda Energoprojekt Niskogradnja plc. and Kampala Capital City Authority have concluded a contract on the reconstruction of ten city roads within the districts of Kawempe and Lubaga in the Ugandan capital of Kampala. Works will include a total of 15,5 km of roads. The contract is worth a total of €14.7 million (VAT included), while the deadline for completion of the project is 20 months.

POTENTIAL “Serbian SMEs have a large potential and the resources to succeed on the international market, while local economic development has enormous untapped potential. “ — H.E. KYLE SCOTT, US Ambassador to Serbia

DUTCH EMBASSY

Proposals for the Partners for Water 2016-2021 Programme

The Partners for Water programme provides opportunities to strengthen collaboration between the Netherlands and Serbia in the field of water. Proposals for projects, such as demonstration projects, pilot projects and feasibility study projects, can be sent to the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO.nl) until 31st August. The Netherlands has committed itself to water safety worldwide. Recently the Dutch ministries of Foreign Affairs, Economic Affairs and Infrastructure & Environment have expressed their aspirations regarding water in the so-called ‘International water ambition’. The vision reflected in this ambition is to achieve adequate water supply, greater resilience and less flood damage worldwide. The Dutch Partners for Water 2016-2021 programme is executed by the National Water Plan (NWP) in partnership with RVO. INSURANCE

AXA Group to Sell its Serbian Operations

Placements & postings appointments@aim.rs

H.E. JAN LUNDIN

New Ambassador of Sweden

As of 28th July, H.E. Jan Lundin has become the new ambassador of Sweden to Serbia and Montenegro. Prior to his latest posting, Lundin served as Director General of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) Permanent International Secretariat, based in Stockholm, from 1st September 2010. A career diplomat at the Swedish Foreign Service, he took on his previous posting after having served as Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Sweden to Germany. Ambassador Lundin graduated as a Master of Law from the University of Stockholm in 1996. He previously studied at the University of Uppsala, where he graduated as a Bachelor of Arts in Slavic Languages, Eastern European Studies and Economics. Alongside his native Swedish, he has knowledge of ten languages and is fluent in four, including Serbian, English, German and Russian. He is a married father of two daughters.

SLAVICA PAVLOVIĆ

New Chairwoman of the Executive Board of Eurobank AD Beograd Slavica Pavlović has been named the new chair of the executive board of Eurobank in Serbia. She previously served as deputy chair of the board and has now been promoted following the departure of long-time executive board chairman Philippos Karamanolis, who has taken over the functions of CEO of “Bancposta” and CEO of Eurobank Group in Romania. Pavlović graduated from the University of Belgrade’s Faculty of Economics, Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance. She is a member of both the FIC Tax Committee and the Board of the Foundation for Studies of Science and Arts at the Serbian Academy of Science and the Arts. Prior to becoming CFO at Eurobank AD Belgrade in 2006, she worked as a manager for auditing banks and other financial institutions at auditing firms PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ernst & Young in Serbia. She began her professional career at Investbanka Belgrade.

CSILLA IHASZ

New Chair of the Executive Board and CEO of UniCredit Bank Serbia a.d. As of 19th July, Csilla Ihasz has held the position of Executive Board Chairwoman and CEO of UniCredit Bank Serbia a.d., a function she took over from Claudio Cesario, who will continue his career in Croatia. Ihasz graduated from Westfield State University in the U.S. and earned a Master’s from London’s Brunel University. Ihasz joined UniCredit Group in 2007, following a series of different functions in the field of business development, sales and marketing, which she performed at the leading international banks in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). “Relying on strong foundations that are already built, the expertise of our staff, rich experience and expertise, we will continue to provide support to individuals and for the further development of the local economy,” said the new UniCredit CEO.

SEBASTIAN SOSA

New resident representative of the IMF to Serbia Uruguay’s Sebastian Sosa becomes the new IMF resident representative in Serbia as of 1st August. Sosa succeeds incumbent Daehaeng Kim, who is the next resident representative in Spain. Kim has served in Serbia for the past three years, and his departure was unofficially announced a month ago by Finance Minister Dušan Vujović, who expressed regret over the ,ove, noting that “Kim has learned the way Serbia works.” Kim will formally see out the IMF’s three-year programme that was agreed with Serbia in February 2015.

AXA has announced that it has entered into an agreement with Vienna Insurance Group to sell both its Life & Savings and Property & Casualty operations in Serbia and exit the market. Under the terms of the agreement, Vienna Insurance Group AG would acquire 100% of the life (AXA Životno osiguranje Ado) and non-life (AXA Neživotno osiguranje Ado) entities. The parties agreed not to disclose the terms and conditions of the transaction. Completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals.

FRANCESCO FAELLA

New CEO of Tetra Pak for Southeast Europe Tetra Pak, the world leader in solutions for the processing and packaging of foods, has appointed Francesco Faella the new CEO of the company’s operations in the region of Southeast Europe. Francesco will thus replace Maria Krasilowez, who has moved to a new position in Tetra Pak’s global organisation. Having amassed twenty years of experience in the industry of packaging for food products, Francesco also brings to this position a wealth of experience in management and operational leadership. As a holder of a Master’s degree in business administration for managers and as a Master of electrical engineering, he gained his work experience in the areas of development and product management, marketing and sales, as well as in technical fields. Faella will perform his new function from Belgrade and will lead all operations of the company on fourteen markets in the region of Southeast Europe, the largest of which are Serbia, Greece, Croatia and Romania. AUGUST

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INTERVIEW

BRANISLAV JOVANOVIĆ, COUNTRY MANAGER, HERTZ

Don’t Disturb Others – Disturb Hertz Hertz is the world leader in car rental services, with a presence in 145 countries around the world, and since 2010 we are also present in Serbia. Within a short period of time, Hertz has become the leading player in the market of Car Rental and Operating Lease

ertz provides Rent-a-Car services, having stations at Nikola Tesla Airport and in New Belgrade, where the head office is located. New stations will soon be opened in Belgrade city centre and at Niš Airport. The company is also focused on Operating Leasing, supporting companies in covering fully their mobility needs, taking advantage of the synergies between Rent-a-Car and Operating Leasing, as Hertz Serbia is the only company offering this. At the moment, Hertz’s car fleet exceeds 1,800 vehicles, including each available model on the market. Should you need a car for a single day, or fourfive years, contact Hertz Serbia.

to budget the cost of a fleet and therefore avoid the cost of investment, so as to protect their cash flow, but also to consult an expert in fleet management and to request tailor made solutions. ■ What would be those benefits for your potential new clients? - Hertz Serbia is the only company on the market that can cover all the mobility needs of a company. As an Operating Leasing market leader, we have the knowhow of working with companies of any size, industry or type of activity. At the same time, we are a car rental company, which makes us a large fleet owner with cars of any type or category. The synergy

with or without a buy-back option, Lease Saver for those who have needs for a specific period of time, Sales & Lease Back for those who own a fleet but wish to convert to operational leasing and pass the assets to us, and Disposal of Company Used Cars and Lease New to those who wish to get new cars without having the duty and risk to deal with selling their current fleet. More importantly, our customers can rely on us to remove any risk that derives from owning a fleet irrespective of size. Hertz Serbia will take over all the administration work around car ownership, as well as all the risks of ownership, remarketing, investing, operating or loss of use. Simply “don’t disturb others – disturb Hertz”.

■ What are your expectations regard■ Operating leasing is a fairly new We have a number of services ing the Serbian market’s potential? concept in Serbia, is that correct? - We believe that the Serbian marthat we can provide based on - Operational Leasing is fairly new has great potential, as does the in Serbia, however it is growing fast the needs of a company, such ket Serbian Economy. Operating leasing and Hertz is leading the way on the as Long Term Rental, Lease is growing annually by around eight market. Today’s companies around per cent, and this is directly related to the world decide to focus on their Saver, Sales & Lease Back, reforms and the development of the main activities and cover their mobility Disposal of Company Used Serbian economy. The more attracneeds through Operating Leasing. The Cars and Lease New tive Serbia becomes for either foreign truth is that multinational companies or local investments, the more the are more familiar with the service, and economy will grow, along with the margradually they are using it more and more among those activities comprises our often in Serbia. However, there is significompetitive advantage, as there is always ket. At Hertz Serbia we have faith and cant interest from local companies as well, a car available for each and every one of we strongly believe in the development as many people acknowledge the benefits our customers upon request. of Car Rental and Operating Leasing as a We have a number of services that of using this service. Operating Leasing alresult of the development of the Serbian lows modern organisations to ‘zero down’ we can provide based on the needs of economy, and we have strong investment a company, such as Long Term Rental, their risk or operating and owning a fleet, plans for the near future. ■ 32 |

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CORPORATE

Lafarge Family Houses

Lafarge Serbia, a member of LafargeHolcim Group, is a leading Serbian company in the field of building materials. With a powerful brand name in “Lafarge”, more than 177 years presence on the market, experience in cement, aggregates and concrete, and through our leveraging the Group’s knowhow, we offer our customers high quality products and innovative solutions and services

triving to offer the possibility for getting a new home quickly and efficiently at a reasonable price to the larger population, we also introduced Lafarge HousesTM in June 2016. This new program represents our entry into a new market segment in Serbia – family house construction. The Lafarge HousesTM program provides a safe investment for customers, meaning that Lafarge, as one of the largest companies in Serbia with the highest business and banking rating, will guarantee a successful completion of the construction. In cooperation with Societe Generale Bank, we prepared a unique offer on the market – favourable loans for house building, which does not require a mortgage on another real estate unit. The first Lafarge HousesTM program offers nine ground floor and onestory houses, with different options of ecological green or the traditional sloped roof, designed by respected architect Jovan Mitrovic. This program especially emphasizes comfort, reflected through a simple, but unique architectural concept, accenting an optimal use of space, functionality and high energetic efficiency. Lafarge HousesTM are built applying the system of double prefabricated walls (DWS – Double Wall System), which represents a high-quality, reliable and efficient construction method, applied globally and recently in Serbia as well. Thanks to a special technology that enables precise construction and controlled quality in production conditions, we offer the possibility to obtain a new home within 28 days from start of construction. Our team of architects is ready to position and adapt the houses to any type of land, but also to meet all other specific requirements. ■

BUSINESS

Bezos Tops Buffett as World’s Third-Richest Man

Amazon.com Inc. founder Jeff Bezos’s net worth was $65.05 billion at the end of last month, topping Buffett by $32 million on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index

ith the gain, Jeff Bezos’s wealth has increased by $5.4 billion this year, marking a resurgence after it fell to as low as $43 billion in February amid turbulent global

markets. Most of Bezos’s wealth is tied to Amazon, which has benefited from robust demand for quick-turnaround delivery, cloud services and gadgets like the Kindle and Echo. In April, the Seattle-based company posted its biggest-ever net income and said first-quarter sales climbed 28 percent, including a 64 per cent rise at its cloud-computing division. The shares are up 54 per cent since hitting a low of $482.07 on 9th February. Bezos’s rise in the billionaire ranking has been helped by Buffett’s philanthropy. The Berkshire Hathaway Inc. chairman donated about $2.2 billion worth of stock this month in his annual gift to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Even so, the 85-year-old has still seen his net worth rise by $2.7 billion in 2016, with Berkshire’s Class A shares up 9.4 per cent. Bezos, 52, now lags only Spain’s Amancio Ortega, the Inditex SA founder, who has a $73 billion fortune, and Microsoft Inc.’s Bill Gates, the world’s richest person, with $89 billion. Bezos’s rank could climb higher. Carlos Kirjner of Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. set his Amazon price target at $1,000 in May, 34 per cent above Thursday’s close of $744.43. With the stock at that price, Bezos’s fortune would be about $86 billion, just under Gates’s current level. These are the 10 richest people in the world, according to Bloomberg. ■ # Person 1 Bill Gates 2 Amancio Ortega 3 Jeff Bezos 4 Warren Buffett 5 Conrad Koch 6 David Koch 7 Carlos Slim 8 Mark Zuckerberg 9 Larry Ellison 10 Igvar Kamprad

AUGUST

Wealth $89 billion $73 billion $65 billion $65 billion $55 billion $55 billion $53 billion $53 billion $44 billion $44 billion

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REGIONAL

NEWS

TURKEY “We are interested in a stable Turkey as our neighbor, instead of having a country there that is a source of tensions. I share the view that this coup was strange, but cannot say anything else.” — GEORGI PARVANOV, Bulgaria’s former President

MONTENEGRO

Azmont Investment, a subsidiary of Azerbaijan Global Investments (AGI), announced at mid July the sale of 113 properties within its Montenegro-based €650 million luxury Portonovi tourist resort. The first phase of the resort is due to open in the second half of 2017, when the properties released for sale will be completed and ready for occupation by residents. The entire Portonovi resort will cover an area of 26 ha, featuring a luxury “One&Only” hotel, 290 town houses, apartments and villas, a marina with 220 berths for super yachts, yacht and beach clubs, spas and restaurants. In December, Azmont said it has signed a €305 million construction management contract with Italian company Impresa Pizzarotti & C.S.P.A for the the resort project. Azmont also recently launched operations of its bank in Montenegro’s capital Podgorica.

Sale of Portonovi Resort Properties Launched

Growth Prospects of The Automotive Industry PREVENT GROUP PRODUCES TEXTILE AND LEATHER SEAT COVERS FOR MORE THAN 2 MILLION VEHICLES EACH YEAR

in this direction. Manufacturers in B&H are wellknown globally for supplying high-quality automotive components. During the early 1970s, a merger between Volkswagen and UNIS Holding pioneered the production of vehicles in B&H,” says Siddharth Jaiswal, lead auto accessories analyst from Technavio. “Though the growth potential of the market is high, sustainable growth is possible only with the active participation of both the industry leaders and the government, ” added Siddharth

CROATIA

First Solar-Powered Electric Vehicle Charging Station Opens Croatian state-owned energy utility HEP has on opened the first solar-powered electric-vehicle charging station in the country in the capital Zagreb. The ultra fast ELEN LEAF station has two shelters with solar panels and a charging power of 50 KW and 43 KW DC AC, along with the ability to simultaneously charge two vehicles. Although there are an increasing number of electric-vehicle charging stations in the country, the ELEN LEAF station in Zagreb is the first which is powered by solar energy. The ELEN LEAF stations will annually produce 3,000 kWh of electricity from renewable sources. HEP hopes by opening this station that cooperation with towns and interested partners will expand the network of public charging stations around Croatia.

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Bulgaria's Minstroy Gets Majority Stake in Mines Zletovo And Toranica Bulgarian mining and construction company Minstroy acquired a majority stake in the idled lead and zinc mines Zletovo and Toranica for €3.5 million.

Source: SeeNews

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Technavio, London based market research company, has issued report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the automotive industry in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) for the period 2016-2020. In addition, the report also presents the manufacturer landscape and a corresponding. According to the report, the automotive industry in B&H has a high potential in terms of growth, primarily due to availability of cheap labor. The country has a longstanding tradition of manufacturing automobiles and automotive components dating back to the 1950s. The production of automotive parts and components for passenger cars and heavy commercial vehicles was the first step

FYR MACEDONIA

The 1,000 miners working in the mines will return to their work within a month or two and will soon start getting their wages, Dragi Jovanovski, an official of Macedonia’s energy and mining industry trade union, told SeeNews. According to local media, the assets which Minstory acquired include the mines’ flotation facilities, equipment and management offices. They were previously estimated at around €7 million news agency Meta said.

HOW TO BE

A GREAT LISTENER

Harvard Business Review a came up with four main guidelines for improved listening skills based on the superior listeners in their data set. First, good listeners didn’t stay silent while listening. Instead, they gently asked questions, requesting additional information or clarification. Second, they built up the speaker’s self-esteem, making sure they felt supported and safe while speaking. Third, they were cooperative, not combative, searching for common ground instead of treating the conversation as a debate. Finally, they made suggestions, providing feedback in a way that was viewed as tactful and polite rather than pushy.

STABILITY “The aggravation of the political situation in the context of the terrorist threats existing in the country and armed conflict in the region carry a high risk to international and regional stability.” BULGARIA

— SERGEY LAVROV, Russia’s Foreign Minister

CEZ Takes Bulgaria to Arbitration Czech-based CEZ Group says it has filed a request for international investment arbitration against Bulgaria.The claim is worth “hundreds of millions of Euros.” A CEZ subsidiary is the largest electricity grid operator in Bulgaria covering the needs of several million customers. On its website, the group cites Bulgaria’s “failure to observe the investment protection provisions of the Energy Charter Treaty.” CEZ decided to turn to the In-

HUNGARY

ROMANIA

Uber Suspends Services in Hungary

New Credits in National Currency Rose by 50%

Uber said it had been forced to suspend services in the capital Budapest because new powers granted to authorities this month allowed them to penalise drivers and block internet access to “illegal dispatcher services”.

ternational Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) with the World Bank Group after “a number of actions of Bulgarian authorities damaging CEZ companies in Bulgaria, causing the long-term critical situation on the local energy market that is not improving.” Bulgaria has not used the opportunity for an amicable settlement of the dispute despite repeated notifications and demands from the company. Previously CEZ, alongside other power distribution companies, have been involved in long disputes with Bulgaria, with debt claims on either sides. These, however, have never been referred to arbitration.

Over January-May 2016 Romanian banks granted new credits of 12 billion lei (€2,7 billion) to people, on the rise by 50% compared to the same period of 2015, on the background of lower interest rates for lei and the aggressive promotion of credits in the national currency. New credits in lei for the purchase of houses grew by 54% over January-May and reached an overall volume of €1.1 billion, while new consumer credits exceeded €1.56 billion, that is an advance of 44% against the same period of 2015, according to BNR data. At the level of May credits grew by 5% against the previous month and against May 2015. Real estate credits grew by 17% against April and by over 50% against the same period of 2015. The overall volume reached €10.5 million in May. Consumer credits got closer to €12.3 million in May.

KOSOVO

The law is the latest regulatory setback in Europe for the company, where it has encountered strong opposition by taxi drivers and frequent restrictions by local courts. The San Francisco-based company works with 1,200 drivers in Budapest and says it has 160,000 registered users there. “The new legal framework makes it impossible for our partners to drive by threatening to seize their personal drivers’ licences and personal vehicles, in addition to several other punitive penalties,” said Robbie Khazzam, Uber’s regional manager for central and eastern Europe. Uber has also faced regulatory pushback in France, Belgium, Germany and Italy, all countries in which it has suspended its Uber Pop service, which matches passengers with unlicensed drivers.

Customs Exceeds €500mln of Incomes For the first time since its established, the Customs of Kosovo has reached a record amount of incomes of €500 million during the period 1.january until mid last month. Compared to the last year, it clearly shows a remarkable performance after an increase of €76.5 million during the previous year (2015) Customs had collected about €433.4 million and now in the same period Customs collected over €509.9 million which is by 18 percent more than last year “, is said in a press release,“ reported in the statement of the general director of the Customs of Kosovo. “Kosovo Customs according to the current trends, by the end of 2016, will reach a record in the collection of incomes compared to previous years because we expect to close this year with over €1 billion for the budget of Kosovo,” added Customs of Kosovo press release, pointed out that the continuous growth of the professionalism of the customs and the implementation of a successful reform since 2014 have made it possible to have record incomes and a modern customs that has the capacity to face the economic challenges of the country.

AUGUST

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By MARKUS BECKER

DIESEL EMISSIONS:

EU Commission has Known for Years about Manipulation The European Commission insists that it knew nothing about diesel emissions manipulations perpetrated by Volkswagen and other automobile manufacturers. Documents obtained by SPIEGEL ONLINE show otherwise tem (PeMS), which measures the temperature and chemical makeup of emissions in addition to vehicle data such as speed and acceleration. This technology, which was later used to reveal VW emissions manipulation in the United States, was largely developed by the JRC. JRC launched their PeMS tests in 2007 and quickly discovered that nitrogen quality in European cities was improvSince at least 2010, the European oxide emissions from diesel vehicles were Commission has been in possesing much more slowly than was to be much higher under road conditions than sion of concrete evidence that expected in light of stricter emissions in the laboratory. The initial results were automobile manufacturers were regulations. The Commission charged the published in a journal in 2008 and they cheating on emissions values of diesel Joint Research Centre (JRC) -- an organicame to the attention of the Commission. vehicles, according to a number of inOn Oct. 8, 2010 -- roughly three ternal documents that Spiegel Online years after the JRC tests -- an internal The European Commission has obtained. The papers show that memo noted that it was “well known” emissions cheating had been under continues to deny even today that there was a discrepancy bediscussion for years both within the that it knew anything of the tween diesel vehicle emissions during Commission and the EU member state the type approval stage (when new illegal practices. “We are just governments. The documents also vehicle models are approved for use show that the German government as shocked as everyone about on European roads) and real-world was informed of a 2012 meeting on driving conditions. The document the Volkswagen emissions the issue. The scandal first hit the also makes the origin of this discrepheadlines in 2015 when it became manipulation,” said a ancy clear: It is the product of “an known that Volkswagen had maextended use of certain abatement Commission spokeswoman nipulated the emissions of its diesel technologies in diesel vehicles.” vehicles.

The records provide a rough chronology of the scandal, which reaches back to the middle of the 2000s. Back then, European Commission experts noticed an odd phenomenon: Air 36 |

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zation that carries out studies on behalf of the Commission -- with measuring emissions in real-life conditions. To do so, JRC used a portable device known as the Freeway Performance Measurement Sys-

‘A QUITE HOT MEETING’ The reference is likely to the “defeat devices” -- essentially programs in the engine software -- that would shut off

anti-pollution controls under certain conled the Enterprise and Industry departsion that would require car companies to ditions. According to an EU law passed ment and answered to Commissioner provide information about the software in 2007, emissions control measures can Tajani. The letter bluntly demanded that employed in their vehicles during the only be switched off in specific situations Crespo do his job, requesting that he type approval stage to enable the exter-- to avoid engine damage, for example. check to see if “certain current practices nal examination of that software. In midVW, however, used such programs to prodocumented extensively by the JRC” are June, the European Commission agreed consistent with the law. duce low emissions when the software to adopt so-called WLTP (Worldwide Harcould detect a laboratory testing setting. monized Light Vehicles Test Procedure) ‘WE ARE ASHAMED’ EU member state governments were emissions testing, which is supposed also apparently aware of possible emisThe practices mentioned in the letter to provide more accurate figures on the include “emission abatement techniques sions manipulation well before the VW emissions and fuel consumption of new scandal hit the headlines. In May 2012, a that are switched off at low temperatures vehicles. or when the vehicle needs additional Commission official sent an email to relFor Claude Turmes, a member of Eupower” -- exactly the kind of thing that evant ministries in several EU countries, ropean Parliament with the Green Party, including the British, French and German environment ministries, describing a meeting of the Real Driving Emissions of Light-Duty Vehicles (RDE-LDV) working group. Led by the European Commission, the body includes representatives from EU member states, the Joint Research Centre, the automotive industry and NGOs. It focuses on emissions testing procedures. “Yesterday, we had a quite hot (in any sense) RDE-LVD (sic!) meeting,” the email begins. Automobile Since at least 2010, the European Commission has been in manufacturers, it notes, possession of concrete evidence that automobile “strongly resist” the introduction of PeMS testing manufacturers were cheating on emissions values of diesel during the type approval vehicles, according to a number of internal documents that stage. One possible reason, Spiegel Online has obtained. The papers show that emissions the email notes, is the desire for “leaving the door cheating had been under discussion for years both within the open” to avoiding emisCommission and the EU member state governments sions test cycles. Shortly thereafter, the sensitive information made it all the way got Volkswagen in trouble. Falkenberg the response comes much too late. “The up to Antonio Tajani, who was European notes in the letter that his department Commission should have demanded commissioner for industry and entreprebelieved such practices were in violation that member states do something neurship at the time. In summer 2012, he of EU law. about emissions cheating many years was notified by the autoparts supplier The European Commission continues ago,” he says. Although the Commission Schrader Electronics -- both by letter and to deny even today that it knew anything had “concrete indications” about the in a personal meeting -- about the softof the illegal practices. “We are just as practices in October 2010, “the political ware manipulations being undertaken by shocked as everyone about the Volkdecision was made to do nothing so as automobile manufacturers. But again, swagen emissions manipulation,” said a to buy time.” nothing happened. Commission spokeswoman. “No concrete But while the Commission has disThe lack of action created friction evidence on the use of defeat devices or played little in the way of contrition, a within the Commission. While there are VW representative struck a different note of the failure of a member state to act 28 commissioners -- one for each EU was ever brought to the attention of the on Wednesday in front of the European member state -- the commission is broCommission.” Parliament’s Committee of Inquiry into ken down into 33 departments, known In the documents, there are repeated Emission Measurements in the Automoas “directorates-general,” each led by a tive Sector. Ulrich Eichhorn, VW’s head references to the exertion of influence director general. In November 2014, Karl on the Commission, including by the of development, said his company had Falkenberg, director general of the enviautomotive industry. But the VW scandal made a huge mistake. “We are ashamed,” ronment department, sent a letter to his has pushed Brussels to act. Currently, a he said. counterpart Daniel Calleja Crespo, who Commission proposal is under discus Source: Spiegel Online AUGUST

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NEWS

ADVICE “I think that’s the single best piece of advice: constantly think about how you could be doing things better and questioning yourself.”

WORLD

— ELON MUSK, CEO and CTO of SpaceX, CEO of Tesla Motors

Italy’s third-largest and the world’ oldest bank, Monte dei Paschi de Siena, is on the point of collapse unless it receives state support. Its failure could spark a banking crisis in Europe, but EU rules forbid bank bailouts using public funds. According to the IMF,

ITALY

SLOVAKIA

World's Oldest Bank Faces Uphill Battle With EU

Nine Firms Fined for Cartel Agreement

Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena has over €360 billion of non-performing loans. Experts expect the bank to become the worst performer with the risk of its failure likely to shake the Italian banking system. The bank has already been bailed out twice, but is likely to need a third multibillion euro cash injection from the government. EU regulations ban member states from using public money to support failed banks. If Italy follows the rules imposed by Brussels, several national banks will become insolvent.

The Antimonopoly Office (PMÚ) has fined altogether nine companies with a total of €10.3 million for signing a cartel agreement on prices of certain food stuffs. It is one of the highest fines issued by PMÚ.

RUSSIA

Russia Lifts Customs Duty on Electric Cars The Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) has approved tax-free imports of vehicles equipped with electric engines. This will make buying an electric car in Russia about 15 percent cheaper. EEC is the body responsible for implementing decisions taken by the members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) that includes Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. The duty on electric cars was cancelled in February 2014, but the exclusion was not extended when it expired earlier this year. The new amendment will come into effect in September and last till the end of August, 2017. The exclusion does not apply to any other cars, including hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

BELGIUM

Airbus Beats Boeing at Farnborough Airshow

Solvay Joint Venture with Mubadala in UAE

Airbus flew past rival Boeing to end the Farnborough Airshow with 279 orders and commitments worth US$35 billion at list prices, but orders from both plane makers fell compared with the show in Paris last year. Airbus, which had been behind Boeing leading up to the show, reported firm new deals for 197 aircraft worth US$26.8 billion, led by demand for the largest version of its single-aisle A320. Boeing said it had announced orders and commitments for 182 aircraft, though these included 42 that were already on its books and for which only the names of the buyers were disclosed. Both firms said they were on track to meet their targets of matching orders with deliveries this year, as the industry braces for flatter growth after a recent order boom.

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The investigation revealed that the Slovak dairy Rajo agreed on prices of milk, cream and butter together with eight retailers. As a result, the products were sold for prices that were higher than if they had originated according to the principles of effective market competition. The list of retailers includes Billa, Carrefour, CBA, Coop Jednota, Moja Samoška, Kaufland, Terno, and Tesco. They usually only pretended to fight for customers when selling the Rajo products, Sme wrote. Rajo, as well as seven retailers, however, still plead their innocence and claim the charges are fabricated. The only one that admitted to the cartel agreement is Billa, which will thus pay only half of the fine.

Chemicals company Solvay announced it was entering a new joint venture with the Abu Dhabi based Mubadala Development Company to deliver advanced composite materials for Boeing’s new 777X program. The 50/50 joint venture will supply carROGER KEARNS, SOLVAY (left), Kent Fisher Boeing Commercial Airplanes, bon fibre pre-impregnated comand V HOMAID AL SHIMMARI, Mubadala CEO posite materials to support the 777X needs. The new company, building on the partnership both companies established in 2013, will be located in the United Arab Emirates and is expected to be operational by 2021. Solvay’s prepreg-technology, consisting of fibre reinforcements pre-impregnated with a resin matrix used in creating a composite parts, that provides exceptional performance at lower weight compared to metal structures.

TURKEY

RISK

DO YOU KNOW

“The biggest risk is not taking any risk… In a world that’s changing really quickly, the only strategy guaranteed to fail is not taking risks.”

There are more possible iterations in a game of chess than there are atoms in the known universe

— MARK ZUCKERBERG, Co-Founder of Facebook

CHINA

Turkish Airlines - The Best Airline in Europe For The Sixth Year in a Row

Siemens Engaged to Push Forward Industrial Revolution

Turkish Airlines has been chosen as “Europe’s Best Airline” for the sixth year in a row at the 2016 Skytrax World Airlines Awards, which is the most respected global airline passenger survey organization, and is described as the Oscars of the aviation industry at the Farnborough International Airshow in London. Its award six years running demonstrates Turkish Airlines’ continued commitment to passenger satisfaction and excellence in its industry. The independent poll assesses trav-

Chairman of the Board and Executive Committee İLKER AYCI (right) receives the award from Skytrax CEO EDWARD PLAISTED

eler feedback, along with key performance indicators such as check-in, arrivals, transfers, shopping, security and immigration right through to departure at the gate.

German manufacturer Siemens is committed to Chinese manufacturing market by participating in the cooperation between China and Germany in jointly promoting “Industry 4.0” and “Made in China 2025” strategy.

POLAND

Italian UniCredit Sold Minority Stakes in Polish Pekao

U.S.

Ahold and Delhaize to Divest 86 US Stores Supermarket companies Ahold (Netherland) and Delhaize Group (Belgium) announced that their US subsidiaries have reached agreements with buyers to divest a total of 86 stores in locations where the companies’ subsidiaries both operate. The divestments, to established supermarket operators, are being made in connection with the US Federal Trade Commission’s pending review of the proposed merger between the two companies. They represent 4.1% of the Ahold and Delhaize companies’ total combined US store count and 3.2% of the Ahold and Delhaize companies’ combined US 2015 net sales All of the purchase agreements are subject to Federal Trade Commission, FTC, approval and the divested stores are expected to be converted by the buyers to their new banners.

Italy’s biggest bank, UniCredit, has sold a minority stake in Polish subsidiary Bank Pekao, a move aimed at raising capital. The Italian lender said it raised €749 MATEUSZ MORAWIECKI, Polish Deputy million by selling a 10 Prime Minister percent stake in Pekao SA. Commenting on the sale, Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Development Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told the PAP news agency that “if there are such opportunities on the market, we will try to boost the share of Polish institutions in the banking sector.” The Polish market accounts for 6 percent of UniCredit’s revenues, according to March 2016 data.

The two concepts were raised accordingly by Germany and China, while consistent in terms of their substance to enhance digitization and automation to boost up industrial revolution. Industrial collaboration has been reiterated since October last year. In practice, Siemens proposed “digital twin” and “product lifecycle management (PLM)” as measures to integrate production process to cooperate with Chinese companies. “Digital twin” is embodied in the application of technology platforms such as Totally Integrated Automation (TIA) and Integrated Drive Systems (IDS), which means engineers can control practical operations in a parallel virtual workflow.

KAZAKHSTAN

Exporting Cars to Russia and Central Asia Kazakhstan plans to begin exporting cars to Russia and Central Asian countries over the next several years. Car production in the country will be localised by 50 percent, meaning at least 50 percent of their components will be produced locally, in the next three to four years. “No lesser than 200,000 units production by 2025 is being planned in car manufacturing, achieving 50 percent localisation in the nearest three or KAZAKHSTAN PLANT "ASIA AUTO" four years and the start of car exports to Russia and Central Asia,” said Kazakh Minister of Investment and Development Zhenis Kassymbek. Based on the results of May this year, output volume of passenger cars has almost doubled relative to April 2016 figures, amounting to 1,072 units and showing growth of 95 percent. AUGUST

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AFTER WORK

30 MATHEMATICAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL CUP HELD JUN

VOJISLAV LAZAREVIĆ, CEO of Piraeus Bank (left), TATJANA MATIĆ and SRĐAN OGNJANOVIĆ

01 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF ENERGOPROJEKT

JUL

COMMEMORATED

Former Yugoslav and current Serbian construction giant “Energoprojekt” held a ceremonial academy in its administrative building to commemorate 65 years of its work in the country and worldwide. As the only company in the region to be found on the list of top global companies, over previous decades Energoprojekt has built thousands of facilities in Serbia and around 80 other countries worldwide. “From African deserts to the Siberian steppes, for six and a half decades we have proclaimed the glory of Serbia, a country of top experts and the best builders, whose work is confirmed by facilities that are used every day by millions of people,” said Energoprojekt CEO Vladimir Milovanović. “Whenever there are problems and something needs to be built somewhere and the government does not have a solution, it says ‘we have Energoprojekt’,” said Serbian PM Aleskandar Vučić, speaking at a reception that was attended by more than 300 guests, representatives of the diplomatic corps, collaborators and friends of Energoprojekt from the country and abroad.

The closing ceremony of the Mathematical Grammar School Cup, which took place at the National Assembly, saw the school’s director, Srđan Ognjanović, present a letter of gratitude to Tatjana Matić, State Secretary at the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications, for her “selfless support given to young talent” and for “long-standing successful cooperation”. Vladimir Kostić, President of the Serbian Academy of Art and Sciences, also gave a speech welcoming the Cup’s contestants and adding that they have to continue developing their talents by being committed to science and work. Almost 140 pupils aged up to 15 from 13 European countries, divided into 25 teams, participated in this year’s competition, covering mathematics, physics and informatics. The competition’s main sponsor was Piraeus Bank, Serbia.

PM ALEKSANDAR VUČIĆ and Energoprojekt CEO VLADIMIR MILOVANOVIĆ

06 NORWEGIAN HELP JUL

Ambassador ARNE SANNES BJØRNSTAD and Prime Minister ALEKSANDAR VUČIĆ

H.E. ARNE SANNES BJØRNSTAD

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FOR OBRENOVAC

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić and the H.E. Norwegian Ambassador to Serbia Arne Sannes Bjørnstad visited the renovated Obrenovac Sports & Culture Centre, which was heavily damaged during the floods of May 2014. PM Vučić thanked the Norwegian Ambassador, explaining that Norway donated €2.3 million to Obrenovac alone. The reconstruction started in November last year, with the small and large theatre halls, sports hall, gallery and library all being renovated. The reconstruction project was implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), with the Kingdom of Norway setting aside €1.5 million for interior reconstruction. The Prime Minister and Ambassador Bjørnstad also visited a photo exhibition showing the images of the centre before and after the flooding, as well as the reconstruction stages.

VLADIMIR MILOVANOVIĆ presents an award to engineer MIODRAG MESAROVIĆ, who has worked for Energoprojekt since 1962.

05 “ITALY-SERBIA: BUSINESS LINKS - LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE”

JUL

A two-day conference entitled “Italy-Serbia Business Links - Local Infrastructure”, organised by Confindustria in Serbia, in collaboration with the Assolomabarda Association, companies EU Build and BET and the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (SCC), with help from Banca Intesa and companies Magip and Buck, took place on the premises of the SCC. The goal of the conference was to gather all relevant local governments in Serbia and Italian companies in one place in order to contribute to and support the development of Serbia’s infrastructure. Apart from senior officials from the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure and the SCC, discussions also included conference participants H.E. Giuseppe Manzo (Italian Ambassador to Serbia), Daniel Berg (EBRD Director in Serbia), Francesco Lupo (Banca Intesa Executive Board member and Corporate Division Director) and Darko Budeč (BUCK founder and owner).

JUL

The presidents of Serbia and Montenegro, Tomislav Nikolić and Filip Vujanović, opened the new “Montenegrin House” in Belgrade, assessing that this building should contribute to further deepening the two countries’ friendship. “Montenegro has decided for this to be the ‘Montenegrin House’ in Belgrade, which will not only be defined by diplomacy, but rather with maximally affirm the partnership with Serbia in the interests of the two countries and Presidents FILIP VUJANOVIĆ and TOMISLAV peoples, with the function of advancing NIKOLIĆ relations,” said Vujanović. “This house of yours in the Serbian capital, a gift of Montenegro on the day when it celebrates its statehood, I see as an open door of friendship and as the strengthening of otherwise strong ties between our peoples and countries,” said President Nikolić at the ceremony. The formal opening ceremony of the “Montenegrin House” was attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps, and members of the political, cultural and public life of Serbia and the Montenegrin diaspora.

AMCHAM

08 ANNUAL MEDIA JUL BRUNCH

AmCham held an annual meeting with leading editors and economic journalists at the Klub Književnika restaurant. The gathering provided an excellent opportunity for Vera Nikolić Dimić, AmCham Executive Director, to acknowledge the guests’ cooperation and reporting on AmCham issues, and to present AmCham Board members and the results achieved by the association in the last year. The audience was also addressed by AmCham President Zoran Perović, who emphasised the importance of the further regulatory changes that AmCham will be focused on with regard to the improvement of business conditions in the market, After the business was concluded, the event continued in an informal and friendly atmosphere in the garden of the restaurant.

MONTENEGRIN HOUSE OPENED IN BELGRADE

Photo: Aljazeera

Photo: AmCham

AUGUST

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AFTER WORK

JUL

CORD DONATES TO REFUGEE AID SERBIA

Belgrade has long been an international city accustomed to hosting travellers, but over the past year the city has seen arrivals of a different kind: just during the month of July, a daily average of 1,200 asylum seekers were present in Belgrade, which is a vital transit point on their journey towards the EU. More people are now dependent on fewer support services to fulfil their most basic needs of food, clothing and shelter. “We at Refugee Aid Serbia have been distributing hot meals, clothing, hygiene products and other essential items to asylum seekers in the parks of Belgrade since March. We rely on individual or corporate donations to acquire these items. At present we do not have enough to meet the huge needs we are encountering,” says Felix Thomson, Volunteer Coordinator at Refugee Aid Serbia. If you wish to help, you can offer financial or material donations by getting in touch at felix. thomson.ras@gmail.com or by calling (381) 6851 40731.

JUL

NEW COCA-COLA BOTTLE DESIGNED IN COOPERATION WITH LOCAL ARTISTS

For the first time in the history of the domestic market Coca-Cola has established cooperation with local artists, who have created six completely unique styles of bottles. Brothers Burazeri, Artez, Linnch, Nikola Mihajlović Kori, Vuk Ćuk and Bratislav Milenković were inspired by the senses involved in the consumption of Coca-Cola, as well as their personal experiences of the world’s most famous brand. This limited edition series of Coca-Cola bottles was presented to the public at a large party in Dorćol Platz in the presence of many artists, designers, celebrities, partners and friends of the company. The collection is presented through authentic audio-visual materials that showed the process of creating the bottles and the work of artists who were inspired by sensations that occur when drinking the famous beverage.

VERA NIKOLIĆ-DIMIĆ, AmCham Executive Director, and BORA MILJANOVIĆ, CEO of Represent Communication

ISSUANCE OF ELECTRONIC BUILDING PERMITS

ZORANA MIHAJLOVIĆ, Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure and ANA BRNABIĆ, NALED Managing Board President, with awarded representatives of Municipalities and cities

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TANJA PETROVIĆ, Senior Marketing Manager for the Coca Cola Company

Kruševac, Valjevo, Vršac, Sombor and Smederevo are the most successful cities, while Bečej, Svilajnac, Veliko Gradište, Ruma and Apatin are the most successful municipalities when it comes to the issuing electronic construction permits in the first six months of implementation of the new system. Awards for excellent results were presented to them by Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Zorana Mihajlović and NALED Managing Board President Ana Brnabić. A formal event at the Parliamentarians Club saw the delivery of 120 PCs for more than 40 local governments and institutions, with the aim of improving the technical capacity to implement unified electronic procedures. The computers were secured with credit from the World Bank for the support of training of officers of all cities and municipalities, which was organised by the Ministry of Construction and NALED.

ZORANA MIHAJLOVIĆ, Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure

JUL

SCREENINGS MARK THE OPENING OF NEGOTIATION CHAPTERS 23 AND 24

TIJANA KOLUNDŽIJA, EU Desk Officer, Embassy of Italy

JUL

On the occasion of the opening of EU accession negotiation chapters 23 and 24, the Italian Embassy in Belgrade organised the screening of two short films on the contribution of the Directorate for Development Cooperation of the Government of Italy, the sector of social protection of children and young people in Serbia through the financing of two projects: „Strengthening institutions for the decentralisation of social services“ and “Support to the process of de-institutionalisation for children with special needs in Serbia”, which are being conducted by the Region of Emilia Romagna and UNICEF. These two projects have contributed significantly to improving the sector of social protection for children and young people in Serbia, as well as approaching European standards in the field of human rights and thus supporting the process of European integration. The event was attended by representatives of Italian institutions: Alessandro Neto, First Secretary of the Embassy of Italy, Paola Cordone, Cultural attaché at the Italian Cultural Institute and Tijana Kolundzija, EU Desk Officer at the Embassy of Italy.

EKO SERBIA AND TRAFFIC SAFETY AGENCY PRESS CONFERENCE Representatives of EKO SERBIA, with representatives of the Agency for Traffic Safety, at a press conference on, 21st July 2016, officially announced the start of partnership and cooperation and on this occasion a protocol on cooperation was signed with which EKO pumps joined the summer campaign of prevention of traffic accidents titled ‘Drive Fresh’. The campaign aims to highlight the importance of regular breaks during the longer journeys and is intended for all passengers in the summer season, both in transit and on local routes. Attendees were addressed by Director of Traffic Safety Agency – Jasmina Milosevic, General Manager of EKO Serbia – Goran Dejanovic, Commercial Director of EKO Serbia – Vassilis Makris, Marketing and PR Manager – Marija Lukic.

JUL

KPOP WORLD FESTIVAL & AMBASSADOR’S KPOP PARTY

Korean Ambassador to Serbia LEE DOHOON

Around 350 fans of Kpop (Korean pop music) gathered from all over Serbia to attend the event “Kpop World Festival Serbia 2016”, which was held on 26th July at Belgrade’s Dom Omladine Youth Centre. This competition, organised by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, was held in Belgrade for the first time and brought together a large number of fans of Kpop music, who competed in singing and dancing to the songs of their favorite bands from Korea. The awards were presented to contestants by Korean Ambassador to Serbia Lee Dohoon, who said: “It was great to dance and sing with youth from Serbia to Korean music. We hope that this event will also be held in the years to come.” Following the competition, entertainment in the spirit of Korean pop music continued at the Shake & Shake splav, where more than 500 fans enjoyed the greatest hits of this musical genre.

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CULTURE CALENDAR CONCERTS

Terminal Music & Art Festival 4 - Summer Stage “Cabaret”, Sombor – 20:00 Terminal Music & Art is an international festival taking place on 4th and 5th August in Sombor, which will include more than 30 foreign and domestic musicians and fine artists, with the

audience enjoying jazz, electro, funk and disco music genres. Thanks to the support of the Italian Cultural Institute, this festival also includes the participation of the Mauro Sigura Quartet. In 2013, Mauro Sigura, Gianfranco Fedele, Alessandro Cau and Tancredi Emmi established their quartet and implemented “The color Identity” project. After a series of successful concerts in the most important jazz clubs in Sardinia and in Rome, this quartet performed in Tunisia in the Acropolium in Carthage and in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as part of the International Jazz Festival. In 2015 the Mauro Sigura Quartet released its debut album for the label SARD-EGEA, presented at the European Jazz Expo in Calgary. Since then it has continued to record success. The event is organised in collaboration with Instituto Italiano di Cultura Belgrado.

Tango Jazz Quartet 15 – Guarnerius – 20:00 Argentina’s famous “Tango Jazz Quartet” will perform at Guarnerius on Monday 15th August. This will be the first time for the Belgrade audience to have an opportunity to hear a live performance of this quartet, which has an

Nišville 11-14 – Niš Fortress The International Nišville jazz festival is the largest and most-visited jazz festival in Southeast Europe. The festival is an official cultural event of the City of Niš (since 2005) and also “the festival of national value”, according to rankings published by the Serbian Ministry of Culture in 2010. The importance of the festival has also been recognised by the Serbian Ministry of Trade and Services and the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, with the Nišville festival winning the Best of Serbia Award in 2011. The Tourist Organisation of Serbia includes Nišville in its official offer at tourist fairs throughout Europe. In the European Union magazine “New Europe”, published in Brussels, the festival has been reviewed as representing the “European face of Serbia”. Since the first edition of the festival in 1995, Nišville has been promoting multiculturalism as an inevitable characteristic of contemporary jazz music. The festival’s concept is based on presenting ‘traditional’ jazz forms together with their fusion with the world music tradition, with an emphasis on music from the Balkans. One of the best jazz bands from France - RP3 (Remi Panossian Trio) is set to perform at Nišville 2016 on Sunday 14th August. The trio has been elected "Revelation of the year 2011" approach that combines two music styles – tango and jazz – and occupies an increasingly important place on the world music scene. Playing first across Argentina and gaining many fans, since 2011 it has conquered the European music scene, performing in Germany, France, Belgium, Spain, Austria and the Czech Republic. During 2014 the quartet had a major world tour lasting almost two months. It all started when Gustavo Firmenich

by French radio ‘TSF JAZZ!’, and they’ve been invited to play a song at Olympia Hall Paris for the “You and the night and the Music” show. One of the all-time best soul artists - Joss Stone – will perform at Nišville 2016, also on 14th August. In her short young life and already long career, Joss has performed onstage with the likes of James Brown, Mick Jagger, Dave Stewart, Gladys Knight, Solomon Burke, Blondie, Smokey Robinson and Melissa Etheridge, among many others. She’s contributed to albums by Jeff Beck and Ringo Starr, played the Super Bowl pre-game show, performed at the Grammy’s – and indeed won a Grammy herself! In her twenty-five years she’s participated in more moments of absolute musical wonder than most people can hope for in an entire lifetime. For this year’s complete line-up, please visit nisville.com

brought to life dance evenings with the participation of tango orchestras and jazz bands, for which Buenos Aires was once famous, calling them “Tipica y jazz”. In dealing jazz and tango, which have many similarities, Gustavo discovered one aspect that makes the difference between the two genres – improvisation. That is why in 2000 he began searching for ways to successfully combine these two musical styles. Over the years he studies tango

31 – Guarnerius – 20:00 On Wednesday 31st August at 8pm the Guarnerius Centre for Fine Arts will host the performance of Novi Sad-based pianist with a rich career as a performer – Bogdan Đorđević. Đorđević was born in 1977 in Novi Sad and was a student of the first generation, the so-called “Year Zero”, in the preparatory class of the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad for exceptional talent in the classes of professors Kemal Gekić and Jokut Mihailovic, with whom he enrolled in June 1995, through extraordinary advancement, in full-time piano studies. He graduated in 2000 from the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad in the class of Professor Gekić. He completed his specialist art studies in 2001 and thereafter master art studies in 2006 in the class of Professor Rita Kinka at the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad. As a fourth year student he was the winner of a scholarship awarded by the University of Novi Sad for young

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talents and successful students as the only student from the music department. He won the second prize in the Petar Konjović International Competition in Belgrade in the category of students in 1997. He has performed more than 100 solo concerts and recitals, as well as performing with orchestras and chamber ensembles.

both theoretically and practically: he played in different chamber formations with experienced musicians, learning the secrets of tango from them. In 2005 he founded the quartet “Tango Jazz”. During the following two years the musicians in the ensemble changed often, only for the final formation of the quartet to be created in 2007, and it still elicits stunning reactions from audiences and critics alike. The quartet has to date released four compact discs. The first was produced in collaboration with renowned French accordionist Richard Galliano and promoted through international tours, which were supported by the Ministry of Culture and Foreign Affairs of Argentina, recognising them as a project of great artistic and cultural value. The concert is sponsored by the Embassy of Argentina in Belgrade. Admission is free.

FILM

Guitar Art Summer Fest 15-20 – Herveg Novi, Montenegro

Stroll through Italian cultural heritage - Northern Italy 4 - Fabrika - 20:00 The Italian Cultural Institute in Belgrade, in cooperation with Fabrika, is organising a “Stroll through Italian cultural heritage”, a cycle of screenings of Italian archaeological films that includes a series of documentaries about Italy and its rich and diverse cultural heritage. The programme includes nine documentary films that will be presented during three evenings in the pleasant atmosphere of Fabrika’s open-air cinemas. On Thursday 4th August the programme includes two documentaries dedicated to northern Italy: - “Lacus Timava”, directed by Giorgio Gregorio, represents the area of Lakus Timava, a watery mirror that once enclosed coastal areas and islands, where villages constantly shifted from prehistoric times to the sixth century AD; - “Cromazio di Aquileia al Crocevie di genti e religioni”, also directed by Giorgio Gregorio, talks about the life of Chromatius, the Bishop of Aquileia, a Roman colony founded in 181 BC, a crossroads of peoples who differed in language, culture and religion. All documentary films are in Italian, with subtitles in Serbian.

GUITAR ART SUMMER FEST – A DECADE IN HERCEG NOVI, represents the place and concept that have taken the guitar to the steps of history. For ten years the sounds of guitars have been echoing on stone, rising and falling 100,001 times. The now familiar sound of a guitar echoing through the streets of the old town leads us through narrow, steep streets to her. It is no longer

a secret. It is a tradition that begins at dusk, when the lanterns are slowly lit in Marka Cara Street. Then familiar footsteps echo through the old town, whilst at the same time the sounds of strings are being revealed. This creates a symphony prior to the start of the evening’s concert, which enchants passers-by and intentional, experienced travellers. Thus the folk of Herceg Novi, Novljani, create their own distinctive music with their steps, each of which provides tone, intonation and a signal of the start of the concert. By tacit agreement and right of birth, everyone has their own place. They built it

Cycle of Spanish film “Cinema under the Stars“

poetic position of man versus the beasts of chaos and wonder”.

14-28 - Culture Centre GRAD

“Gente en sitios” Sunday, 14.08 @ 21h Shot without a budget, using a handheld

“Todos están muertos”

camera, the film “People around us” is a “viewfinder through the kaleidoscope” situation in which comedy, drama, social issues, horror and surrealism alternate, with the common denominator of “the intractable

Kashink Until 31st August – Institut Francais Kashink is an unusual girl who is very active in the field of street art and graffiti. Her very appearance is atypical, because she often sports a moustache in honour of artist Frida Kahlo. She is also atypical in her works, with her pictures showing enormous protean characters with multiple eyes or a Mexican skull. And all of that is painted using a very colourful style of graphics, far from what we are accustomed to with traditional female girly graffiti. Kashink presents engaged painting and starts from the idea that painting on the street helps people to convey a message to a great many people. In addition to themes that are very close to her heart, we also find topics that are taboo for our society, such as equal rights for men and women,

up over the last ten years. This place was not given to them by anyone, because the festival is nobodies, but it is theirs. Any decent individual who forms part of the audience at this romantic coastal and superior guitar festival has built their place in the last 10 years. They come together and stand proud as hosts of the evening, releasing waves of guitar sounds to once again lay siege to the city walls. That’s nothing surprising, as Herceg Novi has always been and remains a centre and inspiration of artists. After a decade of the festival, guitarists all over the world know about the city of the arts in Kotor Bay. They talk about the audience that closely monitors every tone, which gratefully applauds every musical masterpiece and proudly welcomes artists, providing them with immeasurable inspiration. That’s how the Guitar Art Summer Fest has become a secret relationship between guitars and Novljani. For programme details please visit gaf.rs

Sunday, 21.08 @ 21h Lupe (Elena Anaya) suffers from severe agoraphobia and lives trapped in her home. When seen in a robe and slippers, as she lives with her mother and her teenage son who despises her, no one would think that back in the ‘80s she was a rock star. Her mother, who was sick of watching her daughter who had turned into an egocentric brawler, on All Saints’ Day, in the evening, decides to talk with her son Diego. He comes home in a steady manner: a young man of twenty-something years old, with an absent gaze. What makes the situation special is the fact that Diego is dead.

“Loreak” Sunday, 28.08 @ 21h

homosexuality, limiting outlooks etc. She regularly creates murals on equality of rights (Act Up) and voluntarily participates in the work of associations such as the Voice of the Child and Emmaüs. She cares about street art being an engaged act. Her work is inspired by her Slovenian and Spanish origins, pop art and narrative illustration, and are present on the streets and in galleries where her works are often exhibited. She is

increasingly in demand abroad to present her work (Canada, America, Europe) and decorate the façades of European cities, particularly London, Vienna, Ibiza, Bristol, Madrid, Berlin and Paris, where she lives, and this year she will paint façades in Pančevo, Belgrade and Niš. The French Institute in Belgrade presents her works in photographic form, according to a selection specially prepared for us by Kashink! Visit the website kashink.com

Ana’s life turns around when bouquets of flowers from an unidentified person start arriving for her every Sunday. Meanwhile, the lives of Lourdes and Terra also start to be influenced by the mysterious bouquets. An unknown person leaves a bouquet of flowers each every week in memory of a person who was an important part of their lives. This is a story of three women, three lives changed by the presence of flowers. Flowers will arouse in them feelings that have been forgotten... but in spite of everything, they’re just flowers. AUGUST

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CULTURAL RELATIONS: STRATEGY, VISION AND PERSPECTIVES

B y M A JA V U K A D I N OV I Ć

Cultural

TOGETHERNESS

The “EUNIC platform for creative exchange and encounter”, a unique EUNIC space for innovative and creative cooperation, lies at the core of the new EUNIC Serbia approach to cultural relations and cooperation, addressing open society and youth issues with strategically focused and formatted activities in the new EUNIC GLOBAL strategy period 2016-2018

European agenda. Members of EUNIC Serbia include the Austrian UNIC is the network of European national institutes Kulturforum, Wallonie-Bruxelles International, the French Institute, of culture and national bodies engaged in cultural and Goethe-Institut, the Hellenic Foundation for Culture, Instituto Cerrelated activities beyond their national borders. EUNIC vantes, the British Council and also the Embassy of Finland, Embassy brings together organisations from all 28 EU member of Hungary, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Embassy of states and adds value through its network of over 100 Portugal and the Embassy of Sweden, as associate members. clusters worldwide. Primarily, EUNIC promotes cultural diversity and cultural dialogue and advocates for a stronger role for culture in THE IMPORTANCE public policies and in external relations, both at the EuropeEUNIC is the network of European national OF CREATIVITY Recently, Jean-Baptiste Cuan and the international level. institutes of culture and national bodies zin, the Director of the French The EUNIC Serbia cluster engaged in cultural and related activities Institute in Serbia and head was established in 2007 and beyond their national borders. EUNIC brings of cooperation at the French currently has 15 members Embassy, was appointed as the and associate members and together organizations from all 28 EU several other partner organimember states and adds value through its new EUNIC Serbia president, and Slavica Marković-Sandić, sations that share knowledge network of over 100 clusters worldwide Communications and Public and resources on a common

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sions regarding cultural diplomacy. In the same way, some of instituDiplomacy Officer at the Embassy of Sweden, became vice-presitions are still more committed to traditional visions of nation branddent. Cuzin and Marković-Sandić spoke to CorD about the cultural ing while a new vision is needed. As Ms Marković- Sandić points diplomacy strategy for the next three years, priorities, joint cooperaout, some institutions work only within culture, others include both tion, core values and other issues. culture and politics, and there is also a division between cultural diThe “EUNIC platform for creative exchange and encounter”, a plomacy and public diplomacy. In a word, it is difficult to draw a line. unique EUNIC space for innovative and creative cooperation, lies at “It is important to find the red thread that connects what we all the core of the new EUNIC Serbia approach to cultural relations and are doing. The key is that we all support Serbia on its way to the cooperation, addressing open society and youth issues with strateEuropean Union. Our main goal is to promote the great diversity in gically focused and formatted activities in the new EUNIC GLOBAL culture, language, education in Europe and to enhance collaboration strategy period 2016-2018. In the framework of the EUNIC GLOBAL and partnerships between Serbia and EU.” strategy period from 2016-2018, EUNIC Serbia will design, impleIn terms of strategy, Marković-Sandić and Cuzin agree that there are ment and evaluate a platform of creative encounters and exchanges, several challenges for cultural diplomacy of Serbia. The country has ala cultural, educational, and cooperative “FabLab” for “fabulous”, inways been part of Europe in a geographical, cultural and historical sense. novative and “outside the box” ideas. It also has turbulent history. Today, Serbia is on its way to become a As Cuzin tells us, the strategy to be implemented in Serbia will member of the European Union, and the EU is fully supporting Serbia emphasise unique challenges with which society and culture deal. on that path. “Therefore, the strategy for Serbia will especially take into So far, a paper with key ideas has been adopted and forms the basis account activities that can open upon which the strategy will be up important questions and condefined and adopted by the end tribute to the establishment of an of the summer. on-going dialogue about social The EUNIC Serbia creavalues. Formats such as creative tive meeting point is designed residencies, creative mentorship to use the potential of cultural programmes, capacity building relations and co-operation to and training programmes with support Serbia and their polocal and international expertise litical and economic path to EU will provide skills, expertise, and integration, addressing crossnetworking resources for betcutting open society issues, and ter cultural project management including Serbia into a cultural and international relations,” adds unity of Europe, its principles Marković-Sandić. and values. European identities So far, EUNIC Serbia has and diversity, the autonomy of successfully cooperated with arts and culture and their instiIn the framework of the EUNIC GLOBAL Mikser Festival and BINA (Beltutions, and inclusive approachstrategy period from 2016-2018 – EUNIC grade Architectural week). Evees allow for new dialogue-oriry year, EUNIC Serbia also parSerbia will design, implement, and ented formats of participation, exchange, and encounter. evaluate a platform of creative encounter ticipates in activities related to European Day of Languages. In each of its projects and and exchange, a cultural, educational, and the The cluster supports activities project partnerships contributco-operative “FabLab” for , “fabulous”, outside Belgrade as well, in ing to the “EUNIC platform of Novi Sad and Niš in particular. innovative and “out of the box” ideas creative exchange”, EUNIC SerCuzin argues that Serbia bia – more often implicitly than is more than ever on a crossroads between Eastern and Western explicitly – will follow cross-cutting issues of open society: access to and Europe, between old and new EU member states, and that cultural freedom of information, speech and the media, human rights, gender work could show that culture is crucial for the cultural identity of the equality, sustainable development, and the liberty and autonomy of the country. Along the same lines, Marković-Sandić recalls the tradition arts and culture in an open society. of connecting Serbia with European cultures. She mentions many Both our interlocutors agree that open society values and the conmanifestations, such as the Week of European film that shows that nectivity of all European societies should be promoted. Also, they are the people in Serbia have always been very interested is in getting to inclined to a non-institutional approach. “European values are not only know cultures, heritages and also the contemporary achievements about open society and human rights, but also the promotion of cultural of other European nations. dialogues and establishing bridges in any possible sense,” Cuzin remarks. The conclusion is clear: Serbia and the European Union could and should work together in the field of culture for many reasons. A joint DIFFERENT VISIONS, ONE GOAL perspective and cooperation will make both sides stronger. This is called Having in mind that cultural institutes, embassies and partners cultural “togetherness”. ■ are differently organized, there are, as Cuzin suggests, different viAUGUST

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FACES & PLACES 29.06.2016

Day of The Apostolic Nunciature

H.E. LUCIANO SURIANI

H.E LUCIANO SURIANI and H.E. JOHANNES EIGNER, Austrian Ambassador

Apostolic Nuncio to Serbia, H.E. Luciano Suriani, organised a reception at the Hotel Metropol to mark “Pope Day” – the third anniversary since the electing of Pope Francis and the 50th anniversary of the reestablishment of the Nunciature in Belgrade as the Apostolic Nuncio in Serbia. “If the day is recognised by the morning, I have to say that we are on the way to really maintaining good relations and establishing even better ones between the Holy See and the people here,” said Suriani. The reception was attended by representatives of the government, parliament and the diplomatic corps, as well as figures from the cultural, public and religious life of Serbia. 01.07.2016

Slovakia Takes Over The Presidency of The Council of The EU

30.06.2016

Argentine Independence Day Marked H.E. Argentine Ambassador Ricardo Fernando Fernández hosted a ceremony at his residence on the occasion of the national holiday of his country – marking 200 years of Argentine independence, thus commemorating 200 years since the Declaration of Independence of the United Provinces of the Rio de La Plata. In a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, accompanied by a cultural and artistic programme, guests were served national food and drink specialities. The reception was attended by many prominent figures from the political, cultural and public life of Serbia, as well as the highest representatives of the diplomatic corps.

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H.E. HENDRIK VAN DEN DOOL, Dutch Ambassador, and H.E. DAGMAR REPČEKOVÁ, Slovakian Ambassador

Ambassador FERNÁNDEZ and Mrs. FERNÁNDEZ

On the occasion of handing over the presidency of the Council of the European Union from the Netherlands to Slovakia, a ceremony was organised in Belgrade and attended by H.E. Slovakian Ambassador Dagmar Repčeková, H.E. Dutch Ambassador Hendrik van den Dool, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Oscar Benedict, ambassadors of EU member states and representatives of the Serbian government and NGO sector. The Dutch Ambassador wished his Slovakian counterpart luck, strength and effort in “steering the ship”. “When it comes to the Netherlands, it will continue very strongly to support Serbia on its European path and will stand shoulder to shoulder with the country,” said Ambassador van den Dool. The ceremony was organised by the embassies of the Slovak Republic and the Netherlands, in cooperation with the EU Delegation and the EU info centre.

02.07.2016

Canada Day Commemorated

H.E. PHILIP PINNINGTON toasts guests

Ambassador and Mrs. PINNINGTON flank caricaturist DUŠAN PETRIČIĆ and his daughter MIHAILA

An official reception at the Embassy of Canada in Serbia marked the National Day of that country, at which H.E. Ambassador Philip Pinnington said that relations between the two countries are good, based on the work of many people, while the key link in our relations belongs to Canadian companies in the role of investors in Serbia. Ambassador Pinnington said that Canadians believe in tolerant and peaceful pluralism, in diversity as strength and in the protection of human rights. “We know that these values are also shared by the people of Serbia. We will continue to support Serbia because it also promotes these values in the country, the region and throughout the world,” said Pinnington.

05.07.2016

U.S. Independence Day Marked H.E. U.S. Ambassador to Belgrade Kyle Scott hosted a reception to mark the occasion of U.S. Independence Day, 4th July, at which he wished everyone “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. Ambassador Scott explained that Americans are marking the 240th anniversary of the declaration of “a new nation dedicated to the universal right to human dignity, political engagement and economic progress”. Independence Day “celebrations that bring them closer together”, like today’s ceremonial reception at the residence with friends from Serbia, with which, he noted, Americans share the same goals that are woven into the Declaration of independence,” said Scott. The reception was attended by Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić, President Tomislav Nikolić, National Assembly Speaker Maja Gojković, government ministers and representatives of religious communities, as well as former government officials, representatives of the diplomatic corps, figures from cultural and public life and numerous other guests.

H.E. KYLE SCOTT and Mrs. SCOTT welcome Serbian Prime Minister ALEKSANDAR VUČIĆ

MAJA GOJKOVIĆ, President TOMISLAV NIKOLIĆ and DRAGICA NIKOLIĆ

06.07.2016

Independence Day of Belarus

H.E. VLADIMIR CHUSHEV

H.E. Ambassador of Belarus to Serbia Vladimir Chushev organised a reception at Dedinje’s Villa “Jelena” to mark the national holiday of the Republic of Belarus - Independence Day. “Today the main result of our independence is peace, inter-ethnic harmony and decent living conditions for our citizens,” said Ambassador Chushev. The reception was attended by Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić, Speaker of the Serbian National Assembly Maja Gojković, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dačić and Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Irinej, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps and numerous figures from cultural and civic life. AUGUST

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FACES & PLACES 07.07.2016

Farewell Reception For The Israeli Ambassador

H. E. Ambassador YOSSEF LEVI with his medal and plaque

H. E. Ambassador LEVI with representatives of the Jewish Community

Belgrade’s Sukkat Shalom Synagogue hosted a formal reception on the occasion of the departure of H.E. Israeli Ambassador Yossef Levi after a five-year term. In his farewell address, Ambassador Levi thanked his Serbian friends for their cooperation, in particular Prime Minister Vučić and Minister Stefanović. He added that the flags of the two nations flying on the synagogue represent the past and the future of both the Israeli and the Serbian people. The formal event was attended by senior government officials and members of the diplomatic corps, while the Jewish Community in Belgrade presented Levi with a medal and a plaque of appreciation.

IVAN NOVČIĆ, H.E. CHRISTINE MORO, NATAŠA KOVAČEVIĆ, Mr. MORO and MAJA VIDAKOVIĆ

14.07.2016

France Celebrates National Holiday - Bastille Day The Embassy of France marked its traditional national holiday on 14th July with a reception organised to commemorate the occasion by the Embassy of France and Ambassador H.E. Christine Moro, which was attended by numerous guests, including Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić and other representatives of the government and state administration, as well as members of churches and religious communities and representatives of the cultural and public life of Serbia. During a meeting with journalists, H.E. CHRISTINA MORO accepts a picture as a gift the French ambassador stressed that from NATAŠA KOVAČEVIĆ and her father she is particularly happy about the opening of chapters 23 and 24 of the negotiations between Serbia and the EU. The event also provided an opportunity for popular basketball player Nataša Kovačević, with the support of production company Cinnamon Production and CorD Magazine to present a gift to Ambassador Moro, as a sign of thanks for everything that French doctors did for her after she suffered injury in a serious traffic accident.

27.07.2016

National Day of the Kingdom of Belgium

H. E. Belgian Ambassador LEO D’AES and Mrs. D’AES with KORI UDOVIČKI, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister

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H.E. CHRISTINE MORO and Prime Minister ALEKSANDARD VUČIĆ

On the occasion of Belgian National Day, H.E. Ambassador Leo D’aes and Mrs D’aes organised a festive reception at their residence, on 27th July, also the day of their 25th silver wedding anniversary. In a festive atmosphere, guests, including National Assembly Speaker Maja Gojković, Deputy Prime Minister Kori Udovički, and Minister of Defence Zoran Đorđević, enjoyed Belgian beers and other culinary specialties. Belgian National Day is actually celebrated on 21st July – the date in 1831 when Leopold of Saxe-Coburg swore allegiance to the new Belgian constitution, thus becoming the first King of the Belgians. The king’s vow marked the start of the independent state of Belgium under a constitutional monarchy and parliament.

STANDARDS & STANDARDISATION

in Serbia

2016

INTERVIEW

Serbian Standards at The European Level

The Institute for the Standardisation of Serbia (ISS) brings Serbian standards that are harmonised with international and European standards. The overall objective of ISS is to develop a national standardisation system that will enable it to successfully satisfy the needs of potential stakeholders in our country, as well as to create the conditions necessary to successfully integrate Serbia into the European Union

TATJANA BOJANIĆ, ACTING DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE FOR THE STANDARDISATION OF SERBIA (ISS)

tandards are a strategic tool that provides guidance to companies towards more efficient operations, increasing productivity and reducing costs. Moreover, standards also assist businesses in dealing with

ISS has implemented over 96 per cent of all European standards, while the Republic of Serbia has transposed more than 75 per cent of all European directives within the framework of negotiation on Chapter 1 - Free movement of goods.

Standards eliminate barriers to doing business, provide consistent quality for products and services and facilitate their exchange, so the application of standards in business also enables increased economic activity in the region some of the most demanding challenges of modern business and allow them to gain access to new markets. The harmonisation of criteria facilitates free and fair global trade for developing countries.

STANDARDS & STANDARDISATION in Serbia 2016

• On the fringes of the recent gathering of political leaders and businesspeople of the Western Balkans, the fifth Balkan conference on standardisation was held. In which way does

this kind of common work of national standardisation bodies contribute to linking the economies of the region and their inclusion in European and global trends? - The regional Initiative to bring together national bodies for standardisation from the Balkans began in June 2011 in Ohrid, with the aim of strengthening cooperation, enhancing the process of standardisation and standardisation activities, more efficient work and successful participation in European standardisation. The Fifth Balkan Conference, which was held in Belgrade, was attended by representatives of national standards bodies from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Monte-

negro, Croatian, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Slovenia, Serbia and Turkey, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Economy and European organisations for standardisation, which exchanged experiences in the field of cooperation with government institutions, the translation of standards, financial sustainability, as well as application and participation in regional and EU projects. The conference was characterised as very successful and the ISS was evaluated as being a good host. Standards eliminate barriers to doing business, provide consistent quality for products and services and facilitate their exchange, so the application of standards in business also enables increased economic activity in the region.

more than 75 per cent of all European directives within the framework of negotiation Chapter 1 - Free movement of goods. • Please tell us something about the importance and place of national standardisation policy and the role of ISS in European and other international standardisation bodies. - Each country has a unique, recog-

public of Serbia within the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), within which it has the status of a full member, as well as the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation (CENELEC), in which it has the status of an associate member. In addition, the ISS signed a

• What kind of role does the ISS have in Serbia’s EU accession process and harmonisation with European directives and standards? - The ISS’s full membership in European standardisation organisations (the European Committee for Standardisation and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation) is one of the mandatory conditions for European integration, and is in line

Expert support is always needed. However, the ISS is pleased to note that in about 160 commissions for standards around 1,600 experts from various fields of standardisation work voluntarily. These are representatives of companies, laboratories, higher education institutions, state administration bodies and others with the revised National Programme for the Adoption of the Acquis (NPAA). The ISS filed an application at the end of May 2016 and an assessment visit of European organisations is scheduled to begin in September. The ISS was previously obliged to take on 80 per cent of all European standards, which it fulfilled and exceeded back in 2012. At this point, the ISS has taken on more than 96% of all European standards as Serbian standards, while the Republic of Serbia has transposed

nised national standardisation body. In the Republic of Serbia there is a developed national quality infrastructure, which is testified to by the adoption of a national strategy in this field, which entered into force in 2015. With the adoption of amendments to the Law on Standardisation and related secondary legislation, the work of the ISS also complies fully with the latest European regulations in the field of standardisation. The ISS represents and protects the interests of the Re-

Memorandum of Understanding with the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) and there it gained the status of “ETSI’s national standards organisation”. • How much technical and financial support does Serbia have in this area? - Expert support is always needed. However, the ISS is pleased to note that in about 160 commissions for standards around 1,600 experts from various fields of standardisation work voluntarily. These are representatives of companies, laboratories, higher education institutions, state administration bodies and others. At the same time, ISS employees have excellent competencies that are constantly being advanced. The ISS is an indirect budget user and the funding is carried out through the Ministry of Economy, which is responsible for the area of

STANDARDS & STANDARDISATION in Serbia 2016

standardisation. Investing in the development of ISS is extremely important, and despite the application of austerity measures in recent years ISS managed to arrange the facilities in which it operates, to establish a training centre, to reconstruct computer equipment and thus prepare to take on the obligations that derive from full membership in European organisations for standardisation.

• The general public most often associates standards with manufacturing processes and, to a much less extent, with the services sector. How much is the importance of both recognised in our country? - Services are now a significant driver of economic growth, so with a desire to highlight the potential that standards can offer the services sector, during June the ISS got involved in a series of

Research of the Ministry of Economy within the project GIZ ACCESS showed that SMEs are not sufficiently informed about standards, although case studies show that in the long run the application of standards reduces operating costs • What is the structure of financing for the ISS like and what is the share of income from the sale of standards and related documents in the structure of your income? In which way do you finance training within the ISS? - The ISS receives slightly less than 70 per cent of its funds from the state budget, while more than 30 per cent is secured from its own resources. The budget of the Republic of Serbia finances income and membership fees in international and European standardisation organisations, while all other activities, including the training of employees, are financed by the ISS from its own revenues.

STANDARDS & STANDARDISATION in Serbia 2016

ISO activities organised in order to promote these standards, the application of which can provide a key advantage by continuously improving operations, thereby improving customer satisfaction. Potential interested parties for the implementation of standards in this area can be from organisations that are engaged in trade, tourism, facilities management, international organisations, state bodies, consumer associations and others. • To what extent are domestic companies, primarily SMEs, aware of the impact of the adoption of standards on business success? - Research of the Ministry of Econ-

omy within the project GIZ ACCESS showed that SMEs are not sufficiently informed about standards, although case studies show that in the long run the application of standards reduces operating costs. That’s why in 2014, at the gathering of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce dedicated to SMEs, the ISS provided all participants with a free translation of the ISO’s publication entitled “Economic benefits from implemented standards”, which is available publicly via the ISS website. Due to high demand, the ISS subsequently organised several meetings dedicated to SMEs in order to make information on standards and the standardisation process itself more accessible to them. • You provide young professionals with the opportunity to volunteer with you and gain their first experiences in the business. How much are you sought after as an employer and how much are experts in the field of standardisation in demand on the market? - In 2011 the ISS was enrolled in the records of volunteer organisers and so far we have very positive experience. There is immeasurable enthusiasm, commitment and desire for the advancement of volunteers, which ISS in turn provide with an opportunity to gain experience in a specific field. A job at ISS is creative and specific, but it is not so easy to produce a so-called “standardiser”, because, in addition to professional qualifications, it demands a specific way of thinking, good knowledge of professional terminology in Serbian and English, and a certain amount of time is needed to learn the job. The need for experts in the field of quality in the market depends on the skills and commitment of employers, but I personally think that is the job of the future and that it will become increasingly popular in the future. What we also need to work on intensively is the introduction of standards in the education system, which, viewed in the long term, is one way to improve and develop economic activity in our country. ■

CORPORATE

Certification For Sustainable Operations Company "CERTOP" today occupies a dominant role on the market of Central and Southeast Europe in the field of the certification of management systems and is becoming one of the leading certification organisations

TIBOR ŠANDOR, CEO AT CERTOP COO D.O.O.

eginning from the fact that in this era of globalisation in which we live and operate, integration is one of the foundations for sustainable business, Certop has had an important role since 2008 as a professional and reliable intermediary with internationally recognised certificates and highly professional quality of service. • This year marks a decade of CERTOP's operations on the market of Serbia and in SEE. How would you assess trends in the process of standardisation in this period? Where have we progressed and where are we lagging behind? - Certop has operated in Southeast Europe since 2006, and we can note that Serbia has made evident progress in the field of standardisation: the Accreditation Body of Serbia has become a full member of the European organisation for accreditation, as well as other international forums in the field of standardisation; requests increasingly arrive from organisations for which the introduction and certification of management systems represents a strategic objective in order to improve operations, and not merely as one of the conditions of a tender or image. In Serbia today there are ever more organisations which – in addition to standards: ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 – also introduce and certify other systems according to standards such as: ISO/IEC 27001, ISO 30001, ISO 50001 and ISO 26000, FSSC 22000, the “CE” mark etc. Unfortunately, disloyal competition is still present on the market (work without accreditation, conflict of interest, unprofessionalism etc.), which causes enormous damage to organisations and the country as a whole in the field of standardisation. Their behaviour directly threatens the process of integrating organisations on the international market.

•Without adequate standards there can be no emergence on international markets. In which way does CERTOP help Serbian companies penetrate regional and other markets? - We live in a time when globalisation and integration have become indispensable in the business world. It is essential to connect with international partners, and standards enable the harmonisation of the operations of every organisation with international requirements, norms and regulations, and form the basis of communication between businesses worldwide. With Serbia’s entry into the European Union, for companies that want to do business with other countries, applying standards in their operations will be an essential condition in order for them to be able to stay on the market. Since the beginning of its work in Serbia, company

still not sufficiently represented in Serbia, and which have good prospects of rapid expansion in application. This primarily relates to all systems of energy management, environmental protection, management information security systems and others. Our company, in the spirit of its social responsibility, offers useful projects for achieving significant savings in terms of energy consumption. These are projects that preserve resources and which – without abandoning the comfort zone of citizens and reducing the efficiency of operations in organisations – also provide a significant contribution not only in the field of energy efficiency, but also in the preservation of the environment: e.g. with the project “Virtual power station”, which can also form part of the Energy Development Strategy of the Republic of Serbia to the year 2025.

Unfortunately, disloyal competition is still present on the market (work without accreditation, conflict of interest, unprofessionalism etc.), which causes enormous damage to organisations and the country as a whole in the field of standardisation CERTOP, as an intermediary of expertise and reliability with internationally recognised certificates and highly professional quality services (certification of management systems, verification process, verification of suppliers, maintenance of international forums, training and seminars) contributes directly to its business partners’ competitiveness and helps in the process of their integration into international markets. • In recent years you have dealt quite a lot with energy efficiency and environmental protection, which represent some of the weak points of the Serbian economy as a whole. What do you offer your clients in these areas? - In its development plans, CERTOP specifically expresses the desire and ambition to attain a significant position in the field of certification of management systems in the coming period in areas which are

• How do you assess the interest of the state and local governments in standardisation processes in Serbia, especially in the light of EU accession? - The EU seeks partnership with countries that meet the requirements of European standards and European values. With the help of state institutions and NALED, Serbia has to date taken a serious step forward in the implementation of standards in local governments, although it is still evident that a lack of financial resources, competent and trained staff hamper the process of certification in the state administration. In the process of integration into the European Union, Serbia needs to invest further efforts in order to reach the level of implementation of standards in relation to state administration in EU Member States and to take from them positive experiences in the implementation of management systems. ■

STANDARDS & STANDARDISATION in Serbia 2016

INTERVIEW

Standardisation: Guarantee of Quality Compared to the recent past, the attitude towards certification has improved drastically. An increasing number of companies are opting to get certified because they’ve realised that they need to do so for the sake of their production, the services they provide and the way they deal with competitors. In practical terms, certification implies that a company knows at any given moment who, what, when and how activities pertaining to the optimal functioning of their business system are performed DONATA VEG JURISTOVSKI, DIRECTOR OF PANCERT D.O.O., NOVI SAD

ith the EU accession process came higher demand for certification, because Serbian companies are becoming increasingly export-orientated. The sales segment on this market is extremely competitive. Quality plays an important role not only in securing new markets, but also in sustaining existing ones.

- Apart from the Quality Management System (QMS) certificate that is in line with the requirements of the SRPS ISO 9001 standard, the environmental management certificate, according to the SRPS ISO 14 001 standard, the occupational health & safety certificate in line with the SRPS OHSAS 18001 standard and HACCP system certifica-

Pancert provides certification in various segments and for various types of organisations – both production and service. Most of our clients come from the machining segment, electronics, healthcare, construction, retail and wholesale Just having ‘quality’ is no longer enough for the market. Now companies need to have internationally recognised proof of quality in the form of the ISO 9001 – the Quality Management System certificate. • Which innovative certificates has Pancert included in its portfolio?

STANDARDS & STANDARDISATION in Serbia 2016

tion, according to Codex Alimentarius CAC/RCP1-1969, Rev. 4(2003), Pancert recently widened its certification portfolio to include the QMS food safety certificate, in line with the SRPS EN ISO 22000 standard, the QMS information safety certificate, as per the SRPS ISO/IEC 27001 standard, and the QMS

energy certificate, according to the SRPS EN ISO 50001 standard. • Which of the certificates that you provide is the most popular on the market, or which ones generate the most interest? - Those are by far the SRPS ISO 9001 Quality Management System, SRPS ISO 14001 for environmental management and SRPS OHSAS 18001 for occupational health & safety. Also, organisations that are keen on protecting the confidentiality of their business information, or are investing in anything related to the IT industry, are very interested in the SRPS ISO/IEC 27001 standard. The SRPS EN ISO 50001 energy certificate is quite in demand with those organisations that want to estab-

lish energy efficiency and energy consumption systems and processes. • Pancert also offers a wide range of quality management certificates for different business sectors. Which sectors are these and which one brings the biggest number of clients to you? - Pancert provides certification in various segments and for various types of organisations – both production and service. Most of our clients come from machining segment, electronics, healthcare, construction, retail and wholesale. • What benefits does a company gain in being certified by you? - The ultimate goal of all businesses is for their clients to be happy and to continue cooperating with them. Accordingly, it is easy to see a link between Pancert and our business processes. The benefits of cooperating with Pancert are immediate. Our clients don’t have to wait for their business standards to be officially certified in order to start seeing these benefits. Pancert’s staff has decades of business experience which they use in dealing with clients, something that is not only beneficial for them but can sometimes be game-changing. By certifying their management systems, companies bring order to their work processes, while ensuring that the products or services subjected to the certification process will be of acceptable quality for the end user. As a result of the proper implementation of standards, profits are bigger, overheads are smaller, products and services are of better quality, mistakes are reduced to a minimum, a lot of time is saved on performing work tasks, obstacles to doing business both nationally and internationally are removed, companies can raise retail prices both on the domestic and global market, based on the quality of their product or service, fulfilling market requirements is easier, and competitiveness is enhanced. In short, a happy client is a returning client: the biggest success that everyone in the value chain can achieve. • Do you think quality certificates, as required documents in the produc-

tion or sale of goods and services, have reached a satisfactory level in Serbia, and how can this process improve further? - Certification has not reached a satisfactory level because corporate management is still not sufficiently aware of how certification and standards can improve their company’s operations and standardise quality. They still see it as a necessary expense or a marketing tool to sell their products or services. Corporate decisionmakers need to be educated more in order to stop viewing standardisation as a cost and rather as an investment and improvement of their business processes, and one which can only yield positive effects, both short and long-term. Standardisation is

demanding markets with their products and services, and thus having to face tougher competition, they realise that they need standards in order to advance their operations. Thus, a company’s life cycle reaches a new milestone: implementation and certification of standards. Serbia and Serbian companies are currently going through a filtering phase during which companies are split into those

As a result of the proper implementation of standards, profits are bigger, overheads are smaller, products and services are of better quality, mistakes are reduced to a minimum, a lot of time is saved on performing work tasks, the obstacles for doing business, both nationally and internationally, are removed, companies can raise retail prices both on the domestic and global markets based on the quality of their product or service, fulfilling market requirements is easier, and competitiveness is enhanced not a fictitious need but a reality of contemporary management. After the basic benefits that standardisation brings, companies need to work on their marketing in order to access even larger markets with their products or services, and thereby gain more satisfied clients. • Could you compare certification trends in Serbia to those in the countries of this region? - We can draw a parallel between certification and accessing more developed markets. In the process of regional countries gaining faster access to more

that meet certain quality requirements and those that don’t. What happens next is that every company that has standardised its business processes – a guarantee of quality – will survive and prosper on the market. On the other hand, those companies which cannot grasp modern business will remain local, or will share the destiny of companies which are forced to sell their business or close because they are not able to stand up to competition. This is the destiny that some companies in regional countries have had, while some of them will go through this phase in the near future. ■ STANDARDS & STANDARDISATION in Serbia 2016

INTERVIEW

Standards – The Basis For Market Expansion The policy of INSA AD is based on the use of a market-orientated business system in order to always provide high quality services in accordance with the requirements and expectations of customers SVETLANA MILANOVIĆ, QUALITY MANAGEMENT REPRESENTATIVE - QUALITY MANAGER OF THE LABORATORY OF INSA – WATCH INDUSTRY

espite the fact that the operations of INSA AD rely on the adoption and use of the most modern standards in the production of measuring devices, there is a fear that the adoption of new ordinances and laws, through which we approach European standards, can limit and hinder the development and progress of these kinds of companies. • The high quality of your products in the sector of precision mechanics, in addition to a highly qualified workforce, also demands modern standards. How is INSA equipped in that respect?

tems ensure the top quality of all of our products and services. The basic criteria which the strategy of INSA AD relies on are: - establishing a management system which is qualitatively compliant with international standards: ISO 9001: 2008, ISO 14001: 2005 and OHSAS: 2007, and which will harmonise the interests of our company, the community and the interests of customers and users of our services; - attracting new customers and users by providing high-quality products and services; - establishing and maintaining the responsibility of all employees for the application of

In the last six years Watch Industry INSA has produced about 45,000 water meters annually and serviced around 35,000 water meters in its workshops - The available resources of our company are primarily professional staff with compatible profiles, trained for the development, manufacture and provision of other services from our business domain, specialised and reliable equipment and devices, as well as other infrastructure, which represents a guarantee of the quality of our products and services. In addition to this, strict adherence to legal regulations, the implementation of applicable standards and prescribed documentation of quality sys-

STANDARDS & STANDARDISATION in Serbia 2016

prescribed documentation and the operating of an integrated management system in terms of achieving the required quality of products and services, environmental protection and the protection of health and safety at work; - monitoring global trends in terms of modernising and improving operations with the application of the same in all areas of our business, and with the aim of constantly improving quality; - advancing the competence of employees alongside the high-quality execution of

work duties through continuous training and professional development; - creating safe and healthy working conditions without occupational diseases and injuries at work; - timely implementation of all measures aimed at reducing the level of risk in terms of environmental protection and health and safety at work; - optimal use of all available technical, technological, human and other resources; All of our employees have the right and obligation to uphold the principles of adopted policies and to participate in the improvement of the quality system and environmental protection. • What are all the standards that INSA applies in its work? - The most important dates for our company should definitely include the following: 2006 – transformation of DP INSA into INSA a.d.; September 2003 – obtaining of the certificate ISO 9001: 2008; May 2011 – obtaining of a certificate of accreditation for the laboratory for the control of water meters and gas meters according to the standard SRPS ISO/IEC 17020: 2002; November 2011 – obtaining of confirmation as the first licensed body for the performing of operations for the verification of

water meters and gas meters; February 2013 – obtaining of the CE mark for water meters with a nominal diameter of 13-40mm in accordance with Directive 2004/22/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of Europe from 31st March 2004 for measuring instruments; April 2016 – obtaining of the certificate SRPS 14001: 2004. By the end of 2016 we expect to receive accreditation for the Laboratory for testing water meters, as the first laboratory of this kind in Serbia. All standards are updated, checked and improved every year. • To what extent do the standards which you apply aid you in contemporary market conditions? - The theory and practice of quality management is experiencing tremendous changes in the world. This is best seen in the change of attitude towards customer requirements for quality, as well as interest groups and organisations. These postulates provide the basis for standards ISO9000 (QMS), ISO 17020 (QM/QA), ISO 14001, as well as other models of standards for quality management (QM) in various branches of industry. Today satisfying customer demands is a completely normal thing, while satisfying new expectations is the goal that needs to be achieved. In addition to the customer, corresponding benefits must also be realised for other stakeholder organisations, both financial and non-financial. Thus, for example, all stakeholders demand accurate and reliable

• During 67 years of turbulent history, the former Zemun watch factory, now joint-stock company Insa, has completely changed its profile, production and market strategy. Which postulates are the current opera-tions of Insa based on? - In the last six years Watch Industry INSA has produced about 45,000 water meters annually and serviced around 35,000 water meters in its workshops. Ever increasing demands of customer for quality, as well as increasingly shorter deadlines for the delivery of goods have led to the need for the former working unit – for checking the quality of water meters and gas meters – to grow first into an accredited laboratory, and then into a control body. Even then we were the first accredited and authorised laboratory for controlling and verifying water meters and gas meters. And we are still successfully advancing and improving its work. Now there is a need for

The theory and practice of quality management is experiencing tremendous changes in the world. This is best seen in the change of attitude towards customer requirements for quality, as well as interest groups and organisations results of laboratory tests, ensuring the effective management of environmental protection, health protection and the safety of employees, ergonomic, information and social systems within organisations. As such, the trend of standardising business management systems inevitably expands, which our organisation recognised and adopted on time. Thus our company received back in 2013 the CE mark according to Directive 2004/22/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE and by 01.01.2017 we expect the harmonisation of this standard with our harmonised standards and regulations.

a laboratory for testing the compliance of the product, i.e. water meters, which will be the first of its kind in Serbia. All this has led to INSA developing and selling such products and services, which over the long-term enable the business strength of the enterprise. Such a product places us in the circle of recognised, commercially successful, market-orientated and qualitatively reputable companies. • INSA can boast of being the first in Serbia to have established an independently accredited laboratory for testing water meters. What are the experiences in the work of the laboratory to date?

- The accreditation of laboratories is used worldwide as a means of confirming their technical competence to perform specific types of testing. By obtaining the certificate of accreditation, the laboratory is able at any given moment to convince their clients that the results of the tests it performs are reliable, and that testing itself is carried out in a competent manner. The accreditation of laboratories is the best way to measure the performance of laboratories, which establishes its better market position and enables the international recognition of technical competence. We expect the accreditation of the laboratory for testing water meters according to standard ISO 17025 by October this year. • In your opinion, could state incentives accelerate the process of standardisation in Serbia? - According to the new Regulations on Standards and the Law on Metrology, we all have to harmonise by 1st January 2017. We, as the only real manufacturers of water meters, which are 90 per cent produced domestically, will not be able to carry out the first verification of the criteria, which causes us a major problem. In Serbia there is no appointed body in existence that performs such work. I think it is up to our state, the Ministry of Economy and the Directorate for Measures, to do its utmost to somehow solve this problem for the only real manufacturer of water meters - not only in Serbia, but also in the region. • In the EU accession process it is necessary to adopt a large number of new standards in all industrial branches and sectors. How do you assess the trends of standardisation in the sector of industry to which you belong? - We believe that standards and standardisation, through the adoption of new ordinances and laws, via which we approach European standards, should not restrict and prevent the development and progress of these kinds of companies. We hope that a solution will be found that is good for us and our country, that money will not go into foreign hands because they will be forced to seek an appointed body in neighbouring countries. ■

STANDARDS & STANDARDISATION in Serbia 2016

INTERVIEW

Anticipating The Next Developments As with the business ecosystem as a whole, management systems are always evolving to satisfy this ever changing world, and this means it’s basically a slow moving target for the people working with standards. Standards development organizations must lead the way in anticipating the next developments in industry and technology, and so their involvement with key groups in the conceptual stages of these developments is imperative

he most recent releases of ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 27001 and the standards integrated approach saw some welcome changes. These changes give more freedom to businesses to satisfy the standards requirements in a way that suits their needs. With a less directive approach to the standards comes more possibilities for businesses to mould the requirements to their operations, which in one way or another always have some unique characteristics. • DAS Certification Ltd is a British company, with the pedigree of a country that traditionally operates on the principles of established standards. What trends do you see for certification in Serbia and the region from this perspective? - Following this proven and established model is an important action which has in the last years already provided many positive influences on the credibility and overall methodology we use in the South East European (SEE) region to improve the services, internal structures, and the security of our business activities, and in practically all industrial sectors. The most critical aspect of the certification business is business-wide adoption and true integration of the standards to reap the most ben-

IVAN POCAJT, CEO, DAS SEE AN AGENT OF DAS CERTIFICATION LTD • Your company offers solutions for a wide range of activities. Which certificates have the highest interest in Serbia? - There is a wide range of activities going on in the SEE region, and so there is interest certifying in a wide range of businesses and specific business activities. This, combined with an ever-increasing

The most critical aspect of the certification business is business-wide adoption and true integration of the standards to reap the most benefits, and this comes with the need to work hard on educating businesses, in particular management, about the advantages that implementing standards can contribute to the success of their organizations efits, and this comes with the need to work hard on educating businesses, in particular management, about the advantages that implementing standards can contribute to the success of their organizations.

recognition of the importance of certification in industry, means that more and more varied enquiries are made about different types of certification. The core standards that DAS Certification Ltd covers are ISO 9001, ISO 27001, ISO 14001, OHSAS

STANDARDS & STANDARDISATION in Serbia 2016

18001, ISO 20000-1 as well as a number of other more specific standards in information security and food safety. DAS SEE, an agent of DAS Certification Ltd, has clients working with all of the above standards, but we have a specific focus on providing specialist support and certification in the ICT sector. Whether its tailoring our services to the rapidly increasing near-shoring activities of foreign business settling in the region and specializing in IT and Development services or tackling the many stringent requirements of the financial sector, DAS SEE has strong competence in all areas. • How much help and support can DAS Certification Ltd provide the Serbian economy in the process of Serbia's EU accession? - We believe that what we are doing is important to assist in the country’s accession to the EU. Standards were initially set up to help standardize activities and give third party assurance that the operational activities and services of the certified company were of a high, reliable standard. This, in turn, opens the borders with regards international trade, which means that from a domestic point of view, greater financial opportunities can be realized with new business being won on the international stage – whether it’s continuing to develop some key export concerns such as food or mining outputs or taking advantage of the high technical quality yet reasonable cost of resources in the region to work with foreign companies outside of SEE. In short certification can be a key contributor to increasing profitability at the business and therefore national economic level. ■

CORPORATE

Standards For Long-Term Survival and Development on The Market Meter & Control smart meters are developed and manufactured in line with current international standards. Relevant certificates have opened the door for us to sell our products in the EU and beyond JOVAN VUJASINOVIĆ, DIRECTOR OF METER & CONTROL D.O.O.

he meters have the MID certificate which guarantees compliance with technical requirements valid in the EU area. Since the certification process was carried out in a renowned Dutch laboratory, the certificates issued are valid in many other countries (the rest of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa). The meters also possess the DLMS/COSEM certificate, while, two years ago, they received the IDIS interoperability certificate which puts Meter&Control head-to-head with the four leading smart meters manufacturers in the world which also have the IDIS certificate and operate globally. • What elements and standards were used to create Meter & Control’s smart meters that have been well received by the electricity transmission sector? - Our smart meters are built in accordance with current international standards that govern this segment. Relevant certificates such as MID, DLMS/COSEM and IDIS interoperability certificate, have opened the door to sell our products in the EU and beyond. • You have standards that ensure access to global markets. What are the company’s immediate plans in terms of export? - We currently deliver to the countries in the region. We also expect our hard work on the international market to translate into deliveries to the EU soon. Also, there are a few excellent opportunities to cooperate with partners in the Russian Federation and the Middle East. • What are the current trends in implementation

of standards and standardisation in domestic companies that operate in the modern technology sector like Meter & Control? - On one hand, there are companies that see new standards as another problem or an imposed obligation. On the other hand, there are those that view technological development and new standards as a chance to become even better and more competitive on the market, to have better and safer products and services and more satisfied customers. They believe that standards will ensure their long-term survival and development on the market, better business operations and company development. Meter & Control belongs to the latter group. We are the first company in Serbia authorized to do meter verification and the only domestic manufacturer to have certified our meters in line with the new regulation that

Association, G3-PLC Alliance and EUROCAL. In this way, Meter & Control not only adopts and implements the latest standards but also takes part in their preparation and creation. • Do you think that the state offers enough support to innovative companies in Serbia with the end goal of developing this sector? - I would like to mention a large-scale project, realised by the EPS, which entails the implementation of the Smart Metering System where the state is supposed to allow domestic manufacturers to bid in the tender and subsequently to become project contractors, instead of being reduced only to subcontractors of foreign companies. This is a concrete opportunity that will be the driving force behind the Serbian electronic industry and its related sectors, as well as giving Serbian companies

On one hand, there are companies that see new standards as another problem or an imposed obligation. On the other hand, there are those that view technological development and new standards as a chance to become even better and more competitive on the market, to have better and safer products and services and more satisfied customers complies with the European MID Directive. We care very much about the quality of our products, environmental protection, health & safety and information protection, which is why we have implemented the ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, and ISO/IEC 27001 standards. Furthermore, Meter & Control is a member of several committees at the Institute of Standardisation, two groups in the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and, internationally, of the DLMS User

excellent references for accessing the international market. Also, logistics support would be of great value for establishing contacts, having group market access, opening new offices and penetrating new markets. At the same time, domestic manufacturers that use the highest global standards should be protected by the state from unfair competition by insisting on implementation of these very standards. ■

STANDARDS & STANDARDISATION in Serbia 2016

INTERVIEW

Halal Services Gaining Momentum First and foremost, the standardisation of Halal products relies on principles of faith – Islam. Every Muslim is required to eat Halal food and strict rules about consuming food must be obeyed. Apart from food, these rules pertain to cosmetics and pharmaceuticals too. Halal products are healthy products that are safe and have been additionally tested

SAMIR TANDIR, DIRECTOR OF THE AGENCY FOR HALAL QUALITY CERTIFICATION

here is a growing demand for Halal products, consumed by over 1.8 billion people and generate over $650 billion in annual sales. The number of producers in Serbia, which have chosen to implement the Halal standards, has been steadily growing because of the tough competition on the domestic market, investors that come from Islamic countries, and boosting sales abroad. To corroborate this, let us just say that our reference lists includes companies like Delta Agrar-Yuhor, MK Grupa-Carnex, Sunoko, Agrokor-Frikom, Puratos, Zlatiborac, Neoplanta, Perutnina Ptuj, Vindija, Somboled, Mini Pani, MI Djurdjevic, All Berries, Al Pack and many others. • To what extent have Serbia and the region been utilising the potential of the Halal market and the benefits offered by the Agency of Halal Quality Certification? - I have to admit that Serbia is lagging behind both the world and the region in this aspect, just like in almost everything. Talk about producing Halal food and rendering Halal services gains momentum only when investors from the UAE, Turkey and Azerbaijan come here. I have to say that the official policy of the Serbian government has certainly contributed to this because the government targeted the Halal market as one of the biggest

STANDARDS & STANDARDISATION in Serbia 2016

development opportunities for our economy in its economic agenda. Many people don’t know this, but the former Yugoslavia was the biggest producer of Halal meat and meat products in the world in 1990. So this is nothing new. We want to restore our economy to the level it deserves. Our Agency is only a service to help with that. • What are the most important criteria that a candidate for Halal certification has to meet? - The procedure is the same for all companies and it includes several stages. The first stage is training internal auditors from every sector (management, procurement, production, storage, packing, distribution, etc.), the second stage is preparing the relevant documents, compliance, and internal audits, and the third is a certification audit. After getting its certificate, the company has to be audited by the Agency four times a year. Two audits are scheduled in advance, and two are unannounced. Also, there are laboratory analyses of the samples we take during the audit and at retail facilities. • How can we boost export by using Halal standards? - Large companies have recognised their opportunity in exporting Halal products, and they are doing just fine. We think that it would be beneficial to assist small companies to position themselves on the Halal market

with the help of subsidies and incentives for implementation of this standard. However, these ‘dominant’ Halal markets are not our only chance. Russia is a huge Halal market, and our companies are already exporting to it. We should not underestimate the European Union either. Two thirds of the people who buy Halal products in the EU are non-Muslims. When asked the reason for buying Halal food, they said it was because the products were double-tested and were of good quality. • Has Serbia recognised its opportunity in Halal tourism? - No, it still hasn’t. Serbia has huge natural resources and attractions that we, unfortunately, don’t know how to use properly. Our spas and mountains are a huge resource that is very appealing to tourists from the countries where Halal is a way of life. According to the statistics, Arabs have been frequent guests at spas in Belgium, Germany and Switzerland. With good promotion, more available accommodation, and better service quality, our spas have a great chance. Also, mountains are very interesting especially to tourists from Turkey. However, there is still a lot to be done to match the price to accommodation quality, the quality of infrastructure and standardisation/categorisation of services. As the capital city and with all of its cultural heritage and wealth and a good geographical position, Belgrade has a great opportunity to engage more in conference tourism and provide tourist services to people who come here on business. ■

150 Years of Making Progress Safe The history of TMS connects the roots of industrial revolution, the tradition of German quality, the East European transition towards a modern economy and the contemporary economics of change

ÜV SÜD, the biggest of German TÜV’s, was established 150 years ago with a mission of “making progress safe”. 2016 is a very special year also for us because TMS CEE marks 15 years of operations (which is deemed as a success in this part of the world). Since its beginnings as TÜV Bayern Sava – Belgrade Branch, through TÜV SÜD Serbia d.o.o. to TMS CEE d.o.o., we have been continuing our mission of helping the domestic economy to increase its competitiveness and value on the global market through the implementation of standards. We believe that only through the application of knowledge and proper order we all can achieve better results. TMS (Technical & Management Service) is a regional brand and a partner to TÜV SÜD, covering Central and Eastern Europe. It provides top quality services in a more efficient and flexible manner and in line with the TÜV SÜD standards. Today, TMS has the presence in Russia (covering the territory of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia), Serbia (covering the

territory of Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro and the Republic of Srpska), and Ukraine. TMS CEE is proud to carry the title of Cooperation Partner of TÜV SÜD and conducts most of its business through cooperating with this renowned German company, one of the biggest in the world. Currently, we have over 1,400 active certificates, and we are market leaders in most of our business activities. Our results are almost solely attributed to the way we conduct our business through which we brought the German school of quality and have adapted it to the national economy. We are a partner to some of the leading organisations in Serbia like: NIS, Electric Power Industry of Serbia, Delhaize, Bekament, SAGA, Messer, Metalac, LEONI, Medigroup, Peštan, Dijamant, Credit Agricole, Delta and many others. We are also a company that has conducted the first-ever certification of a local municipality in Serbia (the town of Šabac), the first one to carry out the BRC and GlobalGAP certification in Serbia but also has provided the ser-

vices like technical Due Diligence, the assessment of the lifespan of a power plant and the supervision of the construction of the Ada Bridge. We are especially proud of our services in the corporate security and risk fields, where we have established cooperation with the leading experts in our country and the world in this rather sensitive but increasingly important segment. Our clients can draw on over 300 years of our team’s cumulative experience. The main values of the TMS team are teamwork, a positive approach, winning spirit, top quality service and benevolence. TMS has been accredited by the Accreditation Body of Serbia as a type ‘A’ control body, i.e., a certification body for management systems and products. Through our TMS Academy, we transfer our know-how about quality, safety and other areas important for today’s businesses. TMS has been successful since its inception and we are going to continue providing and developing innovative services in our field in the following period too.

15 years in Serbia - Welcome to TMS!

STANDARDS & STANDARDISATION in Serbia 2016

VICTORIA CONSULTING LTD.

First-Hand Recommendations

Standards ISO 9001: 2015 and ISO 14001: 2015, gained in September 2015, represent one of the biggest changes and placed new challenges in front of the organisation. These changes should lead to realistic simplification and improvement of the management systems of organisations that apply these systems

any organisations experience a dose of fear regarding the practical application of new amended and demanding standards. At the same time, already present on the market are “documentation packages” for new versions of standards, offering services to introduce the “turnkey” system. In practice this can create serious difficulties for organisations in

certainly the first consulting company in Serbia (December 2015), to successfully pass the procedure of re-certification of its own system of quality management and environmental protection in accordance with ISO 9001: 2015 / ISO 14001: 2015, and in that it is also engaged in

Victoria Consulting Ltd. is a company that is among the first in the world, and certainly the first consulting company in Serbia (December 2015), to successfully pass the procedure of re-certification of its own system of quality management and environmental protection in accordance with ISO 9001: 2015 / ISO 14001: 2015 the application of the system primarily through unnecessary additional bureaucracy and employees’ aversion to things they do not understand, which contradicts the basic idea of changes to standards and really good intentions to take a step forward, and not backwards. Victoria Consulting Ltd. is a company that is among the first in the world, and

STANDARDS & STANDARDISATION in Serbia 2016

providing advisory services in the field of management systems, environmental protection, social responsibility and the management of chemicals, and it also has insight into a large number of different organisations in Serbia. Thanks to CorD Magazine, Victoria Consulting can relate some of its experiences and provide advice for organisa-

tions undergoing transition to new editions ISO 9001: 2015 / ISO 14001: 2015. The opinion of Victoria Consulting Ltd., based on first-hand experience, is that the new revisions of both of these standards represent significant renewal and valuable assistance for those organisations that wish to apply them. Both standards, in the amended structure, especially through new requirements such as understanding the context of the organisation, internal and external issues, the needs and expectations of stakeholders, considerations based on risk, identifying risks and opportunities, life-cycle perspectives, provide a powerful tool and a good basis for establishing an even better system of management and achieving long-term, sustainable operations of specific organisations. Complying with the new requirements provides an excellent basis for further improvement to the existing management system. Transferring to the new version of standards helped Victoria Consulting the most in terms of gaining an even better overview of internal and external issues and dealing with risks and opportunities.

In an organisational sense, this was carried out in a very practical way, without the use of complex methods and the like, and without additional complicating elements. Issues relating to the perspective of the life cycle, for example, which is discussed a lot due to the changes to ISO 14001, did not constitute a novelty for Victoria Consulting, because the organisation previously dealt with that substantially. Indirect impacts on the environment (appropriate training and activities in terms of promotion and education in the area of the environment) were previously in the focus of top management. One good example is the project of launching the EMAS Portal for Serbia (www.emas.rs), which emerged as an initiative and concrete contribution of Victoria Consulting for further promotion of the Eco Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) in Serbia, which has also been discussed beyond the borders of Serbia. Here follows a few recommendations from Victoria Consulting for a successful route to transitioning to ISO 9001: 2015 / ISO 14001: 2015 and establishing a truly effective and efficient management system: - Secure support from top management through their most direct involvement in the process of introducing, in particular the new requirements of standard, conduct adequate training of staff - Obtain appropriate standards and study them in detail (SRPS ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015), while help can also be found in SRPS ISO 9000:2015, ISO 9004:2009, and particularly ISO 14004:2016 and ISO 9002. Organisations that wish to further investigate the topic of risk can consult standards ISO 31000 and ISO 31010, but prior to that they are advised to read the guidelines ISO TC 176 for clarification of the term “risk-based considerations”, in order to avoid complicating things unnecessarily. - Review available documents and useful guidance on the appropriate websites of the ISO organisation, APG and the technical committees TC 176 and TC 207.

- Conduct detailed GAP analysis regarding the differences between the existing and desired state, and make a detailed plan in accordance with that. - In the case that an organisation decides to hire a consultant, it is recommended that they use the guidelines for the selection of consultants given in ISO 10019 and they seek appropriate CVs of individual consultants. It is also recommended to consider the option of hiring a consultant only when needed, which means that a consultant is called only when his services are re-

- For organisations that have already established some management system, but which are dissatisfied with how it works, they should take advantage of transition to new versions of standards in a way that further improves the system. - It is recommended that the selection of consultants and certification companies is performed independently. A good consultant will prepare an organisation for certification according to any credible certification body chosen by the organisation. Some “recommendations” are not always backed by the best interests of the organisation itself. - Selection of a certification body should be such that the certificate issued to stakeholders is really of some credibility. An important factor in selecting the certification body is that proper

One good example is the project of launching the EMAS Portal for Serbia (www.emas.rs), which emerged as an initiative and concrete contribution of Victoria Consulting for further promotion of the Eco Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) in Serbia, which has also been discussed beyond the borders of Serbia ally needed, in terms of additional clarifications and interpretations of standards required in relation to the specific organisation, the implementation of appropriate training and the like. - Things that are very important to understand include: the context of the organisation, requirements in terms of understanding the needs and expectations of stakeholders, requirements relating to risks and opportunities, and life-cycle perspective. - If the organisation wants to have a documented system, and not a system of documents and additional bureaucracy – it should in no way accept universal “bundles of documents” and the system of “turnkey” consulting services. The consultant should only represent support and assistance in finding solutions tailored to the organisation.

accreditation should be based on the real expertise of appropriate external auditors who would be engaged (in terms of specific qualifications and overall real work experience and the compatibility of competencies with the corresponding organisation). - A specific recommendation for all organisations which require that their external suppliers have an established and certified management system is to leave room when contracting for the possibility of the use of specific management systems to actually be checked on the spot, when engaging employees from the organisation of the contracting authority or when engaging some independent organisation (this could be a certification or a consultancy company), on behalf of the client. ■

STANDARDS & STANDARDISATION in Serbia 2016

EUROPEAN STANDARDISATION

A Key Instrument For The Single Market Standards are documents that set out specifications and other technical information with regard to various kinds of products, materials, services and processes

rest of the world. This is a valuable tool for strengthening the competitiveness of European companies, thereby creating conditions for economic growth.

tandards provide a basis for mutual understanding among individuals, businesses, public authorities and other kinds of organisations; they facilitate communication, commerce, measurement and manufacturing. European Standards bring benefits to businesses and consumers in terms of reducing costs, enhancing performance and improving safety. They also help to

ONE EUROPEAN STANDARD REPLACES 33 NATIONAL STANDARDS The Members of CEN are the National Standardisation Bodies of 33 European countries – including all the member states of the European Union (EU) and other countries that are part of the European Single Market. CEN works with its Members to develop and define European Standards in response to specific needs that have been identified by businesses and other users of standards.

European standards are developed by teams of experts who have particular knowledge of the specific sector or topic that is being addressed. The members of Technical Committees, as well as sub-committees and working groups, are nominated by the national standardisation organisations ensure the compatibility of different components, products and services. European Standards can be used to enhance safety and performance, improve energy efficiency, and protect consumers, workers and the environment. They complement European and national policies, and make it easier for businesses and other actors to respect relevant legislation. European Standardisation is a key instrument for consolidating the Single Market and facilitating cross-border trade – within Europe and also with the

STANDARDS & STANDARDISATION in Serbia 2016

standard that conflicts with the new European Standard. Therefore, one European Standard (EN) becomes the national standard in all 33 countries covered by CEN Members. Moreover, many European Standards are also adopted as identical national standards by CEN Affiliates, which are the National Standards Bodies of 17 neighbouring countries, and by National Standardisation Bodies in other countries around the world. EUROPEAN STANDARDS ARE VOLUNTARY The European Standards published by CEN are developed by experts, established by consensus and adopted by the Members of CEN. It is important to note that the use of standards is voluntary, thus there is no legal obligation to apply them. A TOOL TO COMPLY WITH EUROPEAN LEGISLATION Around 30 per cent of the European Standards published by CEN have been developed in response to specific requests (standardisation mandates) issued by the European Commission. Many of these standards are known as 'harmonised standards'. They enable businesses to ensure that their products or services comply with essential requirements that have been set out in European legislation (EU Directives). In such cases, we can say that the standard provides 'presumption of conformity' with the essential requirements of the relevant legislation. ■

B y R A D M I L A S TA N KO V I Ć

INTERVIEW

Writing is

MY ONLY DEFENCE GORDAN MIHIĆ AUTHOR AND SCREENWRITER

It is paradoxical that I took fewer hits from the regime and a lot more from some people from the profession – because of their envy and malice, but I wasn’t particularly disturbed because of that, nor has it ever interfered with my work. This work has always been my only defence

is creativity can be divided ideally. When he was young, he worked as a journalist, the most beautiful job if you leave it on time. Then he gained fame as a screenwriter and author of short stories and novels, only to become a professor at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts at the age of 50. He was the only one who didn’t have a university degree, but he held classes for students that nobody skipped. For the past ten years he has been a pensioner who doesn’t stop writing. He wrote the best plays and scripts about little people, which he calls them for lack of better words. AUGUST

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- Yes, some of my ancestors paved part of America. I discovered His plays, TV series and films represent that part of the histhat completely by accident when I visited Los Angeles for the tory of domestic film and television that does not become dated first time in 1965... I was a young journalist and they sent me and which does not lose truth and beauty with time. They include from the newsroom for no specific reason: we got two free airGospodin Foka, Siroti mali hrčki, Sivi dom, Pas koji je voleo vozove, Žuta, Varljivo leto 1968, Terasa na krovu, Srećna Nova l949, line tickets and it was decided I would go just because I had relatives in California... When I arrived it turned out that the relaDom za vešanje, Balkan ekspres, Kamiondžije... and they are tives had changed their address and telephone number in the among the treasures of the national film and television vaults. meantime. I felt a bit lost – the And while we’re mentioning the city was fascinating, but without TV series Kamiondžija (Truckers), which is still repeated on any knowledge of the language RTS, it is worth noting that this everything seemed foreign and story of two truck drivers conpointless. I wandered the downtinues after many years, more town area for a day or two, in extreme heat, feeling lost and helpthan 40 years after the story was less, then suddenly, while I was originally told. There are new actors instead of the unforgettable standing at a set of traffic lights, Miodrag Petrović Čkalja and Pavle my eyes fell to the street and Vuisić, while Gordan Mihić writes there I saw my surname! a new story about two little peoIt is an understatement to say ple, truck drivers, who live similar that it was a shock. After the initial excitement, and some strange lives to those lived by Paja and happiness, I moved on and beJare. After the collapse of the companies in which they worked, togan to look around the footpaths day’s heroes somehow survive by throughout the area – and everywhere I found carved: MIHIĆ ... meeting customers of all types – with our letter “Ć” at the end. Latfrom the heavily impoverished via er, when I found an uncle, he told petty criminals to opportunist entrepreneurs with lots of money... me that at the beginning of the Mihić explains: “While I was lookcentury, when Los Angeles started ing for authentic stories of modto grow from a village into a city, ern truckers, for the umpteenth the main makers of footpaths time, I came to the same concluwere the Mihićs, masons who sion that everything here is difficame from Herzegovina, from our cult, slow and hardly changes, that native villages of Poplat Gornji the lives of ordinary people do not and Poplat Donji... depend on their work, effort and So, that’s the story of the ancestors. abilities, but rather on managerial castes, which are sometimes less ■ And you? capable, sometimes barely capaEverything in my work that could ble and most often completely - I am also from Herzegovina, but incapable.” my fate didn’t take me across the later be called a success cannot And who is Gordan Mihić, who ocean. I was born on the eve of be compared to the feeling of was born in Mostar on 19th SepWorld War II. I can’t remember happiness that I felt when, as a tember 1938? my homeland, nor my father of He has amassed fifty feature fifth grade student (now that’s first my grandfather, his father... They films and eighteen television segrade) of the Second Belgrade High were killed, along with another ries and has worked with the four Mihićs, in the first Ustasha School I got five or six awards at an slaughters. My mother, brother greatest actors and directors. He can take satisfaction in seeing and I saved ourselves by fleeing to anonymous school competition that even today there are reruns Serbia. on television works that he realised several decades ago. With his wife, actress Vera Čukić, he lives for a good part of the ■ Once, long ago, you told the story of that incredible year in their house in a village in Serbia, while his daughter, Ivana, escape... - We were saved by my uncle, Slavko Hadžić, the pre-war coran actress and producer, visits them occasionally. respondent of daily Politika from Mostar. At that time, suffering greatly from tuberculosis, he was in Belgrade, where he had ■ When you walk the streets of Los Angeles you can enworked as a judge until the outbreak of the war. His wife and counter embossed on the footpaths MIHIĆ CO. Are those young son were in Mostar, like my mother, my brother and I, and your ancestors who paved part of America? 68 |

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another four of my aunts with three children ... Without contacts we moved to Sokobanja. There passed my childhood, those eight in the occupied Belgrade, alone, desperate, he still tried to find a years that determine later life. way to get us out of Mostar. He was already losing hope, with all attempts having failed, and then one evening he met a German ■ When did you get interested in film? soldier who spoke to him in Serbian. - In Sokobanji existed the Ton Ozren cinema that showed films in three acts. The school headmaster determined which films school It turned out that this man, who was called Franc and was a children were allowed to watch and which they weren’t on the Banat German, remembered my uncle from a trial. He’d tried his father in some family dispute over inheritance. My uncle had given a just ruling and Franc was grateful. My uncle, of course, was not up to such stories; he was coughing and looked lost and desperate, and Franc asked whether he could do something to help. My uncle found it strange that he had no marks on his uniform, he seemed quiet, inconspicuous ... Franc explained that he worked as an assistant clerk at a military post office near the railway station ... So, what can I do to help you? – he asked my uncle. Franc insisted on hearing what it was all about. He heard the story, recorded the data, took my uncle’s address and left... The next day, early in the morning, someone rang the bell and uncle opened the door ... and was left breathless. Instead of quiet and inconspicuous assistant clerk at the military post office, he saw Franc in No system can prevent basis of the title. There was althe uniform of a German major. What ways a delegation at his door: a writer from writing, happened? This brave man took the I remember him, even today, uniform of his boss, who was on a unless it reduces him to the bare standing in the stairwell of his long trip, used the night to stamp bones of life. As a journalist in my apartment, a large, noble, seriand write orders to the command youth I was twice dismissed, but ous man, Jovan Jović, patiently to immediately bring to Belgrade six women and six children. I didn’t have a tough experience as listening to the lies of older students that their relatives in He went by train, found us and one of the creators of black film Belgrade had already watched brought to Belgrade. My mother later some film and strongly recomsaid that along the way the Ustasha mend it, precisely for kids ... And the title, he asked. A pause... How had wanted to check his papers several times and to take us off to tell him: Phantom Rider, Child of Oklahoma, Shot at dawn, Song the train ... but he so convincingly played the part of the arrogant, of the dead lover, Mirror of Passion ... When, finally, we got apangry major that they gave up and let us continue on... proval, and that good man mainly gave it, along the main street I’m talking about this because of the simple and wondrous started a stampede to the cinema. truth that even in the worst times, someone who you counted on However, I went to the cinema more because of friends; film the least can shine as a flame of hope, faith in people, in the meandid not seem so important to me – unlike books. As children today ing of life in general darkness and suffering. It was no coincidence would say – I didn’t buy into it. And later, until the end of secondthat Franc and my uncle met on some side street back in 1941. ary school, film was somewhere on the periphery of my interests, It was not just caprice and a dance of destiny. Rather it was that not strong enough to separate me from literature. which we call the will of God and the victory of good over evil, in the moment when it seems that evil triumphs, that all hope is ■ When did you first feel that moment of success, when extinguished, that every faith is turned into ashes. you first thought: hey, Gordan, now you’re somebody? - Everything in my work that could later be called a success can■ How long did you stay in Belgrade? not be compared to the feeling of happiness that I felt when, - Two Years, and from there come my first memories. We lived in as a fifth grade student (now that’s first grade) of the Second a damp, dark little room in Admirala Geprata Street, then somewhere on Pašino Hill and from there, after some bombing raid, Belgrade High School I got five or six awards at an anonymous AUGUST

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school competition. With my head shaved in protest at the fact that I had to quit the days of my childhood and come to Belgrade to further my education, I was wearing my winter coat inside out, always complaining about something and immediately earned an E for governance. We stood in the school hallway, the smallest of us somewhere at the end, and in the first row, next to the school administrators, several already famous young writers, students of the final grade. I sent the work not hoping for anything at all: and then, respectively, the director read the codes and called on the winner to come and receive the prize money. I went out, as I said, five or six times. I bought winter boots for my mother, a watch for my brother. And the rest - after treating my friends in the cake shop next to the Grmeč tavern, I was left with

his own past, the significance and trail that I left. I loved to write, and I am still like that today. That is all.

■ Is it hard to write for your actress wife and for your daughter, who is an actress and producer? - I met Vera when she was already a star of the Atelje 212 Theatre during its big days... She then crossed to the National Theatre and performed every night, carrying the repertoire. She received such fantastic reviews that in the beginning – I must admit – I was slightly scared to write something for her. It was only later that she starred in several of my best films and series. With my daughter Ivana it was different: she worked for the first five years of her career with others, and only when she won her place did we begin to cooperate. Of course, I’m happiest when this cooperation brings real results: Vera, for example, for Diary of Insults 93 won four Grand Prixes and Empress Theodora, and Iva, for Mechanism, the award for the Best Female Role at the International Festival in Alexandria.

■ You recently won an RTS contest with your screenplay for the TV drama series The Coronation of Stefan the First Crowned: the First Nemanjić kingdom. The shooting of the series is expected to begin by the end of this year and it should be broadcast in the autumn of 2017, when we will commemorate the coronation of Stefan the First Crowned. When and why did you began to write the story of the Nemanjićs? I really can’t say what I like the most - Many years ago I wrote the script for enough for a train ticket, befrom what I’ve written. I’m not one the film Rađanje (Birth). The story uncause I was constantly rushfolds in Serbia during the time of the ing back to Sokobanja... of the writers who is so fond of Nemanjićs. The war of brothers himself that he deals with his own first – Vukan and Stefan – over the throne, ■ Whose biography did past, the significance and trail that devastated the country, famine, fear, you steal when you wrote uncertainty and the birth of the first screenplays, which writer I left. I loved to write, and I am still Serbian state, were the framework did you steal from? like that today. That is all for a parallel story about a pregnant - The writer who literally poswoman who flees from pillar to post sessed me during those first and tries to save the new life that she carries in her womb... Bedays in Belgrade was Thomas Wolfe and his book Look Homecause of these ideas I visited all the territories of old Raška and ward Angel. I had to stop reading because I went for an operation read many history books, trying to feel the breath of those longon my tonsils: I remember how the doctor looked at me in astonpast times, and finally I gave up on the project because no one ishment as I sat in the chair with Angels in my lap ... When I talk showed an interest in the subject. about Wolfe, I mention him as someone who came after Dostoevsky, Gogol, Tolstoy, Pushkin, Turgenev, Thomas Mann, Maupassant, ■ Still, that dream did not remain unrealised? Balzac, Dickens, Shakespeare, Cervantes, Goethe etc. - It didn’t, because I resurrected it when I found out in September last year about the competition of RTS – for the Coronation ■ What do you like the most of the things you wrote? of Stefan the First Crowned and the first Serbian kingdom. I - I really can’t say what I like the most from what I’ve written. I’m had a small, initial story, but I had to create twelve one-hour not one of the writers who is so fond of himself that he deals with 70 |

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episodes and return to studying history books. The time I had to work on the series was more than short, but I didn’t hesitate for a moment – I busily got to work, took the risk of nothing coming from all of this, wrote from day to day, night after night, and – finally – this time I had more luck.

deny any merits and successes of those former elites, and the former return the favour to the same extent, while – all together – they are followed by a terrible choir of keynote speakers, analysts, cartoonists and TV presenters who, crossing the boundaries of their - basically more than necessary and extremely important critical activities - often slip into the mud of ordinary scoffers, undermining everything that exists. And so it happens that the SANU President We are, for the umpteenth time, at is warned for excessively spreadthe beginning of who knows which ing defeatism and depression. Is he heard by any of the players on the consecutive rebirth, and there public political scene? Of course he seems to be no way for us to draw is heard, but his opinion does not interest them. lessons from the past. Our elite

■ In the series Gore-dole (Updown) recorded during the 1990s, you dealt with the collapse of the system of values that had existed until then. What is the value system like in Serbia today? - Alongside the series Up-down, about the collapse of the middle endlessly bicker, argue and insult class, I also made the film Mecha■ Has the political system each other; nobody acknowledges prevented you from writing? nism, about evil and violence. Both anything good done by anyone projects are still very relevant to- Never and no system can prevent a writer from writing, unless it reday, as if they were recorded right now. In this sense, something that might be called today’s value duces him to the bare bones of life. As a journalist in my youth I was twice dismissed, but I didn’t have a tough experience as one system is trying to form in some new hope, a light at the end of the tunnel, like dawn after a long night. But we are, for the umpof the creators of black film. It is paradoxical that I took fewer teenth time, at the beginning of who knows which consecutive rehits from the regime and a lot more from some people from the birth, and there seems to be no way for us to draw lessons from the profession – because of their envy and malice, but I wasn’t parpast. Our elite endlessly bicker, argue and insult each other; nobody ticularly disturbed because of that, nor has it ever interfered with my work. This work has always been my only defence. ■ acknowledges anything good done by anyone; these current elites

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By ŽIVKO BAL JKAS

INTERVIEW

Outdo London in

RIO DE JANEIRO

DAMIR ŠTAJNER HEAD OF THE OLYMPIC MISSION OF SERBIA AT THE RIO GAMES

he head of our Olympic mission is Damir Štajner, executive director of the Olympic Committee of Serbia, who is making his debut in this role at the Summer Olympics, but who has experience from the Winter Olympics in Sochi, the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing and the Summer Olympic Festival, and who, along with that, has spent the last four years concerning himself on a daily basis with the preparations of our Olympic athletes and their programmes for preparation and competition, maintaining contact with them, their coaches and heads of sporting federations. 72 |

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The Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro will officially open on 5th August, but the journey to Brazil has already been taken by the management of Serbia’s Olympic mission, which will include a total of 104 athletes in 14 sports Štajner was the first operative of the “Rio 2016” project, on whom the success of our athletes at the Olympic Games will depend.

■ Apart from the sporting aspect of our athletes, what is the essence of the “Rio 2016” project that you have worked on together with all members of the Olympic Committee of Serbia? - The “RIO 2016” project began immediately after returning from the Olympic Games in London and in essence it is about financial, professional and complete logistic support for athletes

to achieve top sporting results. All athletes are placed into appropriate categories on the basis of which they receive a certain amount of funding to continue their training process, further their sporting progress and participate in qualifying competitions for participation in the Olympic Games and other major competitions. In short, that is the essence of the “Rio 2016” project, with the additional aspect that we are also trying to secure sponsors for our Olympians. Logistical support implies the daily engaging of our medical team that takes care about the health of our athletes and resolves the problem of specific sports injuries, which if necessary also involve experts and medical institutions from abroad. This support also includes the engaging of psychologists, nutritionists etc. In all of these areas we have established cooperation with institutions who do that or who are recognised by the Law on Sports, and in all of this we are only the generator of a programme in which there are many participants. From the direct participant of athletes and their coaches, through national sports federations, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the sponsorship pool, the Republic Institute for Sport and Sports Medicine, to the Anti-Doping Agency of Serbia – in other words, all factors identified in the system of sports in Serbia.

rations and performances of our athletes at the Olympic Games. The Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS) has a dominant share in financing and, roughly speaking, the ratio of funds from the state budget through the MYS and those that the Olympic Committee of Serbia(OCS) acquired its activities is 60 to 40 per cent in favour of the MYS. It is an unwritten rule that in the first year of the Olympic cycle, the share of funds set aside by the State is the smallest and in that the biggest share is sponsorship money, while this proportion increases as the Olympic Games approach. This year, however, this is not the case due to the savings proclaimed at the state level, so that in the Olympic year

■ Did you have a problem with the financing of the “RIO 2016” project?

- The strength of the “RIO 2016” project is that we don’t only have one source of funding, rather we secure money from several sources. That’s good, because when we get less funding than anticipated from one line (for whatever reason) we can rely on another and athletes and their preparations will not suffer. I am proud to be able to say that, given the modest possibilities that we have as a country, athletes are provided with solid and stable conditions. Of course, we cannot measure ourselves against the richest countries. Let’s say that one boat costs the same for the British, or the Germans, or for us. Still, we succeed in securing all the necessary conditions for the training and advancement of our top athletes, who succeeded through our programmes to reach the level required for the Olympic Games. Recent analysis showed that 95 per cent of athletes who will participate in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro will be covered by our programmes.

We are certainly proud of the contribution of the sponsor pool, but it should be noted that the Ministry of Youth and Sports, or the State, is our most important partner in financing the preparations and performances of our athletes at the Olympic Games

■ How important is the sponsor pool for the realisation of the “RIO 2016” project, and how much money from your own activities have you invested in our Olympic sport? - We are certainly proud of the contribution of the sponsor pool, but it should be noted that the Ministry of Youth and Sports, or the State, is our most important partner in financing the prepa-

the share of sponsorship funds is greater than state funds, but we at OCS, like all athletes, are eternally grateful for what the state is doing for our sport, first and foremost for Olympic sports. ■ What is the share of funds from

public companies in sponsorship funds?

- We are a sports organisation which functions in the field of financing according to transparent business models. In the sponsor pool we do not have a single public enterprise, although there were sporadic shortterm arrangements. We strive to function commercially in relation to partners and members of our sponsorship pool are strong international companies operating in Serbia, starting with Delhaize, which is our general sponsor, then Vojvođanska Banka, not to mention further. These are all international companies that very clearly recognise the validity of some business deals. We offer some value and in return we expect this value to be paid. Our partners are stable companies and, unlike many sports organisaAUGUST

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that the most expensive qualifications are for team sports... But it’s not all about the money. Sometimes sports and athletes need different types of support – training and education of coaches, hiring experts for nutrition and recovery, psychologists, completing a professional team that will take care of top athletes on a daily basis. ■ Is it true that in this Olympic cycle can-

didates for participation in the Olympic Games in individual sports received greater attention and more resources than ever before?

- After the Beijing Games in 2008 and the arrival of Vlade Divac at the head of the Olympic Committee we set up new programmes whose base was to use some kind of “protions, we have no detectionism” to enaThe Executive Board of OCS lays when it comes to ble the better status them fulfilling their decided at the start of the Olympic of individual sports obligations. Thanks to that were then lagcycle to make the criteria for the such relationships we Olympic Games stricter, in order to ging behind in comhave stable funding, parison to team increase the competitiveness of our sports. Because of which is extremely important in current ecothat we redesigned athletes for high placements nomic conditions. the programme and Unfortunately, due in individual sports to general market conditions, the sums of our sponsorship conwe went much deeper, down to the minuttracts cannot be compared even with some neighbouring countries, est detail, in relation to team sports. Team firstly Hungary, and not even Romania. However, we are satisfied sports have the capacity to carry that which because within the framework that this country and its economy we do more with individual sports. Such can submit this is fair and stable, which is the most important factor. a relationship contributed to 95 per cent of athletes who were in our ■ Have you calculated how much it costs for the four-year programmes succeeding in making programme of an Olympian who will compete in Rio for a the Olympic quota or achieving the place in the final and for an Olympic medal? Olympic standards needed for Rio. - That could be calculated, but the average cost of each athlete In addition to that, a signifiwould not provide exact figures. There are sports that are excant number of these athletes were tremely expensive, not because of expensive equipment and in our program for Olympic talent gear, but rather because the system of qualification for the from the very start of their Olympic career and prior to their apOlympics in that sport is very long and expensive. This primaripearance at the Olympic Games in Rio they gained experience in ly relates to sports like tennis, taekwondo or judo, for which an the Olympic Youth Games and at the European Olympic Youth Olympic passport is obtained on the basis of a placement on the Festival for young athletes... ranking list, for which points are collected throughout the entire Olympic cycle. For some sports Olympic qualification is reduced 104 Serbian Olympians in Rio to a single competition, while in some sports – like athletics and The Serbian Olympic team in Rio de Janeiro will include 104 swimming – the Olympic standard can be fulfilled in domestic athletes, 55 in 11 individual sports and 49 members of four teams competitions, certainly with respect for the provisions of international federations. The most expensive individual programme in three team sports: athletics - 13, cycling - 2, water polo - 13, for Rio cost about €60,000 and that entailed everything – from rowing - 4, kayaking - 10, female basketball players - 12, male preparation, competition, engaging coaches, additional experts basketball players - 12, female volleyball players - 12, swimming from other areas, procuring equipment, funds for supplemen- 4, wrestling - 3, table tennis - 1, shooting - 9, taekwondo - 2, tation etc. Programmes vary from sport to sport and from athtennis - 6, judo - 1. lete to athlete, so some programmes cost €15,000. It is known 74 |

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■ Some 104 athletes from Serbia will compete at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 14 sports, 11 less than in London four years ago. How would you explain that with regard to all of the aforementioned?

- You cannot escape from statistics, but they can show a false picture of reality. Our “RIO 2016” project was at the level of the London 2012 project, and that means 110 to 115 athletes. On the other hand, the Executive Board of OCS decided at the start of the Olympic cycle to make the criteria for the Olympic Games stricter, in order to increase the competitiveness of our athletes for high placements, which it has the right to do according to the Olympic Charter. Therefore, in Rio a number of athletes will not participate who could, according to the criteria of international sports federations, participate on the basis sure. We will be of B standards. We In order to go further we must satisfied if the also gave up on number of medimprove the conditions in which our invitations, or als won and the “wild cards” sports clubs live and work in most number of placethat we could sports. If we do not succeed in that it ments among the count in could hit us in the head, perhaps not top eight or 10 some sports for the next Olympic Games in Tokyo, is greater than and that is in London. That one of the reabut certainly for those in 2024 would be a historsons why we ic achievement, will have 12 fewer because we should not forget that Serbia is a country with a athletes in Rio than in London. Howsmall population and a weak financial base when it comes to ever, even in such a situation we could sport, albeit a country with great sporting potential. have had the same number Top sport today is a profession and entertainment of the of athletes if only one of our rich, and Serbia, despite everything, has very good standing teams had, as was expectin that company. In order to go further we must improve the ed, achieved Olympic qualconditions in which our sports clubs live and work in most ification [men’s volleyball sports. If we do not succeed in that it could hit us in the head, team]. The number of parperhaps not for the next Olympic Games in Tokyo, but certainticipants is slightly smallly for those in 2024. er, but we expect more effective results.

■ As we’re already talking about it, can you be specific when it comes to the expectations of the OCS?

- Our job is to motivate athletes, not to expose them to pres-

Fourth Independent Appearance

Serbia returned to the Olympic stage as an independent country in Beijing in 2008, 96 years after its debut at the Olympic Games in Stockholm in 1912, where it competed with two athletes who did not achieve significant results. In Beijing three medals were won – silver for swimmer Milorad Čavić, bronze for tennis player Novak Đoković and bronze for the water polo team.

■ In order to improve conditions for practicing sport it is es-

sential to have state assistance. Are you were satisfied with its role to date?

- Generally speaking, those of us who are engaged in sport in this or some other way should not complain about the attitude of the state, but rather we have to be satisfied that we have the Law on Sports, the Strategy for Sport, national sports awards and a favourable climate in the public media which is certainly influenced by the state with its positive attitude towards sport. If this ratio is reduced down to the amount of money that the state sets aside, it is clear that we are lacking money; that higher investments would be returned via top results, but we in sport also know that other areas of social action lack money as much as we do. Quite simply, given the economic situation, the state can set aside as much as it does and we must not be dissatisfied. ■ AUGUST

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CHILL OUT SPAIN

PAMPLONA BULL RUN ▶ Four people were hospitalised on the first day of Spain’s San Fermin bull run, a daily race through the narrow, cobbled streets of Pamplona that forms part of the northern city’s week-long festival. One runner was gored in the thigh while the other three suffered fractures during the race against five bulls which lasted 2 minutes and 25 seconds. The bull run at San Fermin — made famous by Mr Ernest Hemingway in his novel The Sun Also Rises — is one of hundreds in Spain every year and attracts large numbers of foreign visitors. Runners dress in white with red neckerchiefs and many spectators stay up drinking all night in bars beforehand. The “Chupinazo” run takes place a day before the first of eight 8 a.m. bull runs, in which daredevils test their speed and bravery by racing with six fighting bulls along a 850-meter street course to the bull ring. USA

INTERNATIONAL HOT DOG EATING CONTEST

CHINA

TASTE OF CHINESE YACHT BUYERS ▶ From stir-fry woks to fish

steamers and karaoke rooms, luxury yacht builders are adding quirky new features to adapt to the taste of Chinese buyers and their passion for dining. “People use it as a floating restaurant really,” said Gordon Hui, from luxury yacht manufacturer Sunseeker.” They want to get the kitchen out of the way… Good food and wine are something important. Therefore we customize the gal-

ley with special Chinese woks and fish steamers (as well as) a roundshaped dining table,” Hui added “Most people are corporate people turning up at the marina in suits and shoes, they are not wearing swimming shorts or T-shirts. It is very company-orientated, they bring their (personal assistants), it is exactly like going to the restaurants,” he said.. Although the number of mainland Chinese billionaires reached 596 this year, overtaking the U.S. for the first time, the luxury yacht market has been facing headwinds in China, following Chinese President Xi Jinping’s ongoing crackdown on corruption.

▶ Joey “Jaws” Chestnut beat his own record in regaining the Mustard Yellow International Belt, downing a stomach-churning 70 hot dogs and buns to top Matt “The Megatoad” Stonie at the annual July Fourth eating contest. Chestnut, 32, easily secured victory by polishing off 17 more hot dogs than Stonie, who last year

ended Chestnut’s streak of eight straight wins in a major upset to take the championship title at Nathan’s Famous on Coney Island, New York. The 70 hot dogs and buns gobbled by Chestnut were the most ever eaten at the competition. In 2013, Chestnut set a world record by eating 69 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. Contest officials said Chestnut also set a record last month when he ate 73 1/2 hot dogs and buns during a qualifying event.

CHINA

WORLD’S LARGEST RADIO TELESCOPE ▶ The five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST), a massive array that just finished construction in the southerwestern province of Guizhou, China is equivalent in size to over 20 football fields joined end to end and the world’s largest radio telescope As part of China’s growing commitment to space exploration, the FAST telescope will spend the coming decades exploring space and assisting in the hunt for extraterrestrial life. And once it commences operations this coming September, the Chinese expect it will remain the global leader in radio astronomy for the next ten or twenty years. The telescope is reportedly 10 times more sensitive than its closest competitors. It is capable of forming a parabolic mirror and will allow researchers a greater degree of flexibility.

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UNITED KINGDOM

SEA OF HULL ▶ Thousands of people have stripped naked and painted themselves in four shades of blue to celebrate the English city of Hull’s relationship with the sea. Hull City Council says some 3,200 people took part in the art installation, staged by New York artist Spencer Tunick. The work is called “Sea of Hull” and was commissioned by the Ferens Art Gallery to mark the city’s celebration as next year’s UK City of Culture. The resulting photos incorporate some of the city’s unique locations, including the Scale Lane footbridge, a swing bridge often compared to a pin ball flipper that is a tourist attraction in the northern English city. The port city on the rivers Hull and Humber has a rich maritime past that dates back to the 12th Century. GERMANY

NO WINDOWLESS OFFICE IN GERMANY ▶ Every office in Germa-

ny must have a view of the sky, however small. In other words, all offices should have a window with good JAPAN

ventilation. The law does not exactly stipulate as such, but according to employment law, employers are legally obliged to set up their offices so that employees health and lives are not in danger, which according to Germans is not possible in a windowless office.

USA

WILL YOU MARRY MY 48-YEAR-OLD SON? ▶ Many parents hope that their

children will marry and give them grandchildren. However, the way that Arthur Brooks chose to “move things along” has left his 48-yearold son, Baron, more than a little embarrassed.

WORLD

WORLD’S LARGEST MATH PROOF SOLVED

FIRST DRIVERLESS BUS SERVICE ▶DeNA Co., best known as a Japanese mobile video game maker, has announced that it will launch a driverless bus service at a park in the Chiba Prefecture from August. The Tokyo-based firm said it has partnered with EasyMile S.A., a French startup that manufactures self-driving buses. There are not many firms that can provide “completely driverless vehicles that can be used for actual services,” said Hiroshi Nakajima, who heads DeNA’s automotive business, explaining why his company chose to partner with EasyMile. DeNA’s new service will employ the company’s EZ10 bus, an electric vehicle that can accommodate 12 people. The limitedtime service, dubbed Robot Shuttle, will begin on a yet-to-be-determined date in August inside the 21,000 sq.-meter Toyosuna Park in Chiba’s Makuhari district, adjacent to vast Aeon shopping complex.

▶An Anglo-American trio presented the prize-winning solution to a 35-year-old maths problem, but verifying it may be a problem in itself: reading it would take 10 billion years. “Boolean Pythagorean Triples” is not a shameful contagious disease, but a long-unsolved enigma within a field called Ramsey Theory. It was such a brain-teaser that nearly 30 years ago fabled American mathematician Roland Graham offered a cash prize to anyone who could solve it. The self-declared winners -- Marijn Heule, Oliver Kullmann and Victor Marek, of the universities of Texas, Swansea and Kentucky, respectively -- unveiled their proof at the international SAT 2016 conference in Bordeaux, France. By their own account, they cracked the puzzle “using Cubeand-Conquer, a hybrid satisfiability testing (SAT) method for hard problems.” The resulting string of symbols is equivalent to “all the digitalised texts held by the US Library of Congress,” some 200 terabytes of data.

Arthur took out a full-page ad in the Coeur d’Alene Press to find his son a bride. He specifies a preference for women aged 34-38 without children, but adds that the matter is flexible. “My father did this without my consent. I can’t even describe to you how embarrassing and ridiculous this is,” said Baron Brooks. “Ever since he went into congestive heart failure he’s done some really kooky stuff. And this one takes the cake.” “No sense in defusing a bomb once it’s already gone off,” Baron says philosophically. “It’s worth a shot. Can’t hurt.” AUGUST

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FASHION

A Cute Beach For The Rest of Summer Turkish Pestemal Towel

The fact is that when summer arrives, and in particlar the hottest month of August, we would all prefer to go somewhere to a beach beside the sea, a lake or a river

Handwoven from genuine Turkish cotton, this durable towel is ideal for beach. PRICE: €30

Chelsea Tunic Dress This tunic dress features abstract, free-floating blossoms — bringing an element of lightness to the look. PRICE: €260

We all want to feel on our bodies the refreshing water of waves in combination with warm sunlight; to dive into clear water and emerge with our face towards the sun; to feel free and relaxed; to walk barefoot through shallow water; to spend a few days or weeks away from our everyday duties and the heat of the city concrete. All of this enjoyment will be made complete if it includes a wellchosen outfit, in harmony with the place that you have selected for your holiday, the surroundings and the temperature. Whatever you choose, don’t forget that the hot days of August are among the last chance in the year for your summer wardrobe to shine.

Espadrille Perfectly city-friendly yet also great for the beach. PRICE: €175

Straw Sun Hat PRICE:

€18

Linen Tank A U-neck tank with a shoulder-baring racerback is cut from a lightweight linen knit offering soft and breathable comfort.

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A bold grosgrain band wraps a wide-brimmed straw hat that keeps you stylishly protected from the sun. PRICE: €225

Open-Wire Square Sunglasses

Our Open-Wire Square Sunglasses feature a retro-chic shape updated with modern details. PRICE: €180

Outfit

PRICE:

€18

Open Shoulder Beach Playsuit

Small Square Tote

Bagging yourself the perfect bikini is the secret to feeling body beautiful at the beach.

Durable and water-resistant, the design is detailed with leather handles, a D-ring at the front for attaching keys and an interior zip pouch with a pocket for your phone. PRICE: €130

WrappedHorn Leather Bracelet

PRICE:

€200

This bracelet can elevate everyday looks with sculptural polish and a bit of tomboyish charm. PRICE: €85

Camp Shirt This Camp Shirt features abstract, free-floating blossoms — bringing an element of lightness to the look.

Plunge Caftan This breezy caftan is boho everything, with the coolest drape, cut-out shoulders and pom-pom trim. PRICE: €70

Wedge Espadrille Sandal This espadrille sandal elevates the look of a casual beachy slip-on — combining crisscrossed leather straps with a jute-covered platform and heel. PRICE: €245

Blue Shirt Dress Shirt dress, button closure, 100%cotton PRICE: €60

AUGUST

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FASHION

Kitesurfing T-Shirt This relaxed fit classic offers plenty of room and is ideal for most body types. PRICE: €20

Braided Leather Wrap Bracelet Antiqued silver-plated magnetic clasps secure a slim wraparound bracelet braided in strips of rich, supple leather. PRICE: €50

Dolce & Gabbana Optical Print Shorts

'Noughts and crosses' shirt Light blue cotton 'Noughts and crosses' shirt from Levi's Vintage Clothing. PRICE: €270

Black and white linen optical print shorts from Dolce & Gabbana featuring a button & zip fastening, belt loops, two inset pockets to the sides and rear welt pockets. PRICE: €260

'Castor' Straw Fedora A sleek grosgrain ribbon trims a straw fedora lined in silk for elevated style. PRICE: €35

PRICE:

€ 140

Bermuda Swimwear A mix of Paisley motifs decorates with style the original swimwear. Match with a polo shirt and a pair of trainers for a stylish beach look.

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Waterproof Slide Sandal Perfect for the beach or sitting poolside, this lightweight, waterproof slide sandal mimics the shape of the foot and provides excellent support. PRICE: €30

Christian Dior Metal Shield Sunglasses

PRICE:

€100

Surf's Up vest

Distinctive metal shields frame the lenses of these futuristic aviator-inspired sunglasses that feature adjustable nose pads and a feather-light construction. PRICE: €500

Light blue cottonlinen blend Surf's Up vest from Dsquared2 featuring a scoop neck, a sleeveless design, a racerback style and a straight hem.

Multi Stripe Trim Beach Towel PRICE:

€130

Alsten Robe

Look cool on holiday with the large multi stripe trim beach towel, made from knitted 100% looped cotton. Size 200 x 100cm. PRICE: €75

This hooded robe has your comfort covered from head to (almost) toe.

Valentino Cotton Sandals These black Valentino sandals are the perfect way to embrace poolside chic this season. PRICE: €330

Espadrille Wear these blue and white stripes espadrille in pursuit of an endless summer. PRICE: €50

Polo Ralph Lauren Swimwear This traveler printed trunk is made from fast drying fabric and has comfortable interior mesh brief. PRICE: €60

AUGUST

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PROFILE

Ingenious Communications Communication is the voice of every company worldwide – its important mission is to support a company’s business, day in and day out

JOVANA ŽURŽIN VUKOTIĆ Head of Communications and Government Affairs at Siemens d.o.o. Belgrade

hen you start working for a large international company directly from the student classroom, you need to be ready and willing to learn a lot and to work on yourself. I think that success is a result of hard work and creativity, which have been the crucial factors of all of my achievements to date. As a graduate philologist, still in love with literature and keen on communicating, I was eager to work with my new colleagues from the beginning in the office, as well as to use and implement new ideas. This was something that predetermined my path towards the communications community; I found my job and it found me. It turned out to be a good match, thanks to great timing. Part of Serbian culture is not to celebrate successes. This is something I am trying to change in my habits. A person should be aware of what they are doing right and where there is room for improvement. When talking about improvements, I sincerely believe that you always have to raise the bar. I believe that a person can always be better and achieve more – and every day I set new 82 |

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standards in my working environment and in communications in general – to challenge myself and gain new ideas. I love that I collaborate with many people inside and outside the company, having the opportunity to get acquainted with different management and negotiating styles, working habits and inspiring skills that influence my development as a person and a communications expert. This also includes learning from younger colleagues. Experience brings us one perspective, while its absence brings us another. It’s important for a person to be open to hear, able to accept different views, ready to develop and to do all that in a team. Teamwork is the key for good communications results – both internal and external – and I can simply

I must point out one project of which I am particularly proud: the Siemens Press Award. I picture this competition as a kind of Olympic Spirit, where the important thing is not always winning but taking part, which is what counts describe it as an orchestra. If you don’t coordinate, it sounds discordant. In addition, I believe that you have to be determined and to use all opportunities that you are offered in life. Looking back on my almost 10 years at Siemens, I am very satisfied with everything I have done so far. Working

for Siemens, a global technology leader, whose motto is “ingenuity for life”, I believe that it is very important to be innovative and to use your genius in creating new standards with your own ideas. My work, as head of the Communications and Government Affairs Department, is very dynamic, challenging, and responsible, with many projects that are of great importance for the company’s image. I must point out one project of which I am particularly proud: the Siemens Press Award. It started in Serbia in 2009 and gained great success in the Siemens Communications world in 2015, when out of 141 applications it was one of the three finalists at the global internal Siemens Communications Award competition. I picture this competition as a kind of Olympic Spirit, where the important thing is not always winning but taking part, which is what counts. I am very proud to be one of the professional athletes in this fantastic competition, which additionally helped the Siemens Press Award to rise from the Adriatic to the Central and Eastern European level, and become one of the largest journalist competitions in this region. Recognising media representatives as those who play an active role in addressing the challenges and problems that we all face, through this competition we want to further encourage them to deal with specific questions of essential topics that are in the public focus, while rewarding their dedication and professionalism. 

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