Issue No. 185 Friday, May 29 - Thursday, June 11, 2015 ORDER DELIVERY TO Belgrade Rafting Raising YOUR DOOR +381 11 4030 303 remembers adventures a smile [email protected] - ISSN 1820-8339 1 Tito’s ‘golden in Serbia and at Ben BELGRADE INSIGHT IS PUBLISHED BY 0 1 age’ Bosnia Akiba

Page 5 Page 9 Page 14 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 Serbia pulls 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 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

Serbia slides to the right back over - - - Right-wing parties publicNEWS sector are gaining more sackings support in Serbia, NEWS Fewer public as the country servants will be “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: 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. struggles with an axed than was economic crisis agreed with the and the left seems IMF - as disputes page 10 barren of ideas. continue over how the layoff Gordana ANDRIĆ hile the football world watch - es events unfold at the Euro -

figures were 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. urveys suggest that W right-oriented parties reached. June 13, 2008 Issue No. 1 / Friday, are growing stronger in Serbia, while those who support more liberal op- Stevan VELJOVIĆ page 5 tions are becoming mar- Sginalised. erbia plans to cut 9,000 A Faktor Plus survey published on jobs in the public adminis- May 28th says the only parties that tration and in local govern- currently enjoy the support of more ment by the end of year, than 5 per cent of the voters are the almost three times less conomists are warning that pro - over Serbia’s uncertainty longed “This year has been lost, from the ruling Progressive Party, their coali- than was previously an- 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 tion partner, the Socialist Party, the nouncedS and agreed with the IMF. E opposition Radical Party, the con- Kori Udovički, deputy prime minis- servative Democratic Party of Serbia, ter and the minister of public adminis- DSS, with their partner Dveri, and the tration and local government, said on Democratic Party. May 25th that the state administration Friday • June 13 2008 The survey, conducted in May with had a surplus of around 4,600 people, 1,150 participants, put the Progressives while local governments have a sur- way ahead of all other parties, with plus of about 4,478. Another 5,000 are the support of 50.6 per cent of voters. expected to retire, Udovički said. It gave the Socialist Party of Serbia, SPS, THIS ISSUE OF

The number of employees in the ad- Belgrade Insight

the support of about 9.5 per cent. BY: IS SUPPORTED ministration will thus fall by 2.6 per cent 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 by the end of 2015, instead of 5 per cent, 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 Vojislav Šešelj, the leader of the Radicals, managed to increase his party ratings to Photo by Beta as agreed with the IMF. Continued on page 3 above 5 per cent for the first time since 2012. Employees from public companies will not be included in this reduction. Experts say the government’s pro- posal to cut 9,000 jobs is more realistic ISIS killed Albanian than the number agreed with IMF, as ax- ing a higher number could dramatically worsen the quality of public services. However, they say Serbia’s more jihadist who wanted out modest plan contains shortcomings, as rationalisation will not necessarily lead Ervin Hasanaj, an Albanian jihadist recently ists who have travelled to Syria to join with knowledge of Syrian jihadi groups to a more efficient public administra- the conflict, was killed on April 1st in told BIRN. tion. executed by ISIS, was apparently killed be- circumstances that have yet to be clari- Such a claim is difficult to verify, and Analysts fear that the goal of sack- fied. Hasanaj’s family remain unclear about ing public servants is aimed only at cause he was trying to go home. The 24-year-old left for Syria three the circumstances of his death. meeting the requirements of the IMF years ago and was there with his wife, Hasanaj’s mother is also struggling and fails to address the actual overall Aleksandra BOGDANI The 20-year-old, who works as a mi- Nexhmije, and two daughters and was to come to terms with the death of her reform of the administration. grant in Greece, had hard time coming believed to be fighting for Islamic State son. Serbia and the IMF reached a deal on forces in Iraq and Sham. Sitting in black in a poorly furnished ris, are you there? to terms with the news that her brother a three-year standby loan for a billion Hasanaj is the one of 13 Albanian citi- rented room in the town of Kamza, just I can’t talk, but had been killed. euros in November 2014. zens who have died in Syria, fighting for outside the capital, Tirana, Xhyhere Ervin is not with “I was the first [from the family] to This obliged Belgrade to take measures radical Islamic groups like ISIS. Unlike Hasanaj says that all she knows is the us anymore. He is hear from my sister in-law that my to boost economic recovery and create gone…he is dead. I brother had died in Syria,” Brisilda says. the others, however, it is believed that little information she has received from conditions for macroeconomic stability, am dead too! “Now she is alone out there with her he was killed by the group he was fight- her daughter-in-law over the phone. sustainable growth and new jobs. “BThis Viber message sent from a two daughters,” she added. ing for, after trying to desert. camp in Syria arrived on April 4th in cell Ervin Hasanaj, identified by Tirana “We suspect he refused to fight and phone of Brisilda Hasanaj. authorities as one of 90 Albanian jihad- that’s why he was executed,” a source Continued on page 8 Continued on page 7

+381 11 4030 306 [email protected] 2 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, May 29 - Thursday, June 11, 2015 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, May 29 - Thursday, June 11, 2015 3 SERBIA SERBIA

Lower roaming Continued from page 1 prices for four PRESS REVIEW countries Albanian, Serbian POLITIKA, May 28th The Minister of Telecom- munications, Rasim Ljajić, SERBIA TO RESPOND TO said mobile phone roaming KOSOVO GENOCIDE SUIT charges in four countries Serbia slides to the right in the region will fall as of Serbia in brief PMs mend fences Aleksandar Vučić, Prime Minister, th June 30 . “What lies ahead th to The Hague to end his trial for war said on May 27 that Serbia he hardline nationalist Radi- are the talks with mobile crimes. All these topics engage nation- was preparing a response to cal Party, which has had not network operators on the Kosovo’s announced genocide alistic voters. manners in which prices seats in parliament since 2012, in Tirana lawsuit against Belgrade. “We are Šešelj, who is on trial for war crimes may be reduced because now has the support of about preparing our reply, but this was in Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia before the we need to align with the 6.1 per cent. The rightwing not responsible enough to be taken UN court in The Hague, was temporar- EU directive on the roaming TDSS and Dveri, who failed to cross the too seriously,” Vučić said. Kosovo’s ily released from custody two months charges given that our pric- 5-per-cent threshold in the 2014 elections, Foreign Minister, Hashim Thaci, ago for cancer treatment in Serbia. In es for Internet, SMS mes- together attract about 5 per cent of the vot- told the UN Security Council on May, the court revoked its decision and sages and calls are higher th ers. The centrist Democratic Party has the May 25 that Kosovo intended to called for Šešelj to return, saying he had than those in EU countries,” support of about 7 per cent. th file the lawsuit again Serbia at the breached the terms of his temporary Ljajić said on May 28 . While the results show the political International Court of Justice. release. The inter-state agreement scene underwent a rightward tilt in the on reducing charges was Uljarević said that trends suggest Ser- th last few years, experts say it is early to say signed by Serbia, Bosnia, BLIC, May 28 bia has been sliding towards the right to talk of a dramatic shift. Montenegro and Macedonia for several years. th However, they say the trend suggests on September 29 in Budva, ROMANIA PONDERING For example, Ipsos has been conduct- that Serbia is sliding towards the right Montenegro. RECOGNIZING KOSOVO ing research about who Serbia should while centrist and left-wing parties are fail- rely to for its security since 2000. ing to maintain support. Vučić to Victor Ponta, the Romanian Prime In 2000, about 50 per cent believed The Faktor Plus results go in line with a press flesh in Minister, told the daily Blic that Serbia should rely on the EU, about 17 survey published on May 25th by the Ipsos Washington Bucharest was reconsidering its per cent believed it was the army, about Strategic Marketing agency. This survey decision not to recognise Kosovo’s 14 per cent would rely on NATO, while Aleksandar Vučić, the presented different percentages, but the independence. “Together with Klaus around 11 per cent would rely on Rus- Prime Minister, will travel to parties that enjoy more than 5 per cent Iohanis, the new President, and sia. Trust in Russia even fell to 2 per Washington on June 1, to with the parliament we will assess support are the same. cent in 2003, when Moscow had little meet Joseph Biden, the US what has changed in Kosovo since The results of the general elections in presence in Serbia. Vice-President, as well as 2008,” Ponta said. Kosovo declared 2012 and snap general elections in 2014 Today’s result show that the trust senators, congressman, rep- independence from Serbia in 2008. show how the political scene changed in in the EU had dropped to around 21 resentatives of the Serbian Romania was one of five EU states the last three years. per cent, only 2 per cent would rely on diaspora and US business- that decided not to recognise the In the 2012 elections, the Progressives NATO, while trust in the Serbian army men. Ahead of the visit, Vučić move, the others being Slovakia, won 24.4 per cent of votes, while the Dem- said he hoped the visit would rose to 39 per cent and in Russia to Spain, Greece and Cyprus. ocrats came close behind on 22.1 per cent. firm up political and business about 26 per cent. The Socialists came third with 14.7 per The rightwing DSS and Dveri, who failed to pass the threshold in the 2014 elections, together Photo by Beta relations with the US. Vučić th “In 2000, people still remembered the DANAS, May 28 cent. The centrist and pro-EU Liberal Dem- attract about 5 per cent of the voters today. and Biden are expected to wars of the Nineties but the situation has ocratic Party, LDP, and United Regions of discuss the Balkans, Serbia’s Radicals and the DSS are enjoying sus- of people in changed since then,” Uljarević said. SERBIAN PRESIDENT TO Serbia, won 6.7 and 5.4 per cent of votes EU integration and Kosovo as tained growth. However, their rise is Serbia would Dejan Vuk Stanković told BIRN that well as business opportuni- MEET POPE IN SEPTEMBER respectively. We have all highlighted even more by the decline not vote at right-wing parties are on rise in the re- ties. The only right-wing party that entered of the centrist Democrats. all. gion and in Europe as well. Tomislav Nikolić, Serbian President, parliament besides the Progressives was the economic, Additionally, a huge number of peo- Milan “We recently saw a right-oriented Serbia told is due to travel to Rome to meet the DSS, which won 6.8 per cent of the ple have no political preferences at all, Nikolić, an- social, cultural president elected in Croatia as well as to return Šeselj the head of the Catholic Church in votes. The Radicals, with only 4.6 per cent, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, left, welcomes Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić, the first Serbian Photo by Hektor Pustina/AP he noted. other po- in Poland,” he said. to Hague late September. His previous visit in failed to pass the election threshold for the leader to visit the nation after a troubled past. “Democrat voters have either turned litical analyst, told Tanjug news agency and political Stanković also said that in the ab- April was cancelled after the plane first time since the party was formed in the to abstinence or to other parties of that the political scene lacked parties sence of leftist ideas, societies easily Two months after granting due to take him to Rome gad to Nineties. a similar orientation,” Uljarević ob- that might engage the kind of voters preconditions for succumb to right-wing populism. him temporary release for Vučić called the statement a provo- return to Belgrade after coffee was In the 2014 snap elections, the number On the first official visit by a Serbian served. who might otherwise abstain. “In states like Serbia that are in eco- cancer treatment, the UN war cation, since when the Serbian word reportedly spilled in the cockpit. of parties winning seats in parliament fell, the rise of right- Reports that the Democrats are head- He said the political scene would be nomic and social crisis, which have crimes court, the ICTY, on “provokacija” has entered Albanian Serbia is overwhelmingly Orthodox as the LDP, United Regions of Serbia and leader to Albania, Aleksandar Vučić ing toward another split, with Borislav different if Serbia had a leftist party that recent war past and have failed to criti- May 25 told Serbia to return day-to-day talk as a synonym for some- in religion but is home to a small the DSS all failed to win more than 5 per wing populism. Stefanović allegedly planning to form a stood up for the unemployed, the poor, cally reconsider the nationalistic past, Vojislav Šešelj to deten- thing amusing. Catholic minority. cent of the votes. tion for having breached and Edi Rama agreed on the need for new party, have dealt the party another the unions, feminism and ecology. right-wing movements have greater Alda, a self-employed inhabitant in Between 2012 and 2014, the Democrats But there is no the terms of his temporary blow. The Democrats have denied re- “There is no such party, which is why impact,” he said. Tirana, agreed that Vučić was visiting VEČERNJE NOVOSTI, lost a number of voters and in addition en- release. Šešelj is on trial for closer cooperation - and 'agreed to th ports of a new split but admit that there it seems that the rightists are strong, one yet to unite “We have a national dignity that was Albania for Serbia’s sake, not Albania’s. May 28 tered the polls split, as Boris Tadić, former war crimes committed in the are different views among party mem- while they are not,” Nikolić told Tanjug wounded in wars, for a long time we “The Serbian leader is visiting Tirana the party leader, had left the party and 1990s in Bosnia, Croatia and disagree' on Kosovo. bers. on May 27th. that army of have been on the outskirts of the EU for his own good, to show that Serbia is PROMENADE NAMED AFTER entered the race with his own new Social Serbia. If he does not surren- “Every time you have stories about and we are very poor,” he added. der voluntarily, a new arrest n a historic trip to “We have discussed frankly even fulfilling the conditions for [its own] Eu- KILLED HELICOPTER PILOT Democratic Party, SDS. young people who splits within parties, these parties see a NATIONAL TOPICS Stanković believes the rightists in warrant must be issued. In the March 2014 elections, the Progres- Albania by the Ser- when we disagree,” he said. “The rela- ropean integration,” she said. fall in the ratings,” Uljarević said. SUIT THE RIGHT Serbia have even greater potential than The procedure may take to Novi Sad named a promenade on sives won 48.3 per cent of votes, the Social- actively promote bian Prime Minister tionship between Serbia and Albania Both Serbia and Albania aim to join Dejan Vuk Stanković, a political ana- the current ratings show, and that if the two weeks, as, by Serbian th the Danube “Strand” bank after ists 13.4, the Democrats only 6 per cent and on May 27 , the two is very important for the Western Bal- the European Union, although Serbia is lyst with Faktor Plus agency, says the Uljarević explained that the topics divided right-oriented parties could law, the authorities need to Omer Mehic, the pilot of the army Tadić’s party 5.7 per cent. rightists ideas.” determine his identity and sides underlined the kans,” Vučić added. head of Albania on the path and hopes helicopter that crashed on March fall of the centrist liberals has not oc- that have dominated Serbian scene in unite, they would enjoy greater power. importance of region- The press conference was preceded to open formal membership talks th only then make a decision 13 near Nikola Tesla Airport, CENTRISTS AND curred overnight. the last month favour the right-orient- “We have all the economic, social, to extradite him. Šešelj, the Oal cooperation and agreed to disagree by a 40-minute meeting behind closed shortly. killing seven, including Mehić, “They have been losing support for ed parties. cultural and political preconditions LIBERALS DECLINING leader of the far-right Serbian on the independence of the former Ser- doors between the two Balkan leaders. Agimi, owner of a convenience store, three other crew members, two years. In the 2012 elections they lost The dominant issues lately have Dejan Vuk Stanković, for the rise of right-wing populism. But Radical Party, also has a right bian province of Kosovo. Vučić also met Albanian President said he was actively against the visit be- because voters were disappointed with been Kosovo, setbacks in EU integra- there is no one yet to unite that army medical workers and a baby. The Marko Uljarević, an analyst with Ipsos to appeal against such a Vučić arrived in Tirana and was wel- Bujar Nishani, speaker of parliament cause of Serbia’s views on Kosovo. the results of their time in government,” tion and whether Vojislav Šešelj, leader of young people who actively promote Prosecution Office later blamed Strategic Marketing, says the right-wing a political analyst with decision. comed at the airport by Deputy Prime Ilir Meta and the opposition leader and “I don’t like this visit, as Serbia doesn’t the crew of the helicopter for Stanković said, adding that 53 per cent of the Radical Party, should be returned Faktor Plus agency rightists ideas,” he concluded. Minister Niko Peleshi. mayor of Tirana Lulzim Basha. recognize Kosovo as an independent the disaster but the public is still PM sidesteps More than 1,300 police officers and Ahead of Vučić’s arrival, ordinary Al- state, so a seemingly good relationship questioning these findings. President's Kosovo an army helicopter were deployed to banians appeared to be divided on the with this country does not help our th ‘platform’ ensure his security, and the streets of visit, with opinions ranging from hostil- own national interests,” he said. POLITIKA, May 28 the Albanian capital where the motor- ity and indifference to cautious praises. “Our government should make our Serbia's Prime Minister SERBIAN AND MACEDONIAN Aleksandar Vučić has given a cade passed were closed to traffic. “I see this visit as a positive step be- own difficulties the priority,” Monda, cool response to leaks of the The Serbian delegation then moved tween the two countries. Good rela- a retired factory worker in Tirana, of- CHURCHES TO START TALKS President Tomislav Nikolić’s to Tirana’s Palace of Brigades where tions will help our integration into the fered. “platform” on Kosovo, which it was greeted by Prime Minister Edi European Union,” Vasili, a taxi driver in “As long as people are poor and The Serbian Orthodox Church’s governing assembly gave a green has not been revealed in Rama with an official ceremony, which Tirana, told BIRN. youngsters are jobless, we shouldn’t light on May 27th for negotiations entirety but which, according included a guard of honor that played Others were much more skeptical. think of doing favors to others,” Monda to the media, offers Kosovo to start with the Macedonian the national anthems of both countries. “The Serbian Premier’s visit was dic- added. Orthodox Church. The Macedonian only the status of a province “Both Albanians and Serbs have tated by Europe; I don’t see any impor- Relations between Albania and within Serbia. “It is very Church broke away unilaterally extensive and serious text. an opportunity to turn the peace that tance to it,” Kisida, a translator, told BIRN. Serbia or Yugoslavia have tradition- from the Serbian Church during the When we see how realistic was achieved with such difficulty into “Vučić may want to take revenge for ally been poor, dating back to the early Communist era in Yugoslavia. The it is and can it be put into a peace worth living in,” Rama told his the provocative statement issued by years of the 20th century when Albania Serbian Church has always claimed practice, we will go out with guest. our premier, Edi Rama, in Belgrade,” was part of the Ottoman Empire and that the move was uncanonical it in public,” he said. Dušan “Although we have a disagreement she added. Serbia sought to seize much of the land and should not be recognised. Its Janjić, from the Forum for as big as mountain on the issue of Koso- Rama conducted an abortive visit that Albanians claimed as their own. position is supported by rest of the Ethnic Relations, a think vo, this disagreement does not dim the to Belgrade last November at a time of After the Albanians declared inde- the Orthodox world as a result of tank, said the platform would importance of the dialogue between high tension, after a soccer match be- pendence in 1912, Serbia did its best which the Macedonian Orthodox complicate Serbia’s path Serbia and Kosovo,” Rama added, refer- tween the Serbia and Albania national to ensure the new state was a small as Church has yet to be recognised by towards the EU as the offer any other Orthodox church. of provincial status is irrec- ring to EU-led talks. teams in October had ended in chaos. possible, gaining Russia’s important oncilable with EU demands Vučić agreed, arguing that despite It was the first visit of an Albanian support to annex the mainly Albanian for a continuation of the that different opinions on certain issues Prime Minister to Belgrade since 1948. Kosovo region. dialogue on normalization the relationship between the two states However, Rama angered his host when Quarrels over Kosovo have dogged BIRN has not verified the of relations between Kosovo was of strategic importance to each of he called on Serbia to recognize the fact relations between the two peoples ever reports and cannot vouch for and Serbia. them. that Kosovo is now an independent state. since. their accuracy. 4 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, May 29 - Thursday, June 11, 2015 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, May 29 - Thursday, June 11, 2015 5 BELGRADE BELGRADE

they want to pay for the construction of a new Dubai in Belgrade,” Rašković Ivić told the daily Blic on May 23rd. DSS faces Thus, the DSS should under no cir- cumstances remain part of a regime together with SNS, Rašković Ivić Belgrade remembers split over maintained, as, in that way “the DSS is in the position of breaching the consti- tution”. She said the giant riverside project, Waterfront which is due to commence in sum- Tito’s ‘golden age’ mer, would encourage people from The head of the Democratic Party the rest of the country to come to Bel- grade and abandon their towns and Thirty-five years of Serbia, DSS, says the party may villages, which is contrary to regional development and another drawback after Yugoslav quit the city government over the in the plan. However, her views have not gone President Josip Waterfront project – but her views unchallenged. Andrija Mladenović, a party member and deputy Mayor of Broz Tito died, have revealed divisions. Belgrade, said Rašković Ivić was only “expressing her personal attitudes”, his admirers, led adding that any decision on leaving he small Democratic the Progressive Party’s support for the the coalition should be left to party by Belgrade’s Party of Serbia, DSS, will controversial Belgrade Waterfront meetings instead. discuss whether to leave project, have caused splits in the par- Rašković Ivić has been the leader Communist the local government in ty. Some members have since signed of the party since October 2014, when the city of Belgrade and a petition calling for her removal. she said that the DSS would remain association Tgo into opposition at upcoming meet- Rašković Ivić’s call for the party to loyal to its basic principles and con- ings, a party representative told BIRN quit the coalition came after the Ser- tinue to be a centre-right, Eurosceptic, and fuelled by on May 26th. bian Parliament adopted a special law anti-NATO party. Until then, the DSS will remain in in April to allow the expropriation of Shortly after, Vojislav Koštunica, the nostalgia, staged the governing coalition with the Ser- land in the area where the Gulf-states- former leader, left the party, accusing bian Progressive Party, SNS, and the backed project should be built. the new leadership of having aban- their annual Socialist Party, the same representa- “The lex specialis [the special law] doned its core policy of neutrality. tive added. on the Belgrade Waterfront is uncon- His move was seen as further weak- celebration of his Recent statements by the party stitutional, experts have taken a nega- ening the party, which has not won leader Sanda Rašković Ivić, who said tive stance towards the project, and any seats in parliament in the 2014 Andrija Mladenović from DSS said all the decisions should Photo by Beta rule. the DSS should quit the coalition over citizens were not even asked whether be made at party meetings. general elections.

Ivana NIKOLIĆ

verything is in place – old Experts slam Belgrade mayor’s cable-car plan Yugoslav flags, Commu- nist flags and photos of Mayor Siniša ali has said that the pro- Branko’s Bridge are in a poor condition, Tito. A courtyard in front posed new ropeway but they [the local authorities] opt for of the Korčagin tavern in Mali’s suggestion would be a tourist attrac- cable cars and tourism,” Aksentijević central Belgrade, which tion as well as a useful ad- told BIRN. hostsE annual celebrations of Tito’s that the Serbian M dition to regular public transport, but “What is more important is building a birthday, is full of long tables populated capital could get experts argued that the city should first metro,” he added. by older and younger admirers of the address the problems with its ageing ur- Economic expert Mahmud Bušatlija former president, and waitresses wear- cable cars in the ban infrastructure. argued that Mali’s proposal is a bid to ing aprons that strongly resemble the coming years The Belgrade mayor announced the show people “that politicians are doing Yugoslav flag. plan to build the ropeway from New Bel- something, and that there will be good “You see, we all, deep inside our- was criticised grade to Košutnjak when he signed an investments“. selves, long for those days – days of Members of the young generation at the parade in Belgrade. Photo by BIRN as a distraction agreement on May 22nd with Ski Resorts “In a country where you have a million freedom and prosperity. Everyone who of Serbia, which will work on a feasibility unemployed people who are capable of feels that comes to our celebration,” from the So- hand out during the rally at the stadi- “It was a friend of mine who inspired from the capital’s study. work, it is a shame to pay for a cable car says Momir Marušić, president of the viet Union’s But there are um in the old days. me. His father was already a member urgent public According to Mali, the feasibility study Siniša Mali believes the cable-car construction could start as of 2016. Photo by Beta which would be used just to roam across Belgrade-based Pavle Korčagin Asso- dominance, And then the highlight of the day will [of the Communist association] at that should be finished in three months, pav- the city,“ Bušatlija told BIRN. ciation, which has been marking Tito’s splitting with lots of younger arrive, Ljiljana says – vojnički pasulj, a time and they [older people] were and transport ing the way for construction work to grade and reduce the time needed to get group called Ko Gradi Grad (Who Builds “If we are supposed to spend lots of birthday – also celebrated as ‘Youth Day’ Stalin in 1948 special dish of beans. still are nostalgic about those times,” he commence in 2016. from New Belgrade to Košutnjak. the City), said that it was a misplaced use money just to hire about ten people who in Yugoslav times - for the past 15 years. to pursue a people who have explains. problems. “We want Belgrade to offer a new at- The ropeway’s capacity will be 3,000 of public funds. would work on it, then this project is What makes them celebrate this neutral foreign NOSTALGIA FOR Miljana, who is also 26, is another of traction so that tourists can enjoy sight- passengers per hour and it can also car- “Our trolleybuses date back to pointless,“ he added. date, an anniversary that is now mostly policy during the Cold War. The coun- joined us. The AN IMAGINED PAST the younger people sitting in the court- seeing from above,” Mali told media. ry cyclists, he said. 1970s and the overall situation with Constructing a ropeway in Belgrade is forgotten by the rest the society, is nos- try fell apart just over ten years after yard. She’s been a regular at the tavern He added that the ropeway would But Marko Aksentijević, from a Bel- public transport vehicles is very bad. not a new idea. There were plans to build talgia for gentler times, the 65-year-old Tito’s death in 1980. In the courtyard outside the tavern since her university days. But she loves also improve public transport in Bel- grade-based urban-planning activist Also, the road and pavement on the one back in 2003, but the project failed. says. But 35 years on, there are still people organisation will there are several elderly WWII veter- the May 25th event as well, she adds. “People come here on this day and in Serbia who would like to go back to ans and their families, but many young- “It is nice here. People come to recall talk about the times that brought them what they see as a ‘golden age’. be down to them er people as well. Some are carrying some nice times from the past that I together. This is how we preserve our The Korčagin tavern is happily stuck red scarves, a symbol of the Pioneers, don’t remember as I was born in 1989, ORDER DELIVERY TO tradition,” Marušić explains. in those ‘good old days’, its walls cov- once we, the and everyone is in a good mood. when it was all almost over,” she says. YOUR DOOR “I remember some good, nice times, ered with photos of Tito, Lenin and oth- Young men, members of Belgrade’s But Miljana has learned lot about +381 11 4030 303 Find your copy of [email protected] when three months ahead of Youth er former Communist leaders as well older generation, Communist association, are wearing Communist Yugoslavia from the sto- Day, all the schools and municipalities as of Partisans and their families. so-called ‘workers’ shirts’ resembling ries of her parents and grandparents – Belgrade Insight here: http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/ [in the former Yugoslavia] were prepar- “We attract mostly elderly people [to are gone.” the ones worn during the labour ini- they told her life was better and more page/subscribe-to-belgrade-insight ing for the celebration, for the rally,” he the annual celebration] – former Tito tiatives in the former Yugoslavia, when comfortable, and that people could adds. ‘Pioneers’ [Communist youth group students would travel across the coun- take holidays even if only one member He is referring to the ‘slet’, a massive members] as well as former gener- Momir Marušić, try and help to build new infrastructure. of the family had a job. rally held annually in Belgrade during als and fighters [from World War II],” the organiser Twenty-six-year-old Aleksandar is “If they are eager to preserve that Tito’s era, when people would gather Marušić says, adding they all come one of them. He says he’s been in the as- history, I think it is very nice that we, at the Yugoslav People’s Army football from all of the former Yugoslav repub- sociation for six years now. the younger generation, are part of it as SUPERMARKET CONCEPT STORE KOLARAC HOTEL VOZAREV RESTAURANT ZAVIČAJ RADISSON BLU OLD stadium to mark Youth Day and Tito’s lics. This is the first time she has attend- But what times when he was not well,” she says. Address: Višnjićeva 10 Address: Studentski trg 5 Address: Pop Stojanova 16 Address: Gavrila Principa 77 MILL HOTEL, BELGRADE birthday on May 25th. Several thousand “But there are lots of younger people ed the celebration at the tavern, but even born? Address: Bulevar Vojvode Misica 15 students from all over the country who have joined us. The organisation her friend Ljiljana is a regular – she’s MONUMENT HOTEL EXCELSIOR HOTEL 88 ROOMS MIXER HOUSE www.radissonblu.com/hotel-belgrade would perform dances for the presi- will be down to them once we, the old- been coming every year for a decade Address: Čika Ljubina 9 Address: Kneza Miloša 5 Address: Takovska 49 Address: Karađorđeva 46 ONCE KOVAČ, ALWAYS KOVAČ dent and his guests. er generation, are gone,” he adds. now. Ljiljana too says it is nostalgia ONCE ”KAFANA”, ALWAYS ”KAFANA” HOTEL MOSKVA HOTEL PRAG HOTEL METROPOL TOURIST ORGANISATION OF SERBIA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF BELGRADE Josip Broz Tito ruled Yugoslavia from that brings her to Korčagin on May RESTURANT KOVAČ th Address: Balkanska 1 Address: Kraljice Natalije 27 Address: Bulevar kralja Aleksandra 69 Address: Čika Ljubina 8 Address: Temišvarska 19 its formation in 1945 to his death in TITO’S PIONEERS ON PARADE 25 . modern ethno restaurant 1980, after leading the Partisans during “We have a nice time here. We chat, HOTEL SQUERE NINE HOTEL HYATT HOTEL LE PETIT PIAFF GYM DR FEELGOOD THE BRITISH INTERNATIONAL World War II. “It’s like it was yesterday when I took bring back memories and see each Address: Studentski trg 9 Address: Milentija Popovića 5 Restaurant Mali vrabac Address: Kolarčeva 3 SCHOOL OF BELGRADE Because of his non-aligned diplo- part in the rallies, and I participated other after so many years. But lots [of Address: Skadarska 34 Address: Smetanina 12 matic stance, he was admired by many every year,” says Gordana, an elderly former attendees] have died, unfortu- CAFE SNEŽANA HOTEL CROWN PLAZA RESTAURANT BIZU in the West as a benign dictator, and woman who came with her school nately,” she adds. Address: Knez Mihailova 50 Address: Vladimira Popovića 10 INTERGALACTIC DINNER Address: Andre Nikolića 1-3 was praised for maintaining peaceful friend Ljiljana for the celebration. The women are excited – soon the Address: Internacionalnih brigada 22 coexistence between the peoples of “First we would practice a lot, and Yugoslav flag will be raised, the former HOTEL TOWN HOUSE HOTEL IN Address: Hotel Jugoslavija, Bulevar CAFE CAFFELOUNGE Yugoslavia. then we would wait for Tito to come anthem will be played and the WWII Address: Maršala Birjuzova 56 Address: Bulevar Arsenija Čarnojevića 56 Mihajla Pupina 85A Address: Vase Pelagića 48 Address: Kolarčeva 7 Yugoslavia was the only social- with [his wife] Jovanka,” she adds with veterans will be handed a baton like Bulevar Oslobodjenja 221, Tel: 011 2462 343 www.restorankovac.com ist country to successfully escape a huge smile on her face. the ones that Comrade Tito used to 6 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, May 29 - Thursday, June 11, 2015 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, May 29 - Thursday, June 11, 2015 7 BELGRADE BUSINESS

Continued from page 1 ADVERTORIAL Famed festival’s dates announced

The 13th Belgrade Beer Fest will take place from August 19th-23rd at Serbia gives Lebanese Serbia pulls back over Ušće on the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. During its five days, Beer Fest – which has been Perfect labelled as the biggest beer and public sector sackings music festival in Eastern Europe -

Belgrade in brief in brief Belgrade man a leg up is ready to host more than 500,000 visitors. Entrance will be free of Wellness charge, organisers said. In the last 12 years, the festival hosted more Mohamad than 6.7 million people from all over the world. Serbia’s famous Nasser, one rock band “Riblja Čorba“ will open Service the festival. of a handful Belgrade to get dogs’ of Lebanese Whether you came on business or for operating van private reasons, don’t forget that you’re A vehicle with all the necessary in Belgrade, equipment to operate on wounded in the fastest-living city in the region – abandoned dogs will soon be came for a sur- relaxation is of the utmost importance. introduced in the capital, but in some other Serbian cities as well. gery - but now According to Srećko Radojičić, a vet that is supposed to perform wants to stay arin Milosavljevicć, marketing surgeries, the van would function manager of the WellnessLand as a mobile surgery centre which in a country Center and SkyWellness Club would have a small operating will tell you a little more about room, a lab and ultrasound. he fell in love reasons why those are decidedly The project is organized by the Mthe places which offer absolute maximum when Brigitte Bardot Foundation and the Association for the protection of with. it comes to spa services, saunas, massage and fit- animals “Oasis.“ ness activities in Belgrade.

Black market Filip AVRAMOVIĆ boasts in Belgrade About autumn refreshments: ebanese Muslim Mo- For a whole decade in WellnessLand, and more than five years in Sky- According to the latest emergency hamad Nasser is not Wellness, we’re in love with a healthy life. During those years we learnt that control conducted by the Ministry your average Belgrader, the essence of a good service shouldn’t be changed, but that occasional of Labour and Social Affairs in refreshments are always a good thing. With that in mind, this season we in- mid-May, every seventh worker but has found a new in Belgrade is illegally employed. home here and does not troduce new working hours – for the early birds, we’re open from 6:30 AM, want to leave. A 34-year- which has garnered great approval from all our members, but also from Ministry inspectors visited several Kori Udovički announced that the Serbian public administration has a surplus of around 9,000 employees. Photo by Beta construction sites, recreational Lold from Tripoli, he came to Serbia five our intermittent clients. Also, because of many guests from abroad, who centres and catering facilities years ago after a severe accident and ne provision of the to reduce spending on spend several continual days or weeks in Belgrade on account of business, and found out that 117 out of never left. deal was to cut the wages, not increase I cannot imagine we devised a new kind of monthly fee, as well as a day pass. That way, we 832 workers didn’t have valid The oldest of nine children from a number of employees the efficiency of local are more available than ever, and our service is still as exclusive as ever. contracts with their employees. As family in Tripoli, the second largest city in the public sector by governments,” Saša that the layoffs a result, the Ministry announced, in Lebanon, he studied Islamic science 5 per cent annually Paunović, mayor of About a unique concept of WellnessLand Center: there would be tougher and more and the Arabic language. After injuring over the next three Paraćin, told BIRN. Conceptually, WellnessLand is very close to Western clubs with exclu- regular checks. of these people his leg in a car accident, he came to Ser- years,O which means about 75,000 peo- He believed that the ministry had sive membership. Our members appreciate their own privacy, as well as bia to seek medical care. ple in total. The same number of job cuts calculated the number of surplus respecting the privacy of other people. Whether you’re here because of Voždovac street closes Lebanese Nasser has no intention of leaving Serbia. Photo by BIRN will increase over reconstruction “I’d met many Serbs in Lebanon was envisaged in the government’s own staff by taking as a basis the number exercise, spa zone, pool, body treatment or some combination of the of- who had gone there to study. Fiscal Strategy. of workers in municipalities with the fered services, alone or in company, time spent in WellnessLand will relax Baštovanska Street will be closed The doctors in He has not had any negative experi- a person’s character and a good path to Udovički, however, said she believed lowest number of staff. This number the efficiency you and prepare you for your various business and private challenges. Our for traffic until June 21st because Lebanon want- Serbia is neither ences in Serbia where he says people follow towards adulthood. the IMF would tolerate some deviation was then applied routinely to other permanent members come mostly by way of reccomendation, and we ob- of the tram line reconstruction. ed to cut off both respect and have helped him. “I don’t understand Europeans,” he from the agreed plan. municipalities. of the public viously have more than a good reputation among foreign guests of our city, In the same time, part of Vojvode my leg unless West nor East. Talking about the differences be- continued. “One moment you are 17, “They are not robots, looking only at “The needs of different departments because they keep coming back every time they return to Belgrade. Stepe Street, which has been I paid them tween Serbia and Lebanon, he says then another day starts and you’re 18 what is written. They believed us, that were not taken into consideration, nor administration. under reconstruction since July, €30,000. That they are fewer than people imagine. and you’re not a kid any more. But how we are preparing a serious process of was it assessed where there are serious About the excellent will be open for traffic until July was too much Serbia is in- He loves the combination of cultures can a person grow up overnight?” he state rationalisation,” she said on May surpluses, or an actual shortage of staff,” atmosphere in SkyWellness Club: th It will not solve 11 . For security reasons, local for me, so a on the crossroads between the West asked. 25th. Paunović said. In SkyWellness Club, we have a luxury of the best view in town. If you authorities have asked citizens to between and pay attention to traffic signals on friend from Serbia and the East in the Balkans. “A person only becomes an adult “If more people retired than was Saša Radulović, a former economy anything.” have ever heard those incredible stories about a night life on Belgrade’s riv- the roads. told me to go there and get treatment,” “Serbia is neither West nor East. Ser- when he marries. Until then, he’s his planned last year, and if this year only minister and the leader of the opposi- ers, the early-morning or day exercise with a perfect view on those same he recalled. that’s why many bia is in-between and that’s why many parents’ child and should live with 5,000 [go] they will not pressure us to tion “Enough is enough” movement, rivers will render you speechless! SkyWellness Club is young and full of Murdered Knez “After doing research, I realized Ser- different cultures co-exist here,” he them. I would feel ashamed to live cut the number by another 20,000,” argued that a surplus of employees in Aleksandar Stevanović, positive energy, and a favorite city spot when it comes to best quality exer- Mihailo’s suit on bia was advanced in the medical field, different cultures said. on my own and be single!” he ex- Udovički explained. public administration cannot be de- cise. Sauna, various kinds of body treatments, and services of professional display so I decided to come and get treated. “If I want to practice Islam, I can do claimed. tected without systematisation of jobs, an economic analyst trainers are also available to our guests. They saved my leg and for a very small co-exist here.” so here in peace. If exciting nightlife is Luckily for him, being single is no CUTS BRING SAVINGS BUT which would include evaluating the cri- The suit Serbian Prince Mihailo price,” he added. what you want, the opportunities are longer a problem. He met a Muslim girl NOT EFFICIENCY teria for each post and the performance About an incredible equipment: Obrenović wore at the moment he He started learning Serbian imme- also limitless. Those seeking education from Serbia at college. Soon they mar- expected. On both locations, we offer our guests exclusively the equipment made was assassinated back on May diately upon arrival because he knew have colleges around every corner,” he ried and his wife gave birth to a daugh- Udovički also stated that the govern- “I think that this number is being giv- save about 8 billion dinars [€66 mil- by renowned Italian manufacturer Technogym. We are aware that multi- 29th in 1868 will be displayed at he was going to stay for some time. He explained. ter. ment has yet to carry out a process of en rather loosely,” Radulović told TV N1 lion] or around 0.2 per cent of Serbia’s tasking and clever utilization of every single moment are essential to mod- Konak Kneza Miloša at Topčider had two operations and had to stay in Mohamad Nasser Unlike the situation in much of West- th Park from May 29th to June 10th. With a family of his own in Belgrade, job classification in the public adminis- on May 25 . GDP. ern living, and that’s the reason why you can, while excercising, check your He ruled Serbia twice – from Belgrade to recuperate. ern Europe, young people in Serbia he has no intention of going back to tration. Aleksandar Stevanović, an economic “It is not a particularly big saving but email, talk via Skype, leave your status on social networking services, or 1839 to 1842 and again from After recovering from his injury, live with their families for a long time, Lebanon and has come to see Serbia as She explained that the main problem analyst, also believes that the govern- together with other measures it will con- just watch an episode of your favorite sitcom. Design, functionality and 1860 to 1868, when he was Nasser did not return to Lebanon. In- which he says reminds him a little of his permanent home. He hopes to get a in the administration is not so much the ment made the decision to axe 9,000 tribute to reducing the cost of labor in high quality of Tecnogym equipment are unmatched. Technogym is our killed by his political opponents, stead, he started working as a hoxha, or home. Serbian passport soon. total number of employees but their people purely to satisfy the IMF’s de- the public sector to a sustainable level,” first choice, because we do not compromise when it comes to the quality who were all sentenced to death Islamic cleric, in a mosque in Belgrade. “Our religion and language are all He knows that the poor financial “Lebanon is like my mother,” he structure, as the state has been hiring mands. he said. of our services. shortly after. In a bid to pay him He meanwhile won a scholarship from connected because the Koran can be state in Serbia is one reason for that but explained. “I couldn’t choose my people with no real strategy for years. “I cannot imagine that the layoffs Arsić also noted, however, that an an- tribute for what he did for Serbia, the “The world in Serbia” program and read only in Arabic so, no matter where he also believes there is more respect mother but I still love her. Serbia is She said the first jobs to go would be of these people will increase the effi- nounced pay rise in the public sector, Belgrade built a now-famed started studying for a Masters in Arabic they are, all Muslims read it and under- for parents as a result. He says Islam like my wife. I chose her because I those that are deemed unnecessary ciency of the public administration. It which some state officials are forecast- Statue of Prince Mihailo in 1882 language and literature and Islamic sci- stand it the same way,” he said. teaches that close family bonds and re- love her and I want to stay here,” he and outdated, but that the government will not solve anything,” he said. ing for later this year, could cancel out in downtown Belgrade. ence. spect for parents are the foundation for concluded. will also take into account social issues. Milojko Arsić, an economics profes- the positive budgetary effects of the “Social criteria will be determined sor in Belgrade, told BIRN that the plan staff cuts. and we will first look at where those who announced for this year is realistic, how- He believes the state must continue get fired might find new jobs,” Udovički ever. with austerity measures for the next told Serbia’s public broadcaster on May The state should first lay off extra two or three years, in order to put the he huge glass windows of the Yugoslav Drama Theatre in Kralja Milana 26th. workers in in those institutions that cost of the public administration on a Street are a familiar sight to passers-by – but the building hasn’t always However, the fact that government is have the biggest and most obvious sur- more sustainable level. looked like this. On October 17th, 1997, at around 7.42 in the morning, a fire yet to conduct the process of job clas- plus of staff. “That means that this and next year, broke out at the theatre, consuming almost the entire building - the main sification has prompted some experts “Job classification and systematisa- there should be no increase in public stage, auditorium, several offices and the roof. The cause of the blaze was to question whether the number of sur- tion is not necessary for these first lay- sector pay. The number of public sector faultyT electrical wiring. In the years that followed, the theatre was rebuilt and the glass plus employees was drawn up without offs,” he maintained, adding: “When lay- employees should also fall by 10,000 windows became part of its new facade, and the main stage reopened in 2003. Before proper analysis. offs extend to institutions in which the annually over the next two years,” Arsić the work was complete, in 2001, a 200-square-metre annexe was constructed next to “This figure [of 9,000 surplus em- surplus of employees is smaller, it will added. the building, where rehearsals were held and the theatre’s wardrobe and administration ployees] was not the result of expert be required.” However, he agreed that the cuts departments were situated. analysis of the needs of citizens in the Professor Arsić said the announced could lead to deterioration in the qual-

Hidden Belgrade municipalities. The only effect will be layoffs in the public sector would also ity of public services. 8 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, May 29 - Thursday, June 11, 2015 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, May 29 - Thursday, June 11, 2015 9 REGION OUT AND ABOUT

Continued from page 1 ISIS killed Albanian jihadist who wanted out

he told me that they Unemployed and with two children killed him when he to feed, she found help from an Islamic was returning to the relief foundation, which provided her camp where they with food and a small pension. Xhyhere were staying,” she says that while she remained indifferent says. to religion, her son turned to Islam at an “S“They sent her the body to see it and early age. then buried it without her being present,” “He was only 12 when he started to go Xhyhere adds, with tears streaming. to the mosque every day,” she recalled. The Drina River. Photo courtesy of DMD Kamp The Tara River. Photo courtesy of DMD Kamp Jihadist fighters who travel to Syria to “In the beginning I used to lock him in join radical militant Islamic group have the house but later I could not stop him,” become a matter of concern for the Al- Xhyhere added. banian authorities. Although Xhyhere is a Muslim, she re- Last year, the Interior Minister ex- fers to the beliefs of her son, curiously, as panded its anti-terror department and the “other faith.” intensified exchanges of information She expresses the same regret about with Europol and other Western govern- her daughter-in-law, who Xhyhere says ments concerning the threat. was covered from head to toe in a hijab Asked about Hasanaj’s death at a press from an early age. conference, the Interior Minister, Saimir “They met through a matchmaker Tahiri, declared that the authorities were and were married really young,” Xhy- working in cooperation with partner in- here said. “The family members of my telligence services to shed light on what daughter-in-law are all practicing Mus- had happened. lims,” she added. “We are in continual contact with part- Xhyhere describes her son as a quiet This undated file image posted on a militant website shows fighters from Photo by Militant Website via AP the al-Qaida linked Islamic State group, marching in Raqqa, Syria. ner agencies and with the family of these and introverted boy who devoted his life people,” Tahiri said. to his faith. However, long after he trav- However, contradicting the minister’s elled to Syria in 2013, he would not tell The authorities intercepted the con- “I’ve made it to Hatay but there is no It is unclear how the kidnapping af- claims, Xhyhere Hasanaj says that no her where he had gone. versation in November 2013, when one there waiting for us,” Beka tells Hysa, fected Hasanaj’s feelings for the jihadist one has knocked on her door since her “When he used to call, he would Beka was sending his sister and her two referring to the province in southern group, but his mother says that a month son’s death. tell me he was in Europe,” she recalls. daughters to join Hasanaj in Syria. Turkey bordering Syria. before he was killed he started telling her “Nobody from the police or the state “My daughter-in- law Hysa replies that they should go to that he would be returning home. has come here to ask about Ervin,” Xhy- would repeat a hotel in the town of Rejhanli where a “A month before his death he started here said. “You are the first to come here,” the same line, A month before contact will meet them. The conversa- saying that would soon be home,” Xhy- she told this reporter. until people tion confirms that Hasanaj’s wife crossed here said. “He was disappointed and started talk- his death he into Syria with the help of Hysa’s con- did not want to fight any longer,” she BECAME DEVOUT ing,” Xhyhere tacts. added. AT AN EARLY AGE added. Still mourning the death of her son, started saying Rafting in Serbia. Photo courtesy of DMD Kamp Rafting in Bosnia. Photo courtesy of DMD Kamp When she GROWING Xhyhere now hopes her daughter-in-law Hasanaj left Albania for Syria on Janu- learned that that would soon DISENCHANTMENT and two granddaughters will be able to ary 16, 2013, together with Diamant Ra- her son was actu- WITH JIHADISM return home. sha, another Albanian jihadist who was ally in Syria, Xhyhere could not believe be home. He was Since Hasanaj’s death, his wife Nex- killed in December 2013. it. “He was deceived by people now in Hasanaj’s career as a fighter in Syria hmije has joined the legion of widows He was 21, the father of a young daugh- prison,” she said. disappointed and can be divided into two chapters. In the with children stranded in ISIS camps in ter and was awaiting the birth of another Xhyhere was referring to a network first, he fought with the al-Nusra Front Syria. Since the start of the conflict, six Rafting adventures in child. of recruiters who were arrested in 2014, did not want to and in the second with ISIS. of the 13 Albanian women who joined Official documents obtained by accused of funneling fighters from Al- As a member of the al-Nusra Front, their husbands in Syria have become BIRN show that his wife joined him in bania to Islamic groups in Syria. The fight any longer." Hasanaj was allegedly kidnapped by ISIS widows. Syria with her two children immedi- network was headed by two imams, fighters last January. Despite efforts by family members, ately after she gave birth to their sec- Genc Balla and Bujar Hysa, both now The news of his kidnapping worried his none of these women left in Syria with ond daughter. His daughters, now two under arrest. Serbia and Bosnia Xhyhere Hasanaj, brother-in-law Beka and Imam Hysa. An their children has been able to return. and four, are stranded in camp run by According to documents from the intercepted phone call shows that Hysa Xhyhere Hasanaj says the Albanian state ISIS in Syria. prosecutor’s office that BIRN has -ob Ervin's mother was notified of Hasanaj’s kidnapping and has offered no help in this regard. Filip AVRAMOVIĆ The Tara canyon is around 200 kil- IBAR DRINA His mother, Xhyhere, says their lives tained, Hysa recruited Hasanaj to fight questioning whether ISIS was behind it. “My son is gone but I want my grand- For adrenaline- ometres from Belgrade. Rafting prices were always difficult. Originally from the in Syria. “Maybe it’s the Free Syrian Army be- daughters and my daughter-in-law erbia may not have its own range from €35 to €65, depending on The Ibar is one of the best-known riv- Rafting sites on the Drina are located small town of Mamurras she moved to The document contains an intercept- cause the State [ISIS] has an agreement back home as soon as possible,” she seekers who seaside, but there is lots of the duration of the stay. Apartments ers for rafting in Europe. Its fast-flowing around 150 kilometres from Belgrade. Tirana 15 years ago with her small chil- ed phone call between Hysa and Hasan- with Jabhat al-Nusra,” Hysa says during said. “It’s the only hope I have left,” she cool, fast-flowing water for are included in most of these ar- and clear waters offer an adrenaline- Most are on, or are surrounded by, the dren after her husband died. aj’s brother-in-law, Altin Beka. the phone call. concluded. are not into those seeking adventure, rangements, as is traditional Serbian filled experience. The river hosts two mountains. International competi- excitement and a recon- food, safety equipment, guides and major events, known as “The happy tions are held annually on the river. lounging nection with nature. minor training courses. Most people downhill” and “Downhill without lim- Besides these championships, the SThe rivers Tara, Ibar and Drina all choose camps for their accommoda- its”. Since the 1990s, a number of inter- camps also organize regattas for less at seaside, flow through the west of Serbia, sur- tion since they can hold larger groups national competitions and European competitive tourists. The most famous rounded by untouched forests and of people. If you do not like the idea and World championships have been is “The Drina Regatta”, which you can Belgrade teeming with wildlife. The combination of staying alongside groups of peo- held on the Ibar. join from two locations, Bajina Bašta Published by ROM of the rapids and the hospitality of the ple, however, you can stay at private Prices for rafting trips on the Ibar and Ljubovija. The regatta starting at Insight has locals complete the recipe for a perfect apartments, but in that case you will range from €40 to €80, based on the Bajina Bašta is 23 kilometres long and CRO vacation. need to be prepared to make your length of the stay. The prices do not al- is intended for less experienced raft- prepared some own food and go sightseeing with- ways include the cost of transportation ers. The one starting at Ljubovija is 40 B&H SRB TARA out a guide. Some camps on the Tara www.balkaninsight.com from Belgrade, so if you do not own a kilometres long and requires more top locations river are located over the border in car, or do not feel confident about driv- experience, as it is more of a challenge. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR Tara is the name of several things: a Bosnia and some are in Serbia, but or- ing long distances and up a mountain, Prices for rafting trips on the Drina for rafting trips mountain, a river and a national park. ganizers on both sides of the frontier be prepared to spend a little more. You range from €40 to €200. The more A LEADING PROVIDER OF PREMIUM CONTENT BUL People call it “The tear of Europe” be- cooperate to guide people wanting for in-depth analysis, investigative can raft at any time of the year on the expensive arrangements also include MNE on the Tara, cause of its clear, cold water. It is also to cross the border by boat, kayak or river but the peak season lasts from hiking, a safari, canyon climbing and a NEWS AND ANALYSIS reports, features, interviews, KOS pure, so you can drink it straight from rafts. June to August. stay in bungalow in a camp. IN SOUTHEAST EUROPE commentary and profiles on the latest Ibar and Drina the river and not worry too much about business and political headlines. MAC imbibing parasites and toxins. The river rivers. contains one of the deepest canyons in DMD KAMP TIFRAN RAFTING CENTAR DRINA-TARA the world, plunging down 1,300 metres. Contact: +387 65 307 393, Contact: +381 63 211 648, Contact: +381 64 420 1956 Since 1977, the river has been under +381 65 265 96 66 +381 64 61 55 279 RAFTING CENTAR ALB OTHER SERVICES: UNESCO protection and is regarded TIFRAN BRUNO RAFT TEAM Contact: +381 64 182 83 83 as one of the top 25 natural sites in the Contact: +381 63 211 648, Contact: +381 64 29 02 073, DMD KAMP world. +381 64 61 55 279 +386 60 160 3393 Contact: +381 65 265 96 66 10 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, May 29 - Thursday, June 11, 2015 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, May 29 - Thursday, June 11, 2015 11 ARTS HEALTH AND FAMILY

Nazi death camps’ Theatre Yugoslav links explored FRIFAY MAY 29th The Historical Museum of Belgrade lands Mother Courage and Her Children Serbia is presenting an exhibi- (Ibsen), The National Theatre, tion entitled “Final Destination Francuska 1, 7:30pm The New Testament & Helter Skelter Auschwitz” over the next two (La Butte), Atelje 212, Svetogorska 21, months. The exhibition exam- Arts in brief new arts festival 8:30pm June thrills for ines the Auschwitz concentra- SATURDAY MAY 30th tion camp and its connections to similar camps that were set Play It Again, Sam (Allen), Belgrade Belgrade will be Drama Theatre, Mileševska 64, 7pm up in Serbia and the rest of the Henry VI (Shakespeare), The National former Yugoslavia during the Theatre, Francuska 1, 7:30pm World War II. There will also be getting a new st various debates and panels, SUNDAY MAY 31 Belgrade kids at which some of the camp festival this The Shargan Miracle (Simović), The survivors will talk about their National Theatre, Francuska 1, 7:30pm Othello (Shakespeare), Yugoslav Drama experiences. Entrance is free June, DEV9T, an Theatre, Kralja Milana 50, 8pm and the exhibition runs until July 10th. art festival, but MONDAY JUNE 1st Sexual Neuroses of Our Parents Nocturnal fun for with a different (Barfuss), The National Theatre, urban bookworms Francuska 1, 8pm The popular “Book Night” and more TUESDAY JUNE 2nd event, which sees bookshops The Woman From Sarajevo (Andrić), open their doors well into collaborative Yugoslav Drama Theatre, Kralja Milana the late evening, will be held 50, 8pm this year on June 12th. Delfi, approach. WEDNESDAY JUNE 3rd Laguna and other chains as well as smaller, independent Tesla or the Adaptation of Angels (Pešić), The National Theatre, bookstores around the city David GALIĆ Francuska 1, 8:30pm and the rest of the country will be participating and offering eep Creating” many titles for discount prices. is the slogan of Exhibitions There will also be gifts, prizes, an ambitious and Events and discussions at some of new arts festi- FRIDAY MAY 29th the stores. The event will start val that aims to at 5pm and continue until cuts loose from Exhibition: Dragan Bibin and Boris midnight. Lukić The Swiss Embassy, Andre the“K traditional format of exhibitions and Nikolića 30, 7pm stages. Exhibition: Dragan Petrović, Disability film photography, Opservatorijum, festival at Dom The DEV9T festival is also going to Krunska 42, 7pm Omladine take place at an unusual location. Cigla- Exhibition: Andreas Fogarasi, na is a fairly out of the way, but hip, bar- Museum of the City of Belgrade, Horseback riding is one out of many possibilities at Hipodrom. Photo by Paul Schultz/Flickr Bosifest, the fifth annual Resavska 40, 7pm cum-exhibition space that is already Belgrade International Film SATURDAY MAY 30th Festival for and by People popular among Belgrade creatives. with Disabilities, will be held “The location itself is very magical, 5th Best Design Week, opening Warmer weather means there st rd it's like another planet,” the festival’s PR ceremony, Best Belgrade, Karnegijeva from June 1 -3 at Dom 4, 10am are more outdoor options for Omladine. The festival will team told BIRN. showcase the best movies Organizers say the point of the festival The festival will also host interactive exhibitions, Photo: Facebook SUNDAY MAY 31st performances, workshops and a musical programme. entertaining your children in the from around the world that is to build up a connected, interactive Israeli Film Days: The Green either deal with issues related artists’ colony that will allow artists to las,” or creative zones that work together the festival into something more than Prince/Magic Man, Dom Omladine, capital, from horse riding to visiting feed on each other’s creativity as they to create a large open-air gallery and ar- a large exhibition and a string of parties Makedonska 22, 6pm and 8pm to disabled people or were Performance: Branko Miliković – made by people with disabili- work on their own projects. tistic workshop all at the same time. attached to it. Boy With Pipe, G12 Hub, 7pm the animals at Belgrade Zoo and ties. Among them are Brazilian “We are celebrating art over the The “favelas” will be divided accord- To make the festival more inviting in MONDAY JUNE 1st film-maker author Daniel course of seven days with this festival. ing to the type of art that is being cre- terms of who is participating, DEV9T many other activities that will Goncalves' "How it Would Be", You can consume the festival any way ated, with nine different techniques and has opened a public competition via its The 6th Belgrade Film Festival for Evgeny Golynkin from Russia's and by People With Disabilities – delight the younger generation. you want to,” the organizers say. visions being covered: film, painting, Facebook page. Artists of every form opening ceremony, Dom Omladine, "After the War", American They stress that the festival is not just sculpting, dance, literature, architecture, are asked to submit their works on the Makedonska 22, 5pm Daniel Roher's "Bashir's Vi- for artists who want to work on projects photography, music, and comics. Facebook page in the hope of garner- ith lots of sun- a result, almost all the animals were TUESDAY JUNE 2nd sion" and many others. and display them or attend workshops. Beyond these categories of art that ing a spot in one of the festival’s creative ny days, June killed. It is also geared to art lovers who want to are being covered, the participating zones. The 2nd Art Anima Festival, Plato can be fun The zoo is now home to several Chinese drum troupe Bookstore, Knez Mihajlova 48, 4pm come and enjoy themselves. artists will not have to follow any rules. The organizers stress again that no Exhibition: Ana Marinović, UK in Belgrade. hundred animal species, including stage Belgrade bash “People can come and enjoy the There is no theme, either, and artists are theme needs to be adhered to, and the Palilula, Mitropolita Petra 8, 7pm There are lots birds, horses, cats, snakes, bears and Manao – Drums of China have Exhibition: 15th Planet Earth, Singidunum works of others, take in the creative at- left to trust and follow their own ideas competition is open to absolutely any- of parks to giraffes, but its most beloved former announced a concert on No- Gallery, Knez Mihajlova 40, 7pm th mosphere of painters painting, sculp- and creativity while putting their work one creative, whether they are painters, enjoy – including amusement parks residents were called Sami, Gabi and rd W vember 15 at Belgrade’s tures sculpting, dancers working on together. sculptors, locksmiths or doctors. WEDNESDAY JUNE 3 and open-air swimming pools that Muja. Sava Centar. The group is new choreography and bands playing The organizers sound ambitious More than 150 artists have already Belgrade Behance Reviews day 1, are about to open for the summer sea- The best- made up of 14 virtuoso per- Design Hub, Travnička 3, 1pm cussionists who won acclaim new music,” the organisers point out. when it comes to predicting the future submitted works to be displayed. “We son as well as Minicity, an interactive known of for their performance at the There will be interactive exhibitions, of DEV9T. want to share our inspiration with other THURSDAY JUNE 4th theme park for kids. the trio, performances, workshops, and a musi- They want it to grow into a leading people and have them enter a fairy tale Sami, was closing ceremony of the 2008 Exhibition: Final Destination Olympic Games in Beijing. cal program that will provide respite and platform that will be used for network- for seven days - to be part of a new and Auschwitz, The History Museum of BELGRADE HIPODROM brought Tickets are already on sale a chance to let loose and unwind. ing not only between artists and festival different world, which they will not be Serbia, Trg Nikole Pašića 11, 6pm to the Instead of having “stages,” like most organizers but between the public and able to wait to come back to,” they con- Exhibition: Ana Marđetko and Miloš The Hipodrom, or Belgrade Race- zoo in and cost between €20 and Momčilović, Magacin, Kraljevića Marka 4, 7pm €32. festivals have, DEV9T will have “fave- commercial sponsors who will turn clude. course, is the oldest sports venue in 1988. He the capital, dating back to 1921, when it won his held its first-ever horse race. renown While your kids are having fun, you w h e n can relax at some of the cafes and h e restaurants located within the Hipo- drom complex. There is also a big park where you can take a walk, equipped Sami, the famed Belgrade ZOO resident. with swings and seesaws and other CITY GUIDE Available at: toys for children. managed to escape from his cage Tourist Organisation of Belgrade There is also the option of hold- and roam around the capital’s streets Kids have a chance to learn about different occupations at Minicity. Photo: Facebook Knez Mihailova 5, +381 (11) 2635 622 ing your child’s birthday party at the twice. Photos and videos of the chim- Central Train Station, +381 (11) 3612 732 Hipodrom, either in the building or panzee walking around the city were different occupations. They can sam- Nikola Tesla Airport, +381 (11) 2097 828 Belgrade Port, Karađorđeva outside on the terrace and in tents circulated around the world. ple how it feels to be a policeman, a APROPO on the grass. You will also get a car- He eventually died three years later, firefighter, a baker, a dentist, a jour- Hotel Moskva Bookstore and tearoom Opening in Belgrade September 2015 riage and horse-riding sessions for in September 1992, and was buried nalist or a photographer, amongst FREE PULL OUT MAP OF BELGRADE Terazije 20, +381 11 3642 000 Cara Lazara 10 +381 11 2625839 all the kids at the party. close to the monkey house. A bronze other jobs. With various toys and FREE SIM CARD Hotel Excelsior International Kindergarden Kneza Miloša 5, +381 11 3231 381 At the Belgrade Airport statue of Sami now stands nearby in equipment, kids can socialise and TOP SIGHTSEEING LOCATIONS BELGRADE ZOO tribute. learn through play. Supermarket concept store Hudson news odlasci / departures Apart from the everyday activities PUBLIC TRANSPORT MAP Višnjićeva 10, +381 11 2910 942 Hudson news dolasci / arrivals GUIDED TOURS THROUGH BELGRADE Hudson news čekiranje / check in Located in Kalemegdan Park in MINICITY at Minicity, there are also monthly Hotel Townhouse 27 Hudson news transit zona / transit downtown Belgrade, the zoo opens its events including various festivals and WIDE SELECTION OF CLUBS, HOTELS, Maršala Birjuzova 56, +381 11 2022 900 Order online: gates 365 days a year from 8am. If your kids are aged 3-12, Minicity, music and dance workshops. RESTAURANTS, SHOPS AND Booking Rooms Hostel It has been open since July 12th 1936, as the word itself says, a small chil- There is a room for babies only as Kralja Petra 30, +381 63 29 39 39 ENTERTAINMENT VALUE www.balkaninsight.com/en/page/ but was severely damaged twice a few dren’s town, could fascinate them. well as a café and a so-called ‘restroom’ www.bookingrooms.rs belgrade-city-guide Phone: +381 65 450 6430, www.lalelu.rs years after the opening – in 1941 and It is made up of 25 units where kids for parents where you can relax while www.facebook.com/LaLeLuBelgrade, @LaLeLu_Belgrade again in 1944, during World War II. As have the opportunity to learn about waiting for your kids to finish playing. 12 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, May 29 - Thursday, June 11, 2015 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, May 29 - Thursday, June 11, 2015 13 WHAT’S ON ON THE SPOT

Youth CLUBBING Day marked AND LIVE MUSIC with Mexican treats FRIDAY MAY 29th • Christian Rutz, Svemirska THURSDAY JUNE 4th SUNDAY JUNE 7th WEDNESDAY JUNE 10th Kafana boat on Sava, 11pm arking Youth Day, • DJ Sale, DJ Fake Casual, DJ • Life Recorder, Grad Cultural • DJ Gru and DJ Playa, Mr Stefan • Sunday Beat Deep House • Dj Nikola and DJ Yabba, which was widely Architect, DJ BKO, Barutana, Centre, Braće Krsmanović 4, Braun, Nemanjina 4, 11pm Tech House, Mr Stefan Braun, Freestyler boat on Sava, 11pm celebrated in the Kalemegdan, 11pm 11pm • DJ Nikola and DJ Yabba, Nemanjina 4, 11pm • Dj Gru and DJ Playa, Mr. Mformer Yugoslavia, • Cuartero, Svemirska Kafana • DJ Vadim and Irie FM, Freestyler boat on Sava, 11pm • Ariel Pink, Drugstore, Bulevar Stefan Braun, Nemanjina 4, Zoran Kesić, host of the TV show “24 Minutes with Zoran Kesić“, and his boat on Sava, 11pm Monsun, Travnička 3, 11pm • Wake Up DJs, Drugstore Play Despota Stefana 115, 9pm 11pm team prepared dinner at KC Grad • Tropical Hit, KPTM, Žorža • DJ Mirko and DJ Meex, boat on Sava, 11pm • Saint Vitus, Dom Omladine, • Cocktail Night, Industrija Bar, on May 25th. Mexican fajitas were on Klemansoa 22, 11pm Freestyler boat on Sava, 11pm • Cocktail Night, Industrija Bar, Makedonska 22, 9pm Karađorđeva 23, 11pm the menu – and lots of fun was had • Mile Voli Disko, Grad Cultural • DJ Prema, Industrija Bar, Karađorđeva 23, 11pm • Dejan Petrović Big Band, with some favourite comic TV stars Centre, Braće Krsmanović 4, Karađorđeva 23, 10pm • Party Time, KST, Bulevar Viva Vox, Mikser House Open THURSDAY JUNE 11th as well. Zoran Kesić (right) and his team. Photos: Facebook 10pm • Somebody Call the Doctor, Kralja Aleksandra 73, 10pm Stage, Mostarska 5, 9pm • Juice and Voke, Monsun, Club 94, boat on Sava, 11pm • Mudhoney, Repetitor, • Retro House Party, Mr Stefan Travnička 3, 11pm • Psychedelic Garden, KPTM, Threesome, Dom Omladine, MONDAY JUNE 8th Braun, Nemanjina 4, 11pm Bojana • House Night – Tom Collins, Žorža Klemansoa 22, 11pm Makedonska 22, 9pm • Time Machine, Freestyler wins Industrija Bar, Karađorđeva 23, • House Party, Mr Stefan • Partibrejkers, Straight Mickey • ‘90s Night, Mr Stefan Braun, boat on Sava, 11pm 10pm Braun, Nemanjina 4, 11pm and the Boys, Mikser House Nemanjina 4, 11pm • DJ Ike, Industrija Bar, plaudits for • RnB Night – Pure Cream, Club • Nineties, KST, Bulevar Kralja Open Stage, Mostarska 5, 9pm • ‘90s Night, Freestyler boat on Karađorđeva 23, 11pm 94, boat on Sava, 11pm Aleksandra 73, 10pm Sava, 11pm • Pure Cream, Club 94, boat on Eurovision • Time Machine, Freestyler • Milan Petrovic Quartet, FRIDAY JUNE 5th Sava, 11pm song boat on Sava, 11pm Dom Omladine, Makedonska TUESDAY JUNE 9th • Kanda Kodža I Nebojša, • Retro House Party, Mr Stefan 22, 1pm • Sharam, Kalemegdan Fortress, Mikser House Open Stage, Braun, Nemanjina 4, 11pm • The Toasters, Samostalni 10pm • Girls Gonna Get Wild, Mr Mostarska 5, 9pm t the 60th Eurovision • Can’t Stop the Rock, KST, Referenti, Nek Svira Ko ‘Oce, • Vatra: Iron, Fake Casua, Stefan Braun, Nemanjina 4, Song Contest in Vienna, Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra 73, Božidarac, Radoslava Grujića 50 Grass, inspector, Byp_, 11pm from May 19th-23rd, Ser- 10pm 9, 8pm Barutana, Kalemegdan, 11pm • The Coathangers, Grad Abia’s contestant Bojana Stamenov drew much attention • Vocal 5, Akademija 28, • Boa, Mikser House, • Salute, Byp_, Fake Casual, Cultural Centre, Braće with her powerful performance Nemanjina 28, 8pm Karađorđeva 46, 9pm Grad Cultural Centre, Braće Krsmanović 4, 9pm of her song “Beauty Never Lies.” • Brkovi, Babe, Bad Copy, Krsmanović 4, 11pm Although she was widely tipped as Students Cultural Centre, SUNDAY MAY 31st • Time Machine, Freestyler one of the favourites, she finished Kralja Milana 48, 8:30pm boat on Sava, 11pm the contest in 10th place, but the • Bitipatibi, Dom Omladine, • Nineties Night, Club 94, boat • DJ Ike, Industrija Bar, public back home still sees her as a winner. Makedonska 22, 9pm on Sava, 11pm Karađorđeva 23, 10pm Bojana Stamenov at the stage. Photo by Beta • Zabranjeno Pušenje, Sava • Sunday Beat Deep House • Pure Cream, Club 94, boat on Centre, Milentija Popovića 9, Tech House, Mr Stefan Braun, Sava, 11pm 10pm Nemanjina 4, 11pm • Retro House Party, Mr Stefan Actresses Serbian • Marko Bulat and Nevena Braun, Nemanjina 4, 11pm race off to SATURDAY MAY 30th Stojanović, Sipaj Ne Pitaj, • E-Play, Eyesburn, Goblini, designer Bulevar Vojvode Mišića 11, Mikser House Open Stage, Cannes wows • Silicone Soul, Barutana, 10pm Mostarska 5, 9pm KOLARAC Kalemegdan, 11pm Festival Maltese • Bday party: Tijana T, Filip MONDAY JUNE 1st SATURDAY JUNE 6th PROGRAMME amara Xavi, Rex Regis, Kristijan with collection Dragičević Molnar, doo…Drugstore, • ‘90s Night, Mr Stefan Braun, • Digital Chemistry Bday and Jelisaveta Bulevar Despota Stefana 115, Nemanjina 4, 11pm Party – DigiCult, Lychtum, TOrašanin, laden Milivojević Bar- 11pm Tropical Bleyage, Sava famous for their roles on, a Novi Sad-based nd in a hit TV series “Vojna fashion designer and • Mad Maxx, Prpa, Kasper, TUESDAY JUNE 2 Centre Summer Stage, FRIDAY, MAY 29TH THURSDAY, JUNE 4TH , Sava Centre Summer Milentija Popovića 9, 11pm Akademija“ (“Military stylist, presented his Del Concert Hall, 8pm Concert Hall, 8pm M Academy”), took part in latest collection at Fashion Week in Stage, Milentija Popovića 9, • Girls Gonna Get Wild, Mr • Timmo, Svemirska Kafana RTS Symphonic Orchestra Spring Concert the 68th Cannes Festival. Malta. The collection, aimed at both 11pm Stefan Braun, Nemanjina 4, boat on Sava, 11pm Children’s Philharmonic Nataša Veljković, piano Both actresses played in men and women, is inpired by the Ronald Zollmann 11pm • House Party, Mr Stefan Braun, Programme: American film music Conductor: “Panama,“ a debut film by designer’s home city. The collec- Programme: B. Tošić, J. Haydn, • Pedal! 2, Grad Cultural Centre, Nemanjina 4, 11pm Production: Children for Children Serbia’s Pavle Vučković, tion was presented during Fashion Braće Krsmanović 4, 9pm • Somebody Call the Doctor, Beethoven which had its world pre- Week and at the closing ceremony, Production: RTS Music Production miere during the French the Fashion Awards, before more Club 94, boat on Sava, 11pm SUNDAY, MAY 31ST film festival. than 600 people. WEDNESDAY rd , KST, Bulevar Kralja Concert Hall, 11am Jelisaveta Orašanin with Tamara Dragičević. Milivojević at Fashion Week. JUNE 3 • Eighties SUNDAY, JUNE 7TH FREE COPY Aleksandra 73, 10pm LP Duo Concert Hall, 11am • DJ Gru and DJ Playa, Mr • Neuroleptyc Trio, Dom Cycle: Kolarac Stage of Chamber String Chamber Orchestra Hybrids Publisher: BIRN d.o.o. Stefan Braun, Nemanjina 4, Omladine, Makedonska 22, 1pm Music Soloist: Jovan Bogosavljević, violin Remake of Kolarčeva 7/5, 11 000 Belgrade 11pm • OneRepublic, Kombank Sonja Lončar, Andrija Pavlović Programme: Bach, Vivaldi, Tartini Production: Music Centre Production: Music Centre Phone/Fax: +381 11 4030 300 • Ex Yu Music, KST, Bulevar Arena, Bulevar Arsenija Spielberg Admission free Admission free Editor in Chief: Gordana Igrić Kralja Aleksandra 73, 10pm Čarnojevića 58, 9pm frightener • Cotton Pickers, Ana Popović, • Artan Lili, TBF, Darkwood BIRN editorial team: TH ND SUNDAY, JUNE 7 Mikser House Open Stage, Dub, Mikser House Open TUESDAY, JUNE 2 shown Ana Petruševa, Marcus Tanner, Concert Hall, 8pm Concert Hall, 8pm Mostarska 5, 9pm Stage, Mostarska 5, 9pm Mikhail Pletnev, piano Gordana Andrić Dragoslav Pavle Aksentijević Ticket price: 1, 800, 2, 000 udiences at the [email protected] Byzantine Music Production: Music Centre Ušće Cineplexx Sales & Marketing: Marija Petrović cinema had a WEDNESDAY, JUNE3RD chance to see the Phone: +381 11 4030 302 FRIDAY, JUNE 12TH A Music Gallery, 6pm premiere of “Poltergeist,“ a [email protected] Concert Hall, 8pm 2015 remake of the classic Vocalise Duo Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra Subscription & Distribution: TRATTORIA American horror film on Ana Samardžić, flute From the Chef’s Kitchen Goran Knezevic PIZZERIA May 21st. Directed by Gli Sanja Knežević Gavrilović, piano Conductor: Muhai Tang +381 11 4030 303 Kenan and produced by Programme: Benedetto Marcello, Soloist: Ronald Szentpali, tuba Sam Raimi, it is a remake of [email protected] John Rutter, Georges Hue Programme: Grieg, Szentpali, Elgar the Steven Spielberg 1982 Printing: POLITIKA štamparija d.o.o. Nebojsina 8 Production: Music Centre Production: Belgrade film of the same name. ISSN 1820-8339 = Belgrade Insight 011/3863-999 Admission free Philharmonic Before the premiere, the COBISS.SR-ID: 149132556 [email protected] horror was screened in the Savamala district for Circulation: 4,000 www.restoranamici.rs Viewers at the Ušće cinema. around 100 chosen viewers. Screening in the Savamala district. 14 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, May 29 - Thursday, June 11, 2015 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, May 29 - Thursday, June 11, 2015 15 GOING OUT SPORT Raising a Serbia under-20s eye smile at Ben the prize in Akiba New Zealand Belgrade’s first comedy club isn’t just a Youngsters’ team has high hopes of place to catch stand-up shows, it’s also a winning the Football World Champi- good jumping off point for a night out in onship for under 20s that starts at the Savamala. end of May in New Zealand.

Filip AVRAMOVIĆ Jovanović, from Red Star Belgrade, Sergej Milinković Savić, from Genk, David GALIĆ his will be the first and Andrija Živković and Ivan Šaponjić World Championship from Partizan. en Akiba was probably show, there’s a good chance of catch- for young players from Although many fans fancy Serbia’s the first club in Belgrade to ing English-language comedy as well. Serbia since former Yu- chances of winning the World Cham- open with the explicit in- This makes Ben Akiba a popular choice goslavia played in the pionship some are disappointed about tention of being a comedy among foreigners and ex-pats. championship in Chile the exclusion of Luka Jović, a young club. Serbs are known for However, not every night is a com- Tin 1987. Yugoslavia came first but the star with a bright career ahead of him. Bhaving a sense of humour but stand-up edy night in Ben Akiba. The scene may country then broke up, after which it Jović cannot join the national team comedy does not have a long tradition be growing in Serbia but there still aren’t took time for football teams to rebuild. because of an injury but the coach Head coach Paunović (middle) hopes for support in New Zealand, home to 6,000 Serbs. Photo by Beta in this country. In fact, comedians only enough available stand-up comedians Serbia has been put in a group along- maintains that they can do great things started trying out that genre a few years either in Serbia or passing through for side Uruguay, a semi-finalist in the without him, and that he has faith in the Paunović will be looking for local sup- Serbia went into the 2014 UEFA Euro- in the shape of a place at the FIFA U-20 ago. Ben Akiba to be a seven-day comedy South American Championship, Mali, talents at his disposal. port in New Zealand, home to around pean U-19 Championship as the holders World Cup New Zealand 2015. Ben Akiba is one reason why the en- club. the fourth team in Africa, and Mexico, “We will do our best to stay in the 6,000 Serbs. He hopes the Serbian com- and had serious designs on retaining Although unbeaten in the 2014 tire comedy culture has seen a huge lift They would have to book much the who have a well-balanced national se- competition as long as possible. Our munity will come to the matches and the title. continental finals, held in Hungary, lately in terms of interest. More big in- same people every week for that to lection. idols are the Chileans who won the help guide the team to the finals. Boasting the likes of Nemanja Serbia came unstuck in a penalty ternational comedy stars are perform- work. But, even when no one is per- Head coach Veljko Paunović has an- World Championship,” Serbia U20 cap- “We have our people living there. Ac- Maksimović, Mijat Gaćinović and shootout against semi-final oppo- ing in Serbia these days, like Britain’s forming, it’s still a great place to hang nounced the team roster and, although tain Nemanja Maksimović said. cording to my information, there are Sergej Milinković Savić – three main- nents Portugal. Photo: Facebook Jimmy Carr who was here earlier this out. The location is right between two there are some known names there, he “Our goal was to qualify for this com- around 6,000 Serbs in New Zealand. stays of the side that won the 2013 That match took to nine the number month, and the people behind Ben Ak- hugely popular Savamala clubs, KC pect to its advantage and incorporates seating for everyone on most nights, a a drink, but you are already in the dead has sprung a few surprises with the se- petition. Now the new goal is to play the We are going to visit our Church the crown in Lithuania – Serbian hopes of European finals games that the Serbs iba have been crucial in popularizing Grad and Peron. the aged and worn look of the building great bar with lots of drink options, and centre of Savamala, making it easy to lection. best we can and win the World Cham- moment we arrive and will try to con- seemed well founded. have gone undefeated. As that impres- stand-up. But, while the Savamala district is the instead of trying to cover it up. the menu features excellent cocktails. move on to any of the plethora of wild- The most noticeable players are pionship,” his vice-captain, Predrag vince our people to come and give us However, they went no further than sive record suggests, the “Orlići” will be One of the most attractive things epicentre of Belgrade’s nightlife, Ben As with neighbouring KC Grad, there The crowd is mixed in terms of age er “all-night” options that are located goalie Predrag Rajković and Vukašin Rajković, added. their full support,” Paunović said. the last four, though consolation came genuine contenders in New Zealand. about Ben Akiba is that the comedy Akiba is a more reserved locale, com- are two levels to the club, although the and type, but it’s generally more of a nearby. routines are not limited to people from pared to the clubs and bars surround- lower one is used more often. The bar place for people who are looking to this country. Serbian comedians per- ing it. This is a mellower place, where also has a comfy yard out back. While it have a relaxed evening out with friends Filip AVRAMOVIĆ Galatasaray’s Zoran Erceg and Valencia’s told Serbia’s Tanjug news agency on May form here of course, but the club is very the sounds are usually relaxed, but gen- is a great place to hang out during sum- rather than club-hoppers, dancing until Nemanja Nedović. 26th. international. erally up-beat jazz or funk. mer, make sure you are not spooked by dawn. Basketball orđević has revealed the Đorđević also invited two players cur- Đorđević was named coach of Not only do comedians come regu- The club looks very Savamala. All the sound of trains rolling past; you’re However, if you are more of a dancer names of the 24 players invit- rently playing for Turkish Fenerbahce, the Serbia national basketball team in larly from the former Yugoslav coun- of the best clubs in the area, in décor sitting only a few metres from the and clubber than a comedy fan, Ben Ben Akiba coach unveils ed to join the Serbian national Bogdan Bogdanović and Nemanja 2013. A year later, he led the team to win tries but comedians from all over Eu- terms, take full advantage of the rustic tracks! Akiba is also a good place to start your comedy club & bar Đteam whose members will Bjelica, as well as Golden State’s Ognjen the silver at the 2014 FIBA World Cup, rope and the world also stop by. So, if charm of the old buildings that they are There isn’t much that makes Ben Ak- night off. Not only will you be able to Address: Braće Krsmanović 6 start preparing for the European Champi- Kuzmić. which was the greatest success Serbian his team of th you head out to Ben Akiba to check a located in. Ben Akiba also uses that as- iba stand out visually. There is enough catch a comedy act, and chill out with Contact: +381 60 30 60 131 onship on July 15 , after which the team Other players on Đorđević’s list come basketball has seen in years. roster will go down to 18 players. from local clubs; Boban Marjanović, After finishing first in the World Cham- champions The Championship starts on the 5th from Red Star, Milan Mačvan, Nikola pionships in 1998 and 2002 and winning of September in Croatia, Latvia, Ger- Milutinov and Dragan Milosavljević from the golds in almost every European Foam Festival Punk rock many and France. Serbia is in Group B Partizan, Nikola Jokić, Marko Kešelj and Championship from 1995 until 2001, Ser- Aleksandar Đorđević, with Spain, Turkey, Germany, Italy and Rade Zagorac from Mega Leks and Đorđe bia’s national team has had little success moved to the beach festival kicks off head of the national Iceland. Majstorović from Metalac. since then. The main difference from last year’s Đorđević said the goal is for the play- At the World Championships, the team he Belgrade Foam Fest, the biggest dance music festival in all of Serbia, he Rockaway Lake Festival is set to be one of the most interesting new basketball team, has team, which took the silver at the World ers to reach finals in the European Cham- ended fourth in Turkey in 2010 and 11th will take place at Ada Ciganlija on August 27th-30th. Music will be spin- events of the summer season in Belgrade. This punk and hardcore revealed the line-up Championship in Spain, is the absence pionship and so qualify for the Olympics in Japan in 2006, while its best ranking ning non-stop over three days and organizers are expecting that more music festival will feature some huge international names, with British of former captain Nenad Krstić, who has in Rio, Brazil, in 2016. in the European Championships was a than 70,000 people to attend. The festival took place in the Belgrade originals the Buzzcocks among the headliners. It will also take place at of players who will since retired from international basket- “We have covered all positions. My job silver medal in 2009. Arena for the last five years, but this year it's going to become an out- an unusual setting - on the lake at the Ada Ciganlija beach from June be competing in the ball. is to get the team in shape on time. Since Serbia’s basketball players haven’t par- doorT festival on the beach, making it even more attractive for the summer time. 26Tth-27th. Đorđević’s preliminary list includes I became head coach, my goal was to get ticipated the Olympic Games in a decade A camp on the beach will have room for more than 1,000 tents, and organizers There will also be great young punk and hardcore bands playing the festi- autumn European international star players such as CSKA’s the team to Rio, which I intend to do by because they failed to qualify for both state that 50 tons of foam will be released during the non-stop, 72-hour dance party. val, including Boston’s gloomy hardcore moshers Defeater and Iron Reagan, Championship. Aleksandar Đorđević. Photo by Beta Miloš Teodosić, Bayern’s Vasilije Mićić, getting us a medal in the final,” Đorđević Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012. Some of the international Djs scheduled to spin during the festival include, but are crossover sensations featuring members of Municipal Waste and Darkest Hour. not limited to, Funkerman, Eric Pritz, Niki Belucci, Freemasons, Kurd Maverick, A series of excellent local bands round out the line-up. A one-day ticket will cost Afrojack, Disclousure, Fedde la Grand, and Martin Solveig. €20, while a two-day pass will cost €35.

Psych-pop superstar Girls hang up their coats at KC Grad Ariel Pink at Dragstor Silicone Soul storm the fortress If you’re looking for a party in June, look Metal legends play One of the most prominent names in The production duo of Craig Morrison no further. The Coathangers, a group of with original singer Tennessee Noisecore underground pop music and critic fa- and Graeme Reedie, known better four girls from Atlanta, decided to form One of the most influential under- heroes in Belgrade vorite of the last decade, Ariel Pink, will to electronic music fans as Silicone a band just so that they could have an ground bands of the doom metal genre, Today is the Day, one of the most ex- be playing at Dragstor on June 7th. He is Soul, will be playing in Belgrade again excuse to hang out and play at parties. St Vitus, will be playing on June 7th in perimental American heavy music acts known for his eclectic style, both visu- on May 30th. Known for being at the The name of their new album “Suck Dom Omladine. They will be playing of the 1990s, will be playing in Belgrade ally and musically, playing psychedelic forefront of underground techno and My Shirt” refers to an incident at a party this tour with their original singer, Scott for the first time on June 16th in Dom pop inspired by 1980s cassette culture house for the past couple of decades, when tequila was spilled on a shirt and Reagers, making the event all that more Omladine. They will be supported by and releasing albums for Animal Col- the duo will be performing at Barutana, needed to be salvaged. The show is special for fans of the band. Tickets cost Novi Sad-based noise rock band Casil- lective's hip record label, 4D. Tickets are a club located at the Kalemegdan for- on June 9th and tickets cost €5. €25 at the door. las. Tickets will cost €12 on the night. €15 at the door. tress. Tickets will cost €7 at the door. 16 BELGRADE INSIGHT, Friday, May 29 - Thursday, June 11, 2015 ADVERT Map of City Centre

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