TRAVEL REPORT The Hon. Michael Atkinson MP Attorney-General ...

Ms Radmila HrustanovicBelgrade MayorBiographyMrs Hrustanovic was born on November 25, 1952 in Belgrade . She ispolitically engaged in the Civic Alliance of Serbia and is a vice-president ofthis party . She is one of the founders of Women's Political Network of Serbia .Mrs Hrustanovic is a graduate lawyer . She worked in the FederalAdministration for 14 years . Since 1992 she has worked as a lawyer. Shebecame a member of the Executive Board of the City Assembly onOctober 16, 2000 and was in charge of property rights, building land andinformation . She was also acting director of Studio B . She was electedPresident of the City assembly (Mayor of Belgrade) on June 1, 2001 .She is married and has two sons .Meeting summaryShe told the delegation about the principal responsibilities of the Belgrademunicipality which are transport, schools/pre-schools, cleaning andwaterworks/sewerage .Serbia and Belgrade suffered under the Milosevic regime for 10 years andlived under sanctions for 12 years . They lived through four wars and NATObombings . One million refugees have passed through Belgrade in that time,150,000 are currently in Belgrade . Serbians once occupied pride of placebetween the West and the East considered to be neither communist norcapitalist and envied by the whole Eastern Bloc . Unfortunately, in the 1990s,Yugoslavia fell apart through wars, inflation and the grey economy and thingswere just starting to get better.Four years ago Serbia had elections and Milosevic lost so they had to startfrom scratch . In Belgrade they are investing in infrastructure and want foreigninvestors, but before they can hope to attract any, a legal regime needs to bein place which will provide a secure environment . The State has connectionswith organised crime and corruption is rife even in the judicial system . Sincethe 1990's there have been clashes with the Mafia resulting in murders on thestreets . Foreign investors need a stable country and security .Last year, the Prime Minister was assassinated thus closing the door on newinvestments . A trial will take place and the Mayor's personal opinion is thatthe Mafia was responsible for the assassination . She is a lawyer herself andhad a private law practice before becoming Mayor . She understands thepressures of the Mafia on the judicial system and the problems within thejudicial system, but she is not a pessimist and feels they are on the way todemocratic change . On the political scene, there are people guiding Serbiatowards the EU and was confident they would succeed .Travel Report, Hon . Michael Atkinson, MP. and Ms . Vini Ciccarello MP., August, 2004