Finally Free after 17 years of waiting

Finally Free

Council of Ministers of the European Union yesterday officially decided on putting Serbia on the Schengen white list, which will begin to apply from 19. December this year.

Starting then, after 17 years of waiting, the people with the new passport will be able to travel freely in 29 countries of the Schengen Agreement or in countries that recognize it, and visas will still be necessary for the two EU members - Britain and Ireland.

From the white Schengen list and will have the benefit of Serbian businessmen who will quickly come to the investment.

Visa liberalization, however, will not delete all the rules for traveling abroad, because the white Schengen does not mean life indefinitely in an EU country, as well as the possibility of free employment and education.

Decision of the Minister of Internal Affairs of the European Union, citizens of Serbia, but from next month will be able to travel freely in 25 EU countries, as well as in Switzerland, in Iceland, to Norway and Liechtenstein, or in countries that have also adopted policies on the abolition of borders.

No visas will travel in Romania, Bulgaria and Cyprus, which, although not signatories, respect the Schengen Agreement.

Travel without a visa will certainly for the citizens of Serbia will be far simpler, but will still require compliance with a series of regulations.

Visa liberalization of Serbia won the white Schengen type C, which actually means a short stay of 90 days for a period of six months, whether it is a continuous or periodic residence in a country Schengen zone.

Schengen area. Osim toga, bitno je i da automobil bude potpuno pravno i tehnički ispravan. In addition, it is important that the car is completely legal and technically correct.

White Schengen type C is given Serbia does not allow someone to work or study abroad. Those who want to live there will have to look for a residence visa for employment or study is required visas D.

However, visa-free regime will certainly enable the mobility of students and teachers, and thereby gain new experiences.

Old passports
Visa-free regime will benefit those who have not traveled due to costs. Thanks to an agreement on open skies and white Schengen, the arrival in Serbia have already announced low bone of the company, which will reduce the prices due to competition and domestic air carrier.

Decision of the Council of Ministers of the EU

Rehn: soon more good news for Serbia

Council of Ministers of the European Union adopted a decision yesterday in Brussels that the citizens of Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia from 19 December abolishing visas for travel to countries in the EU Schengen area.


This decision shall enter into force the day after publication in the Official Gazette of the EU "must be applied starting from 19 december 2009”.

It is fully binding and directly applicable to EU member countries.

The leader of Partizan fans rescued old woman

Partizan fans leader Predrag Simic, known as Sima Serbia, save the Milena Marinkovic (61), a tempter who robbed her later caught and handed it to police

The incident occurred at Monday night in the hall near the "Pioneer". Marinkovic is passed through the streets of Charlie Chaplin, when her attacker approached her, threw her to the ground and robbed. - I thought that he would kill me, because he threw me on the ground and told me: "Now I'm going to kill you." Then he extrude my bag and took mobile and nine thousand dinars.

I screamed for help, and then found this guy and saved me.

He swept the attacker, telling me: "Do not worry madam, I will get him" - said the Milena Marinkovic.

Simic have all credit for the capture tempter transferred to a policeman in civilian clothes, who, however, claimed that the attacker is caught only thanks to the leaders of "GROBARI".

I chased him and at the same time called the police. Then he accidentally encountered the police officer in plain clothes, and together we have overcome the stench of that which attacks women.

Simic added that it is not thought that the armed attacker, because he was sorry to see a strong young man of thirty years of beating his wife.

- When I saw her threw down, the heart of me was hurt - said Simic.

Triumph of the best Serbian swimmer in 200m breaststroke

Nađa Higl win gold at the World Cup!

Serbian swimmer Nađa Higl won yesterday at the World Cup in Durban in small pools gold medal in the discipline of 200 meters breaststroke, swim this section of 2:20,41 minutes.

Current World Champion in large pools exceeded in the final second-placed Swede Jolin Hostman for two seconds and 30 hundredths (2:22,71), and third place took the German woman runes that Carolina finished with two seconds and 70 hundredths behind (2: 23.11) for the Serbian swimmer.
Higl on Friday took fifth place in the final race in the 100 meter breaststroke.

Serbian arrest drug dealers

BIA and the U.S. DEA seized three tons of cocaine

Members of the Security-Information Agency and U.S. Agency for fight against drugs DEA in a joint action yesterday confiscated 2.8 tons of cocaine in international waters in the Atlantic Ocean on the main way of smuggling the drugs from South America to Europe.

According to initial estimates, the value of the seized cocaine is approximately 120 million euros, while the street market was worth around 250 million euros.

- During the arrest in Serbia and abroad, people involved in this record of smuggling cocaine. Among the arrested abroad, a lot of Serbian citizens, who are one of organizers of this job.

Action of arrest will be continue next day.

National Security Council said Serbia last night that the seized cocaine was intended for the European market.

BIA and the U.S. DEA jointly did the action, after the exchange of information about this case. . The competent authorities of Serbia, in cooperation with the Special Prosecutor for Organized Crime, continue the investigation, said in a statement.

According to sources, a stronghold of the drug bosses of Latin America, who hold in their hands strings of cocaine smuggling network to Europe, have four Serbian citizens who are in the files of our police identified as the strongest leaders of criminal groups, which are not only associated with organized drug trafficking, but also numerous murders, kidnappings, extortion, money laundering ...
- The head of the strongest group is the person who is currently in jail in Belgrade because of criminal association and murder, but its drug-channels are still working, and cocaine for his name and further distributed in Europe.

Primacy in the distribution of cocaine and still has one of the most serious organized criminal group, the strength is not lost even in the last four years, the two leaders of this group spent in prison abroad. Both are from a few months ago at large, and one of the recent seizure of cocaine in Europe is linked just for them, and one of the main players of this group, which was recently arrested after his car under the center of Belgrade placed explosives - says source from the top of the Serbian police.

He said that the scheme which operates smuggling cocaine from Latin America to Europe, on paper it looks pretty simple, but that the establishment of such contacts and the channel so far managed only a handful of the strongest players in the drug business.

-Each of them has her man in Latin America over the contract when purchasing cocaine, but what is new in the smuggling, and in Spain and Africa, through which drugs are still distributed - says our source says that the smuggling of cocaine to our drug-bosses still an attractive old sea route to Rotterdam, the port in the Netherlands, where it switches to drug markets of most countries of Western Europe, and part of the drug reaches out to Serbia.

Stunt Serbian doctors: stem cells heal the heart!

Team physician, Clinical Center of Serbia, brought a revolutionary surgery in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, successfully injecting stem cells into a weakened heart muscle from Belgrade (67)

Source: McGowan Institute for regenerative medicine

The team physician of the Clinical Center of Serbia made a revolutionary surgery in the treatment of severe cardiovascular diseases, by injecting stem cells into heart muscle of one from Belgrade (67)!

Injecting stem cells into heart muscle represents a new opportunity for all those patients who had a heart attack or cardiac signs of weakness, and that the situation of their illness are no longer candidates for bypass or stent installation!

Dr. Marko Banovic was part of the team that performed this feat, and he told that prior to our intervention, these doctors worked only Belgian experts!

Academic Ostojic led the team The first operation, the injection of stem cells in heart muscle was performed multidisciplinary team headed by the Director of the Clinic of Cardiology Clinical Center of Serbia, Academician Miodrag Ostojic, who was the bearer of this project for Serbia. - The idea of the realization of this project came from Dr. Andrew Terzic, who works at the Mayo Clinic in America, and graduated in medicine in Belgrade. Terzic is now a clinical pharmacologist. He is the holder of the project the treatment of damaged heart muscle with stem cells - explains Dr. Banovic.

Patient well

- Our first patient where the stem cells injected into heart muscle feels good, his condition is stable and we expect that everything will go all right. We already have several candidates who are waiting to be subjected to this intervention in the next few months. It is envisaged that these procedures do patients who have 18 to 75 years, and which is due to myocardial disease or other damaged heart - said Dr. Banovic.

Our interviewee explained that the aforementioned interventions means that patients first take out stem cells from bone marrow, and then the cell cultivation and processing of six to eight weeks in a special laboratory in Belgium, which this project under the supervision of the famous American Mayo Clinic.

- Cells are from Belgium arrived in Belgrade three days ago and immediately made the intervention of their injection directly into the heart muscle.Our first patient is 67 years and had a serious heart attack, due to which his damaged heart muscle. He belongs to a group of patients who were no longer candidates for surgery of the heart or blood vessels to install stents - Banovic said.

It is interesting that these interventions do not work any more in America because President Barack Obama recently signed a decree on the use of stem cells in treating patients.

Serbia before America

Intervention injecting stem cells into heart muscle is now only in Belgium and Serbia.

This is a multidisciplinary project that examines more in the experimental stage, and if it proves successful, it will be truly revolutionary in the treatment of heart disease - says Dr. Banovic.

For now, the intervention of the injection of stem cells into heart muscle works only in Belgium and Serbia ... Dr. Marko Banovic

Assistant Professor Branko Beleslin, who was also on the medical team of CCS, says that it is a most contemporary way in the development of cardiac surgery, and that real results can be expected in the next few years.

- This is a huge opportunity for those patients who can not help through the bypass or stents. . Cells injected in this way should become a real, functional and mature heart muscle cells. This intervention is in the hall for kateterizaciju, through a special system for mapping zones of the heart muscle, in which injected cells. This is only the beginning of the story, and we were lucky to get a chance to be part of this groundbreaking research - says Dr. Beleslin.

First Serbian Animated Movie

Technotise: Edit and I Technotise: Edit & I Technotise: Edit & I

Genre: Animated Film
Country of origin: Serbia
Year: 2009.
Length: 100 min

Scenario: Aleksa Gajic
Directed by: Aleksa Gajic

Starring: Nikola Đuričko (Bojan), Nebojsa Glogovac (EDI), Marija Karan (Bron), Sanda Knežević (Edit), Peter King (Grandfather), Srdjan Miletic (Sergei), Boris Milivojevic (John Woo), Elizabeth Sablic (Keva ), Srdjan Todorovic (Herb), Vlasta Velisavljevic (Professor Dorijević)

Projekcije na festivalu Cinema City: Projections of the Festival Cinema City
2009-06-06 @ 20:00 - Srpsko narodno pozorište (Velika sala) 2009-06-06 @ 20:00 - Serbian National Theater (Main Hall)
2009-06-12 @ 21:15 - Catholic port
2009-06-13 @ 21:15 - Danube Park

Sinopsis: Synopsis:
The story is set in Belgrade 2074th year.

The main character is Edit (Knezevic Sanda), a student of psychology.

After the sixth unsuccessful attempt to pass an exam, he decided to visit the dealer who works on the black market and on its stolen military uses the chip in order to help her pass the exam.

At her surprise, the chip enables a much higher capacity than it could and to imagine. Needless to mention that the government / military intends to restore the chip.

From that moment her life changes begin to occur to her unusual things.
With the technical aspects, the film is a combination of four types of animation.

Aesthetic model for this movie are Japanese anime, realistic drawings, in which the achieved static scene, with striking atmosphere and authentic artistic expression.

Using the classic 2D, Advanced 3D and vector animation film was completed after eight years.

Serbian Eagles like Tornado !!!!

"Eagles" go to the World Cup!

Serbian national team is qualified for the World Cup in South Africa 2010th and in style! "Eagles" were crowded with Marakani beat Romania 5-0 and scorers were Zigic, Pantelic, Kuzmanovic and Jovanovic (two goals).

On the right is a celebration in the market, the team bus left about midnight in the center of Belgrade, and after this night of celebration and anticipation following the road to Africa where the task more difficult.
Bravo "Eagles" and good luck!

Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs and Interpol to prevent two children commit suicide

Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs announced today that in cooperation with Interpol, to prevent the two minor children also agreed to commit suicide over the Internet.




"In the international police cooperation, Interpol channels Serbian police came to know that while preparing suicide two minor children, of which one citizen of Serbia," said police.


"Juveniles are members of the organization EMO, which is the available information is defined as an informal group of people who communicate over the Internet," the statement said.

It adds that members of the organization "only wear black or white clothing and to promote sexual abstinence and managing virtual love."

"Minor, a foreign citizen attempted suicide by poisoning, and during the rescue admitted to preparing another suicide in the territory of Serbia, "added the statement.

Rapid intervention of the Serbian police, who arrived on the scene just before the execution, saved the life of underage persons, says the Ministry of Interior.

Otherwise by members of the so-called "emo" subculture, created with the same name, musical genre, mostly teenagers who go through puberty with a pronounced depression, tendency to suicidal behavior and significant introvertnost.

Human skin produced in laboratory !!!!

Experts of the Institute of the Medical Faculty in Kragujevac are a step away from the final goal: production of human skin in laboratory conditions.

Professor Zoran Milosavljevic, chief of the research team and also Head of the Department for histology at the Medical Faculty says that the goal is developing of their own methodology for making large portions of skin in a laboratory.

‘After clinical tests the laboratory made skin can be kept frozen in liquid nitrogen at minus 196 degrees’, Professor Milosavljevic says.

At the Institute of the Medical Faculty in Kragujevac they say that in ideal conditions a nail-size peace of skin can produce a skin of a writing table size.

Professor Milosavljevic says that the team is working in minimal conditions and that for opening of a bank of skin the team would need a financial help in equipment valid less than EUR 100,000.

The Devil’s Town’ among 77 finalists of New seven world wonders of nature

The Devil’s Town’ was yesterday officially named among 77 candidates for election of New seven world wonders of nature. It shall be known on July 21 whether our candidate shall be among the 28 finalists. That decision shall be made by experts of Bernard Webber Agency from Switzerland.


In the first round of voting ‘The Devil’s Town’ took the first place in Europe and the 11th in the world among 170 candidates.
The candidacy of ‘The Devil’s Town’ contributed significantly to huge increase in the number of visitors to the site. Six years ago there were about 3,000 visitors each year. However, in recent two years more than 80,000 tourists from the country and abroad visited the location.

"Jelen" beer and "Plazma" most popular products in Serbia

According to poll carried out by ‘My Serbia’ (association of citizens), the most popular domestic products in Serbia are ‘Jelen’ beer, ‘Plazma’ biscuits, ‘Jaffa’ biscuits, ‘My cow’ milk, ‘Eurocream’, etc.

The poll was carried out within a half-year project named ‘Let’s choose domestic products’. The ‘Knjaz Milos’ mineral water is the only product of that kind among the ten most popular products. Thanks to ‘Chocolate banana’ and ‘Best wishes’ chocolate, the ‘Soko Stark’ company is the most frequently mentioned domestic manufacturer of food products.

Mammoth Vika worth billion euros

From the moment five-million-year-old mammoth Vika was found near Kostolac , a new text about this sensational discovery appears on the Internet every five minutes. So far we have had her younger relative Kika from Kikinda, while skeleton of mammoths have also been found in the vicinity of Novi Sad, Belgrade, Smederevo, Zrenjanin, Negotin…

Future tourist destination “Through Serbia on mammoths’ paths” is a great opportunity for development of Serbian cultural tourism. It could attract over 200,000 visitors on monthly basis.

“Discovery of Vika can be compared to winning billion euros on lottery. BBC stopped broadcasting regular news in order to announce the news about the whole skeleton of a mammoth found in Serbia. Last week reporters from ‘Financial Times” were our guests and all world media reported about this discovery. Possibilities offered by science and culture can easily be used for the development of economy and bring money. The important question is how to take advantage of the great interest for Vika and offer tourists a true adventure in Serbia,” says Miomir Korac, PhD, a director of Viminacium.

According the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, cultural tourism in Serbia is becoming more and more important owing to epochal archeological discoveries. They think that following examples in Europe, we can easily unite archeological discoveries with the local tourist offer in a significant tour. We should connect all locations where mammoths were found and enrich them with attractive tourist activities and together with “Mammoth Paths”, “The Paths of Roman Emperors” and “The Danube Fortresses” or “Wine Tour” make a tourist hit in Serbia.

“This route would have a significant place for the development of the smaller companies (trades, souvenirs), employment of local residents (animators, interpreters) and the promotion of new gastronomic specialties with authentic names. Archeological skeletons of mammoths exist in some European countries, but the mammoth from Kostolac is definitely the most attractive one. Serbia could be the first European country which could include the mammoth’s route, according to the Ministry of Economy and Tourism.

A share of cultural tourism in an overall world turnover is even 19,3 per cent, which is more than in the car industry.
“It would be enough if only a part of 270,000 cyclists who pass through Serbia on the way from the Atlantic to the black Sea are intrigued to see our mammoths and start “The Paths of Roman Emperors”, and we will already have a significant profit. Of course, accommodation and infrastructure are important issues, but every investment is definitely profitable. The first archeological tourist center “Domus Scientiarum” in Viminacium will have its first guests in 2010 and it is only one of the numerous buildings which we need,” says professor Korac, adding that the world cultural funds will support this project, but the present application can bring the investments in a year at best. That is the reason why all ministries, tourist organizations and business people should be involved in the promotion of this project.

“The cultural path is a serious cultural product which thematically connects several interesting destinations in one or more countries and can bring much bigger profit than it is the case with separate cultural destinations. Tourists have a possibility to learn more about a historical or cultural epoch, about the country they are visiting, its residents, customs, specialties and have a great time,” says Borislav Surdic, the head of the sector for international relations of the Ministry of Culture.

Theory on sex opens door to European elite

Some real heroes are coming from Pozarevac today.

Mirko Djorjdevic (23) a student of molecular biology at the University of Belgrade is the winner of the international competition for the best science communicator ‘Fame Lab’ held in Great Britain. The competitors were from ten countries including the Great Britain. Mirko Djordjevic’s topic was ‘Sexual selection and sexual behavior of people’.

‘The Great Britain has scientific consciousness which, unfortunately does not exist in Serbia. The time has come that our country starts dealing with that problem and I would be glad to give my contribution to that.

The Faculty of biology in Belgrade where I study and the whole world celebrate 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth and 150 years since publication of his famous book ‘The Origin of Species’.

My essay on sexual selection has been dedicated to that occasion. I spoke about sexual behavior of people in an interesting and funny way.

Winning this reputable world competition resulted in offers I got from Oxford and Cambridge to continue my study there’, Mirko says.

He presented his work in English.

‘Although all doors in the world have been opened to me I would like to stay in Serbia upon completion of my studies. In Belgrade I have support for what I am doing and I cooperate with ‘Sinisa Stankovic’ - the Institute for biological research, the Institute for protection of plants and the Institute for forensic medicine.

I can use their labs and I am working with fine people that believe in me. I am bringing from Britain a lot of new experience that I intend to implement here. The most important thing for me is that Serbia is going out of scientific isolation and is developing global science.In Britain there is developed culture of scientific popularization and in Serbia there is no communication between scientists and population. That link has to be established via media but here there are no scientists who know to talk to media nor media to talk with scientists. In Britain scientists are not imprisoned in their laboratories but appear in public frequently. They, for example want to hear what people think about genetically modified food.

The point of the competition I won is to create science communicators who shall bring science close to ordinary people’, Mirko Djordjevic says.

Million-year-old mammoth skeleton found

KOSTOLAC -- A skeleton of a mammoth believed to be one million years old was discovered near Kostolac in eastern Serbia.

The discovery was made at the Drmno surface coal mine, close to the Imperial Mausoleum of the Viminacium Archeological Park. The bones were found 27 meters deep, in a layer of yellow sand.

The Park's director, Miomir Korać, told that it is believed the skeleton belongs to one of the oldest mammoth species found in Europe.

"We were actually very close to the spot when the machinery hit the mammoth remains and we reacted immediately," Korać recounted the moment when the skeleton was found. "We managed to stop them, and were lucky to now have almost the entire mammoth. The skull and tusks were somewhat damaged."

"What is very interesting is that the poor creature met its death and remained in a layer of some sort of gravel, which means that it is practically preserved, and not even tectonic movements have influenced it to move or dislocate. We found it the way it died," Korać continued.

The skeleton of the female mammoth was found 27 meters deep, in a layer of yellow sand. The 4.5-meter tall, six-meter long animal, weighing some ten tons, is believed to have arrived to the Balkans from north Africa.


Unlike the mammoth found near Kikinda, in northern Serbia, whose remains are some half a million years old, this one is believed to have arrived in what is today eastern Serbia from northern Africa.

But Korać explained that about one to one and a half million years ago, mammoths from northern Africa migrated to southern Europe.

This archeologist said that the find is exceptionally important, consisting of almost the entire skeleton of a mammoth species belonging to the oldest ever found in Europe.

"Discoveries of these species of mammoth are very rare. That fact alone speaks about its value," said Korać.

The mammoth found near Kosotolac will be restored and exhibited at the Archeological Park in Viminacium – once a major Roman stronghold in the territory of today's Serbia.


Deputy PM Božidar Đelić, who visited the site on Saturday, said that what the mammoth now needs is – a name.

Some media, however, are apparently ahead of the minister, already referring to it as "Vika".

The skeleton will not be taken to Belgrade; instead, it will be exhibited at the park, Korać said.

Đelić described the discovery and the Roman site nearby as an "important commercial chance for Serbia".

"The search is on for the name, and I'm calling on all Serbians to propose one, so that we can christen this mammoth of ours, the oldest in the Balkans. At this point, some 50-60,000 people visit Viminacium every year. Our goal is to have 300,000 come here."

"This is absolutely achievable, we are Roman land," Đelić was quoted as saying, and adding, "Viminacium is one of 12 sites where we can show everything that the Roman Empire has left on our country's soil."

Canadian actor Rob Stjuart in Serbia

Although it seemed like utopia, the legendary Nick Slaughter, played by the Canadian actor Rob Stewart in the famous TV series “Tropical Heat”, has really arrived in Serbia! Members of “Atheist Rap”, the band from Novi Sad, welcomed Stewart at Nikola Tesla Airpor, as well as numerous fans dressed in the well-known “Hawaii” shirts…

Since the plane by which Stewart arrived was late, impatience among the fans who organized the whole event on “Facebook” was mounting. The most impatient fans were three friends in colorful shirts holding DVD edition of “Tropical Heat”, with covers that they made by themselves, so that Slaughter can sign them.

“We escaped from work, faculty and military service. We would even escape from prison, because this is once-in-a-lifetime experience- to meet Nick Slaughter in person. We wish Silvie was with him,” said Nikola, Milos and Ivan.

Yesterday about 1.15 PM, the loud applause announced arrival of Stewart who arrived in Belgrade with his sister and agent. Smiling and in good mood, the Canadian actor was patiently posing for press photographers, and then gave autographs. People at the airport waiting for some relatives to leave the plane were completely confused by the tumultuous atmosphere and were interested to find out who the star was. When they heard it was Nick Slaughter, they exclaimed in disbelief: “I can’t believe it!”

“This is much more than I expected. We will stay in Serbia for tow weeks and shoot a documentary. We will talk to people about your history, impressions about “Tropical Heat”… We want to present Serbia in Canada in a way it had never been done before,” said Stewart.

After the reporters welcomed him with ovations, Stewart said honestly: “It is all so great that I still think that someone is really teasing me.”

“I can’t believe that we are really here because everything was organized so quickly. After we arranged our visit to Serbia, a series of strange circumstances ensued: until then, the only Serb I had known was by adopted brother John whose actual name is Branko, then it turned out that our lawyer is from Serbia, as well as the waiter in my favorite Restaurant,” said Stewart, who will perform on June 6 with the band “Atheist Rap” at the festival “To Be Punk” in Novi Sad.”

“If they turn off the volume, I am sure I will sound great at the concert. Our plan is simple. We will drink and have fun as much as possible,” Stewart concluded.

Visa-free to Russia from June 10

Vuk Jeremić and Sergei Lavrov


The agreement on a reciprocal visa-free regime between Serbia and Russia will enter force on June 10, the Russian Foreign Ministry has announced.




"The agreement signed on February 20 in Moscow will make travel from one country to the other easier for citizens with valid passports. They will be able to enter and remain on the territory of the other country for up to 30 days without a visa,” the ministry says in a statement.

The statement adds that Russian citizens traveling to Serbia, or vice versa, will not need an invitation letter for private visits or tourist vouchers from travel agents.

“The visa-free regime is designed for citizens of the two countries who have a temporary residence permit in the territory of the other country, for accredited personnel from diplomatic representative offices, consular sections and the offices of international organizations, as well as members of their families who have diplomatic or special passports,” the statement continues.

Diplomatic and special passport holders will be able to stay in the other country for up to 90 days without a visa.

All other forms of travel between the two countries, including for business and education, will require a visa.

Tadic: France as partner on path to EU

‘Serbia and France shall in the following period sign agreement on strategic partnership that would understand French support to Serbia on its path to the EU’, Serbia President Boris Tadic said yesterday after meeting with his host, the French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The French President said he ‘would like that the signing of that agreement takes place in Belgrade’. Tadic and Sarkozy agreed that there should be no additional conditioning regarding visa liberalization.

President Tadic said that the struggle for Kosovo and integration with the EU were two separate processes and repeated that recognition of Kosovo must not be a condition to Serbia for its European integration. He reminded that the USA Vice President Joseph Biden agreed with such a stance.

Serbia wins tennis World Cup

The Serbian selection has won the Tennis world Cup, after Janko Tipsarevic has defeated German player Philip Kholstreiber, ranked 31st at the ATP list, with 2:0, thus bringing the second victory in the final against Germany.

In the first match, Viktor Troicki was successful against Reiner Schuttler, also with 2:0.

The doubles match will be played today, in which Serbia will be represented by Troicki and Nenad Zimonjic, and Germany by Nicolas Kiefer and Misha Zverev.

The fund of awards at the World Cup amounts to 1,890,000 euros.

Ana Ivanovic returns for French Open

Ana Ivanovic is in Paris. The defending champion of the women’s event at the French Open has not played in the most recent WTA events due to a hamstring strain, but is set to return to play at the season’s second Grand Slam, scheduled for 24 May through 7 June.



This time last year Ivanovic reached the tennis stardom after claiming her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, after which she was promoted into the world’s number one player. The terrific result satisfied not only the financial aspect of her career, but also brought Ivanovic precious WTA points and lucrative deals off court, such as the one with Rolex, signed in May, 2008.

- “Luckily, the inflammation of the hamstring has subsided, and I’ve been able to practice for a couple of days. I feel good and I am optimistic about my chances of defending the Paris title. It’s obvious I didn’t have adequate preparations in the run-up to the French Open, but neither did I last year ahead of the event and still went on to win it,” said Ivanovic.

The Serb’s arrival in France means she will have the opportunity to defend the last year’s points and retain her rankings position among the top ten. Ivanovic is currently 8th and will aim to get to as many wins here. However, Ivanovic refuses to apply excess pressure on herself by the fact she is the title holder, and says she is acting as if this was any other tennis event.

- “Of course, it’s a great honour to enter a Grand Slam with the champion’s title, but this is just another big tournament in a row for me and I am really excited about it. This is a new event and a new opportunity to win the trophy,” says Ana.

Unlike Novak Djokovic, who is in great shape, which is more than could be said for Ana Ivanovic or Jelena Jankovic. The latter recently said she will have to change something in her game – most probably the coach – in order to return to the women’s tennis top-flight.

- “I expected more of myself at the Madrid tournament. That is history now and I won’t be returning to that and I’m just trying to prepare myself as well as I can for the French Open. I know what I need to work on and what has to radically change if I want to become the world’s number one again,” concluded the current WTA number four.

New phase in Serbia-USA relations

Biden: Kosovo not obstacle to joining EU

The USA wants better relations with Serbia and Kosovo shall not be an obstacle to that. It shall neither be a condition for the USA support to further European integration by Serbia. This is the chief and very positive message that the USA Vice President Joseph Biden brought to Belgrade yesterday. His meeting with Serbia President Boris Tadic, the key moment of his visit, was held in a very positive atmosphere. Analysts claim that concrete positive results should be expected very soon.

‘The USA wants to improve cooperation with Serbia, help in settlement of problems in the region and help Serbia become a strong, successful and democratic member of Euro-Atlantic community’, Biden said after talks with Tadic.

Biden also pointed out that the USA did not expect from Serbia to recognize Kosovo.

‘The USA shall continue insisting that Serbs in Kosovo get the largest possible protection and expect from Serbia to cooperate with the EU and other international factors in Kosovo. We think we can agree that we do not agree under condition that we have reasonable expectations from each other’, Biden said.

The USA Vice President also said to expect from Serbia to do its utmost to arrest and extradite the war crimes suspects. The USA also expects from Serbia to help the USA and EU in their efforts in establishment of a ‘sovereign, democratic and multiethnic state’ in Bosnia/Herzegovina and called on Serbia to establish ‘peaceful and positive relations’ with all of its neighbors.

‘We shall use our influence, energy and assets to improve Euro-Atlantic integration by Serbia’, Biden said. According to his words the intention of Washington is to work on improvement of direct relations with Serbia. He especially pointed out the existing strong military cooperation as well as the possibility for cooperation in the sphere of economy, culture and education.

Serbia President Boris Tadic who at addressing journalists first thanked in English the Vice President Jospeh Biden for his visit, said that the talks were very ‘frank and productive’ and expressed belief that it shall contribute to opening of the ‘new phase’ in American policy towards Serbia and the West Balkans.

Night of Museums

Half a million people visited exhibitions in Serbia in the Night of Museums

May 17, 2009

During the Night of Museums, some half a million people visited museums and galleries in Serbia. Last night, visitors had an 8-hour unforgettable adventure in museums, galleries and cultural centers in 41 Serbian towns and enjoyed in over 400 programs at more than 190 locations. This year’s Night of Museums encompassed 18 Serbian towns more than last year. In Belgrade, visitors could attend exhibitions, performances and concerts in 80 locations. Museums in Belgrade were visited by 300.000 people. This year’s Night in Museums was organized under the auspices of the Serbian Ministry of Culture and municipal assemblies of towns where the event took place. At the same time, citizens of 40 European countries visited over 1.900 museums and galleries.

Serbian wizard of La Caja Magica

The finest Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic has eased his way into the quarter-finals of the Madrid Masters ATP tournament with a latest win over Andreas Seppi – 6-4 6-4. However, the third-round encounter was anything but a cruise, as Novak had to work hard to beat the Italian for a sixth time in as many matches.


Djokovic made a dream start to the match, winning the first 14 points and taking the early 3-0 lead. However, at that moment tables turned and Seppi was composed and controlling the play. Djokovic was stringing error after error and the Italian was edging closer to making an unlikely full comeback. Then Djokovic started serving better and took a 5-4 lead. The psychological advantage brought the Serb composure and Djokovic clinched the set 6-4 with a crucial break.
Novak has pointed out on several occasions in the past couple of weeks it is paramount for him to remain patient, especially on clay, and thus capitalize on the slightest mistakes of his opponents. He certainly translated that into the second set. Both players held to their own serves, and when Seppi served to stay in the match at 4-5, the pressure bore down on the Italian. A couple of lengthy rallies and some excellent points gave Novak a chance to win the match. The Serb forced an error from Seppi to win the 3rd round match 6-4 6-4.

Djokovic now takes on the winner of the match between Gilles Simon and Ivan Ljubicic in the quarter-final. Based on the recent performances from Djokovic on all clay types, whoever is up against the Serb will have a formidable task ahead of them, as Novak currently looks sharp on the slowest tennis surface.

Europe Day in Serbia

May 9, 2009

Day of Europe, which is the Victory Day in the Second World War, May 9, is celebrated today all over Europe. European Commission representatives in Serbia and those of the Serbian European Integrations Office, as well as EU ambassadors, are marking this event in Belgrade.

Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac laid wreaths on the monument to the liberators of Belgrade in the Second World War.

Sports tournaments and concerts will be held and EU stands presenting EU member-states have been placed in downtown Knez Mihailova street.

THE STABILIZATION AND ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT

The Stabilization and Association Agreement, which Serbia signed with the EU a year ago, has not taken effect yet, due to opposition by The Netherlands, which states as the reason insufficient cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. Meanwhile, on 30 January 2009, the Serbian government started the formal application of the trade section of the Agreement. Although the opinions of experts and political parties about the benefit the government’s decision bringts to the economy differ, the prevailing opinion is that this is a very good move.

More than half of the total trade exchange is performed by Serbia with EU member-states. In March 2009, most goods were placed on the German market, namely around 195 million dollars, while Italy is at the third position of Serbia’s partners, with exports reaching almost 180 million dollars.

Serbian Deputy PM in charge of European integrations Bozidar Djelic remarks that public talks tend to ignore the fact that, although the EU has not started applying the Agreement formally, products from Serbia have for years had a privileged position on the European market. On the basis of approved preferentials for some products, Serbian exporters to the EU have been exempted from customs fees and other duties for eight years now, which has led to some 2 billion EUR of savings and a triple increase of exports.

The most frequent remark to the government’s decision to apply the Agreement refers to the reduction of incomes from unpaid taxes at the moment when Serbia has been affected with the economic crisis. However, Đelić explains, the crisis has struck the whole world and the reduction of total exchange in goods is the result. According to the European Integrations Office, in the first two months the loww of uncollected duties amounts to some 10 million EUR. In that period, the level of direct foreign investments from the EU reached some 165 million EUR.

By the way, the Stabilization and Association Agreement envisages a certain period of time to be left for lifting duties on EU products for Serbia, in order that Serbian economy be adapted to new business conditions. The entire process should be completed by 2013 and meanwhile customs duties will be cancelled gradually. Depending on the degree of sensitivity and significance for home economy, industrial products have been divided into three groups and the level of customs protection is in accordance for that. For insensitive products, duties can be lifted right away and the budget will not sustain much damage, as they amount to some 1.84% on average. Speaking of agriculture, which is the strategic branch of Serbian economy, numerous customs fees on agrarian products will remain after the expiry of the set deadline.

Business people have mostly supported the application of the Interim Trade Agreement, while those opposing it are few and are those that do not have a competitive product or have been used, with the help of the state, to have a monopolist position in a certain sector. However, the present government is firmly in favour of EU integrations, as that is a course not only to a more developed economy, but to a better-organized society and a higher living standard of citizens.

Today is St George's day

Đurđevdan (Serbian: Ђурђевдан - George's day; pronounced [ˈd͡ʑuːrd͡ʑeʋdaːn]) is a Serbian religious holiday, celebrated on April 23 by the Julian calendar (May 6 by Gregorian calendar), which is the feast of Saint George and a very important Slava.

He is one of the most important Christian saints in Orthodox churches. This holiday is attached to the tradition of celebrating the beginning of spring. Christian synaxaria hold that St. George was a martyr who died for his faith. On icons, he is usually depicted as a man riding a horse and killing a dragon. Đurđevdan is celebrated all over the Serbian diaspora but mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and the Republika Srpska. In the Serbian Language St. George is called Sveti Đorđe (Serbian Cyrillic: Свети Ђорђе).


Đurđevdan is also celebrated by the Gorani from the Gora region in southern Kosovo in Serbia. The Gorani are a Slavic Muslim group, who converted from Orthodox Christianity to Islam during the 18th century but kept a few Serbian - Christian traditions, including Đurđevdan. The holiday has a center in and around the village of Globočica. It's also celebrated by members of the uncanonical Montenegrin Orthodox Church.

Đurđevdan (Romany: Ederlezi) is also a major holiday for Roma from former Yugoslavia, whether Orthodox or Muslim. This holiday celebrates the return of springtime and is considered the most important. The traditions of the Roma Durđevdan are based on decorating the home with flowers and blooming twigs as a welcoming to spring. It also includes taking baths added with flowers and washing hands with water from church wells. Also the walls of the home could be washed with the water. On the day of the feast it is most common to grill a lamb for the feast dinner. The appearance of music is also very important during this holiday. Aside from dancing and singing, traditional Brass bands are popular.

In Croatia there is a Catholic version of Đurđevdan (St. George's Day) called Jurjevo (Đurđevo) and is celebrated on April 23 by the Gregorian calendar. The tradition is mostly celebrated in northern Croatia, in Zagreb County. According to tradition this day marks the beginning of spring. The use of bonfires is similar to Walpurgis Night. In the Croatian Language St. George is called Sveti Juraj.

"Ðurđevdan" is also the name of a popular song by band Bijelo dugme. The song is originally found on their studio album Ćiribiribela from 1988. It was made by Serbian ethno song by Goran Bregović.



In Bosnia, the major holidays of all religious groups were celebrated by all other religious groups as well, at least until religion-specific holidays became a marker of ethnic or nationalist self-assertion after the breakup of Yugoslavia.

Roman Catholic Christmas, Orthodox Christmas, and the two Muslim Bajrams were widely recognized by people of all ethnic groups, as was Ðurđevdan even though it was properly an Orthodox holiday and therefore associated with Serbs. The holiday's widespread appeal is in evidence in Meša Selimović's novel Death and the Dervish, where the pious Muslim protagonist views it as a dangerous pagan throwback, but where it is clearly celebrated by all ethnic groups in the unnamed city of its setting (widely considered to be Sarajevo). The holiday does appear to have pre-Christian roots.

Who will judge NATO's crimes?

BELGRADE -- An Amnesty International representative says this organization is "seeking mechanisms" so that NATO is tried for the crimes committed in Serbia and Afghanistan.

Sian Jones told Belgrade daily Politika that AI “is looking go mechanisms for NATO to answer for their crimes, because no world organization currently has jurisdiction over the most powerful military alliance on the planet.”

“We will continue to put pressure on NATO, because over the last ten years there has been clear proof that in 1999, during the bombing of Yugoslavia, there was a violation of human rights,” Jones said.

AI stated in its 2002 report that the NATO bombing of Radio Television Serbia, RTS, in which 16 people were killed, should be seen as a war crime and a serious violation of international humanitarian law.

“NATO is now immune to prosecution, whether for killing civilians in Serbia, or the killing of civilians, which we believe is still going on, in Afghanistan,” Jones said.

She said that the reason can be found in the “complicated fact that the Alliance is at the same time an organization of individual countries, but an entity itself.”

The European Director of the International Federation of Journalists, Marc Gruber, told Politika that the fact that NATO has not faced any legal responsibility for what it did in Serbia ten years after the fact is “a big problem which is not easy to solve at all”.

“No court can start a trial against NATO, as there is no basis for it in international law, because the North Atlantic Alliance is an international coalition of states,” Gruber said.

“We strongly condemn this crime. The least that NATO could do is offer an apology. We have been protesting for ten years against the fact that NATO targeted a television station, knowing there were journalists inside. The media can never be a military target,” Gruber told Politika.

The NATO bombing of the seat of Radio Television Serbia 10 years ago, when 16 employees were killed and another 16 were injured, was a deliberate attack on a civilian building and is a war crime for which no one has answered so far, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL assessed. They stress that in early 2000, NATO officials claimed they bombed RTS because of a propaganda role it had, in order to weaken the morale of citizens and armed forces. They point out NATO did not issue any special warning, although it was well-known there were many civilians in the building. AI assesses the civilian victims could have been avoided if NATO had adhered to rules of warfare. AI calls on NATO member-states to conduct independent investigation, take over full responsibility and pay damages to the victims’ families.

EXIT Festival in Serbia 2009

Selling of one-day tickets for the 10th EXIT Festival taking place between July 9 and 12 in Novi Sad starts on Tuesday, May 12.

The tickets can be bought in “Erste Bank” branches and “Gigstix” stores where four-day tickets are already being sold.

One-day ticket for Thursday, July 9, costs 3,490 dinars when the audience will have an opportunity to hear “Arctic Monkeys”, Lily Allen…

The same price is for Friday, July 10, when “Korn” and “Manic Street Preachers” will perform on the Main Stage.

The ticket for Saturday costs 3,990 dinars and the spectacle on the Main Stage will be marked by the legendary Moby, “Kraftwerk”, Petty Smith…

The same ticket price will be on Sunday, July 12 for the bands “The Prodigy”, “Madness”…

One-day festival tickets will be the most expensive at the festival doors,
while four-day tickets still cost 5,990 dinars on sale and they regular price will be 9,990 dinars.

Currency list

USD GBP EUR

73,35 Din. 106,86 Din. 94,81 Din.

Serbia is "partially free" on media front

WASHINGTON -- Serbia is a partially free country when it comes to media freedoms, according to the 2008 report published by Freedom House.

The report was published ahead of the World Media Freedom Day, with Serbia ranking 83rd on the list of 195 countries.

Serbia scored 39 points: 13 for legal, 17 for political, and 9 for economic climate, the NGO's website said.

Freedom House said that worldwide journalists faced a bleak working environment, and that for the seventh year in a row media freedoms were on the decline, this year for the first time in all regions.

Israel, Italy and Hong Kong lost their "free" status and are now ranked "partially free" by this report.

The report also said that only 17 percent of the world's population lives in countries that enjoy media freedoms.

Regionally, Bosnia, Bulgaria and Croatia have been singled out as countries with negative trends on the rise, including murder and intimidation of journalists.

Chetnik leader acts no longer confidential

BELGRADE -- The government has removed the confidential classification from all documents concerning the execution of General Dragoljub Draža Mihajlović.

This is according to State Secretary with the Justice Ministry Slobodan Homen.

He told Tanjug on Thursday that the session the government also instructed all ministries and individual organizations to remove the confidential classification from documents relating to the event.

According to Homen, the same decision releases all persons in possession of information and knowledge regarding the execution of Mihajlović and the location of his remains from keeping the official, state and military secret.

Homen believes that this is a very important decision which creates necessary preconditions for the efficient work of the commission for determining the facts on the execution of Mihajlović, formed on April 27.

As a commander of the Chetnik movement, also known as the Yugoslav Royal Army in the Fatherland, General Mihajlović was tried in 1946 for alleged collaborationwith the occupying Nazi German forces and for treason, and was sentenced to death.

However, his burial place remains unknown.

A commission set up to determine the circumstances of the execution of the death penalty on Mihajlović will now begin its work.





Draža Mihajlović , 1893-1946, Yugoslav soldier. He fought with the chetniks, a Serbian guerrilla force, in the Balkan Wars (1912-13) and in World War I, and after the conquest (1941) of Yugoslavia in World War II he headed the revived chetnik forces. His successful operations earned him promotion to general and appointment (1942) as minister of war by the Yugoslav government-in-exile. An ardent royalist and Serbian nationalist, he soon clashed with the partisans of Marshal Tito . Mihajlović's forces gradually dwindled while Tito's increased, and by 1944 he had lost Allied support and was reluctantly dismissed by King Peter II . Mihajlović continued antipartisan warfare with the remnants of his forces, but he was captured by the Tito authorities and tried on charges of collaboration and treason. Evidence indicates that Mihajlović, who considered the Communists a greater threat than the Axis Powers, did at times act against the Tito forces in an understanding with the enemy, but his death sentence was based on internal political considerations rather than on his actual guilt. The name also appears as Mihailović.