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Issue No. 182 Friday, April 17 - Thursday, April 30, 2015
Page 9
Page 10
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Drugs, diamonds and bullets:
Balkan arms firm linked to
criminal investigations
The Montenegrin
government sold
its multimillion
euro defence firm
to a consortium
linked to a series
of serious criminal
investigations.
Montenegro Defence Industry, MDI, was sold to Belgrade-based CPR Impex and the Israeli ATL Atlantic
Technology Ltd, both linked to legal troubles.
Photo by AFN-Pacific Hawaii News Bureau/Flickr
Asylum-seekers abused by
Serbian police, report claims
A Human Rights Watch report accused Serbian
police officers of abusing, beating and extorting
money from migrants and asylum-seekers, but
the interior ministry denied the claims.
A
Pay and
pension
increase
unlikely
despite
deficit cut
Stevan VELJOVIĆ
COMMENT
Human Rights Watch
report on the treatment of migrants and
asylum seekers in Serbia that was published
on April 15th claimed
that border police have been threatening, beating, insulting and extorting
money and valuables from migrants
and asylum-seekers.
771820 833000
Friday • June 13 • 2008
C
Continued on page 4
9
01
Serbia’s surprise
deficit reduction
has led to
optimistic talk of
raising pensions
and public sector
pay to pre-austerity
levels, but experts
warn the economy
remains far too
fragile for that.
Ivan ANGELOVSKI
Dušica TOMOVIĆ
orruption, money laundering, unpaid bills, illegal arms sales to Libyan
Islamists and involvement in a cocaine smuggling ring – these are just
some of the allegations that have been
made against controversial businessmen linked to the privatisation of one
of the Balkans’ most powerful arms
dealers.
Montenegro Defence Industry, MDI,
was sold on March 4th to Belgradebased CPR Impex and Israeli ATL Atlantic Technology Ltd for €680,000
without fanfare.
ISSN 1820-8339
BELGRADE INSIGHT IS PUBLISHED BY
“Serbian authorities should be
protecting asylum-seekers and immigrants, including children fleeing
war and persecution, not allowing
the police to victimize them,” said
Emina Ćerimović of Human Rights
Watch.
The Serbian interior ministry told
BIRN however that no migrants had reported allegations of abuse.
+381 11 4030 306
“No irregular migrant has addressed
the ministry with a complaint that they
have been harassed by police officers
or forced to hand over money and a
mobile phone nor to report that they
were threatened with detention, deportation or physical violence,” the ministry said in a written response.
“The claims made by the surveyed
migrants and asylum-seekers are not
supported by facts and evidence which
would help in the process of determining the specific responsibilities of the
police officers of the Border Police,” it
added.
However the ministry admitted that
the police force has so far filed five crim-
belgradeinsighteditor@birn.eu.com
inal charges against its own officers suspected of taking bribes from migrants.
According to the Human Rights
Watch report, abuses have been reported all over the country but particularly
in Subotica, the northern Serbian town
on the border with Hungary. Subotica is
a key stop for many migrants trying to
cross Serbia and enter the EU via Hungary.
The report is based on interviews
with 81 asylum-seekers and migrants,
including 18 children, conducted in
both Serbia and Macedonia from November 2014 to January 2015.
Continued on page 2
B
etter than expected financial results for early
2015 have given the
Serbian Government’s
reform programme a
boost, allowing officials
to say austerity measures are now
bearing fruit.
The budget deficit stood at €179.2 million at the end of the first quarter of the
year, less than half of the €458m shortfall originally predicted.
The deficit reduction already “equals
annual cuts in salaries and pensions
– taxes and contributions included,”
said Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić,
prompting him to broach the possibility of putting pensions and public sector pay back up to 2014 levels.
Despite growing government optimism stemming from these encouraging first quarter results, experts are
warning that Serbia’s public finances
remain fragile and that it is still far too
early to discuss increasing salaries and
pensions.
A 10 per cent cut was imposed last
November on civil servants with salaries exceeding €210 and pensioners receiving monthly cheques of more than
€330 as the government scrambled to
slash state spending.
Continued on page 7
Issue No. 1 / Friday, June 13, 2008
Dutchman
bites back
at Serbia
again
1
Remote
Serbia’s
hidden
treasures
NEWS NEWS
Belgrade
pastry shop
guards
grandpa’s
secrets
Page 6
2
BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, April 17 - Thursday, April 30, 2015
SERBIA
Goran Hadžić, who is
currently on trial for war
crimes at the International
Criminal Tribunal for the
Former Yugoslavia, flew
into Belgrade airport on
April 15th after the court
approved his provisional
release to undergo medical treatment. The head of
Serbia’s National Council
for Cooperation with the
ICTY, Rasim Ljajić, said that
Belgrade had given guarantees to the UN-backed
court that Hadžić would be
monitored and get proper
treatment while he is in the
country. Hadžić is facing 14
counts of war crimes and
crimes against humanity
over his alleged involvement in the forced removal
and murder of thousands
of non-Serb civilians from
Croatia between 1991 and
1993.
Continued from page 1
Serbia in brief
Freed Croatian
Serb leader Hadžić
arrives in Serbia
PRESS REVIEW
Asylum-seekers
abused by Serbian
police, report says
DANAS, APRIL 16th
BILLIONS GONE, NO
NEW WAGONS
Even though the Serbian
government handed over around
€68 million over the last five
years for the overhaul of Serbian
Railways’ wagons, the rolling
stock remained in the same
condition, while the majority of
companies which have already
been paid for the job are on the
list of the biggest tax debtors,
and some owe salaries to their
employees. The information
comes from a report by the
Anti-Corruption Council. Serbian
Railways however claims 3,496
vehicles have been overhauled
and around €56 million spent.
That figure is disputed by the
Anti-Corruption Council, which
says that even if it is accurate, the
companies still got more than €11
million for a job they didn’t do.
VEČERNJE NOVOSTI,
APRIL 16th
TRADE UNIONS MIGHT HELP
SOLVE JOURNALLIST’S MURDER
Asylum-seekers
abused by Serbian
police, report claims
A Human Rights Watch
report on the treatment
of migrants and asylum
seekers in Serbia published
on April 15th claimed that
border police have been
threatening, beating, insulting and extorting money and
valuables from migrants
and asylum-seekers. The
Serbian interior ministry told
BIRN however that no migrants had reported allegations of abuse. “The claims
made by the surveyed migrants and asylum-seekers
are not supported by facts
and evidence,” it said.
Suspected thieves
of Serbian PM’s
brother's ID held
Serbian police detained
more than 15 people on
April 10th in several towns
and cities on suspicion of
involvement in identity theft
and forging IDs. They are
suspected of involvement in
a scam to use forged personal documents, including
that of Andrej Vučić, the
Prime Minister’s brother, in
order to register "phantom"
companies that were later
used for financial fraud. The
case caught public attention last October, when an
opposition MP claimed that
a company owned by Andrej
Vučić owed about €233,000
in taxes. Prime Minister
Aleksandar Vučić then
declared that his brother’s
identity had been stolen.
Former leaders of Jagodina’s
brewery trade unions could have
knowledge about the killing of
journalist Milan Pantić, Novosti
can reveal. The investigation
showed that the former union
leaders were connected to the
brewery’s management and that
know key information concerning
the murder of the Novosti
correspondent from Jagodina
in 2001. Several months before
he was killed, Pantić published
a series of articles about
wrongdoing at the brewery.
Three Syrian men built an improvised sleeping area outside of the Asylum Center in Bogovađa because police
had refused to register their intention to seek asylum so the centre’s administration had refused to admit them.
T
wenty migrants and
asylum-seekers,
including seven children aged 13 to 17, said
police officers in Subotica forced them to
hand over their money and mobile
phones, while insulting and threatening them with violence and deportation.
“Five, including children, said the police hit, kicked, and punched them. Two
said police hit them in the eyes with
pepper spray,” the report states.
Six other migrants and asylumseekers said police officers slapped or
punched them while fingerprinting
them or when they registered to apply
for asylum in other locations across
Serbia.
The ministry however insisted that
claims of harassment of asylum-seekers while registering were “unacceptable” because the applicants’ legal rep-
resentatives are also present during the
process.
Eight of those interviewed by Human
Rights Watch said that the police sent
them back to Macedonia, from where
they had travelled to Serbia, without allowing them to apply for asylum.
Another four said border police
asked them for money or face being
returned to Macedonia, only releasing
them after they had paid up.
In addition, 13 people, including two
unaccompanied children aged 14 and
17, said police had refused to register
their intent to seek asylum, which left
them not only without access to the
asylum system, but also lacking shelter,
food and medical care.
“The authorities should put an immediate stop to police intimidation
and abuse and hold those responsible
to account,” said Ćerimović of Human
Rights Watch.
The Human Rights Watch report also
Photo courtesy of Human
Rights Watch
called on the Serbian authorities to
instruct officers to treat migrants and
asylum-seekers fairly and immediately
investigate cases of police abuse.
“The government should issue clear
guidance to police officers that they
should treat asylum-seekers and migrants with respect and in a manner
consistent with human rights obligations, and should never summarily deport them.
“Officials should make clear that police [officers] will face punishment for
harassment, violence, and extortion,”
Human Right Watch wrote.
The number of migrants crossing
Serbia in an attempt to reach the EU has
significantly increased in recent years,
as has the number of people claiming
asylum in Serbia.
The Human Rights Watch report
states that the number of asylum-seekers in Serbia rose from 5,066 in 2013 to
16,490 in 2014.
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BLIC, APRIL 16th
DEFENCE MINISTER FEELS NO
GUILT OVER HELICOPTER CRASH
RESTAURANT BIZU
Address: Andre Nikolića 1-3
CAFE CAFFELOUNGE
Address: Vase Pelagića 48
Serbia’s defence minister
Bratislav Gašić said that he feels
no responsibility for the deadly
crash helicopter on March 13th,
adding he would act exactly
the same in a similar situation.
Gašić also said that the Serbian
prosecution should decide
when the report on the tragedy,
prepared by the commission in
charge of the helicopter crash, is
published. After the meeting with
his Russian counterpart Sergey
Shoygu in Moscow, Gašić said
they discussed Serbia’s possible
purchase of helicopters for the
army from Russia, adding that
Serbia has the money to buy one
helicopter.
BIRN has not verified the reports
and cannot vouch for their
accuracy.
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INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF BELGRADE
Address: Temišvarska 19
THE BRITISH INTERNATIONAL
SCHOOL OF BELGRADE
Address: Smetanina 12
Address: Kolarčeva 7
BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, April 17 - Thursday, April 30, 2015
3
ADVERT
THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF BELGRADE
The International School of Belgrade (ISB) is an independent, co-educational international day
school that enrolls students ages three to eighteen. ISB is the oldest international school in Belgrade, delivering quality international education for over 67 years while inspiring and empowering
students to discover their passions and to commit to lifelong learning. The curriculum is designed
to serve a multi-national student body using English as the language of instruction and providing
a high-quality, college-preparatory education with an emphasis on internationalism and global
responsibility. ISB admits students of expatriate families living in Belgrade, and Serbian students
desiring an international education. At present, ISB serves 390 students representing 42 nationalities.
ACCREDITATION
Like all quality international schools, ISB is accredited by several educational agencies: the New
England Association of Schools and Colleges and the Council of International Schools. We are an
authorized International Baccalaureate World School where students learn to implement change
with compassion and creativity in a complex global environment. We are also authorized by the
Ministry of Education of the Republic of Serbia.
INTERNATIONAL FACULTY
Faculty and staff are also diverse representing ten nationalities and coming from almost all continents (Europe, North and South America, Australia, Africa). Our teachers are dedicated professionals, a majority holding multiple or Masters’ degrees in their areas of specialization. Their
teaching is inspiring, student-centered and individualized, and their involvement in coaching and
co-curricular activities provides a nurturing environment for students to excel in the arts, athletics, student government and service learning.
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
ISB is a fully authorized International Baccalaureate World School
offering IB programs at all levels of the school.
International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (PYP) - Pre-Kindergarten-Grade 5
We offer the Primary Years Program (PYP) for students in Pre-Kindergarten (ages 3 and 4) through
grade five (age 11). Our newly designed Pre-Kindergarten program serves children of both ages
3 and 4, and includes developmentally appropriate learning and play-based engagements. Developed with the needs of the international student in mind, the PYP curricular framework focuses
on the education of the whole child by fostering the social and emotional growth of our students
while offering a relevant, engaging and challenging curriculum. This dual focus on knowledge and
learning sparks a child’s natural curiosity by developing academic skills while enabling students
to acquire a better understanding of the world and their place in it.
International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (MYP) - Grades 6-10
Due to the international composition of our families, ISB has a transient student body. We strongly
believe that the three IB programs fully meet the diverse needs of both international students and
their host country peers, and are proud to be able to offer the MYP continuum to PYP students,
while preparing them throughout the MYP years with skills and concepts needed for the Diploma
Program.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (DP) - Grades 11-12
The IBO describes the DP as “a comprehensive and challenging pre-university course that demands the best from both motivated students and teachers. Typically, diploma holders are ready
to debate real-world issues from an international perspective and to provide leadership and support in the local and global community. They demonstrate a capacity for in-depth study while
maintaining a broad perspective of the different subject areas. They have a strong sense of their
own culture and identity, as well as the ability to communicate in two or more languages with
people who have a different perspective of the world.”
COMMUNITY AND SERVICE
We strive to develop our students’ sense of their community and their participation in its improvement. Community and Service is one of the five areas of interaction of the MYP. This area of interaction focuses on work within the school during the first part of the MYP and encourages students
to be fully active in their local community and take on global issues by their final year of the MYP.
CREATIVITY, ACTION, SERVICE (CAS)
The CAS requirement is at the very core of the IB Diploma Program and it concentrates on the
non-academic aspect of school life outside of the world of scholarship, providing a fresh counterbalance to academic studies. As our students enter the Diploma Program they are expected to
act within their school, local community and ultimately beyond in the global community. Through
CAS, our students learn to become better-informed, caring citizens of the world.
MANY LANGUAGES, ONE SCHOOL:
THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF BELGRADE LANGUAGE PROGRAM
The International School of Belgrade is committed to the ideal of international-mindedness. One interpretation of this concept is understanding oneself and one’s culture, and reaching out to understand
others’ cultures and viewpoints. A key to understanding any culture is through language. Language
learning, both of one’s mother tongue and a second and third language, is a hallmark of ISB. With 42
nationalities represented in the student body, there is a rich and diverse palette of languages spoken and
also taught at ISB. Walking through the hallways and through the grounds of the beautiful campus, one
hears many languages, ranging from English and Serbian to Italian, Chinese, and Hebrew. The diversity
of our faculty compliments the students and brings even more international-mindedness to the school.
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
At ISB we believe that students need more than a strong curriculum, good teachers, and time in
the classroom to succeed. The After School Activities (ASA) programs at ISB strive to provide students with a variety of activities in the areas of sport, the arts, and academics where our students
can participate, perform and compete in a safe, nurturing, and accommodating environment. We
believe that ASAs play an integral part in our students’ education and growth, providing challenge and balance. By participating in ASA activities, students will mature socially, emotionally,
and physically. We are firm believers that student involvement in sports and activities beyond the
classroom environment contributes to the development of ideas and habits of leadership, discipline, emotional control, a healthy lifestyle and time management.
MS & HS CEESA ACTIVITIES
The International School of Belgrade is the only school in Belgrade that is a member of the Central Eastern European Schools Association (CEESA). As a member of CEESA our Upper School
students and teams have access to a variety of international events and competitions across the
continent. ISB has a proud record of being one of the most successful schools in the CEESA region over the last four years, as indicated by records at the various sports and activity events and
competitions.
COLLEGE PLACEMENT
The goal of the college counselling program at ISB is to help students find the university that best fits
their needs. Our graduates are accepted to premium colleges and universities throughout the world.
Most ISB students apply to English-instruction universities in North America, the UK, and Europe.
WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY AT ISB
Because of the high density and mobile nature of its users, education is at the forefront of the wireless evolution. Classrooms are now highly dependent on digital resources and the instructional
applications they enable. ISB has embraced next generation technologies that expand learning
options, such as our 1:1 laptop-to-student initiative and cloud-based educational applications
that support learning in the classroom.
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
As an IB World School, the International School of Belgrade recognizes the importance of diversity
in its student population, building strong community ties, and promoting academic excellence.
We are proud to be able to provide financial assistance to academically promising individuals who
would not, under normal circumstances, attend ISB.
Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA): Building Community Together
ISB is fortunate to have strong support from the parent community, and one way this is evidenced
is through the Parent-Teacher-Student-Association. The PTSA’s main aim is to support and build
the ISB community.
IN CLOSING
It is indeed a rich and diverse learning community at ISB. This diversity invigorates and inspires students, teachers, and parents to navigate the ever increasing interconnected world of the 21st Century.
4
BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, April 17 - Thursday, April 30, 2015
SERBIA
Continued from page 1
Drugs, diamonds and bullets:
Balkan arms firm linked to
criminal investigations
A
n investigation by the
Balkan Investigative
Reporting Network,
BIRN, has since discovered how a Belgian arms and diamond dealer Serge Muller was arrested
just hours after leaving the signing ceremony in Podgorica as he attempted to
cross into Albania.
Multiple sources have told BIRN how
Muller plays a leading role in the Israeli
firm and MDI’s privatisation.
However, ATL and its partners deny
that Muller, who is suspected of cocaine
trafficking and money laundering by
the Belgian authorities, is officially part
of the deal, although they concede that
he visited MDI three times in the past
year “as a friend” of ATL and attended
the signing ceremony.
Petar Crnogorac, the owner of CPR
Impex, faces his own legal problems
after it emerged last week that the UN
was investigating whether his firm
Tehnoremont, a subsidiary of CPR Impex, and MDI broke an arms embargo
by exporting weapons to Libyan Islamists. Crnogorac argues the deal never
took place.
THE LIBYAN LINK
MULLER:
‘THE MAN BEHIND ATL’
Montenegrin police officers arrested
Muller, a well-known figure in Europe’s
diamond capital of Antwerp, on the
basis of an Interpol Red Notice issued
from Brussels on March 3rd, just a few
hours after ATL and CPR Impex signed
a contract and bought MDI.
He was arrested while he was travelling from Podgorica to Tirana, to catch a
plane to Israel, his base in recent years.
A former pillar of Belgium’s diamond
trading community, he has previously
attracted much controversy over his involvement in mining the blood-soaked
diamond fields of Sierra Leone and
questionable arms deals.
Muller, 59, is now in custody in Podgorica awaiting the outcome of an extradition hearing that could see him
handed over to Belgian prosecutors
to face charges of participating in a cocaine smuggling ring, having links to
organised crime and money laundering.
“The arrest warrant against Muller
said that he was suspected of criminal
offences of ‘participation in a criminal
organisation, illegal drug-trafficking
and money laundering, punishable under the Criminal Code of the Kingdom
of Belgium’,” the Podgorica High Court
told BIRN.
An Antwerp-based court official
with knowledge of the case told BIRN it
centred on alleged cocaine shipments
from South America to Antwerp and
suspected money laundering.
According to the source, judge Bruno
De Hous “is investigating all Muller’s
activities in which he earned, or could
have earned and laundered dirty money: diamonds, weapons and drugs”.
Muller is also accused of attending a
meeting in Chile between members of
drug cartels and a member of the Colombian terrorist organization FARC,
according to the same source.
Muller, who denies all the charges,
can be held for up to six months in Montenegro but his lawyer told BIRN that
the evidence presented by Belgium was
Photo by Yarden Sachs/Flickr
“poor” and he hoped his client would be
released soon. An extradition hearing is
expected to be held by April 17th.
Although he cannot be found in the
company records of the ATL Atlantic
Technologies, BIRN’s investigation has
discovered the firm is closely tied to
Muller, who has made repeated journeys to MDI on the firm’s behalf in the
past year, it is claimed.
ATL Atlantic Technologies is a major
Tel Aviv-based arms company established in 2009. Its sole owner and CEO
is Israeli Agmon Shaked, according to
official Israeli documentation.
However, numerous sources and official documents suggest that Muller, who
has been involved in the arms trade
for at least 15 years, is at the very least a
close associate of Shaked and ATL.
Muller was officially joint-owner of
ATL’s Bulgarian subsidiary, ATL Bulgaria,
for more than a year to June 2014 when he
offloaded his shares, according to records
from the Bulgarian company registry.
ATL’s website also listed an office in
Antwerp’s Diamond Exchange Building, the address of several of Muller’s
companies, according to an investigation by a Belgian journalist in 2012. The
address was later taken down.
And a Serbian military expert, who
asked to remain anonymous, told BIRN
that Muller was known in arms circles
to be ATL’s “financier”.
Despite his disappearance from
ATL’s paperwork and website, BIRN has
learned that he attended MDI’s offices
three times on behalf of the Israeli firm
with CPR Impex owner Crnogorac.
In an interview with BIRN, Crnogorac
first admitted that Muller is “the man
behind ATL”. However, during the
meeting he received a telephone call
after which he insisted Muller was simply a friend of the firm.
“Mr Serge Muller is in the same work
as we are, he has important businesses,
he’s very influential and as such he’s
a respectable member of the Jewish
community,” Crnogorac later explained
in a statement. “ATL Atlantic is completely run by Mr Agmon Shaked, who
was involved in negotiations on buying
MDI, and who eventually bought this
company along with me.”
However, a senior, well-placed
source at MDI told BIRN Muller was presented as “the boss” of ATL during the
three visits to MDI made last year.
Crnogorac refused to say which company Muller represented in these meetings and rejected claims he was introduced as “the boss”.
“How can anybody know what we
discussed?” he said. “There were only
three of us in the office - Muller, [MDI
director] Zoran Damjanović and me. No
one else knows what we were talking
about.”
Damjanović, director of MDI, initially
confirmed that Muller visited MDI’s offices in Podgorica as an ATL Atlantic
representative but later said that Muller
was present as “a friend of the Tel Aviv
company”.
Muller’s son, Benjamin Muller, who
met BIRN at CPR Impex offices in Belgrade, declined to comment.
ATL and Shaked did not respond
to our requests for a comment while
BIRN was unable to ask Muller directly
about his involvement with the TelAviv firm.
MDI’s Serbian owner CPR Impex is
facing its own legal woes.
The Belgrade-based weapon trading
firm established in 2005 has exported
arms to all corners of the world.
Its owner and CEO, 35-year old Petar
Crnogorac, is the son of the former marketing director at Zastava Arms, the statebacked weapons factory which produces the Yugoslav version of the AK-47.
Crnogorac was arrested in July 2014
by Serbian police on charges of abuse
of office over a series of military tenders between 2011 and 2013 to buy
surplus army equipment during which,
it is alleged, he received confidential information on other bidders.
He has been released from custody,
but the case remains under investigation.
“[The] charges against me are nonsense, which is clearly proven by witnesses,” said Crnogorac.
The Serbian businessman could possibly face more serious charges this
month after it emerged the UN was
investigating whether Tehnoremont,
a CPR Impex subsidiary, via MDI had
supplied weapons to Islamist fighters in
Libya. The deal was allegedly brokered
in December 2014, before the privatisation took place.
Documents obtained by BIRN show
that the UN Panel of Experts on Libya
began a probe after it obtained a suspicious “end user certificate”, one of the
key documents required to receive an
export licence.
The documents show a list of ammunition, rocket launchers and mortar
shells to be exported by Tehnoremont
and MDI to an official named as Khaled
Sherif, apparently acting on behalf of
the Libyan Ministry of Defence.
The Sherif referred to is believed to
be better known as Khalid al-Sharif, a
former Libyan deputy minister of defence who visited Serbia in 2013 and
who has close ties to Islamist fighters.
Sharif is a former member of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, is known to
have been detained by the CIA, and, according to the UN, “has clear links to Operation Fajr”, also known as the Islamist
Libya Dawn which has set up a parallel
government in Tripoli.
The UN imposed an arms embargo
on Libya in 2011 to prevent further human rights abuses, although sales to
the internationally recognised government in Tobruk are currently allowed if
approved by the UN in advance.
Head of the panel of experts, Simon
Dilloway, has requested copies of contracts, if they exist, from Serbia by the
end of April in order to conclude whether the embargo has been breached.
In Montenegro, the state prosecutor
told BIRN that it had also opened an investigation into the claims.
MDI and Crnogorac have rejected the
allegations, saying that they have made
no exports.
Crnogorac told BIRN that while discussions had been held on exports to
Libya, no deal had been signed and as
a result there had been no reason to ask
permission from the UN.
One of the few conditions in the sale
of MDI was that bidders could not have
been found in breach of UN sanctions.
This investigation is produced by
BIRN as a part of Paper Trail to Better
Governance project.
BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, April 17 - Thursday, April 30, 2015
5
Revamp of Belgrade’s public
transport system promised
New bus and
tram lines
and revised
prices and
tariff zones to
be introduced
in early 2016,
making the
capital’s public
transport
system easier to
use, officials say.
B
elgrade’s Faculty of Transport
and Traffic Engineering is to
conduct two further studies
on the capital’s public transport system, after which new bus and
tram routes are expected to be added
to the current network.
Private transport companies will be
able to bid for contracts from the end
of 2015.
“We will present new network
lines of public transport in the autumn, at the latest. It is time for
changes because the current network hasn’t been changed for a
while. Some lines were added, but
sporadically,” Goran Vesić, Belgrade
manager, told Večernje novosti daily
on April 9th.
The new tariff system is expected
to divide the capital’s municipalities in
four zones.
Photo by Srđan Popović/
Wikimedia Commons
A recently-published study conducted by the Belgrade-based private company specialized in traffic planning indicated that 2.5 million trips are made on
public transport each day in Belgrade,
with 63 per cent of commuters using just
one line to get them from home to work.
According to the study, the bus remains the most used form of public
transport with the 95, 23 and 16 bus
routes being the busiest. The tram system is the least used means of public
transport in the capital.
Dušan Rafailović from the city’s traffic secretariat said that only 15 per cent
of people interviewed as part of the
same study said they were not satisfied
with public transport.
“The poll was conducted with [the
participation of] 10,000 users [of public
transport] who said they are mostly satisfied,” Rafailović said.
Fashion Week
heading to town
Hidden
Belgrade
The next
Belgrade
Fashion Week
promises
a packed
programme
of ecodiscussions,
book launches
and fashion
shows, all taking
place from
April 20th to
29th at various
locations across
the city.
Belgrade in brief
BELGRADE
Zemun shopping mall
opening late May
Belgrade’s first retail park will
finally open at the end of May, the
centre’s head, Miša Marković, told
the Tanjug news agency on April
12th. According to him, the Israeli
Mivne Group has so far invested
around €25 million and will hire
some 600 people. He promised:
“A lot of foreign and domestic
brands will be present here, also
some surprises, as well as a
special part for entertainment and
the biggest playground in Serbia.”
A second building phase is due to
begin in late 2015 or early 2016,
creating a further 15, 000 square
metres of retail space, Marković
added.
Best of Belgrade at
Milano Expo
The Serbian capital will be
promoting its economic and
tourism potential during the sixmonth Expo Milano 2015 show
in Italy, the Belgrade authorities
announced on April 10th. From
May 1st to October 31st, Serbian
wood and textile manufacturers
and representatives of the
agricultural, IT and furniture
industries will have a chance
to present their products to the
20 million visitors expected to
attend, Tijana Maljković from the
Economy Secretariat told the
media. The exhibition is entitled
“ Feeding the Planet, Energy
for Life”and more than 140
countries will participate by
showcasing leading technological
achievements that have
contributed to healthy living,
safety and sustainability.
Fewer orphans in
Belgrade’s care
The number of children who
live in Belgrade orphanages has
decreased significantly in the last
10 years, according to officials
from Zvečanska, the centre for
the protection of infants, children
and youth. There are fewer
orphans in orphanages because,
they say, the promotion of foster
care has been so successful that
180 children are now looked
after in foster homes. Last year,
four children from the centre
were adopted, mostly by parents
living abroad, officials said in a
statement on April 11th.
Downtown: graffiti
out, cameras in
BFW is one of the most popular fashion events in Serbia.
I
t all starts with the Metropol Palace
Luxury Night, during which XYZ
Premium Fashion Store and Martini Vesto collections will be shown
to the Belgrade audience.
Apart from the fashion shows and
collections by designers such as Ana
Ljubinković, Vlada Savić, George
Styler, Jasmina Vujović, Peđa Nerić,
Aida Novosel Savić and many others,
organizers announced a fashion conference will also be held to explore
the relationship between fashion industries, ecology and environmental
protection.
During the conference, which takes
place on Wednesday, April 22nd at the
Ethnographic Museum, the book Good
Photo by BFW/Archive
Design by Tijana Popović Pješčić will
be officially launched.
Designs from the best young students will also be on show at the Fashion Incubator event hosted by the
Galerija Štab on Friday, April 24th.
Fashion Week takes place twice each
year, in April and October, and is one of
the most popular fashion events in Serbia.
T
his monument is located in Pionirski Park, directly in front of the National Assembly, and was a
gift from the City of Aranđelovac in 1989 to mark the 9th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement. It
is a statue of Nadežda Petrović, a Serbian painter born in 1873. Considered Serbia’s most famous
impressionist and fauvist, she lived in her hometown of Čačak before moving to Belgrade with her
family. She later relocated to Germany and Italy and exhibited her work throughout Europe. In the
coming years of her life, Petrović had little time to paint and produced only a few works – she wanted to dedicate
her life to helping soldiers in the war-stricken Balkans. In 1912, she volunteered to become a nurse following the
outbreak of the Balkan Wars. She continued nursing Serbian soldiers until 1913, when she contracted typhus and
cholera. She was awarded a Medal for Bravery and an Order of the Red Cross for her significant efforts. With the
outbreak of World War I she again volunteered to become a nurse with the Serbian Army, eventually dying of
typhus on April 3rd in 1915. She died in Valjevo, the then Kingdom of Serbia, aged 41.
Around 6,500 square metres of
graffiti has been removed from
central Belgrade’s 1,300 Kaplara
Street, the local authority has
said. The Belgrade city clean-up
is being extended to the nearby
municipalities of Obrenovac and
Lazarevac. The majority of the
capital’s streets will be fitted with
security cameras, said Belgrade
manager Goran Vesić. Offenders
can be sentenced to up to 40
hours of community service.
6
BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, April 17 - Thursday, April 30, 2015
BELGRADE
Belgrade pastry shop
guards grandpa’s secrets
Musab is the youngest of the three brothers.
The Pelivan
pastry shop has
been around
for 164 years,
surviving wars
and regime
change – but
don’t ask them
for the recipe
of grandfather’s
Azir’s prized ice
cream.
Ivana NIKOLIĆ
“T
he three of us
have always
been
under
pressure, as we
know we can’t
close the family business down and we know it has
to be the priority,” Musab Al-Shukeir,
the youngest of the three brothers,
says.
Every generation in this family has
entrusted the next with the care of the
164-year-old Pelivan pastry shop, the
22-year-old political science student
Photo by BIRN
explains. “That is our duty now, too.”
Al-Shukeir doesn’t intend to join
the family business himself. His elder
brothers will continue the tradition,
while he plans to pursue a career in
journalism or politics.
“This is a family tradition and I will
always be here. But I have found my
path in other matters,” Al-Shukeir admits.
While we are sitting in the packed
shop, whose walls are covered with
photographs of Belgrade, the youngest
member of the Al-family recalls that
the “Pelivan” can trace its history all
the way back to 1851.
In those days, it was located close
to the Albania palace on Terazije. It
stayed there until April 6th, 1941, when
the pastry shop – like almost all the surrounding buildings – perished in the
Nazi bombing of Belgrade.
“At that time, grandfather Azir was
working together with his cousin. But
when the war broke out, his cousin
left the country, while Azir moved the
shop to where we are now, at Bulevar
Kralja Aleksandra 20,” Al-Shukeir explains.
Over all these years, the original recipes have mostly stayed the same, although more pastries have been added to great-great-grandfather Mustafa’s
collection.
LONG FAMILY TREE
It all started with great-great-grandfather Mustafa, a wrestler who opened
Pelivan from the money he won as
a prize in a
wrestling
tournament.
Mustafa
was a member of the
Goranci community, who have lived in the mountains of southern Kosovo for centuries. Their origins remain unknown
but they are thought to be ethnic Slavs
who converted to Islam under the Ottoman Empire, retaining the Serbian
language but adopting the Muslim
faith.
The pastry shop passed to Mustafa’s
son, Mehmed, and from Mehmed to
Al-Shukeir’s grandfather, Azir, and
later on to his mother.
The true specialty here is the ice
cream, which the young student says
his grandfather perfected. Decades
on, the three brothers jealously guard
the recipe.
“We have his notebook in which he
dismissed 30 to 40 recipes until he finally found the one that satisfied him,
which we still use,” Al-Shukeir notes
proudly.
In 1979, their mother married a Syrian
who had come to Yugoslavia to study
medicine. “He never finished his studies. He stayed here and ran the business
from 1994, which is when our grandfather died, until 2011, when the three of
us took over,” Al-Shukeir recalls.
Their father is now back in Syria,
where he has been caught up in
Syria’s terrible civil war. “We are worried but we talk to him every second
We have his
[grandfather
Azir’s] notebook
in which he
dismissed 30 to
40 [ice cream]
recipes until he
finally found the
one that satisfied
him, which we
still use.”
Musab Al-Shukeir
day. Hopefully he will come back,” AlShukeir says.
Over coffee, Al-Shukeir talks about
all the sweets that his family makes in
the pastry shop. Clients come and go
– it seems that this place is never actually empty.
NO SIGN OF LEAVING
Based on what his grandson recalls,
Azir was the most important figure in
the family.
As Al-Shukeir explains, his grandfather even supplied treats for the Yugoslav royal family, the Karađorđevićs,
providing the court with halvah.
The business survived Yugoslavia’s
dramatic transition from centralized
monarchy to Communist federation
unharmed.
Indeed, Yugoslavia’s long time Communist leader, Josip Broz Tito, seems to
have been partial to the family cookies.
“No one ever made problems for
grandfather, neither the monarchists
nor the Communists,” Al-Shukeir notes.
Problems only occurred when Yugoslavia broke up into its component units
and anti-Albanian sentiment surged in
what was now the Republic of Serbia.
Some people saw the Muslim
Goranis as Albanians, and targeted
them as a separatist war began to rage
in the late 1990s in mainly Albanian
Kosovo – then a province of Serbia.
During the protests against Slobodan Milošević’s regime, “someone
threw a stone at our shop window. I
don’t think it was aimed at our origins;
such things were happening all over
the city at that time,” Al-Shukeir says,
adding the family has never felt any
kind of discrimination.
On the contrary, Belgraders love
their products and many clients have
been coming here for decades.
Still, business is not that good – far
worse than during Pelivan’s golden
age, from the 1940s to the start of the
economic crisis in Yugoslavia in 1981.
The economic troubles afflicting Serbia today are affecting trade.
“You cannot get rich from this job,
but closing it down would be a huge
loss. We are staying here,” Al-Shukeir
concludes.
BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, April 17 - Thursday, April 30, 2015
BUSINESS
ADVERTORIAL
Continued from page 1
Pay and pension increase
unlikely despite deficit cut
Perfect
Wellness
Service
Whether you came on business or for
private reasons, don’t forget that you’re
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relaxation is of the utmost importance.
M
Milojko Arsić says salaries and pensions are crucial to stabilising Serbia’s public finances.
T
he government introduced cuts in order to
meet the necessary
requirements to reach
the loan agreement
with the IMF. The deal,
which was suspended in 2012, was finally signed on November 20, 2014.
Vučić said on April 7th that the government will monitor public finances
over the next few months with a view
to increasing pensions and public sector pay – if the IMF and the World Bank
agree.
However, during a TV interview four
days later, the prime minister stressed
the next six months are crucial in terms
of determining the country’s economic
stability.
“We expect positive economic
growth by the end of the year, and if we
achieve this, and keep the deficit under
control like we are now doing, we can
say that Serbia is ‘healed’,” he said.
The Serbian government has adopted strict budget targets in order to curb
public debt which stood at €23.74 billion or 71.9 per cent of GDP at the end of
February this year. It is aiming to keep
the budget deficit below 4.75 per cent of
GDP throughout 2015.
Last year, the deficit reached €2.2
billion or 6.6 per cent of GDP, including
€597 million spent on financing repayments for state-guaranteed loans and
other interventions in the financial sector.
DEFICIT REDUCTION
‘A ONE-OFF’
The IMF reacted cautiously to the
Serbian Government’s announcement,
underlining that there is no official proposal as yet regarding a possible salary
and pension increase.
“It is true that there are signs of recovery and that the results are better than
expected, but we still need to carry out
a serious analysis to see the nature of
that data and whether the results are
sustainable,” said Daehang Kim, IMF
Resident Representative in Belgrade,
on April 8th.
The overall economic prospects are
far from bright, despite the deficit reduction, as the IMF has predicted Serbia will end the year in recession.
The government, on the other hand,
remains optimistic that the tough spending and debt reduction programme will
not impede growth significantly.
“For the first time, I can say today that
I expect their [the IMF’s] estimate to be
inaccurate with regards to the growth
rate for this year,” Prime Minister Vučić
said on April 7th.
The deficit cut is, in part, a result of
improved tax collection, cuts in salaries
and pensions and the early payment
of dividends for 2014 by state-owned
companies.
Milojko Arsić, professor at the Economics Faculty at Belgrade University, cautioned that the figures could be
misconstrued as dividends are usually
paid out at the end of the year, not the
beginning.
“The revenue on this basis amounts
to around €125 million, but it is a one-off
measure,” he said.
Another factor that has contributed
to reducing the deficit has been the €49
million cut in public investment spending from 2014.
“Only €20.8 million is to be spent this
year, compared to €70.8 million in 2014.
That is a harmful saving, which impedes future growth,” Arsić said.
In addition, Arsić said that the originally predicted deficit of target of €458
million was set at a higher level than
necessary.
“Therefore only the increased tax
revenues of €41.5 million to €50 million could be counted as better than
planned… with current trends and with
catching up with public investments,
we can expect the deficit to be around
€166 million below the predicted level,”
he concluded.
Vladimir Vučković, editor of the Macroeconomic Analysis bulletin, warned
that public companies, from which the
dividends were “aggressively collected” in January, had to reinvest part of
their profits if they want to be sustainable.
“In this regard, public companies
may want to limit the appetite of the
state,” Vučković warned on April 7th.
NO ROOM FOR RAISES
With these arguments in mind, experts say it is too early to think about
increasing salaries and pensions, as the
results are not as good as they look and
money could still be needed elsewhere.
“The improvements are there, mostly because of the improved revenues,
but the results are far from spectacular,”
Pavle Petrović, president of the Fiscal
Council, the body charged with assessing fiscal policy, said at a panel held at
the Economic Faculty on April 3rd.
“If the fiscal results are sustained in
the coming months, it would be better
Photo by Media Centre Belgrade
to use the money as an assurance in
case of “slipping” in structural reforms,
rather than on increase in salaries and
pensions,” he added.
An example of that could be found
given the proposed restructuring of
EPS, a power utility, might be delayed
and that there had been little progress
in reforming Srbijagas, a gas company,
and resolving problems in the petrochemical complex.
For years, many public companies
had received subsidies to cover their
losses or their arrears in the form of
state-guaranteed – which is why their
reform is mandatory.
Ljubomir Madžar, an economist,
agreed that the first quarter results
are insufficient to properly assess the
deficit trends for the whole year, adding that the budget shortfall could even
worsen when other factors return to
normal.
The biggest uncertainty, in his opinion, is whether the reform of large stateowned enterprises will be successful.
“The IMF introduced more strict
mechanisms to monitor the implementation of reforms, which increases the
chances of success, but it is far from
certain that the reform will happen,” he
warned.
Arsić is also against the idea of increasing salaries and pension, noting
these two items alone are worth €183
million in the first quarter of 2014, and
are, therefore, crucial to stabilising Serbia’s public finances.
“Serbia, as a partner, will lose credibility if one of the key measures is
revised only a couple of months after
the arrangement with the IMF was approved,” he added.
Others such as Ljubomir Madžar, an
economist, have argued that there is no
economic basis for increasing salaries
and pensions before 2018, and even 2020.
“Before 2018 we will not be able to
identify the elements which would justify such a move, and we can imagine
that this period could even prolong to
2020,” he said.
“Vučić came out too early with the
prediction that it would be possible to
revert the salaries at the previous level.
If we could estimate the effects of that
increase so quickly, then we could also
have predicted the developments before the cuts and then there would have
been no need to introduce them in the
first place.
“I am sure that the IMF would not
agree with such proposal,” Madžar concluded.
arin Milosavljevicć, marketing
manager of the WellnessLand
Center and SkyWellness Club
will tell you a little more about
reasons why those are decidedly
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it comes to spa services, saunas, massage and fitness activities in Belgrade.
About autumn refreshments:
For a whole decade in WellnessLand, and more than five years in SkyWellness, we’re in love with a healthy life. During those years we learnt that
the essence of a good service shouldn’t be changed, but that occasional
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which has garnered great approval from all our members, but also from
our intermittent clients. Also, because of many guests from abroad, who
spend several continual days or weeks in Belgrade on account of business,
we devised a new kind of monthly fee, as well as a day pass. That way, we
are more available than ever, and our service is still as exclusive as ever.
About a unique concept of WellnessLand Center:
Conceptually, WellnessLand is very close to Western clubs with exclusive membership. Our members appreciate their own privacy, as well as
respecting the privacy of other people. Whether you’re here because of
exercise, spa zone, pool, body treatment or some combination of the offered services, alone or in company, time spent in WellnessLand will relax
you and prepare you for your various business and private challenges. Our
permanent members come mostly by way of reccomendation, and we obviously have more than a good reputation among foreign guests of our city,
because they keep coming back every time they return to Belgrade.
About the excellent
atmosphere in SkyWellness Club:
In SkyWellness Club, we have a luxury of the best view in town. If you
have ever heard those incredible stories about a night life on Belgrade’s rivers, the early-morning or day exercise with a perfect view on those same
rivers will render you speechless! SkyWellness Club is young and full of
positive energy, and a favorite city spot when it comes to best quality exercise. Sauna, various kinds of body treatments, and services of professional
trainers are also available to our guests.
About an incredible equipment:
On both locations, we offer our guests exclusively the equipment made
by renowned Italian manufacturer Technogym. We are aware that multitasking and clever utilization of every single moment are essential to modern living, and that’s the reason why you can, while excercising, check your
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7
8
BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, April 17 - Thursday, April 30, 2015
Romania stages new
attempt to seize illegal
assets
Prime Minister Victor Ponta
on April 15th announced plans
to launch new legislation to
make the confiscation of assets
obtained through corruption
easier – part of Romania’s
ongoing efforts to tackle highlevel graft. The Justice Minister
is to issue a draft law by the
end of this month. In recent
years, Romania has intensified
efforts to tackle the widespread
problem of corruption. While
the number of high-ranking
officials sentenced for graft
has increased significantly,
the country failed to solve the
illegal wealth issue. Last year,
courts ordered the confiscation
of assets worth 310 million
euro in high-profile corruption
cases, but authorities recovered
only around 10 per cent of that
amount.
Region in brief
REGION
Romanians start to question
jailbirds’ literary skills
Catholic Church
warns Albanians
against vote-selling
The Church urged Albanians on
April 14th not to vote in June’s
local elections for candidates
with a corrupt or criminal past
and not to accept payments
in return for their votes. “Even
an election boycott or a blank
ballot is an option and a voice
that must be heard and a
right that must be used in
specific conditions. If any of
the candidates doesn’t fulfil
the criteria, then a boycott
becomes a moral duty,” an
open letter from the Catholic
Bishops’ Conference said.
Albanians will vote on June 21st
to elect local councillors and
mayors but allegations are rife
that some of the candidates
have a criminal past or are
suspected of being corrupt.
Liberland: The
Balkans’ newest
sovereign state
A Czech national has declared
independence for the newlyformed state of Liberland
situated on disputed territory
on the Croatia-Serbia border.
Equipped with a website,
national flag and coat of arms,
Vit Jedlicka announced on April
13th the creation of the new
Balkan state. The six square
kilometres of land that makes
up Liberland lies along the
Danube in what is technically
a no-man’s land, since the
territory is disputed between
the two countries. Jedlicka
claims that such actions are
allowed under international
law, thus creating the third
smallest state in Europe after
the Vatican and Monaco.
Bosnia’s new EU chief
pushes reform agenda
At his first Sarajevo press
conference, the new EU chief in
Bosnia, Lars-Gunnar Wigemark,
announced on April 15th that the
EU will organise a high-level
meeting in May with Bosnia’s
leaders and representatives
of the World Bank and the
International Monetary
Fund as the next step in the
implementation of the EU’s
new initiative for Bosnia. At the
end of February, Bosnia and
Herzegovina’s parliamentarians
adopted a declaration drafted
by the country’s presidency
that affirms commitment to the
country’s EU path and pledges
a series of economic reforms
intended to revive businesses
and make the administration
more efficient.
Copos wrote five books while in jail, which helped him shorten his time behind bars.
Many
Romanians
jailed for
corruption write
books in prison
in order to get
their sentences
reduced - but
their sudden
enthusiasm for
penmanship is
drawing scrutiny.
Marian CHIRIAC
B
efore he was sent to jail for
corruption, George Copos
was a busy man. The founder and main shareholder in
the Ana Holding group of
companies, with activities
in the hotel industry, real estate and bakery, Copos became one of the wealthiest
people in Romanian, with an estimated
fortune of €165 million.
Sixty-two-year-old Copos was also involved in politics, serving as a minister for
the business environment for just over a
year in 2005.
But, his life changed course radically on
March 2014, when he was found guilty of
tax evasion and money laundering and
sentenced to four years in jail.
The controversial businessman was released from prison on April 7th after spending only 322 days in detention, a little more
than a quarter of his sentence.
“It was an incredibly hard experience,
a nightmare. However, what doesn’t kill
you
makes
you stronger,”
Copos said
loftily, as he
emerged.
“I
must
say that over
these days and
nights spent in detention I have read more
than I ever did in my entire life.”
He not only read a lot in jail but had
time to wrote no less than five books
about history and tourism. Copos worked
also in the prison carpentry workshop
and engaged in a variety of other activities organised by the jail.
As a result, he managed to shorten
his time behind bars quite considerably.
Moreover, as he was over 60, the law also
entitled him to a reduction in his sentence.
Under Romanian regulations, every
two days spent by inmates working on
scientific works or patented inventions
entitles them to reduce their period of detention by three days. Copos wiped about
218 days off his four-year sentence.
However, the authenticity of one of the
books written by Copos in jail is now in
question, after a young historian said it
sounds remarkably like his own MA thesis.
Catalin Parfene, 34, noted that both the
title and topic of the prison lag’s work,
“Matrimonial alliances as a policy of Romanian Kings in the XIV-XVI centuries”
seemed all too like his own MA thesis,
published in 2005.
“I’ve read Copos’s book at the National
Library and noted a lot of similarities with
my scientific work. I can’t say myself that
he plagiarised my work, but I will ask a
scientific committee from the Bucharest
University to analyze it and present a conclusion,” Parfene told BIRN.
Copos’s book is not available in any
public bookshop. Even the publishing
house that printed the book was not able
to show a copy, saying it just printed and
delivered books.
Experts are also interested in finding
out how Copos was able to write such a
Photo by Ziare.com
I must say that
over these days
and nights spent
in detention I
have read more
than I ever did in
my entire life.”
George Copos
detailed history book, as he has no professional background in this field.
“To write a book on a Medieval topic,
one need several skills: to speak Slavonic,
the official language of that time, to have
research abilities and, finally, to have access to documents and books on such a
niche topic. None of these conditions were
met by Copos while in jail,” historian Bogdan Caranfilov remarked.
For his part, Copos on rejected any accusation of plagiarism and announced
he has hired a “specialised company” to
prove he is the sole author. Copos did not
offer any more information about his historical sources.
His is not the first case in which a Romanian convicted of corruption has been released early from prison after developing
literary ambitions.
In early April, the businessman and
football boss Gigi Becali was also freed
early after penning two books behind
bars, one about his pilgrimages to Mount
Athos and another one about managing a
football team.
In 2013, Romania’s former Prime
Minister, Adrian Nastase, used his time
in jail to compile a book on economics,
which was published by a renowned
publishing house. At least Nastase was
no stranger to life as an author. A former
law professor, he previously published
several books on law and international
relations.
Many other people jailed for corruption
appear to have published books in jail on
different topics with a view to shortening
their time behind bars.
Journalist Sidonia Bogdan says the law
in Romania on the subject is unclear and
needs to be changed.
“There should be clearer criteria ensuring that published books are real scientific
works. Specialists or the publishing houses involved should also be made accountable for validating such books,” Bogdan
added.
The low ethical culture in Romania’s
educational and publishing sector has
been reflected in some top-level plagiarism scandals.
In June 2012, the science journal, Nature, said documents presented by a
whistleblower showed that substantial
sections of Prime Minister Victor Ponta’s
PhD thesis were identical, or almost
identical, to material contained in monographs written by other Romanian law
scholars.
Soon after, two scientific bodies in
charge of checking the authenticity of
scientific works confirmed the report
and called for him to be stripped of his
PhD.
However, in July 2012, the National Ethics Council, an Education Ministry panel,
announced that Ponta did not plagiarise
his PhD thesis, saying that it was written in
accordance with the academic standards
of the time that it was published.
Ponta, who said his only mistake in
writing his thesis was not to credit all the
sources in the footnotes, but only in the
bibliography, insisted the charges were
politically orchestrated by his then rival,
President Traian Basescu.
In December 2014 Ponta decided to give
up his controversial PhD, however. In May
2012, the Education Minister, Ioan Mang,
resigned as a result of a row over his alleged plagiarism of scientific papers.
BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, April 17 - Thursday, April 30, 2015
9
OUT AND ABOUT
Stara Planina is known for its flora and fauna.
Photo by Evgeni Dinev/Wikimedia
Commons
Remote Serbia’s hidden treasures
Some of Serbia’s
most beautiful and
interesting sites are
not to be found in the
guidebooks - and lie far
off well-worn tourist
paths.
Photo by MiroslavJovanović/Wikimedia Commons
ICE CAVE, PRIBOJ
Located some 150 kilometres north from Belgrade, in the province
of Vojvodina, the nature reserve at Slano Kopovo is home to one of
the most unusual landscapes to be found in Serbia. One of the last preserved salt marshes in Serbia, it was formed by the River Tisa that once
ran through the area. After the river changed course it left behind its meandering contours, that emerged after the marshes were drained and
after dykes were built in the 17th and 18th centuries. The river also left behind a thick layer of salt.
The area looks stunning with dried, salty marshland and hundreds
of birds. Slano Kopovo is one of the most important bird habitats in Serbia. Interestingly, many birds that are more typically found on the coast
come to nest here.
Besides nature, visitors can also see the nearby remains of the Arača
Church, dating from the 13th century. It was built on a peninsula that the
waters of the Tisa could not flood even when they reached their highest
levels. For more information, visitors can contact Hunting Society Novi
Bečej, which has the task of guarding the reserve.
The ice cave near the town of Priboj is far from easy to visit, but with
a little planning, it is definitely worth it. Located some 250 kilometres of
Belgrade, near the border between Serbia and Bosnia, the cave hides an
underground lake and – as the name suggests – a lot of ice. The ice pillars can be as much as six metres high. The temperature in the cave is
always low, regardless of the season, owing to a natural phenomenon,
which has turned this cave into natural icebox. Namely, the cold air flowing constantly into the cave from the lower entrance pushes warmer air
up and out of the cave.
Legends tell that the cave was discovered in 19th century when a local lord threatened to kill all the nearby villagers if they did not find his
lost horse. After a search failed to produce results, one of the villagers
mustered the courage to climb to the bottom of the cave where he found
a dead horse. Interestingly, a National Geographic crew that visited the
cave a few years back actually saw the remains of a horse, as well as
human bones, at the bottom. The human bones are believed to be the
remains of two Austrian soldiers who died while trying to get some ice.
In order to see the cave, however, visitors must organise their tour
along with local alpinists. Those interested in a bit of climbing and underground sightseeing in the Priboj area should contact the tourist organisations of the town.
Besides the cave, the surrounding area is beautiful, with grasslands
and memorable views of the sky at night, when it is full of stars. As is the
case almost everywhere in Serbia, visitors should not expect five-star
accommodation in the area, but there are several friendly, cosy local
hotels.
Hunting Society Novi Bečej
Phone: +381 23 771 076
Tourist organisation of Priboj
Phone: +381 33 2451 599, +381 33 2450 014
Photo by Snowyns/Wikimedia Commons
NATURE RESERVE SLANO KOPOVO
Photo by Boško Đurišić/flickr
STARA PLANINA GORGE
The gorge of the River Rosomača and waterfalls at Kopren are not
on regular tourists maps, so visiting both or either of them takes a bit of
planning, some phone calls and directional advice from locals on the
way. The Rosomača Gorge is some 330 kilometres from Belgrade, next to
the border with Bulgaria, and some 30 kilometres from the town of Pirot.
The gorge is not that long but is unusual, as the water has carved a path,
leaving layered edges on the stones it ran through. The entrance to the
gorge is some 30 minutes walk from the village of Slavinja, down river.
Although this could be fitted into a day trip, those who enjoy longer
stays can find accommodation in local households in the village, and
take time to visit the old church, built in 1844. Accommodation is also
available in the nearby village of Visočka Ržana, four kilometres from
Slavinja.
Although many locals visit the gorge, it is off the beaten track, so for
additional information and help, contact Tourist Organisation of Pirot.
More adventurous souls can rely on locals alone, but be prepared to use
legs and hands, as their English may not be up to the task of giving directions.
Tourist organisation of Pirot
Phone: +381 10 320 838
10 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, April 17 - Thursday, April 30, 2015
Korean Film Festival
returns to Belgrade
The second annual Korean Film
Festival, organised by the Korean
embassy in Belgrade, runs from April
22nd until April 26th. During the four
days of the festival, eight Korean
films will be shown at the Yugoslav
Film Archive. The first film on show
is “On the Front Line” (“Gojijeon”)
on Wednesday at 8.30pm, right after
the opening reception. All the tickets
cost less than €2.
Exhibition offers
insights into WWI
Russia
The multimedia exhibition “Look War
in the Eyes” showcases films, photographs and documents from Russia
during World War I to give a detailed
insight into the time. It runs until
May 10th at the Historical Museum
of Serbia. Tickets cost 200 dinars
[€1,66], and 100 dinars for students
and pensioners [less than €1].
Indian classical
music comes to
Kolarac
A three-piece band called Rudra
Veena will play Indian traditional
instrumental music at the Ilija M.
Kolarac Endowment on April 21st.
The band got its name from a traditional Indian string instrument, the
rudra veena, which is seldom used
nowadays. The concert, organised
by the Indian embassy in Belgrade,
starts at 8pm and entrance is free.
Belgrade’s Roma
in the frame
The Serbian Academy of Sciences
and Arts Gallery is hosting an exhibition which takes a look at the daily
struggles of Roma people living in
Belgrade in the early decades of the
20th century. The exhibition, entitled
‘Life on the Edge - Habitation of the
Belgrade Roma 1919–1941’, focuses on the way Roma lived in the
period between the two world wars,
and draws parallels with the way
they live today in the capital. The
exhibition is open until April 29th.
Sava Centre stages
Don Quixote ballet
Anna Tsygankova, the prima
ballerina of the National Opera of
Amsterdam, and Matthew Golding,
a principal dancer with the Royal
Ballet in London, take the main
roles in the ballet about the famed
Spaniard on April 29th at 8pm. The
rest of the performers are from the
Belgrade’s National Theatre, which
has been staging ‘Don Quixote’ since
2007. Tickets for the event cost
between €8 and €15, depending on
seating.
Arts in brief
ARTS
Dutchman bites
back at Serbia again
After publishing
‘Belgrade Bites’
last year, Yvo
Kühling is back
in print with
‘Serbia Bites’ - a
collection of 100
short stories that
he describes as a
kind of ‘selfie’ of
his years spent in
this country.
SATURDAY APRIL 18th
Hristina Vuković, Belgrade Cultural
Centre, Trg Republike 5, 8pm
TUESDAY APRIL 21st
Opera: Nabucco, The National Theatre,
Francuska 1, 7:30pm
WEDNESDAY APRIL 22nd
Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty, The National
theatre, Francuska 1, 7:30pm
FRIDAY APRIL 24th
Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra
with Eiji Oue, conductor, and Marc
Coppey, cello, Ilija M. Kolarac Endowment,
Studentski Trg 5, 8pm
SATURDAY APRIL 25th
Opera: Madamme Butterfly, The National
Theatre, Francuska 1, 7pm
RTS Symphonic Orchestra, Ilija M.
Kolarac Endowment, Studentski Trg 5, 8pm
WEDNESDAY APRIL 29th
Ana Raskovic, piano, Ilija M. Kolarac
Endowment, Studentski Trg 5, 6pm
THURSDAY APRIL 30th
Opera: La Traviata, The National Theatre,
Francuska 1, 7:30pm
Exhibitions
and Events
FRIDAY APRIL 17th
Exhibition: Students of Digital Art,
Studentski Grad Cultural Centre, Bulevar
Zorana Đinđića 179, 7pm
SATURDAY APRIL 18th
Kühling’s book has been well-received.
have drawn lots of Serbian readers as
well as foreigners.
“You don’t have to encourage Serbian readers to tell you what they think.
They are very outspoken, especially
where it concerns their homeland.
Some said Serbia Bites is kind of a selfie
of my years in Serbia, and I like that,”
Kühling says.
Apart from turning his thoughts into
short stories, Kühling owns a private
company, which provides web tools for
online consultancy solutions.
“The idea behind Bites is twofold: I
find it a challenge to write in a clear yet
concise manner and restrict myself to a
brief story as supposed to endless meandering of words,” he says.
“I also realize that readers have a lot
on their minds these days. If they invest
a minute of their time reading one of
my Bites, I want them to know that a
twist or punch line is at the end of every
one of them,” Kühling adds.
Photo courtesy of the author
Obviously, there are big differences
between his hometown of Amsterdam
and the Serbian capital. While The
Netherlands is tolerant and progressive country, which upholds the rights
of all kinds of minorities, the downside
is that it can take weeks there to make
an appointment just to see a friend and
have a drink, Kühling notes. Everybody
is in a hurry.
In Serbia, things work differently.
“Serbia could do with a little more tolerance, and The Netherlands could
do with a little more blejanje,” Kühling
adds.
In the upcoming months, Kühling is
saying farewell to Serbia, but he admits
that he will miss some things terribly
– starting with the green markets and
raspberries sold by the kilo. He will take
away a good deal from his four-year sojourn in the Serbian capital. “Wherever
I go, I intend to bring a little bit of blejanje with me,” Kühling concludes.
Exhibition: Goran Bendelja, Trag Café
and Gallery, Dvoržakova 2, 6pm
SUNDAY APRIL 19th
Exhibition: African murals, guided visit,
Museum of African Art, Andre Nikolića 14,
11am
MONDAY APRIL 20th
Exhibition: Bogdan Pavlović, House of
the King Peter I, Vase Pelagića 40, 7pm
WEDNESDAY APRIL 22nd
Exhibition: Life on the Edge, Museum of
Science and Technics, Đure Jakšića 2, 6pm
THURSDAY APRIL 23rd
Project Kaduregel Schefer, Grad Cultural
Centre, Braće Krsmanović 4, 8pm
FRIDAY APRIL 24th
Exhibition: Renato Balestra –Fashion
and Opera, The National Theatre,
Francuska 1, 7pm
MONDAY APRIL 27th
Monday Delicatessen: Ewox and
Marquis, Grad Cultural Centre, Braće
Krsmanović 4, 7pm
TUESDAY APRIL 28th
Exhibition: Petar Đorđević, Ilija M.
Kolarac Endowment, Studentski Trg 5, 7pm
Available at:
Tourist Organisation of Belgrade
Knez Mihailova 5, +381 (11) 2635 622
Central Train Station, +381 (11) 3612 732
Nikola Tesla Airport, +381 (11) 2097 828
Belgrade Port, Karađorđeva
FREE PULL OUT MAP OF BELGRADE
FREE SIM CARD
TOP SIGHTSEEING LOCATIONS
PUBLIC TRANSPORT MAP
GUIDED TOURS THROUGH BELGRADE
WIDE SELECTION OF CLUBS, HOTELS,
RESTAURANTS, SHOPS AND
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE
Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra
with Muhai Tahg, conductor and
Roland Szentpali, tuba, Ilija M. Kolarac
Endowment, Studentski Trg 5, 8pm
MONDAY APRIL 20th
“I
CITY GUIDE
FRIDAY APRIL 17th
Opera: Attila, The National Theatre,
Francuska 1, 7:30pm
Ivana NIKOLIĆ
originally intended to
write Belgrade Bites and
Serbia Bites for expats
like myself. But then I
understood that Serbs
are interested in learning how a stranac dude thinks about
their beloved country,” says Kühling.
All his “bites”, be they about Belgrade
or Serbia, are intended to provoke people and make them think. His latest
book focuses mostly on Serbia’s past,
present and future, explored in 100
short stories.
“In your country, events of centuries
ago still have an impact on everyday
life. Bites describe the Roman, Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian and communist periods, most from unexpected angles and with some surprising twists,”
Kühling says, without revealing their
exact content.
To write these “bites”, the author says
he had to get to know Serbia as well as
possible, and experience it first hand.
This is what he has done since 2011,
when he moved to Belgrade with his
family.
“Over the past years I travelled across
Serbia and the region and visited a lot of
historical sites and monasteries. Fortunately, I have a lot of friends here who
helped me along the way. They suggested interesting facts and stories, much of
which I used in Serbia Bites,” he says,
explaining how he came up with his
100 stories.
So far, the Dutchman’s book has received very positive feedback, after
some of the sections were published
on his website and on Facebook. They
Opera, Ballet
and Classical
Hotel Moskva
Terazije 20, +381 11 3642 000
Hotel Excelsior
Kneza Miloša 5, +381 11 3231 381
Supermarket concept store
Višnjićeva 10, +381 11 2910 942
Hotel Townhouse 27
Maršala Birjuzova 56, +381 11 2022 900
Booking Rooms Hostel
Kralja Petra 30, +381 63 29 39 39
www.bookingrooms.rs
APROPO
Bookstore and tearoom
Cara Lazara 10
+381 11 2625839
At the Belgrade Airport
Hudson news odlasci / departures
Hudson news dolasci / arrivals
Hudson news čekiranje / check in
Hudson news transit zona / transit
Order online:
www.balkaninsight.com/en/page/
belgrade-city-guide
BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, April 17 - Thursday, April 30, 2015
11
Gastro Bar
Terminal
It always begins
with a simple
question: ‘Can you
bring me the wine
list’? Everything
else that follows is
a complex matter,
and cannot be
measured only by
how much is left
in the bottle after
dinner.
Wine Corner
DINING OUT
Terminal: Gastro delight
with a side of attitude
Pavle GOLICIN
I
t just so happened that I
went from one terminal
straight to the other! The
plane landed at Belgrade
airport’s terminal D, but
I did not have any connecting
flights. My destination was
somewhat different this time – a
direct line to the gastro bar Terminal, which recently opened
close to St. Sava church, in a
neighbourhood fast becoming
the city’s newest gourmet hub.
The wine list includes close
to 100 labels, with foreign wines
represented more than domestic. The list is cleverly thought
out with excellent depth. By
any standards, it is a nicely
organized wine terminal that
easily intersects at any point on
the menu.
Approximately 20 wines are
available by the glass, which is
better than the average offering
in Belgrade restaurants. This
allowed me to combine the
domestic Tamjanika with spring
rolls as a starter, while for the
main dish I paired French bio
Syrah with ossobuco (Italian for
‘the bone with a hole’), i.e. crosscut veal shanks. Simply a touch
of perfection with bone marrow
in the middle!
Having in mind Belgrade
standards, the mark-up is quite
good for this kind of upmarket
restaurant. In any case, my
impression is that the wines are
better priced than the food at
Terminal, although it needs to
be emphasized that food prices
in Belgrade have significantly
increased in the past couple of
months.
The staff does its best to
accommodate guests, albeit
in a somewhat rookie fashion
- trying to look formal, but not
managing to subtly keep the
correct distance from their
guests. It is not even worth
commenting anymore, but I will
stubbornly repeat over and over
again – neither of the wines that
I had ordered by the glass were
poured out in front of me.
Whatever food you decide to
order at the gastro bar Terminal,
it is going to be a safe choice.
However, if you are not part
of the Serbian nouveau riche,
you should opt for a takeaway,
as too much exposure to their
fine cuisine might prove to be
terminal.
Basic Info
Overall
Wine selection
Rating
Very Good
Excellent
Wine service
Average
Wine pricing
€12 - €160
Wine and food pairing Very Good
Photo: Facebook
With a stunningly
good and wildly
varied menu,
Terminal is likely
a gastronomic
game-changer
for Belgrade. If
you can handle
the nightclubstyle swagger and
service, that is…
Duda & Vlada
T
he area surrounding St.
Sava church, around
Braničevska Street, has
seen some growth in the
last couple of years. Lately, however, it is booming.
With many new cafes and restaurants
and ‘opening soon’ written all over shop
windows in the area, this once calm, upmarket Vračar neighbourhood is rapidly
becoming one of the trendiest areas in
Belgrade – for living, going out, or just taking a walk.
With all the new places popping up, it
is difficult to say which one is the latest,
but Terminal is one of them. It opened in
February with a modern, cosmopolitan,
and - for Belgrade - a relatively new ‘gastro
bar’ concept. Opening as early as 7.30am
on weekdays and 8.00am at the weekends, Terminal serves coffee and breakfast until noon before switching over to
their more elaborate dining menu. In the
evening, the coach turns into a pumpkin,
and it is then all about cocktails and finger
food. Our visit took place at midday, so
we could sample the lunch-time atmosphere.
Terminal is a large venue. It occupies
the ground level of a new, modern building. The ground floor is principally a bar.
Up on the first floor, there’s a gallery with a
restaurant setting. Both floors and the garden can accommodate up to 300 guests,
and it apparently employs more than fifty
staff. Terminal also has an in-house bakery and pastry shop.
The interior is modern and expensive,
if a bit over-the-top for our taste. It is a day
and night venue, and the dual nature was
obviously somewhat troublesome for interior designers. The seating plan on the
ground level is interesting and informal
- lounge style; the gallery upstairs is reserved for more formal dining with standard restaurant tables. During the day the
décor’s dark tones, together with the colourful LED lightning, make for an odd atmosphere. Choosing a table closer to the
glass façade overlooking St. Sava church
and the surrounding greenery helps a lot.
That is, if you make a reservation in advance; at the time of our visit, finding any
table without prior reservation qualified
as some sort of major victory.
Terminal is a well visited place, and
its crowd are young, loud and attention
seeking. If you feel like checking out the
latest trends in fashion, hair styles and
plastic surgery, you are at the right place.
The same stands for car lovers - an impressive line-up of top-of-the-range models forms on the sidewalk. Proud owners
occasionally jump from their seats to
handle the metropolitan police and their
tow trucks, since the narrow sidewalk
provides no legal parking spaces. And to
show off, while they are at it.
Terminal’s fare is international, with the
emphasis placed on Belgraders’ favourite Mediterranean cuisine. The menu is
elaborate – along with the starters, mains
and desserts, there are breakfast options,
pizzas, pasta and risotto sections, salads,
kids menu and, finally, some interesting
finger foods (unfortunately served only
in the evening).
The food is generally of a high standard, and we quite enjoyed it. We started
with the thick tomato soup, served with
mozzarella and some fresh basil leaves.
Vegetable spring rolls were our waiter’s
recommendation. They were also very
good – golden and crispy on the outside,
tender, fresh on the inside.
A beautifully presented, fusion version
of the Nordic dish gravlax – raw salmon
cured in salt, sugar, and dill – was the most
memorable starter. Thin salmon slices
are served on rocket leaves, sprinkled
with peach cubes, drops of citrus sauce
and some freshly ground salt and pepper.
We had a prior recommendation from
a trustworthy source to try the ossobuco,
and our waiter concurred. This Milanese speciality is made of cross-cut veal
shanks braised with vegetables, white
wine and broth. The menu claimed it was
to be served with French-style mashed
potatoes and grilled vegetables. It failed
to mention the detail that makes it perfect: a small serving of bone marrow
comes in a natural cup – a piece of bone,
and genuine proof of the cross-cut shank.
This dish was just perfect – delicious and
fantastically presented.
Lamb ribs were another favourite. The
ribs are slowly cooked and then grilled
and served with large chunks of fried potatoes in Béchamel sauce, sprinkled with
rosemary. The meat was perfectly tender
and rich in flavours. At the time the dish
arrived at our table, the potatoes were
still very nice and truly complemented
the meat. But as soon as they cooled
down, which happened rather quickly,
they lost their texture completely and
were reduced to a cantina-style potato
garnish that you eventually leave on the
plate.
Compared to the remarkable meat
dishes, the tagliatelle with asparagus was
a bit of an anti-climax. The pasta was not
homemade, though it was a quality ofthe-shelf product. The mixture of green
asparagus, cherry tomatoes and prosciutto slices was OK but nothing to write
home about. The broccoli was one too
many ingredients in the mix as it slightly
overran the delicate taste of the asparagus. Sometimes less is more...
The portions at Terminal are on the
large side, so sharing one dessert was
the best we could do. We chose from
our waiter’s recommendations, eventually settling on the chocolate soufflé. The
soufflé itself was good enough, with some
room for improvement. It was beautifully
served - with a simple ice-cream made of
iced crème fraiche, sprinkled with olive
oil and freshly ground salt and pepper.
This little, simple companion made the
otherwise average soufflé quite memorable.
The style of service is informal yet dramatic, obviously adapted to the clientele
and the overall style, which is half way to
a nightclub. The waiters can explain and
recommend, but are a bit too friendly and
informal. Our waiter had this odd ‘I am
the man’ attitude, and as far as we could
see he was no exception. Although there
are many, and they move around a lot, at
times it was difficult to get their attention.
The style and the atmosphere of the
Terminal did not steal our hearts, but the
food was excellent. The ossobuco was
one of the best dishes we have had in Belgrade lately, and definitely the best one
in a new restaurant. We will be back for
more, even if it takes some compromising on our part.
Terminal
Address: Bore Stankovića 17
Phone: +381 62 800 2017
Price Guide: 2000-2600 dinars [€16 €21] per person for three courses
without drinks
ONCE KOVAČ, ALWAYS KOVAČ
ONCE ”KAFANA”, ALWAYS ”KAFANA”
RESTURANT KOVAČ
modern ethno restaurant
Bulevar Oslobodjenja 221, Tel: 011 2462 343
www.restorankovac.com
12 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, April 17 - Thursday, April 30, 2015
WHAT’S ON
CLUBBING
AND LIVE MUSIC
FRIDAY APRIL 17th
• Simian Mobile Disco, Machinedrum,
Sophie, Rahmanee, Feloneezy,
Magacin Depo, Travnička 3, 11pm
• Codez, Bitz, Kneejah, Adoc, Dj.
Lajsna, Illusion, Lomina 14, 11pm
• Ronin8, Mooka, Monsun, Travnička
3, 11pm
• Gemini DJs vs. SillyHeadz, Three
Dots Party Factory, Dr. Milutina
Ivkovića 2a, 11pm
• Superplastic, Plastic, Takovska 36,
11pm
• House Party, Mr Stefan Braun,
Nemanjina 4, 11pm
• Can’t Stop the Rock, KST, Bulevar
Kralja Aleksandra 73, 10pm
• Brigand, Autogeni Trening, Vizelj,
Božidarac, Radoslava Grujića 3, 8pm
• Silva Nigra, Barshasketh, Propast,
Vergel, Lavirint, Cara Dušana 13, 9pm
• RE-MARK-ABLE Closing Weekend,
Klub Beton, Karađorđeva 2-4, 11pm
• Cinema’s Angles Night-DJ Dea, Klub
Cinema, Gračanička 18, 11pm
• Magla Bend, Klub Community by
Kasina, Terazije 25, 10pm
• Akustična svirka, Klub Čorba kafe,
Braće Krsmanović 3, 10pm
• Loco Band, Klub Dobrila, Dobračina
30, 10.30pm
• Tamburaši, Kafana Tri Šešira,
Skadarska 28, 9pm
SATURDAY APRIL 18th
• Revels Night Vol. 2, Three Dots Party
Factory, Dr. Milutina Ivkovića 2a, 11pm
• Oliver Stoiljković, Klub Community
by Kasina, Terazije 25, 10pm
• Inspiracija Bend I Katarina Gardijan,
Klub Cinema, Gračanička 18, 11pm
• Alen Milivojević, Svemirska Kafana
boat on Sava, 11pm
• House Party, Mr Stefan Braun,
Nemanjina 4, 11pm
• Plastic Revival, Plastic, Takovska 36,
11pm
• Ladies Night/Brit’n’Bass, KST,
Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra 73, 10pm
• Mizar, Katabazija, Fancy Frogs,
Božidarac, Radoslava Grujića 3, 8pm
• RE-MARK-ABLE Closing Weekend,
Klub Beton, Karađorđeva 2-4, 11pm
• Profesori, Klub Dobrila, Dobračina 30,
10.30pm
• Premium Band, Klub Monsun,
Travnička 3, 11pm
• Club House/DJs Mirko and Meex,
Klub Tilt, Karađorđeva 2-4, 11pm
FREE COPY
Publisher: BIRN d.o.o.
Kolarčeva 7/5, 11 000 Belgrade
Phone/Fax: +381 11 4030 300
Editor in Chief: Gordana Igrić
BIRN editorial team:
Ana Petruševa, Marcus Tanner,
Gordana Andrić
• Tamburaši, Kafana Tri Šešira,
Skadarska 28, 9pm
SUNDAY APRIL 19th
• Full House Band and DJ Marko, Mr
Stefan Braun, Nemanjina 4, 11pm
• Full House Night, Molokini, Pariska
1, 11pm
• VVhile, Jewish Municipality, Kralja
Petra 71, 8pm
• Deer In The Headlights, Fest,
Gradski Park 1, Zemun, 9pm
• Laka, Mikser House, Karađorđeva
46, 9pm
• Thyladomid, Sunday Beat,
Nemanjina 4, 10pm
• RnB Sunday, Klub Cinema,
Gračanička 18, 11pm
• Karaoke with Deadline band, Klub
Čorba kafe, Braće Krsmanović 3, 10pm
• Unplugged Duo, Klub Red Shoes,
Ada Ciganlija 7, 11pm
• Tamburaši, Kafana Tri Šešira,
Skadarska 28, 9pm
• RnB, Techno and Dance Night – DJ
Stefan and Dule, Kafana Premijera,
Mileševska 73, 10pm
• Aćim i violina, Kafana Jazbina,
Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra 89, 10pm
• RnB Night - DJ Ktordo, Witch Bar,
Kumanovska 14-16, 10pm
MONDAY APRIL 20th
• Milan Mitrović i Aleksandra Bursać,
Klub Cinema, Gračanička 18, 11pm
• Unplugged Duo, Klub Red Shoes,
Ada Ciganlija 7, 11pm
• Friends’ Night, Tramvaj Pub,
Ruzveltova 2, 10pm
• Celebrities’ Humanitarian Night,
Mr Stefan Braun, Nemanjina 4, 11pm
• DJ Marchez, Kafana Ona Moja,
Vojvode Šupljikca 31a, 10pm
• Tamburaši, Kafana Tri Šešira,
Skadarska 28, 9pm
• Destiny Night, Witch Bar,
Kumanovska 14-16, 11pm
TUESDAY APRIL 21st
• Mono, Helen Money, Božidarac,
Radoslava Grujića 3, 8pm
• Hexenschuss, kӣr, Grad Cultural
Centre, Braće Krsmanović 4, 9pm
• Acoustic Fantasy, Klub Čorba kafe,
Braće Krsmanović 3, 10pm
• Lili Bend, Klub Red Shoes, Ada
Ciganlija 7, 11pm
• Ninties’ Night, Klub Tilt, Karađorđeva
2-4, 11pm
• Pop Night, Tramvaj Pub, Ruzveltova
2, 10pm
• Tamburaši, Kafana Tri Šešira,
Skadarska 28, 9pm
• Black Duo Bend, Witch Bar,
Kumanovska 14-16, 11pm
• Aćim i violina, Kafana Jazbina,
Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra 89, 10pm
• Todo Mundo Festival: Orchestrina
Adriatica, Radio Belgrade,
Hilandarska 2, 9pm
• Duo Rouz Bend, Klub Red Shoes, Ada
Ciganlija 7, 11pm
• Tamburaši, Kafana Tri Šešira,
Skadarska 28, 9pm
• DJ Ascia, Kontra Bar, Strahinjića bana
59, 10pm
• Witches’ Games, Witch Bar,
Kumanovska 14-16, 10pm
• Tamburaši, Kafana Tri Šešira,
Skadarska 28, 9pm
• RnB, Techno and Dance Night – DJ
Stefan and Dule, Kafana Premijera,
Mileševska 73, 10pm
• Aćim i violina, Kafana Jazbina,
Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra 89, 10pm
• RnB Night - DJ Ktordo, Witch Bar,
Kumanovska 14-16, 10pm
THURSDAY APRIL 23rd
• Unplugged Duo, Klub Red Shoes, Ada
Ciganlija 7, 11pm
• Celebrities’ Humanitarian Night,
Mr Stefan Braun, Nemanjina 4, 11pm
• DJ Marchez, Kafana Ona Moja,
Vojvode Šupljikca 31a, 10pm
• Tamburaši, Kafana Tri Šešira,
Skadarska 28, 9pm
• Destiny Night, Witch Bar,
Kumanovska 14-16, 11pm
• Jumbus, Plastic, Takovska 36, 11pm
• RnB and Hip Hop Night, Mr Stefan
Braun, Nemanjina 4, 11pm
• Pink Floyd Night, KST, Bulevar Kralja
Aleksandra 73, 10pm
• Diva Demolition, Studentski Grad
Cultural Centre, Bulevar Zorana
Đinđića 179, 8pm
• Raul Midon, BitefArtCafe, Mitropolita
Petra 8, 10pm
• Tamburaši, Kafana Tri Šešira,
Skadarska 28, 9pm
• DJ Gosha, Witch Bar, Kumanovska
14-16, 10pm
• Beer Night, Kontra Bar, Strahinjića
bana 59, 10pm
FRIDAY APRIL 24th
• D-Nox & Beckers, Zwein, The Tube,
Simina 21, 11pm
• Rodhad, Drugstore, Bulevar Despota
Stefana 115, 11pm
• Brother’s Yard aka Peter Dundov,
Re:Publika, Pariska 1, 11pm
• Can’t Stop the Rock, KST, Bulevar
Kralja Aleksandra 73, 10pm
• Superplastic, Plastic, Takovska 36,
11pm
• Todo Mundo Festival: Belo
Platno, Hanggai, Dom Omladine,
Makedonska 22, 8pm
• Jarboli, Crvi, Božidarac, Radoslava
Grujića 3, 8pm
• Tamburaši, Kafana Tri Šešira,
Skadarska 28, 9pm
• John Digweed, Hangar, Dunavska,
Port of Belgrade, 11pm
• Dj Barely Legal, Monsun, Travnička 3, 11pm
• Dharma Road To Connection
Festival, Sioux, Skadarska 40a, 11pm
• Revival, Plastic, Takovska 36, 11pm
• Eighties, KST, Bulevar Kralja
Aleksandra 73, 10pm
• Wovenhand, Marriages, Dom
Omladine, Makedonska 22, 8pm
• Todo Mundo Festival: Tutti World
Music Orchestra, Dom Omladine,
Makedonska 22, 8pm
• Xanax, Grad Cultural Centre, Braće
Krsmanović 4, 9pm
• Tamburaši, Kafana Tri Šešira,
Skadarska 28, 9pm
SUNDAY APRIL 26
• Shake That Thing, KST, Bulevar
Kralja Aleksandra 73, 10pm
• Ike & Prema, Plastic, Takovska 36,
11pm
• Disco House, Mr Stefan Braun,
Nemanjina 4, 11pm
• Todo Mundo Fest: Arhai, Muzsikas,
Dom Omladine, Makedonska 22, 8pm
• Vlada and Bajka, Ilija M. Kolarac
Endowment, Studentski Trg 5, 8pm
• Unplugged Duo, Klub Red Shoes, Ada
Ciganlija 7, 11pm
th
Sales & Marketing: Marija Petrović
Phone: +381 11 4030 302
Subscription & Distribution:
Goran Knezevic
+381 11 4030 303
T R AT T O R I A
PIZZERIA
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ISSN 1820-8339 = Belgrade Insight
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Circulation: 4,000
• Lili Bend, Klub Red Shoes, Ada
Ciganlija 7, 11pm
• Tamburaši, Kafana Tri Šešira,
Skadarska 28, 9pm
• Black Duo Bend, Witch Bar,
Kumanovska 14-16, 11pm
• Aćim i violina, Kafana Jazbina,
Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra 89, 10pm
THURSDAY APRIL 30th
• Illusion Quest – Open Air Psychedelic
Festival, Ada Ciganlija, Makiš side,
12pm
• RnB and Hip Hop Night, Mr Stefan
Braun, Nemanjina 4, 11pm
• Jumbus, Plastic, Takovska 36, 11pm
• Ana Ćurčin, Studentski Grad Cultural
Centre, Bulevar Zorana Đinđića 179,
8pm
• Ozric Tentacles, Drugstore, Bulevar
Despota Stefana 115, 9pm
• Marčelo and Napeti Quintet, Dom
Omladine, Makedonska 22, 9pm
• Tamburaši, Kafana Tri Šešira,
Skadarska 28, 9pm
KOLARAC
PROGRAMME
MONDAY, April 20th
Concert Hall, 8pm
Berlin Philharmonic Sextet
Cycle: The Great Music
Performers
Programme: Mozart, Rossini
Production: Music Centre
Ticket Price: 1, 800, 2, 000 dinars
TUESDAY, April 21st
Concert Hall, 8pm
Rudra Veena Night
Production: Embassy of India
Admission free
WEDNESDAY, April 22nd
Music Gallery, 6pm
Soloists: Sofia di Somma, violin
Iskra Pečvari, piano
Programme: Despić, Grieg,
Slavenski
Production: Music Centre
Admission free
Nebojsina 8
011/3863-999
amiciamici07@yahoo.com
www.restoranamici.rs
Dvořák
Production: Belgrade
Philharmonic
SATURDAY, April 25th
Concert Hall, 8pm
RTS Symphonic Orchestra
Conductor: Stanko Jovanović
Soloists: Una Stanić, violin
Irena Josifovska, violoncello
Production: RTS Music
Production
SUNDAY, April 26th
Concert Hall, 11am
Piano Duo Altro Modo
Cycle: Kolarac podium of
chamber music
Adela Karasi Todorović and
Nataša Špaček
Production: Music Centre
Admission free
WEDNESDAY, April 22
Concert Hall, 8pm
Artis Quartet Vienna
Soloist: Anika Vavić, piano
Production: CEBEF (Belgrade
Festivals Centre)
TUESDAY, April 28th
Music Gallery, 6pm
Art Fantasy, Public Show
Recording
Author: Marina Stefanović
Production: Music Centre
Admission free
FRIDAY, April 24th
Concert Hall, 8pm
Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Eiji Oue
Soloist: Marc Coppey, violoncello
Programme: Mahler, Prokofiev,
WEDNESDAY, April 29th
Music Gallery, 6pm
Cycle: Music Workshop
Soloist: Ana Rašković, piano
Production: Music Centre
Admission free
nd
belgradeinsighteditor@birn.eu.com
marija.petrovic@birn.eu.com
TUESDAY APRIL 28th
• Ike & Prema, Plastic, Takovska 36, 11pm
• Disco House, Mr Stefan Braun,
Nemanjina 4, 11pm
• Sonic Jesus, Grad Cultural Centre,
Braće Krsmanović 4, 9pm
• Duo Rouz Bend, Klub Red Shoes, Ada
Ciganlija 7, 11pm
• Tamburaši, Kafana Tri Šešira,
Skadarska 28, 9pm
• DJ Ascia, Kontra Bar, Strahinjića bana
59, 10pm
• Witches’ Games, Witch Bar,
Kumanovska 14-16, 10pm
SATURDAY APRIL 25th
WEDNESDAY APRIL 22
nd
MONDAY APRIL 27th
WEDNESDAY APRIL 29th
BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, April 17 - Thursday, April 30, 2015
13
ON THE SPOT
Albanian-Serb
Romeo and
Juliet come
to town
T
Photo courtesy of Radionica Integracije
he premiere of the highly
anticipated play Romeo
and Juliet, a joint production by Belgrade-based
Radionica Integracije and Pristinabased Qendra Multimedia, took
place on April 5th at the National
Theatre. The play, where Romeo and
the Montagues are played by Kosovo
Albanians, and Juliet and the Capulets by Serbs, aims to foster dialogue
and reconciliation, and is performed
in two languages – Serbian and Albanian. The theatre’s main stage was
fully-packed, and the play itself well
received by the Belgrade audience.
WWI
Russia on
display
Top actors
gather at
theatre’s 67th
anniversary
T
he Yugoslav Drama
Theatre, which was
established on April
3rd,1948, recently
celebrated its anniversary.
For the occasion, the best
theatre’s actors and members
of the staff received awards
for their contribution to the
life of the theatre. Among the
awarded actors were Vojin
Ćetković, Nebojša Glogovac,
Vojislav Brajović and Milena
Marković.
Photo courtesy of Radionica Integracije
T
The theatre staff who were given the award.
Photo:Facebook
he exhibition
“Look War in the
Eyes,” showcasing films, photographs and documents
from Russia during World
War I, officially opened at
the Historical Museum of
Serbia on April 8th. Among
many state officials and
numerous visitors was
the Russian Ambassador
to Serbia, Aleksandar
Chepurin.
Aleksandar Chepurin, the
Russian ambassador.
Photo by Beta
Birthday fun
at Cineplexx
cinemas
C
Photo courtesy of Ušće Cineplexx
ineplexx cinemas at the
Ušće Shopping Centre,
Delta City and the Plaza
Mall in Kragujevac
celebrated their birthdays on
April 14th with all-day activities
for children and a treat for all
visitors – lower prices and a
special birthday menu. According to the organizers, more than
15, 000 people came to the three
cinemas.
Photo courtesy of Ušće Cineplexx
14 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, April 17 - Thursday, April 30, 2015
GOING OUT
Keeping
it real:
Belgrade’s
original
indie beer
store
Majstor Za Pivo
was never your
average pub
and its exclusive
tastings and nanobrewery offering
specialist brews
to order will keep
it at the heart of
Belgrade’s growing
craft beer culture.
David GALIĆ
M
ajstor Za Pivo
roughly
translates to ‘Beer Master’. It is one of
the most unique
places you’ll visit
in Belgrade if beer is your thing. Origi-
nally, Majstor Za Pivo was a store but it
was never just any old store. It was the
first place in Belgrade where people
who wanted to get into home brewing
could buy all the equipment and raw
materials they needed.
After successfully helping to launch
craft beer culture in Belgrade, the store
branched out and moved to lower
Dorćol, where they remain to this day.
The location is, frankly, pretty out
of the way. Even though Dorćol is considered one of Belgrade’s most central
districts, Majstor Za Pivo is located at
the far end of the neighbourhood, in
a very quiet part of town. As far as I
know, there’s only one bus that goes
all the way down there. Otherwise it’s
a 20-minute walk all the way down
Francuska and Žorža Klemansoa Street
from Republic Square.
But that doesn’t really pose a problem for the establishment because Majstor Za Pivo has a very specific kind of
clientele. While you can visit city centre
bars like Samo Pivo, Miners Pub, and
Kabinet Pub to taste Serbian craft beers
and brews from around the world, Majstor Za Pivo is much more than just a
brew pub.
It also sells a huge assortment of beer
for home consumption. So if you prefer
Photo: Facebook
to enjoy a hard-to-find imported beer in
the comfort of your own home rather
than in a smoky bar, you can head over
to Majstor Za Pivo and grab some brew
dogs to go.
Granted, there are a few more places
around the city that offer this type of
service as well. There’s Pivopija, with
locations in Zemun and New Belgrade,
and a couple pubs in Vračar that also
double as beer stores.
However, Majstor Za Pivo does not
stop there. Ever mindful of their roots,
they still sell home brewing equipment
and ingredients. And that’s not all! Majstor Za Pivo is the only place in Belgrade
that doubles as a nano-brewery.
The bar consists of a few tables and
shelves loaded with beer, giving you
the feeling that you are drinking in a
store, which you kind of are. But behind the bar, there is a gallery where
the brewing equipment is held. And in
this area, the owners of Majstor Za Pivo
have set up a working nano-brewery.
What does this mean for you? This
means that you can pay them to make a
special beer for you. For example, if you
tasted a beer while travelling the world
that you loved but can’t buy in Serbia,
you can turn to Majstor Za Pivo.
They can find a recipe for the beer
that you love so much and brew a clone
batch for you, if you are willing to pay.
The price for this service is a little steep
but it is the only place in the city offering this service.
Another cool Majstor Za Pivo offering
is their exclusive tasting parties. Every
now and then, they hold very small
and intimate beer tasting nights that are
usually thematic – either related to beer
from a certain country or a style of beer.
Usually, only about ten people can
sign up to participate in these events,
which is what makes them pretty special. So if you are a true beer enthusiast,
getting into one of these tasting sessions
could be something of interest to you.
The best thing about Majstor Za Pivo is
that they are doing things no one else is in
Belgrade while continuing to play a huge
role in finally creating a genuine beer
culture in Belgrade, which has grown tremendously over the past couple of years.
Majstor Za Pivo
Address: Žorža Klemansoa 18
Working hours: Monday-Friday, 12am-10pm
Contact: +381 11 241 91 61
Serbian, Portuguese stars
play for flood victims
Robbie Williams
announces open-air show
erbian ethno music star Slobodan Trkulja is teaming up with Mariza, one
of the biggest stars of Portuguese fado music to raise money for victims of
the 2014 floods in Serbia.
Trkulja’s group Balkanopolis has been on the scene since 1997, creating
a sound that combines traditional Balkan music with contemporary ideas.
The joint concert with Mariza will take place at the Kombank Arena on May 15th.
It’s the second charity show for flood victims to be organised by Trkulja; the first was
held right after the natural disaster last year.
This follow-up show a year later is intended to show that people who are still in need
have not been forgotten. Tickets will cost between €7 and €17, depending on seating.
elgrade doesn’t often get visits from top-tier pop stars, but veteran British singer Robbie Williams will be making a stop here at
Ušce Park on July 17th on his ‘Let Me Entertain You’ tour.
Tickets for the event are already going fast with people lining
up in droves at the Ušce shopping mall last week to get earlybird ticket prices.
Base-level tickets cost about €35 - according to management, the lowest
ticket prices on the former Take That singer’s European tour.
The show might not sell out because the Ušce park has a capacity of about
30,000, but it’s definitely going to be tough to get tickets close to the stage.
Serbian rapper Marčelo presents
new quintet
Marčelo has been one of the most
unique voices in Serbian hip-hop for
over a decade, not only as a rapper but
as a novelist as well, attracting acclaim
for his ‘conscious’, politically-charged
rap. At the show at Dom Omladine on
April 30th, he will introduce his new
band the Napeti Quintet and promote
his new album ‘Napet Show’. Tickets
will cost €5.
Ozric Tentacles take
a trip to Drugstore
Ozric Tentacles, probably the most
important psychedelic rock group of
the last 20 or 30 years, will be performing in Belgrade for the first time on April
30th. The British band that formed at a
hippie festival at Stonehenge in 1983
have become space-rock veterans
with a dedicated following worldwide.
Support comes from Belgrade psychrockers Temple of the Smoke, who
are very obviously influenced by the
British band. The show takes place at
Drugstore and tickets will be €8 at the
door.
S
Italian psychedelia
rocks KC Grad
Italian rockers Sonic Jesus have been
billed as the love child of Spaceman 3
and the Velvet Underground and are
considered to be one of the leading
names in contemporary psychedelic
rock. They will be performing on April
29th at KC Grad. Tickets will be €8 at the
door.
B
Japanese post-rockers
take bigger stage
After a successful first show a couple
of years ago, Japanese post-rock band
Mono return to Belgrade, this time
to play a bigger venue, Božidarac
in Vračar, on April 24th. They will be
accompanied by cellist Helen Money
and will be promoting their two recent
simultaneously-released albums ‘The
Last Dawn’ and ‘Rays of Darkness’. Tickets will be €15 at the door.
Doom rock legends
at Dom Omladine
Apart from Black Sabbath, Saint Vitus
are probably the most prominent pioneering band in the doom metal genre.
They’ve been playing their Sabbathinspired, slow and heavy rock since
1979 and are now playing Belgrade with
their original line-up including singer
Scott Reagers. The show is on June 7th
at Dom Omladine; tickets are on sale
already for €18.
BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, April 17 - Thursday, April 30, 2015
15
SPORT
Football violence sees UEFA
‘mulling Croat and Serb ban’
Ivan Ćurković,
vice-president of
the Serbian Football Association,
claims UEFA is to
ban Serbia and
Croatia from its
competitions over
hooliganism fears.
C
roatia and Serbia face
UEFA and FIFA tournament bans following
racist and violent incidents during international football matches
held in the Balkans, says the vice-president of Serbia’s Football Association
(FSS).
“I have good information and I assure you, both Croatia and Serbia are
to be suspended from UEFA and FIFA
competitions. And this is for three to
five years,” Ćurković said during an interview with Croatian Jutarnji List
published on
April 12th.
Ć u rkov i ć
said
that
UEFA - the
Union
of
European
Football Associations – wants to see an
end to the violence and hooliganism
that followed matches in which Balkan
countries participated.
According to Ćurković, that would
require government intervention.
“[National football] associations are
powerless. Only the state can deal with
offenders, if it wants, of course,” he said.
Nonetheless, UEFA is, he insisted,
determined to stamp out racism and
the use of fireworks and flares during
matches at football stadiums.
“Football is spinning billions and, of
course, the leaders of the European Association will not allow torches, wild
behaviour and spectacular fireworks,”
Ćurković said.
Ćurković, a Serbian former footballer, has been vice-president of the FSS
since 2009. His comments came after
a series of incidents shook Balkan football.
On April 8th, UEFA decided to punish
both Croatia and Montenegro over its
fans’ racist behaviour and the lighting
of torches at their stadiums.
During the Croatia-Norway match
played in Zagreb on March 28th, Croatian fans lit torches and chanted nationalist and racist slogans.
UEFA then ordered the Croatian
team to play its next Euro 2016 qualifier home game – against Italy on June
12th - behind closed doors and, therefore, without supporters. The Croatian
Football Association was also fined
€55,000.
RUSSIAN GOALKEEPER
HOSPITALIZED
Just one day earlier, another Euro 2016
qualifier – this time between Russia and
Montenegro in Podgorica - was abandoned after Montenegrin fans hit Russian
goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev with a flare.
Akinfeev was taken to hospital suffering concussion and burns to the
neck following the incident.
Both Croatia and
Serbia are to be
suspended from
UEFA and FIFA
competitions.”
Ivan Ćurković
vice-president of the Serbian
Football Association
German referee Deniz Aytekin
eventually called off the match after fans repeatedly endangered the
safety of players by throwing objects
onto the pitch, including coins, a lighter and, according to some reports, a
knife.
Ćurković says UEFA won’t allow flares and rowdiness during matches.
UEFA responded by awarding Russia
a 3-0 win over Montenegro. Montenegro will also have to play its two next
home qualifier games in an empty stadium and the national football federation was fined €50,000.
In October last year, UEFA sanctioned both Albania and Serbia for the
violence that erupted during the first
football match ever held between the
two countries.
During the match in Belgrade, a small
drone bearing a map of ‘Greater Albania’ flew over the pitch, igniting an already highly-tense atmosphere.
After Serbian player Stefan Mitrović
pulled down the banner a scuffle broke
out between the two teams as Albanian players grabbed the flag back from
Mitrović.
The scuffle snowballed into an allout brawl as a group of Serbian fans
invaded the pitch and attacked Albanian players, prompting British referee Martin Atkinson to suspend the
match.
Videos and pictures show Serbian
fans attacking Albanian players, throwing punches and kicks, as the Serbian
players try to protect them.
Photo by Beta
Serbian fans also threw torches
and lighters at the Albanian players
as they left the field. Earlier in the
match, Serbian fans booed the Albanian national anthem and chanted
bloodthirsty, racist slogans, such as
“Kill, slaughter, so that the Šiptar [a
pejorative term for Albanians] do not
exist.”
Both Albania and Serbia were fined
€100,000 each. UEFA awarded the
match 3-0 to Serbia, but the country
was ordered to hold its next two UEFA
competition matches as host team behind closed doors.
16 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, April 17 - Thursday, April 30, 2015
Map of City Centre
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Kolarčeva 7
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SPICE UP SHOP
Čumićevo sokače lokal 21
Tel. + 381 62 272 063
Email: dejan.spiceup@gmail.com
www.spiceup.rs
FB page: Spice Up Shop Beograd
TEL AVIV HUMMUS HOUSE - ISRAELI
CUISINE RESTAURANT
Working hours: 00-24
Food delivery: 09-21
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Skadarska 34
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Tel. +381 63 1872222
Email. restoran@malivrabac.rs
www.malivrabac.rs
46 Karađorđeva Street
Working hours:
Evening events:
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09 am – 11 pm
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+381 11 26 26 068
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