A Dismissal Too Far in Serbian Arts and Culture
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
T culture. to politics from spread ofdissent intolerance an seeing Theatre, National the from Hubac Zeljko of firing the over arms in isup scene culture and arts Serbia’s and culture scene that have caused caused have that scene culture and art inSerbia’s changes personnel of spent. being are resources meagre theatre’s the how about out ing speak of price the paid he him–say for worked who those of many –and bac Hu but direction, artistic change to sire Theatre. National the of ensemble Drama the of director Milan CULTURE AND ARTS SERBIAN IN TOO FAR DISMISSAL A His departure is the latest inaseries latest isthe His departure ade cited DejanSavic head Theatre RADONJIC RADONJIC his marching orders as orders his marching received he before tika Poli daily tablishment es Serbia’s with view inter Hubac’s Zeljko on dried barely inkhad he +381 11 4030 306 114030 +381 - - - - - - Serbia Eastern of Magic’ 'Vlach Page 10 in Serbiaasacountry.” we have climate the reflects terms lute inabso which theatre, inour pression dismissal. Hubac’s against protesting begun have who workers theatre of anumber of one and Theatre National the at actress aleading Stojanovic-Glid, Dusanka said discontent,” cupof the power. in those by promoted like-minded cally politi the and silenced being are voices critical say They field. in the working those of many among consternation “It has been preceded by years of op of years by hasbeenpreceded “It up topped “This just case particular Issue No. No. Issue [email protected] Continued on on Continued 261 Friday, October 26 - Thursday, November 8,2018 November -Thursday, 26 October Friday, page 2 - - - Belgrade’s National Theatre, which is celebrating its 150 its which iscelebrating NationalTheatre, Belgrade’s after the dismissal of Zeljko Hubac, who headed its Drama ensemble. Drama Hubac,whoheaded its ofZeljko thedismissal after Bars Cocktail Best Belgrade’s Page 14 th anniversary, was thrown into turmoil into thrown was anniversary, BELGRADE INSIGHT IS PUBLISHED BY INSIGHTISPUBLISHED BELGRADE ORDER DELIVERY TO DELIVERY ORDER [email protected] YOUR DOOR YOUR +381 11 4030 303 114030 +381 Friday • June 13 • 2008 NEWS NEWS 1 9 7 7 1 ISSN 1820-8339 Photo: Srdjan Garcevic Srdjan Photo: 8 2 0 8 3 3 0 0 0 0 1 Issue No. 1 / Friday, June 13, 2008 EDITOR’S WORD Lure of Tadic Alliance Splits Socialists Political Predictability While younger Socialists support joining a new, pro-EU government, old By Mark R. Pullen Milosevic loyalists threaten revolt over the prospect. party over which way to turn. “The situation in the party seems extremely complicated, as we try to convince the few remaining lag- gards that we need to move out of Milosevic’s shadow,” one Socialist Party official complained. “Dacic will eventually side with Many of us who have experi- Tadic in a bid to guide his party into enced numerous Serbian elections the European mainstream, but much rate ourselves as pundits when it of the membership and many offi- comes to predicting election re- cials may oppose that move.” sults and post-election moves. Nikolic agreed: “The question is We feel in-the-know because will the party split or will the ‘old- our experience of elections in Ser- timers’ back down,” he noted. bia has shown us that (a.) no single Fearing they might not cross the party or coalition will ever gain the 5-per-cent threshold to enter parlia- majority required to form a govern- ment, the Socialists teamed up with ment, and (b.) political negotiations the Association of Pensioners and the will never be quickly concluded. United Serbia Party, led by business- Even when the Democrats man Dragan Markovic “Palma”. achieved their surprising result at Pensioners leader, Jovan Krkoba- last month’s general election, it bic, Palma and Dacic are all pushing quickly became clear that the re- for a deal with the Democrats. sult was actually more-or-less the Socialist leader Ivica Dacic remains the Serbian kingmaker The reported price is the post of same as every other election result deputy PM, with a brief in charge of in Serbia, i.e. inconclusive. By Rade Maroevic in Belgrade to Serbia’s late president, Slobodan faces extinction unless it changes. security for the Socialist leader. This is likely to continue as long Milosevic, and reformists who want However, a strong current also In addition, the Socialists are bar- as Serbia’s politicians form new ense negotiations on a new gov- the party to become a modern Euro- flows in the opposite direction, led gaining for other ministries, includ- political parties every time they ernment have divided the ranks pean social democrat organisation. by party veterans enraged by the ing capital investments, Kosovo and disagree with their current party Tof the Socialist Party, which holds After eight years of stagnation, prospect of a deal with Tadic. education, Belgrade media reported. leader (there are currently 342 reg- the balance of power between the the Socialists returned to centre stage Mihajlo Markovic, a founder of Tadic has denied talk of horse- istered political parties in Serbia). main blocs and has yet to announce after winning 20 of the 250 seats in the party, recently warned of a crisis trading with the Socialists, maintain- Drawn-out negotiations are also which side they will support. parliament in the May 11 elections. if Dacic opts for the pro-European ing that ministries would go only to the norm. One Belgrade-based “It looks as if the Socialists will With the pro-European and nation- bloc, abandoning the Socialists’ “nat- those committed to working for the Ambassador recently told me he move towards a government led by alist blocs almost evenly matched, ural” ideological partners. government’s “strategic goal”. was also alarmed by the distinct the Democrats,” political analyst Mi- the Socialists now have the final say Markovic, a prominent supporter At the same time, Dacic seems re- lack of urgency among Serbian lan Nikolic, of the independent Cen- on the fate of the country. of Milosevic during the 1990s, is luctant to call off negotiations with politicians. “The country is at a tre of Policy Studies, said. “But such Nikolic believes the Socialists, led seen as representative of the “old- the nationalists. standstill and I don’t understand a move might provoke deeper divi- by Ivica Dacic, will come over to timers” in the party who want to stay “If we don’t reach an agreement their logic. If they are so eager to sions and even split the party.” Tadic, if only out of a pragmatic de- true to the former regime’s policies, with the DSS and Radicals, the par- progress towards the EU and en- Simultaneous negotiations held sire to ensure their political survival. even though these almost ruined the ty leadership will decide on future courage investors, how come they with the pro-European and national- “The group of younger Socialists Socialists for good. steps”, Dacic announced, following go home at 5pm sharp and don’t ist blocs have drawn attention to a gathered around Dacic seems to be Some younger Socialist officials the first session of country’s new par- work weekends?” deep rift inside the Socialists. in the majority”, Nikolic said, adding have voiced frustration over the con- liament on Wednesday. Surely the situation is urgent This divides “old-timers” loyal that these reformists believe the party tinuing impasse within their own Source: Balkan Insight (www.balkaninsight.com) enough to warrant a little overtime. THIS ISSUE OF Business Insight Neighbourhood Matters Belgrade Insight IS SUPPORTED BY: Costs Mounting Football Rebellion conomists are warning that pro- hile the football world watch- longed uncertainty over Serbia’s es events unfold at the Euro- Efuture could scare off investors, lead Wpean Championships in Austria and to higher inflation and jeopardise Switzerland, Bosnia is experiencing prosperity for years to come. a soccer rebellion, led by fans, play- “This year has been lost, from the ers and former stars who are enraged standpoint of economic policy,” says by what they see as corrupt leaders Stojan Stamenkovic of the Econom- of the country’s football association ics Institute in Belgrade. leaders. page 5 page 10 2 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, October 26 - November 8, 2018 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, October 26 - November 8, 2018 3 SERBIA SERBIA AND REGION Continued from page 1 Balkan States Mull Halting A Dismissal Too Far in Serbian Arms Sales to Saudis Arts and Culture Montenegro and Croatia are considering whether to follow Germany’s lead and suspend arms exports to Saudi Arabia over the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, but other Balkan states have been silent so far. Anja VLADISAVLJEVIC Serbia is the regional leader in arms exports, including those to Saudi Arabia. Infographic: Balkan Insight Dusica TOMOVIC on October 20 saying that the EU con- “Also, in the light of [EU] accession According to the official data, Serbia, If there is a common position within oth Croatia and Monte- firms its commitment to media freedom negotiations, Montenegro, although not Montenegro, Bosnia, Albania and Mac- the EU, the countries of the Western Bal- negro have said they are and the protection of journalists around a member, fully adheres to all EU posi- edonia sold Saudi Arabia a total of over kans will be “diplomatically pressured” discussing the possibility the world. tions related to third country policy in 118 million euros worth of weapons and to follow suit. of halting arms exports to Mogherini also urged a thorough, this area, including restrictions and ammunition in 2016. “But for such a concession, a counter- Saudi Arabia in the wake of credible and transparent investigation sanctions,” the ministry added.