Kurir International magazine 05

MARCH 2014 

INTERNATIONAL 

I VOL 01 I NO 05 I 

INTERVIEW 

Aleksandar Vučić 

CONVINCING WINNER OF 

SERBIA'S EXTRAORDINARY 

PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS 

WE WILL NOT 

FIGHT FOR 

THE NEXT 

ELECTIONS, 

BUT RATHER 

THE NEXT 

GENERATIONS 

The programme for 

a new government 

will be drawn up over 

the next few days, 

and all the work 

will certainly be 

completed by May 1 st 

We are ready for 

dialogue with all 

relevant political 

parties, but for us 

our most important 

partnership is with the 

citizens of Serbia 

We want to talk, to 

co-operate, not to 

underrate anyone, 

let alone attempt 

to humiliate them 

regarding this result

19 Crisis in 

Ukraine 

The current political 

turmoil has its beginnings 

in November 2013, when 

then President Yanukovych 

rather surprisingly decided 

not to sign the Association 

Agreement with the EU 

by Justina Vitkauskaite 

Bernard & Vira 

Rastiborynska 

26 Kopaonik 

Business Forum 

The Serbian Davos was held 

for the 21st time this March at 

its traditional Mount Kopaonik 

venue, with the highest ever 

number of participants 

by Jelena Vukić 

MARCH 2014 

INTERVIEW 


CONVINCING WINNER OF 

SERBIA'S EXTRAODINARY 

PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS 

WE WILL NOT 

FIGHT FOR 

THE NEXT 

ELECTIONS, 

BUT RATHER 

THE NEXT 

GENERATIONS 

INTERNATIONAL 

I VOL 01 I NO 05 I 

10 

Cover story 

Election results clearly showed 

that the nation evaluated highly 

the previous work of Vučić 

and his team, giving them the 

opportunity to govern for the 

next four years 

by Team KI 

64 Victory at Indian Wells 

Serbian tennis ace Novak Đoković won his first title of 2014 by 

defeating Roger Federer 2-1 in the final 

by Milan Nastić 

The programme for 

a new government 

will be drawn up over 

the next few days, 

and all the work 

will certainly be 

completed by May 1 st 

We are ready for 

dialogue with all 

relevant political 

parties, but for us 

our most important 

partnership is with the 

citizens of Serbia 

We want to talk, to 

co-operate, not to 

underrate anyone, 

let alone attempt 

to humiliate them 

regarding this result 

SNS rises, Šarić falls 

JELENA VUKIĆ/ KI EDITOR 

In just two days the citizens of 

Serbia experienced two events 

that the average citizen of any 

regulated European country 

would not experience in a whole 

year, and maybe not even then! 

Events just unfolded - a month ahead 

of early elections the Democratic Party 

split in two, with one camp led by 

 

and the other led by former mayor of 

- 

 

mood at all following the March 16th 

 

 

combined, it is far from the total the 

Democrats could muster with their 

- 

strous 

election results prompted two 

party leaders to announce their immi- 

 

 

should be succeeded by someone more 

capable, while his path was followed 

two days later by DSS leader Vojislav 

Koštunica, who will also be leaving the 

 

- 

 

The only one with cause for celebration 

- 

 

their success is the fact that the results 

they achieved even surpassed the popularity 

at the polls of Slobodan Miloše- 

 

 

 

- 

 

 

14 22 

39 

Interview Ivica Dačić 

I tell everyone: Do not touch the 

bear so he won’t play in your yard 

by Sandra Mališić 

MAGAZINE DIRECTOR 

 

EDITOR IN CHIEF 

 

 

EDITION EDITOR 

 

 

ASSISTANT EDITOR 

 

 

ART DIRECTOR 

 

 

PHOTO EDITOR 

 

 

DESIGN & LAYOUT 

 

 

Vladan 

 

GRAPHICS & ILLUSTRATIONS 

 

 

Interview Ivo Vajgl 

Joining the EU is not an event, 

but rather process 

by Jelena Vukić 

PHOTOGRAPHERS 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PHOTO EDITING 

 

 

TRANSLATION 

MRP Editorial 

 

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTION 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drug lord arrested 

The most wanted fugitive, Darko 

Šarić, arrested in Montenegro 

by KI TEAM 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADVERTISING MANAGERS 

 

 

 

 

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SUBSCRIPTION 

 

 

PRINTED BY 

 

 

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GENERAL MANAGER Aleksandar Rodić DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER Dr Ivana Slović-Krčadinac 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS - ADVERTISING Milosav Parezanović DIGITAL MEDIA Predrag Roganović 

CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS Nebojša Rosić DISTRIBUTION Dragan Milić MAGAZINES Natalija Cvetković 

DAILY EDITIONS Ivan Tadić ADMINISTRATION Nataša Lazić SUPPORT Darko Knežević 

 

 

MARCH 2014 

03

NEWS 

11 

YEARS 

SINCE PM’S 

ASSASSINATION 

GOVERNMENT 

MEMBERS PAY 

 

Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dačić and other members 

of the government laid a wreath at the memorial 

in the courtyard of the government at the place 

where Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić was gunned down 

eleven years ago. 

The wreath laying ceremony was attended by First 

Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić, Finance Minister 

Lazar Krstić, Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkić, Defence 

Minister Nebojša Rodić and Minister of Energy, Development 

and the Environment, Zorana Mihajlović. Also 

paying their respects were Minister of Agriculture, 

Forestry and Water Management, Dragan Glamočić, 

Minister of Culture and Information, Ivan Tasovac, Minister 

of Youth and Sports, Vanja Udovičić, Minister of 

Education, Science and Technological Development, 

Tomislav Jovanović, Health Minister Slavica Đukić and 

other members of the government. Tanjug 

STATEMENT 

OF THE MONTH 

EVENT OF THE MONTH 

I congratulate Serbia 

on the early elections 

held, during which 

the evaluation of the 

 

opportunity to decide 

on the basis of a sound 

legal foundation. I’m 

glad that the people 

 

clear support for the 

continued European 

orientation of the 

government. 

ŠTEFAN FÜLE 

EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER 

FOR ENLARGEMENT 

SNS ELECTION VICTORY 

According to preliminary results, the 

Serbian Progressive Party, SNS, obtained 

an absolute majority in parliament and 

was declared the victor an hour after polls 

closed. Overwhelming support for SNS 

was expected, but this result, which is the 

first time since 2000 that a single party has 

been given the opportunity to govern alone, 

surprised many. In accordance with the 

electoral system in Serbia, where the votes 

of parties that fail to enter Parliament are 

proportionally distributed among other parties, 

the power of SNS will further increase 

and it could control just under 160 of the 

250 seats. Among the parties previously in 

parliament that miss out after falling below 

the threshold are the United Regions of 

Serbia (URS), the Liberal Democratic Party 

(LDP) and the Democratic Party of Serbia 

(DSS). On the basis of 99.08% processed 

results, SNS and its coalition won 48.34%, 

which will bring them around 156 seats, 

SPS won 13.51%, the Democratic Party 

secured 6.04% and the New Democratic 

Party took 5.71%. The voter turnout was 

53.12%, while the Assembly will also include 

minority parties, which required a smaller 

share of votes. 

Euractiv 

04 Kurir INTERNATIONAL

300 

Foreign 

ECO VEHICLES 

DONATED BY 

JAPAN 

AGREEMENT SIGNED 

IN BELGRADE 

Minister Ivan Mrkić and 

Japanese Ambassador Masafumi 

Kuroki formalised a donation from 

Japan in the form of eco-friendly 

vehicles worth €3.57 million. 

Mrkić said the 300 vehicles were 

for the needs of the public sector 

and reminded that Japan was one 

of Serbia’s most important partners. 

The Minister also expressed 

his gratitude to the Government 

of Japan for the extremely favourable 

loan for the Nikola Tesla 

power plant, which will contribute 

to further strengthening 

economic cooperation and attracting 

Japanese investment. 

€2 

MILLION FOR 

SCHOLARSHIPS 

ATHLETES RECEIVE 

STATE FUNDING 

Youth and Sports Minister Vanja 

Udovičić presented the state’s 

2014 scholarships for Serbia’s best 

athletes, including Ivana Španović, 

Emir Bekrić, Asmir Kolašinac, 

Amela Terzić and Zorana 

Arunović. He said €2 million had 

been set aside for scholarships 

for the 350 top athletes, noting 

that they are Serbia's best ambassadors, 

which is why the state 

provides financial support. 

-We get more from them than we 

give, which is why this year the 

ministry is continuing its scholarships 

for elite athletes - said 

Udovičić. 

ALEKSANDAR VUČIĆ 

Serbian 

"Mercedes" 

presented 

First Deputy Prime Minister 

of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić said 

that the cooperation of the 

Ikarbus factory for buses and 

special vehicles with Mercedes 

will enable new growth for 

Serbian industrial strength. 

Speaking at the Ikarbus factory 

in Zemun, where he attended 

the presentation of the 

prototype of the new bus, he 

said it was the first in a series 

of buses and vans that Ikarbus 

and Mercedes plan to produce 

jointly in the future. He said 

that the bus will cost €135,000 

and noted that there is already 

interest from neighbouring 

countries. 

Ikarbus CEO Alexander 

Vićentić said that this cooperation 

will contribute improving 

the quality of products and the 

possibility of placing vehicles 

on the domestic and foreign 

markets. Kurir 

VISIT OF THE MONTH 

COOPERATION BETWEEN SERBIA 

AND THE UAE IN ALL FIELDS 

President Nikolić said in talks with Sheikh Abdullah bin 

Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Foreign Minister, that UAE's friendship 

means a lot to Serbia. Expressing satisfaction with the decision 

to open diplomatic and consular missions, Nikolić noted 

bilateral cooperation has been fully restored and is defined 

by paths to implement economic cooperation. "Serbia's comparative 

advantages are numerous, from geographic position, 

to an excellent workforce, which EU accession can make very 

desirable for UAE investors," said Nikolić. 

Beta 

MICHAEL DAVENPORT 

Uniform standards 

EU Delegation head Michael Davenport says 

Serbian companies will have to adopt EU standards 

for doing business, including CSR practices. 

“Socially useful operations are not easy at all 

in this prolonged period of crisis,” he said, 

adding that it should be seen as an opportunity 

to achieve long-term development. 

Davenport said the EU adopted a general 

definition of CSR, which is used 

worldwide, including respect for the law 

and taking care of employees, 

customers, society, moral issues 

and the environment. Euractiv 

TANJA MIŠČEVIĆ 

Law on services 

essential 

Head of the negotiating 

team for talks on Serbia's EU 

accession, Tanja Miščević, has 

said that Serbia has extensive 

work to do to harmonise 

regulations in the provision of 

services that meet European 

standards. 

Speaking during the break on 

the second day of a bilateral 

screening of Chapter 3, which 

is related to the freedom to 

provide services within the 

common market, she said 

Serbia still has no clear system 

of service provision and establishing 

enterprsises in line with 

the EU. Miščević explained that 

this is a very important sector 

in which up to 75 per cent 

of gross national income was 

directed in the EU, while in 

Serbia the share was approximately 

55 per cent. Beta 

CROATIA - SERBIA DISPUTE 

Genocide charge to stand 

Deputy PMs of Croatia and Serbia, Vesna Pusić 

and Aleksandar Vučić, have announced there will 

be no withdrawal of mutual accusations of genocide, 

submitted to the International Court of 

Justice in The Hague, but emphasised theseissues 

from the past should not be allowed to 

influence the present and the future. Speaking 

at a joint press conference, Pusić said it 

had been her desire and effort to achieve 

a withdrawal of the complaint, but they did 

not succeed, while Vučić said t Croatia had 

insisted on the issue of the missing, 

which the Serbian side was 

unable to resolve. Beta 

MARCH 2014 

05

interview 

Aleksandar 

Vučić 

LEADER OF THE SERBIAN 

PROGRESSIVE PARTY (SNS) 

I WILL WORK 

FOR FUTURE 

GENERATIONS! 

Famous Italian President Gaspari uttered a phrase that I really like 60 years 

ago: “What I do I do not for the next election, but for the next generation.” 

And that is the most beautiful sentence 

text MARIJA KORDIĆ, SAŠA MILOVANOVIĆ photo MARINA LOPIČIĆ 


MARCH 2014 

7

After the elections, when the 

time comes to form a new 

government, the Progressives 

will speak to SPS, but also 

other parties, says SNS leader 

 

International. 

How come you now receive praise 

from those who were once your 

 

 

 

- I do not think that's the case, on the contrary. 

Two things have crystallised in this 

 

absolutely everything, showing nothing but 

hatred towards me. There is nothing more 

stupid than criticising Mercedes or the "Belgrade 

on the Water" project without any sort 

of argument other than hatred. In this sense 

that’s also how I understood the words of Mr 

 

a lot of my work when it comes to national 

or state policy. But it has also been shown 

that there are normal people in Serbia who 

do not have that kind of hatred, but rather 

react to whether you do something or not. 

 

Do you have the impression that 

 

- No, I don’t have that impression. Some are 

attempting to force that impression through 

social networks, but I have to admit I did 

not notice that anywhere. On the contrary, 

I hear every day that I am a dictator and autocrat. 

I heard that I was a dictator because I 

 

is a man who does not respect his employees 

and his companies. This is probably the best 

 

anywhere in the world. 

 

 

 

 

- There is no sort of agreement with anyone, 

unless you follow what people say and what 

surprised me, and disappointed me a little, 

 

the Water". I considered that a decent man 

would understand those things. 

 

 

- I’m not talking in those parameters. It just 

disappointed me in human terms, because 

I do not understand how someone could be 

in a state to miss out on such a great opportunity 

for our country. 

 

- I have a political explanation, but I do not 

approve of it and do not justify it. 

 

- As for some others, I took care of those who 

instigated the destruction of stability in Serbia. 

You have noticed that people from some 

ostensibly social democratic parties, such as 

 

as well as people from some extremist organizations, 

simultaneously use the same 

 

You can see that they all wanted to destroy 

Serbia, while a responsible person must 

know that we need full political stability and 

political peace in order to be able to make 

progress, in order to be able to be a normal 

country. Famous Italian President Gaspari 

uttered a phrase that I really like 60 years 

ago: "What I do I do not for the next election, 

but for the next generation." And that is the 

most beautiful sentence. If the people show 

trust in me and the party I lead, that will be 

my motto. I know my popularity will soon 

be much lower and there will be a reduction 

in the love shown for me today by a large 

number of people, but I will do the biggest 

and best job for the future generation. That 

is my promise. 

 

 

- Because I'm not interested in my political 

life, but rather the future of Serbia. This is 

 

and others. 

 

 

 

In his last 

pre-election 

interview, 


promised KI's 

journalists that 

he would consult 

other party leaders 

before forming a 

government 

 

- Every society is fertile. People here live very 

tough and I understand that. And they will 

not live easily next year either. These stories 

about the Ukrainian scenario are primarily 

 

know what they want – sticks and guns, 

against whom? If the destruction of the government 

is the goal, there are elections for 

that. Our nation did a great job of assessing 

what that is – what is the background and 

what is gained from that. Do you want to 

evict me from a villa or formal residence? 

I don’t even know where those residences 

are that I had a right to, that my predecessors 

continued to use even when I became 

a minister, and which they used for their 

cars. Will they chase me through the villas 

of Dedinje? No they won’t. They can only 

chase me around the residential blocks of 

New Belgrade. That’s ridiculous. If you want, 

resolve these things at the elections. That’s 

Pawns 

SOME OF THEM WERE MIROSLAV MIŠKOVIĆ’S PEOPLE 

Miodrag Rakić said that Mišković had his people in the 

previous government, but also in this one. Does that relate 

to SPS? 

- Some were his people. That’s not disputed. 

Which? 

- It is known that Dragan Đurić is Mišković’s. That's not a big 

secret. But that's not Dačić’s doing. Ružić is not the only one. I 

didn’t go to meet Mišković, but rather Palma did. He didn’t go 

because of the cupboards and the chairs we are sitting on. 

Who are Mišković’s other allies in politics? 

- There are as many as you would wish to mention. I congratulate 

him on how he has built his network. 

And how did he build it? 

- With money and providing various privileges. And he knows it. 

He is not guilty for that. He was fairer at the trial than many others. 

He even spoke fairly about the pressure on banks in connection 

with loans, but nobody noticed. People typically seek to hear 

some name at the trial, while what he said was of essential importance. 

Mišković’s influence was not small. No one prosecuted 

him for that. The state prosecuted him for specific crimes. For 

this Mr Mišković showed he is a great political talent. He hired the 

best American agency, which is making big problems for me and 

the state everywhere, but just because someone is making problems 

for me I cannot say that the rule of law should not exist. 


why it’s very important that we are now 

 

or six per cent support and threaten every 

day, we won’t go with this one, we want to 

go with this one... That’s the terrorising of 

the majority by the minority. Nobody in Serbia 

will tolerate terrorising. Terror, streets, 

sticks… I will not let that happen. There will 

be no chaos on the streets of Serbia. 

You reacted sharply to such 

announcements. 

- In this campaign I’ve heard all sorts about 

me. I did not even mention the names of my 

opponents until a few days ago. I only said 

one thing - insult me all you want, do what 

you want, but I will not allow you to undermine 

Serbia and its stability. Never. And 

when you next think you should win some 

elections, you will have a chance, just don’t 

seek them now in the next two years, be a 

little patient and then see if you can gain the 

trust of the people. I think that's a responsible 

attitude towards society. 

 

Socialist Party of Serbia in the next 

government? 

 

some other people. And I'll talk to them. 

Much criticism has been directed 

 

claims that the Socialists slowed 

reforms. What is your view on this? 

- Look what the Socialists did in Valjevo and 

the entire Kolubara district just 15 days before 

the elections. I need not remind you 

 

by many senior SPS members, then what is 

going on in Vranje. Don’t let me tell you that 

some people deliberately provoked strikes ... 

Do you want to say that SPS has not 

been a correct partner? 

- No, I do not. I want to say that there isn’t 

only one side and my job is to consider 

things objectively, and not from a narrow 

party perspective. I will always strive to 

be objective, for there not always to be 

 

this campaign. Serbia will not be managed 

by just one party or one person. 

We'll make the best possible team, which 

will be composed of representatives of not 

only numerous political organizations, but 

also people who do not belong to anyone 

but are experts who are renowned in the 

country and elsewhere in the world and 

can help Serbia. For me vanity and party 

or personal relations will not lead to the 

selection of partners. 

It is interesting that neither you nor 

 

rather criticism only comes from the 

lower ranks? 

- We agreed on the strategic direction of 

 

country. I would be unfair if I uttered bad 

 

mind to do that for the sake of votes and 

throwing him into the political pit. And that 

would be easy for us. We could do that, it’s 

just that we wanted to insist on some talks 

 

case of Miša Banana and everything would 

 

authorities. We did not even want to comment 

on that politically, because I believe it 

is not fair for politicians to do that. On the 

other hand, on this issue I don’t know what 

 

about him that which he certainly cannot 

say about me. • 

Business Plan 

WE ARE CHANGING 

THE BUSINESS 

ENVIRONMENT 

How do you plan to re-launch the 

Serbian economy? 

- From loans from the Emirates there 

should be at least €200 million for the 

purposes of incentive packages in order 

for us to be more successful than Macedonia 

and Bulgaria in attracting investment, 

particularly in the auto industry. 

We want to be the first in Europe and I 

think that from 1 st May 2014 to 1 st May 

2016 we could succeed in bringing 

everything to Serbia. For this we need 

urgent adoption of reform legislation 

by the end of June or beginning of July 

and if we succeed in that then the atmosphere 

will be different. 

Will there be incentives for local 

entrepreneurs? 

- They can also participate in getting 

incentive packages, while on the other 

hand we will enable them to more easily 

recruit people. If you have 100 employees 

and want to hire a 101, you will 

have lower costs than engaging a freelancer, 

because the state will tell you 

that you will not pay taxes for the 99 th 

or the 100 th worker. And we will give 

more serious incentives for those who 

want to employ five, 10 or 20 people. 

Belgrade on the Water 

ĐILAS IS ONLY 

INTERESTED 

IN BILLIONS 

There is a wide front of those 

who criticise the “Belgrade on the 

Water” project. Besides Đilas, it 

has been criticised by both Tadić 

and Koštunica. Đilas says a billion 

euros would be needed just to clear 

the way for the construction... 

- When Đilas talks about billions he is 

his own starting point, because he always 

considers that a large amount of 

money should be added to satisfy all 

his appetites. The question is whether 

we will make money on that or not. 

And not only if Belgrade will earn, but 

whether Serbia will earn, because 

thousands of companies from Serbia 

will work on this project, not only in 

construction but also later, strengthening 

the tertiary sector, tourism etc. 

MARCH 2014 

9

Progress for Progressives 

ABSOLUTE 

TRIUMPH 

FOR SNS 


The new composition of Serbia’s National Assembly will include seven 

coalitions and parties. Total failure at the elections was experienced 

by stalwarts Mlađan Dinkić, Čedomir Jovanović and Vojislav Koštunica 

text TEAM KI illustration BRANKA SAVKOVIĆ photo KI ARCHIVE 

2014 

elections 

T- 

ing 

that it even proved slightly surprising for 

party members themselves. As party leader 

 

- 

 

- 

 

 

 

 

The day after the election the Republican Electoral 

 

 

of the processed 99.08 per cent of polling stations. Ac- 

 

in the national assembly. 

 

 

 

- 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- 

 

 

 

- 

 

 

Convincing majority 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

parliamentary seats. 

Vučić: Thank you 

 

 

st 

 

 

 

- 

 

 

 

 

- 

 

introduction of the multiparty system. We are ready 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

path. 

Dačić: Historic result 

 

 

 

toric 

result that cements our place on the political scene 

 

 

parties – he said. 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

 

outside parliament. 

- 

 

 

 

 

 

.:: EVERY PARTY, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 

SNS AND SPS, RECORDED SIGNIFICANTLY 

POORER PERFORMANCES COMPARED TO 

THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS OF 2012 CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 > 

 

 

 

 

even if this result is combined 

UK daily 

The Guardian 

VICTORY FOR 

PRO-EUROPEAN 

SERBIA 

UK newspaper 

The Guardian published 

the results 

of the elections in 

Serbia under the 

headline “Serbian 

elections indicate 

victory for pro-European 

parties.” 

Alexander 

Chepurin, 

Russian 

Ambassador 

WHAT’S GOOD FOR 

SERBIA IS GOOD 

FOR RUSSIA 

I expect the new 

government to 

implement what is 

needed for Serbia, 

primarily economic 

development. We 

are on a road that 

needs economic 

development and 

needs it fast, to 

fight against corruption, 

make progress, 

improve the 

standards of ordinary 

people, but 

also requires good 

relations between 

Serbia and Russia. 

What is good for 

you is good for us. 

MARCH 2014 

11

TURNOUT 

Election statistics 

2008, 2012 & 2014 

60.7 

58.7 

20.00 

54.2 

53.6 

53.3 

50.3 

19.00 

42.1 

44.1 

41.1 

17.00 

29.3 

6.1 

32.1 

6.6 

27.7 

5.3 

14.00 

09.00 

2008 ELECTION 

2012 ELECTION 

2014 ELECTION 

44 

SPS 

44 parliametary 

seats 2012 

13.5 % 

158 

SNS 


seats 2012 

48.3 % 

LOSERS 

without a seat 

in parliamet 

URS 0 

16 PARLIAMETARY 

SEATS 2012 

LDP 0 


SEATS 2012 

DSS 0 


SEATS 2012 

> CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11 

with that of the breakaway NDS the total still accounts 

for just slightly more than half of the result achieved by 

a united DS in 2012, when it won 67 seats. 

Dinkić: I’m leaving politics! 

The biggest losers of the last parliamentary elections 

 

URS, which achieved the worst results in their history. 

SNS bettered 

Milošević’s result 

At the peak of Milošević's power, 

with him at the helm SPS won 

46.1% of votes, while this time the 

list headed by SNS 

gained the trust of 

48.3% of voters and 

won absolute power. 

Jovanović's 

LDP collapse 

Only 3.1 per cent at the parliamentary 

elections might not be a 

surprise, but the party’s collapse in 

Belgrade is shocking. LDP fell in 

terms of the number of voters 

in the capital, 3.1 per cent, to 

less than the totals achieved 

by the list of Radulovic (2%) 

and Igor Brakusa (1.4%), who 

have existed in politics barely 

two months. 

- Someone better and more capable should take my 

place. I know for sure that my wife is the happiest because 

of these results. Now, when I leave politics, I will 

 

 

ready to take that step. 

- The party organs will decide my fate. For now I have 

another job. We need to think about whether or not 

 

Mlađan Dinkić’s 

resignation 

If the party did not enter parliament 

and did not exceed the 

threshold of five per cent, someone 

who is more capable 

than me should 

lead our party onwards 

- admitted 

Dinkić. 


2014 

elections 

Michael Kirby, U.S. 

Ambassador 

VOTERS EXPECT 

NEW JOBS 

19 

DS 


seats 2012 

6.04 % 

18 

NDS 


seats 2012 

5.71 % 

 

 

Koštunica: I’m disappointed! 

 

 

 

 

 

11 

MINORITIES 


seats 2012 

3.74 % 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• 

The voters expect 

economic reforms 

and the creation of 

new jobs from the 

new government. 

I believe the new 

government will 

continue to lead 

Serbia towards 

the EU and on that 

route reforms are 

necessary, as is the 

continuation of dialogue 

with Pristina. 

Giuseppe Manzo, 

Ambassador 

of Italy 

GOVERNMENT 

TO CONTINUE 

REFORMS 

Pyrrhic victory 

for Dačić 

Although Dačić’s SPS progressed 

from third place to take the second 

strongest political position, 

there were no celebrations 

among the Socialists. 

The absolute triumph of 

SNS means the balance 

of power has changed 

drastically at the expense 

of SPS. 

Sombre faces 

of Đilas and Tadić 

They may have entered parliament, 

but the rest are left to the 

mercy of SNS’s political will. 

The result they 

achieved is far 

from elections 

held in 2012. 

Vučić even beat 

Palma in Jagodina 

With 89 of 91 Jagodina polling 

stations accounted for, SNS won 

2,500 votes more than the secondplaced 

SPS-PUPS-JS 

coalition. These 

elections mean that 

Marković is no longer 

the undisputed 

leader of Jagodina. 

The statistics are 

clear: they speak of 

the future government 

and say that, 

whatever it is like, 

it will have the support 

of parliament 

to continue with 

even more determination 

to work 

on Serbia’s two 

priorities. 

MARCH 2014 

13

interview 

Ivica Dačić 

PRESIDENT OF 

THE SOCIALIST PARTY OF SERBIA 

I WANT TO 

BEAT THEM ALL 

One thing I’ve learned during all these years I’ve been on the political scene: Everyone 

loves you as much as they need you. And who’s going to go with whom afterwards, 

that’s something I’ve listened to all these years many times. It is absolutely irrelevant 

text SANDRA MALIŠIĆ photo ZORANA JEVTIĆ 


MARCH 2014 

15

Everyone attacked us because 

they were afraid of our election 

results, not because of 

programme differences between 

us because most of 

them, unlike us, don’t have a 

 

interview for Kurir International. 

You had a good result previously, but 

then you were the favourite potential 

partner, while now you’re everybody’s 

target. 

- Their main and only goal was to win more 

votes than us. This whole so-called democratic 

bloc thinks this will prove their seeming 

oppositional spirit. An attack on me is an 

attack on the government. And, in essence, 

they think that in that way they are buying a 

ticket to be part of the future government. 

 

 

 

 

they want to form a government? For me, 

they aren’t any kind of opposition. 

 

- Only DS (Democratic Party) and DSS (Democratic 

Party of Serbia). What do you want to 

 

All the others are part of the opposition only 

in that they attack me. 

 

everything that was said during the 

 

 

- And why would I talk to them? One thing 

I’ve learned during all these years I’ve been 

on the political scene: Everyone loves you 

as much as they need you. Nobody interests 

me, I want to beat them all. And who’s going 

to go with whom afterwards, that’s something 

I’ve listened to all these years many 

times. It is absolutely irrelevant. 

 

 

- How can I believe them when I know 

 

was that he wanted to go with SPS, but now 

he won’t. I gave him CPR for four years. 

 

 

 

 

 

are superheavyweights. As such, let them 

 

ernment. 

We aren’t anybody's accessory. 

 

 

- Never! What sort of ornament of the government? 

I am the prime minister! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- I think he was ashamed of 

himself and all of them when 

they say that. My only com- 

 

not the reason I didn’t form a government 

with DS, but rather my friendship with Miki 

 

 

 

 

- Let him be, but first they have to get 

enough votes. That’s no problem at all. I 

want to say that you can’t talk about anything 

and everything. Until the last day and 

the last moment they begged me to form a 

government with DS. However, I know who 

is like what more than all of them. 

 

 

- I don’t know what they are like now, but I 

know what they were like. 

 

- I have been in politics for 24 years. I’m 

an unprotected witness to the political 

scene. When I begin speaking about who 

is like what, I think a lot of people won’t 

like it. 

 

 

- Such statements would not be worthy of 

my level. I tell everyone: Do not touch the 

bear so he won’t play in your yard. All of 

them look at us from SPS and SNS as though 

we are second-class citizens. They think 

they are some kind of super people and that 

we are incapable. I’m certain they can’t get 

over their regret that they didn’t kill us all 

on 5 th October. 

I HAVE BEEN IN POLITICS FOR 24 

YEARS. I AM AN UNPROTECTED 

WITNESS OF THE POLITICAL SCENE 

Those are strong words! 

- That’s the truth. 

 

 

 

has never done that, at least not in 

 

- That is exactly right. We’ve had a decent 

relationship. He respected my position as 

prime minister, just as I respected his as 

ent 

people and politicians. Our ideologies 

 

serious political parties and coalitions and 

those are SNS and SPS. Everything else is 

 

 

 

that’s why we are each other’s alternative. 

Party solidarity 

DS POLICY DESTROYED SRBIJAGAS AND NOT BAJATOVIĆ 

Who are SPS’s candidates for ministers if you enter 

government; will there be any surprises? 

- I can’t speak in such a way now. Nobody thinks in that 

direction until the results of the election are known. The 

fact is that we managed to overcome all the personnel 

problems we had. There was dissatisfaction and anger, 

but we overcame that and no one left the party. We’ll see 

what will be best for SPS and who the candidates are. It 

is certain that I will not make a grab for public companies. 

We only had damage from that. 

So, you will leave Srbijagas alone? 

- Srbijagas is not important. I want to be fair. Bajatović 

is not the problem. The problem of Srbijagasa is the attitude 

of the state regarding what this company should 

be. Bajatović agreed with Tadić that, instead of the debts 

they had, the ownership of certain companies should be 

obtained. He didn’t consult only with me, but rather with 

Tadić and Cvetković. What the price of gas will be is also 

not my decision, but the government's decision that there 

will be no rise in the price of gas. It is not fair to say that 

Bajatović or SPS ruined Srbijagas. It was ruined by the 

mistaken policies of the state all of the previous years 

and that’s why the state should decide as soon as possible 

what to do with public companies, because they are 

not social institutions. Today the area of public companies, 

unfortunately, is still completely sketchy. 


But there were low blows? 

- Perhaps there were, but I’m sure they 

never came personally from my side or 

 

will achieve the best result and that, like us, 

they want to continue the work we started 

 

There were sparks with President 

 

 

That is his right, but in the same way I have 

ever, 

presidential elections are not on the 

 

 

 

 

However, elections were called and 

that means the ratio in the government 

wasn’t quite ideal? 

- It wasn’t good that this government didn’t 

have a mandate to implement some things 

 

have a full mandate, as well as every gov- 

 

known when there are parliamentary, local, 

presidential or provincial elections, in order 

for them to be the gauging of 

public opinion so we don’t constantly 

reach a situation where 

we are holding extraordinary 

 

17 th 

 

 

 

I guess that’s how we learn 

democracy? 

 

 

not have institutionalised extraordinary 

 

You’ve repeated many times that you 

 

 

has been like a noose around your neck 

 

you say is true? 

nally 

one epic will come to an end! I›ve never 

 

 

everything to me according to the system 

 

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS ARE 

NOT ON THE AGENDA NOW. IF THEY 

WERE ON THE AGENDA, I’M NOT 

SURE NIKOLIĆ WOULD WIN NOW 

 

 

- 

 

shown, and here I will also show you, pic- 

 

I don’t know if they would even talk to me at 

all, let alone embrace me, if I had anything 

 

 

- 

 

- 

 

 

• 

MARCH 2014 

17

Citizens of Montenegro clarify 

Aleksandar Vučić is the 

region's most popular 

In his category, Vučić received 

more votes than Montenegrin 

Prime Minister Milo Đukanović 

did in his category of 

most popular politician in 

Montenegro 

Vučić did 

not attend 

stylish award 

ceremony at 

Bečići's Hotel 

Splendid 

text LJUBOMIR RADANOV 

photo DAMIR DERVIŠAGIĆ 

First Deputy Prime Minister of Ser- 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vučić replaces Ceca at the top 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many Montenegrin VIPs attended the event in the Adriatic resort town 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.:: THE FIRST DEPUTY 

PRIME MINISTER 

OF SERBIA WILL BE 

PRESENTED WITH HIS 

MONTENEGRIN OSCAR 

AFTERWARDS 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grateful for support 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• 


“Euromaidan” vis-à-vis the country’s geopolitical limbo 

A stable and promising long-term perspective can only be achieved if Ukraine’s ruling elites and civil society 

are willing to point the country’s fate in a direction eventually leading towards European norms and values 

MARCH 2014 

19

text JUSTINA VITKAUSKAITE BERNARD 

MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 

AND VIRA RATSIBORYNSKA 

POLITICAL ANALYST, EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 

photo WWW.EU2013.LT, KI ARCHIVE 

After the de facto ousting of the 

man who now has to be called the 

ex-President of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, 

the political situation 

in Ukraine is far from clear. While former 

Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who was 

imprisoned by Yanukovych, released on 22 nd 

February - and, of course, immediately returned 

to the stage as a political heavyweight 

- it remains to be seen how the situation will 

develop. Not all participating factions of the 

so-called “Euromaidan” seem overly enthusiastic 

about the prospect of replacing Yanukovych's 

toppled regime with yet another 

comprising members of the old ruling elite. 

Also, the current whereabouts and plans of 

Yanukovych, and the extent of his remaining 

power base, are unknown at this moment. 

Harsh response 

The current political turmoil, which some 

analysts are even calling a “revolution”, has 

its beginnings in November 2013, when then 

President Yanukovych rather surprisingly decided 

not to sign the long-planned Association 

Agreement with the EU. This U-turn was 

initially met by a wave of spontaneous happenings 

in Kiev and other Ukrainian cities. 

These protests quickly led several hundred 

thousand citizens throughout Ukraine on to 

the streets in protest against the government. 

The regime attempted to quell the popular 

lently 

dispersed unarmed protesters, injuring 

romaidan 

activists were arrested, some were 

even kidnapped, some were found tortured 

and murdered, while some simply remain 

“disappeared”. In addition, very tough new 

anti-protest laws were introduced by the regime 

- which was perceived by many Ukrainians 

as an unprecedented abuse of power and 

an attempt to establish even more authoritarian 

rule. Unsurprisingly, a spiral of violence 

ensued when police violence triggered a radicalisation 

of certain protest groups, who went 

on to retaliate with violence of their own. The 

composition of what the Western media still 

like to call “Euromaidan” is very heterogeneous 

with regard to political and civic factions 

taking part. However, they are united by the 

 

According to their opinion, one of the main 

obstacles for this is the all-permeating corruption. 

The top priorities for most of the protesters 

are transparency, stability and justice in 

their country – all values which they feel are 

not represented by the Yanukovych regime. 

But this on-going internal struggle in Ukraine, 

 

 

only because people are tired of the regime, 

but because their expectations partially run 

afoul of many other geopolitical and eco- 

ternal 

players; their hopes and aspirations 

 

This battle uniting so many people with the 

aim of creating a better life is not the only one 

being fought inside the country. There is also 

the ideological, economic and geopolitical 

struggle between important international 

players in the region, such as Russia, the U.S. 

and the EU. And Euromaidan plays a crucial 

role in that confrontation, as this new form of 

national protest sits in the middle of a political 

triangle in which the interests of the EU 

and the West, the Russians and Ukrainians, 

may overlap and meet. The Euromaidan, 

which became a daily gathering in Kiev for 

thousands of people who were pushed onto 

the streets by high expectations and their 

shared hope for a better future, could turn 

out to be a disappointment. This potential 

 

as the internal situation in the country is too 

complicated to be solved both quickly and ef- 

 

taking into account all demands and interests 

of the protesters. There are numerous reasons 

for this, as many factors have an impact 

on what is going on. 

The country’s geopolitical situation is com- 

 

model of relations with both the EU and Russia 

and at the same time the country is under 

heavy pressure exerted on its geostrategic 

choice between the two. Now Ukraine is 

experiencing deep internal political crisis 

and instability. The country’s economic 

situation is even more dramatic. The value 

of the Ukrainian currency has fallen drasti- 

Protests 

began after 

the Ukrainian 

government 

opted not to 

sign a planned 

association 

agreement 

with the EU 


cally since the beginning 

of protests at the end of 

November. The second 

tranche of a Russian aid 

package agreed as part of 

a $15 billion bailout deal 

in mid-December will be 

released only when the internal 

situation stabilises 

and a new, stable government 

is formed. With 

Ukraine on the brink of 

bankruptcy, the country 

cial 

aid in order to stabilise 

its economic situation 

and pay its debts. 

.:: THIS BATTLE 

UNITING SO 

MANY PEOPLE 

WITH THE AIM 

OF HAVING A 

BETTER LIFE 

IS NOT THE 

ONLY ONE 

BEING FOUGHT 

INSIDE THE 

COUNTRY 

Lithuanian help 

Taking all this into account, it is quite understandable 

that Ukraine’s situation is ex- 

 

that many international actors, especially EU 

countries amongst them, are trying to contribute 

to stabilising the internal situation 

in the country. The example of Lithuania is 

very illustrative in this regard: the country 

which hosted the Vilnius Summit is trying to 

 

the most vocal advocates of Ukraine’s EU integration, 

Lithuania is even admitting injured 

people from Euromaidan across its borders, 

so that they can safely undergo necessary 

medical treatment and rehabilitation. Many 

 

Euromaidan leaders in their talks with the 

 

on many occasions Lithuanian citizens also 

showed that they morally support the people 

of Euromaidan - one such event was Lithuanians 

forming a human chain from the Eu- 

 

Embassy in Vilnius. 

European institutions are, of course, also involved 

in facilitating a dialogue between the 

opponents and avoiding a possible worst-case 

 

in December 2013, the Members of the European 

Parliament called 

for an end to the violence 

and for punishment for 

the perpetrators, as well 

as to refrain from using 

force against peaceful 

demonstrators. On 20 th 

February at the foreign 

ters 

agreed on sanctions 

against those individuals 

who were responsible for 

violence and use of exces- 

 

general, the EU’s role in 

the process of stabilisation 

and de-escalation of the 

situation is remarkable. 

Many high EU officials 

 

 

President of Ukraine of the importance of 

forming a new functional government that 

 

sistance 

to Ukraine would help the country 

 

 

 

stakeholders are taking an active role in solv- 

 

 

organizations and high ranking mediators 

could potentially bring a peaceful end to the 

political and economic unrest in Ukraine. But 

even then one question remains: would deescalation 

of the tensions that have been gripping 

the country for so many months satisfy 

the aspirations of those who risked their lives 

and health on Euromaidan? 

nomic 

situation could be stabilised, concerns 

about the future of the country, its geopolitical 

strategy and European perspectives, 

could remain for a very long time. When so 

many interests are involved and no common 

 

agreed upon, this country wedged between 

the EU and Russia can quickly experience a 

shift from euphoria about the success of the 

popular uprising to disappointment with 

what was actually achieved for the people 

“on the ground”. 

tive, 

which would result in the demanded 

political change and an EU perspective, can 

only be achieved if Ukraine’s ruling elites and 

civil society are willing to actively shape the 

country’s fate and point it in a direction that 

will eventually lead towards European norms 

and values. Stability in the region can only be 

achieved when all international players that 

are active in the region share the same objectives 

concerning the development of their 

 

upon, the struggle for a mutually exclusive 

ment 

of the Ukrainian population regarding 

this geopolitical limbo will almost inevitably 

 

is not over yet, the window of opportunity 

will not be open forever. • 

MARCH 2014 

21

We want Serbia in 

the European Union! 

Joining the European Union is not an event, but rather 

a process in which each new day and each new stage in 

negotiations on the implementation of EU standards brings 

the candidate something new 

text JELENA VUKIĆ photo JOSE ALONSO LEON 

Ivo Vajgl, a member of the European 

Parliament’s Alliance of Liberals and 

Democrats for Europe (ALDE), is satis- 

 

on its European path. This former journalist 

 

- 

 

once, speaks to Kurir international about 

- 

 

European parliamentary elections. 

CONTINUED ON PAGE 24 > 


interview 

Ivo Vajgl 

SLOVENIAN MEP 

MARCH 2014 

23

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22 

How would you assess Serbia’s progress 

towards the EU? 

- Serbia has achieved the most it could, 

given the situation in the European Union: 

it has been accepted as one of the countries 

whose European perspective is among the 

indisputable priorities of European policy. 

Today it is clear to everyone that the European 

architecture of a stable and prosperous 

 

an important part of Southeast Europe in its 

plan to enlarge the EU to include all countries 

of Europe. The Serbian government pulled 

 

a pragmatic policy towards Kosovo, instead 

of losing energy in the endless historical 

approach to the problem, which everyone 

knows is painful and sensitive for Serbia, but 

it should be viewed in light of the dynamics 

of modern times and modern politics. 

After the last parliamentary elections in Ser- 

 

Parliament to welcome the election result 

as a new chance for Serbia, for its political 

forces and the public to share responsibility 

for the progress of their country, instead 

of exhausting themselves with blockades, 

which sent an image to the world of a country 

which cares more about sharp internal 

political confrontation than modernisation, 

required economic and social reforms and 

living conditions, in which the younger generation 

will have the possibility and wish to 

participate in the creation of this new society. 

Do you think it is a realistic projection 

of Serbian politicians to suggest that in 

2018 Serbia will be ready to join the EU? 

- When it comes to such an important issue 

for the development of a European country, 

politics must set high and ambitious goals 

for itself! Joining the EU is not an event, 

but rather a process in which each new day 

and each new stage in negotiations on the 

implementation of EU standards brings the 

candidate something new. First of all those 

are new obligations and burdens, but also 

guarantees that the candidate is heading towards 

its selected target. All countries of the 

former Eastern Bloc and Southeast Europe 

that are now EU members have gone through 

this process and it seems to everyone that it 

was unnecessarily long. I would not like to 

 

join the EU, but I would like that to be as soon 

 

its institutions in 2018 than at present. 

In your opinion, what may hinder Serbia’s 

admission into the EU? 

- I see less risk in the possibilities of Serbia ac- 

 

by membership and more in absorbing the 

capabilities of the EU, which includes taking 

 

in the member states and in countries such 

as Ukraine. 

 

opened on 22 nd January, is Chapter 35 

PORTRAIT 

MEP Ivo Vajgl is a 

member of the Alliance 

of Liberals 

and Democrats for 

Europe (ALDE), 

a member of the 

Committee on Foreign 

Relations and 

the Development 

Committee. He 

began his engagement 

in foreign 

policy as a journalist, 

correspondent 

of RTV Ljubljana 

and the magazine 

“Delo” in Italy and 

Tanjug in Germany. 

He was Consul 

General of Yugoslavia 

in Cleveland and 

spokesman and 

head of the Department 

for Culture 

and Press of the 

Federal Secretariat 

for Foreign Affairs 

in Belgrade. Following 

the breakup 

of Yugoslavia, he 

served as spokesman, 

state secretary 

and Slovenian 

minister of foreign 

affairs and as a Slovenian 

ambassador 

in Vienna, Stockholm 

and Berlin. 

related to the normalisation of relations 

with Kosovo. What are your expectations? 

- I expect Serbia to continue its policy towards 

Kosovo, which will be centred on 

the immediate interests of the inhabitants 

of Kosovo, Albanians and Serbs, and that 

is the route to normalising relations and 

gradually elevating them to the level of good 

neighbourly relations between two sovereign 

countries, related to specific issues 

from the past. One of the central issues is 

the respect and full security of Kosovo Serbs 

and Serbian historical and religious monuments, 

which testify to the importance of 

Kosovo to Serbian history and culture. In 

the debate on this issue being led in the 

European Parliament, I am constantly referring 

to this dimension. I remind that 

the draft solution for the Kosovo problem, 

which was compiled by late President of Slovenia 

Dr. Janez Drnovsek and was not considered 

or accepted, starts precisely from 

that point of view, even envisaging certain 

autonomy and international status for these 

monuments, that are equally important for 

both Serbs and Albanians, but also as part 

of the world’s cultural heritage . Only in the 

versity, 

will the cultural wealth of Kosovo 

become a common treasure and an additional 

generator of development. 

You have invited the countries that have 

not recognised Kosovo’s independence 

to do so. Why is that? 

- I consider non-recognition of Kosovo an 

anomaly and believe countries that are refraining 

from recognising Kosovo, starting 

from their own problems and situations, 


On elections 

I BELIEVE IN SUCCESS 

Will the 16 th March parliamentary 

elections and the following formation 

of a new government slow 

down Serbia’s EU integration? 

- I believe that the elections, which 

only give political legitimacy and accountability, 

will not be an obstacle 

on Serbia’s path towards the EU, but 

rather an opportunity to highlight 

common priorities. 

What outcome do you hope for the 

European Parliamentary elections? 

- As far as the European Parliament 

elections are concerned, I believe 

there will be no large shift in the 

balance of power, regardless of the 

fact that a slight increase in euroscepticism 

is expected. Probably 

for the last time in my life, my name 

will be on the ballot and I believe in 

success. 

Greece - Macedonia conflict 

RESOLVE THE DISPUTE 

You have called on the Greek 

authorities to stop blocking Macedonia 

on its path towards Euro- 

Atlantic integration. 

- The name dispute is an anachronism, 

as much as Greek bigotry and Macedonian 

orientation towards historicism 

are concealing the ambitions of 

some political elites to stay in power. 

Considering that Greece is a member 

of the EU and NATO, that country’s 

responsibility to resolve this absurd 

problem is certainly higher. 

I THINK THE MOST 

SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE 

IS TO PRESERVE THE 

UNIQUE INTEREST 

AND PRIORITY OF ALL 

POLITICAL FORCES IN 

SERBIA TO JOIN THE EU 

damage themselves and the EU and reduce 

the weight of the project for common European 

foreign and security policies. 

Who could guarantee the safety of Serbs 

living in Kosovo? 

 

sovo 

authorities and, while they’re there, 

representatives of the international com- 

 

their homes and try to ensure they feel safe 

 

are constructive, open and good relations 

 

What are the other challenges Serbia will 

face on its path towards the EU? 

 

preserve the unique interest and priority of 

 

 

alternative. 

You have assessed that Montenegro is 

progressing well, but that they still have 

a lot of work to do. What country do you 

think will be the next to become an EU 

member, following the accession of Croatia? 

- My idea may not sound like the most at- 

- 

 

repeat the operation from 2004, when it ex- 

 

time. At that time there were also consider- 

 

of each country. However, that courage paid 

 

• 

MARCH 2014 

25

The most popular panel 

discussions included the 

participations of renowned 

Serbian business leaders 

Kopaonik Business Forum 

WE’RE CHANGING SERBIA 

IN A CHANGING EUROPE 

The Serbian Davos was traditionally 

held for the 21 st time this March on 

Mount Kopaonik, with the highest 

ever number of participants - as 

many as 500 experts attended the 

three-day conference organized by the 

Association of Economists of Serbia and 

the Association of Corporate Directors 

text JELENA VUKIĆ photo ZORANA JEVTIĆ 

Structural reforms. Two words that 

were certainly the most commonly 

used during the recent Business Forum 

that was held for the 21 st time, 

as is tradition, in March on Mount Kopaonik, 

with the highest number of participants 

to date - as many as 500 professionals attended 

the three-day conference, organized 

by the Association of Economists of Serbia 

and the Association of Corporate Directors. 

The theme of this year’s forum was very 

topical: “We’re changing Serbia in a changing 

Europe”. The intention of the forum, 

popularly dubbed the “Serbian Davos”, was 

for experts and business leaders to give suggestions 

on how to improve the state of the 

domestic economy. 

 

and proposals on how to maintain macroeconomic 

stability and improve the ef- 

 

second day was devoted to European integration, 

the reform of public enterprises, 

a critical review of the reform agenda by 

domestic and foreign investors, as well as 

the participation of young people in entre- 

 

devoted to the development of agriculture 

and implementation of the Stabilisation 

and Association Agreement. 

The conclusion of the forum’s participants 

was that accelerating European integration 


Vojin Lazarević, 

Toplica Spasojević, 

Milan Beko and 

Miodrag Kostić 

suggest solutions for 

the Serbian economy 

Serbia's chief 

negotiator with the 

EU, Tanja Miščević, 

discussed Serbia's 

EU prospects with 

the ambassadors of 

leading countries 

NBS Governor Jorgovanka Tabaković 

and carrying out radical reforms 

in the economy are what Serbia 

needs to place an emphasis on. 

“Radical economic reforms include 

primarily reforming the 

state,” said Forum selector Dragan 

 

It was also noted that reforming 

the public sector is urgently 

needed, that the administration 

is cumbersome and that the state 

administration should be professionalised. 

Representatives of the state and 

private entrepreneurs were in 

agreement that there is a need 

for a long-term programme of 

reforms to be adopted by Parliament, and 

that every government has targets limited 

by time in the implementation of that programme. 

Dynamic panel discussions 

 

Business Forum, amongst which are the 

agriculture and food processing industries, 

energy and infrastructure. 

sociation 

of Economists of Serbia, explained 

 

plenary sessions and 11 panel discussions, 

 

.:: IT WAS ALSO NOTED 

THAT REFORMING 

THE PUBLIC SECTOR IS 

URGENTLY NEEDED, THAT 

THE ADMINISTRATION 

IS CUMBERSOME 

AND THAT THE STATE 

ADMINISTRATION SHOULD 

BE PROFESSIONALISED 

were dynamic panel discussions, including 

ones on macroeconomics and speeding up 

the process of EU accession, which were attended 

by ambassadors and Serbia’s chief 

 

The message from the ambassadors of leading 

countries which participated in the forum 

could be summarised in one sentence: 

ment, 

but the most important is to utilise 

 

accession process and continue the reforms 

already commenced. 

Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Mi- 


MARCH 2014 

27

.:: PRIORITIES WERE ALSO 

DEFINED AT THE KOPAONIK 

BUSINESS FORUM, AMONGST 

WHICH ARE THE AGRICULTURE 

AND FOOD PROCESSING 

INDUSTRIES, ENERGY AND 

INFRASTRUCTURE 


chael Davenport, said that negotiations 

with the EU are making their way in all political 

circumstances and that everything is 

going according to plan. 

“We want to see after the elections a new 

government that strongly follows the 

course of European integration and major 

reforms, not only in regard to the most important 

economic and structural reforms, 

but also when it comes to judicial reform. 

German Ambassador to Serbia Heinz Wilhelm 

believes that the new government is 

being awaited by a number of tasks that 

will prove to be important and difficult 

challenges. 

Waiting for economic recovery 

“When it comes to politics, Belgrade should 

continue the dialogue with Pristina. The 

 

he said, expressing satisfaction with the 

fact that the dialogue is continuing during 

the election campaign in Serbia and noting 

that he expects it to intensify following the 

election of a new government. 

When it comes to the economy, everyone 

knows that economic recovery needs to 

happen, the reform agenda must be implemented 

and competitiveness improved, he 

World Bank 

SERBIA SHOULD BE A 

LEADER IN REFORMS 

World Bank Country Manager for 

Serbia, Tony Verheijen, said that delaying 

reform is no longer an option 

for Serbia, because the state does 

not have the fiscal leeway to act. 

“From the perspective of the World 

Bank, Serbia should be a regional 

leader in reform and not catch the 

last train. The World Bank wants the 

next government to place on the 

agenda a package of reforms that are 

primarily aimed at improving competitiveness. 

Serbia also needs to show 

leadership capacity,” said Verheijen. 

President of the Fiscal Council, Pavle 

Petrović, said that Serbia’s budget 

deficit in 2014 will reach seven or 

even eight per cent of GDP, which 

would be the highest rate in the region. 

said and in that context mentioned that the 

 

 

In the opinion of Italian Ambassador Guiseppe 

Manzo, the top priorities of the new 

government should be “setting rules and 

 

“We must change the mentality, but also ap- 

 

the essence of everything is the “rule of law, 

 

French Ambassador Francois-Xavier De- 

 

cially marked the start of accession negotiations 

with the EU, Serbia is in a radically 

 

The past is the past 

“When you have negotiations with the EU 

aimed at joining the club, then things have 

 

said, is that no future government can act 

in contradiction of European values and 

principles under the pretext that was done 

in the past. 

“The past is the past. But now you are a 

candidate for accession to the EU and things 

 

 

• 


interview 

Miodrag Kostić 

PRESIDENT OF MK GROUP 

WE NEED 

URGENT 

ECONOMIC 

REFORMS 

MARCH 2014 

29

Structural reforms and the regulating of the economic 

system are exceptionally necessary elements, because 

they are a prerequisite for the local economy and 

businesses to experience significant growth, without 

which citizens will not feel more prosperity 


M 

of MK Group, summarises 

for Kurir International 

his business results over 

the 30 years of his career, 

reveals future business 

plans and analyses the current economic 

situation in the country. 

You started the year with several good 

business moves. The latest is that your 

company Sunoko became the majority 

owner of AIK Bank, with a share 

of 50.37%. Also, on the eve of the Belgrade 

Tourism Fair, you opened the 

“88 rooms” luxury four-star hotel, in 

which four and a half million euros has 

been invested. Does this mean that you 

have ambitions to move from the sugar 

industry, via the meat industry, to continue 

to slowly expand your business to 

other branches? 

- In my work I always keep a very simple 

rule: a good understanding of business 

means understanding the price of your 

costs. I’ve turned hard times into an opportunity, 

a chance into a result, and the result 

is the leading company in agribusiness in 

Serbia and the region of Southeast Europe. 

Agriculture will remain the focus of our operations, 

but at the same time we will strive 

 

to fork, in a way that part of the production 

programme will be sold through hotels. 

This is nothing new and is something 

we’ll do whenever the opportunity arises, 

if the calculations show the validity of such 

investments. We are always interested in 

investing in tourism and resorts in Serbia, 

Montenegro and beyond. Although the hotel 

business is not our core sector, buying 

a tourist complex would not be sailing into 

new business waters. 

Carnex, which is part of MK Group, has 

received a prestigious international cer- 

 

global BRC (British Retail Consortium) 

standard. How much does this recognition 

mean for Carnex? 

- Responsibility is to find oneself in the 

 

a prestigious international certification 

 

that we are on the right track in our business 

and that we always strive to provide 

 

That is also the most important thing. We 

are aware of the enormous prestige the Carnex 

brand enjoys on the domestic market, 

which has been earned through carefully 

building a reputation and tradition that generations 

have grown up with. We are also 

aware that the joint progress achieved to 

date depends on technological innovation, 

but also the skills, knowledge and results 

achieved by our employees for more than 

 

I’VE TURNED HARD TIMES 

INTO AN OPPORTUNITY, A 

CHANCE INTO A RESULT, 

AND THE RESULT IS THE 

LEADING COMPANY IN 

AGRIBUSINESS IN SERBIA 

AND THE REGION OF 

SOUTHEAST EUROPE 

The idea of linking companies regionally 

came from you. You even suggested 

 

letters of the companies that would be 

merged - Agrokor, MK Group, Atlantic 

Group, Nectar and Podravka. What are 

their reactions; are they interested? 

- Today the battle for successful survival in 

the economy and business is being fought 

at a global level. We have to bear in mind 

that our markets in the former Yugoslav 

countries are individually very small. It is a 

fact that we all want to export more and sell 

our goods to more markets. Therefore, the 

will and desire exists. Some more time is 

needed for AMANP to begin to come alive. 

We speak with our partners and develop 

ideas and we expect positive developments 

 

markets. 

How much could such a company earn 

and what would it produce? 

- Association within AMANP does not envisage 

additional production, but rather joint 

strategic planning for the placement of existing 

products on third markets. It’s too 

 

we agree on the actual mode of cooperation. 

What can clusters achieve - competition 

on major markets, increasing trade exchanges, 

promoting economic cooperation 

etc.? 

 

organization and association. Merging clusters 

encourages greater competitiveness of 

the goods and the costs are reduced. Conse- 

 

of success in international markets, such as 

the EU example. 

Do you have plans to expand to other 

markets and, if so, which? 

- As in previous years, in the future we also 

plan to invest both in Serbia and beyond its 

borders. In the future, I can freely say that a 

large part of investments and operations in 

Europe will be focused on Asia. 

When it comes to the Serbian economy, 

you emphasise structural reforms. 

What would that mean specifically; 

where to start? 

- Structural reforms and the regulating of 

the economic system are exceptionally nec- 

uisite 

for the local economy and businesses 

 

which citizens will not feel more prosperity. 

Is is essential to adopt a new labour 

law, a law on planning and construction, 

as well as appropriate planning regulations 

and providing legal certainty for investors. 

Moreover, the state must launch urgent reforms 

of the public sector and reduce the 

bureaucracy that makes it even more dif- 

 

existing investments. Without reforms, we 

will be doomed to observe the progress and 

development of the economy just like spectators 

from the stands. 

You’ve proposed reducing the bulky 

public sector. In a situation where the 

unemployment rate is around 25%, 

would such redundancies not constitute 

an additional burden? 

- With over 750 thousand employees in 

the public sector, the current situation is 

 

and budget. It’s a fact that this problem did 


not appear yesterday, but we are reaching 

a situation where it is now high time to 

react. The state should help people move 

from the public sector to the private. If the 

current situation does not change, we will 

lose both sectors, because funding such 

oversized and inefficient giants cripples 

the budget and jeopardises the funding of 

the state. We must understand as soon as 

possible that each of us has a responsibility 

to future generations and their well-being. 

How can we achieve economic growth 

and create new jobs? 

- Citizens will not be in a position to feel 

improvement and growth within the country 

as long as the state does not implement 

the appropriate economic reforms that will 

entice a higher level of both foreign and domestic 

investment. It is necessary for the 

state to determine the model of economic 

development and decide which industries it 

will help and which it will stop helping and 

leave to the whims of the market. It is also 

necessary to improve the legal framework 

because the legal security of investments 

is one of the key factors when an entrepreneur 

or company is deciding whether or 

not to invest 

To what extent does the fact that Serbia 

has started EU membership negotia- 

 

 

- European integration will contribute to 

lifting the work of all companies to higher 

levels. One of the biggest advantages is access 

to cheaper long term credit, which will 

directly strengthen the economic power of 

local companies. In addition, Serbian companies 

will be given access to a market that 

implies greater demand for their products. 

Therefore, production levels will rise and, 

in the end, so will the level of productivity 

and solvency of the company. EU accession 

has great social and economic importance 

for the entire country. It will increase the 

standard of living, employment levels, establish 

a stable commercial and economic 

system and, most importantly, lead to an 

increase in the level of international investment, 

since Serbia will become a more attractive 

investment destination. 

 

 

- IPA funds are not a magic wand that will 

solve all our problems or the resources that 

will be assigned to us just like that, without 

any controls. As we get closer to the EU, 

those funds will certainly rise. They are 

 

as a substitute for the state taking care of 

these areas. The fact that we will receive assistance 

with, for example, infrastructure, 

does not mean that the state should stop 

worrying about highways tomorrow and 

leave them to collapse. IPA funds should 

help us, with the support of a well-planned 

budget, to successfully develop the area 

 

funds. • 

Responsible policy 

WE NEED 3 BILLION 

EUROS OF INVESTMENT 

ANNUALLY 

The IMF predicts that from 2014 

to 2018 Serbia’s GDP will grow at 2 

to 3%, which is far below the average 

rate of 5.5% annually. 

- All research and economic indicators 

show that if GDP growth is 

moving within this framework it will 

not be enough to make the average 

citizen feel improvement personally. 

Bearing in mind that Serbia has languished 

in recession for many years, 

we need twice the projected growth 

of 2 to 3 % in order for the effect on 

citizens’ wages and standards to be 

noticeable. In addition to minimum 

annual growth of 5%, it is necessary 

to keep inflation at the level projected 

and attract a minimum of 2 to 3 

billion euros of FDI annually. In order 

to achieve the necessary growth of 

four or five per cent, alongside investments 

it is also essential that the 

future government leads a responsible 

fiscal policy and reduces public 

spending and excessive borrowing. 

MARCH 2014 

31

interview 

H.E. Michael Kirby 

U.S. AMBASSADOR TO SERBIA 

Citizens would really like to have a lot lower unemployment 

rate than 25% and that would be good for Serbia and its 

citizens, says U.S. Ambassador in Belgrade Michael Kirby, 

speaking to Kurir International. 

- It is important that people have an opportunity to go to 

work every day, because they want the dignity that a job provides. My 

message would be that creating jobs would make the people happy. 

How do you think this high unemployment rate could be 

reduced? 

- An economy is built on three pillars, kind of like a stool that has 

three legs. You have domestic investors. You have foreign investors, 

of which America has several here. And then you have your Diaspora 

– Serbs who have learned something abroad and are bringing back 

that expertise. So that’s how it has to develop. 

Do you think Serbia’s path towards the EU will speed up 

following the commencement of accession negotiations? 

- I think we’ve already seen progress. It starts at a certain pace that is 

fairly rapid. I think also that after the formation of a new government 

it can even be sped up a little more. 

What will the opening of accession negotiations mean for 

Serbia and its economy? 

- I think it will show the international public that Serbia wants to 

reach an international standard, the EU standard, which is good for 

the citizens in terms of the rule of law, human rights and those things, 

but is also good for the economy, as it will encourage investors 

In your opinion, what will be the greatest challenge for 

Serbia in these negotiations? 

 

negotiations. It’s a club that you’re joining and that club has some 

- 

 

appropriate transition period, because some of them will be harder 

 

What major obstacles to doing business in Serbia have U.S. 

companies come up against? 

- There are a variety of obstacles and this is why moving towards the 

EU is so important. Rule of law, some issues on corruption, court 

processes being slow etc. But also if you want to build a new factory 

 

 

terms of targeted education – where people have the exact skills that 

are needed – sometimes there’s going to be some shortage there. • 

Uncertainty 

I’M NOT SURE SERBIA 

WILL EVER JOIN NATO 

Do you expect Serbia to join NATO soon? 

- I’m not sure if Serbia will ever join NATO. Serbia has in its 

constitution that it’s militarily neutral, so the constitution itself 

precludes joining NATO. Secondly, I think Serbia has a lot 

of internal reform to worry about first. 


THIS GOVERNMENT 

WILL SPEED UP 

SERBIA’S JOURNEY 

TO THE UNION 

The start of EU accession negotiations shows the international public that 

Serbia wants to reach an international standard, the EU standard 


.:: SOME OF THE 

OBSTACLES THAT 

INVESTORS FROM 

THE U.S. FACE 

RELATE TO THE 

RULE OF LAW, 

CORRUPTION 

AND SLOW COURT 

PROCESSES 

MARCH 2014 

33

interview 

H.E. Heinz 

Wilhelm 

GERMAN AMBASSADOR TO SERBIA 

NEW GOVERNMENT MUST 

CONTINUE PRIŠTINA TALKS 

It is well known that Germany was reserved in connection with the staging 

of early parliamentary elections, but it turned out we were wrong 

text SANDRA MALIŠIĆ photo ZORANA JEVTIĆ 


The future government 

must continue what the 

previous government 

started, says German Ambassador 

to Serbia Heinz Wilhelm, 

speaking in an interview for Kurir 

International. He notes that it is 

good that the campaign for the elections 

was short, because not a lot of 

time was lost. 

- I expect the government to be 

formed very quickly. For us it is important 

that the new government 

continues with the implementation 

of the Brussels Agreement. It is well 

known that Germany was reserved 

in connection with the staging of 

early parliamentary elections, but 

it turned out we were wrong. Negotiations 

with Pristina must continued 

and that is very important. 

The signing of the agreement is only 

the beginning. There is still a lot of 

work ahead. One of the priorities of 

this government certainly needs to 

be intensifying that dialogue with Pristina. 

What would be the ideal government? Is it 

 

or should SNS continue its cooperation with SPS? 

Or perhaps a broad coalition of many parties? 

- The results of the election will show that. That is not 

a matter for the German government, but rather your 

citizens and your political parties. The majority, both 

among the political elite and citizens, is in favour of the 

European integration of Serbia. I think the time when 

elections were like referendums is behind you. As it 

seems to me, the battle in this election is for second 

place. If you look at public opinion polls, a good election 

result for the Serbian Progressive Party is not in 

question. The question is how much this support will 

be as a percentage. Negotiations between Belgrade and 

Pristina are a priority for us and Serbia should continue 

to play a constructive and active role in the region. Of 

great importance is the fact that the outgoing Serbian 

government has developed good relations with all 

neighbouring countries - Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, 

Macedonia and Montenegro. 

COOPERATION 

BETWEEN 

MERCEDES 

AND SERBIAN 

COMPANIES IS 

A GOOD SIGN 

FOR OTHER 

LARGE GERMAN 

COMPANIES 

And what about the economy? 

- In order for your economy to recover 

it is essential to make a clear 

reform agenda. Here I’m thinking 

of the adoption of key laws, such 

as the laws on labour, construction 

and privatisation. After all, your 

politicians also speak about this 

every day. Serbia, however, has received 

candidate status and begun 

membership negotiations, which is 

a good signal to everyone. 

You mean for investors? 

- Yes. When a country gains EU 

membership candidate status, this 

means that it has begun to implement 

the standards that apply in 

member countries. That’s why I’m 

sure there will be many who want to 

invest in the near future. A prerequisite 

for everything is clear rules of 

operation. Serbia must focus on the 

rule of law and clear legal solutions. 

How much can the arrival of 

important investors, such as Mercedes, help heal 

our economy? 

- Cooperation between Mercedes and Serbian companies 

is a good sign for other large German companies. 

If that venture is successful, it is certain that others will 

 

companies will come to Serbia in the future. 

 

port 

of food is your chance, as well as energy. 

Construction of the South Stream pipeline has 

commenced and the Belgrade on the Water 

project has been announced. What do you think 

of these projects? 

- Germany has nothing against Serbia’s cooperation 

with Russia, and in this case the UAE, and we have repeated 

that several times. After all, Russia and Germany 

cooperate in several areas that are of interest to both 

countries. Investments from UAE can also contribute to 

the strengthening of your economy. For us it is important 

that these arrangements are in line with European 

standards. • 

ONE OF THE PRIORITIES OF THIS GOVERNMENT CERTAINLY 

NEEDS TO BE INTENSIFYING THE DIALOGUE WITH PRIŠTINA 

MARCH 2014 

35

Interview Milan Prostran, 

SERBIA HAS NATURAL MATE 

The Serbian Ministry of Agriculture, which is now preparing its 

Strategy for the Development of Agriculture, must have a 

vision of which products will be of interest to the EU 

text VLADIMIR SPASIĆ photo MARINA LOPIČIĆ 

The time of natural materials and 

 

 

- 

 

 

 

- 

- 

 

to Kurir international. 

Not many people know that Serbia is a 

European leader in the production of 

brooms from sorghum and is among 

the top ten producers in the world. Annual 

exports are worth more than €10 

million. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where else can our country find its 

place on the EU market? 

 

 

 

- 

 

 

 

 

- 

 

- 

 

 

 

- 

 

 

 

 


agricultural economist 

RIALS FOR THE EU’S NEEDS 

surface area, but in the future cane sugar 

will prevail. 

In other words, the cards have been 

dealt? 

- There is an unwritten division of labour, 

which is formed through the 

support of EU member states. 

The division of labour in the 

EU has been hijacked and it’s 

tough to intervene where there 

are strong players. The example 

of brooms shows what we 

should be doing. Now we have 

over 2,000 hectares of broomcorn 

and that could be doubled 

immediately – so great is the demand 

in the EU. 

In recent years there’s been 

a lot of talk about breeding 

BIOGRAPHY 

Born in 1948 in Vršac 

Graduated in 1971 from the Faculty of Agriculture, Department 

of Agro-Economics 

From 1971 to 1997 held various positions (Deputy Minister, Undersecretary 

etc.) in the Ministry of Agriculture of the Federal 

Government of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 

From 1997 to 2002 served as secretary of the Association for 

Agriculture of the Yugoslav Chamber of Commerce 

From 2002 to 2013 served as Secretary of the Association for 

ostriches, snails etc. 

- There’s been an invasion of those ideas. It 

started with great ambitions. I was at several 

presentations of ostrich meat ... We 

had euphoric support, foreign companies 

came and our people entered all of that uninformed 

about production and placement. 

In the end, it turned out that we do not have 

registered slaughterhouses for ostriches 

and our farmers had to drive to Hungary to 

take them to slaughter and it was not worth 

it. Many farmers failed. I think that was a 

false dawn, but fortunately people 

have returned to what they 

know and classic poultry farming 

has recovered quite well. 

What else should we grow? 

- It is natural for us to grow, for 

example, goose for liver and 

feathers or duck, because in 

Serbia now there are a lot of 

Chinese people who love duck. 

There are also turkey and sheep 

rearing. All of this will be profitable 

because of the feathers, 

Agriculture of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce CONTINUED ON PAGE 38 > 

MARCH 2014 

37


which will be increasingly in demand, as 

well as the wool. That’s why it would be 

wise to go back to what we cultivated before 

and what we have the conditions and 

knowledge for, such as the cultivation of 

 

universal industrial plants. Serbia used to 

have 45,000 hectares of hemp. We had a 

great industry for processing feathers and 

nese 

pilots. We had two centres, in Banat’s 

Plandište and Velika Plana. 

Is it possible to resurrect that? 

- As far as I know, companies from Germa- 

 

 

.:: FROM THE 

BROOMCORN 

PLANT (SORGHUM 

VULGARE VAR. 

TECHNICUM) THE 

BEST BROOMS ARE 

MADE AND 90 PER 

CENT OF DOMESTIC 

PRODUCTION IS 

EXPORTED, MAINLY 

TO THE EU 

meeting standards 

EVEN MILK ISN’T A 

GREAT OPPORTUNITY 

Could milk be one of the main 

products we export to the EU? 

- Even there we cannot look for great 

opportunities. From 2015 the EU quotas 

no longer apply and there will be 

a battle between the states, with the 

most competitive prevailing. On top 

of all that, in the EU you can only sell 

top quality milk, and only 35% of our 

production meets standards. For us 

to reach 100 per cent it will take time, 

so it is certain that our dairy farms will 

supply the domestic market. 

WE PRODUCED ORGANIC 

FOODS UNTIL THE ‘60S 

The goods are also eco-friendly. 

- That's also a big plus. Reeds from 

Belo Blato are also well-known as an 

excellent insulator (thatched roofs). 

Organic food is mentioned, which is 

what we had until the '60s, because 

until then there were no pesticides, 

fertilisers, new varieties and breeds 

requiring preparations. 

 

and processing it. Serbia had great producers 

and that’s something we know how to 

do and that’s our chance for the EU and for 

 

be tough to resurrect this sector. 

How can we attract them? 

- The Germans and French were interested 

in hemp because of polders or trine as a 

raw material for the production of environmentally 

friendly insulation panels in the 

construction industry, which is used instead 

of Styrofoam. They should be given 

 

resources and institutions, to see what our 

capacities are like. Good information must 

be prepared for them that can be obtained 

through the Institute of Field and Vegetable 

Crops in Novi Sad and its Institute of Hops 

and Industrial Plants. They have to do a 

good study to determine who that could be 

sold to. 

Can the government help in some way? 

- Yes. The Serbian Ministry of Agriculture, 

which is now preparing its Strategy for the 

Development of Agriculture, must have a 

vision of which products will be of interest 

to the EU. If they are recognised as natural 

products in the EU, we must revive them, 

prepare projects, information, utilise money 

from IPA funds for this purpose... The 

government should recognise in its strategy 

productions that are in trend in the EU, in 

order for an investor to see that this corresponds 

with our orientation and that they 

will be supported if they come. • 


FALL OF THE BALKANS BIGGEST DRUG LORD 

ŠARIĆ 

FINALLY 

BEHIND 

BARS 

TWO DAYS AFTER ELECTIONS IN SERBIA DARKO 

ŠARIĆ WAS DEPORTED FROM MONTENEGRO 

TO BELGRADE. UNDER HEAVY POLICE GUARD, 

HE WAS LED TO THE SPECIAL COURT BUILDING, 

WHERE HE HAS BEEN DETAINED IN CUSTODY. THE 

OPERATION TO LOCATE ŠARIĆ IN FOUR SOUTH 

AMERICAN COUNTRIES LASTED NINE AND A 

HALF MONTHS, WITH THE OFFER TO SURRENDER 

COMING A MONTH AND A HALF AGO 

text TEAM KI photo DADO ĐILAS I TANJUG 

MARCH 2014 

39

LORD AND ONE OF THE MOST 

- 

TIVES, WHO SPENT MORE 

 

 

FROM THE DOMINICAN RE- 

 

TH MARCH! 

- 

- 

AL HAS LEARNED, WAS THE 

 

 

MORE THAN FIVE TONS OF 

- 

 

 

- Representatives of the Serbian and Montenegrin 

security services took him to the 

airport in that country and under their supervision 

he arrived in Montenegro, where 

he was formally arrested. He spent a little 

longer than an hour at Podgorica Airport, 

after which he was transferred to Nikola 

Tesla Airport – says Kurir International’s 

police source. 

With huge security measures, in a darkened 

black jeep surrounded by several 

 

transferred to the building of the Belgrade 

ing 

established beyond doubt that the man 

who arrived in Serbia is indeed the fugitive 

drug lord, he was escorted by the police to 

 

 

impact on his decision to surrender to the 

Serbian authorities. Apparently, one of the 

most wanted Serbian fugitives decided to 

surrender only when he seriously feared 

that his safety could be compromised and 

he realised he would be safer in jail. 

 

threats from people with whom he once 

collaborated. All these years he feared for 

his safety and it is likely this is why he decided 

to put an end to his long period in 

hiding- says the Kurir International source. 

 

First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar 

 

with smuggling 5.6 tonnes of cocaine and 

money laundering, cannot be deemed a cooperating 

witness because he is the main 

defendant in the court proceedings. 

“Whatever he said, he cannot get protected 

witness status as the main defendant and 

he will be held accountable for the most 

 

said during an open session of the Serbian 

government. 

th February the Serbian 

 

 

and that the authorities in Serbia had collaborated 

with at least 15 international security 

services to locate and apprehend the 

fugitive. 

He thanked everyone for their cooperation, 

especially the U.S. Central Intelligence 

Agency (CIA). 

“After more than four years on the run 

 

in Belgrade. This is important, major and 

positive news, especially for the citizens of 

Serbia, and is also good news for everyone 

 

Speaking about the method of surrender, 

gorica 

airport and the only condition of 

his unconditional surrender was that he 

be given half an hour to meet with his son, 

daughter and wife in the international zone 

of Podgorica Airport. 

He added that this did not endanger or diminish 

the process of bringing him in and 

prevented a delay in extradition proceedings. 

 

government, stating that a major job that 

was started four and a half years had now 

been completed He also thanked the previous 

government and former Secretary of 

 

 

“I hope that the Serbian judicial system will 

dure 

that will be satisfactory and that the 

perpetrators of the most serious crimes will 

be punished or released if they are not to 

blame,” said Serbia’s First Deputy PM. 

 

 

Security-Information Agency that the public 

did not know about, which was formed 

on 13 th 

 

Those methods and means, he added, in- 

 

video surveillance of facilities that he could 

 

facilities, the interception of telephone 

conversations and Internet communica- 

 

intercepting contacts on open and closed 

spaces - a total of 51 secret searches in vari- 

 

via telecommunication devices - more than 

 

 

well as international cooperation with at 

least 15 foreign services. 

“After locating the entire movements and 

 

countries in Latin America, we started the 

operational conversation within the BIA on 

how to best conduct the arrest operations,” 

 

He thanked the Ministry of Justice of Montenegro, 

with which all operations were 

coordinated. 

EVIDENCE OF COOPERATION 

Prime Minister of the caretaker govern- 

 

 

 

that it will contribute to strengthening the 

credibility and reputation of the Serbian 

security and justice system. 

“The government welcomes and expresses 

its appreciation for the detaining of Darko 

- 

ing 

the extraordinary session of the Serbian 

government. 

 

 

an end to the process against his criminal 

 

- He arrived at the hearing accompanied by 

policemen in civilian clothes and was smiling 

and in a good mood. He stayed for only 

a short time, with the judge taking his personal 

information and relaying the details 

of the indictment on which he is already 

being tried. He seemed exceptionally calm 

and relaxed - says a source from the court. 

 

did not mention the threats or pressures he 

was allegedly subjected to, and which Kurir 

Vučić: Whatever he said, he 

cannot get protected witness 

status as the main defendant 

and he will be held accountable 

for the most serious crimes 


06.30 

 

 


07.45 

08.00 

08.45 

 

 

Darko Šarić heard by the Special Court 

I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN 

THE SERBIAN COURT! 

DURING THE BRIEF HEARING THE INFAMOUS DRUG LORD 

REPORTEDLY SAID THAT IF THE COURT DECIDES TO RELEASE 

HIM HE WOULD REGULARLY RESPOND TO THE CALLS OF 

THE COURT, BUT HE WAS KEPT IN CUSTODY NONETHELESS 

09.20 

09.4511.35 

14.40 

09.40 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MARCH 2014 

41

eactions 

THE COUNTRY AND THE 

WORLD WELCOME THE 

ARREST OF ŠARIĆ 

 

SNS OFFICIAL 

 

- 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SPS OFFICIAL 

 

- 

 

 

- 

- 

- 

 

 

 

 

- 

 

 

 

 

 

NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- 

 

 

 

- 

 

- 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- 

 

- 

 

 

 

 

- 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BRITISH NEWS 

 

- 

 

 

- 

- 

 

 

 

 

ASSOCIATED PRESS 

 

 

 

 

 

- 

 

ITALIAN NEWS 

AGENCY ANSA 

 

 

 

- 

 

FRANCE’S LIBERASION 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Podgorica Airport 

HUGS FOR WIFE AND KIDS 

Šarić was met at Podgorica Airport in the early morning 

hours of Tuesday 18th March by his wife, son and daughter. 

- He was given half an hour to meet with his family and another 

half an hour for contact with his lawyer. He met in the international 

zone with his wife, son and daughter. After a brief meeting, 

which took place around 6:30 am, he returned to the plane and 

was escorted to Belgrade by members of the police. 

He was constantly accompanied by members of the security services, 

who watched the drug lord’s every move. 

Punishment 

ŠARIĆ THREATENED WITH 40 YEARS 

It was confirmed for Kurir International by the Special 

Prosecutor that Šarić is being threatened with the maximum 

penalty of 40 years in prison. To recall, two separate trials are 

being led against Šarić, with a total of 13 charges. 

- He is charged with the most serious form of conspiracy to commit 

criminal acts, which are punishable by up to 40 years in prison, 

as well as the illicit production and trafficking of narcotic drugs, 

which is punishable by a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison – 

confirmed the prosecution. 



group and proving that the government’s 

commitment to regional and international 

cooperation is yielding results. 

 

 

surrendered.” 

 

where no concessions are required for 

 

only requested was that before coming to 

Serbia he be allowed make contact with his 

 

done. 

- 

 

negotiation process that began when the 

imminent arrest of this fugitive became 

certain. 

 

in several countries of Latin America and 

when the fugitive himself became aware 

 

Justice Ministry received a request from 

his lawyer. In order to avoid bloodshed and 

- 

 

- 

ica 

lasted nine and a half months and that 

 

a half ago. 

 

 

 

 

At the insistence of journalists to reveal 

 

minister said that intimate details could not 

be disclosed at this time. 

Dačić: Bringing Šarić to 

justice will contribute 

to bringing an end to 

the process against his 

criminal group 

TRIAL TO CONTINUE ON 24 TH MARCH 

 

 

 

ardise 

the authorities’ ability to capture an- 

 

and three accused of money laundering. 

 

 

Street in Belgrade four years after the initiation 

of criminal proceedings against him. 

He pointed out that the prosecution had 

 

 

 

criminal group were scheduled to continue 

th March. 

 

volved 

in the process. 

An international arrest warrant for Darko 

 

- 

th 

in Belgrade. 

SAW LAWYER FOR THE FIRST TIME 

 

 

 

- I waited for him at the airport in Podgori- 

 

 

the impression of being a man who wants 

to defend himself. 

Numerous international 

agencies joined 

forces to bring Šarić 

back to Serbia to face 

trial on 13 charges 

MARCH 2014 

43

interview 

Predrag Ćulibrk 

TELEKOM SRBIJA CEO 

We have increased 

profit by four billion 

dinars in a year 

There are serious companies that are ready to 

invest huge amounts of money, so we could 

expect a solid amount from the sale of Telekom 

Srbija, perhaps even around two billion euros 

text SLAVICA TOMČIĆ photo DADO ĐILAS 

If a decision is made to sell Telekom 

Srbija, I think a buyer should be 

sought through a tender, because 

this would provide the highest 

amount, which is of greatest importance 

to the state and the budget, says 

 

interview for Kurir International. 

Economy Ministry proposals have 

emerged linked to a stock market sale? 

- I don’t think that’s the best way, because 

it would provide much less money than 

through a tender. Seeking a direct buyer 

is the best way and most companies of 

this kind in the region have been sold in 

this way. I also think the state should not 

conduct the sales process unless it determines, 

through preliminary negotiations, 

that there is a serious buyer willing to pay 

approximately the amount that the state 

is prepared to sell Telekom for. There are 

 

state remaining a minority partner to an 

outright sale. The question is what the 

state is seeking to achieve. Does one seek 

the greatest amount to invest in some 

infrastructure projects? Repay some expensive 

credit? Or is the desire to remain 

a co-owner of Telekom Srbija. 

Are there any buyers interested in 

Telekom and what amount could we 

expect to receive from its sale? 

- Telekom Srbija is the most interesting 

state-owned company that's potentially 

 

attractive telecommunications industry 

player. There are no serious discussions 

because no one wants to lead negotiations 

until the owner expresses a readiness 

to sell Telekom. If such a decision was 

made I think there would be a buyer. I’m 

convinced that the opening of Serbia’s EU 

membership negotiations will encourage 

potential investors even more. At the global 

level, there are serious companies that 

have a lot of assets in their portfolios and 

are willing to invest, so a solid amount 

ate, 

but it could possibly be around two 

billion euros for a 100 per cent stake. 

Is last year's operational report ready 

nars, 

as you expected? 

- Until the Supervisory Board adopts the 

 

still only talk about estimates, and all data 

currently available suggest it would be 

about 15 billion dinars, maybe even a little 

pared 

to the previous year, when we had 

 

this is amount should bring delight to our 

company and our shareholders. 

11 14 

billion dinars 

of net profit 

was achieved 

by Telekom in 

2012 

billion dinars 

was invested by 

Telekom Srbija 

in 2013 

Telekom Srbija was founded in 1997 

as the first step in the process of 

restructuring the postal service of Serbia 

9,061 

employees Telekom Srbija 

had at year’s end 2012 


15 16 

billion dinars is 

the expected 

net profit of 

Telekom for 

2013 

billion dinars is 

the planned level 

of investment in 

Telekom Srbija 

in 2014 

The state owns a 58 per cent 

stake in Telekom Srbija 

Minority shareholders have a 22 per cent 

stake in Telekom Srbija 

20 per cent of the shares of Telekom Srbija 

were purchased by Greek company OTE 

TELEKOM SRBIJA IS THE 

MOST INTERESTING 

STATE-OWNED COMPANY 

THAT'S POTENTIALLY 

FOR SALE BECAUSE IT'S 

PROFITABLE 

 

achieved in 2013? 

 

 

goals, but I would point out two primary 

cline 

in the number of users in the mobile 

segment, which was a very ambitious 

 

results aren’t adequate enough for that, 

but we created good preconditions for 

- 

 

other main objective was to maintain 

 

loan of €470 million to purchase 20 per 

 

cure 

nearly €230 million to meet our debt 

obligations of the principal and interest 

payments. In October 2012 that looked to 

be an impossible mission, but thanks to 

a stable exchange rate and our internal 

 

amount, and we did so without jeopardising 

the liquidity of the company. Alongside 

this, we managed to pay out about 7.7 

billion dinars in dividends to our share- 

 

dinars at the end of 2012 and by the end of 

February we will have paid out around 2.1 

billion dinars to citizens, employees and 

 

 

 

where we did not give our maximum. 

 

and we will try to ensure the company 

looks even better at the end of 2014. 

What will be the priorities for this 

year when it comes to investment? 

 

the best bandwidth to our users for all 

types of services, whether we’re talking 

 

 

what they were in the past. In technological 

terms, you must provide a capacity 

for users to monitor the news and vari- 

 

requires improving the network, building 

infrastructure, installing optics wherever 

that may be. Our idea for some future period 

is to connect, wherever possible, our 

base stations with optic cables, in order 

for our customers with smart phones to 

feel comfortable. In 2013 we added about 

400 new 2G and 3G base stations for the 

 

year we plan to continue to build about 

 

in raising the speed and capacity for our 

customers using ADSL services and we 

have launched a number of projects in 

 

public devices, which are connected to 

telephone copper pairs, as close to users 

as possible, because it provides data 

transmission speeds of 5 and even 10 

 

 

customer satisfaction. 

In which segment was Telekom Srbija 

most successful last year? 

aged, 

after four years, to halt the decline 

in the number of mobile phone users, 

which amounted to more than 800,000 

 

in the number of users and even achieve 

a slight increase of several thousand 

 

 

- 

 

service in 2008 and in 2013 it achieved 

record growth in the number of new 

 

we now have more than 250,000 users, 

 

an emphasis on our box packages, 

 

 

- 

 

contracts, which is very important to 

our company because it raises the loyalty 

of our customers by combining all our 

services in one place and through one 

account. Good trends were also seen in 

January, so I think these trends that began 

 

 

segment, but not as a result of activities 

within the company, rather due to trends 

that are the same in all countries. 

What did Telekom Srbija invest the 

most in last year and what are your 

plans for this year? 

 

billion dinars in new projects, which is a 

 

are by far the largest investor in this sector. 

I believe all others combined didn’t 

 

new base stations have become opera- 

 

has been laid and investments have been 

made in the modernisation of service plat- 

 

plans for the next three years. • 

MARCH 2014 

45

ALAS 

anti-tank missile ile system 

MANUFACTURER: 

SERBIAN WEAPONS 

designed for long-range effect 

against tanks, armoured vehicles, 

ships, low-flying helicopters and 

targets on the ground 

MISSILE SYSTEM 

exceptional level of accuracy 

maximum range of 25 km 

purpose: 

Anti-tank missile system de- 

 

against tanks, armoured vehi- 

 

ters and targets on the ground 

 

 

 

frared seeker for homing 

DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT: 

Length 2,040 mm 

Diameter 175 mm 

2.040 mm 

Total missile weight 50 kg 

Warhead weight 10 kg 

performance: 

launch platforms: 

CONSTRUCTION: 

 

 

 

Range of 5 - 25km 

 

 

 

 

Maximum missile range of 25 km 

 

 

AIR 

INTAKE 

WARHEAD WITH 

SELF-GUIDANCE 

SYSTEM 

Penetrates 

80 cm 

armour 

180 m/s 

cruise speed 

5-25 km 

range* 

300 m 

cruise altitude 

COMMAND POINT 

CREW 

2 

soldiers 

* option of up to 60km 

MISSILE BODY 

WITH MOTORS 

AND FUEL 

DRIVE: 

Two rocket 

engines for 

launch, one 

jet. Thrusters 

40 dN for a 

cruise speed 

of 180 m/s 

FACTS 

Krušik Holding 

from Valjevo 

sells mines 

to Iraq and 

NATO member 

countries worth 

$35 million per 

year. 

State-owned 

arms exporter 

Jugoimport SDPR 

has secured a 

deal with Iraq 

worth $235 

million. 

Under the 

auspices of the 

first agreement 

Iraq bought 

20 Lasta 95 

aircraft and 

discreetly 

announced that 

this number 

could increase 

in the future. 

Serbia’s six 

biggest weapons 

factories 

account for 

82.35% of the 

country’s arms 

exports. 

The defence 

industry 

accounts for 

17.65% of the 

domestic market. 

Exports of 

our products 

cover imports 

by a ratio of 

3.42 times.

INDUSTRY AS AN EXAMPLE 

text KATARINA MARTIĆ illustration BRANKA SAVKOVIĆ 

SERBIA’S DOMESTIC DEFENCE INDUSTRY GENERATED 

REVENUE OF APPROXIMATELY $300 MILLION, 

THANKS MOSTLY TO NATO MEMBERS AND 

THE UNITED STATES, WHO WERE THE 

BIGGEST BUYERS LAST YEAR 

Interest in Serbian weapons grows day by day and is 

coming from all over the world. Our arms industry 

products are exported to the U.S., Australia, New 

Zealand, South Africa, South America, Canada, UAE 

and many European countries. Demand is such that the 

 

maximum capacity. Exports in 2013 totalled around $300 

million. When you see that in 2003 exports were worth 

$50 million, it can be seen that exports doubled every four 

 

in the products of our defence industry. 

 

ject of VTI, is attracting – in addition to substantial interest 

among partners from the UAE – the considerable attention 

 

Serbian defence industry, primarily from the Middle East 

 


MARCH 2014 

47


 

 

$220 million in rockets 

 

 

SDPR 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.:: THE ENTRANCE OF "ALAS" 

ONTO WORLD MARKETS 

ALSO RAISES THE "SHARES" 

OF OTHER MISSILE SYSTEMS 

PRODUCED IN SERBIA 

 

1990s in Yugoslavia, based 

on the French Eryx system 

BUMBAR 

BUMBAR 

Anti-tank missile system 

Designed to destroy tanks, ar- 

 

at ranges up to 600 m 

The Bumbar 

System 

consists of 

missiles in 

transportlaunch 

tubes, 

guidance 

equipment 

and launch 

and stand 

This weapon is serviced by two soldiers - one 

carries the launcher and rocket, while the other 

carries one or two backup missiles and stand 

LASTA 95 

Military aircraft that 

will soon be part of 

the arsenal of the 

Army of Serbia 

Attracted great interest 

from the countries of 

the Americas and Asia 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contract with Libya 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LASTA 95 

M57 AND M70 

Easy to handle 

With mechanical 

sights 

Forms part of the 

Iraqi Air Force 

17.65% 

per cent of the domestic 

market is accounted for 

by the arms industry 

HANDGUNS M57 AND M70 

M57 

Semi-automatic weapon 

with a secure locking system 

and trigger 

Characterised by reliability 

and accuracy 

M70 


NORA B-52 

155 mm 

M-1955 gun 

(D-20) 

SPORTING RIFLE M70 STANDARD 

Barrel made of 

chrome-vanadium 

steel by cold forging, 

which guarantees high 

precision, accuracy 

and durability 

Stock made from high quality 

selected walnut 

LAZAR II 

Main armament 

20 mm gun M-55 

Characterised by a large 

number of shots in a short 

interval without interruption 

in aiming 

Road speed of 80-100 km/h, 

range 41-65 kilometres 

New artillery guns, self-propelled howitzer 

Forms of the stock 

which can be selected 

by the user 

are Pig back and 

Monte Carlo 

3.42 

is ratio by which 

exports cover 

imports 

Travel speed 90 

km/h, range 600 km 

SEMI-AUTOMATIC HUNTING RIFLE PAPOVKA 

Functional on all 

terrains and climates, 

with safe 

 

Polymer stock with good ergonomic solutions 

and excellently balanced 

 

 

RIFLE PAPOVKA LAZAR II M70 NORA B-52 

vehicle 

brake lever type locking system 

performs tripping. 

Zastava weapons 

FACTORY WORKING AT FULL STEAM 

The Zastava Oružje (Arms) factory in Kragujevac, which 

also produces cars – previously of the same, but nowadays 

under the Fiat brand, manufactures handguns and hunting 

and military weapons. Several lucrative deals were made last 

year, including sales of $42 million to one American importer. 

The factory had to hire 500 additional workers to meet the demand. 

- This year we are planning to export products worth about 

$44 million. The key point is that the Serbian defence industry, including 

Zastava Oružje, has the quality to supply the world market. 

What is happening to us on the U.S. market is a confirmation 

of that – says Zastava Oružje CEO Rade Gromović, adding that 

they receive many emails on a daily basis from U.S. weapons enthusiasts 

who evaluate their products as being excellent. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.:: LAZANSKI: NORA IS 

THE MOST SUCCESSFUL 

PRODUCT OF OUR DEFENCE 

INDUSTRY 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High technology 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• 

MARCH 2014 

49

Kurir editor visits NATO HQ in Brussels 

NATO AT THE CROSSROADS 

This year will be fateful for the Alliance. Uncertainty about the future of the engagement in Afghanistan 

is high, funding is a major problem, but NATO is nonetheless still strong, even stronger than ever 

text IGOR ĆUZOVIĆ photo KI ARCHIVE 


In late January NATO invited “creators 

of public opinion”, or us journalists, 

to Brussels. With the great assistance 

 

Embassy in Belgrade, the author of 

this text was among nine people given an opportunity 

to tour the Allied JFC (Joint Force 

Command) Base in Brunssum, the E-3A 

Component at Geilenkirchen in Germany 

 

and the HQ of the Alliance in Brussels. 

The theme of the day, month and year at 

NATO is Afghanistan. There is tension about 

the outcome of negotiations between Presi- 

 

the signing of a bilateral security agreement 

 

has already been agreed, Karzai, apparently 

more concerned with his own image and 

the future of himself and numerous families 

rather than the future of the country, 

is seeking newer and newer American concessions, 

all in order to present himself as a 

“tough interlocutor”. On the other hand, the 

Americans are not known as those you can 

bargain with. All in all, NATO, whose Afghan 

st January 

this year, are patiently awaiting a political 

agreement, ready for a new engagement in 

Afghanistan, in the form of “Operation Reso- 

 

st 

combat missions). The speed of reaching a 

bilateral agreement will determine the possibility 

of adequately organizing the whole 

operation, including the number of troops to 

be deployed in Afghanistan next year. 

Uncertain future 

Nobody in Brussels said so, of course, but 

we should be realistic: if Karzai doesn't sign 

the agreement, and if it the “zero option” 

occurs, i.e., if Afghanistan remains without 

foreign troops and aid, this country has an 

uncertain future, to say the least. Common 

sense could prevail in Karzai’s instinct for 

self-preservation, or Afghanistan could go 

down a dangerous route it knows very well. 

It should also be noted that an often mentioned 

word when talking about Afghanistan 

was “Chinese”. The Asian superpower, unlike 

the British, Russians and Americans, has 

no intention of sending troops to Afghanistan. 

Instead of them, in Kabul, Kandahar 

and other trading centres, businessmen 

have arrived, with briefcases instead of ri- 

mendous 

raw potential of Afghanistan to the 

Chinese economy. 

Other “Hot” topics at NATO include the 

 

constant accusations that the Alliance is a 

“dinosaur” that should have disappeared 

with the end of the Cold War. If you want a 

 

no NATO member that does not desire that, 

 

a problem, however, that not all members 

engage in the project of financing NATO 

 

ample, 

Germany, which also provides a 

Nothing like Star Wars 

A SHOCK AT AWACS 

In Geilenkirchen, HQ of the E-3A 

Component, popularly known as the 

base where AWACS embarks on its 

missions worldwide, we were taken 

on a tour of the actual aircraft, where 

I expected to find an interior similar 

to the Millennium Falcon from Star 

Wars. Instead I saw fairly aged equipment, 

although spotlessly clean, operational 

and cared for. There wasn’t 

a single blemish, scratch or dent. We 

were accompanied at all times by two 

soldiers who you could tell viewed 

the system as a family member, like 

taking care of their own child. Otherwise, 

AWACS is currently being upgraded 

and by 2018 craft will receive 

a completely new cabin, with technical 

innovations making it even more 

advanced than the competition. 

Praise from a French general 

SERB SOLDIERS GREAT 

One of the highest ranking officials 

at the Brunssum base is Frenchman 

(of Russian origin) Michel Jakovleff. 

And he looks like a Russian – light 

hair, Slavic face, typical half-smile and 

a cheerful look. His family came from 

Russia, he says proudly, and his family 

are among the most prominent 

Russians. In perfect English he tells 

me the story of his experience in the 

Foreign Legion, where he spent a 

decade. He says that Serbs are excellent 

soldiers, but that it is sometimes 

difficult to control them. I asked him 

about whether he worked with Croatian 

General Gotovina in the Foreign 

Legion and he said he didn’t. 

We are proud of this 

KURIR INTERNATIONAL 

THEIR FAVOURITE READ 

On a table at the U.S. mission 

to NATO, cover to cover with the 

world’s most important newspapers, 

sits one Serbian publication – Kurir 

International magazine. 

- We grab all the issues instantly! 

Especially when there’s a celebrity 

on the cover. When there are “artistic” 

covers, they get snapped up 

too, but not as fast as when there’s a 

politician. It’s a great thing that you’re 

doing – I’m told by a lady from the 

Mission. 

lot of funding to ensure everything works 

properly. The “Major” NATO members do 

not take it too kindly when a member sud- 

 

budget for the Alliance and says (without any 

consultation) “this is what we have set aside 

for NATO this year; we know it’s less than 

last time, but such is the situation, what can 

be done?” It is clear to anyone that budget 

cuts must have consequences and there can- 

 

 

appears that this is not quite clear to some 

politicians who question budget allocations 

for the Alliance. What is quite clear to everyone, 

however, is that many things in the 

modern world depend on the existence of 

NATO, whether it’s a “dinosaur” or not. A 

world without NATO in its present form is 

 

we have today. 

 

I spoke to at NATO think that we are a good 

 

slowly, it is true,” they say, “but it’s going in 

the right direction.” 

IF YOU WANT A PREPARED 

AND EFFECTIVE MILITARY, 

AND THERE IS NO NATO 

MEMBER THAT DOES 

NOT DESIRE THAT, IT IS 

NECESSARY TO FINANCE 

THE ALLIANCE 

 

 

were pleasantly surprised with her appointment 

to that position. “You couldn’t have 

found a better person for that job,” I was 

 

Funding issues 

This year will no doubt be a fateful one for 

 

engagement of Afghanistan is high. Funding 

problems are present and known, but 

NATO is nonetheless still strong, dare I say 

even stronger than ever. At least that’s the 

impression I got after spending three days 

at its central facility. I will not be surprised 

if a bilateral agreement is yet signed and the 

governments of member states quickly “realise” 

that funding the Alliance is still one of 

the budgetary priorities. Because the world 

we live in has always operated in accordance 

 

has brought success, while non-compliance 

has led to failure. • 

MARCH 2014 

51

interview 

Svetlana Jančić 

 

NATIONAL LIBRARY OF SERBIA 

Serbs love books, 

like their rulers 

The oldest manuscript preserved in the Treasury 

Department for Archaeography of the National 

Library of Serbia is the Belgrade Paroemaic 

from the 13 th century 

text LJUBOMIR RADANOV photo NEMANJA PANČIĆ 

The National library of Serbia 

(NLS), a cultural institution of 

national importance and the 

central national library, which 

was founded on 28 th February 

1832, has deservedly grown to become one 

of the largest and most powerful symbols 

 

pointed 

as administrator of the NLE by the 

Serbian government. In an interview for KI, 

tions, 

the importance of reading and her 

favourite authors. 

Serbia is one of the few countries that 

have not had a National Book Day to 

date? 

- We traditionally mark 28 th February as the 

Day of the NLS, which was also declared as 

National Book Day in 2012. This year’s celebration 

began on 27 th February and was 

marked by a humanitarian event in which 

the NLS, the Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation 

and Eurobank donated more than 

4,000 books for children and young people 

to public libraries in 20 Serbian towns. National 

Book Day was also marked by a series 

of lectures, cultural programmes and workshops, 

as well as the action “Open Doors”, 

during which pupils of Belgrade’s primary 

and high schools had the opportunity to 

learn of the diverse and dynamic activities 

of the National Library. 

In Serbia during 2014 we will mark 

the 100 th anniversary of the start 

of the Great War. How will you 

commemorate this day? 

- At the end of 2012 the NLS launched development 

of the Great War (Veliki Rat) 

web portal (www.velikirat.nb.rs ), with 

the intention of enabling users of this thematic 

portal to access all available digitised 

sources relating to this period during the 

years marking the Great War. This ambitious 

project would not have been possible 

without the cooperation we realised with 

the international project European collection 

1914-1918, which involved 12 partners 

from eight European countries. The NLS is 

working on the creation of its own digital library 

with the cultural institutions of Serbia 

and Republika Srpska. Available resources 

 

typology of materials: monographs, periodicals, 

manuscripts, cartographic materials, 

posters, photographic images and varied 

material. Searching materials is possible for 

all segments according to all Metadata that is 

described by the digital object. Through the 

 

opportunity to learn about the events, issues 

and personalities that marked this period. 

Does the NLS, like other cultural 

institutions, most struggle with shelf 

space? 

-Since 1973, when the NLS moved into the 

building on Saint Sava Plateau, the library’s 

resources have risen progressively through 

changes, 

thus a lack of space is one of the 

key problems that the library has faced for 

 

area covers 12,000m², and the total length 

of shelving is about 80,000m. Last year we 

purchased a set of compact shelves covering 

a length of 400m, with which we achieve 

space savings of 70% compared to conven- 

 

manent 

solution to this problem should be 

- 

 

What kinds of exhibitions are you 

planning until the end of the year? 

tion 

entitled “Our literature is where we are 

- Literature in the First World War” (April 

22 nd - July 1 st ), which will also visit other European 

cities. We will mark the Day of Slavic 

 

of miniature books from the special collections 

of the Library and in September we 

 


2 500 000 

RECORDS IN AN 

ELECTRONIC CATALOGUE 

12 

READING 

600 

ROOMS 

USER 

PLACES 

BIGGEST DONORS 

The European Commission and UNESCO 

Embassies (the largest donor it the U.S. 

Embassy in Belgrade) 

Foreign cultural centres in Belgrade 

(Goethe Institut, the Austrian Cultural 

Forum) 

Banks (Intesa, Alfa Bank) 

International library organizations 

(CENL, LIBER) 

Foundations (Ana and Vlade Divac 

Foundation) 

The governments of Algeria and Israel 

Domestic companies (Pionir, SAFAGE, 

Alma Quatro etc.). 

Holiness Patriarch Pavle with an exhibition 

presenting his personal library, the prepa- 

ing. 

By the end of the year we are also planning 

exhibitions from the legacy of Petar 

 

Which book is the oldest in the NLS’s 

collection? 

-The oldest handwritten manuscript that is 

 

archaeography is the Belgrade Paroemaic 

th century. Because 

of its monumentality it is presumed 

to have originated in one of the most de- 

 

 

th th centuries. Among the 

- 

 

Scodrensi), which was published in Venice 

 

Do Serbs preserve their books? 

- A tradition of nurturing the culture of reading 

and formation of libraries has developed 

tions 

of monasteries and churches in Serbia 

th century. At the court of 

 

cult of learning and education developed in 

 

rich personal library that was inherited and 

enriched by his descendants. • 

MARCH 2014 

53

ON THE ROAD TO THE UNITED STATES: Serbian 

APPLE 

SELECTED 

A STATUE 

OF STEVE 

JOBS FROM 

SERBIA! 

Serbian academic sculptor Dragan Radenović’s obelisk of 

Steve Jobs has been chosen for the memorial statue that will 

adorn the “heart” of Apple in California 

text SANJA ILIĆ photo NEMANJA PANČIĆ 


sculptor’s work heading for Cupertino 

Apple commemorated the 59 th anniversary of 

the birth of founder Steve Jobs with a competition 

to produce a statue of his image. And of 

the 10,000 works submitted, they selected a piece by 

 

company’s headquarters in California’s Cupertino! 

For this reason the birthday of this visionary known 

for his many innovations in the IT world was celebrated 

in Belgrade on 24 th February, where the obelisk 

 

The statue is imperfect, poking out of it are numbers 

and letters from all alphabets, even script from Miroslav’s 

Gospel. It is dark and massive. According 

to critics, it is everything Apple produces is not - elegant, 

with smooth edges and bright colours. But, 

according to their recognition, Steve Jobs was 

precisely that – imperfect, hard and capable 

of magnetically attracting a crowd. 

Individuality important 

 

plains why it was in this way that he saw Jobs, 

with whom he says he shares a love of the 

 

- Apple’s designers, especially Jony Ive, liked 

the imprecision; that work by hand. That’s 

because, for me, art is contained in the errors. But 

the idea I had when making it was that this obelisk 

could be applied as a form, or part of a form, or for 

parts of this obelisk to in fact provide an idea for 

what will be the design of new Apple products – says 

 

individual design is also very important and that 

every product of this corporation, currently the most 

 

 

And this is what this sculpture really is. We notice 

that on its base is sculpted the Cyrillic letter Š, the 

mark of Miroslav’s Gospel and binary numbers. 

- This all represents the energy that is transformed 

 

speech, because that’s how Jobs himself understands 

it – as a philosopher and artist - concludes this respected 

sculptor, noting that with the insertion of 

these artistic symbols he also wanted to simultaneously 

present Serbia in the best possible way. 

As he says, that is the role and priority of his generation, 

which is why he chose the letter Š to be the 

base and focus of this obelisk, which in the future will 

adorn the place where Jobs went to school. 

Delighted the Pope and a princess! 

 

the Military Academy, the Faculty of Security Studies, 

the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Fine Arts. 

.:: ON THE PLINTH OF THE 

SCULPTURE IS THE CYRILLIC 

LETTER Š, THE MARK OF 

MIROSLAV’S GOSPEL AND 

BINARY NUMBERS 

Under the topic “Theory and function of the brain”, 

he earned his doctorate in Moscow, but still went on 

to study in New York. After that he was an assistant at 

the British sculpting workshop of the renowned Henry 

Moore and later a lecturer at De Cordova School of 

Fine Arts in Massachusetts and at Harvard. 

He has done portraits and busts of many celebrities, 

such as Kirk Douglas, Winston Churchill, Pavarotti, 

John Kelly, Sophia Loren, Grace Kelly, Willard Van Or- 

 

 

commissioned for the Vatican by Pope John Paul II. 

He is also the recipient of the prestigious award of the 

Taylor Foundation from Paris. • 

Steve Jobs 

facts 

Steven Paul Jobs 

was born on 24 th 

February 1955 in 

San Francisco 

His birth parents 

were an American 

mother of 

Swiss origin and 

a Syrian father of 

Armenian Orthodox 

faith 

A condition of 

his adoption was 

that the Jobs 

family ensured he 

was able to have 

a college education 

He founded the 

company Apple in 

partnership with 

Steve Wozniak 

on 1 st April 1976 

His name is associated 

with the 

beginnings of the 

personal computer 

and the creation 

of hardware 

and software 

The company’s 

most significant 

products in recent 

years have 

been the iPod, a 

portable music 

player with fingertip 

controls, 

and the iPhone, 

a revolutionary 

mobile device 

He listened to 

Bob Dylan, consumed 

marijuana 

and LSD, was a 

vegetarian and an 

admirer of Zen 

Buddhism 

He was known 

for wearing turtleneck 

t-shirts, 

jeans and white 

sports shoes 

He was diagnosed 

with pancreatic 

cancer in 

2004 and died 

of the disease in 

October 2011 

MARCH 2014 

55

interview 

Slobodan Mićić 

PRESIDENT OF COMPANY KON TIKI TRAVEL 

Experience and 

a good team are 

key to success 

I believe we will have a very good season 

again this year. There were huge crowds at 

the Tourism Fair and they all wanted to take 

advantage of discounts of up to 45 per cent 

that we gave for many arrangements 

W text DIJANA TADIĆ photo NEMANJA PANČIĆ 

What are your impressions of this 

year’s tourism fair? 

- If it is said that you can know a day by the 

morning, we expect an exceptional season 

this year. We are extremely satisfied and 

didn’t expect such a rush. The reason for this 

is probably our prices. We have three times 

more registrations at this year’s fair than we 

had last year. The crowds were huge because 

everybody wanted to take advantage of the 

 

How much were fair discounts? 

- Discounts went up to 45 per cent and we 

gave a further discount for those who pay 

for arrangements in full immediately. Some 

arrangements for certain dates that we gave 

are full and there is no more room, so now 

we are looking for new hotels. 

Where do Serbs usually travel to? 

- Mainly Greece and Turkey, because they 

have the most cheapest arrangements. There 

is also a new destination, Jordan, which I 

think will be in high demand. Demand for 

Egypt has reduced due to the crisis, but I 

believe that will also change soon. This year 

there is much interest in Spain and Italy (Sicily, 

Lido di Jesolo, Rimini) and we expect Malta 

to start gaining a stronger tempo. Dubai is 

 

How have you managed to be the 

number one travel agency for years? 

- I’ve been in the tourism industry for almost 

50 years. Experience is the key to success, as 

well as the good team that works at Kon Tiki 

Travel. We have a lot of young people and we 

really try to get better and better every year. 

How many countries have you visited 

and what’s your favourite place? 

- I’ve visited more than 180 countries. I 

couldn’t say which is my favourite, because 

there are really a lot and in every country I’ve 

found something positive and beautiful. 

Patriot 

MIĆIĆ: I’M ALWAYS 

HAPPY TO RETURN 

TO SERBIA 

Although he’s travelled the world, 

Mićić says he’s never wanted to stay 

and live in a foreign country. 

- I’ve had a lot of good offers to stay in 

many countries. I’d probably be a millionaire 

by now if I’d accepted one of 

them. But I’m connected to our country 

a lot. I can go anywhere, but I’m always 

happy to return to Serbia - says Mićić. 

Do you still travel like you used to? 

- I have to admit that nowadays I travel a little 

less than before. A month ago I returned 

from Ethiopia. I was in a part where tribes 

live. That was a fascinating experience, but 

very strenuous, mainly due to the roads, but 

also because of the tour itself. I am admittedly 

a man of many years. 

 

trip? Which faraway destination did 

you go to? 

- I remember, of course. My first faraway 

destination was Rio de Janeiro, sometime in 

the ‘70s. After that I went to the carnival in 

Rio, then elsewhere in South America and 

to Thailand... 

Is there a place where you haven’t been 

that you’d like to visit? 

- I do not think there is. I’ve seen everything 

that’s interesting for tourism. I’ve been to 

Alaska, Australia, New Zealand... 

What is tourism in Serbia like and 

what do you think should be done to 

improve the tourism sector's prospects 

in our country? 

- Our country invests very little in tourism. 

Many did not realise that tourism could bring 

 

a coastline either, but it is one of the leading 

tourist countries. We lie on thermal springs, 

but we haven’t utilised our spas. We are 

proud that this year we have made a billion 

from tourism, but that’s nothing compared 

to our potential. • 


Story of the history of FEST 

WORLD 

STARS 

ADORED 

BELGRADE 

Belgrade’s festival of the world’s top films, the 

popular FEST, dubbed the festival of festivals, 

emerged spontaneously on a wave of success 

of a review of repeated films held in 1970 in 

the hall of the Belgrade Culture Centre 

text LJUBOMIR RADANOV photo KI ARCHIVE 

The 42 nd edition of the International 

Film Festival – FEST 

– came to an end in Belgrade 

a few days ago, after the pre- 

 

nars, 

while all screenings were shown 

- 

wood” 

selection included as many as 12 

 

as the winners of last year’s most impor- 

 

were brought back to life again, while 

producer Gabriela Tana brought world 

stars as a gift to the Belgrade public - 

 

Spontaneous emergence 

 

popular FEST or, as it is still dubbed, the 

festival of festivals, emerged spontaneously 

on a wave of success of a review of 

 

 

that the public were hungry and missing 


MARCH 2014 

57

STARS 

AT FEST 

Many stars of 

Hollywood and 

European film 

have walked the 

streets of Belgrade 

during FEST 

NIKITA 

MIKHALKOV 

JACK 

NICHOLSON 

JOHNY 

DEPP 

 


fun, in addition to bread, Deputy Mayor of 

 

the organizer of the show, journalist Milutin 

 

how much it would cost! 

And thus on 8 th January, under the slogan 

 

Altman’s Mash at Dom Sindikata opened 

 

 

were screened and were watched by a little 

 

 

opening ceremony attracted a great crowd , 

 

 

Nicholson and de Niro 

 

greater splendour and the capital of Yugo- 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were also beatings 

DARK SIDE OF FEST 

The saddest pages in the history 

of FEST were written in 1997, when 

the festival was brought to a halt 

because of the beatings of cinemagoers 

who were returning home from 

film screenings when they ran into 

the cordon of police who had broken 

demonstrations against Slobodan 

Milošević. The annual FEST was also 

cancelled in 1993 and 1994, during 

the time of the civil war in Yugoslavia. 

During the second edition was the first 

 

 

Our city’s guest was Sergei Bondarchuk, 

 

 

 

 

 

weeks of screening it earned one billion and 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the streets of Belgrade were walked by the 

 

 

 

on 8 th 

 


SOPHIA 

LOREN 

FRANCIS FORD 

COPPOLA 

RALPH 

FIENNES 

ROBERT 

DE NIR0 

 

when we hosted directors Bernardo Bertolucci 

and Jiri Menzel and actress Stockard 

 

 

 

 

 

Winner at this year's 

FEST, talented young 

director Iram Haq 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Belgrade bucks the trend 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

such interest was that there was a delay of 

 

 

 

 

 

Belgrade was the world. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

around the world. • 

MARCH 2014 

59

interview 

Nikola 

Rakočević 

ACTOR 


SERBIA 

IS PART 

OF EUROPE 

Talented and charismatic actor Nikola 

Rakočević officially took the title of one 

of the 10 best young actors in Europe in 

the category of artists aged up to 35 last 

month at the 64 th Berlin Film Festival 

text LJUBOMIR RADANOV photo KI ARCHIVE 

Film audiences everywhere 

adore the character 

Bogdan played 

 

 

Krugovi (Circles). Speaking to KI 

 

 

Berlin and theatre work. 

Are you pleased with your 

“Shooting Star” award? 

- For Serbian cinematography, but 

 

 

the ten best young actors in Europe. 

 

 

actually means. I got a chance to be 

seen by producers and casting di- 

 

 

balance between American, British 

and European actors. In the coming 

period producers will worry about 

whether or not we got a role and 

 

 

What did you talk about 

with your fellow winners? 

As an actor from Serbia, are 

 

problems from those of your 

colleagues from Europe? 

- In Romania the situation is similar 

 

 

in the Balkans, with great young 

directors and actors. On the other 

 

especially Scandinavia, are not been 

able to get involved in theatre work 

 

is such that when you are doing a 

 

 

better. I can do multiple projects at 

the same time. 


MARCH 2014 

61


Do you have a dilemma about 

whether to stay in Serbia or to 

leave? 

- I don’t have a dilemma. Why would 

I have to leave Serbia? We are part of 

Europe. I don’t need to move from 

Belgrade in order to make films in 

Berlin or elsewhere in Europe. 

Early in your career you record 

 

 

 

changing the image of sports fans 

in Serbia? 

- The film was not only about supporters, 

but rather extremism that 

serves people as a cover for crime. 

This is one of the topics dealt with by 

 

responsibility for our own actions. 

 

 

 

anything. 

Why is your role as Bogdan in 

Krugovi one of your favourites? 

- The character of Bogdan is the closest 

to me. We have the same dilemmas. 

For me, the process of working 

 

very important, because I resolved 

some of my frustrations from childhood. 

That’s why it was particularly 

valuable to me. 

Do you watch the series Military 

 

play the roles of a pilot and a 

composer? 

 

because of work. It was a pleasure for 

me to act for television. 

Although you are a great 

footballer, you did not get a role 

in the biggest domestic cinema 

 

 

.:: WHEN SHOOTING A FILM AND 

FRAME, WHEN THE DIRECTOR 

SAYS ‘ACTION’ I EXPERIENCE IT AS 

A PROTECTED AREA IN WHICH NO 

ONE IS ALLOWED TO ENTER 

to lose that intimacy in front of the 

 

frame, when the director says ‘action’ 

I experience it as a protected area in 

which no one is allowed to enter. That 

makes me feel secure. 

 

 

What were preparations for 

 

by internal review, struggles, 

 

cess 

I’ve had in my life. In the novel 

everything was at a high level... I had a 

problem to reach that and I could not 

 

 

the voice for any cartoon 

characters? 

- I love cartoons and my wish is to 

produce more of them, though I 

wouldn’t want to spoil them with my 

voice. I’d like to deal with them as an 

art form. 

You played the guitar for a long 

 

 

- Jimi Hendrix, Noel Gallagher and 

 

Are successful artists adequately 

rewarded in Serbia? 

- If you ask the artists, the answer 

will be no. We do not do anything for 

awards. 

Why do you no longer go to 

 

 

been in about supporters? 

 

The matches have become self-supporting. 

I stopped watching football 

because I don’t like the way our 

teams play. I’d love to go watch Barcelona, 

Liverpool or Manchester United. 

Here the players argue with the 

referee, pull him by the sleeve, and 

he mustn’t say anything to them... 

 

for me anymore. 

 

 

 

are you willing to go to as an 

 

- I’m ready to go to the boundaries 

of morality and humanity. To lose 

weight, to dye my hair, wear contact 

lenses, draw on my body. These are 

harmless things. There are some 

things I would not do... 

 

- I do not play football that well. I have 

no problem with not getting through 

casting. The question is not whether 

you’re a good actor. It’s all about the 

choice of the director. 

In which medium do you feel 

better and best show your 

 

- I try to balance both. I would not 

want to have to make strict choices. 

 

ent 

mediums, but they deal with 

similar ideas. It is important to deal 

equally with both. It is healthy that in 

the theatre you have people around 

you; that you are communicating 

with the audience who are there in 

front of you. It is also important not 

Should Serbia become a member 

of the EU? 

- I don’t have the feeling that we’re 

not part of the EU and the world. My 

friends are part of Europe. However, 

the world order is not in a good situation. 

I’m worried about what’s going 

to happen... I don’t think the EU is a 

perfect system either. It was the most 

terrifying for me when statesmen participated 

in the Summit on the emission 

of greenhouse gases in Spain; 

they all got up and left without saying 

 

the story about Ukraine is terrible... 

Are you still a member of a political 

party? 

- I deal in politics through art. I do not 

 

moment I don’t have a clear picture 

of who is doing what. • 


.:: MY WISH IS 

TO PRODUCE 

MORE CARTOONS, 

THOUGH I 

WOULDN’T WANT 

TO SPOIL THEM 

WITH MY VOICE 

MARCH 2014 

63

Nole victorious 

in Indian Wells 

SERBIA’S TOP TENNIS PLAYER WON HIS FIRST 

TOURNAMENT OF 2014, BEATING FEDERER IN 

THE FINAL MATCH OF THE MASTERS 

text MILAN NASTIĆ photo FONET, REUTERS 

S 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bouncing back 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


17 

MASTERS TITLES 

IN HIS CAREER 

42 nd TITLE OF HIS CAREER 

WON AT INDIAN WELLS 

2,230 

POINTS LESS THAN 

RAFAEL NADAL 


Top player 

ĐOKOVIĆ IS THE BEST 

Switzerland’s Roger Federer admitted 

that Đoković deserved to win in Indian 

Wells, because he played the best 

tennis throughout the tournament. 

Old rivals and friends, Nole and Federer 

- He played well to close the match 

out and held the ball in play, and I 

made too many mistakes at key moments. 

He played well in the middle 

of the second set and great in the 

third, and at those moments things 

could have gone my way, but I congratulate 

him on winning the tournament. 

It is no coincidence that for 

years he has been at the very top and 

he will certainly rule world tennis for 

a long time to come - said Federer. 

Absent coach 

CONGRATULATIONS 

ON THE TITLE 

Boris Becker, Đoković’s current 

coach, closely followed the developments 

of the Serbian tennis player at 

Indian Wells, despite not being with 

him. 

- All the time I was with Nole, although 

the matches were in the early 

morning hours. He played great the 

whole tournament and I hope this 

Masters will be the turnaround. He 

was under pressure to finally win 

a tournament in 2014 and he’s just 

managed that at Indian Wells. I believe 

that this season Đoković can 

take many more trophies, but also 

grand slams - said Becker. 

MARCH 2014 

65

Serbia's top tennis 

star is proud of his 

performance at 

Indian Wells 


I could not serve out the match and that 

 

 

me a lot of satisfaction, because I had three 

 

- 

 

 

 

 

 

Intense contest 

 

 

 

that he turned the result around against the 

 

 

 

 

- 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

crisis, but I managed to hold on at the end 

 

- 

- 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- 

- 

 

 

tournament - said Novak, adding: 

 

- 

 

- 

 

ATP list 

1 Rafael Nadal 13,130 points 

2 Novak Đoković 10,900 points 

3 Stanislas Vavrinka 5,650 points 

4 David Ferrer 5,150 points 

5 Roger Federer 5,045 points 

6 Andy Murray 4,795 points 

7 Tomas Berdych 4,540 points 

8 Juan Martin Del Potro 4,270 points 

9 Richard Gasquet 2,905 points 

10 John Isner 2,670 points 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- 

 

Form returning 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ing, 

training, remarks during the match, and 

 

 

 

 

 

 

tomed 

to seeing me in the box, got used 

 

 

 

 

 

 

•

Kurir International magazine 05

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