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.