Kurir Go International magazine 006

MAY 2012 

Kurir 

GO INTERNATIONAL 

Dušan Petrović 

THE ENTIRE WESTERN BALKANS 

HAS THE CHANCE TO JOIN THE EU 

Heinz Fischer 

BELGRADE DESERVES THE 

START OF NEGOTIATINS 

IN THE NEAR FUTURE 

ONSIGNED TO HISTORY 

FOR THE FIRST TIME 

IN THE LAST TWENTY 

YEARS THERE IS NO 

UNDERWORLD BOSS 

IN OUR COUNTRY 

Serb 

g 

THE EFFORTS THAT THE GOVERNMENT 

HAS INVESTED IN THE FIGHT AGAINST 

ORGANIZED CRIME HAVE PAID OFF, 

BECAUSE NO ORGANIZED CRIMINAL 

GROUP EXISTS IN SERBIA THAT COULD 

SHAKE THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE STATE 

VANQUISHED 

mafia 

ne 

for good 

MISSION 

COMPLETE

Kurir 

GO INTERNATIONAL 

Publisher 

Kurir-info d.o.o., 

Vlajkovićeva 8, 

Belgrade, Serbia 

Director 

Nebojša Rosić 

Editor in chief 

Saša Milovanović 

Edition editor 

Jelena Vukić 

jelena.vukic@kurir-info.rs 

Deputy editor 

Gordana Raković 

gordana.rakovic@kurir-info.rs 

Assistant editor 

Katarina Martić 

katarina.martic@kurir-info.rs 

Art director 

Mateja Miladinović 

mateja.miladinovic@kurir-info.rs 

Design & layout 

Mirko Nestorović 

Vladan Dojčinović 

Graphics & illustrations 

Borislav Miletić 

Photo editor 

Maja Mojsovski Rašević 

maja.mojsovski@kurir-info.rs 

Photographers 

Zorana Jevtić 

Nemanja Pančić 

Dado Đilas 

Marina Lopičić 

Jelena Obradović 

Dragana Udovičić 

Moldnar Edvard 

Editorial contribution 

Jelena Spasić 

jelena.spasic@kurir-info.rs 

Milan Dobromirović 

milan.dobromirovic@kurir-info.rs 

Marija Kordić 

marija.kordic@kurir-info.rs 

Gojko Filipović 

gojko.filipovic@kurir-info.rs 

Konstantin Radulović 

konstantin.radulovic@kurir-info.rs 

Tomo Rakočević 

redakcija@kurir-info.rs 

Election month in Serbia 

Gordana Raković 

DEPUTY EDITOR OF KURIR GO INTERNATIONAL 

During May, as you read the sixth issue of Kurir Go International, Serbia 

will be holding parliamentary, local and presidential elections. The 

current campaign period has seen most political parties claim that they 

will not give up on the European journey that our country embarked 

upon back in 2000. On the contrary! One of the key messages is that 

 

much the people believe them and which political option they 

want to lead the country for the next four years after 6 th May, 

when the nation will vote. 

While politicians campaign to attract voters, we at KGI have 

 

zed crime, which, you will agree, is one of the key problems facing 

every European country. Serbia has shown its determi- 

 

 

and with colleagues from abroad, which have broken 

some of the biggest organized crime rings and drug cartels. 

That is precisely why today we can say we are on track 

to putting an end to this story, particularly the part developed 

in the Balkans during the ‘90s war years. We hope we have 

your attention and support in this. 

Contents 

34-39 

EXPLORING 

NATURE 

Wild Serbia 

ADVENTURE 

IN THE BLOOD 

Printed by 

Cicero d.o.o. 

office@cicero.co.rs 

Jovana Žujovića 8, 

Belgade, Serbia 

Translation & proofreading 

MRP Editorial 

mrpeditorial@mail.com 

CIP - Katalogizacija u publikaciji 

Narodna biblioteka Srbije, Beograd 

ISSN 2217-8805 = Kurir Go International 

COBISS.SR-ID 189873420 

22-23 

INTERVIEW 

Ion Iliescu 

FORMER ROMANIAN 

PRESIDENT 

40-43 

ARTIST 

Srđan Dragojević 

FILM DIRECTOR 

AND SCREENWRITER 

44-47 

COEXISTENCE 

Novi Pazar, 

CITY UNITED BY 

TWO FAITHS 

MAY 2012 

03

Our country and EU integration 

May in 

SERBIA 

Visit of the month: 

DEA in Serbia 

Ivica Dačić, deputy Serbian PM 

and Interior Minister, said that his 

meeting with the Director of the 

U.S. Agency for Drug Enforcement 

Administration (DEA) Michele Leonhart, 

who visited Serbia on 6 th 

April, was "historic", highlighting 

exceptional cooperation with the 

agency in the previous period. 

Never before has Belgrade welcomed 

such a senior DEA delegation, 

so this is also confirmation of 

the successful cooperation between 

Serbian and American institutions 

at the level of security – specified 

Dačić. 

This cooperation has resulted in 

many successful operations in the 

fight against the "evil of our time" - 

drugs, Dačić said after a meeting at 

the Palace of Serbia with DEA Chief 

of Operations Thomas Harrigan and 

Regional Director Russell Benton. 

> Beta 

> Marina Lopičić 

Event of the month: 

Opening 

of the "Fiat 

Automobiles of 

Serbia" factory 

Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković 

and CEO of the Fiat-Chrysler group, Sergio 

Marchionne, ceremoniously opened the Fiat 

Automobiles of Serbia factory in Kragujevac 

on 16 th April. This joint project of the Serbian 

government and Italian car giant Fiat is worth 

approximately a billion euros. The Prime Minister 

stressed that the one billion euro investment 

in the plant was probably the biggest 

investment in any production capacity in Serbia 

in decades, adding that once it reaches full 

production it will employ 2,500 workers and 

another 10,000 people indirectly. 

Statement of the month: 

"The EU wants the elections in Serbia to be 

won by politicians who will follow the pro- 

European course, in order to intensify reforms 

in Serbia on its journey towards the EU, but the 

granting of candidate status to Serbia ahead 

of the elections was not politically motivated, 

nor was the ratification of the SAA before the 

2008 elections." 

ŠTEFAN FÜLE, 

European Commissioner for Enlargement 

> Beta 

THIS COOPERATION 

HAS RESULTED IN 

MANY SUCCESSFUL 

OPERATIONS IN THE 

FIGHT AGAINST THE 

“EVIL OF 

OUR TIME” - 

DRUGS 

€390 Million IT Park in Serbia 

Embassy Group, an Indian property developer, 

will start work on a 300-million-euro 

IT business park in Serbia - an investment that 

may be matched by its clients and ultimately 

create 25,000 jobs. 

The Bangalore-based company will start 

construction of the IT park in Inđija, 42 kilometers 

north of Belgrade, with a $40 million 

investment, said company chairman Jitendra 

Virwani in Belgrade recently. The investment 

will take at least five years to complete and 

half of the funds will come from the group’s 

“equity in India and the rest from banks,” 

he said. 

Serbia has 1,600 IT companies employing 

14,000 people. The industry grew five per 

cent last year, generating exports worth 230 

million euros, compared with the country’s 

total sales abroad at the end of 2011, worth 

11.7 billion euros, said Božidar Laganin, head 

of the Serbian Investment and Export Promotion 

Agency, SIEPA. 

04 Kurir GO INTERNATIONAL

Did you know..? 

17 Roman 

emperors, 

a fifth of their total number, 

were born on the territory of 

today’s Serbia. Among them 

was Emperor Constantine 

– one of the most important 

figures in the creation of 

Christian civilization 

One of the largest Serbian 

Orthodox shrines is HILANDAR, 

a Serbian monastery located 

in the northern part of Mount 

Athos - the monastic republic, 

which has 20 large monasteries 

and is located on the third arm 

of northern Greece’s Khalkidhiki 

Peninsula. The monastery was 

built in 1198 by Stefan Nemanja 

and his sons Sava and Stefan the 

First Crowned. 

Belgrade, the capital 

of Serbia, is home 

to around 1.7 million 

inhabitants. More than 

40% of Belgraders are 

between 15 and 44 

years old, which is why 

Belgrade is the CITY 

OF YOUTH 

6 th May is 

election day! 

In Serbia this day will 

see simultaneous 

parliamentary, 

presidential and local 

elections 

Alfred 

Hitchcock 

(1899-1980), 

British film director and producer, 

visited the Serbian capital in the 1960s. 

He said of Belgrade: 

“How much you had to rebuild, considering that 

both the Germans and the allies bombed you. It is 

easy for other major European cities to boast 

of their beauty ... You have a nice little zoo 

... They told me that during the bombing 

the zoo was also hit and the 

animals fled into the streets, but 

they came back on their own... 

That’s really a nice story - I 

don’t know if it’s true.” 

MAY 2012 

05

Serbia has 

no enemies 

in the EU! 

BY GAINING CANDIDATE STATUS OUR COUNTRY 

HAS BECOME A SAFE PLACE FOR INVESTMENT. THE 

FUNDAMENTAL INTEREST OF THE EU IS FOR THE 

ENTIRE BALKANS TO BECOME PART OF THE UNION 

INTERVIEW Dušan Petrović 

Minister of Agriculture, Trade, Forestry and Water Management 


MAY 2012 

07

“ ” 

LITHUANIA HAS A POPULATION OF 3.5 MILLION AND IT RECEIVES A 

BILLION DOLLARS FROM THE EU BUDGET FOR AGRICULTURE ANNUALLY 

> by Milan Dobromirović 

photo: Marina Lopičić 

Serbia is a good investment destination! 

- 

- 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

> How much does gaining candidate status 

mean for agriculture? 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

> Some Serbian citizens say that they do 

 

candidacy. How can you explain to people 

that the best thing for them is to join 

 

- 

 

APPROACHING 

THE EU IS GOOD 

FOR EVERYONE 

WHO LIVES 

IN SERBIA 

Tadić to be elected president again 

> Who will be the next prime minister? 

- I am sure that those who are best qualified – namely Boris Tadić and the 

Democratic Party presidency – will make a timely decision on that. The Democrats 

have more people who could do that job, as has been the case for many 

years. That decision, I am convinced, will be the best… I don’t do names. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

> 

 

- 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

> When could we become a full member of 

 

- 

 

 

 

 

 

> 

 

- 

 

 

 

- 

 

 

 

 

 

- 

 

 

 

 

> And the next president of Serbia? 

- Boris Tadić will win convincingly. That will certainly be the most compelling victory 

of any previous test of strength in presidential elections. Tadić is the best 

solution for citizens, as an experienced statesman who has a well-coordinated 

team. We have enough strength and wisdom to defend all vital national interests, 

while the job of a president is to be the helmsman of political life in Serbia. 

> Do you see yourself in that team? 

- For many years I have done doing everything in my power to make the goal 

that the Democratic Party has had since its inception – i.e. creating room for a 

better life through Serbia’s EU accession – become part of our daily lives. It is 

important to me that the things that I launched in my department are converted, 

as much as possible, into elements of real life both during the campaign and up 

to the selection of a new government, because that creates the possibility for 

farmers to earn and produce more and live better. 


We are working 

on irrigation 

> What has Serbia done to improve the position 

of farmers and what still needs to be 

done? 

- The budget this year is a third higher 

than in 2011, while traditional subsidies 

have increased by 20% (from 18.5 billion dinars 

to 22 billion). The greatest problem facing 

agricultural production is that our farmers 

have a lack of ready cash. As such, this 

year we have placed as much as 80 million litres 

of reasonably priced fuel at the disposal 

of farmers for spring work. Since 17 th April 

farmers have also been receiving advanced 

payments of production subsidies. They 

are offered the cheapest loans currently 

available for all aspects of production. The 

situation is better than it was. In addition 

to these measures, however, the state also 

has to improve the capacity of agricultural 

production in terms of infrastructure. The 

main project is irrigation. We have 4.2 million 

hectares of arable agricultural land, but 

less than 200,000 hectares is irrigated, which 

is one of the lowest percentages of irrigated 

land in Europe. Our plan is to reach a level of 

1.1 million hectares of irrigated land over the 

next four years. People will be able to buy irrigation 

equipment through a combination 

of cheap loans and grant assistance. The PIS 

(forecasting and reporting service) project 

was launched just a few days ago, which will 

identify biological changes. Through this we 

will earn more than €300 million annually, 

which is the entire budget for agriculture. We 

have also signed agreements with Bosnia, 

Montenegro and Macedonia, which will promote 

trade. 

We are continuing 

on the same route 

> What do you expect after the elections in 

Serbia? 

- I am certain that the “Choice for a better 

life - Boris Tadić” coalition will gain the trust of 

citizens to make the key decisions of public 

and political life. After the elections we will 

form a government that will have the same 

political goals as we have followed during these 

four years: for the country to approach the EU 

as quickly as possible and for national interests 

to be protected - above all territorial integrity 

when it comes to Kosovo. 

> How useful for our country is the combining 

of parliamentary and presidential elections? 

- With fewer costs we will complete the entire 

political process in a very short period 

of time. This is a question of making crucial 

savings in the sense that our economy will not 

be exposed to two election campaigns, rather 

we all complete everything in one go. 

MAY 2012 

09

Serbia, the EU & 

SERBIA NEEDS TO CONTINUE ATTRACTING INVESTMENTS IN ORDER TO 

CREATE SUSTAINABLE JOBS. THIS IS ONLY POSSIBLE IF WE CONTINUE 

BUILDING THE NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE AND CONTINUE INSTITUTIONAL 

REFORMS, WITH EUROPEAN INTEGRATION AS THE GUIDING LIGHT 

> by Božidar Đelić, 

former Deputy Serbian Prime Minister 

Serbia’s current presidential, parliamentary and local 

election campaigns are focused on social and 

economic issues. This is for good reason: Serbia, 

just like the rest of Europe, is deeply affected by the 

world crisis. The starkest reminder of this state of 

affairs is the overall unemployment rate, standing 

 

the middle aged, as well as for those in the south 

of the country. 

What can be done in that context? How can Serbia’s 

European path help the country overcome its current 

economic problems? 

The way forward is clear. Serbia needs to continue 

attracting investments in order to create sustainable 

jobs. This is only possible if we continue building 

the necessary infrastructure and continue institutional 

reforms, with European integration as the 

guiding light. 

Serbia improving 

ly 

improving its rating on the global business scene. 

It has taken time, with sophisticated investors – such 

as Fiat, Danieli, Cooper Tires, Grundfos, Panasonic, 

Delhaize, Benetton and many others – having precisely 

analysed the business environment, regulations, 

workforce skills, motivation and political risks. 

sis, 

worth over two billion euros of foreign direct 

investments in 2011, is essential. More than half 

of the investments realised over the past few years 

 

creation projects. 

The greatest testimony to Serbia’s investment 

attractiveness was the opening of the Fiat Serbia 

factory on 16 th April. As Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne 

mentioned at the time, the factory is equipped and 

THE GREATEST 

TESTIMONY 

TO SERBIA’S 

INVESTMENT 

ATTRACTIVENESS 

WAS THE 

OPENING OF 

THE FIAT SERBIA 

FACTORY ON 

16 TH APRIL 

calibrated to be one of the most modern and productive 

car factories in the world. I have no doubt 

that the motivated workforce in Kragujevac will 

provide one of the most important business recommendations 

for Serbia in the years to come and 

will thereby help us attract other carmakers. Small 

domestic automotive component makers, such as 

Gomma Line, are also seizing the opportunity to 

supply Fiat, as well as accessing the Russian market 

 

Europe that do not pay any customs duties. 

New investments 

Just as importantly, existing investors – such as 

Michelin, Siemens and Gorenje – have announced 

 

For Michelin this means a further investment of 

€170 million in capacity extension, because they 

 

the south of the country. 

In addition to competitive costs, attractive taxation 

and a strong system of incentives, investors appreciate 

the overall stability and predictability of the 

country. Last year Serbia was the only country in 

Europe to be upgraded by S&P, to a solid BB rating 

 

 

time last September, going straight to a very well 

received $1 billion 10-year Eurobond deal. 

The March decision of EU leaders to grant Serbia 

candidate status will further strengthen the resolve 

of those considering our country as an investment 

destination. 

The only sustainable jobs come from healthy and 

competitive domestic and international companies. 

There is no magic wand. We need to continue crea- 

 

A key condition is infrastructure. It is telling that 

two thirds of all investments in Serbia over the past 

ten years have been located less than 20 kilometres 

lising 

this key road link to Bulgaria and Macedonia, 

as well as constructing a new one between Belgrade 

 

be top of the list of priorities. Moreover, there is a 

need to continue revitalizing railways, building multimodal 

ports along the Danube, upgrading existing 


the economy 

> Zorana Jevtić 

Božidar Đelić is 

convinced of 

Serbia’s great 

potential 

“ ” 

LAST YEAR SERBIA WAS THE ONLY COUNTRY IN EUROPE TO BE UPGRADED 

BY S&P, TO A SOLID BB RATING WHICH WAS RECONFIRMED LAST MONTH 

renewable energy resources and building new ones. 

Much remains to be done and, in times of scarcer 

 

 

The second condition is to create an even more 

business friendly environment. There has been progress 

in all areas, in particular in justice reform, land 

ownership, building permits and ownership rights 

ver, 

the competition has moved faster than us on 

several fronts over the past few years. We will need 

to improve the public purchasing system, cut unnecessary 

red tape, make sure we don’t have parallel 

EU and Serbian technical standards and reduce the 

number and level of different duties levied against 

small businesses. 

Last, but certainly not least, the recent €400 million 

investment in science and technology infrastructure 

and the launch of the National Innovation Fund’s 

 

by an increased focus on our education system. 

Serbia, just like Ireland, will win in the long term 

if it succeeds in producing the skilled workforce 

st century. 

MAY 2012 

11


Serbs, you deserve 

EU negotiations 

I KNOW PRESIDENT TADIĆ IS BRAVELY SEEKING A SOLUTION FOR 

KOSOVO THAT IS ACCEPTABLE TO THE EU. AUSTRIA WILL CONTINUE 

TO SUPPORT SERBIA IN THE PROCESS OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION 

INTERVIEW Heinz Fischer 

Austrian President 

> by Marija Kordić 

Bilateral relations between Austria 

and Serbia are excellent, but there’s 

always room for improvement, says 

Austrian President Heinz Fischer in 

an interview for Kurir Go International. 

 

 

have contributed to that slightly. Aside from 

political and economic relations, personal 

contact is also extremely important in order 

 

> Will Austrian companies continue to invest 

in Serbia despite the crisis? 

- Austrian companies are [collectively] the 

biggest investor in Serbia and have so far invested 

€2.8 billion since 2000. You don’t become 

the largest investor if you don’t believe in a 

long-term positive return. Of course, every Austrian 

company decides for themselves where 

they will invest, but all the efforts that Serbia 

 

investors will be monitored with interest. 

AUSTRIA HAS 

VERY CLOSE 

RELATIONS 

WITH GERMANY 

AND THAT 

MEANS THAT 

“THE CASE OF 

SERBIA” IS 

OFTEN A TOPIC 

OF OUR TALKS 

WITH GERMANY 

- Serbia already exports a lot of products 

to Austria and our imports from Serbia have 

 

an opportunity to develop its manufacturing 

industry, food processing, textiles and metallurgy 

- and these are all areas where there 

are also Austrian investments. 

> You’ve said that Balkan countries have a 

place in the EU. What makes you think that? 

- The European Union is a union of Europe- 

 

 

and, therefore, they have a place in the EU; 

 

 

meets them can join. Everything else would 

be unfair and unjust. But that does not mean, 

of course, that there won’t be detailed and 

complicated negotiations before the European 

Commission’s positive recommendation and 

the approval of membership status. 

> Could Austria be the mediator between Serbia 

and Germany? Could you help us establish 

a better understanding with Berlin? 

 

 

journey in the way I just described. Austria has 

very close relations with Germany and that 

> Could you announce any new investments 

and, if so, in which sectors? 

- The most recent major investment is the 

 

which has signed an agreement regarding a 

new factory in Subotica. We have more projects 

underway, for example the construction of two 

hotels in Belgrade by companies Soravia and 

 

Rauch, which has announced the expansion 

of its existing plantations in Koceljeva. 

> What products could Serbia export to Austria? 

Serbs are good workers 

continuing on page 14 

> A large Serb community lives in Austria. How do they fit in? 

- They fit in well and represent a good bridge between our two countries, 

but President Tadić and I were unable to agree on whether Vienna 

is the third or fourth largest Serbian city! 

> How have the Serbs proved to be as workers in Austria? 

- I don’t like generalisations, but the fact that many Serbs work in 

Austria shows that their work is rated here. 

MAY 2012 

13

“ ” 

PRESIDENT TADIĆ AND I WERE UNABLE TO 

AGREE ON WHETHER VIENNA IS THE THIRD 

OR FOURTH LARGEST SERBIAN CITY! 

> Dragana Udovičić 

continued from page 13 

means that “the case of Serbia” is often a 

topic of our talks with Germany. The fact 

that Germany agreed that Serbia gain the 

status of EU membership candidate shows 

that Germany also rates your country’s reform 

efforts. 

> Serbia is hopeful of receiving a date for 

the start of negotiations by the end of 

this year. Do you think that’s realistic? 

- As I said after my meeting with President 

rd March, I do not want to repeat 

I was scared 

when I did a 

parachute jump 

> Last year you did a parachute jump. 

How come? Were you scared? 

- Well, as commander-in-chief of the 

Austrian Army I was making regular 

visits to various units. When it was 

the turn of the paratroopers and they 

invited me to jump with them, how 

could I refuse? Yes, before the jump 

I was a little scared, but after that it 

was good! 

the mistakes made by some during the ‘90s 

when they travelled to Prague, Budapest or 

Bratislava and talked about optimistic dates 

that later would not be met. But, of course, 

I hope negotiations will start without any 

further delay. 

> Do you think Belgrade has deserved to 

see negotiations start? Will you support 

Serbia in that sense? 

- Yes, Belgrade deserves the start of negotiations, 

as you say, in the near future. 

And, yes, you can rely on our support. 

> What’s the main condition in relation 

to Kosovo for EU negotiations to begin? 

- It is clear that constructive and productive 

negotiations between Belgrade and 

Pristina are necessary in order to reach a 

solution acceptable to both sides. I know 

 

that’s acceptable to the EU and I also believe 

Prime Minister Thaci has much invested 

in these negotiations. This process must 

be continued constructively. 

> Is it true that Austria lobbied for Serbia 

to gain candidate status. Were you personally 

engaged in that? 

-Yes, that’s absolutely true. You may recall 

the joint letter of the foreign ministers of 

Austria, Italy and France to their counterparts 

in the EU in which they lobbied for 

Serbia just a few days before the decision 

to grant candidate status to Serbia. As for 

myself, I used my contacts with relevant 

statesmen with the same goal. 

> Europe is going through a recession. Do 

you think the current economic system 

will survive or will something have to 

change? 

- Some things have already changed, if 

you think of the EU’s decision to cut its 

budget deficit and public debt. But, on 

the other hand, we must not forget: low 

unemployment and social justice are still 

important for social unity and they call for 

public consumption. That’s why the current 

situation is still severe and unstable. 


Cooperation between parties is important 

> Your party belongs to the group of social democrats. Do you cooperate with 

parties of the same orientation in Serbia, the Democratic Party or the Socialist 

Party of Serbia? 

- I cannot speak on behalf of the Austrian Social Democratic Party because I froze 

my membership when I was elected president, but I believe there is cooperation 

within Socialist International. 

> How much can that kind of international interparty cooperation help in the resolving 

of national issues? 

- In general, cooperation between parties that have a similar orientation is a good 

thing. That is why both social democrats and conservatives are organized in that 

way at the European level. 

> Austria once created an economic boom 

by opening SMEs. What is the recipe? 

- I’m not an economist, but I think a good 

education, access to start-up capital and 

a dose of entrepreneurial spirit are good 

ingredients. During the period of the republic 

after World War II, we learned this 

lesson from the tragic events before the war: 

political stability is extremely important. 

Stability and trust between employees and 

employers is essential. This is called “social 

partnership” and we were successful when 

both groups worked together and ensured 

that any increase in GDP is allocated in the 

fairest possible way. 

MAY 2012 

15

The fight against 

corruption 

is a priority 

IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS ABOUT 20 CRIMINAL GROUPS INVOLVED IN THE 

PRODUCTION AND TRAFFICKING OF NARCOTICS HAVE BEEN SMASHED 

> by Miljko Radisavljević 

Prosecutor for Organized Crime 

Browsing the volumes of Europe’s international 

obligations, it appears that in 

Chapters 23 and 24 Serbia will have to 

show the value of all previous efforts, 

 

we, as a society, passed through during all these 

years of transition. 

“The Chapter of all chapters,” crucial to the 

outcome of the negotiation process, is about the 

judiciary and the fundamental rule of law. Therefore, 

as a prosecutor for organized crime, I feel a 

great responsibility towards this challenge. I know 

that one of the hardest obligations among the four 

major areas covered by Chapter 23 that Croatia 

had trouble with in the negotiating process was 

precisely the struggle against corruption. 

To date Serbia has enacted a series of regulations 

that have provided the country with the 

necessary legal framework to effectively combat 

organized crime and corruption and all other 

forms of serious crime. Most of them are under 

 

for Organized Crime. 

 

 

gislative 

framework has been adopted, but rather 

also seeks solid indications of the application and 

enforcement of those laws. 

zed 

Crime has been marked by the treatment in 

criminal cases of the new jurisdiction for criminal 

offenses, so-called high and severe corruption. 

Even before 2010 prosecutors were heavily enga- 

 

 

under its “basic” jurisdiction. This was about 

WE COOPERATE 

WITH THE 

PROSECUTION 

SERVICES 

OF EVERY 

COUNTRY IN 

THE REGION 

AND DO SO 

THROUGH 

EXCHANGES 

AND MUTUAL 

LEGAL 

ASSISTANCE 

crimes committed by organized criminal groups. 

I would like to emphasize that, from 2010, 

the prosecuting of the perpetrators of the worst 

forms of corruption has become a priority in the 

 

results have been achieved. 

Results achieved 

Between its establishment and the end of 2011, 

 

for Organized Crime had launched criminal proceedings 

against 2,053 people for 3,848 criminal 

 

so far imposed run into the thousands of years. 

 

of organized crime related to the unauthorized 

production and sale of narcotics, illegal border 

 

feiting 

credit cards, while organized groups involved 

in the thefts of cars and trucks have also 

been processed. 

In the last four years about 20 criminal gro- 

 

of narcotics have been smashed. Since 2008 we 

have launched proceedings against 211 members 

of organized crime groups dealing with the 

production and smuggling of drugs intended for 

 

higher if one takes into account the members of 

international organized crime groups, who we 

processed in cooperation with prosecutors from 

other countries. Among the most important cases 

in our work were certainly the criminal proceedings 

against members of the organized criminal 

 

in October 2009 after the seizure of 2,174 kg of 

“ 

OUR FIGHT AGAINST ORGANIZED CRIME IS A BATTLE FOR CIVILIZED VALUES NOT 

” 

ONLY IN SERBIA, BUT OVER A MUCH WIDER AREA 


An end to the 

“Zemun Clan” 

> Dado Đilas 

At the beginning of 2012 the Office of the Prosecutor 

for Organized Crime filed an indictment 

against Luka Bojović and three other former 

members of the Zemun Clan for three murders 

committed in 2004 in Belgrade. Bojović and 

Vladimir Milisavljević were arrested in Spain in 

early 2012. I believe that by prosecuting Luka 

Bojović’s criminal organization we have put 

an end to the Zemun Clan, because all of its 

members are either in jail or not among the 

living. I have no illusions that this has marked 

an end to the fight against organized crime. 

cocaine at the port of Santa Lucia near Montevideo 

in Uruguay. Through later extensions of the 

case, members of this international organized 

crime group were charged with smuggling more 

than 5.7 tonnes of cocaine. 

In cooperation with institutions from the Czech 

Republic and Slovenia, 120 kilograms of pure 

heroin, purchased in Turkey and intended for 

the market of Western Europe, was also seized 

in October 2010. That year criminal proceedings 

were initiated against members of Marjan 

 

 

international organized crime group, who are 

former members of the Zemun Clan charged with 

smuggling 215 kilograms of marijuana purchased 

negro 

to Serbia and Germany in 2010 and 2011. 

International cooperation 

 

 

 

against organized crime is a battle for civilized 

values not only in Serbia, but over a much wider 

area. This is a global challenge, a problem 

that we must solve together. The deep roots and 

broad regional network that criminals built for 

decades in the Western Balkans are certainly a 

 

Brothers in arms have always understood, because 

for them the war was a source of enormous 

revenue and unimagined enrichment. Some of 

- 

 

their networks all over the world. 

International cooperation becomes more important 

if one takes into account the growing 

seriousness of criminal activities linked to drugs, 

tobacco and weapons. Such activities are often 

led by criminal organizations from the Balkans, 

including citizens of Serbia. They cooperate with 

criminal groups operating in other countries, particularly 

in the EU. I would note that international 

cooperation is conducted through the exchange 

of information with the prosecution services of 

other countries and mutual legal assistance in 

criminal matters. It is important to highlight that 

 

activities also enabled the launching of criminal 

proceedings in Serbia and other countries. 

MAY 2012 

17

Serbia is not a safe haven for criminals! 

THE EFFORTS THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS 

INVESTED IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ORGANIZED 

CRIME HAVE PAID OFF, BECAUSE NO ORGANIZED 

CRIMINAL GROUP EXISTS IN SERBIA THAT COULD 

SHAKE THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE STATE 

CASE CLOSED 


Marina Lopičić 

S 

> by Jelena Spasić 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- 

 

 

 

 

 

- 

 

- 

 

FOR THE 

FIRST TIME 

IN THE LAST 

TWENTY YEARS 

THERE IS NO 

UNDERWORLD 

BOSS IN OUR 

COUNTRY 

“Dark” ties severed 

Through an efficient fight, Serbia has broken the illusion that criminals 

can be stronger than the state. 

- I maintain that we have severed the links between political structures 

and organized crime, which were unfortunately a characteristic of Serbian 

society two decades ago - say justice minister Snežana Malović. 

Slobodan Homen, 

Secretary of State at 

the Justice Ministry 

 

- 

 

 

 

- 

 

- 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

 

 

 

MAY 2012 

19

Boris Tadić chats 

with Serbian Justice 

Minister Snežana 

Malović 

> Nemanja Pančić 

years has passed since the implementation of this 

Act. During this period assets worth more than 

€350 million have been seized, mostly temporarily, 

but this is not the end. Given that a large number 

 

expected that this amount will reach half a billion 

euros in the near future. 

Slobodan Homen, State Secretary in the Ministry 

of Justice, also spoke to KGI about this issue, 

saying that, considering these statistics, Serbia 

succeeeded in positioning itself as a regional 

leader and runner-up in Europe when it comes 

 

from crime. We are proud of the fact that Serbia 

is singled out and praised at many international 

conferences as the second country in Europe and 

the world, just behind Italy, in terms of the value 

of seized property. 

The message Serbia sends is clear: the fight 

against organized crime can only be successful 

when there is the political will for it. 

State Secretary Homen assessed that the highest 

 

been achieved in recent years. 

- After nearly 20 years, Serbia today doesn’t have 

anyone who could be dubbed as the “coordinated 

boss of the underworld”. All those who either had 

that role, or to whom the media attributed that role 

in Serbia are now either in prison or in hiding in 

some distant lands - Homen announced recently. 

That, as he noted, sends a clear message that the 

state will not tolerate the formation of large and 

 

is that there are more and more foreign investors 

who want to invest in our country. 

Champions 

The message of Boris Tadić was also unambiguous when he announced 

the fight against organized crime at the beginning of his mandate. He 

recently said that Serbia is a “champion country” in terms of the fight 

against organized crime in Southeast Europe. 

- We have completed very important steps against organized crime 

in Serbia. We are a champion country in this area across the whole of 

Southeast Europe and I am proud of that - said Tadić, adding that investors 

from abroad have made three times as many inquiries about doing 

business in Serbia since the country gained candidate status. 

According to him, this is a concrete example of how political reforms 

and the country’s progress towards the EU can create better conditions 

for people’s lives. 

“ 

SERBIA HAS SUCCEEDED IN POSITIONING ITSELF AS A REGIONAL LEADER AND 

” 

RUNNER-UP IN EUROPE FOR THE EFFICIENCY OF CONFISCATING CRIMINALS’ ASSETS 


Goran Nešić, aka 

Ciga (Gypo) (42) 

- One of the 

region’s biggest 

drug traffickers, 

Serbian authorities 

issued an 

arrest warrant 

for him after 

courts sentenced him in absentia 

to eight years in prison for 

drug trafficking. He was arrested 

on 5 th May last year as part of a 

Brazilian police operation in the 

Brazilian city of Bauru. 

Serbia has requested his extradition. 

Vladimir 

Milisavljević, 

aka Vlada the Fool 

(Vlada Budala) (34) 

- Arrested 

alongside Luka 

Bojović in the 

same Valencia 

police operation, 

he has been 

sentenced to a 

maximum term of 40 years for 

crimes committed as a member 

of the Zemun Clan and earned a 

35-year sentence for his participation 

in the assassination of PM 

Zoran Đinđić. 

He awaits extradition to Serbia. 

Miloš Simović (33) 

- Arrested on 

10 th June 2010 

on the border 

with Croatia 

while trying to 

enter Serbia. Allegedly, 

according 

to the Special Prosecutor’s 

Office, he surrendered. He was 

sentenced to 30 years imprisonment 

for his involvement in 

the murder of PM Đinđić. He is 

awaiting the repeated process of 

trying the crimes of the Zemun 

Clan and trials for involvement 

in numerous murders on behalf 

of Luka Bojović. 

Sretko Kalinić (38) 

- Arrested on 

8 th June 2010 

in Zagreb after 

being shot 

at by Miloš 

Simović. He 

was sentenced 

to 30 years for his involvement 

in the PM’s assassination. He is 

awaiting the repeated process 

of trying the crimes of the Zemun 

Clan and trials for involvement 

in numerous murders on 

behalf of Luka Bojović. 

Dobrosav Gavrić (34) 

- Arrested in 

Johannesburg, 

South Africa, in 

December last 

year. He was 

sentenced to 

35 years by the 

Serbian courts for the murder of 

Željko Raznatović, aka Arkan, in 

Belgrade’s Hotel Intercontinental 

on 15 th January 2000. Serbia has 

sent a request and is awaiting 

his extradition. 

Luka Bojović (39) 

- Arrested on 

9 th February this 

year in Valencia. 

He is accused 

of committing 

several murders. 

The arrest 

operation included Serbian and 

Spanish police. 

He awaits extradition to Serbia. 

Sreten Jocić, aka 

Joca Amsterdam (49) 

- Arrested on 

27 th April 2009 

in Belgrade on 

the orders of the 

Special Prosecutor’s 

Office on suspicion 

of involvement 

in the murder of Nacional 

owner Ivo Pukanić. 

Zoran Ćopić (46) 

- Suspected 

of being the 

main money 

launderer of fugitive 

drug boss 

Darko Šarić. He 

was arrested 

in Banja Luka on 25 th April last 

year, where he is also being tried. 

The Special Court in Belgrade is 

also leading several procedures 

against him for the same offence. 

CASE CLOSED 

Željko Milovanović, 

aka Red Wind (46) 

- Arrested on 

30 th May 2009 

in Belgrade’s 

downtown 

Dorćol neighbourhood 

in a 

Serbian police 

operation. He is being tried 

before the Special Court in 

Belgrade for the murder of Ivo 

Pukanić, owner of Zagreb-based 

newspaper Nacional. 

MAY 2012 

21

The Union is 

our joint goal 

INTERNAL STANDARDS AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ARE 

IMPORTANT FOR ENTRY INTO THE EU. SERBIA MUST IMPROVE 

RELATIONS WITH GERMANY, BECAUSE IT IS THE MAJOR ECONOMIC 

FORCE IN EUROPE AND HAS A LEADERSHIP ROLE 

INTERVIEW Ion Iliescu 

former Romanian president 


“ 

IT’S NOT ENOUGH SIMPLY TO ENTER THE EU TO IMPROVE STANDARDS. IT IS 

” 

VERY IMPORTANT HOW A COUNTRY IS GOVERNED AND RESOURCES USED 

> by Marija Kordić 

In Romania there is a saying: We have only 

two good neighbours: Serbia and the Black 

Sea – so says Ion Iliescu at the beginning of his 

interview for Kurir Go International. A former 

Romanian president, this is the politician who 

created a democratic system after the fall of Nicolae 

Ceausescu’s regime and took Romania into the EU. 

- The EU is our common goal and that is very 

important, because when you compare us with 

the countries of Western Europe, which history 

has been more gracious towards, our countries 

have always been under the rule of foreign powers, 

 

That’s why we should work together to this end 

and mutually support each other. 

> zorana Jevtić 

> 

 

 

to establish a modern democracy, to stabilise the 

economy and adapt it to European standards. Then 

we had to convince our partners in the world that 

we were a real democracy. For entry into the EU 

both internal standards and international relations 

are important. 

> 

 

 

 

- Serbia has good relations with Italy and that is 

important, but also with France and the UK. You 

ought to further develop all of those relations, but 

 

is the major economic force in Europe and has a 

leadership role. You have intelligent leaders; they 

 

is a very intelligent man and a good politician. 

> - 

 

 

- Of course. That is not straightforward, given 

 

given NATO’s hostility towards the country, but it 

 

> 

- There are EU members that are not in NATO, 

 

Serbia’s neighbours are in NATO, it would be positive 

for Serbia to join. 

IT WOULD BE 

POSITIVE FOR 

SERBIA TO 

JOIN NATO 

On the Šamac-Sarajevo tracks 

> What do you do nowadays, since leaving politics? 

- I am still politically active and am writing my memoirs. In them I mention 

my first trip to Yugoslavia in 1947. I was a student at the time and a member of 

the youth brigade. I passed through Yugoslavia on the way to Albania, where 

we built the first Albanian railroad track, then on [to Bosnia] for construction 

of the Šamac-Sarajevo railway. The second time I was in Yugoslavia was in 

1956, as leader of the Romanian students at a student meeting. 

> 

 

 

- It is not enough simply to enter the EU to improve 

the standard of living, on the contrary. In the 

last three years we have had a worsening economic 

situation. Membership alone is not enough, it is 

very important how a country is governed and 

how resources are used. 

> 

 

- The prerequisite will be the normalisation of 

relations between Serbia and Kosovo. You must 

 

But Serbia has a problem realising that there is 

now a new equation in neighbourhood relations. 

> 

 

 

- We have always approached this issue with 

a view to our friendly relations with Serbia. Our 

position will be determined by the position of 

our Serbian friends regarding the Kosovo issue. 

MAY 2012 

23

Dado Đilas 

Craze to find the element of the future 

Serbian treasure! 

THIS MINERAL, FIRST DISCOVERED IN THE JADAR VALLEY 

IN THE VICINITY OF LOZNICA, CONTAINS LITHIUM THAT 

IS BEING SOUGHT WORLDWIDE BY AROUND 60 

MINING COMPANIES THAT ARE WILLING TO INVEST MORE 

THAN A BILLION DOLLARS IN ITS EXPLOITATION 

> by Katarina Martić 


WHAT IS 

JADARITE? 

“ ” 

IT HAS BEEN ESTIMATED THAT THE JADAR SITE WOULD 

COVER 20 PERCENT OF WORLD DEMAND FOR LITHIUM 

AND 90 PERCENT OF EUROPEAN NEEDS 

Lithium, which is contained in 

the mineral jadarite, was discovered 

eight years ago near 

Loznica in Serbia and is the 

key element for the technology 

of the future! And at Jadar there is as 

much as 114.6 million tonnes of it! According 

to experts, this means that the 

Jadran basin contains the most lithium in 

Europe. 

Lithium is used in the production 

of batteries for almost all the electronic 

 

application in electric and hybrid motor 

vehicles. It has been estimated that the 

Jadar site would cover 20 percent of world 

demand for lithium and 90 percent of 

European needs! 

Serbian jadarite has also interested the 

New York Times. 

- This mineral contains 1.8 percent lithium 

oxide, which is being sought by some 

60 mining companies that are willing to 

invest over a billion dollars! Lithium, a 

key material for hybrid and electric vehicles, 

could lead to new projects worth 

over a billion dollars in the next few 

years, writes the New York Times. 

tes 

that Australian company Rio Tinto 

has invested more than $50 million in 

researching the area since 2004. 

- They plan to create 800 to 1,000 

new jobs and we are already considering 

 

to secondary schools in Loznica. As for 

land acquisition, that will be conducted 

in several variations, under the supervision 

of the Tax Administration, so that 

both locals and foreigners are happy that 

everything is conducted at market pri- 

 

 

stures 

of the Loznica villages of Slatina, 

Jarebice, Stupnica and Draginac for reserves 

at depths of 300 to 600 metres. Under 

strict safety and environmental measures, 

some 56 wells have also been opened. 

The opening of the mine is scheduled 

for 16 th July 2014, the centenary of the 

New site near Valjevo 

By 2020 Serbia should be able to cover about 90 percent 

of lithium production in Europe, as was confirmed at a session 

of the Serbian Parliament’s Committee for Industry by 

Dušan Sajić, advisor at the Ministry of Mining participating in 

the Committee that adopted the Strategy for Managing 

Serbia’s Mineral Resources until 2030. 

- There are indications that another site near Mionica and 

Valjevo could hold reserves of a mineral similar to that found 

in the Jadar basin – added Sajić. 

NUMBERS 

15 

lithium 

research sites 

exist in the 

country 

115 

million 

tonnes of 

this ore are in 

Serbia 

270 

thousand 

dollars is 

the price of 

one tonne of 

lithium 

WWI Battle of Jadar. 

Nenad Grubin, director of Rio Tinto’s 

Serbian subsidiary Rio Sava, which is 

exploring lithium and boron sites in 

Jadar, says that “Rio Sava” is working 

intensively to determine the 

geological characteristics of jadarite 

reserves and methods for its exploitation 

and processing. 

- We acquired an exploration license 

from the ministry of mining in 

2004. The project is located on an area 

around 15 kilometres east of Loznica, 

near the settlements of Jarebice 

and Draginac. We are currently in the 

prefeasibility phase, the completion of 

which is expected in the next year and 

a half to two years. 

Alongside Rio Tinto, jadrinite is 

currently being sought in Serbia by 

companies Lithium Exploration Group 

and Ultra Balkan. 

Loznica 

Koceljeva 

Number of sites grows 

Besides Loznica, Koceljeva, Valjevo and Ljig to the west, through Preljina, Kragujevac, 

Lađevci, Trnava and Janok near Baljevac, all the way to Blaca and Raška, 

the three biggest international companies are currently investigating lithium 

and boron sites. Both elements are contained in the mineral jadarite. 

Čačak 

Valjevo 

Preljina 

Lađevci 

Kragujevac 

Blace 

> A white, powdery 

mineral 

that is soluble in 

acids and is 

not radioactive 

> Discovered in 

2004 near 

Jadar during a 

search for borate 

> Scientifically acknowledged 

in 

2006 

> Found by multinational 

geologists 

of company 

Rio Tinto 

> A chemical 

structure 

and formula resembling 

the 

fictional mineral 

kryptonite, 

whose green rays 

stripped the 

hero Superman 

of his powers 

> Chemical 

formula: 

lithium-sodiumboron-silicate 

hydroxide LiNa- 

SiB3O7 (OH) 

> Contains 

boron and 

lithium compounds, 

which 

have a 

wide range 

of applications 

> Lithium is the 

most important 

element in 

the manufacture 

of lithium 

batteries for 

mobile phones, 

computers and 

hybrid and electric 

drive automobiles 

MAY 2012 

25

No EU approach 

without NATO 

membership 

I DON’T KNOW OF A SINGLE CASE OF A STATE THAT MANAGED TO JOIN THE 

EU WITHOUT PREVIOUSLY BECOMING A MEMBER OF NATO. IN THE FINAL 

ANALYSIS, THAT REPRESENTS A GUARANTEE OF REGIONAL STABILITY 

INTERVIEW István Pásztor 

Chairman of the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians 

> by Tomo Rakočević 

Relations with national minorities are 

certainly showing signs of improvement 

in Vojvodina. The Law on National 

Councils is a major advance and 

I think it represents an innovation on 

a large scale. However, that law is perceived differently. 

Some think it’s far too much; that it’s a 

concession to those who have lost their common 

sense. I think that’s a tragedy of Serbian society 

– says István Pásztor, chairman of the Alliance of 

Vojvodina Hungarians, in an interview for Kurir 

Go International. 

> How do you assess relations between the central 

government and Vojvodina? 

- In the last four years that relationship could 

WE CANNOT 

COOPERATE 

WITH THE 

EXTREME RIGHT 

BECAUSE THAT 

WOULD OPPOSE 

THE VALUES WE 

REPRESENT 

> Molndar Edvard 

 

and provincial governments. The central government 

acts towards Vojvodina like an elder brother 

towards a younger brother in need of a slap around 

the face. It’s very problematic that such a relationship 

extends through the entire hierarchy of the 

parliament. Both the provincial government and 

local councils are sufferings because of all of that. 

> Could you explain to us why you are running 

for the presidency of Serbia even though you 

don’t believe you will make it through to the 

second round of voting? 

- The main reason for my candidacy to be president 

of Serbia is to show that, in addition to those 

candidates who are in the focus of media attention, 

there are other people who can utter normal 

sentences and normal views. 

> How do you view the support for the upcoming 

elections that you received from Hungarian 

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán? 

- That support is partly directed towards me and 

partly towards Serbia. Viktor Orbán is credited with 

arguing in favour of the candidacy of Serbia for the 

European Union in March, and not only halfway 

through the year. However, I am somewhat shocked 

by the reactions this support elicited. Orbán is 

the leader of FIDES, which is our partner party. 

Moreover, he is my personal friend and a man 

who is helping Serbia in the EU accession process. 

His support means sending a clear message to the 

Hungarian community in Vojvodina that what is 

acceptable to him is no different to that which 

the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians stands for. 

> You are among the more vocal supporters of 

Serbia’s entry into NATO. 

- I don’t know of a single case of a state that managed 

to join the EU without previously becoming 

a member of NATO. Quite simply, today in the 

Balkans there’s no approaching the EU without 

resents 

a guarantee of regional stability. 


Molndar Edvard 

Republic of Vojvodina – 

science fiction 

You are opposed to the notion of Vojvodina becoming 

a republic. 

- We can’t imagine Serbia as a federal state, 

because it never had a federal past. As such, I 

think launching the notion of the federalisation 

of Serbia is an idea bordering on science fiction. 

However, this does not mean that I think Vojvodina 

shouldn’t have a different status in some form of 

unitary state. 

> You have announced that you will support 

 

elections, but that you will request he respects 

certain conditions? 

- The topic of discussion will be our election 

programme, which consists of 12 points. That will 

be the platform that we would like to reach agree- 

 

 

a common policy through discussion. 

> 

 

 

- I want to draw your attention to the fact that 

such a movement does not exist and joining something 

that is nonexistent, you must admit, is an 

suade 

me to accept that that movement exists, 

then I would have to tell you that it is extreme, 

always extreme, despite comprising members of 

operate 

with the extreme right because that would 

oppose the values we represent. 

> 

 

- This is a schizophrenic policy intended to lull 

 

is to make a society confront reality. Kosovo today 

is actually not a part of Serbia. Over the past ten 

years the Serbian leadership has exerted superhuman 

efforts to return the status of Kosovo to the 

previous situation, but the result of that is that not 

a single lever of the Serbian government functions 

in Kosovo today. I understand what approaching 

 

policy on Kosovo. Unlike other politicians, I deliberately 

talk about Kosovo because I believe that 

Serbian society has to face reality. 

“ ” 

I UNDERSTAND WHAT APPROACHING THE 

EU MEANS, BUT I DON’T UNDERSTAND THE 

OFFICIAL POLICY ON KOSOVO 

MAY 2012 

27

Reforms by which 

THE REFORM PROCESS WAS INITIATED AT THE MINISTRY OF 

DEFENCE IN 2008, FOLLOWING ADOPTION OF THE BASIC 

STRATEGIC DOCUMENT THAT CONFIRMS OUR EUROPEAN 

PERSPECTIVE AND INCLUDES RESPONSES TO CONTEMPORARY 

SECURITY CHALLENGES 

> by Dr Tanja Miščević, 

PhD., State Secretary at 

the Ministry of Defence 


we are recognised 

What particularly separates the 

Ministry of Defence and the Army 

of Serbia from the rest, and by 

which we are recognised, are the 

fundamental changes towards 

creating a modern European army, a partner of 

other armies in ensuring peace, with full democratic 

and civil control. The reform process was 

initiated at the Ministry of Defence in 2008, following 

adoption of the basic strategic document that 

 

responses to contemporary security challenges. 

The general strategic direction is further clari- 

 

governing the functioning of the military and 

special security agencies. With this, the Ministry 

of Defence actually completed the entire workload 

for the current stage of Serbia’s European 

integration process, as was also stated by the 

European Commission when it gave its opinion 

last year. Moreover, we are aware that our work 

 

we published the White Book of the Defence of 

Serbia, which presents all the facts regarding issues 

related to the defence of Serbia – something 

that would have been completely unthinkable in 

previous periods. 

Professionalisation of the Army 

Organizational changes within the Ministry of 

Defence, aimed at full harmonisation with the 

standards and solutions applied in other modern 

countries, implied that those functions that do 

not belong to military organizations (such as or- 

 

infrastructure) be taken over by the civil structure 

of the ministry. The Army General Staff HQ was 

thereby given enough room to address the most 

important element of the reform of the Serbian 

Army: complete professionalisation. Since January 

2011 the Serbian Army has had no more 

national service conscripts, rather all tasks are 

performed by professional soldiers, both women 

and men. We also further strengthened the principle 

of gender equality through the adoption of 

the Action Plan for implementing UN Resolution 

 

country in the Western Balkans and one of the 

few countries throughout Europe, and with the 

help of civil society. 

Since 2001 Serbia has also had the University 

of Defence, which has been incorporated into 

the system of civilian universities. It comprises 

the Military Medical Academy and the Military 


TANJA 

MIŠČEVIĆ: 

WE ARE A 

MEMBER 

OF ALL 

REGIONAL 

INITIATIVES 

IN THE FIELD 

OF SECURITY 

AND 

ACTIVELY 

PARTICIPATE 

IN THEIR 

WORK 

Academy and is fully accredited in accordance with 

the Bologna Process, with all levels of higher education 

– bachelors, masters and doctoral studies. 

International cooperation 

At the same time, bilateral and multilateral mi- 

tries 

in the region, the most important countries 

of the international community and international 

security organizations. A network of bilateral 

 

beyond Europe’s territory and certainly includes 

all of our neighbours – a total of 60 countries. We 

 

of security and actively participate in their work. 

Since 2006 Serbia has also been a member of the 

Partnership for Peace programme, which marks 

the framework of our security cooperation with 

NATO. Since September last year we have also had 

our own mission to this organization, in order to 

be as inclusive as possible when it comes to discussions 

on global security. Last year we adopted 

 

to continue our successful business of developing 

and selling weapons and equipment. We have be- 

 

exporter, realising business worth $1 billion in four 

years - something the dedicated defence industry 

of the former Yugoslavia couldn’t even boast of. 

Our plans regarding international cooperation 

are turned towards stronger participation in multinational 

operations. We currently participate 

 

Ivory Coast, Lebanon and Cyprus. Since just a 

 

in EU crisis management missions, participating 

in the ATLANTA mission on the coast of Somalia, 

while in March the EU decided to begin discussions 

with us on an agreement with the European 

Defence Agency. 

New system of values 

 

of Defence has done a great job of reforming from 

international institutions like the EU, the UN and 

the OSCE. We are especially proud of the fact that 

our citizens recognise everything we have done 

so far, which is why we are the number one state 

institution when it comes to citizens’ trust. In fact, 

when we look at the results of these four years, 

we can truly say that the Ministry of Defence has 

peanisation 

of Serbia and the introduction of a 

new system of values. 

> Jelena Obradoviić 

“ ” 

WE ARE ESPECIALLY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT OUR CITIZENS RECOGNISE 

EVERYTHING WE HAVE DONE SO FAR, WHICH IS WHY WE ARE THE NUMBER 

ONE STATE INSTITUTION WHEN IT COMES TO CITIZENS’ TRUST 

MAY 2012 

29

The Church is 

best placed to take 

care of the nation 

THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH HAS TAKEN CARE OF THE NATION AS 

LONG AS IT HAS EXISTED AND WILL DO SO UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD. 

THAT’S WHY IT’S ALSO THIS NATION’S MOST IMPORTANT INSTITUTION 

INTERVIEW Amfilohije Radović 

Archbishop of Cetinje and Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral 

> by Milan Dobromirović 

Archbishop Amfilohije of 

Cetinje and Metropolitan of 

Montenegro and the Littoral 

speaks to Kurir Go International 

about the EU, the position 

of the Serbian Orthodox Church in 

Montenegro, relations with the Holy See, 

between the Church and the State and, 

of course, about Kosovo. 

> Is Serbia’s place in the European 

Union? 

- Serbia was already in Europe before the 

European Union was created. In any case, 

I know that neither Serbia nor Montenegro 

belong in NATO. Their possible entry into 

that would see them become small cogs 

in the machinery of that militaristic or- 

 

 

seizure of Kosovo, the lifeline of Serbia 

and the Serbian people. 

The people remember their origins! 

> What are your impressions from South America, given that you are the administrator 

of a newly formed diocese there? 

- Outstanding. I met wonderful people from our region there who, despite spending 

decades in that region, have not forgotten who and what they are. That was a 

huge missionary territory, primarily for our nation, but also for other Orthodox 

peoples who wished to feel life with God and preserve their faith and the souls of 

their fathers. For this reason, new priests will soon go to these areas and in God 

I trust that this will bear good fruit. Four of them have already been ordained for 

the newly established Diocese of Buenos Aires and South-Central America. 


> What is the position of the Metropolitan 

and the other dioceses of the Serbian 

Church in Montenegro? 

- There is an attempt on the scene to 

take away the legitimacy and persecute 

the Metropolitan of Montenegro and 

the Littoral and the other dioceses of the 

Serbian Church in Montenegro that has 

been conducted for several years by some 

state authorities through the denial of the 

church’s name, dignity, identity and property, 

which the Turks even respected. One 

group of people, who were brought to the 

surface by these times and took over the 

reigns of government, are foolishly warring, 

contrary to divine and human justice, 

against the very God and Church that gave 

birth to Montenegro. For this purpose, 

 

few defrocked priests and founded an 

organization called “The Montenegrin 

Orthodox Church”. 

> 

- It is interesting that there are more 

and more believers as the attacks on 

the Church grow stronger. There is 

room for improvement in relations with 

the state. There is good will from our 

side, but the government needs to 

show good will, primarily through the cessation 

of its illegal attacks on the Church 

and the clergy. It is necessary to enact a 

new law on churches and religious communities. 

That’s why the European Parliament 

recently emphasized in its resolution 

that this issue must be resolved in accordance 

with fundamental principles of human 

rights. 

> 

relations between Serbia and Montenegro? 

- This issue has nothing whatsoever 

to do with relations between Serbia and 

Montenegro, because the Metropolitan of 

Montenegro and the Littoral and other 


Ma rina Lopičić 

Ongoing process 

> How would you comment on the 

recent agreement signed between 

Montenegro and the Holy See? 

- The state must respect the constitutional 

equality of churches 

and religious communities and has 

no right to violate that. Through its 

signing of three different agreements 

with the Roman Catholic 

Church, the Islamic and Jewish 

communities, that equality has been 

violated. We have nothing against 

contractually resolving relations, 

but in the same manner and 

to the same extent and content 

of rights. In any case, these agreements 

can hardly begin to live until 

the issue of the position of the Orthodox 

Church is resolved and the 

whole process cannot be completed 

without the Church. 

Diocese of the Serbian Church are parts 

of the autochthonous, historical Orthodox 

Church in Montenegro, itself part 

of the Pec Patriarchate, or rather the 

Serbain Orthodox Church. It is possible 

that certain political circles have 

the ambition to show the position of the 

Church in that context, but that does not 

match the truth. First and foremost, the 

State and the Church are separate, so 

neither Serbia nor Montenegro should 

interfere in the life of the Church. 

> What sort of contact do you have with 

representatives of the Montenegrin 

Church? 

- If by representatives of the Montenegrin 

Church you mean those few 

defrocked priests, the answer is – none 

at all. We invite those people, who began 

down that road through ignorance 

or other reasons, to return to Christ Our 

Lord and the life of Saint Peter of Cetinje, 

and the Orthodox Church, which they 

and their ancestors belonged to until 

recently. 

> Does the Serbian Church interfere 

in politics, as some individuals often 

suggest? 

- If under politics we include caring for 

the nation, its pride, soul and future, then 

it is quite clear that the Church is bestplaced 

to lead that burden. It done that for 

as long as it has existed and will do so until 

the end of the world. That’s why it is also 

this nation’s most important institution. 

Archbishop Amfilohije 

invites rebel priests to 

return to God 

> What sort of message would you send 

to the nation’s people in Kosovo? 

That, with faith in the Risen Christ, we 

will persevere and survive; and that 

only those who endure to the end will 

be saved. That is an ancient truth and 

the experience of our people. 

MAY 2012 

31

Serbia has fulfille 

ONE OF MY MAIN TASKS IS TO INFORM OUR BELGIAN PARTNERS 

ABOUT THE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION, 

ESPECIALLY INVESTMENTS, IN SERBIA 

INTERVIEW Aleksandar Davidović 

Honorary Consul of the Republic of Serbia in Belgium 

> by Jelena Vukić 

E 

born in Belgium and has lived in America, 

Serbia and Dubai, he has never lost 

touch with his Serbian heritage. 

In the 1990s he was active as a prodemocracy 

activist building relations between Belgian 

political parties and the Serbian democratic 

 

then he has also worked for the Al Nahyan family, 

rulers of the United Arab Emirates. 

 

he founded Emotion Production in Serbia in 2001 

 

house to actually pay for the licences of TV formats. 

Since then the company has grown to become the 

market leader in the former Yugoslavia. 

During these years he was active in trying to 

promote Serbia in a positive way by bringing 

many political parties, intellectuals and investors 

to Serbia. 

Always seeking to set new limits, almost two 

years ago he organized a Trip for 15 businessmen 

from Belgium and the Netherlands to cruise on 

Harley Davidson motorbikes through Serbia for 

eight days... In this way the businessmen got to 

know Serbia in an original way, through its natural 

beauty, excellent local food and drinks, but also 

the hospitality of the people. 

Aleksandar recently became Honorary Consul 

of the Republic of Serbia to Belgium. 

- In October 2011 the Belgian Ministry published 

my appointment and since then I started representing 

Serbia as honorary consul. 

> - 

 

 

 

- It is true that the function is unpaid, but for 

IN THE NEXT 

FEW MONTHS 

WE WILL 

ANNOUNCE THE 

CREATION OF A 

PARLIAMENTARY 

GROUP CALLED 

“FRIENDS OF 

SERBIA” IN 

THE BELGIAN 

PARLIAMENT 

Aleksandar Davidović with Boris Tadić 

me this was not important. It is an honour to be 

able to represent Serbia in this way. 

> As honorary consul, you are in contact with 

 

common topics of conversation when you discuss 

Serbia? 

Various topics are discussed: from the economy 

to politics, but also sports and culture. One of my 

main tasks is to inform our Belgian partners about 

the great opportunities for economic cooperation, 

especially investment, in Serbia. I also try to inform 

our Belgian friends about our points of view 

on various matters, because it is only through a 

derstanding 

can be reached. 

> The decision to grant candidate status to Ser- 

 

 

a date for the start of negotiations by year’s end? 

 

and made remarkable achievements in domestic 

reforms, while cooperation with The Hague 

Tribunal and regional reconciliation were also 

acknowledged by the last Progress Report of the 

EU Commission and the Council of the European 

Union’s decision to grant Serbia candidate status. 

 

continuing to work together with our European 

partners so that we do secure a date for the opening 

of EU accessions negotiations. 

The Diaspora can play a crucial role 

> Is Belgium’s Serbian Diaspora well organized? 

- The Serbian Diaspora in Belgium is rather small and dispersed all over 

the country. However, we intend to offer them the opportunity, through 

the new platform, to help promote Serbia in the best possible way. The 

Diaspora can play a crucial role, but it needs to be organized and coordinated 

in the right way so that all efforts are channelled and the right 

synergy can be created. 

> 

 

in recent years! Successful domestic reforms, the 

completion of cooperation with The Hague Tribunal 

and regional reconciliation under President 

 

Yes, from time to time we still face a troubled image 

because of the ‘90s, but this image is changing 

and the people I speak with on a daily basis are 

questioning more and more the one sided approach 

that saw one side blamed for all the misery that 

happened in the former Yugoslavia. On the other 


its obligations 

“ ” 

OUR ATHLETES, SUCH AS NOVAK 

ĐOKOVIĆ, ARE WITHOUT A 

DOUBT THE BEST PROMOTIONAL 

BRANDS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW 

- 

 

 

 

> 

 

 

- 

 

 

 

 

- 

 

 

> 

 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

- 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

> 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAY 2012 

33

For those who have 

adventure 

in their blood! 

HIKING FOR 70 KILOMETRES, SWIMMING IN 

WILD RIVERS, CLAMBERING THROUGH CAVES 

AND CLIMBING UP CLIFFS... SOUND EXTREME 

TO YOU? THAT IS JUST PART OF A TOURIST 

OFFER INTENDED FOR REAL ADVENTURERS 


Just a little! Just a little more… these are the 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


MAY 2012 

35

Canyoning – if you’re set on an 

Race for survival 

More and more people are seeking active holidays 

and Serbia is ideal for adventure tourism, 

 

the rules of the “Race for Survival”. 

 

 

70 kilometres in three days through nature on foot 

 

 

 

 

to him, the course is carefully designed and re- 

 

 

face various obstacles and hazards as they pass 

through forests, canyons and gullies; in such con- 

 

 

 

 

 

through all these activities as they acquire points 

cent 

Race for Survival to be organized included 40 

participating teams and 120 competitors. 


adrenalin rush experience in nature’s aqua park 

Canyoning – sliding down waterfalls 

Canyoning is an adventure sport that began to 

develop in Serbia after the year 2000. It is practiced 

in the waters of vertical canyons that have 

disrupted the rocks for thousands of years and 

formed pools, whirlpools, rapids and waterfalls 

along their route. Simply gazing at this scene is a 

unique experience. Considering that it does not 

require great physical exertion, canyoning has evolved 

rapidly as a sport and entertainment activity. 

It has proven worldwide to be a sport accessible to 

all. The most beautiful vertical canyons are in the 

mountains of Valjevo, on the stretch between the 

towns of Valjevo and Ljubovija. The Beaver Canyoning 

Adventure involves going over two waterfalls 

 

well as a variety of natural water slides and rapids. 

The Tribe Canyoning Adventure sees visitors tra- 

 

 

 

the most extreme tour organized in Serbia. The 

vertical canyons are shaped in such a way that 

you normally do not have an opportunity to take 

a break from the activity from the moment you 

 

Australian lady 

ambassador conquers 

the Serbian wilderness 

Helena Studdert, 

Australian ambassador 

to Serbia, was the first 

ambassador to dare to 

participate in the “Tribe 

Canyoning Adventure.” 

Last summer she went 

down a series of waterfalls 

and swam in canyon 

whirlpools in the Valjevo 

region. After an exciting 

day, the ambassador 

enjoyed the charms of 

Serbian cuisine. 

- I am very happy that I was given the opportunity 

to enjoy this beautiful, unspoiled nature, 

see this fascinating canyon and be able to show 

my daughter Hanna a different Serbia. 

MAY 2012 

37

Kayaking – for pure enjoyment 

and relaxation in wild nature 

Kayaking on the Drina 

Discover the most beautiful, hidden parts of the 

mountain rivers and lakes of Serbia in a kayak. 

Explore the river beaches, backwaters, rocky shores, 

caves and surrounding wildlife. Like the way that 

sounds? Then the recreational kayak is ideal for 

you and is suitable for everyday use - for day trips, 

 

or wild waters. It can even be used by those who 

have no experience with kayaks. 

Organized guided kayak tours in Serbia are 

provided with all necessary and specific equipment: 

kayaks, paddles, life jackets, waterproof 

bags. 

The locations where kayak tours are organized 

include the River Drina, the meanders of the Uvac, 

cause 

of its bluish-green colour, numerous rapids 

and tranquil whirlpools, kayaking on the River Drina 

stands out as a unique experience. 

CONTESTANTS 

GET HALF A 

LITRE OF WATER 

AND THEY 

FACE VARIOUS 

OBSTACLES 

AND HAZARDS 

AS THEY PASS 

THROUGH 

FORESTS, 

CANYONS AND 

GULLIES 


Speleology – secrets of the 

Valjevo caves 

 

that explores underground rock formations. Some 

caves in Serbia are over 1,000 metres long. Whether 

you take a one-day adventure or explore as part of a 

programme lasting several days, this adventure has so 

far left no one feeling indifferent. Draperies, columns, 

stalactites, stalagmites, large caverns, narrow canals 

... all these strange forms exist in the cave world ... In 

the afternoon hours, after wandering about in the 

cave, resting and enjoying a heavy lunch, explorers 

move on to another part of the adventure. They don 

 

begins! An adrenaline packed experience on a rock 30 

metres high! Abseiling is a technique for descending 

down a rope using appropriate equipment. Cave 

tours are organized in several caves of varying lengths 

and shapes in the Valjevo area. Apart from the 

Valjevo caves, one of the more beautiful cave tours 

passes through the second largest cave in Serbia: the 

 

through rough cave channels four kilometres long. 

Caving – exploring the cave world 

that only the few dare to enter 

FIGURES 

20 

euros is the 

price of the 

cheapest 

adventure 

80 

is the most 

expensive 

3 

days is the 

average 

duration of 

an adventure 

MAY 2012 

39

The Parade is a 

film about love and 

reconciliation! 

SRĐAN DRAGOJEVIĆ TALKS TO KGI ABOUT 

HIS FILM PARADA (THE PARADE), WHICH HAS 

CAUSED MUCH CONTROVERSY IN THE REGION, BUT 

ALSO ABOUT HIS POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT AND THE 

PROBLEMS FACED BY THE ART OF FILM IN SERBIA 

INTERVIEW Srđan Dragojević 

Film director and screenwriter 

> by Dragana Ivanović 

H 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

> 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

> 

 

 

 

 

 



Srđan Dragojević, 

one of Serbia’s most 

recognisable directors 

MAY 2012 

41

The film was actually shot 

during the 2010 Belgrade 

Pride Parade 



- There was no fear whatsoever. However, we 

 

 

 

 

 

- 

 

 

 

- 

 

 

 

> Is the Balkan region homophobic? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

> The screening of The Parade was banned by 

the Dubrovnik Diocese (Croatia). Does it make 

sense for the church to be interfering in art, 

st century? 

 

 

MANY 

PEOPLE HAD 

COMPLETELY 

THE WRONG 

INFORMATION 

ABOUT THE 

ESSENCE OF 

THE FILM. WHEN 

THEY SAW THAT 

THIS IS A FILM 

THAT OFFERS 

TOLERANCE 

AND DIALOGUE 

AS A SOLUTION, 

MOST OF THE 

PROBLEMS 

DISAPPEARED 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

> And politics? Can politics and culture not exist 

one without the other nowadays? 

 

- 

 

 

 

 

 

> 

- 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


“ 

I AM GLAD THAT ALL THE PARTY LEADERS SIGNED A DOCUMENT ON 

” 

DE-PARTY POLITICIZING, IF ONLY INFORMALLY, AT THE REQUEST OF THE MEDIA 

direction – over a term of two to four years. I even 

 

- 

 

 

 

 

 

 

> 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- 

 

 

 

> 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

> 

 

 

 

> 

 

 

- 

 

 

 

> 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Srđan Dragojević 

with the Golden 

Elsa he received for 

winning the 2012 

Teddy Award 

MAY 2012 

43

It doesn’t matter 

whether we’re 

praying or 

kneeling 

NOVI PAZAR CITY THAT UNITED TWO FAITHS 

BOSNIAKS, SERBS, ALBANIANS AND GORANI ARE 

ALL PART OF THE DIVERSE POPULATION THAT HAS 

LIVED HERE FOR CENTURIES. LOCAL MUSLIMS & 

CHRISTIANS AGREE THAT EARTHLY PROBLEMS HAVE 

BROUGHT THEM CLOSER TOGETHER 

> by Katarina Martić > photo: Zorana Jevtić 

Easter in Novi Pazar. The city’s twentyodd 

percent Orthodox Christian population 

celebrates the most joyful Christian 

holiday with the sounds of prayer: Mu- 

 

a day from the minarets. Church bells can also be 

heard, just a lot quieter. Rain begins to fall and a 

few girls with headscarves quickly run by, hand 

in hand with their “bareheaded” friends in jeans. 

- Come in, what are you peering at? - says a 

man in a small birtija (coffee shop) near the city 

centre. 

 

unusual group. There is waitress Milenka Spaso- 

 

 

of a local mufty’s security team. They are sitting 

and sipping coffee. Alcohol is not served here. 

- I rented the mufty’s unit in order to earn some 

 

was accepted better here by the Muslims than the 

Orthodox. Everything they promise, they fulfil. 

Our people look out more for their own 

family, their own job, we are told by Milenka 

(who the regular customers affectionately call 

‘Mina’). She is interrupted by Samir. 

continued on page 44 


MAY 2012 

45


- That’s not true! My Orthodox Christian 

colleagues have done more for me than our 

folk. Politics has divided many Muslims. Brothers 

do not speak to one another, whole families 

are divided ... I’ve never had a problem with 

the Christians. 

- Yes, yes. A Muslim is more likely to attack 

another Muslim than a Muslim would attack a 

Serb. It doesn’t matter whether we’re praying 

or kneeling. People are separated between good 

 

 

them. He says that Muslims in Novi Pazar are divided 

and Serbs have nothing to do with it. 

- Because of politics brother isn’t talking to 

brother. 

- And you all sit together like this? – Kurir’s 

confused journalist asks. 

- Well listen, we sit. What else would we 

do? The woes of this world are great and are the 

same for everyone; they have brought us closer 

together. The Serbs did not leave this place because 

they were driven out. They left when living 

conditions became bad; when the factories clo- 

 

Masud says that things have started to 

move from a standstill and an improvement 

can be felt. 

- Construction has begun again, cafes are 

 

We have already been convinced of this upon 

arrival in the city. New buildings are springing up 

between grey and aged façades, while the spirit of 

old times has remained...as it surely should. We 

leave the premises with our Muslim fellow guests 

bidding us farewell with greetings for the 

Christian holiday and inviting us to come back 

during Ramadan. With the promise that we will, 

we head to the local pastry shop to try baklava, 

a sweet cake that Bosniaks are genuine experts 

at making. 

FIGURES 

85,583 

inhabitants of 

Novi Pazar 

22.36 

percent Serb 

75.37 

percent Bosniak 

0.27 

percent 

Montenegrin 

0.25 

percent Albanian 

1.75 

percent other 


Bread sustained Pazar 

Street corner bakery, since 1945 

Albin Kolašinac, owner of the Stara Čaršija Bakery, reveals to us why he only 

makes bread cakes and rolls. 

- My grandfather opened it after World War II. At that time it was necessary to 

feed many hungry people. We make only bread cakes and rolls because it is thanks 

to these products that Pazar survived. Even in the worst of times, there was money 

for bread and, to be fair, when there was no money we gave bread on credit. Every 

man has the right not to be hungry, Kolašinac tells us while offering us slices of 

hot bread straight from the oven. The smell and taste, unique. 

- Just salt, water and flour. No additives or preservatives, which is why people from 

other parts of Serbia take a few of them home and freeze them when they come, says 

the baker cheerfully. 

Peter’s church 

– holy monument 

from the 9th century 

The 9 th century Church of the Holy Apostles Peter 

and Paul, or Petar’s Church, near Novi Pazar is 

the oldest example of church architecture in Serbia 

and the original seat of the Diocese of Raška. It 

dates back to the Byzantine era, while its interior 

frescoes date from the 10 th , 12 th and 13 th centuries. It 

was built on the site of an early Christian structure 

erected in the 7 th century. After a detailed 

archaeological investigation, the church was 

restored in 1960. In terms of construction techniques 

it is similar to the churches of Georgia and 

Armenia that also date back from the 7 th to the 9 th 

centuries, but since its repairs and upgrading it 

has become unique, which is one reason to hope it 

will be added to the UNESCO list of world heritage 

monuments from the Middle Ages, unified under 

the protection of the Stari Ras area. 

Gorani local: Money 

doesn’t know about faith 

- I have no problem with Christians, nor with 

Muslims. Of course, in every grain there is chaff 

and sometimes you can hear some negative comments, 

but rarely, really rarely. It would be an outrage 

for us to be divided after so many decades living 

together – says Sefer Redžeplar, a Gorani who works 

in a pastry shop in the centre of Novi Pazar. Asked 

who the most generous patrons are, Orthodox 

or Muslim, he says: 

- While they’re paying they’re all good by me. 

Money doesn’t know about faith. 

MEDŽIPAŠIĆ THE DRIVER: POLITICS HAS 

DIVIDED MANY MUSLIMS. BROTHERS DO 

NOT SPEAK TO ONE ANOTHER, WHOLE 

FAMILIES ARE DIVIDED... I’VE NEVER HAD 

A PROBLEM WITH THE CHRISTIANS 

“ ” 

MAY 2012 

47

Cleaning the capital 

Recycling 

centres in 

Belgrade 

THE LOCAL WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR 

14 BELGRADE MUNICIPALITIES WILL NOT ONLY 

BRING CLEANLINESS TO THE CITY, BUT WILL ALSO 

GENERATE LARGE INCOME AND ALSO NEW JOBS 


Thanks to the opening of a 

growing number of recycling 

centres and yards, Belgrade is 

moving ever closer to being 

 

ecologically consecrated metropolises. 

- 

 

delegation in Belgrade, Ambassador Vincent 

Degert, and representatives of the 

 

 

all recently visited the Cooperative for 

collecting recyclable materials in the Zvezdara 

settlement of Orlovsko to check out 

the functioning of this unique recycling 

centre. 

- I am really proud that we have managed 

to make something like this in 

Belgrade, especially for the Roma population, 

and we are grateful to everyone 

who helped us with this – from the World 

Health Organization to the Kingdom of 

 

at 

debt of gratitude to our Roma fellow 

citizens, who openly accepted our proposal 

for cooperation and with whom 

we jointly achieved all that we can now 

see. We were here around 14 months 

ago, when we opened this centre. At the 

time it employed 12 people, but 20 of our 

fellow citizens now have full time jobs. 

The cooperative has 130 individuals who 

cooperate with it, while 250 companies 

and local government representatives are 

also part of this project. It is from them 

that we take this raw material and that’s 

really a good indicator of how some things 

 

out that Belgrade will receive, thanks to 

donors, three more recycling centres in 

 

 

- What is important is that in this and 

other settlements where we have made 

these centres a lot of Roma children have 

started school. As such, 120 children who 

lived under Gazela Bridge are today completing 

some grade of primary school and 

more than 20 are in preschool nurseries. 

All have health cards and the right to social 

assistance, while health and Roma 

 

Waste management plan 

According to the statistics of the Belgrade 

Chamber of Commerce, the local 

waste management plan for 14 Belgrade 

municipalities, adopted late last year, will 

generate annual revenue of €20 million, 

while total investments in the system over 

the next ten years will equate to around 

€228.2 million. 

 

 

Planning, said that plans envisage the 

opening of all regional waste management 

centres by 2019. 

 

 

primary separation at recycling islands 

with disposal in three types of contai- 

 


MAYOR ĐILAS: 

WE OWE A 

GREAT DEBT 

OF GRATITUDE 

TO OUR ROMA 

FELLOW 

CITIZENS, 

WHO OPENLY 

ACCEPTED OUR 

PROPOSAL FOR 

COOPERATION 

AND WITH 

WHOM WE 

JOINTLY 

ACHIEVED ALL 

THAT WE CAN 

NOW SEE 

First recycling island on Ada Huja in 2009 

The first recycling yard in Belgrade was opened at Gradska Čistoća’s Ada Huja 

facility in 2009. The project to open the recycling island, where packaging and 

waste is collected and compressed, and the recycling yard was realised within the 

context of the major environmental drive “We’re cleaning up Serbia” (Očistimo 

Srbiju). The waste collected here by public utility company Gradska Čistoća is then 

sold to companies engaged in the recycling of secondary raw materials. 

been set up in the city, while plans call 

for the establishing of another 99. In the 

recycling yard of the “Waste” operation, 

 

 

550,000 kilograms of PET packaging. 

The City Assembly adopted its Local 

waste management plan for Belgrade 

from 2011 to 2020 on 7th July 2011. This 

 

 

waste management in accordance with 

Serbia’s adopted National Waste Management 

Strategy. 

- 

 

 

plan were to expand and strengthen ad- 

 

 

 

municipal waste collection to 100 percent 

by 2019 and establish a system for 

separating collected waste, reusing and 

recycling it. 

-The plan aims to build a waste ma- 

 

- 

 

generate electricity, as well as constructing 

three transfer stations in New Belgrade, 

 

handling of waste to be transported to 

 

Developing awareness 

 

 

Commerce for the construction of a communal 

waste treatment facility in Belgrade, 

a plant for composting green waste, a plant 

for the recycling of construction waste, a 

facility for the treatment of animal waste 

and facilities for the production of gas 

from biomass and manure. A plan was 

nancing 

waste management at the local 

 

 

 

of the importance of waste management. 

Included in this plan are ten central municipalities, 

as well as the municipalities 

 

- 

- 

 

and brought a shared regional plan for 

the Kolubara region. 

Head of the team tasked with conduc- 

 

 

waste would be generated in 14 Belgrade 

municipalities in the next 20 years. It is 

expected that more than 150,000 tonnes 

 

According to her, the construction of 

 

from waste is also planned. 

All in all, the city has big plans to ensure 

that the name of Belgrade stands out 

 

aware capitals of Europe and is rushing 

with great strides towards that end. 

“ 

THE LOCAL WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR 14 BELGRADE MUNICIPALITIES, 

” 

ADOPTED LATE LAST YEAR, WILL GENERATE ANNUAL REVENUE OF €20 MILLION 

MAY 2012 

49

Environmental projects in the capital 

For a cleaner and 


It is not easy to keep a capital city of two million 

inhabitants clean. That is perhaps best 

known by the employees of the public utility 

 

which has worked hard every day for 128 

years to make Belgrade a cleaner and healthier 

environment. 

Distributing eco-bags to the citizens of Belgrade 

and installing a large number of underground 

containers are the company’s two most advan- 

 

improve the hygiene of the capital city. 

Pilot project yields 

excellent results 

 

 

households would be included in the recycling 

process by the end of May through the project 

“Eco bag for a cleaner city”. 

- During May the citizens of all ten Belgrade 

municipalities that fall under the responsibility 

 

 

 

 

work to a predetermined schedule that all citizens 

 

In the service of the 

youngest Belgraders 

Led by a desire to provide a maximum contribution 

to raising the level of cleanliness in all 

areas of Belgrade, Gradska Čistoća is especially 

concerned with the education of the youngest 

citizens. The company has announced that, in 

cooperation with the Children’s Land Troupe, it 

will continue its educational campaign “dirty or 

clean is not the same” again this year. Under the 

auspices of the campaign, a game of the same 

name is presented to the children of Belgrade’s 

primary schools and nurseries and the youngest 

are explained, in an interesting way, what 

recycling is and why it’s important. 


healthier city 

PUBLIC UTILITY COMPANY GRADSKA ČISTOĆA (CITY SANITATION) HAS, WITH 

A VIEW TO OTHER WORLD METROPOLISES, MADE TREMENDOUS ADVANCES 

IN THE HYGIENE OF THIS CITY OF TWO MILLION INHABITANTS 

bags and transport them to the Waste plant, where 

the collected recyclable materials will be prepared 

 

Realisation of the eco bags pilot project began 

back in 2010 in the municipality of Savski Venac 

and by the end of last year it had been extended to 

include the central parts of the municipalities of 

 

 

 

that the project should be extended to other municipalities, 

with the pilot project having achieved 

 

- We decided to enable the citizens of other municipalities 

to separate their household waste and 

 

By this we will not only extend the “life expectancy” 

 

products to the production process we will also 

preserve a number of natural resources – highlights 

 

that this project includes the youngest citizens, 

who will raise awareness about the importance of 

 

The most modern 

waste disposal system 

Belgrade is well en route to resolving another 

serious problem faced by all large cities in the 

 

containers the Serbia capital will, like many other 

European capitals, be able to boast of having the 

most modern system for the disposal of house- 

 

- We started the installation of underground waste 

containers two years ago, immediately after completing 

the project material for them, and they proved 

 

allow our neighbourhoods to be neater and cleaner, 

but also allow an increase in the number of parking 

 

on the footpaths and don’t ruin the look of Belgrade 

 

 

- 

 

for Belgrade to receive about 2,000 underground 

containers in 2012 alone, with around 6,000 to be 

1,700 

tonnes of waste per day is 

transported by City Sanitation 

vehicles to public landfill sites 

BELGRADE IS 

WELL EN ROUTE 

TO RESOLVING 

ANOTHER 

SERIOUS 

PROBLEM THAT 

IS FACED BY ALL 

MAJOR CITIES 

IN THE WORLD 

51,000 

tonnes of waste is 

transported each 

month 

 

In addition to installing underground waste con- 

 

follow other standards of European capitals in the 

development of waste management technology, 

with the aim of preserving the environment and 

 

Polished pavements 

- 

 

 

 

that it was precisely with that goal in mind that 

the company also acquired nine modern machines 

for remove chewing gum from the capital city’s 

 

- What I would particularly like to emphasise is that 

these machines operate on the principle of steam 

and biodegradable detergents that do not pollute the 

 

on the streets of Belgrade and how they work at full 

 

600,000 

households will be included in the 

process of separating and collecting 

recyclable waste during May 

MAY 2012 

51

Visiting the Uvac Nature Reserve 

These are 

the kings 

of 

- Here he is! - Zorana excitedly exclaims, triggering 

her camera. A griffon vulture with a wingspan 

of about three metres stands atop a dead calf, feethe 

Serbian skies 

JUST ONE LOOK AT THE GRIFFON VULTURE IN FLIGHT WILL 

MAKE YOU CATCH YOUR BREATH. THIS BIRD IS A TRUE 

RARITY IN EUROPE AND IN OUR COUNTRY THERE ARE AS 

MANY AS FIVE HUNDRED INDIVIDUALS 


photo: Zorana Jevtić 

Two hours of watching the sky at the Uvac 

Nature Reserve. And nothing. We started 

to lose all hope that we would see them. 

-Here they are! - shouts photojournalist 

Zorana. No, it was a false alarm 

after all. These are only ravens. 

We continue to wait for them... The rain has 

just stopped falling. With high cliffs, nothing can 

be seen except fog. 

- Get in the car and put something over your 

 

look at him in confusion, but do as we are told. A 

creepy scene: piles of bones and cow hides. The 

stench seeps through every pore. It is the griffon 

vulture’s feeding ground. We park up and slowly 

exit the car. Marko tells us to be quiet. 

Moment to remember 

FIGURES 

8.5 

kilograms is the 

weight of a griffon 

vulture 

2.8 

metres is its 

wingspan 

1 

egg is laid by the 

female annually 

25 

years is this bird’s 

life expectancy 

ding. A scavenger that inspires awe. 

- They were on the brink of completely disappearing. 

This rare species was facing extinction in 

 

Gorge, a lack of food and the pesticide Kreozan, 

this region had only seven remaining pairs of 

griffon vultures, Marko tells us while offering 

us binoculars to watch the few birds that are 

 

was made in 1994. 

- People started to realise the enormous importance 

of these natural cleaners and began to 

bring the bodies of dead animals, which is the 

sole food of this species. Reserve staff annually 

bring 120 tonnes of food to this “griffon vulture 

restaurant”, thanks to which the numbers of griffon 

vultures has increased to about 90 breeding 

pairs, or around 500 individuals. That’s how this 

colony of this unique bird species became one 

of the biggest in Europe, Marko tells us proudly. 



MAY 2012 

53

The griffon 

vulture is a kind of 

scavenging eagle; a 

bird that does not 

kill, hunt prey or 

seek a victim 

> Griffons usually 

feed on the 

muscles and 

innards of 

mammals that 

have died from 

various diseases 

that are only 

infectious among 

mammals 

> Their immunity 

to mammalian 

diseases has 

allowed these 

vultures to perform 

a sanitising role in 

nature 

> They can spot a 

decaying animal 

the size of a rabbit 

from a height of 

3500m and other 

vultures from a 

distance of 6000m 

> Their vision is eight 

times sharper than 

a human’s 

> Griffon vultures 

can endure 

without food for up 

to three weeks 


Birds’ dance 

After a hearty meal the birds slowly depart. 

We leave and head down to the river. 

- The rain has stopped and now they will dry 

their wings. Let’s get into the boat, says Marko, 

 

incredible feeling. We are travelling along the 

 

 

gently across the sky. They pay no attention to 

 

- Look, there’s its nest. They are feeding their 

 

 

 

 

 

One nest, a second, a third ... They lay only 

 

- 

 

it is one of the most caring parents in the bird 

 

Flight at a speed of 160 

kilometres per hour 

The flights of these fascinating birds are studied 

by scientists – aeronautical engineers who 

apply them to aircraft construction. The uneven 

heating of the valley air promotes the formation 

of pockets of warm air (thermals), which they 

use to move to higher altitudes. The griffon vultures 

use their wings’ large surface area to ‘’glide’’ 

these aerial lifts and achieve the desired height 

without using too much of their own energy. By 

sailing on thermals they can reach a height of 

2,500 metres in less than four minutes, while 

their flight speed as they sail is around 30 km/h. 

When they reach their desired height, griffon 

vultures switch to another type of flight (sliding). 

The most common speed of sliding flight while 

cruising is 60 km/h, but they can also increase 

to 160 km/h by diving. By using this method of 

flying vultures use only 3.3 percent of the energy 

required for active flight with flapping wings. 

Uvac griffon 

is Olympians’ 

mascot 

 

 

- 

 

 

 

 


Uvac Nature Reserve – The Noah’s Ark of Serbia 

The Uvac Special Nature Reserve was 

placed under protection primarily to 

preserve and increase the numbers of 

the griffon vulture, the largest bird living 

in Serbia. It is located in southwest 

Serbia and is surrounded by the mountains of Zla- 

 

tive 

measures, two other types of eagle scavengers 

have “returned” to the area of the reserve: the 

 

 

they also wish to reintroduce the bearded vulture. 

- This would complete the food chain, because 

 

 

vulture eat the soft tissue and the bearded vulture 

eats bones and bone marrow. That would 

mean the “story of eagle scavengers” would be 

 

The territory of the reserve is inhabited by over 

140 species of birds, including the white-tailed 

eagle, golden eagle, buzzard and short-toed eagle, 

 

The presence of rare and endangered species of 

mammals and other fauna, such as wolves, bears, 

wild boars, foxes, hares, badgers, martens etc., is 

 

WHAT 

CAN YOU 

DO AT UVAC 

> Observe the birds 

and wildlife 

> Feed the griffon 

vultures 

> Try some recreational 

fishing and 

participate in fish 

stocking 

> Ride boats, kayaks 

and canoes 

> Visit a cave 

> Take children 

to the school in 

nature 

MAY 2012 

55

I’ll be the 

ambassador of 

Senegal in Serbia 

I REALLY LOVE BELGRADE AND WILL STAY HERE TO LIVE 

AFTER THE END OF MY CAREER. I’M ALSO THINKING OF GIVING 

MY CHILDREN SERBIAN NAMES. I LIKE THE GIRLS NAMES 

MILENA AND MARINA AND FOR A BOY MARKO 

INTERVIEW Lamine Diarra 

Partizan FC striker 

> By Konstantin Radulović 

Senegalese Lamine Diarra, a favourite 

among fans of the Serbian 

league’s champion club Partizan, 

has been a resident of Belgrade 

 

also like to live here after the end of his 

career. The “Black Mamba”, as he is called 

 

capital, its people and customs and, in an 

 

he also has political aspirations. 

> After having spent so much time in 

Belgrade, do you feel just a little bit 

like a Belgrader? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN SERBIA 

I LEARNT 

TO MAKE 

TURKISH 

COFFEE, 

WHICH IS 

REALLY 

DRUNK A 

LOT HERE 

> Saša Pavličić 

girls names Milena and Marina and for a 

 

> You always said you would like to 

marry a Serbian girl, but in the end 

you married a girl from Senegal. Surely 

it couldn’t be that there wasn’t a girl 

for you in Serbia? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

be from Serbia. 

> But customs are different in Serbia. 

Do you think you will find someone 

who will agree to that? 

 

 

 

 

> Apart from your Partizan teammates, 

do you mostly hang out with Serbs or 

your fellow countrymen from Senegal? 

 

 

 

 

> What do you say to the idea that you 

stay on as ambassador in Belgrade after 

the end of your playing career? 

 

- 

 

> With should a good grasp of the Serbian 

language that really wouldn’t be out 

of the question. How much time did 

you need to learn it? 


Dragana Udovičić 

I paint eggs 

> Which Serbian customs do you like? 

- I am a Muslim. Everyone here knows 

that and I’ve never had a problem because 

of that, nor have I been denied 

my customs. As for your traditions, I 

like painting eggs for Easter and cracking 

them with my teammates from 

the club. In addition to that, in Serbia 

I learnt to make Turkish coffee, which 

is really drunk a lot here – says Diarra. 

4,000 FB friends 

> Do you know that Partizan fans 

made up a song for you and that 

they even sang it while you were 

on loan in Dubia for a year? 

- Of course. I have a Facebook profile 

where I have over 4,000 friends, 

most of whom are Partizan fans. I 

heard that at 5,000 the account is 

cancelled, so I decided not to accept 

requests any longer. I am often invited 

to see them and have a drink and I go 

out to meet them. 

- Let’s say seven months. I learned it 

while I was playing in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 

then here I perfected it. I also 

speak French as my naïve language, a 

little Portuguese and English. However, 

I never had the desire to learn English, 

but I did Serbian. 

> Do you like Serbian music? 

I adore Serbian music and only listen 

to folk music. Don’t ask me to pick my 

favourite singer, because I can’t deci- 

 

song I immediately connect it with the 

moment I am in and then the next time 

I hear it I like to listen while recalling all 

the beautiful moments I experienced 

alongside it previously. 

I ADORE SERBIAN MUSIC 

AND ONLY LISTEN TO 

FOLK MUSIC. DON’T 

ASK ME TO PICK MY 

FAVOURITE SINGER, 

BECAUSE I CAN’T DECIDE 

> Do you like to sing? 

- Very much so, but only when there’s 

nobody around. We are sometimes able 

to sing together in the bus after a victory, 

or sometimes for kicks while we’re under 

curfew, but it’s rare that I’d sing in 

normal company. I keep that for myself. 

> And finally, the inevitable question, 

how do you like Serbian food? 

 

your other specialties, mainly because I 

eat the same as what I eat at home in Senegal, 

but I really liked those two dishes. 

MAY 2012 

57

Just so we can get 

AN ADDRESS 

SMEDEREVO’S RADINAC COLLECTIVE CENTRE FOR REFUGEES 

AND DISPLACED PERSONS HAS 250 DISPLACED PEOPLE. IN THIS 

LITTLE SPOT AND PIECE OF DAMP, MUD-SOAKED LAND THEY FIND 

SHELTER FROM THE MISFORTUNES THAT HAVE BEFALLEN THEM 

> by Konstantin Radulović 

photo: Marina Lopičić 

The ORO Radinac collective centre for 

refugees and displaced persons in 

 

without GPS or other devices that make 

it as easy and quick as possible for you 

 

this little town you immediately notice the tall 

 

slightly more sensitive sense of smell can even 

 

 

 

 

IF THEY COULD 

CHOOSE, MOST 

WOULD WANT 

THE NORMAL 

LIFE OF A 

WORTHY 21 ST 

CENTURY MAN 

 

 

 

shelter from the misfortunes that have befallen 

 

 

 

 

Some of them are not listed in the population 

census and are not citizens of the Republic of 

Serbia; they have no right to social and health 

 

 

st 

 

individuals have been there for over a decade and 

Living conditions aren’t great 

The Šorbić family 

get together 


Several generations have 

grown up at this camp 

“ 

ŠORBIĆ: I CAME TO SERBIA WITH 10 DOLLARS, 10 MARKS AND 70 KRAJINA 

” 

DINARS, WHICH HAD NO VALUE HERE 

a half, some have had children born here and 

each of the 35 barracks hides its own sad story 

of misfortune in several parts that, as a rule, 

has been dotted by at least one chronic disease. 

I want to be someone 

Precisely because it is not at all a pleasant 

feeling when you show up here in your car and, 

during interviews with witnesses and true heroes 

of Serbian suffering through recent history, you 

take out two mobile phones and place them on 

the table, you “forget” your dictaphone because 

you are ashamed to pull out another gadget. 

Instead, a piece of paper and a pencil are far 

more suitable accessories in these situations. 

 

Croatia three years earlier, but I don’t want to 

remember all that suffering. I only remember that 

we were followed by God’s rain and hail storms – so 

 

area of 16 square metres with his family of four. 

- I came to Serbia with 10 dollars, 10 marks and 

70 Krajina dinars, which had no value here. My 

brother was killed in 1998 and shortly afterwards 

my brother-in-law, who was a co-pilot on the 

MAY 2012 

59

CVETKOVIĆ: WHEN WE MOVED 

INTO OUR FLAT I SWEAR THAT 

THERE WAS NO HAPPIER MAN IN 

THE WORLD THAN ME 

Flats were built with the 

help of the EU 

plane shot down at Kolašin. 

Yet, despite all the adversity and hardship 

that followed them for 15 years, Nebojša and 

his family do not lose hope that they will prevail 

- here all stories are different. Everyone has their 

own tragedy, but we all want the same thing: to 

have our own address. There are many good 

people who helped us and I want to thank them, 

because without them we would not have held 

out even this long. We hope that, through the 

Commissariat for Refugees of Serbia, we will soon 

get our own home and that is the only wish we 

 

of residence - says Nebojša. 

His son Milan and daughter Nena carry with 

dignity everything life has brought them and 

they also believe in a better tomorrow that will 

come. They say, “with God’s help and just for 

us all to be healthy”. 

- Many children from this collective centre 

are not allowed to say where they live, rather 

they tell their school friends that they live in the 

vicinity of Ralja. I don’t think it’s silly to admit 

where I’m from and my friends come here. My 

 

then university if there are opportunities, and 

then to be somebody and something. By this I 


The Cvetković family 

in their new home 

HERE ALL 

STORIES ARE 

DIFFERENT. 

EVERYONE 

HAS THEIR 

OWN 

TRAGEDY 

mean that I don’t want to depend on anyone and 

I want to be able to give my children everything 

my parents could not – says Milan. 

We dreamt of this 

- 

 

 

1999 and have been at the collective centre since 

then. Fortunately, a few months ago they managed 

 

supportive conditions, also in Smederevo. 

 

where I experienced two heart attacks because 

of stress. Then, thanks to good people and the 

 

 

I am a tailor and when I baptise my youngest, 

Filip, who is two and a half years old, I will be 

ready to die. We are fully aware that many people 

in Serbia do not have what we’ve got and 

we would like to thank the Commissioner for 

 

 

happier man than me in the world. We dreamt 

of this for a long time – says Dobrivoje. 

Soon everyone 

will have a home 

The greatest thanks for the fact that all the 

inhabitants of this collective centre will very 

soon find a home for themselves belongs to 

Vesna Jeremić-Dragojević, member of the 

Smederevo City Council. A graduate dentist 

who everybody calls “doctor”, it is believed 

that her mission could be completed in a 

year and a half. 

- I started dealing with this business in 2008, 

when the centre had 632 people. It seemed 

impossible at that time to find homes for them 

all, but I believed in that. In collaboration with 

the Commissariat for Refugees of Serbia, UN- 

HCR and great relations with the European 

Commission, and other organizations which 

provide projects, we have succeeded in our 

intentions. By September only around 150 people 

should remain at the centre and by then 

one should be able to guess the final closing 

date for this collective centre. My optimistic 

opinion is that this could happen a year from 

that date – says the “doctor”, before revealing 

where the biggest problem lies: 

- We have minor complications created by the 

fact that we have 48 single persons, 

while the projects are 

mainly aimed at families. 

However, I believe we will 

succeed in bridging all 

problems. Smederevo 

is a multi-ethnic environment 

that is home 

to 24 national identities 

and there 

is no reason 

that a solution 

cannot 

be found. 

The most 

important 

thing is 

that all 

residents 

of the 

cen tre say 

that they want 

to stay here and 

not return to 

Vesna Jeremić- 

Dragojević, member of 

Smederevo City Council 

where they 

came from. 

MAY 2012 

61

A road less 

travelled 

THE BEST GOALKEEPER OF SERBIA’S NATIONAL HANDBALL TEAM, 

AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS THE “MINISTER OF DEFENCE”, SPEAKS TO 

KURIR GO INTERNATIONAL ABOUT HIS SPORTING AND PRIVATE LIFE 

INTERVIEW Darko Stanić 

Goalkeeper of Serbia’s national handball team 

> by Konstantin Radulović 

D- 

 

- 

 

 

 

 

- 

- 

- 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- 

- 

 

 

 

 

> How does it feel to have won a medal 

for Serbian handball after so many 

barren years and then secured qual- 

 

London? 

 

 

 

- 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

> 

medal in London? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- 

 

 

 

 

> Will you continue to carry the nickname 

“Minister of Defence” after the 

 

 

 

 

 

I don’t separate Serbs and Montenegrins 

How come you decided, as a native of Mojkovac in Montenegro, to play 

for the Serbia national team? 

- For me the Balkans is a single entity and I don’t separate the countries at 

all, particularly not Serbia and Montenegro. If you ask me, that is one nation 

and there’s no way we can separate them, because they are inextricably linked. 

As such, when I play for the national team I am playing for all people in Serbia, 

Montenegro, Republika Srpska or anywhere else in the world where people 

feel the same. 


Ma rina Lopičić 

I miss fishing 

If you could take a month’s holiday from handball 

what would you do? 

- Uh, it would be nice if I could wake up one morning 

and not have the entire day pre-planned. Quite 

simply, I’d get up, go somewhere for coffee and not 

care how long I stayed. I miss those little things a lot, 

but professional sport is full of sacrifices and I cannot 

afford to go fishing for two days a month, which 

I would really like to do. However, I don’t want anyone 

to misunderstand, I’m not complaining, I chose this 

for myself, I’m just saying what I miss. 

if the Serbia team hadn’t achieved a 

good result in the European championships. 

I always try to transfer the 

surplus energy I have to my teammates 

and my defence loses weight if there is 

not a goal for us from a counterattack. 

Therefore, it is far more important that 

the team is successful than that I get 

new recognition. 

> Now for something that has little to 

do with sports. How did your twoyear 

suspension for using cocaine 

look from your perspective? 

- That was a difficult period for 

me. I know I did wrong, but I always 

knew that I would return to handball. 

It’s true that I did not believe 

I could make it to such a high level, 

which is a surprise for me. What hurt 

me the most was that I hurt people 

around me, my loved ones, and I’m 

sorry about that. However, I had the 

strength and faith to come back and 

I’m proud of myself for that. 

> What did you do for those two years 

without handball? 

- I have nothing to hide. I worked 

as a waiter in order to survive. I was 

never ashamed to do any kind of job. I 

worked and waited for my suspension 

to expire and hoped that I would get 

a call from some second or third divi- 

 

played after the lifting of my ban was 

for the Serbia national team, when 

 

He called me, he believed in me and 

I will never forget that of him. I will 

always be grateful to him for that and 

in every game I try to prove to him 

that he was not wrong. 

MAY 2012 

63

CHAMPION 

Dr Ironfist: 

Serbs are 

my friends! 

THE SEND-OFF WILL BE SPECTACULAR. IT IS 

TIME TO DEDICATE MYSELF TO POLITICS AND 

ROOTING OUT CORRUPTION. I’M COMING 

TO SERBIA THIS SUMMER, SAYS FAMOUS 

UKRAINIAN BOXER VITALI KLITSCHKO 

> by Katarina Martić > photo: REUTERS 


“ ” 

I AM MORE THAN CONVINCED THAT UKRAINE HAS A 

GREAT CHANCE TO BECOME PART OF THE EUROPEAN 

UNION AND BUILD EUROPEAN LIVING STANDARDS 

INTERVIEW Vitali Klitschko 

current world WBC Heavyweight boxing champion 

J 

 

Thus begins the story for Kurir 

of current world WBC Heavyweight 

boxing champion 

Dr. Vitali Klitschko, who is 

only the fourth boxer in the world – after 

Muhammad Ali, Evander Holy- 

ed 

in winning this title three times. 

Speaking exclusively to Kurir, this 

 

professional boxer to possess a doctorate 

in sports science, tells the story of his 

sporting and political plans. 

> - 

- 

 

 

- 

 

- You mean Alexander Povetkin 

and Nikolai Valuev? Those are completely 

ridiculous situations. Boxers should have 

 

is no explanation for those two. They 

 

 

 

 

is different, because my opponents have 

different styles. However, the outcome is 

always the same. 

> 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Byrd], but that will be an event worth remembering. 

> 

 

 

 

 

spent a lot of time and have many friends 

 

 

> 

 

- 

 

 

- That’s a great chance for our country 

FACTS 

Born: 19 th July 1971 

(Belovodskoye – 

Kyrgyzstan) 

Title: WBC World 

Heavyweight 

Champion 

Nickname: 

Dr. Ironfist 

Next fight: 

to be announced 

Marital status: 

married, three 

children 

Place of residence: 

Hamburg / Kiev 

Education: Doctor 

of sports science 

Trainer: 

Fritz Sdunek 

Category: 

Heavyweight 

Amateur boxing 

Statistics: 

210 bouts, 

195 victories, 

80 knockouts 

Height: 200cm 

Reach: 203cm 

FIGURES 

46 

professional 

bouts 

44 

victories 

40 

knockouts 

to be presented to the European Union 

tory 

that the Ukraine is an organizer of the 

 

all those who intend to come that we 

will do everything possible to make them 

feel at home and make them happy. This 

is our great chance. Sport has the ability to 

change the world and that’s how Euro 2012 

will change Ukraine for the better. 

> 

 

 

 

 

 

- UDAR [Ukrainian Democratic Alliance 

for Reform] is the liberal party that 

 

 

 

than convinced that Ukraine has a great 

chance to become part of the European 

Union and build European living standards. 

Much depends on politics. When we 

win, we will install European standards 

 

 

 

enable change as soon as possible. 

> 

 

 

 

country and they are constantly calling 

 

am more than certain that that will happen 

during the summer. 

> 

- Warm regards to all Serbs and my 

 

 

MAY 2012 

65

We dream of London 

SERBIA’S ROWERS ARE WELL UNDERWAY WITH PREPARATIONS FOR THE 

OLYMPIC GAMES AND ADMIT THAT THEY DREAM OF MAKING THE PODIUM 

> by Gojko Filipović 

S 

 

preparing fully for the Olympic Games 

 

Kurir Go International their expecta- 

 

- All teams come to the Olympic Games re- 

 

 

- 

- 

 

 

 

- 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- 

 

 

- 

 

 

 

3 

1 

GOLD TEAM 

1. Goran Jagar 

2. Radoje Đerić 

3. Miljan Vuković 

4. Miloš Vasić 

4 


2 

Photo to remember by 

It is well-known that many athletes only get 

the opportunity to meet their idols and the 

world’s biggest stars at the Olympics. We 

asked our rowers who they would 

most like to have their photo taken 

with in London. After the response of 

Goran Jagar they all agreed that they 

want the same photo, but we also 

managed to “squeeze” out some different 

answers. 

Jagar: With a medal around my 

neck. No matter which one, just that 

it’s mine. 

Vasić: Usain Bolt. 

Đerić: With every athlete from Serbia 

beside the Olympic flame. 

Vuković: Yelena Isinbayeva. 

“ 

IN MAJOR COMPETITIONS THERE’S NO HESITATION. YOU 

” 

BITE DOWN FROM START TO FINISH AND WHAT WILL BE, WILL BE

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