Issue No. 177 Friday, February 06 - Thursday, February 19, 2015 ORDER DELIVERY TO Surviving the Bankish A lost YOUR DOOR +381 11 4030 303 Holocaust in winter child [email protected] - ISSN 1820-8339 1 occupied blues in on the BELGRADE INSIGHT IS PUBLISHED BY 0 1 Serbia a village frontline

Page 4 Page 9 Page 10 9 7 7 1 8 2 0 8 3 3 0 0 0 Even when the Democrats longas continue to likely is This also are negotiations Drawn-out Surely the situation is urgent Many of us who have experi - We feel in-the-know because bia has shown us that (a.) no single no (a.) that us shown has bia party or coalition will ever gain the governa - form to required majority negotiations political (b.) and ment, will never be quickly concluded. achieved their surprising result at last month’s general election, quickly it became clear that the - re sult was actually more-or-less the result election other every as same in Serbia, i.e. inconclusive. as Serbia’s politicians form new political parties every time disagree with they their current party - reg 342 currently are (there leader political parties in Serbia). istered the norm. One Ambassador Belgrade-based recently told me he was also alarmed by the distinct lack of urgency among politicians. Serbian “The country is standstill at and a I don’t understand their logic. If they are so eager to progress towards the EU and en - theycome how investors, courage go home at 5pm sharp and don’t work weekends?” overtime. little a warrant to enough Serbia EDITOR’S WORD Predictability Political By Mark R. Pullen elections Serbian numerous enced rate ourselves as pundits when it comes to predicting election - re sults and post-election moves. our experience of elections in Ser Army manipulation facing - - - grimNEWS choices worries still unresolved over state loss-makersNEWS Ombudsman’s “The situation in the party seems “Dacic will eventually side with Nikolic agreed: “The question is Fearing they might not cross the Pensioners leader, Jovan Krkoba - The reported price is the post of In addition, the Socialists are bar Tadic has denied talk of horse- At the same time, Dacic seems re - reach an agreement “If we don’t Source: Balkan Insight (www.balkaninsight.com) Balkan Insight (www.balkaninsight.com) Source: revelations raise The government party over which way to turn. extremely complicated, as we try to convince the few remaining lag - gards that we need to move out of one Socialist shadow,” Milosevic’s Party official complained. in a bid to guide his party into Tadic the European mainstream, but much of the membership and many offi - cials may oppose that move.” will the party split or ‘old- back down,” he noted. timers’ threshold to enter parlia - 5-per-cent ment, the Socialists teamed up with Association of Pensioners and the the led by business - United Serbia Party, man Dragan Markovic “Palma”. bic, Palma and Dacic are all pushing for a deal with the Democrats. of deputy PM, with a brief in charge security for the Socialist leader. gaining for other ministries, includ - ing capital investments, Kosovo and education, Belgrade media reported. trading with the Socialists, maintain - ing that ministries would go only to those committed to working for the “strategic goal”. government’s negotiations with luctant to call off the nationalists. with the DSS and Radicals, par ty leadership will decide on future steps”, Dacic announced, following par new country’s of session first the liament on Wednesday. concerns over is taking the first possible misuses steps to deal page 10 of the Military with hundreds of Security Agency

indebted public hile the football world watch - es events unfold at the Euro -

for personal a strong current also However, Mihajlo Markovic, a founder of Markovic, a prominent supporter Some younger Socialist officials Neighbourhood Matters faces extinction unless it changes. flows in the opposite direction, led by party veterans enraged the Tadic. prospect of a deal with recently warned of a crisis the party, if Dacic opts for the pro-European “nat - bloc, abandoning the Socialists’ ural” ideological partners. of Milosevic during the 1990s, is seen as representative of the “old- timers” in the party who want to stay policies, true to the former regime’s even though these almost ruined the Socialists for good. have voiced frustration over the con - tinuing impasse within their own Football Rebellion Football pean Championships in Austria and pean Championships in Switzerland, Bosnia is experiencing led by fans, play - a soccer rebellion, enraged ers and former stars who are by what they see as corrupt leaders football association of the country’s leaders. companies, W and political though June 13, 2008 Issue No. 1 / Friday, purposes. experts warn page 5 Gordana ANDRIĆ the toughest endarmerie members decisions have charged with attacking a military officer in the per-

yet to be made. conomists are warning that pro - over Serbia’s uncertainty longed “This year has been lost, from the formance of his duties - in After eight years of stagnation, the pro-European and nation - With Nikolic believes the Socialists, led “The group of younger Socialists Business Insight Costs Mounting future could scare off investors, lead investors, lead future could scare off to higher inflation and jeopardise prosperity for years to come. says standpoint of economic policy,” Econom - the of Stamenkovic Stojan ics Institute in Belgrade. to Serbia’s late president, Slobodan to Serbia’s Milosevic, and reformists who want the party to become a modern Euro - pean social democrat organisation. the Socialists returned to centre stage after winning 20 of the 250 seats in elections. parliament in the May 11 alist blocs almost evenly matched, the Socialists now have the final say on the fate of country. by Ivica Dacic, will come over to if only out of a pragmatic de - Tadic, sire to ensure their political survival. gathered around Dacic seems to be adding said, Nikolic majority”, the in that these reformists believe the party the incident in which the Katarina MARKOVIĆ E PrimeG Minister’s brother was beaten up - were grilled behind closed doors on he Serbian government February 5th. is launching bankrupt- The questioning at the High Prosecu- cy procedures in 188 Friday • June 13 2008 tion Office marked the start of a process state companies that against four members of the police have been out of busi- who participated in a struggle with two ness and awaiting pri- members of the Military Security Agen- Tvatisation for years. THIS ISSUE OF cy, VBA, with Andrej Vučić, the brother These companies have failed to at- Belgrade Insight IS SUPPORTED BY: IS SUPPORTED of the PM, and with Predrag Mali, broth- tract investors, and while a third of on a new gov - ense negotiations ernment have divided the ranks “It looks as if the Socialists will Simultaneous negotiations held This divides “old-timers” loyal Socialist leader Ivica Dacic remains the Serbian kingmaker Socialist leader Ivica Dacic remains Lure of Tadic Alliance Splits Socialists Tadic Lure of government, old pro-EU While younger Socialists support joining a new, over the prospect. revolt Milosevic loyalists threaten in Belgrade By Rade Maroevic er of the mayor of Belgrade. them have no employees, the rest em- which holds of the Socialist Party, of the balance power between the blocs and has yet to announce main which side they will support. move towards a government led by the Democrats,” political analyst Mi - lan Nikolic, of the independent Cen - tre of Policy Studies, said. “But such a move might provoke deeper divi - sions and even split the party.” with the pro-European and national - ist blocs have drawn attention to a deep rift inside the Socialists. T ploy around 5,000 people in total. This is the first step the government has taken in its efforts to resolve the fate of Bratislav Gašić, defence minister, was appointed to the post as the Progressives’ candidate. Photo by Beta Continued on page 3 more than 500 public enterprises that cost the country millions of euros annually. “We will finally begin to bring things into the open, which is something that the Mahmoud Abbas rival given Serbian whole world praises,” Aleksandar Vučić, the Prime Minister, told TV Pink on Janu- ary 31st, when the decision was made. citizenship, documents reveal However, experts say the govern- ment is only tackling the tip of an ice- Observers say Mohammed Dahlan could be foreigners deemed to have served “state Dahlan, a former PA security chief, was berg that will not result in significant interests” without offering any detailed seen by many as Yasser Arafat’s likely savings for the budget. planning to use country as base to launch public explanation. successor but lost out to Abbas. The lat- Difficult decisions on the future of leadership challenge against Palestinian Dahlan is credited with facilitating Abu ter accused him of corruption and he was large public companies that employ far Dhabi’s promised investment of billions kicked out of the political party Fatah in more people, and cost Serbia far more, Authority leader. of euros in Serbia. However, the govern- 2011. have yet to be made, they warn. ment in Belgrade has refused to explain The PA launched a defamation action They also say that once the issue of Ivan ANGELOVSKI Dahlan, his family and five key political whether this is the reason for granting against Dahlan, then living in exile in the companies that drain money from the Lawrence MARZOUK supporters were all granted citizenship citizenship to him and 11 other Palestin- United Arab Emirates (UAE), after he criti- state budget is addressed, the govern- between February 2013 and June 2014, ians in the past two years. cised Abbas’s leadership and PA security ment will face another big problem – a Serbia’s government has quietly grant- according to documents from the state’s Seasoned Middle East observers have forces in the West Bank. He was given a new legion of unemployed workers to ed citizenship to Mohammed Dahlan, official gazette analysed by the Balkan suggested that Dahlan could be planning two-year jail term in March 2014 follow- whom it will have little to offer. a key rival of the Palestinian president, Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN). to use Serbia as a base to launch his lead- ing his conviction in absentia. Mahmoud Abbas, and adviser to the The government is able to grant citi- ership challenge against Abbas, the cur- crown prince of Abu Dhabi. zenship during closed cabinet sessions to rent Palestinian Authority (PA) leader. Continued on page 2 Continued on page 7

+381 11 4030 306 [email protected] 2 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, February 06 - Thursday, February 19, 2015 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, February 06 - Thursday, February 19, 2015 3 SERBIA SERBIA

Continued from page 1 Continued from page 1 Mahmoud Abbas rival given Serbian Army manipulation citizenship, documents reveal worries still unresolved he incident took place tions do not exist, self will and decision- try and security sector had been facing housands of Dahlan’s as long as it serves the “state interest”, during the Gay Pride making outside the institutional frame- major problems for years - from con- supporters took to irrespective of any other conditions. PASSPORTS FOR PALESTINIANS march last September. work can be concluded,” she said. flicting laws and regulations to compro- the streets of Gaza in Dahlan was instrumental in forg- It is not clear whether A retired university professor and for- mised senior personnel. December to protest at ing new diplomatic and economic The Dahlan connection the VBA’s involvement mer army officer, Miroslav Hadžić, told “Vučić and Nikolić spoke about this the opening of another ties between Crown Prince Sheikh in the case will also be BIRN that there are also no legal grounds when they came to power. But instead court case against him, Mohammed bin Zayed of Abu Dhabi closed. The Ombudsman has raised for the VBA to investigate the incident of enforcing democratic control [over Prime Minister Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed T thisT time on charges of corruption. and the Serbian government. He was Aleksandar Vučić bin Zayed Al Nahyan questions about why members of the with the Gendarmerie on its own. the military] they have continued to Dahlan has publicly denied the accu- decorated by President Tomislav Serbian Prime The Crown Prince of Abu VBA were accompanying the brothers The VBA may legally investigate cas- strengthen party control,” Milić told Minister. He Dhabi and deputy supreme sations but refused to respond to ques- Nikolić with the Medal of the Serbian has courted commander of the UAE of the Prime Minister and the mayor. es that involve employees of Defence BIRN. tions sent to him by BIRN. His backers Flag in April 2013 for his role in “the investment Armed Forces. He is also The Ombudsman also revealed that Ministry and the VBA, he explained. from Abu Dhabi, the head of the Mubadala dismiss the court cases as nothing development and strengthening of receiving and Development Company, the the VBA seized video recordings from However, if the VBA wanted to question OVERSIGHT OF VBA’S WORK visiting Crown main investment vehicle more than politically motivated show peaceful cooperation and friendly Prince Sheikh for the government of Abu shops and business premises with civilians, or gather evidence from them, trials, while Abbas and the PA claim to relations between Serbia and the Mohammed bin Dhabi. The Crown Prince video surveillance near the place of the the agency must act in cooperation with By law, the VBA’s work in first instance Zayed four times is also a director of the Abu have produced extensive reports on United Arab Emirates”. in the 12 months Dhabi Investment Authority, clash and talked to witnesses before the the BIA and police, he said. is overseen by the internal control to October 2013. the Sovereign wealth fund of Abu his alleged wrongdoing. The president’s office refused to He developed a close Dhabi. Dahlan is his security and police - tasked by the prosecution with mechanism that informs the general A spokesman for Abbas said: “Ac- elaborate on this when questioned enough relationship with economic adviser and is credited with conducting the investigation - had done inspector of any potential misconducts Mohammed Dahlan, who bringing a number of businesses owned by, CONCERNS ABOUT cording to all national and interna- by BIRN last week, adding only that helped bring the Emiratis or linked to, the Al Nahyan royal family to so. POLITICAL ABUSES and abuses within the VBA. to Belgrade, to invite him Serbia. tional rules, when somebody wants to Dahlan was “a close associate of Sheikh to his home following the Ombudsman Saša Janković also pre- The inspector further informs the Progressives’ resounding th take a passport from another country, Mohammed bin Zayed who had con- election victory in March 2014. sented parts of a document that states On January 28 , the Ombudsman Defence Minister and parliament’s Com- they [the government] should check tributed to investments from the UAE”. that the VBA monitored preparations then said he had received an alleged mittee for Oversight of the Security and to make sure that they have a clean file Serbia opened an embassy in Abu for a November rally by the opposition VBA document stating that the agency Intelligence Services. Mohammed Yousef Dahlan and clean history and not just give it. Dhabi in August 2013. This blossoming Serbian Radical Party in Belgrade, ex- had been monitoring preparation for a The Ombudsman has the right to They have not asked the Palestinian relationship played a key role in finalis- Born 1961 in Palestine. A member of Palestinian pressing concern that the VBA has also rally by the opposition Serbian Radical oversee the work of the VBA in order legislative council; security and economic side about their history or whether ing a series of intergovernmental deals adviser to Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi; former been conducting surveillance of union Party in November. to protect citizens’ rights and is also member of Fatah; former head of the they are criminals or not. signed between Serbia and Abu Dhabi, Preventive Security in Gaza. A key figure in leaders and judges. Defence Minister Gašić has not ex- obliged to react if he receives informa- bringing Gulf investment to Montenegro and “We will send a letter to the Serbian promising billions of euros of invest- Serbia. Strong relationships with Serbian Experts say the revelations heighten plained whether the agency had indeed tion that state officials, which include president and prime minister to stop ment through companies connected to PM Aleksandar Vučić and Montenegrin concerns that the VBA is being used monitored the party, and why, but has VBA, have breached their authorities PM Milo Đukanović. A shadowy figure in that.” the ruling family. the Middle East with reported ties to US for political and personal purposes. But said that the document was the work of and the laws. intelligence and powerful friends across BIRN reveals that Dahlan is rent- But the deals have proved contro- the region, such as the Egyptian President they also say it is unclear whether these a former VBA employee axed for finan- Hadžić explains that the parlia- ing a luxurious villa in an exclusive versial. el-Sisi. The arch-rival to Palestinian President concerns will ever be checked. cial abuses. mentary committee is the supreme Mahmoud Abbas, he has made no secret of his Belgrade neighbourhood favoured by Etihad Airways bought 49% of political ambitions. He is currently being tried for The Law on the Military Security The Radical Party is a fierce opponent body in charged of controlling VBA diplomats. Until recently the home of shares in the airline JAT in 2013, corruption in Palestine, accusations he denies. Agency, which operates within the De- of the ruling Progressive Party and its operations. former Serbian president Boris Tadić, although concerns have been raised fence Ministry, says the VBA is responsi- leader, Prime Minister Vučić. The Pro- On January 28th, however, the Com- the villa’s security was beefed ble for security and counter-intelligence gressive party was formed in 2008 by mittee for Control of Security and Intel- Momir Stojanović, from the Progressive-led parliamentary up before Dahlan’s arrival in and for protection of the Ministry of De- committee session that gave an ‘all clear’ to the defence ministry. Photo by Beta breakaway Radicals. ligence Services, having discussed the Belgrade. fence and the Army of Serbia. The Radical Party leader, Vojislav Ombudsman’s information about Pride The Serbian government has Political connections Close family Family business However, the Ministry of Defence has entitled to protection of both VBA and Šešelj, has declared that his aim is to Parade incident, the VBA investigation refused to respond to requests Dahlan is THE SECURITY AGENCY AND refused to give the Ombudsman the the BIA in terms of counterintelligence, overthrow both President Tomislav of the incident and VBA’s alleged moni- from BIRN for an explanation THE PM’S BROTHER documentation he sought on the case, while Ministry of Interior and police en- Nikolić, and Prime Minister Vučić. toring of the Radicals, concluded that of why it has granted citizen- or explain other concerns that the Om- sure his physical and technical safety. Hadžić says is hard to explain on neither the ministry nor the agency had credited with Sufyan Mohammed Jaleela Idris Abdrabou Yousef ship to Dahlan, his family and Abuzayda Dahlan Shaker Dahlan The Ombudsman published sev- budsman raised about the work of the Stojanović Gajić said the only way the which legal grounds the VBA would broken the law. supporters. eral police documents on the incident, VBA and the ministry. PM’s brother might get such protection monitor preparations for a Radical Party The committee did not request any Born 1960 in Born 1966 Brother of SON AND BUSINESS PARTNER However, Dušan Simeonović, facilitating Palestine. A in Saudi Mohammed Dahlan, which took place on September 28th, Bratislav Gašić, Serbia’s Defence Min- is based on a recommendation of the rally. further investigations or information on former minister Arabia, wife of director and co- former ambassador to Egypt for prison and Mohammed owner of Al Fursan, 2014, in mid- January. ister, said he signed the decision for the Bureau for Coordination of Security Ser- He told BIRN that, by law, the VBA concerns raised by the Ombudsman. Abu Dhabi’s civil affairs in Dahlan. A Belgrade based real and Palestine, told BIRN the Palestine, expelled powerful advocate estate firm. Reportedly The Ombudsman’s office wrote that, VBA to guard the Prime Minister and vices and risks assessments of the BIA was tasked with protecting the Minis- The committee is compromised of move was “clearly a sign of from Fatah in 2014. of her husband’s had assets frozen according to police records, the four that in course of that job, the two VBA and police. try of Defense and the army and the nine deputies, seven appointed from Had his car sprayed presidential ambitions, in Jordan as part of gratitude for Dahlan’s role in promised with bullets in the West she maintains a high Abbas’s crackdown on men in civilian clothes refused to obey members involved in the incident were “The only way to provide the security agency’s authorities are strictly bound the ruling parties and two from the op- Bank in 2013. public profile. his brother. implementing investments SON AND BUSINESS PARTNER a Gendarmerie command and tried to also escorting his brother. measures to protect persons outside of by the law. position. from the UAE”. investment of break through a cordon. The Ombuds- Sonja Stojanović Gajić, head of the this list, is on the recommendation of the “[The Ombudsman’s revelations] Milić told BIRN that the committee Samir Abdelqader A. D. Shadi Abdrabou Bypassing the standard natu- Almashharawi Yousef Dahlan man found that four men had insulted Centre for Security Policy, however, said Bureau for coordination of services led show that there are connections be- had failed to use its oversight mecha- ralisation process, the govern- Born 2003 and threatened the police before clash- regulations clearly define which servic- by Prime Minister Aleskandar Vučić,” tween the ruling elite and the military nisms and check the allegations. billions of euros Born 1965 in in Palestine, Born 1982 in Saudi ment can grant citizenship to Palestine. A former daughter of Arabia. A nephew of ing with them. es should protect which officials. Stojanović Gajić said. elite that enable ruling elite to instru- “I see no point of the committee, if the director general Mohammed Mohammed Dahlan, an individual if it is deemed that of the Palestinian Dahlan son of his brother Janković questioned by whose deci- She told BIRN that regulations make She stated the Ombudsman had mentalise the army for their own pur- head of VBA and Defence Ministry just doing so is in Serbia’s national in Serbia. interior ministry, Abdrabou Dahlan, sion and under whose security assess- it clear that the Security Information not been trying to investigate whether poses, although the largest part of the come and say they are doing nothing il- and a close friend co-owner of Alfursan interest, according to the coun- of Dahlan who company, a real estate ment the Military Police were accompa- Agency, BIA, and police should protect there were risks for the PM’s brother, but army does not participate in this and is legal and then the committee just take it worked with him in firm in Belgrade. try’s citizenship law. Gaza, when Dahlan nying the brothers of the Prime Minister the Prime Minister while the VBA pro- whether an official decision had been not aware of it,” Hadžić told BIRN. for granted,” she said. Under this system, a minister was in charge of and mayor, as well the legality of the tects the Defence Ministry and the army. made to grant him security. Jelena Milić, head of the Centre for “It was clear stultification of parlia- the security forces. puts forward a name, which is Reportedly expelled VBA’s investigation and contacts with As Supreme Commander of the “If it is established that the records of Euro Atlantic Studies, CEAS, an NGO, mentarism and parliamentary control from Fatah in 2012.

then voted on in a closed gov- BROTHERS Targeted as part of civilians in the case. Armed Forces, the President of Serbia is these assessments and recommenda- told BIRN stated that the Defence Minis- of system of security,” Milić concluded. ernment session. The decision is signed about whether the Serbian taxpayer Abbas’s crackdown on Fady Mohammed Ahmed Abdrabou Dahlan. Dahlan Yousef Dahlan off by the prime minister or his deputy received value for money from the sale Born 1990 in Son of Abdrabou and published in the official gazette. of almost half of the state-owned firm. Ziyad Abdelqader Tunisia, son of Dahlan, co-owner of Almashharawi Mohammed Al Fursan, Belgrade This process has attracted con- Al Dahra Agriculture was due to Dahlan based real estate firm. troversy on a number of occasions, invest €150m through state-owned Born 1969 in Palestine. The including last year when Sergey Kurch- farms, according to a published brother and close associate enko, a Ukrainian businessmen facing contract signed with the Serbian of Samir EU sanctions, was also made a Serbian government. But, after the deal sparked Almashharawi, reportedly an adviser national following a government deci- protests, the Abu Dhabi firm decided to to Dahlan in Gaza. Targeted as part of Firas Mohammed sion. The Serbian interior minister de- buy a stake in a firm owned by Serbian Abbas crackdown on Dahlan clined to confirm earlier media reports tycoon Vojin Lazarević instead. Dahlan. Born 1992 in KEY that Kurchenko’s citizenship had been Other huge deals related to Tunisia, son of revoked after the outcry. agriculture, arms, electronics and Mohammed Yahya Mohammed A Serbian passport next Shamia Dahlan to a profile denotes that This system has been used 52 times ports have been signed with firms the person has been given Born 1978 in Serbian citizenship. It is not in the past five years, most often to linked to the royal family, accord- Gaza, Palestine. A known whether any of the grant passports to musicians and ing to statements by the Serbian Dahlan associate individuals have received and founder of Serbian passport. Serbia’s sportsmen and women. government. A €2.8bn real estate a pro-Palestinian Interior Ministry declined to charity based in comment. Many EU countries have schemes project called Belgrade Waterfront, Geneva according to in place to naturalise top sportsmen a joint venture between the Serbian numerous reports in the Arab press. BIRN Hadil Mohammed and provide citizenship or permanent government and a Dubai-based was unable to confirm Dahlan this independently. residency to major foreign investors. firm, has also been announced. Born 1995 These, however, are usually subject Despite the impressive proposals, in Palestine, Ghassan Jadallah daughter of to a number of strict criteria – such as little concrete investment has been Mohammed Dahlan not being under criminal investigation visible on the ground. Officials from Born 1978 in Gaza, Palestine. – and handled by officials rather than the UAE embassy in Belgrade insist A politician, Dahlan associate politicians. that delays with projects of this scale and former leader Serbia’s position differs in that the are normal and that investments will of the Fatah youth movement. Targeted government can approve citizenship follow. as part of Abbas crackdown on Dahlan. 4 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, February 06 - Thursday, February 19, 2015 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, February 06 - Thursday, February 19, 2015 5 BELGRADE BELGRADE Surviving the Holocaust Petition in occupied Serbia calls for At 93, spond to the percentage of the Jews in the communal overall Yugoslav population. And that per- Aleksandar centage was around 0.45,” Lebl explains. However, he was lucky, as the regula- Lebl is one of a tion allowed children of “honoured” Jew- ish citizens to enrol in school despite the police handful of Jews percentage limit. in Belgrade His father held the Albanian Commem- orative Medal awarded to all Serbian mili- who can still tary personnel and civilians who retreat- to go ed through Albania in the winter of 1915/16 remember in World War I. “As he was in that category, I was among the German those enrolled at university,” Lebl contin- After communal police arrested a occupation and ued. “I got an official note about my admis- girl for not having a public transport the Nazi death sion to the university only in February. And then, as you know, war broke out a ticket, an online petition has been camps – which month after in April,” Lebl notes, with a he narrowly deep sigh. launched calling for the institution escaped ending MOST RELATIVES to be abolished. HAD PERISHED up in. It’s been decades since he returned to ore than 16,000 people girl who had no valid public transport liberated Belgrade, but Lebl still remem- have signed an online ticket and refused to show them her ID. Ivana NIKOLIĆ bers the day when he came back. petition since it was Nikola Ristić, the head of the com- Aleksandar Lebl, one of a handful who still remembers life - and death - in Nazi-occupied Belgrade. Photo by BIRN “I returned to Belgrade at the end of launched on January munal police, said the policemen’s Mth leksandar Lebl says he 1945. I had already found out my mother 25 , urging the Belgrade authori- reaction had been “fully justified”. still remembers vividly Under the German occupation, Lebl had grave. had died, together with some 25 members ties to abolish the communal police, “The communal police didn’t Bosanska Street, which is to clear up the devastation in Belgrade. Lebl stayed of my family,” Lebl says. claiming they “were formed against breach their legal authorities when now Gavrila Principa St, Then, owing to his health problems, he was in Dalmatia I returned to Many years have passed, but his voice the Serbian Constitution.” they arrested a citizen…who didn’t close to the central rail- set to work in a Jewish community estab- until Mus- still trembles when he mentions his moth- “The principle of citizens’ dignity have a bus ticket and later on refused way station, after it was hit lished by the Germans. solini’s Italy Belgrade at the er. is being breached. The right to physi- to show her ID and offered resist- Aby German bombs in April 1941. “I worked in the administration. We were surrended “However, my sister came back from cal and mental integrity is being ance,” Ristić said on January 28th. Stones were everywhere, it was full of dealing with the Jewish families from Banat on Septem- end of 1945. I had captivity, and my father returned from breached,” the statement on the web- The incident was recorded and dust. Lebl was one of hundreds drafted in [in the province of Vojvodina] and accom- ber 8th in the front,” he added. He wasn’t alone in the site Petititon24.com said. put onto social networks a day after as forced labour when the Germans then modating them with Jewish families here in 1943. Then he world, after all. The explanation also said the the arrest but was removed shortly. occupied Belgrade. Today he is one of the Belgrade,” he recalls. and his fellows joined the Yugoslav already found out The remaining members of the Lebl communal police “do not meet the Mayor Siniša Mali has reacted to last survivors who can still remember the At that time, concentration camps started partisans under Tito and fought until family continued to live in the house basic activity for which they were the incident, promising disciplinary bombs falling on the Yugoslav capital on to emerge around Belgrade. The most noto- the end of the war. my mother had where we sit now, in the neighbourhood established and go far beyond the proceedings against the communal April 6th in 1941. rious, at Topovske šupe, was a “a reservoir of Vračar. scope of their delegated author- policemen in question should the “I was here until April 10th. Then I went to with people waiting to be shot.“ LIFE BEFORE THE WAR died, together with Even though he had started studying ity; they unlawfully apply physi- investigation confirm irregularities Leskovac [in southern Serbia] to sign up as a “By the fall of 1941, Topovske šupe camp engineering before the war broke out, in cal force and coercive measures occurred. volunteer [for the army] because my father was almost empty,” Lebl says, looking at his Lebl was born back in 1922 in the some 25 members 1948 he decided to pursue a law career, against citizens.” The incident was followed by an- was also recruited in Leskovac,” Lebl recalls. hands. Belgrade neighbourhood of Čukarica and enrolled in the Law Faculty. The petition comes after commu- other two arrests for the same rea- He didn’t get to Leskovac, however, as the During the World War II, some 8, 000 but the family travelled around Ser- of my family.” Having finished university, Lebl started nal police on January 25th arrested a sons on January 27th. Belgraders have been angered by Communal police attacks on commuters. Photo by David Hold Wikimedia Commons Germans had already occupied southern Jews were killed in Belgrade only. bia a lot as his father was a mining work in the Ministry of Foreign Trade, then Serbia, so Lebl made his way back to Bel- Then, in October 1941, his mother, fearing engineer. in the Federal Government. grade. he was about to be killed, saved him again. Much of his childhood was spent Shortly thereafter, Lebl started his jour- It was around April 20th, he recalls, when “I left Belgrade on October 25th. My moth- in the southern Serbian town of Aleksinac, Shortly before the war, aged 18, he nalistic career. Apart from the Yugoslav he revamp plan includes con- drivers, Vesić maintained, four big public he got off the train in Belgrade and saw a ter- er bought me a false pass from the Italians as it was rich with coalmines. started a university course in engineering. newspapers, he also worked as the Finan- structing a pedestrian zone to garages will also be constructed in central rifying sign. and I went to Dalmatia,“ the 93-year-old re- “That is where I finished elementary Although the country was not yet at war, cial Times’ correspondent for Yugoslavia. City in line connect the Kalemegdan Park Belgrade. “The first thing I saw at the station was calls. school, which at that time lasted four years, times were hard and studying was every- “I worked with Novosti, then with Borba, Tand Zeleni Venac, City Manager The authorities also said work on the a sign saying all the Jews had to report by “There were stories that the Italians did and then I enrolled in grammar school also thing but easy. where I covered economic politics. After Goran Vesić told the Večernje Novosti long-awaited Belgrade Waterfront project April 19th. Otherwise, they would be killed,” not treat the Jews the same way the Ger- in Aleksinac,” Lebl recalls. In 1940, Lebl recalls, two regulations Borba I retired,” Lebl explains. daily on January 30th. was due to begin on the Sava riverbank, he says. mans did.“ In the early 1930s his family returned to concerning the Jewish community came Even in his nineties, he is still active as a for major “We are planning to close down the while work on the Pupin bridge on the He knew he had missed the deadline and That was the last time that Aleksandar, the Yugoslav capital – again because of his into force. One, named the numerus clau- member of the Association of Jewish Mu- traffic in central Belgrade in the next four Danube should finally come to an end half-expected to be killed. But his mother then aged 19, saw his mother. “At that time, father’s job. sus, was especially disturbing. nicipalities. During all these years Lebl has years and turn it into a pedestrian zone,“ during autumn. saved him – and would do so once again a no one thought they would actually kill “I’ve been in Belgrade since 1933,” Lebl “Numerus clausus meant that the num- never stopped talking about the Holocaust Vesić said. According to the media, Belgrade is in few months later. the women and children,“ he adds, looking notes. ber of the Jewish students had to corre- - to make sure it never happens again. makeover “By doing that, we will revive the Kale- line to get some brand new hotels by the megdan Park – Zeleni Venac route, as end of 2015 – a Marriott next to the Nation- promenades are always attractive for al Theatre and a Hilton in the city centre. in 2015 opening new restaurants and shops,” he The authorities also announced the continued. construction of an Ikea store in the sub- The newly constructed streets will urb of Voždovac, as well as a Lidl super- have cobblestones and marble tiles in- market. However, the official opening of stead of asphalt, he added. the two should not be expected before The capital is to In order to make this plan work for 2016. CITY GUIDE Available at: Tourist Organisation of Belgrade become a huge Knez Mihailova 5, +381 (11) 2635 622 Central Train Station, +381 (11) 3612 732 Nikola Tesla Airport, +381 (11) 2097 828 construction site in Belgrade Port, Karađorđeva ONCE KOVAČ, ALWAYS KOVAČ APROPO ONCE ”KAFANA”, ALWAYS ”KAFANA” Hotel Moskva Bookstore and tearoom the upcoming months, FREE PULL OUT MAP OF BELGRDAE Terazije 20, +381 11 3642 000 Cara Lazara 10 RESTURANT KOVAČ +381 11 2625839 modern ethno restaurant FREE SIM CARD Hotel Excelsior Kneza Miloša 5, +381 11 3231 381 At the Belgrade Airport starting with the TOP SIGHTSEEING LOCATIONS PUBLIC TRANSPORT MAP Supermarket concept store Hudson news odlasci / departures Višnjićeva 10, +381 11 2910 942 Hudson news dolasci / arrivals Belgrade Waterfront, GUIDED TOURS THROUGH BELGRADE Hudson news čekiranje / check in Hotel Townhouse 27 Hudson news transit zona / transit WIDE SELECTION OF CLUBS, HOTELS, Maršala Birjuzova 56, +381 11 2022 900 new hotels, shopping Order online: RESTAURANTS, SHOPS AND Booking Rooms Hostel ENTERTAINMENT VALUE Kralja Petra 30, +381 63 29 39 39 www.balkaninsight.com/en/page/ malls and a big www.bookingrooms.rs belgrade-city-guide Bulevar Oslobodjenja 221, Tel: 011 2462 343 Local authorities promise more www.restorankovac.com pedestrian zone. pedestrian zones in Belgrade. Photo Wikimedia Commons 6 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, February 06 - Thursday, February 19, 2015 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, February 06 - Thursday, February 19, 2015 7 BELGRADE BUSINESS

Continued from page 1 ADVERTORIAL Graffiti artists will have to erase their work City Manager Goran Vesić said Serbia shows relics of Serbia facing grim local authorities will propose changes to current regulations, so that those caught writing Perfect graffiti, beside suffering a choices over state penalty, will also have to erase

Belgrade in brief in brief Belgrade dead states in Venice their graffiti and graffiti written by others as well. “We will start loss-makers Wellness a huge campaign together with th public figures. We expect media Ahead of the 56 and culture institutions to join us and we also plan an educational International campaign at schools,“ Vesić told Service Blic daily on February 3rd, adding Art Exhibition that graffiti was “mockery of the capital”. in Venice, from Whether you came on business or for th New public transport May 9 to private reasons, don’t forget that you’re tariffs up and running November 22nd, in the fastest-living city in the region – The new tariff system that relaxation is of the utmost importance. came into force on February 1st Ivan Grubanov has abolished a single ticket and introduced time-tickets explains the lasting 90 minutes. There are arin Milosavljevicć, marketing also one-day, three-day and concept of manager of the WellnessLand five-day tickets, especially Center and SkyWellness Club aimed at tourists, as well as his intriguing will tell you a little more about annual tickets. Uglješa Mitrović reasons why those are decidedly from the Public Transport artwork at the Mthe places which offer absolute maximum when Department said the reason for the introduction of the new Serbian pavilion. it comes to spa services, saunas, massage and fit- tariff system was to enable as ness activities in Belgrade. many people as possible to buy monthly tickets. Ivana NIKOLIĆ About autumn refreshments: Vračar to get a For a whole decade in WellnessLand, and more than five years in Sky- statue of Mihajlo nited Dead Nations,” Wellness, we’re in love with a healthy life. During those years we learnt that Pupin the project with the essence of a good service shouldn’t be changed, but that occasional refreshments are always a good thing. With that in mind, this season we in- Serbian-born scientist and which artist Ivan Gru- inventor Mihajlo Pupin (1858- banov (39) will rep- troduce new working hours – for the early birds, we’re open from 6:30 AM, Ranka Savić, head of the Association of Independent Trade Unions. Photo by Media Centre Belgrade 1935) will get a statue at resent Serbia at the which has garnered great approval from all our members, but also from “UVenice Art Exhibition, consists of the flags our intermittent clients. Also, because of many guests from abroad, who Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra, the city authorities announced on of countries that no longer exist. he government closed the ARMY OF spend several continual days or weeks in Belgrade on account of business, January 29th. Pupin, who also The flags of Yugoslavia, the Ottoman Miladinović’s work on Serbian paramilitaries caused sharp reactions. Photo courtesy of Vladimir Miladinović public call for bidders for JOBLESS The greatest we devised a new kind of monthly fee, as well as a day pass. That way, we held American citizenship, Empire, Austria-Hungary, the German 512 public companies that SET TO are more available than ever, and our service is still as exclusive as ever. was a physicist and physical Democratic Republic, Soviet Union, in total employ 90,000 GROW number [of chemist, especially known Czechoslovakia and other vanished states people last September. About a unique concept of WellnessLand Center: for establishing long-distance will cover the floor of the Serbian Pavilion Grubanov’s ‘United Dead Nations’ is drawing a good deal of interest among national and international critics. Photo courtesy of Ivan Grubanov The government aimed Neško Gajić, Conceptually, WellnessLand is very close to Western clubs with exclu- telephone communication. The companies] in Venice, and visitors will be able to walk toT find partners or buyers for the compa- a worker at the sive membership. Our members appreciate their own privacy, as well as move to pay tribute to Pupin respecting the privacy of other people. Whether you’re here because of came from locals in Vračar freely around them. nies that cost the state about €750 million Oil Factory from will go bankrupt municipality, which is where As the artist explains, there will be a “The encounter [with Milošević] was so annually. the central Serbian town of Kruševac, exercise, spa zone, pool, body treatment or some combination of the of- the future monument will be total of 100 flags of countries that have The most intense that I could not think properly, so I The Privatisation Agency received let- which is also undergoing bankruptcy, because they fered services, alone or in company, time spent in WellnessLand will relax placed. The decision to build ceased to exist during the 120 years of the drew instead,” Grubanov recalls. ters of interest for about 220 companies. told BIRN that only about 10 people still you and prepare you for your various business and private challenges. Our Pupin a monument came some Venice Biennale. Further explaining the mixed feelings he While the government has decided to work at the company, where produc- permanent members come mostly by way of reccomendation, and we ob- months after a popular vote On the walls inside the Serbian Pavilion important thing had, he calls the meeting “a confrontation launch bankruptcy for another 188 that tion stopped in 2011. can’t be sold. viously have more than a good reputation among foreign guests of our city, on the capital’s TV station, will be three-dimensional names of all the of his personal history with an official one”. attracted no bidders, it is unclear what Most of the workforce, about 120 in because they keep coming back every time they return to Belgrade. Studio B, resulted in a decision countries involved, as well as the times is that I will have Grubanov’s other previous works in- will happen to the remaining 94. all, left in 2013 after winning their fight This year will to name a new bridge over when they existed. “ T h e clude “Haunting Memory”. This was a The decision to sell or launch bank- for severance pay-offs. About the excellent the Danube after the famed “The most important thing is that I will first ideas concerning the dead flags an opportunity collection of photographs juxtaposing im- ruptcy proceedings for the state-owned But Gajić says that only about a doz- be the year atmosphere in SkyWellness Club: scientist. have an opportunity to represent my emerged in 2011 when I bumped into a ages of the artist’s father with images of the companies was brought in line with other en of the former employees managed In SkyWellness Club, we have a luxury of the best view in town. If you Belgrade among country in a very demanding and an in- bunch of flags that are not used anymore to represent my former Yugoslav military headquarters in acts of fiscal consolidation. to find a new job. that the jobs have ever heard those incredible stories about a night life on Belgrade’s riv- top ten tourist triguing environment,” Grubanov says. in a cultural institution. Those were flags Belgrade demolished in NATO air raids on “It is hard to find a new job. Most peo- ers, the early-morning or day exercise with a perfect view on those same destinations The fact that each country has its own of the former country and its republics,” country in a very Yugoslavia in 1999. LITTLE RELIEF ple who worked in a factory were in of more than rivers will render you speechless! SkyWellness Club is young and full of pavilion provides another opportunity for Grubanov explains. “With the eruption of violence, both the FOR THE BUDGET their forties and fifties and had spent positive energy, and a favorite city spot when it comes to best quality exer- Belgrade has been ranked dialogue between artists and for exchang- “Flags are art objects with a magical ef- demanding and general staff and a concept of the former 20 years here. Only the electricians and cise. Sauna, various kinds of body treatments, and services of professional in seventh place on a list of es of experience at a global level, the artist fect,” he adds, “They have the power to country are wiped away. My father is in his Experts say that closing the books on locksmiths have a decent chance; those 20,000 people trainers are also available to our guests. ten rising star destinations, says. influence lives and individuals through own role [in these images] while the coun- the 188 companies will not save the budg- directly related to the production side the Tourist Organization of The Biennale, one of the leading con- their symbolism.” an intriguing try and its building represent mother, and et much, however. Ljubodrag Savić, pro- cannot find a comparable job,” he said. are lost.” About an incredible equipment: Belgrade announced on temporary art exhibitions in the world, The main theme that Grubanov tries to stand as relics of an era,” Grubanov said. fessor at Belgrade University’s economics Željko Sertić, Serbia’s economy min- On both locations, we offer our guests exclusively the equipment made th January 30 . The list of top takes place once every two years. The Art explore in his art is collective memory, in environment.” Although his art might seem interesting faculty, told BIRN that the government ister, said the government and unions by renowned Italian manufacturer Technogym. We are aware that multi- destinations is compiled from Biennale, or International Art Exhibition, particular memories connected to the dis- and provocative, Grubanov admits he is had started by solving the smallest issue. had agreed that all employees from all Ranka Savic, tasking and clever utilization of every single moment are essential to mod- hundreds of thousands of reviews, written by tourists. has been running since 1895. solution of former Yugoslavia. seldom invited to exhibit his works in Ser- “These are companies with one or two 188 companies going into bankruptcy head of the Association of ern living, and that’s the reason why you can, while excercising, check your Tourists who evaluated “United Dead Nations” is a logical se- “As I was growing up and forming my- was a collection of drawings of Slobodan bia. On the other hand, the international or no employees. This will not make any would be offered help in the form of a Independent Trade Unions email, talk via Skype, leave your status on social networking services, or Belgrade recommended the quence to “Dead Flags”, another earlier self as a person in very turbulent circum- Milošević, the late Yugoslav president. He public seem a lot more curious, which is savings to the budget, or they will be pret- social programme. just watch an episode of your favorite sitcom. Design, functionality and Serbian capital for its cuisine, art piece by Grubanov, representing a col- stances, I realized how much my personal did the drawings at Milošević’s trial at the why he mostly presents his works abroad. ty small,” Savić said. Of the 188 companies “We’ll try to shift workers to other high quality of Tecnogym equipment are unmatched. Technogym is our culture, nightlife as well as lection of flags of countries that no longer impressions and memories confront the Hague-based International Criminal Tri- The lack of interest at home might be facing bankruptcy 76 have no employees companies because there is a shortage first choice, because we do not compromise when it comes to the quality for its history, art, design exist. official historical narrative,” Grubanov -ex bunal for the Former Yugoslavia, which down to the fact that Serbian audiences at all, he noted. of qualified labour,” Sertić assured RTS of our services. and adventurism. Apart from The core of this collection was flags plains. Grubavov followed closely. want to stay away from troubling remind- The state is yet to resolve what will on January 31st. especially when there are already al- Belgrade, other European cities from the former Yugoslav state: the federal “The possibilities to interpret and op- When the trial started, “I wanted some ers of the 1990s. happen to the others that are still in state Stevanović, however, fears that work- most a million unemployed people in on the list include the Icelandic flags, the flags of the constitutive republics pose historical interpretations and to in- kind of live confrontation with that chap- But the artist says this attitude may be a ownership. Among them are some that ers who lose their jobs will find it hard Serbia. capital of Reykjavik, which is and provinces as well as the flags of the fluence collective memory are very inter- ter of my life,” he says, referring to memo- mistake. “The core of many problems we cost the state the most. They include to obtain new positions. He said that the However, she believes the people ranked number one, Granada workers’ unions and of the then ruling esting to explore,” he adds. ries of the wars of the 1990s, which still are facing nowadays lies in the 1990s,” he the car plant in Priboj, Fertilizer Plant real reforms improving the labour mar- from these companies could be of ben- in Spain, Krakow in Poland and League of Communists. Grubanov’s first huge project, “Visitor”, haunt him. concludes. Pančevo, FAP, Methanol-Acetic Acid Plant ket situation have not occurred. efit to the labour market. Vatican City. Kikinda, MSK and the pharmaceutical Ranka Savić, head of the Association “They know the business. They are company Galenika. of Independent Trade Unions, told BIRN great artisans and could fit very quickly Aleksandar Stevanović, an economic that the bankruptcy of the 188 compa- into the production process,” Savic said. his panel is located on Slavija Square, right in front of the Hotel Slavija. It has been on this analyst, told BIRN that resolving the fate nies with 5,000 staff was only the start The problem was in the labour mar- exact spot since October 1952, when the ruling Communist Party of Yugoslavia erected of the remaining companies would pose of the agony because the fate of all 512 ket, which barely exists for production it to celebrate the party’s 6th Congress. The text in Serbian Cyrillic explains that the first the biggest challenge to the government. companies from the list of the Privatiza- workers, she concluded. congress of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia took place in the nearby hotel from April “Savings can be expected only after the tion Agency remained unclear. The government recently adopted 20th to April 25th, 1919, when the party itself was established. The panel further explains government cuts the largest companies “The greatest number [of companies] a programme to deal with the surplus Tthat on the same day, the Congress decided to join the Third International, known as the Comintern. off from budget funding. The key part is will go bankrupt because they can’t be labour from companies awaiting priva- This was the international communist organization founded in Moscow in March 1919 with the aim of yet to come,” he said. sold. This year will be the year that the tisation in 2015. struggling “by all available means, including armed force, for the overthrow of the international bour- “It will then be seen how this govern- jobs of more than 20,000 people are This envisages all those losing work geoisie and for the creation of an international Soviet republic as a transition stage to the complete ment is able to solve the problem of about lost,” she predicted. receiving a severance payment of €200 abolition of the state”. 90,000 [jobless] people,” Stevanović Savić believes that these people have euros per year of service, not exceeding

Hidden Belgrade warned. almost no chance of finding new jobs, a total of €8,000. 8 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, February 06 - Thursday, February 19, 2015 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, February 06 - Thursday, February 19, 2015 9 REGION OUT AND ABOUT

COMMENT A very Macedonian coup d’etat As Gruevski buys time for his repressive regime, the opposition has only one option – to publish its supposedly sensational information and take the consequences.

Ana PETRUŠEVA

acedonia’s au- thorities pushed the political bat- tle in the country beyond the point Kusturica’s ‘Wooden Town’ is a favourite among visitors across the region. Photo by Dickelbers/Wikimedia of no return on MJanuary 31st, when they sensation- ally claimed to have prevented a coup d’etat orchestrated by the opposition leader, Zoran Zaev. Nikola Gruevski, Prime Minister of Macedonia. Photo by European People’s Party/Flickr Three people have been detained apart from Zaev, including a former documents came from foreign secret in the country with numerous protests while only minimum amounts of infor- counter intelligence service official, Now that the agencies. The secret filming further fu- against his government. mation, carefully filtered through the Bankish winter blues his wife and one of Zaev’s associates, els suspicions of an elaborate plot to set The plan is not without flaws. Some government, reach the public while Zaev on charges of espionage and violence opposition up the opposition leader. criminal law professors dispute wheth- is dragged through the courts, further towards top state officials. The leader If Zaev tried to blackmail Gruevski er obtaining documents from a foreign discredited and is possibly put away for of the Social Democratic Party, SDSM, leader has been with his offer not to publish the incrimi- intelligence agency is a crime. This is a long time. By the time his trial is over, remains out of jail but his passport has nating data, his move was foolish, naïve because espionage involves collecting the various spin-doctors will ensure that in a village been confiscated. and totally indefensible. and submitting documents to foreign the topic is no longer mentioned. The news broke at a dramatic press charged with Another question is why Zaev an- agencies - not the other way around. In the meantime, while the world conference given by the Prime Min- nounced possessing this material in At the same time, they also note that is watching, the EU has reacted with proud of – loom weaving and wood carv- Street, Novak Đoković Street or in Federico The village itself is divided into two first parks to be declared a world heritage ister, Nikola Gruevski. TV broadcasts espionage, the first place, thus giving Gruevski publishing material, whether or not only the weakest and blandest of state- February is a good ing. Besides, if you have not bumped into Fellini and Ingmar Bergman Street. parts – one presenting everyday life of the site by UNESCO back in 1979. of Turkish soap operas and other extra time to construct a plot to bring it came from foreign agencies, which ments. It has said it expects “independ- traditional food, this is a golden opportu- Drvengrad offers more than streets and peasants in their wooden huts and the The park is situated in the mountainous regular programs were interrupted as violence and down the opposition and prevent the proved abuse of power, would be an ent and transparent investigations”, as time to get out of nity to sample it and fall in love with it. Bel- squares named after stars of music, sports other representing the spiritual heritage of karst area of central Croatia on the border his speech aired live on all major TV material from seeing the light of day. attempt to bring down the government if that same EU was not writing reports grade Insight has chosen three must-see and the arts. While there, don’t forget to old Bosnian Serb villages. with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The impor- stations, appropriate, many would more, the next Let’s also look at the other poker and replace it with another but not a every year documenting the partisan the grey city and ethno-sites in Serbia, Bosnia and Croatia visit the famous cinema, as well as the gal- The village has two artificial lakes, mills, tant north-south road connection, which say, for a regime like the one in Azer- player, Gruevski. In power since 2006, conspiracy to undermine constitution- takeover of the Macedonian judiciary. – Drvengrad (Wooden Town), the ethno lery, library and something that locals are a wooden well, barns, a blacksmith’s shop passes through the national park area, baijan. he has proven more than successful in al order. The US, Germany and the UK have have some folk- village Stanišići and Plitivica Selo. especially proud of – the pastry shop with and wooden huts. One of the mills was built connects the Croatian inland with the Gruevski alleged that he met with logical step is curbing democratic freedoms, shutting However, in the Macedonian jigsaw expressed concern over the grave na- handmade cookies and a restaurant serv- back in 1937 but still works, while a small Adriatic coastal region. the opposition leader several times and down the main independent media the likelihood is that this sort of legal ture of the accusations in a similar, cau- themed fun in DRVENGRAD ing Serbian traditional food. hut where dairy products are produced As the name suggests, it is world famous that Zaev tried to blackmail him with to put a lid on and limiting critical voices to mainly critique will remain buried on marginal tious tone. Your stay in Drvengrad during Febru- dates back to 1948. Go inside and you will for its lakes – as many as 16 - which are ar- documents obtained from foreign se- online media that have modest audi- websites while the main narrative is If SDSM is counting on the support The “Wooden Town” on Mećavnik ary may well be a cold one, but is worth a see the small wooden plates where cheese ranged in cascades. They are especially cret services, which prove government the so-called ences. crafted with care by the government’s of the international community, it is one of the region’s hill has become a favourite among try, as locals say the village looks amazing and other milk specialties were made long known for their distinctive colours, rang- corruption and wrongdoing. According He clearly draws inspiration from PR and media apparatus. definitely betting on the wrong horse. visitors across the region ever since the when covered in snow, and the view from ago. What you might find especially inter- ing from azure to green, grey or blue. The to Gruevski, Zaev was prepared to trade bomb. the populist, illiberal regimes of Victor Now that the opposition leader has Brussels and Washington have repeat- snow-covered film director Emir Kusturica built it in the top of the Mećavnik Hill is as stunning esting is the furniture as well as the nation- colours change constantly, depending on the documents if the PM would agree Orban in Hungary and Recep Tayyip been charged with espionage, violence edly shown that stability concerns 2003. Since then, it has hosted an inter- as it can get. al costumes displayed inside the huts. the quantity of minerals or organisms in to form a caretaker government that Erdogan in Turkey and is completely and more, the next logical step is to trump any worries they have about ethno villages. national film and music festival, called Last but not least, riding the old-style In the spiritual part of this replica village the water and the angle of sunlight. Lo- would include the SDSM. uninterested in the expressions of put a lid on the so-called bomb. This is democracy. That will not change now. Kustendorf. steam train Ćira is a real experience. The you will find a monastery, as well as a mo- cals say the colour is especially beautiful His dramatic move comes after Zaev The key question on everyone’s concern coming from Brussels and surely why the ruling party and pro- With so many other issues demanding Drvengrad is located on Mt Mokra Gora train is famed for the shape of its route, nastic medieval-style dormitory. Very close during winter when the water reflects the repeatedly said he was to publish a po- mind since Zaev first went public with Washington as long as he is in control government media association have attention, from Greece to Ukraine and Ivana NIKOLIĆ in western Serbia, some 260km from Bel- which follows a figure of eight, which to the dormitory, on the one of the artificial white landscape all around. litical “bomb” that would reveal wrong- his claims last October is: when will he at home. already told the media not to publish Syria, this type of bizarre twist only grade. Full of small wooden cottages, this explains why the train is also called the lakes, is a wooden amphitheatre with 380 Each year, the park draws more than 1.2 doing by the government on such a detonate his “bomb”? If the opposition Not only has he skilfully controlled anything relating to the affair, meaning contributes to a feeling of deep fatigue ver the last decade or imaginary village takes visitors back to the Šarganska osmica. It will take you right seats where open-air events take place. million visitors, and the number is growing. scale that it would have no choice but really have obtained evidence of cor- public opinion through a sophisticat- not to dare touch any material that the when it comes to Macedonia. As long so, so-called “ethno 19th century and to the life of peasant com- above Drvengrad from which you will Whatever the weather, this ethno vil- At the ethno village, there are plenty of to resign. ruption wrongdoing on a grand scale, ed propaganda machine, he has also SDSM may now publish. Gruevski manages to keep democratic tourism” has started munities in the Serbian mountains. have a fine view of the little snowy-cov- lage is worth a visit. Sitting in one of the things to do and see, even in winter time. If only a fraction of the rumours why are they keeping this material shown time and again that he should That will guarantee the silence of all appearances he will be able to carry on to emerge all over the What some may find interesting is that ered village below. dozen restaurants and watching the snow Apart from restaurants, a gym and a spa, about the contents of the bomb were from the public? Just as importantly, not be underestimated. His latest move the mainstream media as well as ena- getting away with murder. If Zaev ends region, with dozens of every single street – even those with only or simply walking around at least for a you can go bowling, hiking, or even do substantiated, Gruevski would doubt- did Zaev attempt to trade the docu- is further proof of that. bling the authorities to prosecute any up in jail, as long as the paperwork fits, old-style folk villages at- one hut in them – as well as every square STANIŠIĆI weekend is a nice escape. some archery. Kids can have fun at the less be in trouble. Sources close to the ments for a post in a caretaker govern- Assuming for a moment that some independent websites that took the risk so be it. Otracting more and more tourists each year. bears the name of a famous person from zoo, or at an indoor playground. SDSM say the documents in Zaev’s ment? of the “bomb” rumours were true, if to publish the incriminating material. The only way for the SDSM to avoid Traditional villages offer a lot more than a the world of arts, sports, music, culture If you wish to get to know what life was PLITVICA SELO We recommend a hike, as this is the best possession contain evidence that gov- In yet another twist to the complex any evidence of those shocking claims In Macedonia, those threats are not such a scenario, save face and save short break from the everyday hustle and and other fields. like in olden times among the Serbs in Bos- way to explore the area, take some mar- ernment officials were involved in elec- saga, on February 2nd, a pro-govern- reached the public, Gruevski would be to be taken lightly. The past few years whatever remains of its credibility now bustle of the big cities. For example, the main street leading nia, ethno village Stanišići is a good option. This ethno village is located at the heart vellous photos of the lakes in winter time toral fraud, tapped the phone conver- ment TV station published videos in a tight spot. That is why many see the have shown it is not a problem to con- is to immediately publish the docu- As custodians of tradition, you will you from the – of course – wooden gate to Located close to the northeastern town of the National Park of Plitvička Jezera and enjoy the snow-white landscape. One sations of thousands of people, called that somehow made it onto YouTube, entire drama as the desperate move vict and jail journalists. ments in their possession and hope the get to know more about folk crafts and the little wooden church is named after the of Bijeljina, it opened in 2003 and offers a (Plitvice Lakes), founded in 1949, which is of the special offers at this ethno village judges to instruct them over various filmed in the PM’s office, which show of a dangerous, cornered man, espe- The ideal outcome for the govern- information sees the light of day. Other- customs, including authentic folk music Nobel Prize Winner writer, Ivo Andrić. You window into what life was like in the late the oldest and biggest Croatian national is that you can get married here! So, think court verdicts and more. Zaev admitting to Gruevski that the cially at a time of heightened tensions ment now is for the media to keep quiet wise, they are done for, for good. and something the elderly are especially might also find yourself in Che Guevara 19th and early 20th centuries. park. Plitvička Jezera was also among the twice before bringing your better half! 10 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, February 06 - Thursday, February 19, 2015 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, February 06 - Thursday, February 19, 2015 11 ARTS HEALTH AND FAMILY

Norwegian films at KC Grad Parents ignoring the law face penalties In cooperation with the Nor- wegian embassy in Serbia Authorities last year filed and the Norwegian Institute Measles outbreak charges against 121 parents in of Film, events will be organ- Serbia who failed to vaccinate

Arts in brief Arts in brief Opera, Ballet ized throughout the month and Classical their children. The fine for not to introduce the Serbian vaccinating kids is up to 50,000. film-going public to movies FRIDAY FEBRUARY 6th The Health Ministry stated that from Norway. One film will be blamed on vaccine 56 charges were brought against shown each Sunday, starting Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra parents in the province of Vojvo- on February 1st and ending with Gabriel Feltz, conductor and dina, 28 in the town of Kragujevac on March 1st. All movies are Vadim Repin, violin, Ilija M. Kolarac and 20 in the capital. scheduled to start at 6pm Endowment, Studentski Trg 5, 8pm Obligatory vaccines include and entrance is free. panic those against tuberculosis, acute SATURDAY FEBRUARY 7th An intimate hepatitis, measles, mumps and peek into Cuba Opera: Il Trovatore, The National rubella, bacterium Haemophilus Theatre, Francuska 1, 7:30pm influenza, diphtheria, tetanus and The Istituto Cervantes is whooping cough and polio. SUNDAY FEBRUARY 8th presenting a photography However, about 2,000 children in Serbia are not vaccinated each exhibition inspired by Cuba Opera: The Barber of Seville, The year. A number come from the and the great diversity of National Theatre, Francuska 1, 7:30pm this Caribbean island from poorest levels of society and are January 29th to February 27th. MONDAY FEBRUARY 9th not registered with a doctor. Marko Todorović, the author On the other hand, a number of of the exhibition, takes an Milica Pekmezović, piano, Belgrade parents decide not to vaccinate intimate look into the lives of Cultural Centre, Trg Republike 5, 8pm their children. Instead, they sign the Cubans, trying to avoid Belgrade Guitar Duo: Momčilo a statement at the pediatrician’s stereotypes and searching Aleksandrić and Filip Živanović, office, saying they have refused to Belgrade Cultural Centre, Trg Republike for authenticity. The exhibi- have their children vaccinated. 5, 9pm tion, entitled Cubaz, offers This reflects the fact that 26 images of Cuban life and TUESDAY FEBRUARY 10th Serbia has two conflicting laws also features a short video, in this field. The Law on the also by Todorović. Entrance Ballet: The Nutcracker, The National Protection of Infectious Diseases is free. Theatre, Francuska 1, 7:30pm stipulates that vaccination is obligatory for all children, while th House of Petar WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 11 the Patients Bill of Rights allows Lubarda reopens parents to refuse vaccination. Opera: La Traviata, The National Serbian regulations say if Theatre, Francuska 1, 7:30pm The home of one of Serbia’s parents fail to bring their children most influential painters, FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13th to a doctor in time for vaccina- Petar Lubarda, is finally tion, doctors are obliged to warn renovated and open to visi- Belgrade Philharmonic with parents about their obligation to tors. After years of neglect, Alexander Vedernikov, conductor, do so. If parents fail to respond by the house at Ilićeva 1 in the Elisso Virsaladze, piano, Ilija M. Kolarac either bringing the child to receive suburb of Dedinje, shines Endowment, Studentski Trg 5, 8pm again. The collection of vaccine or sign a statement say- ing they refuse to vaccinate their paintings, some of which SATURDAY FEBRUARY 14th were unavailable for over 30 child, the pediatrician’s office may Ballet: GIselle, The National Theatre, then inform the Health Ministry years, including the iconic Ršumović’s ‘No Man’s Child’ had its international premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September 2014. Photo courtesy of Vuk Ršumović Battle of Kosovo, can now Francuska 1, 7:30pm inspectors of the case. be seen. In addition to the paintings, visitors will be able WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 18th to see some of Lubarda’s personal items, such as Opera: Madamme Butterfly, The National Theatre, Francuska 1, 7pm furniture, painting tools and

th Internet advice family photos. A lost child on THURSDAY FEBRUARY 19 holds dangers Get ready for Fifty M2 Piano Duo, Belgrade City Hall, Shades of Grey Dragoslava Jovanovića 2, 8pm Epidemiologist Predrag Kon said taking advice on vaccina- The movie adaptation of Fifty the frontline tion from online sources is risky. Shades of Grey is hitting the Many people believe vaccinating cinemas, with the premiere “I find that very important, as it points children against some diseases is due on February 11th at the Serbian director Vuk Ršumović’s film out the whole of absurdity of our divi- unnecessary because it is better Sava Centre. Directed by sions and hatred that have maimed us and for the child to get contact with Sam Taylor-Johnson, the ‘No Man’s Child’ is based on the true made us cripples who are trying to live the virus and develop natural movie stars Jamie Dornan story of a boy found living wild with normally,” he says. Exibitions immunity than receive a vaccine, as Christian Grey and Dakota The director does not want to reveal and Events he noted. Johnson as Anastasia Steele. wolves and then sent to fight in the the ending of the film, as it is yet to be seen “The anti-vaccine movement This is one of the most in Serbia, but says that it raises important FRIDAY FEBRUARY 6th completely disappeared at one Experts say vaccination is not only necessary but obligatory by law. Photo by European Commission DG ECHO/Flickr widely anticipated movies of questions about human nature. period when the vaccine showed the year, probably because Bosnian war. Exhibition: Sonja Jocić – Lucid “One of the questions is, how much are benefits, but then it re-appeared everyone is eager to see how Dimension, Zavod, Kraljevića Marka 1, we humans actually beasts?” he says. with the MMR vaccine and the the steamy erotic scenes 8pm Ivana The director never actually met the boy, ‘No Man’s Child’ had its international pre- he number of patients suf- Some 42 per cent of cases are aged “This also jeopardizes collective im- from the book translate to NIKOLIĆ Growing publication of an article that the big screen. Tickets for whose whereabouts are now unknown. “A miere at the Venice Film Festival in of Septem- SUNDAY FEBRUARY 8th fering from the measles in between 20 and 30 while 23 per cent are munity, which can result in the return of associated the vaccine with au- st the event are three to four šumović’s first feature teacher from the orphanage told me that ber 2014 and has won international awards number of Serbia continues to grow, between 35 and 40. such long uprooted and dangerous dis- tism,” he told Blic on January 31 . euros. film, which will have he actually died,” Ršumović says. in Italy, Switzerland, Croatia and Spain, but Exhibition: African Murals, Museum of while the highest number According to the institute, those suf- eases as polio, diphtheria and smallpox,” “The studies that have been its Serbian premiere But the story helps to illuminate how Ršumović says that audience reactions were African Art, Andre Nikolića 14, 11am measles cases of infected have been reg- fering from measles had either not been Tiodorović added. done subsequently were unable later this month, takes people’s lives were shaped by forces be- the strongest in Zagreb and Ljubljana. istered in Belgrade, the In- vaccinated against the disease or had no Faced with the online anti-vaccination to confirm this hypothesis, but Festival of Iranian MONDAY FEBRUARY 9th Film gems viewers back to the yond their control, the director says. “The audience recognised themselves Tstitute of Public Health ‘Milan Jovanović clear vaccination record, making it im- campaign that has included celebrities, the impact of that article is still blamed in part spring of 1988 in pre- “The whole period of his development and felt that this is a story about each one Batut’ announced on February 3rd. possible to conclude whether they had such as popular mother-of-two singer Je- Exhibition: Jovanka Mladenović, Grad ongoing,” Kon added. st th During the 14th Iranian Festi- Rwar Yugoslavia, when a ‘feral’ boy is is happening during the most critical and of us,” he says, adding that he would like Cultural Centre, Braće Krsmanović 4, 8pm From November 21 to January 30 , 161 been vaccinated. lena Karleuša, the Serbian parliament’s He recalled that a recent survey on resistance val of Iranian Film, visitors will found living with wolves deep in the the most dramatic moment of our history the film to be shown in Bosnia as well. cases of measles were reported and 105 The debate on benefits and risks of committee for health held a debate on suggested that 93 per cent of have a chance to sample the Bosnian woods. when the old Yugoslavia is falling apart “That would be very important,” he THURSDAY DECEMBER 12th among some cases confirmed. The highest number of vaccination has been ongoing on social January 23rd. parents would seek advice on most recent Iranian movies He is given the Bosniak name Haris and and the wars are breaking out. And then says. confirmed cases is in Belgrade, where 43 media in Serbia for a month, but experts All participants agreed that vaccines whether to vaccinate children on made in 2011 and 2013. Each sent to a children’s home in the capital Bel- you actually see how all these things di- Ahead of the Belgrade premiere at the Exhibition: Convergence – parents to cases have been diagnosed. say vaccination is necessary and obliga- are the simplest and most effective way social networks. night until February 10th, one grade, where becomes inseparable from rectly influence his fate,” he explains. FEST International Film Festival at the end photographers from Belgrade and The Institute of Public Health said the tory by law. to protect against infectious diseases. About 63 per cent of people Phoenix, Studentski Grad Cultural or two films will be shown another orphan boy. But when the war ‘No Man’s Child’ is not strictly a war film, of February, Ršumović says hopes that ‘No outbreak appeared to come mainly from Epidemiologist Branislav Tiodorović They also urged the medical profes- believe doctors are the most Centre, Bulevar Zorana Đinđića 179, 7pm vaccinating their at the new building of the in Bosnia and Herzegovina breaks out in says Ršumović. Man’s Child’ will also move Serbian view- Republika Srpska and the Far East. There told the daily Blic on January 31st that sion to inform parents about the im- relevant advisers, while 48 per Yugoslav Film Archive. Films 1992, the local authorities return him to “For me, this story goes beyond our ers in the same way that it has done else- MONDAY DECEMBER 16th children. are about 800 reported measles cases in vaccination with the so-called MMR portance of vaccination and so prevent cent stated that they would only will be on at 6pm and 8.30pm Bosnia, where he is given a rifle and sent to national divisions which caused the war. where. the mainly Serbian populated entity of vaccine against measles, mumps and them from seeking advice from online consult the Internet. each day, while tickets cost the frontline. When you look on that through the eyes “People have a disconnection from the Delicatessen Monday: Belgrade Raw, Bosnia. rubella was at an alarmingly low level in sources. “The same research showed 200 dinars [€1.6]. The movies “You have the destiny of an abandoned of our hero, you see that he doesn’t under- war and an aversion from things connect- Grad Cultural Centre, Braće Krsmanović “A cause for attention are sporadic Serbia, with only 75 per cent of children Dušan Milisavljević, the Democratic that the lowest trust in online on show are the works of child whose origin is unknown. You don’t stand that – he doesn’t understand what it ed to it. They are fed up with those stories 4, 7pm confirmed cases of measles in Belgrade vaccinated. Party deputy who initiated the session, sources is among people with some of the most prominent know whether he is a Serb, a Croat or a means to be a Muslim, a Christian, a Serb, a and opt for films that will take them away with no identified sources of infection, “That is the reason why we are facing said the profession needed to raise higher education and those over TUESDAY DECEMBER 17th Iranian contemporary film Muslim, but he randomly gets a Muslim Croat,” he explains. from that reality,” he suggests. which indirectly indicates the presence measles. That is not a dangerous disease, its voice against the panic spreading 65,” Kon observed. directors. The Festival is name which later on decides his fate in a The only thing Haris sees is people kill- “But I still hope that our audience will Exhibition: Jelena Trajković, Haos of viruses in circulation,” the institute but the complications can lead to pneu- through social networks against vac- organized with the help of the way,” explains Ršumović. ing one another around him, he continues. have strong emotional reactions,” he says. noted. monia or meningitis,” he said. cination. Iranian embassy in Belgrade. Gallery, Dositejeva 3, 8pm 12 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, February 06 - Thursday, February 19, 2015 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, February 06 - Thursday, February 19, 2015 13 WHAT’S ON ON THE SPOT

CLUBBING BIRN wins Jug Grizelj award AND LIVE MUSIC in Serbia

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 6th • Nani Bend, Santo Domingo Bar, WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 11th • Ewox & Tamarinsky, Dot, Francuska TUESDAY FEBRUARY 17th Vojvode Šupljikca 31, 10pm 6, 11pm he Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia, NUNS, awarded • Crvi, Grad Cultural Centre, Braće • Trust Me You Can Dance, Splav Klub • Ike & Prema, Plastic, Takovska 36, • Innershades, Grad Cultural Centre, • Tamburaši live, Restoran Dva Jelena, Krsmanović 4, 9pm Dragstor Play, Ušće bb, 11pm 11pm Braće Krsmanović 4, 11pm Skadarska 32, 9pm BIRN Serbia with the Jug Grizelj • Čekaonica Big Band, Akademija 28, • Fucking House Night, Industrija Bar, • Disco House, Mr Stefan Braun, • Soundmute Label Showcase, Sioux, • Akustični Bend Naš Način, Konoba Award for investigative journal- T th Nemanjina 28, 9:30pm Karađorđeva 23, 11pm Nemanjina 4, 11pm Skadarska 40, 11pm Akustik, Prote Mateje 35, 10pm ism for 2014 on February 5 . The jury, which • DVS1, Tijana T, Filip Xavi, Drugstore, • Hitcontrol Party, Klub Plastic, • Basswave, KST, Bulevar Kralja • Lychtum Live, KPTM, Žorža • Black Duo Bend, Witch Bar, comprised prominent journalists and editors, Bulevar Despota Stefana 115, 11pm Takovska 34, 11pm Aleksandra 73, 10pm Klemansoa 22, 11pm Kumanovska 14-16, 11pm unanimously awarded BIRN the prize for the • Marina Karamarković, Lea • Bend Fabrika, Old London Pub, • Tamburaši live, Restoran Dva Jelena, • Revival, Plastic, Takovska 36, 11pm most exciting and investigative work, which th Dobričić, Meteora, Dot, Francuska Gavrila Principa 46, 11pm Skadarska 32, 9pm • Inspiracija Bend, Klub Cinema, WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 18 provoked the strongest reactions, launched 6, 11pm • Jazz Night, Restoran Reset, Gospodar • Buzzin’ Bad Brothers, Klub Plastic, Gračanička 18, 10pm a public debate and asked questions of the Jovanova 42, 9pm • Fucking House Night, Industrija Bar, • Ike & Prema, Plastic, Takovska 36, • Perc, Svemirska Kafana, boat on Sava Takovska 34, 11pm authorities. Since 1991, the family of journalist river, 11pm • Choose your poison, Witch Bar, • Žile Hram, Kafana Ko To Tamo Peva, Karađorđeva 23, 11pm 11pm Jug Grizelj, who died in 1991, has been award- • Uroš Milovanović vs. Pavle Kumanovska 14-16, 10pm Cetinjska, 10pm • Tamburaši live, Restoran Dva Jelena, • Disco House, Mr Stefan Braun, ing journalists and media organisations for the Veljković, Grad Cultural Centre, Braće • DJ Raša, Kontra Bar, Strahinjića bana • Libertas Bend, Kafana Tajna, Skadarska 32, 9pm Nemanjina 4, 11pm Krsmanović 4, 11pm 59, 10pm Ruzveltova 13, 10pm • Disco, KST, Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra highest achievements in investigative journal- th • Mick Tech, Sam Luda, Grab • Tamburaši live, Restoran Dva Jelena, • Vanila Bend, Kafana Sevdah, SUNDAY FEBRUARY 15 73, 10pm ism, developing friendship among people and Your Beat, Predrag Janus, Sveta, Skadarska 32, 9pm Sremskih Odreda, 10pm • Tamburaši live, Restoran Dva Jelena, removing boundaries between nations with Svetogorska 17, 11pm • Prego Bend, Splav Amsterdam, Kej • Nemanja Nikolić, Kafana Perper • Tamburaši live, Restoran Dva Jelena, Skadarska 32, 9pm the aim of preserving the memory of Grizelj • Akito, 20/44 boat on Sava river, 11pm Oslobođenja bb, 10pm Merak, Omladinskih Brigada 18, 10pm Skadarska 32, 9pm • Buzzin’ Bad Brothers, Klub Plastic, and encouraging investigative journalism. • Superplastic, Plastic, Takovska 36, • Nemke i Opijum Bend, Kafana Jazbina, • Rakijada, Kafana Jazbina, Bulevar Takovska 34, 11pm th 11pm SUNDAY FEBRUARY 8 Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra 89, 10pm Kralja Aleksandra 89, 10pm • Nemanja Nikolić, Kafana Perper • House Party, Mr Stefan Braun, • Sunday Beat Deep House Tech Merak, Omladinskih Brigada 18, 10pm Nemanjina 4, 11pm • Port Noir, Plavo, Nebo Je Crveno, THURSDAY FEBRUARY 12th House, Viktor Savić, Mr Stefan Braun, • Nemke i Opijum Bend, Kafana • Can’t Stop the Rock, KST, Bulevar GRAD Cultural Centre, Braće Nemanjina 4, 11pm Jazbina, Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra 89, David novel Stars turn out Kralja Aleksandra 73, 10pm Krsmanović 4, 8pm • Soldout, Ensh, GRAD Cultural Centre, • Akustični bend Neša, Konoba 10pm • OK Bend, Klub Teatro Bar, Sarajevska • Full House Band and DJ Marko, Mr Braće Krsmanović 4, 9pm Akustik, Prote Mateje 35, 10pm scoops NIN for Bjelica’s th 28, 10pm Stefan Braun, Nemanjina 4, 11pm • RnB and Hip Hop Night, Mr Stefan THURSDAY FEBRUARY 19 th • Bend Camera Darling, Club Cinema, • Full House Night, Molokini, Pariska Braun, Nemanjina 4, 11pm MONDAY FEBRUARY 16 book prize book launch Gračanička 18, 10pm 1, 11pm • Tamburaši live, Restoran Dva Jelena, • Svemirci, Studentski Grad Cultural , Restoran Dva Jelena, • Milano Bend, Klub Kodeks 29, Triše • Tamburaši live, Restoran Dva Jelena, Skadarska 32, 9pm • Tamburaši live Centre, Bulevar Zorana Đinđića 179, IN, the oldest weekly sidora Bjelica, one of Kaclerovića 29, 10pm Skadarska 32, 9pm • JUMBUS Thursday Plastic, Klub Skadarska 32, 9pm 8pm , Kafana Jazbina, magazine in the Balkans, Serbia’s best known • RnB Night – Dada Selectah, Industrija • Milan Ankić i Ivana Bojanović, Klub Plastic, Takovska 34, 11pm • Aćim i violina • Kraak & Smaak, Bitef Art Cafe, Bar, Karađorđeva 23, 11pm Teatro Bar, Sarajevska 28, 10pm • Beso de Loco Bend, Kafana Druga Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra 89, 10pm Mitropolita Petra 8, 10pm awarded its annual prize for contemporary authors, , Witch Bar, • Resident DJ’s, Klub Tilt, Karađorđeva • RnB Night, Klub Cinema, Gračanička Kuća Gaučosi, Dunavska 17a, 10pm • Destiny’s Night • RnB and Hip Hop Night, Mr Stefan the best novel to the author presented her new novel 18, 11pm Kumanovska 14-16, 10pm Braun, Nemanjina 4, 11pm N I 2-4, 11pm • Pozitiv Bend, Kafana Moja Bivša, Filip David for his novel “Kuća sećanja named “Spas 2”, (“Salvation 2”), , Santo Domingo Bar, • Tamburaši live, Restoran Dva Jelena, • Desperado Bend, Kafana Još Ovu Resavska 24, 10pm • Miša Laguna • JUMBUS Thursday Plastic, Plastic, i zaborava“ (“The House of Remem- at the Students Cultural Centre Skadarska 32, 9pm Noć, Vojislava Ilića 86, 10pm • Drunk Thursday – DJ Gosha, Witch Vojvode Šupljikca 31, 10pm Takovska 34, 11pm brance and Oblivion”). David received on January 27th. The book, • Milan Mitrović i Ivana Kostić, Klub • Akustični Tamburaši, Kafana Bar, Kumanovska 14-16, 11pm • Tamburaši live, Restoran Dva Jelena, the coveted award on January 26th at published last October, has th Foliranti, Kapetan Mišina 16, 10pm Teatro Bar, Sarajevska 28, 10pm Skadarska 32, 9pm SATURDAY FEBRUARY 7 the Hyatt Hotel. On the same occasion, received rave reviews. Among • RnB Night – DJ Ktordo, Witch Bar, FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13th • Celebrities’ Humanitarian Night, Mr • Drunk Thursday – DJ Gosha, Witch the weekly celebrated its 80th anni- the guests at the launch were • Foolish Green, Grad Cultural Centre, Kumanovska 14-16, 11pm Stefan Braun, Nemanjina 4, 11pm Bar, Kumanovska 14-16, 11pm versary. Among the guests were film actresses Kalina Kovačević Braće Krsmanović 4, 9pm • Rakijada, Kafana Jazbina, Bulevar • Nikola Cuturilo Cutura and Band, • Lazar Ostojic, Akademija 28, Kralja Aleksandra 89, 10pm Rakovica Center for Culture and director Zdravko Šotra, cartoonist Pre- and Tanja Bošković, TV hosts Nemanjina 28, 10pm • Akustični bend Neša, Konoba Education, Miška Kranjca 7, 8:30pm drag Koraksić Koraks, the playwright Snežana Dakić and Suzana • Big Salsa Party, Mikser House, Akustik, Prote Mateje 35, 10pm • Artan Lili, Nezni Dalibor, Božidarac, Biljana Srbljanović, the Commissioner Mančić, as well as Bjelica’s fa- Karađorđeva 46, 10pm Radoslava Grujića 3, 9:30pm for Information of Public Importance ther, the chess player Dimitrije th • Block Device, Illusion, Lomina 14, MONDAY FEBRUARY 9 • Peter Mihelic and Friends, Rodoljub Šabić and many others. Bjelica. 11pm Akademija 28, Nemanjina 28, 10pm • Lovezone Recordings, Sveta, • Tamburaši live, Restoran Dva Jelena, • Barka Dilo, Erik and the Wordly Svetogorska 17, 11pm Skadarska 32, 9pm Savages, Grad Cultural Centre, Braće • Goya, Adam Touch, Baile Music, • Celebrities’ Humanitarian Night, Mr Krsmanović 4, 10pm Moral Fiber, Geca Bar, Dobračina 30, Stefan Braun, Nemanjina 4, 11pm • Rolando, Kid Kimi, Dušan Comedy about 11pm • DJ Marchez, Kafana Ona Moja, Kačarević, The Tube, Simina 21, 11pm • Indra, Re:Publika, Francuska 1, 11pm Vojvode Šupljikca 31, 10pm • Can’t Stop the Rock/EBM, KST, Montenegro • House Party, Mr Stefan Braun, • Aćim i violina, Kafana Jazbina, Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra 73, 10pm Nemanjina 4, 11pm Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra 89, 10pm • Superplastic, Plastic, Takovska 36, KOLARAC hits town • Plastic Revival, Plastic, Takovska 36, • Destiny’s Night, Witch Bar, 11pm 11pm Kumanovska 14-16, 10pm • Bend Camera Darling, Club Cinema, • Inspiracija Bend, Klub Cinema, • Miša Laguna, Santo Domingo Bar, Gračanička 18, 10pm PROGRAMME Gračanička 18, 10pm Vojvode Šupljikca 31, 10pm • RnB Night – Dada Selectah, Industrija new film by the actor and movie • Milan Mitrović i Ivana Kostić, Klub Bar, Karađorđeva 23, 11pm director Milan Karadžić, “Gorčilo Teatro Bar, Sarajevska 28, 10pm • Tamburaši live, Restoran Dva Jelena, – Jesi li to došao da me vidiš“, Skadarska 32, 9pm (“Gorčilo – Did you come to see TUESDAY FEBRUARY 10th A me?”), premiered in Belgrade at the Sava Cen- th SATURDAY FEBRUARY 14 SUNDAY, February 8th FRIDAY, February 13th tre on January 21st. The comedy turns on the • Aleksandra Radonjic, Studentski Concert Hall, 11am Concert Hall, 8pm well-known mentality of Montenegrin villagers Grad Cultural Centre, Bulevar Zorana • Kristali, Pips, Chips and Videoclips, Cycle: Kolarac Podium of War and Peace and stars the director Karadžić himself as well Đinđića 179, 8:00pm Zoster, Dom Omladine, Makedonska 22, 9pm Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra • Tamburaši live, Restoran Dva Jelena, Chamber Music as Anita Mančić. The premiere was attended FREE COPY • Eva Braun, Mikser House, Conductor: Alexander Skadarska 32, 9pm Quattro per due – piano duo other figures from the world of film, includ- Karađorđeva 46, 9:30pm Vedernikov • Nineties Night, Mr Stefan Braun, st Jelena Stojkovic, Yudum Çetiner ing Milorad Mandić as well as singer Sergej • Happy People 21 Bday with Re-Up, Elisso Virsaladze, piano Publisher: BIRN d.o.o. Nemanjina 4, 11pm Ćetković, among others. Drugstore, Bulevar Despota Stefana Percussion duo Manuel Perez Programme: Mussorgsky, Ravel, • Live Music, Witch Bar, Kumanovska Kolarčeva 7/5, 11 000 Belgrade 115, 11pm Delgado, Jurgen Spitschka Shostakovich 14-16, 10pm • Synthek, Svemirska Kafana, boat on Production: Music Centre Production: Belgrade Phone/Fax: +381 11 4030 300 • Buzzing Bad Brothers, Klub Plastic, Sava river, 11pm Philharmonic Takovska 34, 11pm Admission free Editor in Chief: Gordana Igrić • French Kiss, Magacin Depo, • Cocktails’ Night, Kontra Bar, Travnička 3, 11pm th WEDNESDAY, February 18th BIRN editorial team: Strahinjića Bana 59, 11pm • Electro Sun, Illusion, Lomina 14, 11pm MONDAY, February 9 Music Gallery, 6pm • Akustični Bend Naš Način, Konoba • DJ Flip, Rebel B, Yebiggah, Sveta, Concert Hall, 8pm Ana Petruševa, Marcus Tanner, Cycle: Music Workshop Akustik, Prote Mateje 35, 10pm Svetogorska 17, 11pm Cycle: Winners Filip Tomić, violoncello & Jovana Gordana Andrić Signum Sax Quartet Radovanović, piano [email protected] Programme: Mozzart, Glazunov, Programme: Bach , Borenstein, Barber, Gerschwin Sales & Marketing: Marija Petrović Milivojević, Tchaikovsky Production: Music Centre Production: Music Centre Phone: +381 11 4030 302 and European Concert Hall Admission free [email protected] Organisation (ECHO) FRIDAY, February 20th Subscription & Distribution: THURSDAY, February 12th Concert Hall, 8pm TRATTORIA Classical Cycle Goran Knezevic Concert Hall, 8pm Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra PIZZERIA Charity Concert +381 11 4030 303 Conductor: Libor Pešek RTS Folk Ensemble [email protected] Soloist: Emmanuel Pahud, flute Conductor: Branimir Đokić & Programme: A. Dvorak, K. Printing: POLITIKA štamparija d.o.o. vocal soloists Reinecke ISSN 1820-8339 = Belgrade Insight Nebojsina 8 Production: Music Production Production: Belgrade 011/3863-999 RTS Philharmonic Orchestra COBISS.SR-ID: 149132556 [email protected] Circulation: 4,000 www.restoranamici.rs 14 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, February 06 - Thursday, February 19, 2015 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, February 06 - Thursday, February 19, 2015 15 GOING OUT SPORT Friendly Đoković vibes at Ljutić Bar gears located. You enter through a very old- up for Already a hit time gate and need to enter the residen- tial building and then head to the base- with the summer ment, which is where the bar is found. While this new addition to the Bel- crowd, Ljutić grade night scene has become popular French over the summer months, it seems that bar looks set to Ljutić has made it onto the radar for a larger number of patrons this winter as become a hit well. If there is one crucial reason why Open in winter, too, Ljutić is so different from other similar basement bars, it’s the service. Ljutić thanks to its cosy has the friendliest staff that I’ve en- countered in recent memory. Everyone atmosphere and is cordial, and you hardly ever wait long to be served. It basically feels like ultra-welcoming you are in a friend’s home having a few drinks. The French Open is the only grand slam tournament that Đoković has never won. Photo by Beta staff. This warm and cozy atmosphere comes not only from the staff, but also oković, who won the Aus- career on this court so that’s probably with Murray, who has won two grand He does not think that any other from the look of the bar. Brick walls After winning the tralian Open for the fifth the most impressive record of all time slams. players will come close to the world’s filled with small pictures and accesso- time in Melbourne on Febru- in the history of the game in any tour- “This is the generation we are in. four current best players any time Australian Open, st rd David GALIĆ ries give it a quaint feel. Another quirky Đary 1 against Britain’s Andy nament,” Đoković said on February 3 . There are four players who are incred- soon. addition to the decor are hanging ob- the world’s num- Murray, is gearing up for French Open Nadal, a Spanish player currently ibly good and very few points decide “The gap is narrowed but it’s still a ocated in one of the most jects found all over the bar, from disco in May. ranked third in the world, beat Đoković the winners,” he said. long way for the new wave of tennis charming parts of down- balls to small chandeliers and many ber one tennis Although ranked first in the world, twice, in the 2012 and 2014 finals of the “I believe that Nadal and Federer and stars with the likes of [Miloš] Raonić, town Belgrade, this bar is a other hanging, lighted, decorations. Đoković, who never won the Roland Roland Garros. even Andy made me a better player [Grigor] Dimitrov and [Kei] Nishikori to real find in the world of Bel- The bar is longer than it is wide, with player is preparing Garros, as the French Open is often Đoković has won eight Grand Slam and made me understand what I need- make that step and break the domina- grade nightlife. Located in a high chairs and tables across the mid- called, stated that Rafael Nadal, the titles in his career. The only title that he ed to do to improve my game to get on tion of the top four guys,” he said. Lquiet street between the bustling Sveto- dle. There are several couches around for the only Grand nine-time champion of French Open, is has never won is the French Open. their level,” he added. “They are close and they are chal- gorska and Džordža Vašingtona, the bar the sides of bar with big, fluffy pillows place to relax in the summer, it doubles The only problem with Ljutić is that or even 3am, unless a neighbour calls this year’s favourite to win the tourna- Although Đoković’s biggest rivals, “In another era I maybe would be in lenging and they are knocking on the is great place to relax on any night, but that you can sink into if you get there as a viable nightlife spot in the winter it doesn’t stay open too late. It often and the police show up to shut it down. Slam tournament ment. Roger Federer, won 17 grand slams, and double figures already but I am a better door but still if you see the winners of particularly on warm summer nights. early and if a couch is still free. with loud music and people dancing in- seems that just when the party is get- Ljutić Bar is one of the most pleasant “In terms of winning against Nadal, Nadal 14, Đoković said he enjoys shar- player as a consequence of being a rival the grand slams it is still the top four The wonderful garden area is appeal- You can also take a seat at the bar. stead of lounging around. ting started, it gets shut down. The bar surprises of the winter nightlife season he has never won. he has lost only one match in his entire ing the spotlight with them, as well as of them,” Đoković continued. guys,” Đoković noted. ing during the summer. The summer With all that going on, there’s still enough No DJs, local or foreign, spin the is located in a residential building, so in Belgrade this year. It is worth check- garden is within the residential build- room to circulate and even dance when tunes at Ljutić, so we’re guessing that it’s by law it can only be open until 1am at ing out. ing, and is full of large trees that provide the night calls for it. During summer, usually just the bar owners or friends of weekends and till midnight on week- plenty of shade in summer days. Ljutić almost exclusively plays jazz mu- the bar who provide the soundtrack. days. rbić, the former captain realized that these are quite different A member of the Volleyball Hall of However, you may have a hard time sic, but the music programme is a bit During the winter, you can hear a wide But, if there are a lot of people in of Serbia and member things,” he added. Fame, he was named best European finding Ljutić if you don’t know where different in winter. That comes with the spectrum of popular music, mostly an- the bar during the winter, sometimes Ljutić Bar Nikola Grbić to of the Volleyball Hall of “I am fortunate that as a player I met player in 1997. Grbić was named the it is. There are no signs in front of the fact that the bar takes on a completely ything foreign, from rock and punk, to the bartenders simply turn the music Address: Stevana Sremca 5 Fame, was appointed many coaches and other professionals best setter eight times in different cham- residential building where the bar is different atmosphere. While it’s mostly a disco and funk. down and let people hang out until 2am Phone: +381 60 322 5294 head coach of the who want to help me with advice. I’ll be pionship, including the Volleyball Men’s coach Serbian nationalG team on February 3rd. ready for the job that awaits me,” Grbić World Championships in 2010. “It is a very great honour… It is also a continued. “One thing is certain, as a player I great obligation,” the 41-year-old said in Grbić started his career in 1987 in the always aimed for the highest goals, and Toto are back Tasty Dutchmen a statement. Serbian club Banat. In 1994 he played as a coach I am no different,” Grbić said volleyball team rd The captain of Serbian national team for Italy’s Gabeca Montichiari and on February 3 . in town again come to play from 1999 to 2010 retired as a player stayed on in Italy until 2013. With Grbić as a coach, Serbia faces last season and shifted to coaching in The last team he played for was Rus- Australia, Brazil and Italy in Pool A of ne of the greatest live rock bands of all time, hard rock legends Toto, fter rocking the main stage on Exit in 2011 in front of some The celebrated Serbian volleyball May when he became head coach of sia’s Zenit Kazan with whom Grbić won this year’s Volleyball World League will play their second ever show in Belgrade. After an amazing show 15,000 people, Karaak&Smaak are coming again to Serbia, the Italian club Sir Safety Perugia. the Russian championship. that runs from May 15th to July 19th in 2006, they are coming back on June 30th. The show will be held at this time to Belgrade. “Crispy&Tasty,” which is the transla- player will take over as coach of the “I have just begun a new career and While playing for the Yugoslav and with the participation of a record 32 the Kalemegdan Fortress, as part of the music series Belgrade Calling. tion of the band’s name into English, will play the Bitef Art there are plenty of things to learn in Serbian national teams from 1995 until teams. Toto are embarking on a massive two-year tour across the world, cele- Cafe on February 19th in an intimate club atmosphere. The Serbian team ahead of the European coaching,” he said. 2010, Grbić won 19 medals, including The team will play in the European Obrating 35 years of playing music. The tour will also serve as promotion for the new al- band,A which has been labelled as “a must see live band” by IDJ magazine, “I played for a long time, and in an Olympic gold as well as a silver and Championship in Italy and Bulgaria in Championship this autumn. bum, due out in spring. The tour will be the 22nd for the stadium rock legends, and the comes from the Dutch city of Leiden. Belgraders will have an opportunity the short time that I have coached, I a bronze in world championships. October. album, entitled XIV, will be their thirteenth. Fortunately for fans, Toto will not play just to hear the band’s favourite songs from their three albums and some latest songs from the new album. The concert will include massive hits such as “Rosanna,” projects. Tickets are already on sale and can also be purchased online for “Hold the Line” and, of course, “Africa.” 1,200 dinars [€9.7].

Barka Dilo, Erik and Wordly Savages at KC Grad Wovenhand concert Don’t miss a true international music billed for April fiesta on February 13th, when KC Grad After a much-anticipated concert in will host two authentic and energetic Nineties Americana 2009 in Belgrade and another in Novi music groups: Barka Dilo and Erik And legends in Belgrade Sad in 2011, Wovenhand return to Toni Cetinski returns to Sava Centre The Wordly Savages. Belgrade’s own Swedish Prog rockers Spain is one of the bands that, together Serbia to promote their 2014 album The much-loved singer returns for an- Barka Dilo call themselves avant-garde in first appearance with Jayhawks and Uncle Tupelo, cre- Refractory Obdurate. Led by former other spectacular concert in Belgrade, troubadours who play new beat-chan- These Swedish upstarts play a unique ated the Americana music genre of the 16 Horsepower singer David Eugene this time at Sava Centre. The Croatian son, which should be enough to get style of modern progressive rock that mid-1990s. Spain hail from Los Angeles Edwards, the alt-country experimental pop singer will be showcasing his time- you interested. Erik and The Wordly is both melodic and morose. They will and have been active since 1993, guided band from Colorado is known for their less hits on March 13th at 8:30pm at the Savages hail from Belgrade and London be supported by the Subotica-based by Josh Hayden, son of legendary jazz dark and murky folk tunes that play off Sava Centre. Tickets are available for and play an energetic and fun blend of post-hardcore band Nebo Je Crveno musician Charley Hayden. The band is Edwards’ emotional yet rough voice. between €15 and €30, depending on folk and gypsy punk. The show starts at and the Kraljevo post-rock group Plavo to play at Dom Omladine on February The show is scheduled for April 25th at th seating. 10pm, and tickets cost €2 on the door. on February 8 at KC Grad. 23rd at 9pm. Tickets cost €6 at the door. Dom Omladine and tickets are on sale. 16 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, February 06 - Thursday, February 19, 2015 ADVERT Map of City Centre

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