Kurir International magazine 05
Kurir International is the most respected thematic magazine in English published in Serbia and at the same time the only dominantly one dealing with European integrations. This makes it exclusive not only in Serbia but gives Kurir the advantage of being the only magazine using this way of communication with the EU institutions although originating from a non-EU member country. KM is a synonym for an exchange of opinions on political and economic issues concerning Serbia’s road towards the EU. Magazine Kurir International was distributed to all the MP clubs in the European PARLIAMENT, as well as the highest officials of the European Commission. In Serbia, Kurir International was aimed at directors of leading multinational companies, representatives of foreign COMPANIES, diplomats, ambassadors, consuls, members of business associations, GOVERNMENT agencies. Kurir is also envisioned for the international organizations working in Serbia, including OSCE Mission to Serbia, Office of the European Commission in Belgrade, EU info point and FRIDRICH EBERT Foundation.
Kurir International is the most respected thematic magazine in English published in Serbia and at the same time the only dominantly one dealing with European integrations. This makes it exclusive not only in Serbia but gives Kurir the advantage of being the only magazine using this way of communication with the EU institutions although originating from a non-EU member country. KM is a synonym for an exchange of opinions on political and economic issues concerning Serbia’s road towards the EU.
Magazine Kurir International was distributed to all the MP clubs in the European PARLIAMENT, as well as the highest officials of the European Commission. In Serbia, Kurir International was aimed at directors of leading multinational companies, representatives of foreign COMPANIES, diplomats, ambassadors, consuls, members of business associations, GOVERNMENT agencies. Kurir is also envisioned for the international organizations working in Serbia, including OSCE Mission to Serbia, Office of the European Commission in Belgrade, EU info point and FRIDRICH EBERT Foundation.
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MARCH 2014<br />
INTERNATIONAL<br />
I VOL 01 I NO <strong>05</strong> I<br />
INTERVIEW<br />
Aleksandar Vučić<br />
CONVINCING WINNER OF<br />
SERBIA'S EXTRAORDINARY<br />
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS<br />
WE WILL NOT<br />
FIGHT FOR<br />
THE NEXT<br />
ELECTIONS,<br />
BUT RATHER<br />
THE NEXT<br />
GENERATIONS<br />
The programme for<br />
a new government<br />
will be drawn up over<br />
the next few days,<br />
and all the work<br />
will certainly be<br />
completed by May 1 st<br />
We are ready for<br />
dialogue with all<br />
relevant political<br />
parties, but for us<br />
our most important<br />
partnership is with the<br />
citizens of Serbia<br />
We want to talk, to<br />
co-operate, not to<br />
underrate anyone,<br />
let alone attempt<br />
to humiliate them<br />
regarding this result
19 Crisis in<br />
Ukraine<br />
The current political<br />
turmoil has its beginnings<br />
in November 2013, when<br />
then President Yanukovych<br />
rather surprisingly decided<br />
not to sign the Association<br />
Agreement with the EU<br />
by Justina Vitkauskaite<br />
Bernard & Vira<br />
Rastiborynska<br />
26 Kopaonik<br />
Business Forum<br />
The Serbian Davos was held<br />
for the 21st time this March at<br />
its traditional Mount Kopaonik<br />
venue, with the highest ever<br />
number of participants<br />
by Jelena Vukić<br />
MARCH 2014<br />
INTERVIEW<br />
Aleksandar Vučić<br />
CONVINCING WINNER OF<br />
SERBIA'S EXTRAODINARY<br />
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS<br />
WE WILL NOT<br />
FIGHT FOR<br />
THE NEXT<br />
ELECTIONS,<br />
BUT RATHER<br />
THE NEXT<br />
GENERATIONS<br />
INTERNATIONAL<br />
I VOL 01 I NO <strong>05</strong> I<br />
10<br />
Cover story<br />
Election results clearly showed<br />
that the nation evaluated highly<br />
the previous work of Vučić<br />
and his team, giving them the<br />
opportunity to govern for the<br />
next four years<br />
by Team KI<br />
64 Victory at Indian Wells<br />
Serbian tennis ace Novak Đoković won his first title of 2014 by<br />
defeating Roger Federer 2-1 in the final<br />
by Milan Nastić<br />
The programme for<br />
a new government<br />
will be drawn up over<br />
the next few days,<br />
and all the work<br />
will certainly be<br />
completed by May 1 st<br />
We are ready for<br />
dialogue with all<br />
relevant political<br />
parties, but for us<br />
our most important<br />
partnership is with the<br />
citizens of Serbia<br />
We want to talk, to<br />
co-operate, not to<br />
underrate anyone,<br />
let alone attempt<br />
to humiliate them<br />
regarding this result<br />
SNS rises, Šarić falls<br />
JELENA VUKIĆ/ KI EDITOR<br />
In just two days the citizens of<br />
Serbia experienced two events<br />
that the average citizen of any<br />
regulated European country<br />
would not experience in a whole<br />
year, and maybe not even then!<br />
Events just unfolded - a month ahead<br />
of early elections the Democratic Party<br />
split in two, with one camp led by<br />
<br />
and the other led by former mayor of<br />
-<br />
<br />
mood at all following the March 16th<br />
<br />
<br />
combined, it is far from the total the<br />
Democrats could muster with their<br />
-<br />
strous<br />
election results prompted two<br />
party leaders to announce their immi-<br />
<br />
<br />
should be succeeded by someone more<br />
capable, while his path was followed<br />
two days later by DSS leader Vojislav<br />
Koštunica, who will also be leaving the<br />
<br />
-<br />
<br />
The only one with cause for celebration<br />
-<br />
<br />
their success is the fact that the results<br />
they achieved even surpassed the popularity<br />
at the polls of Slobodan Miloše-<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
-<br />
<br />
<br />
14 22<br />
39<br />
Interview Ivica Dačić<br />
I tell everyone: Do not touch the<br />
bear so he won’t play in your yard<br />
by Sandra Mališić<br />
MAGAZINE DIRECTOR<br />
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EDITOR IN CHIEF<br />
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DESIGN & LAYOUT<br />
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GRAPHICS & ILLUSTRATIONS<br />
<br />
<br />
Interview Ivo Vajgl<br />
Joining the EU is not an event,<br />
but rather process<br />
by Jelena Vukić<br />
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Drug lord arrested<br />
The most wanted fugitive, Darko<br />
Šarić, arrested in Montenegro<br />
by KI TEAM<br />
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GENERAL MANAGER Aleksandar Rodić DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER Dr Ivana Slović-Krčadinac<br />
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MARCH 2014<br />
03
NEWS<br />
11<br />
YEARS<br />
SINCE PM’S<br />
ASSASSINATION<br />
GOVERNMENT<br />
MEMBERS PAY<br />
<br />
Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dačić and other members<br />
of the government laid a wreath at the memorial<br />
in the courtyard of the government at the place<br />
where Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić was gunned down<br />
eleven years ago.<br />
The wreath laying ceremony was attended by First<br />
Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić, Finance Minister<br />
Lazar Krstić, Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkić, Defence<br />
Minister Nebojša Rodić and Minister of Energy, Development<br />
and the Environment, Zorana Mihajlović. Also<br />
paying their respects were Minister of Agriculture,<br />
Forestry and Water Management, Dragan Glamočić,<br />
Minister of Culture and Information, Ivan Tasovac, Minister<br />
of Youth and Sports, Vanja Udovičić, Minister of<br />
Education, Science and Technological Development,<br />
Tomislav Jovanović, Health Minister Slavica Đukić and<br />
other members of the government. Tanjug<br />
STATEMENT<br />
OF THE MONTH<br />
EVENT OF THE MONTH<br />
I congratulate Serbia<br />
on the early elections<br />
held, during which<br />
the evaluation of the<br />
<br />
opportunity to decide<br />
on the basis of a sound<br />
legal foundation. I’m<br />
glad that the people<br />
<br />
clear support for the<br />
continued European<br />
orientation of the<br />
government.<br />
ŠTEFAN FÜLE<br />
EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER<br />
FOR ENLARGEMENT<br />
SNS ELECTION VICTORY<br />
According to preliminary results, the<br />
Serbian Progressive Party, SNS, obtained<br />
an absolute majority in parliament and<br />
was declared the victor an hour after polls<br />
closed. Overwhelming support for SNS<br />
was expected, but this result, which is the<br />
first time since 2000 that a single party has<br />
been given the opportunity to govern alone,<br />
surprised many. In accordance with the<br />
electoral system in Serbia, where the votes<br />
of parties that fail to enter Parliament are<br />
proportionally distributed among other parties,<br />
the power of SNS will further increase<br />
and it could control just under 160 of the<br />
250 seats. Among the parties previously in<br />
parliament that miss out after falling below<br />
the threshold are the United Regions of<br />
Serbia (URS), the Liberal Democratic Party<br />
(LDP) and the Democratic Party of Serbia<br />
(DSS). On the basis of 99.08% processed<br />
results, SNS and its coalition won 48.34%,<br />
which will bring them around 156 seats,<br />
SPS won 13.51%, the Democratic Party<br />
secured 6.04% and the New Democratic<br />
Party took 5.71%. The voter turnout was<br />
53.12%, while the Assembly will also include<br />
minority parties, which required a smaller<br />
share of votes.<br />
Euractiv<br />
04 <strong>Kurir</strong> INTERNATIONAL
300<br />
Foreign<br />
ECO VEHICLES<br />
DONATED BY<br />
JAPAN<br />
AGREEMENT SIGNED<br />
IN BELGRADE<br />
Minister Ivan Mrkić and<br />
Japanese Ambassador Masafumi<br />
Kuroki formalised a donation from<br />
Japan in the form of eco-friendly<br />
vehicles worth €3.57 million.<br />
Mrkić said the 300 vehicles were<br />
for the needs of the public sector<br />
and reminded that Japan was one<br />
of Serbia’s most important partners.<br />
The Minister also expressed<br />
his gratitude to the Government<br />
of Japan for the extremely favourable<br />
loan for the Nikola Tesla<br />
power plant, which will contribute<br />
to further strengthening<br />
economic cooperation and attracting<br />
Japanese investment.<br />
€2<br />
MILLION FOR<br />
SCHOLARSHIPS<br />
ATHLETES RECEIVE<br />
STATE FUNDING<br />
Youth and Sports Minister Vanja<br />
Udovičić presented the state’s<br />
2014 scholarships for Serbia’s best<br />
athletes, including Ivana Španović,<br />
Emir Bekrić, Asmir Kolašinac,<br />
Amela Terzić and Zorana<br />
Arunović. He said €2 million had<br />
been set aside for scholarships<br />
for the 350 top athletes, noting<br />
that they are Serbia's best ambassadors,<br />
which is why the state<br />
provides financial support.<br />
-We get more from them than we<br />
give, which is why this year the<br />
ministry is continuing its scholarships<br />
for elite athletes - said<br />
Udovičić.<br />
ALEKSANDAR VUČIĆ<br />
Serbian<br />
"Mercedes"<br />
presented<br />
First Deputy Prime Minister<br />
of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić said<br />
that the cooperation of the<br />
Ikarbus factory for buses and<br />
special vehicles with Mercedes<br />
will enable new growth for<br />
Serbian industrial strength.<br />
Speaking at the Ikarbus factory<br />
in Zemun, where he attended<br />
the presentation of the<br />
prototype of the new bus, he<br />
said it was the first in a series<br />
of buses and vans that Ikarbus<br />
and Mercedes plan to produce<br />
jointly in the future. He said<br />
that the bus will cost €135,000<br />
and noted that there is already<br />
interest from neighbouring<br />
countries.<br />
Ikarbus CEO Alexander<br />
Vićentić said that this cooperation<br />
will contribute improving<br />
the quality of products and the<br />
possibility of placing vehicles<br />
on the domestic and foreign<br />
markets. <strong>Kurir</strong><br />
VISIT OF THE MONTH<br />
COOPERATION BETWEEN SERBIA<br />
AND THE UAE IN ALL FIELDS<br />
President Nikolić said in talks with Sheikh Abdullah bin<br />
Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Foreign Minister, that UAE's friendship<br />
means a lot to Serbia. Expressing satisfaction with the decision<br />
to open diplomatic and consular missions, Nikolić noted<br />
bilateral cooperation has been fully restored and is defined<br />
by paths to implement economic cooperation. "Serbia's comparative<br />
advantages are numerous, from geographic position,<br />
to an excellent workforce, which EU accession can make very<br />
desirable for UAE investors," said Nikolić.<br />
Beta<br />
MICHAEL DAVENPORT<br />
Uniform standards<br />
EU Delegation head Michael Davenport says<br />
Serbian companies will have to adopt EU standards<br />
for doing business, including CSR practices.<br />
“Socially useful operations are not easy at all<br />
in this prolonged period of crisis,” he said,<br />
adding that it should be seen as an opportunity<br />
to achieve long-term development.<br />
Davenport said the EU adopted a general<br />
definition of CSR, which is used<br />
worldwide, including respect for the law<br />
and taking care of employees,<br />
customers, society, moral issues<br />
and the environment. Euractiv<br />
TANJA MIŠČEVIĆ<br />
Law on services<br />
essential<br />
Head of the negotiating<br />
team for talks on Serbia's EU<br />
accession, Tanja Miščević, has<br />
said that Serbia has extensive<br />
work to do to harmonise<br />
regulations in the provision of<br />
services that meet European<br />
standards.<br />
Speaking during the break on<br />
the second day of a bilateral<br />
screening of Chapter 3, which<br />
is related to the freedom to<br />
provide services within the<br />
common market, she said<br />
Serbia still has no clear system<br />
of service provision and establishing<br />
enterprsises in line with<br />
the EU. Miščević explained that<br />
this is a very important sector<br />
in which up to 75 per cent<br />
of gross national income was<br />
directed in the EU, while in<br />
Serbia the share was approximately<br />
55 per cent. Beta<br />
CROATIA - SERBIA DISPUTE<br />
Genocide charge to stand<br />
Deputy PMs of Croatia and Serbia, Vesna Pusić<br />
and Aleksandar Vučić, have announced there will<br />
be no withdrawal of mutual accusations of genocide,<br />
submitted to the <strong>International</strong> Court of<br />
Justice in The Hague, but emphasised theseissues<br />
from the past should not be allowed to<br />
influence the present and the future. Speaking<br />
at a joint press conference, Pusić said it<br />
had been her desire and effort to achieve<br />
a withdrawal of the complaint, but they did<br />
not succeed, while Vučić said t Croatia had<br />
insisted on the issue of the missing,<br />
which the Serbian side was<br />
unable to resolve. Beta<br />
MARCH 2014<br />
<strong>05</strong>
interview<br />
Aleksandar<br />
Vučić<br />
LEADER OF THE SERBIAN<br />
PROGRESSIVE PARTY (SNS)<br />
I WILL WORK<br />
FOR FUTURE<br />
GENERATIONS!<br />
Famous Italian President Gaspari uttered a phrase that I really like 60 years<br />
ago: “What I do I do not for the next election, but for the next generation.”<br />
And that is the most beautiful sentence<br />
text MARIJA KORDIĆ, SAŠA MILOVANOVIĆ photo MARINA LOPIČIĆ<br />
6 <strong>Kurir</strong> INTERNATIONAL
MARCH 2014<br />
7
After the elections, when the<br />
time comes to form a new<br />
government, the Progressives<br />
will speak to SPS, but also<br />
other parties, says SNS leader<br />
<br />
<strong>International</strong>.<br />
How come you now receive praise<br />
from those who were once your<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
- I do not think that's the case, on the contrary.<br />
Two things have crystallised in this<br />
<br />
absolutely everything, showing nothing but<br />
hatred towards me. There is nothing more<br />
stupid than criticising Mercedes or the "Belgrade<br />
on the Water" project without any sort<br />
of argument other than hatred. In this sense<br />
that’s also how I understood the words of Mr<br />
<br />
a lot of my work when it comes to national<br />
or state policy. But it has also been shown<br />
that there are normal people in Serbia who<br />
do not have that kind of hatred, but rather<br />
react to whether you do something or not.<br />
<br />
Do you have the impression that<br />
<br />
- No, I don’t have that impression. Some are<br />
attempting to force that impression through<br />
social networks, but I have to admit I did<br />
not notice that anywhere. On the contrary,<br />
I hear every day that I am a dictator and autocrat.<br />
I heard that I was a dictator because I<br />
<br />
is a man who does not respect his employees<br />
and his companies. This is probably the best<br />
<br />
anywhere in the world.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
- There is no sort of agreement with anyone,<br />
unless you follow what people say and what<br />
surprised me, and disappointed me a little,<br />
<br />
the Water". I considered that a decent man<br />
would understand those things.<br />
<br />
<br />
- I’m not talking in those parameters. It just<br />
disappointed me in human terms, because<br />
I do not understand how someone could be<br />
in a state to miss out on such a great opportunity<br />
for our country.<br />
<br />
- I have a political explanation, but I do not<br />
approve of it and do not justify it.<br />
<br />
- As for some others, I took care of those who<br />
instigated the destruction of stability in Serbia.<br />
You have noticed that people from some<br />
ostensibly social democratic parties, such as<br />
<br />
as well as people from some extremist organizations,<br />
simultaneously use the same<br />
<br />
You can see that they all wanted to destroy<br />
Serbia, while a responsible person must<br />
know that we need full political stability and<br />
political peace in order to be able to make<br />
progress, in order to be able to be a normal<br />
country. Famous Italian President Gaspari<br />
uttered a phrase that I really like 60 years<br />
ago: "What I do I do not for the next election,<br />
but for the next generation." And that is the<br />
most beautiful sentence. If the people show<br />
trust in me and the party I lead, that will be<br />
my motto. I know my popularity will soon<br />
be much lower and there will be a reduction<br />
in the love shown for me today by a large<br />
number of people, but I will do the biggest<br />
and best job for the future generation. That<br />
is my promise.<br />
<br />
<br />
- Because I'm not interested in my political<br />
life, but rather the future of Serbia. This is<br />
<br />
and others.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
In his last<br />
pre-election<br />
interview,<br />
Aleksandar Vučić<br />
promised KI's<br />
journalists that<br />
he would consult<br />
other party leaders<br />
before forming a<br />
government<br />
<br />
- Every society is fertile. People here live very<br />
tough and I understand that. And they will<br />
not live easily next year either. These stories<br />
about the Ukrainian scenario are primarily<br />
<br />
know what they want – sticks and guns,<br />
against whom? If the destruction of the government<br />
is the goal, there are elections for<br />
that. Our nation did a great job of assessing<br />
what that is – what is the background and<br />
what is gained from that. Do you want to<br />
evict me from a villa or formal residence?<br />
I don’t even know where those residences<br />
are that I had a right to, that my predecessors<br />
continued to use even when I became<br />
a minister, and which they used for their<br />
cars. Will they chase me through the villas<br />
of Dedinje? No they won’t. They can only<br />
chase me around the residential blocks of<br />
New Belgrade. That’s ridiculous. If you want,<br />
resolve these things at the elections. That’s<br />
Pawns<br />
SOME OF THEM WERE MIROSLAV MIŠKOVIĆ’S PEOPLE<br />
Miodrag Rakić said that Mišković had his people in the<br />
previous government, but also in this one. Does that relate<br />
to SPS?<br />
- Some were his people. That’s not disputed.<br />
Which?<br />
- It is known that Dragan Đurić is Mišković’s. That's not a big<br />
secret. But that's not Dačić’s doing. Ružić is not the only one. I<br />
didn’t go to meet Mišković, but rather Palma did. He didn’t go<br />
because of the cupboards and the chairs we are sitting on.<br />
Who are Mišković’s other allies in politics?<br />
- There are as many as you would wish to mention. I congratulate<br />
him on how he has built his network.<br />
And how did he build it?<br />
- With money and providing various privileges. And he knows it.<br />
He is not guilty for that. He was fairer at the trial than many others.<br />
He even spoke fairly about the pressure on banks in connection<br />
with loans, but nobody noticed. People typically seek to hear<br />
some name at the trial, while what he said was of essential importance.<br />
Mišković’s influence was not small. No one prosecuted<br />
him for that. The state prosecuted him for specific crimes. For<br />
this Mr Mišković showed he is a great political talent. He hired the<br />
best American agency, which is making big problems for me and<br />
the state everywhere, but just because someone is making problems<br />
for me I cannot say that the rule of law should not exist.<br />
8 <strong>Kurir</strong> INTERNATIONAL
why it’s very important that we are now<br />
<br />
or six per cent support and threaten every<br />
day, we won’t go with this one, we want to<br />
go with this one... That’s the terrorising of<br />
the majority by the minority. Nobody in Serbia<br />
will tolerate terrorising. Terror, streets,<br />
sticks… I will not let that happen. There will<br />
be no chaos on the streets of Serbia.<br />
You reacted sharply to such<br />
announcements.<br />
- In this campaign I’ve heard all sorts about<br />
me. I did not even mention the names of my<br />
opponents until a few days ago. I only said<br />
one thing - insult me all you want, do what<br />
you want, but I will not allow you to undermine<br />
Serbia and its stability. Never. And<br />
when you next think you should win some<br />
elections, you will have a chance, just don’t<br />
seek them now in the next two years, be a<br />
little patient and then see if you can gain the<br />
trust of the people. I think that's a responsible<br />
attitude towards society.<br />
<br />
Socialist Party of Serbia in the next<br />
government?<br />
<br />
some other people. And I'll talk to them.<br />
Much criticism has been directed<br />
<br />
claims that the Socialists slowed<br />
reforms. What is your view on this?<br />
- Look what the Socialists did in Valjevo and<br />
the entire Kolubara district just 15 days before<br />
the elections. I need not remind you<br />
<br />
by many senior SPS members, then what is<br />
going on in Vranje. Don’t let me tell you that<br />
some people deliberately provoked strikes ...<br />
Do you want to say that SPS has not<br />
been a correct partner?<br />
- No, I do not. I want to say that there isn’t<br />
only one side and my job is to consider<br />
things objectively, and not from a narrow<br />
party perspective. I will always strive to<br />
be objective, for there not always to be<br />
<br />
this campaign. Serbia will not be managed<br />
by just one party or one person.<br />
We'll make the best possible team, which<br />
will be composed of representatives of not<br />
only numerous political organizations, but<br />
also people who do not belong to anyone<br />
but are experts who are renowned in the<br />
country and elsewhere in the world and<br />
can help Serbia. For me vanity and party<br />
or personal relations will not lead to the<br />
selection of partners.<br />
It is interesting that neither you nor<br />
<br />
rather criticism only comes from the<br />
lower ranks?<br />
- We agreed on the strategic direction of<br />
<br />
country. I would be unfair if I uttered bad<br />
<br />
mind to do that for the sake of votes and<br />
throwing him into the political pit. And that<br />
would be easy for us. We could do that, it’s<br />
just that we wanted to insist on some talks<br />
<br />
case of Miša Banana and everything would<br />
<br />
authorities. We did not even want to comment<br />
on that politically, because I believe it<br />
is not fair for politicians to do that. On the<br />
other hand, on this issue I don’t know what<br />
<br />
about him that which he certainly cannot<br />
say about me. •<br />
Business Plan<br />
WE ARE CHANGING<br />
THE BUSINESS<br />
ENVIRONMENT<br />
How do you plan to re-launch the<br />
Serbian economy?<br />
- From loans from the Emirates there<br />
should be at least €200 million for the<br />
purposes of incentive packages in order<br />
for us to be more successful than Macedonia<br />
and Bulgaria in attracting investment,<br />
particularly in the auto industry.<br />
We want to be the first in Europe and I<br />
think that from 1 st May 2014 to 1 st May<br />
2016 we could succeed in bringing<br />
everything to Serbia. For this we need<br />
urgent adoption of reform legislation<br />
by the end of June or beginning of July<br />
and if we succeed in that then the atmosphere<br />
will be different.<br />
Will there be incentives for local<br />
entrepreneurs?<br />
- They can also participate in getting<br />
incentive packages, while on the other<br />
hand we will enable them to more easily<br />
recruit people. If you have 100 employees<br />
and want to hire a 101, you will<br />
have lower costs than engaging a freelancer,<br />
because the state will tell you<br />
that you will not pay taxes for the 99 th<br />
or the 100 th worker. And we will give<br />
more serious incentives for those who<br />
want to employ five, 10 or 20 people.<br />
Belgrade on the Water<br />
ĐILAS IS ONLY<br />
INTERESTED<br />
IN BILLIONS<br />
There is a wide front of those<br />
who criticise the “Belgrade on the<br />
Water” project. Besides Đilas, it<br />
has been criticised by both Tadić<br />
and Koštunica. Đilas says a billion<br />
euros would be needed just to clear<br />
the way for the construction...<br />
- When Đilas talks about billions he is<br />
his own starting point, because he always<br />
considers that a large amount of<br />
money should be added to satisfy all<br />
his appetites. The question is whether<br />
we will make money on that or not.<br />
And not only if Belgrade will earn, but<br />
whether Serbia will earn, because<br />
thousands of companies from Serbia<br />
will work on this project, not only in<br />
construction but also later, strengthening<br />
the tertiary sector, tourism etc.<br />
MARCH 2014<br />
9
Progress for Progressives<br />
ABSOLUTE<br />
TRIUMPH<br />
FOR SNS<br />
10 <strong>Kurir</strong> INTERNATIONAL
The new composition of Serbia’s National Assembly will include seven<br />
coalitions and parties. Total failure at the elections was experienced<br />
by stalwarts Mlađan Dinkić, Čedomir Jovanović and Vojislav Koštunica<br />
text TEAM KI illustration BRANKA SAVKOVIĆ photo KI ARCHIVE<br />
2014<br />
elections<br />
T-<br />
ing<br />
that it even proved slightly surprising for<br />
party members themselves. As party leader<br />
<br />
-<br />
<br />
-<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The day after the election the Republican Electoral<br />
<br />
<br />
of the processed 99.08 per cent of polling stations. Ac-<br />
<br />
in the national assembly.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
-<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
-<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
-<br />
<br />
<br />
Convincing majority<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
parliamentary seats.<br />
Vučić: Thank you<br />
<br />
<br />
st <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
-<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
-<br />
<br />
introduction of the multiparty system. We are ready<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
path.<br />
Dačić: Historic result<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
toric<br />
result that cements our place on the political scene<br />
<br />
<br />
parties – he said.<br />
-<br />
<br />
<br />
-<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
outside parliament.<br />
-<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
.:: EVERY PARTY, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF<br />
SNS AND SPS, RECORDED SIGNIFICANTLY<br />
POORER PERFORMANCES COMPARED TO<br />
THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS OF 2012 CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 ><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
even if this result is combined<br />
UK daily<br />
The Guardian<br />
VICTORY FOR<br />
PRO-EUROPEAN<br />
SERBIA<br />
UK newspaper<br />
The Guardian published<br />
the results<br />
of the elections in<br />
Serbia under the<br />
headline “Serbian<br />
elections indicate<br />
victory for pro-European<br />
parties.”<br />
Alexander<br />
Chepurin,<br />
Russian<br />
Ambassador<br />
WHAT’S GOOD FOR<br />
SERBIA IS GOOD<br />
FOR RUSSIA<br />
I expect the new<br />
government to<br />
implement what is<br />
needed for Serbia,<br />
primarily economic<br />
development. We<br />
are on a road that<br />
needs economic<br />
development and<br />
needs it fast, to<br />
fight against corruption,<br />
make progress,<br />
improve the<br />
standards of ordinary<br />
people, but<br />
also requires good<br />
relations between<br />
Serbia and Russia.<br />
What is good for<br />
you is good for us.<br />
MARCH 2014<br />
11
TURNOUT<br />
Election statistics<br />
2008, 2012 & 2014<br />
60.7<br />
58.7<br />
20.00<br />
54.2<br />
53.6<br />
53.3<br />
50.3<br />
19.00<br />
42.1<br />
44.1<br />
41.1<br />
17.00<br />
29.3<br />
6.1<br />
32.1<br />
6.6<br />
27.7<br />
5.3<br />
14.00<br />
09.00<br />
2008 ELECTION<br />
2012 ELECTION<br />
2014 ELECTION<br />
44<br />
SPS<br />
44 parliametary<br />
seats 2012<br />
13.5 %<br />
158<br />
SNS<br />
73 parliametary<br />
seats 2012<br />
48.3 %<br />
LOSERS<br />
without a seat<br />
in parliamet<br />
URS 0<br />
16 PARLIAMETARY<br />
SEATS 2012<br />
LDP 0<br />
19 PARLIAMETARY<br />
SEATS 2012<br />
DSS 0<br />
21 PARLIAMETARY<br />
SEATS 2012<br />
> CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11<br />
with that of the breakaway NDS the total still accounts<br />
for just slightly more than half of the result achieved by<br />
a united DS in 2012, when it won 67 seats.<br />
Dinkić: I’m leaving politics!<br />
The biggest losers of the last parliamentary elections<br />
<br />
URS, which achieved the worst results in their history.<br />
SNS bettered<br />
Milošević’s result<br />
At the peak of Milošević's power,<br />
with him at the helm SPS won<br />
46.1% of votes, while this time the<br />
list headed by SNS<br />
gained the trust of<br />
48.3% of voters and<br />
won absolute power.<br />
Jovanović's<br />
LDP collapse<br />
Only 3.1 per cent at the parliamentary<br />
elections might not be a<br />
surprise, but the party’s collapse in<br />
Belgrade is shocking. LDP fell in<br />
terms of the number of voters<br />
in the capital, 3.1 per cent, to<br />
less than the totals achieved<br />
by the list of Radulovic (2%)<br />
and Igor Brakusa (1.4%), who<br />
have existed in politics barely<br />
two months.<br />
- Someone better and more capable should take my<br />
place. I know for sure that my wife is the happiest because<br />
of these results. Now, when I leave politics, I will<br />
<br />
<br />
ready to take that step.<br />
- The party organs will decide my fate. For now I have<br />
another job. We need to think about whether or not<br />
<br />
Mlađan Dinkić’s<br />
resignation<br />
If the party did not enter parliament<br />
and did not exceed the<br />
threshold of five per cent, someone<br />
who is more capable<br />
than me should<br />
lead our party onwards<br />
- admitted<br />
Dinkić.<br />
12 <strong>Kurir</strong> INTERNATIONAL
2014<br />
elections<br />
Michael Kirby, U.S.<br />
Ambassador<br />
VOTERS EXPECT<br />
NEW JOBS<br />
19<br />
DS<br />
67 parliametary<br />
seats 2012<br />
6.04 %<br />
18<br />
NDS<br />
0 parliametary<br />
seats 2012<br />
5.71 %<br />
<br />
<br />
Koštunica: I’m disappointed!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
11<br />
MINORITIES<br />
8 parliametary<br />
seats 2012<br />
3.74 %<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
•<br />
The voters expect<br />
economic reforms<br />
and the creation of<br />
new jobs from the<br />
new government.<br />
I believe the new<br />
government will<br />
continue to lead<br />
Serbia towards<br />
the EU and on that<br />
route reforms are<br />
necessary, as is the<br />
continuation of dialogue<br />
with Pristina.<br />
Giuseppe Manzo,<br />
Ambassador<br />
of Italy<br />
GOVERNMENT<br />
TO CONTINUE<br />
REFORMS<br />
Pyrrhic victory<br />
for Dačić<br />
Although Dačić’s SPS progressed<br />
from third place to take the second<br />
strongest political position,<br />
there were no celebrations<br />
among the Socialists.<br />
The absolute triumph of<br />
SNS means the balance<br />
of power has changed<br />
drastically at the expense<br />
of SPS.<br />
Sombre faces<br />
of Đilas and Tadić<br />
They may have entered parliament,<br />
but the rest are left to the<br />
mercy of SNS’s political will.<br />
The result they<br />
achieved is far<br />
from elections<br />
held in 2012.<br />
Vučić even beat<br />
Palma in Jagodina<br />
With 89 of 91 Jagodina polling<br />
stations accounted for, SNS won<br />
2,500 votes more than the secondplaced<br />
SPS-PUPS-JS<br />
coalition. These<br />
elections mean that<br />
Marković is no longer<br />
the undisputed<br />
leader of Jagodina.<br />
The statistics are<br />
clear: they speak of<br />
the future government<br />
and say that,<br />
whatever it is like,<br />
it will have the support<br />
of parliament<br />
to continue with<br />
even more determination<br />
to work<br />
on Serbia’s two<br />
priorities.<br />
MARCH 2014<br />
13
interview<br />
Ivica Dačić<br />
PRESIDENT OF<br />
THE SOCIALIST PARTY OF SERBIA<br />
I WANT TO<br />
BEAT THEM ALL<br />
One thing I’ve learned during all these years I’ve been on the political scene: Everyone<br />
loves you as much as they need you. And who’s going to go with whom afterwards,<br />
that’s something I’ve listened to all these years many times. It is absolutely irrelevant<br />
text SANDRA MALIŠIĆ photo ZORANA JEVTIĆ<br />
14 <strong>Kurir</strong> INTERNATIONAL
MARCH 2014<br />
15
Everyone attacked us because<br />
they were afraid of our election<br />
results, not because of<br />
programme differences between<br />
us because most of<br />
them, unlike us, don’t have a<br />
<br />
interview for <strong>Kurir</strong> <strong>International</strong>.<br />
You had a good result previously, but<br />
then you were the favourite potential<br />
partner, while now you’re everybody’s<br />
target.<br />
- Their main and only goal was to win more<br />
votes than us. This whole so-called democratic<br />
bloc thinks this will prove their seeming<br />
oppositional spirit. An attack on me is an<br />
attack on the government. And, in essence,<br />
they think that in that way they are buying a<br />
ticket to be part of the future government.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
they want to form a government? For me,<br />
they aren’t any kind of opposition.<br />
<br />
- Only DS (Democratic Party) and DSS (Democratic<br />
Party of Serbia). What do you want to<br />
<br />
All the others are part of the opposition only<br />
in that they attack me.<br />
<br />
everything that was said during the<br />
<br />
<br />
- And why would I talk to them? One thing<br />
I’ve learned during all these years I’ve been<br />
on the political scene: Everyone loves you<br />
as much as they need you. Nobody interests<br />
me, I want to beat them all. And who’s going<br />
to go with whom afterwards, that’s something<br />
I’ve listened to all these years many<br />
times. It is absolutely irrelevant.<br />
<br />
<br />
- How can I believe them when I know<br />
<br />
was that he wanted to go with SPS, but now<br />
he won’t. I gave him CPR for four years.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
are superheavyweights. As such, let them<br />
<br />
ernment.<br />
We aren’t anybody's accessory.<br />
<br />
<br />
- Never! What sort of ornament of the government?<br />
I am the prime minister!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
- I think he was ashamed of<br />
himself and all of them when<br />
they say that. My only com-<br />
<br />
not the reason I didn’t form a government<br />
with DS, but rather my friendship with Miki<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
- Let him be, but first they have to get<br />
enough votes. That’s no problem at all. I<br />
want to say that you can’t talk about anything<br />
and everything. Until the last day and<br />
the last moment they begged me to form a<br />
government with DS. However, I know who<br />
is like what more than all of them.<br />
<br />
<br />
- I don’t know what they are like now, but I<br />
know what they were like.<br />
<br />
- I have been in politics for 24 years. I’m<br />
an unprotected witness to the political<br />
scene. When I begin speaking about who<br />
is like what, I think a lot of people won’t<br />
like it.<br />
<br />
<br />
- Such statements would not be worthy of<br />
my level. I tell everyone: Do not touch the<br />
bear so he won’t play in your yard. All of<br />
them look at us from SPS and SNS as though<br />
we are second-class citizens. They think<br />
they are some kind of super people and that<br />
we are incapable. I’m certain they can’t get<br />
over their regret that they didn’t kill us all<br />
on 5 th October.<br />
I HAVE BEEN IN POLITICS FOR 24<br />
YEARS. I AM AN UNPROTECTED<br />
WITNESS OF THE POLITICAL SCENE<br />
Those are strong words!<br />
- That’s the truth.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
has never done that, at least not in<br />
<br />
- That is exactly right. We’ve had a decent<br />
relationship. He respected my position as<br />
prime minister, just as I respected his as<br />
ent<br />
people and politicians. Our ideologies<br />
<br />
serious political parties and coalitions and<br />
those are SNS and SPS. Everything else is<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
that’s why we are each other’s alternative.<br />
Party solidarity<br />
DS POLICY DESTROYED SRBIJAGAS AND NOT BAJATOVIĆ<br />
Who are SPS’s candidates for ministers if you enter<br />
government; will there be any surprises?<br />
- I can’t speak in such a way now. Nobody thinks in that<br />
direction until the results of the election are known. The<br />
fact is that we managed to overcome all the personnel<br />
problems we had. There was dissatisfaction and anger,<br />
but we overcame that and no one left the party. We’ll see<br />
what will be best for SPS and who the candidates are. It<br />
is certain that I will not make a grab for public companies.<br />
We only had damage from that.<br />
So, you will leave Srbijagas alone?<br />
- Srbijagas is not important. I want to be fair. Bajatović<br />
is not the problem. The problem of Srbijagasa is the attitude<br />
of the state regarding what this company should<br />
be. Bajatović agreed with Tadić that, instead of the debts<br />
they had, the ownership of certain companies should be<br />
obtained. He didn’t consult only with me, but rather with<br />
Tadić and Cvetković. What the price of gas will be is also<br />
not my decision, but the government's decision that there<br />
will be no rise in the price of gas. It is not fair to say that<br />
Bajatović or SPS ruined Srbijagas. It was ruined by the<br />
mistaken policies of the state all of the previous years<br />
and that’s why the state should decide as soon as possible<br />
what to do with public companies, because they are<br />
not social institutions. Today the area of public companies,<br />
unfortunately, is still completely sketchy.<br />
16 <strong>Kurir</strong> INTERNATIONAL
But there were low blows?<br />
- Perhaps there were, but I’m sure they<br />
never came personally from my side or<br />
<br />
will achieve the best result and that, like us,<br />
they want to continue the work we started<br />
<br />
There were sparks with President<br />
<br />
<br />
That is his right, but in the same way I have<br />
ever,<br />
presidential elections are not on the<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
However, elections were called and<br />
that means the ratio in the government<br />
wasn’t quite ideal?<br />
- It wasn’t good that this government didn’t<br />
have a mandate to implement some things<br />
<br />
have a full mandate, as well as every gov-<br />
<br />
known when there are parliamentary, local,<br />
presidential or provincial elections, in order<br />
for them to be the gauging of<br />
public opinion so we don’t constantly<br />
reach a situation where<br />
we are holding extraordinary<br />
<br />
17 th <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I guess that’s how we learn<br />
democracy?<br />
<br />
<br />
not have institutionalised extraordinary<br />
<br />
You’ve repeated many times that you<br />
<br />
<br />
has been like a noose around your neck<br />
<br />
you say is true?<br />
nally<br />
one epic will come to an end! I›ve never<br />
<br />
<br />
everything to me according to the system<br />
<br />
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS ARE<br />
NOT ON THE AGENDA NOW. IF THEY<br />
WERE ON THE AGENDA, I’M NOT<br />
SURE NIKOLIĆ WOULD WIN NOW<br />
<br />
<br />
-<br />
<br />
shown, and here I will also show you, pic-<br />
<br />
I don’t know if they would even talk to me at<br />
all, let alone embrace me, if I had anything<br />
<br />
<br />
-<br />
<br />
-<br />
<br />
<br />
•<br />
MARCH 2014<br />
17
Citizens of Montenegro clarify<br />
Aleksandar Vučić is the<br />
region's most popular<br />
In his category, Vučić received<br />
more votes than Montenegrin<br />
Prime Minister Milo Đukanović<br />
did in his category of<br />
most popular politician in<br />
Montenegro<br />
Vučić did<br />
not attend<br />
stylish award<br />
ceremony at<br />
Bečići's Hotel<br />
Splendid<br />
text LJUBOMIR RADANOV<br />
photo DAMIR DERVIŠAGIĆ<br />
First Deputy Prime Minister of Ser-<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Vučić replaces Ceca at the top<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Many Montenegrin VIPs attended the event in the Adriatic resort town<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
.:: THE FIRST DEPUTY<br />
PRIME MINISTER<br />
OF SERBIA WILL BE<br />
PRESENTED WITH HIS<br />
MONTENEGRIN OSCAR<br />
AFTERWARDS<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Grateful for support<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
•<br />
18 <strong>Kurir</strong> INTERNATIONAL
“Euromaidan” vis-à-vis the country’s geopolitical limbo<br />
A stable and promising long-term perspective can only be achieved if Ukraine’s ruling elites and civil society<br />
are willing to point the country’s fate in a direction eventually leading towards European norms and values<br />
MARCH 2014<br />
19
text JUSTINA VITKAUSKAITE BERNARD<br />
MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT<br />
AND VIRA RATSIBORYNSKA<br />
POLITICAL ANALYST, EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT<br />
photo WWW.EU2013.LT, KI ARCHIVE<br />
After the de facto ousting of the<br />
man who now has to be called the<br />
ex-President of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych,<br />
the political situation<br />
in Ukraine is far from clear. While former<br />
Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who was<br />
imprisoned by Yanukovych, released on 22 nd<br />
February - and, of course, immediately returned<br />
to the stage as a political heavyweight<br />
- it remains to be seen how the situation will<br />
develop. Not all participating factions of the<br />
so-called “Euromaidan” seem overly enthusiastic<br />
about the prospect of replacing Yanukovych's<br />
toppled regime with yet another<br />
comprising members of the old ruling elite.<br />
Also, the current whereabouts and plans of<br />
Yanukovych, and the extent of his remaining<br />
power base, are unknown at this moment.<br />
Harsh response<br />
The current political turmoil, which some<br />
analysts are even calling a “revolution”, has<br />
its beginnings in November 2013, when then<br />
President Yanukovych rather surprisingly decided<br />
not to sign the long-planned Association<br />
Agreement with the EU. This U-turn was<br />
initially met by a wave of spontaneous happenings<br />
in Kiev and other Ukrainian cities.<br />
These protests quickly led several hundred<br />
thousand citizens throughout Ukraine on to<br />
the streets in protest against the government.<br />
The regime attempted to quell the popular<br />
lently<br />
dispersed unarmed protesters, injuring<br />
romaidan<br />
activists were arrested, some were<br />
even kidnapped, some were found tortured<br />
and murdered, while some simply remain<br />
“disappeared”. In addition, very tough new<br />
anti-protest laws were introduced by the regime<br />
- which was perceived by many Ukrainians<br />
as an unprecedented abuse of power and<br />
an attempt to establish even more authoritarian<br />
rule. Unsurprisingly, a spiral of violence<br />
ensued when police violence triggered a radicalisation<br />
of certain protest groups, who went<br />
on to retaliate with violence of their own. The<br />
composition of what the Western media still<br />
like to call “Euromaidan” is very heterogeneous<br />
with regard to political and civic factions<br />
taking part. However, they are united by the<br />
<br />
According to their opinion, one of the main<br />
obstacles for this is the all-permeating corruption.<br />
The top priorities for most of the protesters<br />
are transparency, stability and justice in<br />
their country – all values which they feel are<br />
not represented by the Yanukovych regime.<br />
But this on-going internal struggle in Ukraine,<br />
<br />
<br />
only because people are tired of the regime,<br />
but because their expectations partially run<br />
afoul of many other geopolitical and eco-<br />
ternal<br />
players; their hopes and aspirations<br />
<br />
This battle uniting so many people with the<br />
aim of creating a better life is not the only one<br />
being fought inside the country. There is also<br />
the ideological, economic and geopolitical<br />
struggle between important international<br />
players in the region, such as Russia, the U.S.<br />
and the EU. And Euromaidan plays a crucial<br />
role in that confrontation, as this new form of<br />
national protest sits in the middle of a political<br />
triangle in which the interests of the EU<br />
and the West, the Russians and Ukrainians,<br />
may overlap and meet. The Euromaidan,<br />
which became a daily gathering in Kiev for<br />
thousands of people who were pushed onto<br />
the streets by high expectations and their<br />
shared hope for a better future, could turn<br />
out to be a disappointment. This potential<br />
<br />
as the internal situation in the country is too<br />
complicated to be solved both quickly and ef-<br />
<br />
taking into account all demands and interests<br />
of the protesters. There are numerous reasons<br />
for this, as many factors have an impact<br />
on what is going on.<br />
The country’s geopolitical situation is com-<br />
<br />
model of relations with both the EU and Russia<br />
and at the same time the country is under<br />
heavy pressure exerted on its geostrategic<br />
choice between the two. Now Ukraine is<br />
experiencing deep internal political crisis<br />
and instability. The country’s economic<br />
situation is even more dramatic. The value<br />
of the Ukrainian currency has fallen drasti-<br />
Protests<br />
began after<br />
the Ukrainian<br />
government<br />
opted not to<br />
sign a planned<br />
association<br />
agreement<br />
with the EU<br />
20 <strong>Kurir</strong> INTERNATIONAL
cally since the beginning<br />
of protests at the end of<br />
November. The second<br />
tranche of a Russian aid<br />
package agreed as part of<br />
a $15 billion bailout deal<br />
in mid-December will be<br />
released only when the internal<br />
situation stabilises<br />
and a new, stable government<br />
is formed. With<br />
Ukraine on the brink of<br />
bankruptcy, the country<br />
cial<br />
aid in order to stabilise<br />
its economic situation<br />
and pay its debts.<br />
.:: THIS BATTLE<br />
UNITING SO<br />
MANY PEOPLE<br />
WITH THE AIM<br />
OF HAVING A<br />
BETTER LIFE<br />
IS NOT THE<br />
ONLY ONE<br />
BEING FOUGHT<br />
INSIDE THE<br />
COUNTRY<br />
Lithuanian help<br />
Taking all this into account, it is quite understandable<br />
that Ukraine’s situation is ex-<br />
<br />
that many international actors, especially EU<br />
countries amongst them, are trying to contribute<br />
to stabilising the internal situation<br />
in the country. The example of Lithuania is<br />
very illustrative in this regard: the country<br />
which hosted the Vilnius Summit is trying to<br />
<br />
the most vocal advocates of Ukraine’s EU integration,<br />
Lithuania is even admitting injured<br />
people from Euromaidan across its borders,<br />
so that they can safely undergo necessary<br />
medical treatment and rehabilitation. Many<br />
<br />
Euromaidan leaders in their talks with the<br />
<br />
on many occasions Lithuanian citizens also<br />
showed that they morally support the people<br />
of Euromaidan - one such event was Lithuanians<br />
forming a human chain from the Eu-<br />
<br />
Embassy in Vilnius.<br />
European institutions are, of course, also involved<br />
in facilitating a dialogue between the<br />
opponents and avoiding a possible worst-case<br />
<br />
in December 2013, the Members of the European<br />
Parliament called<br />
for an end to the violence<br />
and for punishment for<br />
the perpetrators, as well<br />
as to refrain from using<br />
force against peaceful<br />
demonstrators. On 20 th<br />
February at the foreign<br />
ters<br />
agreed on sanctions<br />
against those individuals<br />
who were responsible for<br />
violence and use of exces-<br />
<br />
general, the EU’s role in<br />
the process of stabilisation<br />
and de-escalation of the<br />
situation is remarkable.<br />
Many high EU officials<br />
<br />
<br />
President of Ukraine of the importance of<br />
forming a new functional government that<br />
<br />
sistance<br />
to Ukraine would help the country<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
stakeholders are taking an active role in solv-<br />
<br />
<br />
organizations and high ranking mediators<br />
could potentially bring a peaceful end to the<br />
political and economic unrest in Ukraine. But<br />
even then one question remains: would deescalation<br />
of the tensions that have been gripping<br />
the country for so many months satisfy<br />
the aspirations of those who risked their lives<br />
and health on Euromaidan?<br />
nomic<br />
situation could be stabilised, concerns<br />
about the future of the country, its geopolitical<br />
strategy and European perspectives,<br />
could remain for a very long time. When so<br />
many interests are involved and no common<br />
<br />
agreed upon, this country wedged between<br />
the EU and Russia can quickly experience a<br />
shift from euphoria about the success of the<br />
popular uprising to disappointment with<br />
what was actually achieved for the people<br />
“on the ground”.<br />
tive,<br />
which would result in the demanded<br />
political change and an EU perspective, can<br />
only be achieved if Ukraine’s ruling elites and<br />
civil society are willing to actively shape the<br />
country’s fate and point it in a direction that<br />
will eventually lead towards European norms<br />
and values. Stability in the region can only be<br />
achieved when all international players that<br />
are active in the region share the same objectives<br />
concerning the development of their<br />
<br />
upon, the struggle for a mutually exclusive<br />
ment<br />
of the Ukrainian population regarding<br />
this geopolitical limbo will almost inevitably<br />
<br />
is not over yet, the window of opportunity<br />
will not be open forever. •<br />
MARCH 2014<br />
21
We want Serbia in<br />
the European Union!<br />
Joining the European Union is not an event, but rather<br />
a process in which each new day and each new stage in<br />
negotiations on the implementation of EU standards brings<br />
the candidate something new<br />
text JELENA VUKIĆ photo JOSE ALONSO LEON<br />
Ivo Vajgl, a member of the European<br />
Parliament’s Alliance of Liberals and<br />
Democrats for Europe (ALDE), is satis-<br />
<br />
on its European path. This former journalist<br />
<br />
-<br />
<br />
once, speaks to <strong>Kurir</strong> international about<br />
-<br />
<br />
European parliamentary elections.<br />
CONTINUED ON PAGE 24 ><br />
22 <strong>Kurir</strong> INTERNATIONAL
interview<br />
Ivo Vajgl<br />
SLOVENIAN MEP<br />
MARCH 2014<br />
23
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22<br />
How would you assess Serbia’s progress<br />
towards the EU?<br />
- Serbia has achieved the most it could,<br />
given the situation in the European Union:<br />
it has been accepted as one of the countries<br />
whose European perspective is among the<br />
indisputable priorities of European policy.<br />
Today it is clear to everyone that the European<br />
architecture of a stable and prosperous<br />
<br />
an important part of Southeast Europe in its<br />
plan to enlarge the EU to include all countries<br />
of Europe. The Serbian government pulled<br />
<br />
a pragmatic policy towards Kosovo, instead<br />
of losing energy in the endless historical<br />
approach to the problem, which everyone<br />
knows is painful and sensitive for Serbia, but<br />
it should be viewed in light of the dynamics<br />
of modern times and modern politics.<br />
After the last parliamentary elections in Ser-<br />
<br />
Parliament to welcome the election result<br />
as a new chance for Serbia, for its political<br />
forces and the public to share responsibility<br />
for the progress of their country, instead<br />
of exhausting themselves with blockades,<br />
which sent an image to the world of a country<br />
which cares more about sharp internal<br />
political confrontation than modernisation,<br />
required economic and social reforms and<br />
living conditions, in which the younger generation<br />
will have the possibility and wish to<br />
participate in the creation of this new society.<br />
Do you think it is a realistic projection<br />
of Serbian politicians to suggest that in<br />
2018 Serbia will be ready to join the EU?<br />
- When it comes to such an important issue<br />
for the development of a European country,<br />
politics must set high and ambitious goals<br />
for itself! Joining the EU is not an event,<br />
but rather a process in which each new day<br />
and each new stage in negotiations on the<br />
implementation of EU standards brings the<br />
candidate something new. First of all those<br />
are new obligations and burdens, but also<br />
guarantees that the candidate is heading towards<br />
its selected target. All countries of the<br />
former Eastern Bloc and Southeast Europe<br />
that are now EU members have gone through<br />
this process and it seems to everyone that it<br />
was unnecessarily long. I would not like to<br />
<br />
join the EU, but I would like that to be as soon<br />
<br />
its institutions in 2018 than at present.<br />
In your opinion, what may hinder Serbia’s<br />
admission into the EU?<br />
- I see less risk in the possibilities of Serbia ac-<br />
<br />
by membership and more in absorbing the<br />
capabilities of the EU, which includes taking<br />
<br />
in the member states and in countries such<br />
as Ukraine.<br />
<br />
opened on 22 nd January, is Chapter 35<br />
PORTRAIT<br />
MEP Ivo Vajgl is a<br />
member of the Alliance<br />
of Liberals<br />
and Democrats for<br />
Europe (ALDE),<br />
a member of the<br />
Committee on Foreign<br />
Relations and<br />
the Development<br />
Committee. He<br />
began his engagement<br />
in foreign<br />
policy as a journalist,<br />
correspondent<br />
of RTV Ljubljana<br />
and the <strong>magazine</strong><br />
“Delo” in Italy and<br />
Tanjug in Germany.<br />
He was Consul<br />
General of Yugoslavia<br />
in Cleveland and<br />
spokesman and<br />
head of the Department<br />
for Culture<br />
and Press of the<br />
Federal Secretariat<br />
for Foreign Affairs<br />
in Belgrade. Following<br />
the breakup<br />
of Yugoslavia, he<br />
served as spokesman,<br />
state secretary<br />
and Slovenian<br />
minister of foreign<br />
affairs and as a Slovenian<br />
ambassador<br />
in Vienna, Stockholm<br />
and Berlin.<br />
related to the normalisation of relations<br />
with Kosovo. What are your expectations?<br />
- I expect Serbia to continue its policy towards<br />
Kosovo, which will be centred on<br />
the immediate interests of the inhabitants<br />
of Kosovo, Albanians and Serbs, and that<br />
is the route to normalising relations and<br />
gradually elevating them to the level of good<br />
neighbourly relations between two sovereign<br />
countries, related to specific issues<br />
from the past. One of the central issues is<br />
the respect and full security of Kosovo Serbs<br />
and Serbian historical and religious monuments,<br />
which testify to the importance of<br />
Kosovo to Serbian history and culture. In<br />
the debate on this issue being led in the<br />
European Parliament, I am constantly referring<br />
to this dimension. I remind that<br />
the draft solution for the Kosovo problem,<br />
which was compiled by late President of Slovenia<br />
Dr. Janez Drnovsek and was not considered<br />
or accepted, starts precisely from<br />
that point of view, even envisaging certain<br />
autonomy and international status for these<br />
monuments, that are equally important for<br />
both Serbs and Albanians, but also as part<br />
of the world’s cultural heritage . Only in the<br />
versity,<br />
will the cultural wealth of Kosovo<br />
become a common treasure and an additional<br />
generator of development.<br />
You have invited the countries that have<br />
not recognised Kosovo’s independence<br />
to do so. Why is that?<br />
- I consider non-recognition of Kosovo an<br />
anomaly and believe countries that are refraining<br />
from recognising Kosovo, starting<br />
from their own problems and situations,<br />
24 <strong>Kurir</strong> INTERNATIONAL
On elections<br />
I BELIEVE IN SUCCESS<br />
Will the 16 th March parliamentary<br />
elections and the following formation<br />
of a new government slow<br />
down Serbia’s EU integration?<br />
- I believe that the elections, which<br />
only give political legitimacy and accountability,<br />
will not be an obstacle<br />
on Serbia’s path towards the EU, but<br />
rather an opportunity to highlight<br />
common priorities.<br />
What outcome do you hope for the<br />
European Parliamentary elections?<br />
- As far as the European Parliament<br />
elections are concerned, I believe<br />
there will be no large shift in the<br />
balance of power, regardless of the<br />
fact that a slight increase in euroscepticism<br />
is expected. Probably<br />
for the last time in my life, my name<br />
will be on the ballot and I believe in<br />
success.<br />
Greece - Macedonia conflict<br />
RESOLVE THE DISPUTE<br />
You have called on the Greek<br />
authorities to stop blocking Macedonia<br />
on its path towards Euro-<br />
Atlantic integration.<br />
- The name dispute is an anachronism,<br />
as much as Greek bigotry and Macedonian<br />
orientation towards historicism<br />
are concealing the ambitions of<br />
some political elites to stay in power.<br />
Considering that Greece is a member<br />
of the EU and NATO, that country’s<br />
responsibility to resolve this absurd<br />
problem is certainly higher.<br />
I THINK THE MOST<br />
SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE<br />
IS TO PRESERVE THE<br />
UNIQUE INTEREST<br />
AND PRIORITY OF ALL<br />
POLITICAL FORCES IN<br />
SERBIA TO JOIN THE EU<br />
damage themselves and the EU and reduce<br />
the weight of the project for common European<br />
foreign and security policies.<br />
Who could guarantee the safety of Serbs<br />
living in Kosovo?<br />
<br />
sovo<br />
authorities and, while they’re there,<br />
representatives of the international com-<br />
<br />
their homes and try to ensure they feel safe<br />
<br />
are constructive, open and good relations<br />
<br />
What are the other challenges Serbia will<br />
face on its path towards the EU?<br />
<br />
preserve the unique interest and priority of<br />
<br />
<br />
alternative.<br />
You have assessed that Montenegro is<br />
progressing well, but that they still have<br />
a lot of work to do. What country do you<br />
think will be the next to become an EU<br />
member, following the accession of Croatia?<br />
- My idea may not sound like the most at-<br />
-<br />
<br />
repeat the operation from 2004, when it ex-<br />
<br />
time. At that time there were also consider-<br />
<br />
of each country. However, that courage paid<br />
<br />
•<br />
MARCH 2014<br />
25
The most popular panel<br />
discussions included the<br />
participations of renowned<br />
Serbian business leaders<br />
Kopaonik Business Forum<br />
WE’RE CHANGING SERBIA<br />
IN A CHANGING EUROPE<br />
The Serbian Davos was traditionally<br />
held for the 21 st time this March on<br />
Mount Kopaonik, with the highest<br />
ever number of participants - as<br />
many as 500 experts attended the<br />
three-day conference organized by the<br />
Association of Economists of Serbia and<br />
the Association of Corporate Directors<br />
text JELENA VUKIĆ photo ZORANA JEVTIĆ<br />
Structural reforms. Two words that<br />
were certainly the most commonly<br />
used during the recent Business Forum<br />
that was held for the 21 st time,<br />
as is tradition, in March on Mount Kopaonik,<br />
with the highest number of participants<br />
to date - as many as 500 professionals attended<br />
the three-day conference, organized<br />
by the Association of Economists of Serbia<br />
and the Association of Corporate Directors.<br />
The theme of this year’s forum was very<br />
topical: “We’re changing Serbia in a changing<br />
Europe”. The intention of the forum,<br />
popularly dubbed the “Serbian Davos”, was<br />
for experts and business leaders to give suggestions<br />
on how to improve the state of the<br />
domestic economy.<br />
<br />
and proposals on how to maintain macroeconomic<br />
stability and improve the ef-<br />
<br />
second day was devoted to European integration,<br />
the reform of public enterprises,<br />
a critical review of the reform agenda by<br />
domestic and foreign investors, as well as<br />
the participation of young people in entre-<br />
<br />
devoted to the development of agriculture<br />
and implementation of the Stabilisation<br />
and Association Agreement.<br />
The conclusion of the forum’s participants<br />
was that accelerating European integration<br />
26 <strong>Kurir</strong> INTERNATIONAL
Vojin Lazarević,<br />
Toplica Spasojević,<br />
Milan Beko and<br />
Miodrag Kostić<br />
suggest solutions for<br />
the Serbian economy<br />
Serbia's chief<br />
negotiator with the<br />
EU, Tanja Miščević,<br />
discussed Serbia's<br />
EU prospects with<br />
the ambassadors of<br />
leading countries<br />
NBS Governor Jorgovanka Tabaković<br />
and carrying out radical reforms<br />
in the economy are what Serbia<br />
needs to place an emphasis on.<br />
“Radical economic reforms include<br />
primarily reforming the<br />
state,” said Forum selector Dragan<br />
<br />
It was also noted that reforming<br />
the public sector is urgently<br />
needed, that the administration<br />
is cumbersome and that the state<br />
administration should be professionalised.<br />
Representatives of the state and<br />
private entrepreneurs were in<br />
agreement that there is a need<br />
for a long-term programme of<br />
reforms to be adopted by Parliament, and<br />
that every government has targets limited<br />
by time in the implementation of that programme.<br />
Dynamic panel discussions<br />
<br />
Business Forum, amongst which are the<br />
agriculture and food processing industries,<br />
energy and infrastructure.<br />
sociation<br />
of Economists of Serbia, explained<br />
<br />
plenary sessions and 11 panel discussions,<br />
<br />
.:: IT WAS ALSO NOTED<br />
THAT REFORMING<br />
THE PUBLIC SECTOR IS<br />
URGENTLY NEEDED, THAT<br />
THE ADMINISTRATION<br />
IS CUMBERSOME<br />
AND THAT THE STATE<br />
ADMINISTRATION SHOULD<br />
BE PROFESSIONALISED<br />
were dynamic panel discussions, including<br />
ones on macroeconomics and speeding up<br />
the process of EU accession, which were attended<br />
by ambassadors and Serbia’s chief<br />
<br />
The message from the ambassadors of leading<br />
countries which participated in the forum<br />
could be summarised in one sentence:<br />
ment,<br />
but the most important is to utilise<br />
<br />
accession process and continue the reforms<br />
already commenced.<br />
Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Mi-<br />
CONTINUED ON PAGE 28 ><br />
MARCH 2014<br />
27
.:: PRIORITIES WERE ALSO<br />
DEFINED AT THE KOPAONIK<br />
BUSINESS FORUM, AMONGST<br />
WHICH ARE THE AGRICULTURE<br />
AND FOOD PROCESSING<br />
INDUSTRIES, ENERGY AND<br />
INFRASTRUCTURE<br />
> CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27<br />
chael Davenport, said that negotiations<br />
with the EU are making their way in all political<br />
circumstances and that everything is<br />
going according to plan.<br />
“We want to see after the elections a new<br />
government that strongly follows the<br />
course of European integration and major<br />
reforms, not only in regard to the most important<br />
economic and structural reforms,<br />
but also when it comes to judicial reform.<br />
German Ambassador to Serbia Heinz Wilhelm<br />
believes that the new government is<br />
being awaited by a number of tasks that<br />
will prove to be important and difficult<br />
challenges.<br />
Waiting for economic recovery<br />
“When it comes to politics, Belgrade should<br />
continue the dialogue with Pristina. The<br />
<br />
he said, expressing satisfaction with the<br />
fact that the dialogue is continuing during<br />
the election campaign in Serbia and noting<br />
that he expects it to intensify following the<br />
election of a new government.<br />
When it comes to the economy, everyone<br />
knows that economic recovery needs to<br />
happen, the reform agenda must be implemented<br />
and competitiveness improved, he<br />
World Bank<br />
SERBIA SHOULD BE A<br />
LEADER IN REFORMS<br />
World Bank Country Manager for<br />
Serbia, Tony Verheijen, said that delaying<br />
reform is no longer an option<br />
for Serbia, because the state does<br />
not have the fiscal leeway to act.<br />
“From the perspective of the World<br />
Bank, Serbia should be a regional<br />
leader in reform and not catch the<br />
last train. The World Bank wants the<br />
next government to place on the<br />
agenda a package of reforms that are<br />
primarily aimed at improving competitiveness.<br />
Serbia also needs to show<br />
leadership capacity,” said Verheijen.<br />
President of the Fiscal Council, Pavle<br />
Petrović, said that Serbia’s budget<br />
deficit in 2014 will reach seven or<br />
even eight per cent of GDP, which<br />
would be the highest rate in the region.<br />
said and in that context mentioned that the<br />
<br />
<br />
In the opinion of Italian Ambassador Guiseppe<br />
Manzo, the top priorities of the new<br />
government should be “setting rules and<br />
<br />
“We must change the mentality, but also ap-<br />
<br />
the essence of everything is the “rule of law,<br />
<br />
French Ambassador Francois-Xavier De-<br />
<br />
cially marked the start of accession negotiations<br />
with the EU, Serbia is in a radically<br />
<br />
The past is the past<br />
“When you have negotiations with the EU<br />
aimed at joining the club, then things have<br />
<br />
said, is that no future government can act<br />
in contradiction of European values and<br />
principles under the pretext that was done<br />
in the past.<br />
“The past is the past. But now you are a<br />
candidate for accession to the EU and things<br />
<br />
<br />
•<br />
28 <strong>Kurir</strong> INTERNATIONAL
interview<br />
Miodrag Kostić<br />
PRESIDENT OF MK GROUP<br />
WE NEED<br />
URGENT<br />
ECONOMIC<br />
REFORMS<br />
MARCH 2014<br />
29
Structural reforms and the regulating of the economic<br />
system are exceptionally necessary elements, because<br />
they are a prerequisite for the local economy and<br />
businesses to experience significant growth, without<br />
which citizens will not feel more prosperity<br />
text JELENA VUKIĆ photo ZORANA JEVTIĆ<br />
M<br />
of MK Group, summarises<br />
for <strong>Kurir</strong> <strong>International</strong><br />
his business results over<br />
the 30 years of his career,<br />
reveals future business<br />
plans and analyses the current economic<br />
situation in the country.<br />
You started the year with several good<br />
business moves. The latest is that your<br />
company Sunoko became the majority<br />
owner of AIK Bank, with a share<br />
of 50.37%. Also, on the eve of the Belgrade<br />
Tourism Fair, you opened the<br />
“88 rooms” luxury four-star hotel, in<br />
which four and a half million euros has<br />
been invested. Does this mean that you<br />
have ambitions to move from the sugar<br />
industry, via the meat industry, to continue<br />
to slowly expand your business to<br />
other branches?<br />
- In my work I always keep a very simple<br />
rule: a good understanding of business<br />
means understanding the price of your<br />
costs. I’ve turned hard times into an opportunity,<br />
a chance into a result, and the result<br />
is the leading company in agribusiness in<br />
Serbia and the region of Southeast Europe.<br />
Agriculture will remain the focus of our operations,<br />
but at the same time we will strive<br />
<br />
to fork, in a way that part of the production<br />
programme will be sold through hotels.<br />
This is nothing new and is something<br />
we’ll do whenever the opportunity arises,<br />
if the calculations show the validity of such<br />
investments. We are always interested in<br />
investing in tourism and resorts in Serbia,<br />
Montenegro and beyond. Although the hotel<br />
business is not our core sector, buying<br />
a tourist complex would not be sailing into<br />
new business waters.<br />
Carnex, which is part of MK Group, has<br />
received a prestigious international cer-<br />
<br />
global BRC (British Retail Consortium)<br />
standard. How much does this recognition<br />
mean for Carnex?<br />
- Responsibility is to find oneself in the<br />
<br />
a prestigious international certification<br />
<br />
that we are on the right track in our business<br />
and that we always strive to provide<br />
<br />
That is also the most important thing. We<br />
are aware of the enormous prestige the Carnex<br />
brand enjoys on the domestic market,<br />
which has been earned through carefully<br />
building a reputation and tradition that generations<br />
have grown up with. We are also<br />
aware that the joint progress achieved to<br />
date depends on technological innovation,<br />
but also the skills, knowledge and results<br />
achieved by our employees for more than<br />
<br />
I’VE TURNED HARD TIMES<br />
INTO AN OPPORTUNITY, A<br />
CHANCE INTO A RESULT,<br />
AND THE RESULT IS THE<br />
LEADING COMPANY IN<br />
AGRIBUSINESS IN SERBIA<br />
AND THE REGION OF<br />
SOUTHEAST EUROPE<br />
The idea of linking companies regionally<br />
came from you. You even suggested<br />
<br />
letters of the companies that would be<br />
merged - Agrokor, MK Group, Atlantic<br />
Group, Nectar and Podravka. What are<br />
their reactions; are they interested?<br />
- Today the battle for successful survival in<br />
the economy and business is being fought<br />
at a global level. We have to bear in mind<br />
that our markets in the former Yugoslav<br />
countries are individually very small. It is a<br />
fact that we all want to export more and sell<br />
our goods to more markets. Therefore, the<br />
will and desire exists. Some more time is<br />
needed for AMANP to begin to come alive.<br />
We speak with our partners and develop<br />
ideas and we expect positive developments<br />
<br />
markets.<br />
How much could such a company earn<br />
and what would it produce?<br />
- Association within AMANP does not envisage<br />
additional production, but rather joint<br />
strategic planning for the placement of existing<br />
products on third markets. It’s too<br />
<br />
we agree on the actual mode of cooperation.<br />
What can clusters achieve - competition<br />
on major markets, increasing trade exchanges,<br />
promoting economic cooperation<br />
etc.?<br />
<br />
organization and association. Merging clusters<br />
encourages greater competitiveness of<br />
the goods and the costs are reduced. Conse-<br />
<br />
of success in international markets, such as<br />
the EU example.<br />
Do you have plans to expand to other<br />
markets and, if so, which?<br />
- As in previous years, in the future we also<br />
plan to invest both in Serbia and beyond its<br />
borders. In the future, I can freely say that a<br />
large part of investments and operations in<br />
Europe will be focused on Asia.<br />
When it comes to the Serbian economy,<br />
you emphasise structural reforms.<br />
What would that mean specifically;<br />
where to start?<br />
- Structural reforms and the regulating of<br />
the economic system are exceptionally nec-<br />
uisite<br />
for the local economy and businesses<br />
<br />
which citizens will not feel more prosperity.<br />
Is is essential to adopt a new labour<br />
law, a law on planning and construction,<br />
as well as appropriate planning regulations<br />
and providing legal certainty for investors.<br />
Moreover, the state must launch urgent reforms<br />
of the public sector and reduce the<br />
bureaucracy that makes it even more dif-<br />
<br />
existing investments. Without reforms, we<br />
will be doomed to observe the progress and<br />
development of the economy just like spectators<br />
from the stands.<br />
You’ve proposed reducing the bulky<br />
public sector. In a situation where the<br />
unemployment rate is around 25%,<br />
would such redundancies not constitute<br />
an additional burden?<br />
- With over 750 thousand employees in<br />
the public sector, the current situation is<br />
<br />
and budget. It’s a fact that this problem did<br />
30 <strong>Kurir</strong> INTERNATIONAL
not appear yesterday, but we are reaching<br />
a situation where it is now high time to<br />
react. The state should help people move<br />
from the public sector to the private. If the<br />
current situation does not change, we will<br />
lose both sectors, because funding such<br />
oversized and inefficient giants cripples<br />
the budget and jeopardises the funding of<br />
the state. We must understand as soon as<br />
possible that each of us has a responsibility<br />
to future generations and their well-being.<br />
How can we achieve economic growth<br />
and create new jobs?<br />
- Citizens will not be in a position to feel<br />
improvement and growth within the country<br />
as long as the state does not implement<br />
the appropriate economic reforms that will<br />
entice a higher level of both foreign and domestic<br />
investment. It is necessary for the<br />
state to determine the model of economic<br />
development and decide which industries it<br />
will help and which it will stop helping and<br />
leave to the whims of the market. It is also<br />
necessary to improve the legal framework<br />
because the legal security of investments<br />
is one of the key factors when an entrepreneur<br />
or company is deciding whether or<br />
not to invest<br />
To what extent does the fact that Serbia<br />
has started EU membership negotia-<br />
<br />
<br />
- European integration will contribute to<br />
lifting the work of all companies to higher<br />
levels. One of the biggest advantages is access<br />
to cheaper long term credit, which will<br />
directly strengthen the economic power of<br />
local companies. In addition, Serbian companies<br />
will be given access to a market that<br />
implies greater demand for their products.<br />
Therefore, production levels will rise and,<br />
in the end, so will the level of productivity<br />
and solvency of the company. EU accession<br />
has great social and economic importance<br />
for the entire country. It will increase the<br />
standard of living, employment levels, establish<br />
a stable commercial and economic<br />
system and, most importantly, lead to an<br />
increase in the level of international investment,<br />
since Serbia will become a more attractive<br />
investment destination.<br />
<br />
<br />
- IPA funds are not a magic wand that will<br />
solve all our problems or the resources that<br />
will be assigned to us just like that, without<br />
any controls. As we get closer to the EU,<br />
those funds will certainly rise. They are<br />
<br />
as a substitute for the state taking care of<br />
these areas. The fact that we will receive assistance<br />
with, for example, infrastructure,<br />
does not mean that the state should stop<br />
worrying about highways tomorrow and<br />
leave them to collapse. IPA funds should<br />
help us, with the support of a well-planned<br />
budget, to successfully develop the area<br />
<br />
funds. •<br />
Responsible policy<br />
WE NEED 3 BILLION<br />
EUROS OF INVESTMENT<br />
ANNUALLY<br />
The IMF predicts that from 2014<br />
to 2018 Serbia’s GDP will grow at 2<br />
to 3%, which is far below the average<br />
rate of 5.5% annually.<br />
- All research and economic indicators<br />
show that if GDP growth is<br />
moving within this framework it will<br />
not be enough to make the average<br />
citizen feel improvement personally.<br />
Bearing in mind that Serbia has languished<br />
in recession for many years,<br />
we need twice the projected growth<br />
of 2 to 3 % in order for the effect on<br />
citizens’ wages and standards to be<br />
noticeable. In addition to minimum<br />
annual growth of 5%, it is necessary<br />
to keep inflation at the level projected<br />
and attract a minimum of 2 to 3<br />
billion euros of FDI annually. In order<br />
to achieve the necessary growth of<br />
four or five per cent, alongside investments<br />
it is also essential that the<br />
future government leads a responsible<br />
fiscal policy and reduces public<br />
spending and excessive borrowing.<br />
MARCH 2014<br />
31
interview<br />
H.E. Michael Kirby<br />
U.S. AMBASSADOR TO SERBIA<br />
Citizens would really like to have a lot lower unemployment<br />
rate than 25% and that would be good for Serbia and its<br />
citizens, says U.S. Ambassador in Belgrade Michael Kirby,<br />
speaking to <strong>Kurir</strong> <strong>International</strong>.<br />
- It is important that people have an opportunity to go to<br />
work every day, because they want the dignity that a job provides. My<br />
message would be that creating jobs would make the people happy.<br />
How do you think this high unemployment rate could be<br />
reduced?<br />
- An economy is built on three pillars, kind of like a stool that has<br />
three legs. You have domestic investors. You have foreign investors,<br />
of which America has several here. And then you have your Diaspora<br />
– Serbs who have learned something abroad and are bringing back<br />
that expertise. So that’s how it has to develop.<br />
Do you think Serbia’s path towards the EU will speed up<br />
following the commencement of accession negotiations?<br />
- I think we’ve already seen progress. It starts at a certain pace that is<br />
fairly rapid. I think also that after the formation of a new government<br />
it can even be sped up a little more.<br />
What will the opening of accession negotiations mean for<br />
Serbia and its economy?<br />
- I think it will show the international public that Serbia wants to<br />
reach an international standard, the EU standard, which is good for<br />
the citizens in terms of the rule of law, human rights and those things,<br />
but is also good for the economy, as it will encourage investors<br />
In your opinion, what will be the greatest challenge for<br />
Serbia in these negotiations?<br />
<br />
negotiations. It’s a club that you’re joining and that club has some<br />
-<br />
<br />
appropriate transition period, because some of them will be harder<br />
<br />
What major obstacles to doing business in Serbia have U.S.<br />
companies come up against?<br />
- There are a variety of obstacles and this is why moving towards the<br />
EU is so important. Rule of law, some issues on corruption, court<br />
processes being slow etc. But also if you want to build a new factory<br />
<br />
<br />
terms of targeted education – where people have the exact skills that<br />
are needed – sometimes there’s going to be some shortage there. •<br />
Uncertainty<br />
I’M NOT SURE SERBIA<br />
WILL EVER JOIN NATO<br />
Do you expect Serbia to join NATO soon?<br />
- I’m not sure if Serbia will ever join NATO. Serbia has in its<br />
constitution that it’s militarily neutral, so the constitution itself<br />
precludes joining NATO. Secondly, I think Serbia has a lot<br />
of internal reform to worry about first.<br />
32 <strong>Kurir</strong> INTERNATIONAL
THIS GOVERNMENT<br />
WILL SPEED UP<br />
SERBIA’S JOURNEY<br />
TO THE UNION<br />
The start of EU accession negotiations shows the international public that<br />
Serbia wants to reach an international standard, the EU standard<br />
text JELENA VUKIĆ photo ZORANA JEVTIĆ<br />
.:: SOME OF THE<br />
OBSTACLES THAT<br />
INVESTORS FROM<br />
THE U.S. FACE<br />
RELATE TO THE<br />
RULE OF LAW,<br />
CORRUPTION<br />
AND SLOW COURT<br />
PROCESSES<br />
MARCH 2014<br />
33
interview<br />
H.E. Heinz<br />
Wilhelm<br />
GERMAN AMBASSADOR TO SERBIA<br />
NEW GOVERNMENT MUST<br />
CONTINUE PRIŠTINA TALKS<br />
It is well known that Germany was reserved in connection with the staging<br />
of early parliamentary elections, but it turned out we were wrong<br />
text SANDRA MALIŠIĆ photo ZORANA JEVTIĆ<br />
34 <strong>Kurir</strong> INTERNATIONAL
The future government<br />
must continue what the<br />
previous government<br />
started, says German Ambassador<br />
to Serbia Heinz Wilhelm,<br />
speaking in an interview for <strong>Kurir</strong><br />
<strong>International</strong>. He notes that it is<br />
good that the campaign for the elections<br />
was short, because not a lot of<br />
time was lost.<br />
- I expect the government to be<br />
formed very quickly. For us it is important<br />
that the new government<br />
continues with the implementation<br />
of the Brussels Agreement. It is well<br />
known that Germany was reserved<br />
in connection with the staging of<br />
early parliamentary elections, but<br />
it turned out we were wrong. Negotiations<br />
with Pristina must continued<br />
and that is very important.<br />
The signing of the agreement is only<br />
the beginning. There is still a lot of<br />
work ahead. One of the priorities of<br />
this government certainly needs to<br />
be intensifying that dialogue with Pristina.<br />
What would be the ideal government? Is it<br />
<br />
or should SNS continue its cooperation with SPS?<br />
Or perhaps a broad coalition of many parties?<br />
- The results of the election will show that. That is not<br />
a matter for the German government, but rather your<br />
citizens and your political parties. The majority, both<br />
among the political elite and citizens, is in favour of the<br />
European integration of Serbia. I think the time when<br />
elections were like referendums is behind you. As it<br />
seems to me, the battle in this election is for second<br />
place. If you look at public opinion polls, a good election<br />
result for the Serbian Progressive Party is not in<br />
question. The question is how much this support will<br />
be as a percentage. Negotiations between Belgrade and<br />
Pristina are a priority for us and Serbia should continue<br />
to play a constructive and active role in the region. Of<br />
great importance is the fact that the outgoing Serbian<br />
government has developed good relations with all<br />
neighbouring countries - Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina,<br />
Macedonia and Montenegro.<br />
COOPERATION<br />
BETWEEN<br />
MERCEDES<br />
AND SERBIAN<br />
COMPANIES IS<br />
A GOOD SIGN<br />
FOR OTHER<br />
LARGE GERMAN<br />
COMPANIES<br />
And what about the economy?<br />
- In order for your economy to recover<br />
it is essential to make a clear<br />
reform agenda. Here I’m thinking<br />
of the adoption of key laws, such<br />
as the laws on labour, construction<br />
and privatisation. After all, your<br />
politicians also speak about this<br />
every day. Serbia, however, has received<br />
candidate status and begun<br />
membership negotiations, which is<br />
a good signal to everyone.<br />
You mean for investors?<br />
- Yes. When a country gains EU<br />
membership candidate status, this<br />
means that it has begun to implement<br />
the standards that apply in<br />
member countries. That’s why I’m<br />
sure there will be many who want to<br />
invest in the near future. A prerequisite<br />
for everything is clear rules of<br />
operation. Serbia must focus on the<br />
rule of law and clear legal solutions.<br />
How much can the arrival of<br />
important investors, such as Mercedes, help heal<br />
our economy?<br />
- Cooperation between Mercedes and Serbian companies<br />
is a good sign for other large German companies.<br />
If that venture is successful, it is certain that others will<br />
<br />
companies will come to Serbia in the future.<br />
<br />
port<br />
of food is your chance, as well as energy.<br />
Construction of the South Stream pipeline has<br />
commenced and the Belgrade on the Water<br />
project has been announced. What do you think<br />
of these projects?<br />
- Germany has nothing against Serbia’s cooperation<br />
with Russia, and in this case the UAE, and we have repeated<br />
that several times. After all, Russia and Germany<br />
cooperate in several areas that are of interest to both<br />
countries. Investments from UAE can also contribute to<br />
the strengthening of your economy. For us it is important<br />
that these arrangements are in line with European<br />
standards. •<br />
ONE OF THE PRIORITIES OF THIS GOVERNMENT CERTAINLY<br />
NEEDS TO BE INTENSIFYING THE DIALOGUE WITH PRIŠTINA<br />
MARCH 2014<br />
35
Interview Milan Prostran,<br />
SERBIA HAS NATURAL MATE<br />
The Serbian Ministry of Agriculture, which is now preparing its<br />
Strategy for the Development of Agriculture, must have a<br />
vision of which products will be of interest to the EU<br />
text VLADIMIR SPASIĆ photo MARINA LOPIČIĆ<br />
The time of natural materials and<br />
<br />
<br />
-<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
-<br />
-<br />
<br />
to <strong>Kurir</strong> international.<br />
Not many people know that Serbia is a<br />
European leader in the production of<br />
brooms from sorghum and is among<br />
the top ten producers in the world. Annual<br />
exports are worth more than €10<br />
million.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Where else can our country find its<br />
place on the EU market?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
-<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
-<br />
<br />
-<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
-<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
36 <strong>Kurir</strong> INTERNATIONAL
agricultural economist<br />
RIALS FOR THE EU’S NEEDS<br />
surface area, but in the future cane sugar<br />
will prevail.<br />
In other words, the cards have been<br />
dealt?<br />
- There is an unwritten division of labour,<br />
which is formed through the<br />
support of EU member states.<br />
The division of labour in the<br />
EU has been hijacked and it’s<br />
tough to intervene where there<br />
are strong players. The example<br />
of brooms shows what we<br />
should be doing. Now we have<br />
over 2,000 hectares of broomcorn<br />
and that could be doubled<br />
immediately – so great is the demand<br />
in the EU.<br />
In recent years there’s been<br />
a lot of talk about breeding<br />
BIOGRAPHY<br />
Born in 1948 in Vršac<br />
Graduated in 1971 from the Faculty of Agriculture, Department<br />
of Agro-Economics<br />
From 1971 to 1997 held various positions (Deputy Minister, Undersecretary<br />
etc.) in the Ministry of Agriculture of the Federal<br />
Government of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia<br />
From 1997 to 2002 served as secretary of the Association for<br />
Agriculture of the Yugoslav Chamber of Commerce<br />
From 2002 to 2013 served as Secretary of the Association for<br />
ostriches, snails etc.<br />
- There’s been an invasion of those ideas. It<br />
started with great ambitions. I was at several<br />
presentations of ostrich meat ... We<br />
had euphoric support, foreign companies<br />
came and our people entered all of that uninformed<br />
about production and placement.<br />
In the end, it turned out that we do not have<br />
registered slaughterhouses for ostriches<br />
and our farmers had to drive to Hungary to<br />
take them to slaughter and it was not worth<br />
it. Many farmers failed. I think that was a<br />
false dawn, but fortunately people<br />
have returned to what they<br />
know and classic poultry farming<br />
has recovered quite well.<br />
What else should we grow?<br />
- It is natural for us to grow, for<br />
example, goose for liver and<br />
feathers or duck, because in<br />
Serbia now there are a lot of<br />
Chinese people who love duck.<br />
There are also turkey and sheep<br />
rearing. All of this will be profitable<br />
because of the feathers,<br />
Agriculture of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce CONTINUED ON PAGE 38 ><br />
MARCH 2014<br />
37
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37<br />
which will be increasingly in demand, as<br />
well as the wool. That’s why it would be<br />
wise to go back to what we cultivated before<br />
and what we have the conditions and<br />
knowledge for, such as the cultivation of<br />
<br />
universal industrial plants. Serbia used to<br />
have 45,000 hectares of hemp. We had a<br />
great industry for processing feathers and<br />
nese<br />
pilots. We had two centres, in Banat’s<br />
Plandište and Velika Plana.<br />
Is it possible to resurrect that?<br />
- As far as I know, companies from Germa-<br />
<br />
<br />
.:: FROM THE<br />
BROOMCORN<br />
PLANT (SORGHUM<br />
VULGARE VAR.<br />
TECHNICUM) THE<br />
BEST BROOMS ARE<br />
MADE AND 90 PER<br />
CENT OF DOMESTIC<br />
PRODUCTION IS<br />
EXPORTED, MAINLY<br />
TO THE EU<br />
meeting standards<br />
EVEN MILK ISN’T A<br />
GREAT OPPORTUNITY<br />
Could milk be one of the main<br />
products we export to the EU?<br />
- Even there we cannot look for great<br />
opportunities. From 2015 the EU quotas<br />
no longer apply and there will be<br />
a battle between the states, with the<br />
most competitive prevailing. On top<br />
of all that, in the EU you can only sell<br />
top quality milk, and only 35% of our<br />
production meets standards. For us<br />
to reach 100 per cent it will take time,<br />
so it is certain that our dairy farms will<br />
supply the domestic market.<br />
WE PRODUCED ORGANIC<br />
FOODS UNTIL THE ‘60S<br />
The goods are also eco-friendly.<br />
- That's also a big plus. Reeds from<br />
Belo Blato are also well-known as an<br />
excellent insulator (thatched roofs).<br />
Organic food is mentioned, which is<br />
what we had until the '60s, because<br />
until then there were no pesticides,<br />
fertilisers, new varieties and breeds<br />
requiring preparations.<br />
<br />
and processing it. Serbia had great producers<br />
and that’s something we know how to<br />
do and that’s our chance for the EU and for<br />
<br />
be tough to resurrect this sector.<br />
How can we attract them?<br />
- The Germans and French were interested<br />
in hemp because of polders or trine as a<br />
raw material for the production of environmentally<br />
friendly insulation panels in the<br />
construction industry, which is used instead<br />
of Styrofoam. They should be given<br />
<br />
resources and institutions, to see what our<br />
capacities are like. Good information must<br />
be prepared for them that can be obtained<br />
through the Institute of Field and Vegetable<br />
Crops in Novi Sad and its Institute of Hops<br />
and Industrial Plants. They have to do a<br />
good study to determine who that could be<br />
sold to.<br />
Can the government help in some way?<br />
- Yes. The Serbian Ministry of Agriculture,<br />
which is now preparing its Strategy for the<br />
Development of Agriculture, must have a<br />
vision of which products will be of interest<br />
to the EU. If they are recognised as natural<br />
products in the EU, we must revive them,<br />
prepare projects, information, utilise money<br />
from IPA funds for this purpose... The<br />
government should recognise in its strategy<br />
productions that are in trend in the EU, in<br />
order for an investor to see that this corresponds<br />
with our orientation and that they<br />
will be supported if they come. •<br />
38 <strong>Kurir</strong> INTERNATIONAL
FALL OF THE BALKANS BIGGEST DRUG LORD<br />
ŠARIĆ<br />
FINALLY<br />
BEHIND<br />
BARS<br />
TWO DAYS AFTER ELECTIONS IN SERBIA DARKO<br />
ŠARIĆ WAS DEPORTED FROM MONTENEGRO<br />
TO BELGRADE. UNDER HEAVY POLICE GUARD,<br />
HE WAS LED TO THE SPECIAL COURT BUILDING,<br />
WHERE HE HAS BEEN DETAINED IN CUSTODY. THE<br />
OPERATION TO LOCATE ŠARIĆ IN FOUR SOUTH<br />
AMERICAN COUNTRIES LASTED NINE AND A<br />
HALF MONTHS, WITH THE OFFER TO SURRENDER<br />
COMING A MONTH AND A HALF AGO<br />
text TEAM KI photo DADO ĐILAS I TANJUG<br />
MARCH 2014<br />
39
LORD AND ONE OF THE MOST<br />
-<br />
TIVES, WHO SPENT MORE<br />
<br />
<br />
FROM THE DOMINICAN RE-<br />
<br />
TH MARCH!<br />
-<br />
-<br />
AL HAS LEARNED, WAS THE<br />
<br />
<br />
MORE THAN FIVE TONS OF<br />
-<br />
<br />
<br />
- Representatives of the Serbian and Montenegrin<br />
security services took him to the<br />
airport in that country and under their supervision<br />
he arrived in Montenegro, where<br />
he was formally arrested. He spent a little<br />
longer than an hour at Podgorica Airport,<br />
after which he was transferred to Nikola<br />
Tesla Airport – says <strong>Kurir</strong> <strong>International</strong>’s<br />
police source.<br />
With huge security measures, in a darkened<br />
black jeep surrounded by several<br />
<br />
transferred to the building of the Belgrade<br />
ing<br />
established beyond doubt that the man<br />
who arrived in Serbia is indeed the fugitive<br />
drug lord, he was escorted by the police to<br />
<br />
<br />
impact on his decision to surrender to the<br />
Serbian authorities. Apparently, one of the<br />
most wanted Serbian fugitives decided to<br />
surrender only when he seriously feared<br />
that his safety could be compromised and<br />
he realised he would be safer in jail.<br />
<br />
threats from people with whom he once<br />
collaborated. All these years he feared for<br />
his safety and it is likely this is why he decided<br />
to put an end to his long period in<br />
hiding- says the <strong>Kurir</strong> <strong>International</strong> source.<br />
<br />
First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar<br />
<br />
with smuggling 5.6 tonnes of cocaine and<br />
money laundering, cannot be deemed a cooperating<br />
witness because he is the main<br />
defendant in the court proceedings.<br />
“Whatever he said, he cannot get protected<br />
witness status as the main defendant and<br />
he will be held accountable for the most<br />
<br />
said during an open session of the Serbian<br />
government.<br />
th February the Serbian<br />
<br />
<br />
and that the authorities in Serbia had collaborated<br />
with at least 15 international security<br />
services to locate and apprehend the<br />
fugitive.<br />
He thanked everyone for their cooperation,<br />
especially the U.S. Central Intelligence<br />
Agency (CIA).<br />
“After more than four years on the run<br />
<br />
in Belgrade. This is important, major and<br />
positive news, especially for the citizens of<br />
Serbia, and is also good news for everyone<br />
<br />
Speaking about the method of surrender,<br />
gorica<br />
airport and the only condition of<br />
his unconditional surrender was that he<br />
be given half an hour to meet with his son,<br />
daughter and wife in the international zone<br />
of Podgorica Airport.<br />
He added that this did not endanger or diminish<br />
the process of bringing him in and<br />
prevented a delay in extradition proceedings.<br />
<br />
government, stating that a major job that<br />
was started four and a half years had now<br />
been completed He also thanked the previous<br />
government and former Secretary of<br />
<br />
<br />
“I hope that the Serbian judicial system will<br />
dure<br />
that will be satisfactory and that the<br />
perpetrators of the most serious crimes will<br />
be punished or released if they are not to<br />
blame,” said Serbia’s First Deputy PM.<br />
<br />
<br />
Security-Information Agency that the public<br />
did not know about, which was formed<br />
on 13 th <br />
<br />
Those methods and means, he added, in-<br />
<br />
video surveillance of facilities that he could<br />
<br />
facilities, the interception of telephone<br />
conversations and Internet communica-<br />
<br />
intercepting contacts on open and closed<br />
spaces - a total of 51 secret searches in vari-<br />
<br />
via telecommunication devices - more than<br />
<br />
<br />
well as international cooperation with at<br />
least 15 foreign services.<br />
“After locating the entire movements and<br />
<br />
countries in Latin America, we started the<br />
operational conversation within the BIA on<br />
how to best conduct the arrest operations,”<br />
<br />
He thanked the Ministry of Justice of Montenegro,<br />
with which all operations were<br />
coordinated.<br />
EVIDENCE OF COOPERATION<br />
Prime Minister of the caretaker govern-<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
that it will contribute to strengthening the<br />
credibility and reputation of the Serbian<br />
security and justice system.<br />
“The government welcomes and expresses<br />
its appreciation for the detaining of Darko<br />
-<br />
ing<br />
the extraordinary session of the Serbian<br />
government.<br />
<br />
<br />
an end to the process against his criminal<br />
<br />
- He arrived at the hearing accompanied by<br />
policemen in civilian clothes and was smiling<br />
and in a good mood. He stayed for only<br />
a short time, with the judge taking his personal<br />
information and relaying the details<br />
of the indictment on which he is already<br />
being tried. He seemed exceptionally calm<br />
and relaxed - says a source from the court.<br />
<br />
did not mention the threats or pressures he<br />
was allegedly subjected to, and which <strong>Kurir</strong><br />
Vučić: Whatever he said, he<br />
cannot get protected witness<br />
status as the main defendant<br />
and he will be held accountable<br />
for the most serious crimes<br />
40 <strong>Kurir</strong> INTERNATIONAL
06.30<br />
<br />
<br />
FALL OF THE BALKANS BIGGEST DRUG LORD<br />
07.45<br />
08.00<br />
08.45<br />
<br />
<br />
Darko Šarić heard by the Special Court<br />
I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN<br />
THE SERBIAN COURT!<br />
DURING THE BRIEF HEARING THE INFAMOUS DRUG LORD<br />
REPORTEDLY SAID THAT IF THE COURT DECIDES TO RELEASE<br />
HIM HE WOULD REGULARLY RESPOND TO THE CALLS OF<br />
THE COURT, BUT HE WAS KEPT IN CUSTODY NONETHELESS<br />
09.20<br />
09.4511.35<br />
14.40<br />
09.40<br />
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MARCH 2014<br />
41
eactions<br />
THE COUNTRY AND THE<br />
WORLD WELCOME THE<br />
ARREST OF ŠARIĆ<br />
<br />
SNS OFFICIAL<br />
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SPS OFFICIAL<br />
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BRITISH NEWS<br />
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ASSOCIATED PRESS<br />
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ITALIAN NEWS<br />
AGENCY ANSA<br />
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FRANCE’S LIBERASION<br />
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Podgorica Airport<br />
HUGS FOR WIFE AND KIDS<br />
Šarić was met at Podgorica Airport in the early morning<br />
hours of Tuesday 18th March by his wife, son and daughter.<br />
- He was given half an hour to meet with his family and another<br />
half an hour for contact with his lawyer. He met in the international<br />
zone with his wife, son and daughter. After a brief meeting,<br />
which took place around 6:30 am, he returned to the plane and<br />
was escorted to Belgrade by members of the police.<br />
He was constantly accompanied by members of the security services,<br />
who watched the drug lord’s every move.<br />
Punishment<br />
ŠARIĆ THREATENED WITH 40 YEARS<br />
It was confirmed for <strong>Kurir</strong> <strong>International</strong> by the Special<br />
Prosecutor that Šarić is being threatened with the maximum<br />
penalty of 40 years in prison. To recall, two separate trials are<br />
being led against Šarić, with a total of 13 charges.<br />
- He is charged with the most serious form of conspiracy to commit<br />
criminal acts, which are punishable by up to 40 years in prison,<br />
as well as the illicit production and trafficking of narcotic drugs,<br />
which is punishable by a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison –<br />
confirmed the prosecution.<br />
42 <strong>Kurir</strong> INTERNATIONAL
FALL OF THE BALKANS BIGGEST DRUG LORD<br />
group and proving that the government’s<br />
commitment to regional and international<br />
cooperation is yielding results.<br />
<br />
<br />
surrendered.”<br />
<br />
where no concessions are required for<br />
<br />
only requested was that before coming to<br />
Serbia he be allowed make contact with his<br />
<br />
done.<br />
-<br />
<br />
negotiation process that began when the<br />
imminent arrest of this fugitive became<br />
certain.<br />
<br />
in several countries of Latin America and<br />
when the fugitive himself became aware<br />
<br />
Justice Ministry received a request from<br />
his lawyer. In order to avoid bloodshed and<br />
-<br />
<br />
-<br />
ica<br />
lasted nine and a half months and that<br />
<br />
a half ago.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
At the insistence of journalists to reveal<br />
<br />
minister said that intimate details could not<br />
be disclosed at this time.<br />
Dačić: Bringing Šarić to<br />
justice will contribute<br />
to bringing an end to<br />
the process against his<br />
criminal group<br />
TRIAL TO CONTINUE ON 24 TH MARCH<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
ardise<br />
the authorities’ ability to capture an-<br />
<br />
and three accused of money laundering.<br />
<br />
<br />
Street in Belgrade four years after the initiation<br />
of criminal proceedings against him.<br />
He pointed out that the prosecution had<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
criminal group were scheduled to continue<br />
th March.<br />
<br />
volved<br />
in the process.<br />
An international arrest warrant for Darko<br />
<br />
-<br />
th <br />
in Belgrade.<br />
SAW LAWYER FOR THE FIRST TIME<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
- I waited for him at the airport in Podgori-<br />
<br />
<br />
the impression of being a man who wants<br />
to defend himself.<br />
Numerous international<br />
agencies joined<br />
forces to bring Šarić<br />
back to Serbia to face<br />
trial on 13 charges<br />
MARCH 2014<br />
43
interview<br />
Predrag Ćulibrk<br />
TELEKOM SRBIJA CEO<br />
We have increased<br />
profit by four billion<br />
dinars in a year<br />
There are serious companies that are ready to<br />
invest huge amounts of money, so we could<br />
expect a solid amount from the sale of Telekom<br />
Srbija, perhaps even around two billion euros<br />
text SLAVICA TOMČIĆ photo DADO ĐILAS<br />
If a decision is made to sell Telekom<br />
Srbija, I think a buyer should be<br />
sought through a tender, because<br />
this would provide the highest<br />
amount, which is of greatest importance<br />
to the state and the budget, says<br />
<br />
interview for <strong>Kurir</strong> <strong>International</strong>.<br />
Economy Ministry proposals have<br />
emerged linked to a stock market sale?<br />
- I don’t think that’s the best way, because<br />
it would provide much less money than<br />
through a tender. Seeking a direct buyer<br />
is the best way and most companies of<br />
this kind in the region have been sold in<br />
this way. I also think the state should not<br />
conduct the sales process unless it determines,<br />
through preliminary negotiations,<br />
that there is a serious buyer willing to pay<br />
approximately the amount that the state<br />
is prepared to sell Telekom for. There are<br />
<br />
state remaining a minority partner to an<br />
outright sale. The question is what the<br />
state is seeking to achieve. Does one seek<br />
the greatest amount to invest in some<br />
infrastructure projects? Repay some expensive<br />
credit? Or is the desire to remain<br />
a co-owner of Telekom Srbija.<br />
Are there any buyers interested in<br />
Telekom and what amount could we<br />
expect to receive from its sale?<br />
- Telekom Srbija is the most interesting<br />
state-owned company that's potentially<br />
<br />
attractive telecommunications industry<br />
player. There are no serious discussions<br />
because no one wants to lead negotiations<br />
until the owner expresses a readiness<br />
to sell Telekom. If such a decision was<br />
made I think there would be a buyer. I’m<br />
convinced that the opening of Serbia’s EU<br />
membership negotiations will encourage<br />
potential investors even more. At the global<br />
level, there are serious companies that<br />
have a lot of assets in their portfolios and<br />
are willing to invest, so a solid amount<br />
ate,<br />
but it could possibly be around two<br />
billion euros for a 100 per cent stake.<br />
Is last year's operational report ready<br />
nars,<br />
as you expected?<br />
- Until the Supervisory Board adopts the<br />
<br />
still only talk about estimates, and all data<br />
currently available suggest it would be<br />
about 15 billion dinars, maybe even a little<br />
pared<br />
to the previous year, when we had<br />
<br />
this is amount should bring delight to our<br />
company and our shareholders.<br />
11 14<br />
billion dinars<br />
of net profit<br />
was achieved<br />
by Telekom in<br />
2012<br />
billion dinars<br />
was invested by<br />
Telekom Srbija<br />
in 2013<br />
Telekom Srbija was founded in 1997<br />
as the first step in the process of<br />
restructuring the postal service of Serbia<br />
9,061<br />
employees Telekom Srbija<br />
had at year’s end 2012<br />
44 <strong>Kurir</strong> INTERNATIONAL
15 16<br />
billion dinars is<br />
the expected<br />
net profit of<br />
Telekom for<br />
2013<br />
billion dinars is<br />
the planned level<br />
of investment in<br />
Telekom Srbija<br />
in 2014<br />
The state owns a 58 per cent<br />
stake in Telekom Srbija<br />
Minority shareholders have a 22 per cent<br />
stake in Telekom Srbija<br />
20 per cent of the shares of Telekom Srbija<br />
were purchased by Greek company OTE<br />
TELEKOM SRBIJA IS THE<br />
MOST INTERESTING<br />
STATE-OWNED COMPANY<br />
THAT'S POTENTIALLY<br />
FOR SALE BECAUSE IT'S<br />
PROFITABLE<br />
<br />
achieved in 2013?<br />
<br />
<br />
goals, but I would point out two primary<br />
cline<br />
in the number of users in the mobile<br />
segment, which was a very ambitious<br />
<br />
results aren’t adequate enough for that,<br />
but we created good preconditions for<br />
-<br />
<br />
other main objective was to maintain<br />
<br />
loan of €470 million to purchase 20 per<br />
<br />
cure<br />
nearly €230 million to meet our debt<br />
obligations of the principal and interest<br />
payments. In October 2012 that looked to<br />
be an impossible mission, but thanks to<br />
a stable exchange rate and our internal<br />
<br />
amount, and we did so without jeopardising<br />
the liquidity of the company. Alongside<br />
this, we managed to pay out about 7.7<br />
billion dinars in dividends to our share-<br />
<br />
dinars at the end of 2012 and by the end of<br />
February we will have paid out around 2.1<br />
billion dinars to citizens, employees and<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
where we did not give our maximum.<br />
<br />
and we will try to ensure the company<br />
looks even better at the end of 2014.<br />
What will be the priorities for this<br />
year when it comes to investment?<br />
<br />
the best bandwidth to our users for all<br />
types of services, whether we’re talking<br />
<br />
<br />
what they were in the past. In technological<br />
terms, you must provide a capacity<br />
for users to monitor the news and vari-<br />
<br />
requires improving the network, building<br />
infrastructure, installing optics wherever<br />
that may be. Our idea for some future period<br />
is to connect, wherever possible, our<br />
base stations with optic cables, in order<br />
for our customers with smart phones to<br />
feel comfortable. In 2013 we added about<br />
400 new 2G and 3G base stations for the<br />
<br />
year we plan to continue to build about<br />
<br />
in raising the speed and capacity for our<br />
customers using ADSL services and we<br />
have launched a number of projects in<br />
<br />
public devices, which are connected to<br />
telephone copper pairs, as close to users<br />
as possible, because it provides data<br />
transmission speeds of 5 and even 10<br />
<br />
<br />
customer satisfaction.<br />
In which segment was Telekom Srbija<br />
most successful last year?<br />
aged,<br />
after four years, to halt the decline<br />
in the number of mobile phone users,<br />
which amounted to more than 800,000<br />
<br />
in the number of users and even achieve<br />
a slight increase of several thousand<br />
<br />
<br />
-<br />
<br />
service in 2008 and in 2013 it achieved<br />
record growth in the number of new<br />
<br />
we now have more than 250,000 users,<br />
<br />
an emphasis on our box packages,<br />
<br />
<br />
-<br />
<br />
contracts, which is very important to<br />
our company because it raises the loyalty<br />
of our customers by combining all our<br />
services in one place and through one<br />
account. Good trends were also seen in<br />
January, so I think these trends that began<br />
<br />
<br />
segment, but not as a result of activities<br />
within the company, rather due to trends<br />
that are the same in all countries.<br />
What did Telekom Srbija invest the<br />
most in last year and what are your<br />
plans for this year?<br />
<br />
billion dinars in new projects, which is a<br />
<br />
are by far the largest investor in this sector.<br />
I believe all others combined didn’t<br />
<br />
new base stations have become opera-<br />
<br />
has been laid and investments have been<br />
made in the modernisation of service plat-<br />
<br />
plans for the next three years. •<br />
MARCH 2014<br />
45
ALAS<br />
anti-tank missile ile system<br />
MANUFACTURER: <br />
SERBIAN WEAPONS<br />
designed for long-range effect<br />
against tanks, armoured vehicles,<br />
ships, low-flying helicopters and<br />
targets on the ground<br />
MISSILE SYSTEM<br />
exceptional level of accuracy<br />
maximum range of 25 km<br />
purpose:<br />
Anti-tank missile system de-<br />
<br />
against tanks, armoured vehi-<br />
<br />
ters and targets on the ground<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
frared seeker for homing<br />
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT:<br />
Length 2,040 mm<br />
Diameter 175 mm<br />
2.040 mm<br />
Total missile weight 50 kg<br />
Warhead weight 10 kg<br />
performance:<br />
launch platforms:<br />
CONSTRUCTION:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Range of 5 - 25km<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Maximum missile range of 25 km<br />
<br />
<br />
AIR<br />
INTAKE<br />
WARHEAD WITH<br />
SELF-GUIDANCE<br />
SYSTEM<br />
Penetrates<br />
80 cm<br />
armour<br />
180 m/s<br />
cruise speed<br />
5-25 km<br />
range*<br />
300 m<br />
cruise altitude<br />
COMMAND POINT<br />
CREW<br />
2<br />
soldiers<br />
* option of up to 60km<br />
MISSILE BODY<br />
WITH MOTORS<br />
AND FUEL<br />
DRIVE:<br />
Two rocket<br />
engines for<br />
launch, one<br />
jet. Thrusters<br />
40 dN for a<br />
cruise speed<br />
of 180 m/s<br />
FACTS<br />
Krušik Holding<br />
from Valjevo<br />
sells mines<br />
to Iraq and<br />
NATO member<br />
countries worth<br />
$35 million per<br />
year.<br />
State-owned<br />
arms exporter<br />
Jugoimport SDPR<br />
has secured a<br />
deal with Iraq<br />
worth $235<br />
million.<br />
Under the<br />
auspices of the<br />
first agreement<br />
Iraq bought<br />
20 Lasta 95<br />
aircraft and<br />
discreetly<br />
announced that<br />
this number<br />
could increase<br />
in the future.<br />
Serbia’s six<br />
biggest weapons<br />
factories<br />
account for<br />
82.35% of the<br />
country’s arms<br />
exports.<br />
The defence<br />
industry<br />
accounts for<br />
17.65% of the<br />
domestic market.<br />
Exports of<br />
our products<br />
cover imports<br />
by a ratio of<br />
3.42 times.
INDUSTRY AS AN EXAMPLE<br />
text KATARINA MARTIĆ illustration BRANKA SAVKOVIĆ<br />
SERBIA’S DOMESTIC DEFENCE INDUSTRY GENERATED<br />
REVENUE OF APPROXIMATELY $300 MILLION,<br />
THANKS MOSTLY TO NATO MEMBERS AND<br />
THE UNITED STATES, WHO WERE THE<br />
BIGGEST BUYERS LAST YEAR<br />
Interest in Serbian weapons grows day by day and is<br />
coming from all over the world. Our arms industry<br />
products are exported to the U.S., Australia, New<br />
Zealand, South Africa, South America, Canada, UAE<br />
and many European countries. Demand is such that the<br />
<br />
maximum capacity. Exports in 2013 totalled around $300<br />
million. When you see that in 2003 exports were worth<br />
$50 million, it can be seen that exports doubled every four<br />
<br />
in the products of our defence industry.<br />
<br />
ject of VTI, is attracting – in addition to substantial interest<br />
among partners from the UAE – the considerable attention<br />
<br />
Serbian defence industry, primarily from the Middle East<br />
<br />
CONTINUED ON PAGE 48 ><br />
MARCH 2014<br />
47
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 47<br />
<br />
<br />
$220 million in rockets<br />
<br />
<br />
SDPR <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
.:: THE ENTRANCE OF "ALAS"<br />
ONTO WORLD MARKETS<br />
ALSO RAISES THE "SHARES"<br />
OF OTHER MISSILE SYSTEMS<br />
PRODUCED IN SERBIA<br />
<br />
1990s in Yugoslavia, based<br />
on the French Eryx system<br />
BUMBAR<br />
BUMBAR<br />
Anti-tank missile system<br />
Designed to destroy tanks, ar-<br />
<br />
at ranges up to 600 m<br />
The Bumbar<br />
System<br />
consists of<br />
missiles in<br />
transportlaunch<br />
tubes,<br />
guidance<br />
equipment<br />
and launch<br />
and stand<br />
This weapon is serviced by two soldiers - one<br />
carries the launcher and rocket, while the other<br />
carries one or two backup missiles and stand<br />
LASTA 95<br />
Military aircraft that<br />
will soon be part of<br />
the arsenal of the<br />
Army of Serbia<br />
Attracted great interest<br />
from the countries of<br />
the Americas and Asia<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Contract with Libya<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
LASTA 95<br />
M57 AND M70<br />
Easy to handle<br />
With mechanical<br />
sights<br />
Forms part of the<br />
Iraqi Air Force<br />
17.65%<br />
per cent of the domestic<br />
market is accounted for<br />
by the arms industry<br />
HANDGUNS M57 AND M70<br />
M57<br />
Semi-automatic weapon<br />
with a secure locking system<br />
and trigger<br />
Characterised by reliability<br />
and accuracy<br />
M70<br />
48 <strong>Kurir</strong> INTERNATIONAL
NORA B-52<br />
155 mm<br />
M-1955 gun<br />
(D-20)<br />
SPORTING RIFLE M70 STANDARD<br />
Barrel made of<br />
chrome-vanadium<br />
steel by cold forging,<br />
which guarantees high<br />
precision, accuracy<br />
and durability<br />
Stock made from high quality<br />
selected walnut<br />
LAZAR II<br />
Main armament<br />
20 mm gun M-55<br />
Characterised by a large<br />
number of shots in a short<br />
interval without interruption<br />
in aiming<br />
Road speed of 80-100 km/h,<br />
range 41-65 kilometres<br />
New artillery guns, self-propelled howitzer<br />
Forms of the stock<br />
which can be selected<br />
by the user<br />
are Pig back and<br />
Monte Carlo<br />
3.42<br />
is ratio by which<br />
exports cover<br />
imports<br />
Travel speed 90<br />
km/h, range 600 km<br />
SEMI-AUTOMATIC HUNTING RIFLE PAPOVKA<br />
Functional on all<br />
terrains and climates,<br />
with safe<br />
<br />
Polymer stock with good ergonomic solutions<br />
and excellently balanced<br />
<br />
<br />
RIFLE PAPOVKA LAZAR II M70 NORA B-52<br />
vehicle<br />
brake lever type locking system<br />
performs tripping.<br />
Zastava weapons<br />
FACTORY WORKING AT FULL STEAM<br />
The Zastava Oružje (Arms) factory in Kragujevac, which<br />
also produces cars – previously of the same, but nowadays<br />
under the Fiat brand, manufactures handguns and hunting<br />
and military weapons. Several lucrative deals were made last<br />
year, including sales of $42 million to one American importer.<br />
The factory had to hire 500 additional workers to meet the demand.<br />
- This year we are planning to export products worth about<br />
$44 million. The key point is that the Serbian defence industry, including<br />
Zastava Oružje, has the quality to supply the world market.<br />
What is happening to us on the U.S. market is a confirmation<br />
of that – says Zastava Oružje CEO Rade Gromović, adding that<br />
they receive many emails on a daily basis from U.S. weapons enthusiasts<br />
who evaluate their products as being excellent.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
.:: LAZANSKI: NORA IS<br />
THE MOST SUCCESSFUL<br />
PRODUCT OF OUR DEFENCE<br />
INDUSTRY<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
High technology<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
•<br />
MARCH 2014<br />
49
<strong>Kurir</strong> editor visits NATO HQ in Brussels<br />
NATO AT THE CROSSROADS<br />
This year will be fateful for the Alliance. Uncertainty about the future of the engagement in Afghanistan<br />
is high, funding is a major problem, but NATO is nonetheless still strong, even stronger than ever<br />
text IGOR ĆUZOVIĆ photo KI ARCHIVE<br />
50 <strong>Kurir</strong> INTERNATIONAL
In late January NATO invited “creators<br />
of public opinion”, or us journalists,<br />
to Brussels. With the great assistance<br />
<br />
Embassy in Belgrade, the author of<br />
this text was among nine people given an opportunity<br />
to tour the Allied JFC (Joint Force<br />
Command) Base in Brunssum, the E-3A<br />
Component at Geilenkirchen in Germany<br />
<br />
and the HQ of the Alliance in Brussels.<br />
The theme of the day, month and year at<br />
NATO is Afghanistan. There is tension about<br />
the outcome of negotiations between Presi-<br />
<br />
the signing of a bilateral security agreement<br />
<br />
has already been agreed, Karzai, apparently<br />
more concerned with his own image and<br />
the future of himself and numerous families<br />
rather than the future of the country,<br />
is seeking newer and newer American concessions,<br />
all in order to present himself as a<br />
“tough interlocutor”. On the other hand, the<br />
Americans are not known as those you can<br />
bargain with. All in all, NATO, whose Afghan<br />
st January<br />
this year, are patiently awaiting a political<br />
agreement, ready for a new engagement in<br />
Afghanistan, in the form of “Operation Reso-<br />
<br />
st <br />
combat missions). The speed of reaching a<br />
bilateral agreement will determine the possibility<br />
of adequately organizing the whole<br />
operation, including the number of troops to<br />
be deployed in Afghanistan next year.<br />
Uncertain future<br />
Nobody in Brussels said so, of course, but<br />
we should be realistic: if Karzai doesn't sign<br />
the agreement, and if it the “zero option”<br />
occurs, i.e., if Afghanistan remains without<br />
foreign troops and aid, this country has an<br />
uncertain future, to say the least. Common<br />
sense could prevail in Karzai’s instinct for<br />
self-preservation, or Afghanistan could go<br />
down a dangerous route it knows very well.<br />
It should also be noted that an often mentioned<br />
word when talking about Afghanistan<br />
was “Chinese”. The Asian superpower, unlike<br />
the British, Russians and Americans, has<br />
no intention of sending troops to Afghanistan.<br />
Instead of them, in Kabul, Kandahar<br />
and other trading centres, businessmen<br />
have arrived, with briefcases instead of ri-<br />
mendous<br />
raw potential of Afghanistan to the<br />
Chinese economy.<br />
Other “Hot” topics at NATO include the<br />
<br />
constant accusations that the Alliance is a<br />
“dinosaur” that should have disappeared<br />
with the end of the Cold War. If you want a<br />
<br />
no NATO member that does not desire that,<br />
<br />
a problem, however, that not all members<br />
engage in the project of financing NATO<br />
<br />
ample,<br />
Germany, which also provides a<br />
Nothing like Star Wars<br />
A SHOCK AT AWACS<br />
In Geilenkirchen, HQ of the E-3A<br />
Component, popularly known as the<br />
base where AWACS embarks on its<br />
missions worldwide, we were taken<br />
on a tour of the actual aircraft, where<br />
I expected to find an interior similar<br />
to the Millennium Falcon from Star<br />
Wars. Instead I saw fairly aged equipment,<br />
although spotlessly clean, operational<br />
and cared for. There wasn’t<br />
a single blemish, scratch or dent. We<br />
were accompanied at all times by two<br />
soldiers who you could tell viewed<br />
the system as a family member, like<br />
taking care of their own child. Otherwise,<br />
AWACS is currently being upgraded<br />
and by 2018 craft will receive<br />
a completely new cabin, with technical<br />
innovations making it even more<br />
advanced than the competition.<br />
Praise from a French general<br />
SERB SOLDIERS GREAT<br />
One of the highest ranking officials<br />
at the Brunssum base is Frenchman<br />
(of Russian origin) Michel Jakovleff.<br />
And he looks like a Russian – light<br />
hair, Slavic face, typical half-smile and<br />
a cheerful look. His family came from<br />
Russia, he says proudly, and his family<br />
are among the most prominent<br />
Russians. In perfect English he tells<br />
me the story of his experience in the<br />
Foreign Legion, where he spent a<br />
decade. He says that Serbs are excellent<br />
soldiers, but that it is sometimes<br />
difficult to control them. I asked him<br />
about whether he worked with Croatian<br />
General Gotovina in the Foreign<br />
Legion and he said he didn’t.<br />
We are proud of this<br />
KURIR INTERNATIONAL<br />
THEIR FAVOURITE READ<br />
On a table at the U.S. mission<br />
to NATO, cover to cover with the<br />
world’s most important newspapers,<br />
sits one Serbian publication – <strong>Kurir</strong><br />
<strong>International</strong> <strong>magazine</strong>.<br />
- We grab all the issues instantly!<br />
Especially when there’s a celebrity<br />
on the cover. When there are “artistic”<br />
covers, they get snapped up<br />
too, but not as fast as when there’s a<br />
politician. It’s a great thing that you’re<br />
doing – I’m told by a lady from the<br />
Mission.<br />
lot of funding to ensure everything works<br />
properly. The “Major” NATO members do<br />
not take it too kindly when a member sud-<br />
<br />
budget for the Alliance and says (without any<br />
consultation) “this is what we have set aside<br />
for NATO this year; we know it’s less than<br />
last time, but such is the situation, what can<br />
be done?” It is clear to anyone that budget<br />
cuts must have consequences and there can-<br />
<br />
<br />
appears that this is not quite clear to some<br />
politicians who question budget allocations<br />
for the Alliance. What is quite clear to everyone,<br />
however, is that many things in the<br />
modern world depend on the existence of<br />
NATO, whether it’s a “dinosaur” or not. A<br />
world without NATO in its present form is<br />
<br />
we have today.<br />
<br />
I spoke to at NATO think that we are a good<br />
<br />
slowly, it is true,” they say, “but it’s going in<br />
the right direction.”<br />
IF YOU WANT A PREPARED<br />
AND EFFECTIVE MILITARY,<br />
AND THERE IS NO NATO<br />
MEMBER THAT DOES<br />
NOT DESIRE THAT, IT IS<br />
NECESSARY TO FINANCE<br />
THE ALLIANCE<br />
<br />
<br />
were pleasantly surprised with her appointment<br />
to that position. “You couldn’t have<br />
found a better person for that job,” I was<br />
<br />
Funding issues<br />
This year will no doubt be a fateful one for<br />
<br />
engagement of Afghanistan is high. Funding<br />
problems are present and known, but<br />
NATO is nonetheless still strong, dare I say<br />
even stronger than ever. At least that’s the<br />
impression I got after spending three days<br />
at its central facility. I will not be surprised<br />
if a bilateral agreement is yet signed and the<br />
governments of member states quickly “realise”<br />
that funding the Alliance is still one of<br />
the budgetary priorities. Because the world<br />
we live in has always operated in accordance<br />
<br />
has brought success, while non-compliance<br />
has led to failure. •<br />
MARCH 2014<br />
51
interview<br />
Svetlana Jančić<br />
<br />
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF SERBIA<br />
Serbs love books,<br />
like their rulers<br />
The oldest manuscript preserved in the Treasury<br />
Department for Archaeography of the National<br />
Library of Serbia is the Belgrade Paroemaic<br />
from the 13 th century<br />
text LJUBOMIR RADANOV photo NEMANJA PANČIĆ<br />
The National library of Serbia<br />
(NLS), a cultural institution of<br />
national importance and the<br />
central national library, which<br />
was founded on 28 th February<br />
1832, has deservedly grown to become one<br />
of the largest and most powerful symbols<br />
<br />
pointed<br />
as administrator of the NLE by the<br />
Serbian government. In an interview for KI,<br />
tions,<br />
the importance of reading and her<br />
favourite authors.<br />
Serbia is one of the few countries that<br />
have not had a National Book Day to<br />
date?<br />
- We traditionally mark 28 th February as the<br />
Day of the NLS, which was also declared as<br />
National Book Day in 2012. This year’s celebration<br />
began on 27 th February and was<br />
marked by a humanitarian event in which<br />
the NLS, the Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation<br />
and Eurobank donated more than<br />
4,000 books for children and young people<br />
to public libraries in 20 Serbian towns. National<br />
Book Day was also marked by a series<br />
of lectures, cultural programmes and workshops,<br />
as well as the action “Open Doors”,<br />
during which pupils of Belgrade’s primary<br />
and high schools had the opportunity to<br />
learn of the diverse and dynamic activities<br />
of the National Library.<br />
In Serbia during 2014 we will mark<br />
the 100 th anniversary of the start<br />
of the Great War. How will you<br />
commemorate this day?<br />
- At the end of 2012 the NLS launched development<br />
of the Great War (Veliki Rat)<br />
web portal (www.velikirat.nb.rs ), with<br />
the intention of enabling users of this thematic<br />
portal to access all available digitised<br />
sources relating to this period during the<br />
years marking the Great War. This ambitious<br />
project would not have been possible<br />
without the cooperation we realised with<br />
the international project European collection<br />
1914-1918, which involved 12 partners<br />
from eight European countries. The NLS is<br />
working on the creation of its own digital library<br />
with the cultural institutions of Serbia<br />
and Republika Srpska. Available resources<br />
<br />
typology of materials: monographs, periodicals,<br />
manuscripts, cartographic materials,<br />
posters, photographic images and varied<br />
material. Searching materials is possible for<br />
all segments according to all Metadata that is<br />
described by the digital object. Through the<br />
<br />
opportunity to learn about the events, issues<br />
and personalities that marked this period.<br />
Does the NLS, like other cultural<br />
institutions, most struggle with shelf<br />
space?<br />
-Since 1973, when the NLS moved into the<br />
building on Saint Sava Plateau, the library’s<br />
resources have risen progressively through<br />
changes,<br />
thus a lack of space is one of the<br />
key problems that the library has faced for<br />
<br />
area covers 12,000m², and the total length<br />
of shelving is about 80,000m. Last year we<br />
purchased a set of compact shelves covering<br />
a length of 400m, with which we achieve<br />
space savings of 70% compared to conven-<br />
<br />
manent<br />
solution to this problem should be<br />
-<br />
<br />
What kinds of exhibitions are you<br />
planning until the end of the year?<br />
tion<br />
entitled “Our literature is where we are<br />
- Literature in the First World War” (April<br />
22 nd - July 1 st ), which will also visit other European<br />
cities. We will mark the Day of Slavic<br />
<br />
of miniature books from the special collections<br />
of the Library and in September we<br />
<br />
52 <strong>Kurir</strong> INTERNATIONAL
2 500 000<br />
RECORDS IN AN<br />
ELECTRONIC CATALOGUE<br />
12<br />
READING<br />
600<br />
ROOMS<br />
USER<br />
PLACES<br />
BIGGEST DONORS<br />
The European Commission and UNESCO<br />
Embassies (the largest donor it the U.S.<br />
Embassy in Belgrade)<br />
Foreign cultural centres in Belgrade<br />
(Goethe Institut, the Austrian Cultural<br />
Forum)<br />
Banks (Intesa, Alfa Bank)<br />
<strong>International</strong> library organizations<br />
(CENL, LIBER)<br />
Foundations (Ana and Vlade Divac<br />
Foundation)<br />
The governments of Algeria and Israel<br />
Domestic companies (Pionir, SAFAGE,<br />
Alma Quatro etc.).<br />
Holiness Patriarch Pavle with an exhibition<br />
presenting his personal library, the prepa-<br />
ing.<br />
By the end of the year we are also planning<br />
exhibitions from the legacy of Petar<br />
<br />
Which book is the oldest in the NLS’s<br />
collection?<br />
-The oldest handwritten manuscript that is<br />
<br />
archaeography is the Belgrade Paroemaic<br />
th century. Because<br />
of its monumentality it is presumed<br />
to have originated in one of the most de-<br />
<br />
<br />
th th centuries. Among the<br />
-<br />
<br />
Scodrensi), which was published in Venice<br />
<br />
Do Serbs preserve their books?<br />
- A tradition of nurturing the culture of reading<br />
and formation of libraries has developed<br />
tions<br />
of monasteries and churches in Serbia<br />
th century. At the court of<br />
<br />
cult of learning and education developed in<br />
<br />
rich personal library that was inherited and<br />
enriched by his descendants. •<br />
MARCH 2014<br />
53
ON THE ROAD TO THE UNITED STATES: Serbian<br />
APPLE<br />
SELECTED<br />
A STATUE<br />
OF STEVE<br />
JOBS FROM<br />
SERBIA!<br />
Serbian academic sculptor Dragan Radenović’s obelisk of<br />
Steve Jobs has been chosen for the memorial statue that will<br />
adorn the “heart” of Apple in California<br />
text SANJA ILIĆ photo NEMANJA PANČIĆ<br />
54 <strong>Kurir</strong> INTERNATIONAL
sculptor’s work heading for Cupertino<br />
Apple commemorated the 59 th anniversary of<br />
the birth of founder Steve Jobs with a competition<br />
to produce a statue of his image. And of<br />
the 10,000 works submitted, they selected a piece by<br />
<br />
company’s headquarters in California’s Cupertino!<br />
For this reason the birthday of this visionary known<br />
for his many innovations in the IT world was celebrated<br />
in Belgrade on 24 th February, where the obelisk<br />
<br />
The statue is imperfect, poking out of it are numbers<br />
and letters from all alphabets, even script from Miroslav’s<br />
Gospel. It is dark and massive. According<br />
to critics, it is everything Apple produces is not - elegant,<br />
with smooth edges and bright colours. But,<br />
according to their recognition, Steve Jobs was<br />
precisely that – imperfect, hard and capable<br />
of magnetically attracting a crowd.<br />
Individuality important<br />
<br />
plains why it was in this way that he saw Jobs,<br />
with whom he says he shares a love of the<br />
<br />
- Apple’s designers, especially Jony Ive, liked<br />
the imprecision; that work by hand. That’s<br />
because, for me, art is contained in the errors. But<br />
the idea I had when making it was that this obelisk<br />
could be applied as a form, or part of a form, or for<br />
parts of this obelisk to in fact provide an idea for<br />
what will be the design of new Apple products – says<br />
<br />
individual design is also very important and that<br />
every product of this corporation, currently the most<br />
<br />
<br />
And this is what this sculpture really is. We notice<br />
that on its base is sculpted the Cyrillic letter Š, the<br />
mark of Miroslav’s Gospel and binary numbers.<br />
- This all represents the energy that is transformed<br />
<br />
speech, because that’s how Jobs himself understands<br />
it – as a philosopher and artist - concludes this respected<br />
sculptor, noting that with the insertion of<br />
these artistic symbols he also wanted to simultaneously<br />
present Serbia in the best possible way.<br />
As he says, that is the role and priority of his generation,<br />
which is why he chose the letter Š to be the<br />
base and focus of this obelisk, which in the future will<br />
adorn the place where Jobs went to school.<br />
Delighted the Pope and a princess!<br />
<br />
the Military Academy, the Faculty of Security Studies,<br />
the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Fine Arts.<br />
.:: ON THE PLINTH OF THE<br />
SCULPTURE IS THE CYRILLIC<br />
LETTER Š, THE MARK OF<br />
MIROSLAV’S GOSPEL AND<br />
BINARY NUMBERS<br />
Under the topic “Theory and function of the brain”,<br />
he earned his doctorate in Moscow, but still went on<br />
to study in New York. After that he was an assistant at<br />
the British sculpting workshop of the renowned Henry<br />
Moore and later a lecturer at De Cordova School of<br />
Fine Arts in Massachusetts and at Harvard.<br />
He has done portraits and busts of many celebrities,<br />
such as Kirk Douglas, Winston Churchill, Pavarotti,<br />
John Kelly, Sophia Loren, Grace Kelly, Willard Van Or-<br />
<br />
<br />
commissioned for the Vatican by Pope John Paul II.<br />
He is also the recipient of the prestigious award of the<br />
Taylor Foundation from Paris. •<br />
Steve Jobs<br />
facts<br />
Steven Paul Jobs<br />
was born on 24 th<br />
February 1955 in<br />
San Francisco<br />
His birth parents<br />
were an American<br />
mother of<br />
Swiss origin and<br />
a Syrian father of<br />
Armenian Orthodox<br />
faith<br />
A condition of<br />
his adoption was<br />
that the Jobs<br />
family ensured he<br />
was able to have<br />
a college education<br />
He founded the<br />
company Apple in<br />
partnership with<br />
Steve Wozniak<br />
on 1 st April 1976<br />
His name is associated<br />
with the<br />
beginnings of the<br />
personal computer<br />
and the creation<br />
of hardware<br />
and software<br />
The company’s<br />
most significant<br />
products in recent<br />
years have<br />
been the iPod, a<br />
portable music<br />
player with fingertip<br />
controls,<br />
and the iPhone,<br />
a revolutionary<br />
mobile device<br />
He listened to<br />
Bob Dylan, consumed<br />
marijuana<br />
and LSD, was a<br />
vegetarian and an<br />
admirer of Zen<br />
Buddhism<br />
He was known<br />
for wearing turtleneck<br />
t-shirts,<br />
jeans and white<br />
sports shoes<br />
He was diagnosed<br />
with pancreatic<br />
cancer in<br />
2004 and died<br />
of the disease in<br />
October 2011<br />
MARCH 2014<br />
55
interview<br />
Slobodan Mićić<br />
PRESIDENT OF COMPANY KON TIKI TRAVEL<br />
Experience and<br />
a good team are<br />
key to success<br />
I believe we will have a very good season<br />
again this year. There were huge crowds at<br />
the Tourism Fair and they all wanted to take<br />
advantage of discounts of up to 45 per cent<br />
that we gave for many arrangements<br />
W text DIJANA TADIĆ photo NEMANJA PANČIĆ<br />
What are your impressions of this<br />
year’s tourism fair?<br />
- If it is said that you can know a day by the<br />
morning, we expect an exceptional season<br />
this year. We are extremely satisfied and<br />
didn’t expect such a rush. The reason for this<br />
is probably our prices. We have three times<br />
more registrations at this year’s fair than we<br />
had last year. The crowds were huge because<br />
everybody wanted to take advantage of the<br />
<br />
How much were fair discounts?<br />
- Discounts went up to 45 per cent and we<br />
gave a further discount for those who pay<br />
for arrangements in full immediately. Some<br />
arrangements for certain dates that we gave<br />
are full and there is no more room, so now<br />
we are looking for new hotels.<br />
Where do Serbs usually travel to?<br />
- Mainly Greece and Turkey, because they<br />
have the most cheapest arrangements. There<br />
is also a new destination, Jordan, which I<br />
think will be in high demand. Demand for<br />
Egypt has reduced due to the crisis, but I<br />
believe that will also change soon. This year<br />
there is much interest in Spain and Italy (Sicily,<br />
Lido di Jesolo, Rimini) and we expect Malta<br />
to start gaining a stronger tempo. Dubai is<br />
<br />
How have you managed to be the<br />
number one travel agency for years?<br />
- I’ve been in the tourism industry for almost<br />
50 years. Experience is the key to success, as<br />
well as the good team that works at Kon Tiki<br />
Travel. We have a lot of young people and we<br />
really try to get better and better every year.<br />
How many countries have you visited<br />
and what’s your favourite place?<br />
- I’ve visited more than 180 countries. I<br />
couldn’t say which is my favourite, because<br />
there are really a lot and in every country I’ve<br />
found something positive and beautiful.<br />
Patriot<br />
MIĆIĆ: I’M ALWAYS<br />
HAPPY TO RETURN<br />
TO SERBIA<br />
Although he’s travelled the world,<br />
Mićić says he’s never wanted to stay<br />
and live in a foreign country.<br />
- I’ve had a lot of good offers to stay in<br />
many countries. I’d probably be a millionaire<br />
by now if I’d accepted one of<br />
them. But I’m connected to our country<br />
a lot. I can go anywhere, but I’m always<br />
happy to return to Serbia - says Mićić.<br />
Do you still travel like you used to?<br />
- I have to admit that nowadays I travel a little<br />
less than before. A month ago I returned<br />
from Ethiopia. I was in a part where tribes<br />
live. That was a fascinating experience, but<br />
very strenuous, mainly due to the roads, but<br />
also because of the tour itself. I am admittedly<br />
a man of many years.<br />
<br />
trip? Which faraway destination did<br />
you go to?<br />
- I remember, of course. My first faraway<br />
destination was Rio de Janeiro, sometime in<br />
the ‘70s. After that I went to the carnival in<br />
Rio, then elsewhere in South America and<br />
to Thailand...<br />
Is there a place where you haven’t been<br />
that you’d like to visit?<br />
- I do not think there is. I’ve seen everything<br />
that’s interesting for tourism. I’ve been to<br />
Alaska, Australia, New Zealand...<br />
What is tourism in Serbia like and<br />
what do you think should be done to<br />
improve the tourism sector's prospects<br />
in our country?<br />
- Our country invests very little in tourism.<br />
Many did not realise that tourism could bring<br />
<br />
a coastline either, but it is one of the leading<br />
tourist countries. We lie on thermal springs,<br />
but we haven’t utilised our spas. We are<br />
proud that this year we have made a billion<br />
from tourism, but that’s nothing compared<br />
to our potential. •<br />
56 <strong>Kurir</strong> INTERNATIONAL
Story of the history of FEST<br />
WORLD<br />
STARS<br />
ADORED<br />
BELGRADE<br />
Belgrade’s festival of the world’s top films, the<br />
popular FEST, dubbed the festival of festivals,<br />
emerged spontaneously on a wave of success<br />
of a review of repeated films held in 1970 in<br />
the hall of the Belgrade Culture Centre<br />
text LJUBOMIR RADANOV photo KI ARCHIVE<br />
The 42 nd edition of the <strong>International</strong><br />
Film Festival – FEST<br />
– came to an end in Belgrade<br />
a few days ago, after the pre-<br />
<br />
nars,<br />
while all screenings were shown<br />
-<br />
wood”<br />
selection included as many as 12<br />
<br />
as the winners of last year’s most impor-<br />
<br />
were brought back to life again, while<br />
producer Gabriela Tana brought world<br />
stars as a gift to the Belgrade public -<br />
<br />
Spontaneous emergence<br />
<br />
popular FEST or, as it is still dubbed, the<br />
festival of festivals, emerged spontaneously<br />
on a wave of success of a review of<br />
<br />
<br />
that the public were hungry and missing<br />
CONTINUED ON PAGE 58 ><br />
MARCH 2014<br />
57
STARS<br />
AT FEST<br />
Many stars of<br />
Hollywood and<br />
European film<br />
have walked the<br />
streets of Belgrade<br />
during FEST<br />
NIKITA<br />
MIKHALKOV<br />
JACK<br />
NICHOLSON<br />
JOHNY<br />
DEPP<br />
<br />
> CONTINUED FROM PAGE 57<br />
fun, in addition to bread, Deputy Mayor of<br />
<br />
the organizer of the show, journalist Milutin<br />
<br />
how much it would cost!<br />
And thus on 8 th January, under the slogan<br />
<br />
Altman’s Mash at Dom Sindikata opened<br />
<br />
<br />
were screened and were watched by a little<br />
<br />
<br />
opening ceremony attracted a great crowd ,<br />
<br />
<br />
Nicholson and de Niro<br />
<br />
greater splendour and the capital of Yugo-<br />
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There were also beatings<br />
DARK SIDE OF FEST<br />
The saddest pages in the history<br />
of FEST were written in 1997, when<br />
the festival was brought to a halt<br />
because of the beatings of cinemagoers<br />
who were returning home from<br />
film screenings when they ran into<br />
the cordon of police who had broken<br />
demonstrations against Slobodan<br />
Milošević. The annual FEST was also<br />
cancelled in 1993 and 1994, during<br />
the time of the civil war in Yugoslavia.<br />
During the second edition was the first<br />
<br />
<br />
Our city’s guest was Sergei Bondarchuk,<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
weeks of screening it earned one billion and<br />
<br />
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the streets of Belgrade were walked by the<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
on 8 th <br />
<br />
58 <strong>Kurir</strong> INTERNATIONAL
SOPHIA<br />
LOREN<br />
FRANCIS FORD<br />
COPPOLA<br />
RALPH<br />
FIENNES<br />
ROBERT<br />
DE NIR0<br />
<br />
when we hosted directors Bernardo Bertolucci<br />
and Jiri Menzel and actress Stockard<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Winner at this year's<br />
FEST, talented young<br />
director Iram Haq<br />
<br />
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Belgrade bucks the trend<br />
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such interest was that there was a delay of<br />
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Belgrade was the world.<br />
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around the world. •<br />
MARCH 2014<br />
59
interview<br />
Nikola<br />
Rakočević<br />
ACTOR<br />
60 <strong>Kurir</strong> INTERNATIONAL
SERBIA<br />
IS PART<br />
OF EUROPE<br />
Talented and charismatic actor Nikola<br />
Rakočević officially took the title of one<br />
of the 10 best young actors in Europe in<br />
the category of artists aged up to 35 last<br />
month at the 64 th Berlin Film Festival<br />
text LJUBOMIR RADANOV photo KI ARCHIVE<br />
Film audiences everywhere<br />
adore the character<br />
Bogdan played<br />
<br />
<br />
Krugovi (Circles). Speaking to KI<br />
<br />
<br />
Berlin and theatre work.<br />
Are you pleased with your<br />
“Shooting Star” award?<br />
- For Serbian cinematography, but<br />
<br />
<br />
the ten best young actors in Europe.<br />
<br />
<br />
actually means. I got a chance to be<br />
seen by producers and casting di-<br />
<br />
<br />
balance between American, British<br />
and European actors. In the coming<br />
period producers will worry about<br />
whether or not we got a role and<br />
<br />
<br />
What did you talk about<br />
with your fellow winners?<br />
As an actor from Serbia, are<br />
<br />
problems from those of your<br />
colleagues from Europe?<br />
- In Romania the situation is similar<br />
<br />
<br />
in the Balkans, with great young<br />
directors and actors. On the other<br />
<br />
especially Scandinavia, are not been<br />
able to get involved in theatre work<br />
<br />
is such that when you are doing a<br />
<br />
<br />
better. I can do multiple projects at<br />
the same time.<br />
CONTINUED ON PAGE 62 ><br />
MARCH 2014<br />
61
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 61<br />
Do you have a dilemma about<br />
whether to stay in Serbia or to<br />
leave?<br />
- I don’t have a dilemma. Why would<br />
I have to leave Serbia? We are part of<br />
Europe. I don’t need to move from<br />
Belgrade in order to make films in<br />
Berlin or elsewhere in Europe.<br />
Early in your career you record<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
changing the image of sports fans<br />
in Serbia?<br />
- The film was not only about supporters,<br />
but rather extremism that<br />
serves people as a cover for crime.<br />
This is one of the topics dealt with by<br />
<br />
responsibility for our own actions.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
anything.<br />
Why is your role as Bogdan in<br />
Krugovi one of your favourites?<br />
- The character of Bogdan is the closest<br />
to me. We have the same dilemmas.<br />
For me, the process of working<br />
<br />
very important, because I resolved<br />
some of my frustrations from childhood.<br />
That’s why it was particularly<br />
valuable to me.<br />
Do you watch the series Military<br />
<br />
play the roles of a pilot and a<br />
composer?<br />
<br />
because of work. It was a pleasure for<br />
me to act for television.<br />
Although you are a great<br />
footballer, you did not get a role<br />
in the biggest domestic cinema<br />
<br />
<br />
.:: WHEN SHOOTING A FILM AND<br />
FRAME, WHEN THE DIRECTOR<br />
SAYS ‘ACTION’ I EXPERIENCE IT AS<br />
A PROTECTED AREA IN WHICH NO<br />
ONE IS ALLOWED TO ENTER<br />
to lose that intimacy in front of the<br />
<br />
frame, when the director says ‘action’<br />
I experience it as a protected area in<br />
which no one is allowed to enter. That<br />
makes me feel secure.<br />
<br />
<br />
What were preparations for<br />
<br />
by internal review, struggles,<br />
<br />
cess<br />
I’ve had in my life. In the novel<br />
everything was at a high level... I had a<br />
problem to reach that and I could not<br />
<br />
<br />
the voice for any cartoon<br />
characters?<br />
- I love cartoons and my wish is to<br />
produce more of them, though I<br />
wouldn’t want to spoil them with my<br />
voice. I’d like to deal with them as an<br />
art form.<br />
You played the guitar for a long<br />
<br />
<br />
- Jimi Hendrix, Noel Gallagher and<br />
<br />
Are successful artists adequately<br />
rewarded in Serbia?<br />
- If you ask the artists, the answer<br />
will be no. We do not do anything for<br />
awards.<br />
Why do you no longer go to<br />
<br />
<br />
been in about supporters?<br />
<br />
The matches have become self-supporting.<br />
I stopped watching football<br />
because I don’t like the way our<br />
teams play. I’d love to go watch Barcelona,<br />
Liverpool or Manchester United.<br />
Here the players argue with the<br />
referee, pull him by the sleeve, and<br />
he mustn’t say anything to them...<br />
<br />
for me anymore.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
are you willing to go to as an<br />
<br />
- I’m ready to go to the boundaries<br />
of morality and humanity. To lose<br />
weight, to dye my hair, wear contact<br />
lenses, draw on my body. These are<br />
harmless things. There are some<br />
things I would not do...<br />
<br />
- I do not play football that well. I have<br />
no problem with not getting through<br />
casting. The question is not whether<br />
you’re a good actor. It’s all about the<br />
choice of the director.<br />
In which medium do you feel<br />
better and best show your<br />
<br />
- I try to balance both. I would not<br />
want to have to make strict choices.<br />
<br />
ent<br />
mediums, but they deal with<br />
similar ideas. It is important to deal<br />
equally with both. It is healthy that in<br />
the theatre you have people around<br />
you; that you are communicating<br />
with the audience who are there in<br />
front of you. It is also important not<br />
Should Serbia become a member<br />
of the EU?<br />
- I don’t have the feeling that we’re<br />
not part of the EU and the world. My<br />
friends are part of Europe. However,<br />
the world order is not in a good situation.<br />
I’m worried about what’s going<br />
to happen... I don’t think the EU is a<br />
perfect system either. It was the most<br />
terrifying for me when statesmen participated<br />
in the Summit on the emission<br />
of greenhouse gases in Spain;<br />
they all got up and left without saying<br />
<br />
the story about Ukraine is terrible...<br />
Are you still a member of a political<br />
party?<br />
- I deal in politics through art. I do not<br />
<br />
moment I don’t have a clear picture<br />
of who is doing what. •<br />
62 <strong>Kurir</strong> INTERNATIONAL
.:: MY WISH IS<br />
TO PRODUCE<br />
MORE CARTOONS,<br />
THOUGH I<br />
WOULDN’T WANT<br />
TO SPOIL THEM<br />
WITH MY VOICE<br />
MARCH 2014<br />
63
Nole victorious<br />
in Indian Wells<br />
SERBIA’S TOP TENNIS PLAYER WON HIS FIRST<br />
TOURNAMENT OF 2014, BEATING FEDERER IN<br />
THE FINAL MATCH OF THE MASTERS<br />
text MILAN NASTIĆ photo FONET, REUTERS<br />
S<br />
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<br />
<br />
Bouncing back<br />
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CONTINUED ON PAGE 66 ><br />
17<br />
MASTERS TITLES<br />
IN HIS CAREER<br />
42 nd TITLE OF HIS CAREER<br />
WON AT INDIAN WELLS<br />
2,230<br />
POINTS LESS THAN<br />
RAFAEL NADAL<br />
64 <strong>Kurir</strong> INTERNATIONAL
Top player<br />
ĐOKOVIĆ IS THE BEST<br />
Switzerland’s Roger Federer admitted<br />
that Đoković deserved to win in Indian<br />
Wells, because he played the best<br />
tennis throughout the tournament.<br />
Old rivals and friends, Nole and Federer<br />
- He played well to close the match<br />
out and held the ball in play, and I<br />
made too many mistakes at key moments.<br />
He played well in the middle<br />
of the second set and great in the<br />
third, and at those moments things<br />
could have gone my way, but I congratulate<br />
him on winning the tournament.<br />
It is no coincidence that for<br />
years he has been at the very top and<br />
he will certainly rule world tennis for<br />
a long time to come - said Federer.<br />
Absent coach<br />
CONGRATULATIONS<br />
ON THE TITLE<br />
Boris Becker, Đoković’s current<br />
coach, closely followed the developments<br />
of the Serbian tennis player at<br />
Indian Wells, despite not being with<br />
him.<br />
- All the time I was with Nole, although<br />
the matches were in the early<br />
morning hours. He played great the<br />
whole tournament and I hope this<br />
Masters will be the turnaround. He<br />
was under pressure to finally win<br />
a tournament in 2014 and he’s just<br />
managed that at Indian Wells. I believe<br />
that this season Đoković can<br />
take many more trophies, but also<br />
grand slams - said Becker.<br />
MARCH 2014<br />
65
Serbia's top tennis<br />
star is proud of his<br />
performance at<br />
Indian Wells<br />
> CONTINUED FROM PAGE 64<br />
I could not serve out the match and that<br />
<br />
<br />
me a lot of satisfaction, because I had three<br />
<br />
-<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Intense contest<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
that he turned the result around against the<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
-<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
crisis, but I managed to hold on at the end<br />
<br />
-<br />
-<br />
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<br />
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<br />
<br />
-<br />
-<br />
<br />
<br />
tournament - said Novak, adding:<br />
<br />
-<br />
<br />
-<br />
<br />
ATP list<br />
1 Rafael Nadal 13,130 points<br />
2 Novak Đoković 10,900 points<br />
3 Stanislas Vavrinka 5,650 points<br />
4 David Ferrer 5,150 points<br />
5 Roger Federer 5,045 points<br />
6 Andy Murray 4,795 points<br />
7 Tomas Berdych 4,540 points<br />
8 Juan Martin Del Potro 4,270 points<br />
9 Richard Gasquet 2,9<strong>05</strong> points<br />
10 John Isner 2,670 points<br />
<br />
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-<br />
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Form returning<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
ing,<br />
training, remarks during the match, and<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
tomed<br />
to seeing me in the box, got used<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
•<br />
66 <strong>Kurir</strong> INTERNATIONAL