(May 21 2009)
A month long Festival dedicated to the life and work of the celebrated Serbian writer Momcilo Nastasijevic started in Belgrade on Thursday, May 21. “A Festival of the Author“ is an event organized annualy with the idea to remind general public of the literary works by the Serbian writers whose contribution to the Belgrade and Serbian cultural heritage has been undermined or forgoten.
This year’s event is completely dedicated to the poetry, short-stories, plays, and essays written by Momcilo Nastasijevic (1894–1938)The Festival started with the theater performance „In the footsteps of Nastasijevic“ by Dah Theater Group,and with the exhibition titled „Secrets of Momcilo Nastasijevic“ which opened in the Cultural Center of Belgrade Building on Thursday. This biographical exhibition presents photos, artefacts, manuscripts, and other mementos from the life and time of M. Nastasijevic.
During the Festival two new editions of the books writen by Nastasijevic will be released and his poetry will be read at the Poetry Night dedicated to his work. Concerts and walk tours throuh the „old Belgrade“ insipred by his writings, as well as conference about Nastasijevic’s literary work will be a part of this Festival as well.
Momcilo Nastasijevic is a Serbian poet who belonged to the , so called, „modern“ current of the Serbian literature and poetry in the time between the two world wars. He was born in Gornji Milanovac in 1894 but most of his lifetime spent as a resident of Belgrade where he worked as a High School Profesor.
He started publishing his literary works relatively late. The collection of poetry was his first work published in 1932. Being of very fragile health, he passed away in 1938 at the age of 42. . He left behind him numerous essays, plays, short stories and poetry which were published by his friends as „Complete Works by M. Nastasijevic“ a year after his death.
Friday, May 22, 2009
VP Biden says: Serbia does not have to recognize Kosovo for EU bid
May 21 2009)
Joe Biden’s trip to Serbia is a part of a three-day tour of the Balkans meant to demonstrate the renewed interest of the United States in the region, AP reports. VP Biden said his trip to the Serbian capital Belgrade, where he arrived from Bosnia, is aimed at establishing “healthy” relations between the Obama administration and Serbia’s authorities.
US Vice President Joe Biden offered Belgrade a fresh start in relationship with Washington promising Serbia would not have to recognize the independence of breakaway Kosovo.
"The United States does not, I emphasize, does not expect Serbia to recognize the independence of Kosovo…It is not a precondition for our relationship or our support for Serbia becoming part of the European Union…We can agree to disagree provided that we have reasonable expectations for one another," Biden told a joint media conference after meeting with Serbia's President Boris Tadic.
Biden is the most senior US official to visit Serbia since Jimmy Carter came to then Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia as President in 1980. The US vice president voiced strong support for Serbia's hopes of joining the EU. So far, it has been held up by many pre-conditions, one of which is Serbia's failure to capture the last two remaining war crimes fugitives including Bosnian Serb genocide suspect Ratko Mladic.
VP Biden added that US Government “will use their influence, their energy and their resources to promote Serbia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations,"
President Boris Tadic reiterated his country's opposition to the independence of Kosovo, which has an ethnic Albanian majority.
"It is Serbia's legitimate right to defend its territorial integrity through the use of peaceful, diplomatic and legal means," Mr. Tadic said of Serbia’s case in the International Court of Justice. "Notwithstanding our different positions on the Kosovo question, Serbia wishes for the best possible relations with the United States.
Biden paid a solemn tribute to late reformist Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic at the site of his 2003 assassination outside the government building, after meeting with his widow Ruzica.
He also met with Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic, Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac, and other Belgrade Officials to discuss political, economic and military issues of mutual interest. On a three-day Balkans tour that took him to Bosnia on Tuesday, and to Serbia on Wednesday, VP Biden arrived on Thursday to Kosivo before heading to Lebanon on Friday. In Pristina, after a meeting with the President and Prime Minister of the temporary Kosovo government, Fatmir Sejdiu and Hasim Taci, Biden said that Kosovo's independence was an irretrievable process and that there could be no division of Kosovo
Joe Biden’s trip to Serbia is a part of a three-day tour of the Balkans meant to demonstrate the renewed interest of the United States in the region, AP reports. VP Biden said his trip to the Serbian capital Belgrade, where he arrived from Bosnia, is aimed at establishing “healthy” relations between the Obama administration and Serbia’s authorities.
US Vice President Joe Biden offered Belgrade a fresh start in relationship with Washington promising Serbia would not have to recognize the independence of breakaway Kosovo.
"The United States does not, I emphasize, does not expect Serbia to recognize the independence of Kosovo…It is not a precondition for our relationship or our support for Serbia becoming part of the European Union…We can agree to disagree provided that we have reasonable expectations for one another," Biden told a joint media conference after meeting with Serbia's President Boris Tadic.
Biden is the most senior US official to visit Serbia since Jimmy Carter came to then Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia as President in 1980. The US vice president voiced strong support for Serbia's hopes of joining the EU. So far, it has been held up by many pre-conditions, one of which is Serbia's failure to capture the last two remaining war crimes fugitives including Bosnian Serb genocide suspect Ratko Mladic.
VP Biden added that US Government “will use their influence, their energy and their resources to promote Serbia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations,"
President Boris Tadic reiterated his country's opposition to the independence of Kosovo, which has an ethnic Albanian majority.
"It is Serbia's legitimate right to defend its territorial integrity through the use of peaceful, diplomatic and legal means," Mr. Tadic said of Serbia’s case in the International Court of Justice. "Notwithstanding our different positions on the Kosovo question, Serbia wishes for the best possible relations with the United States.
Biden paid a solemn tribute to late reformist Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic at the site of his 2003 assassination outside the government building, after meeting with his widow Ruzica.
He also met with Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic, Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac, and other Belgrade Officials to discuss political, economic and military issues of mutual interest. On a three-day Balkans tour that took him to Bosnia on Tuesday, and to Serbia on Wednesday, VP Biden arrived on Thursday to Kosivo before heading to Lebanon on Friday. In Pristina, after a meeting with the President and Prime Minister of the temporary Kosovo government, Fatmir Sejdiu and Hasim Taci, Biden said that Kosovo's independence was an irretrievable process and that there could be no division of Kosovo
International Court of Justice (ICJ) debate on Kosovo
May 15 2009
Venezuela just became the 37th country on Saturday to formally join the International Court of Justice (ICJ) debate on Kosovo. Like most Latin American countries, Venezuela has not recognized Kosovo. As Serbia’s news source B92 reports, the court say that the judges decided to accept Venezuela's opinion, even though the deadline for submitting the written statements had expired. Although the content of the statements remains confidential, based on the publicly expressed position of the participating states, most likely 22 countries will support the proclamation of independence, while 15 will stand against it.
So far the most extensive arguments against the secession were given by Serbia, Argentina, Spain, Russia, and Cyprus. They call on international law and say it does not allow for Kosovo to secede, while Cyprus adds a list of Europe's regions that, should the court decide to support ethnic Albanians' proclamation, can be expected to follow suit and announce similar separatist moves. Moscow further adds that not a single condition had been met to treat Kosovo as a "unique case".
The most serious arguments in favor of Kosovo's independence came from the United States and Britain, and the Kosovo Albanian government in Priština, represented by Britain's Michael Wood. The court also invited UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to send his statement. His statement consisting of three parts in which he reminds of the process that led to the ICJ case, explains the establishment of the UN mission in Kosovo, and writes about provisions of international law relevant to the case, without expressing his position in favor or against the Kosovo's independence. Those countries taking part in the debate have until July 17 2009 to comment on other countries' statements, once again, in written form.
Venezuela just became the 37th country on Saturday to formally join the International Court of Justice (ICJ) debate on Kosovo. Like most Latin American countries, Venezuela has not recognized Kosovo. As Serbia’s news source B92 reports, the court say that the judges decided to accept Venezuela's opinion, even though the deadline for submitting the written statements had expired. Although the content of the statements remains confidential, based on the publicly expressed position of the participating states, most likely 22 countries will support the proclamation of independence, while 15 will stand against it.
So far the most extensive arguments against the secession were given by Serbia, Argentina, Spain, Russia, and Cyprus. They call on international law and say it does not allow for Kosovo to secede, while Cyprus adds a list of Europe's regions that, should the court decide to support ethnic Albanians' proclamation, can be expected to follow suit and announce similar separatist moves. Moscow further adds that not a single condition had been met to treat Kosovo as a "unique case".
The most serious arguments in favor of Kosovo's independence came from the United States and Britain, and the Kosovo Albanian government in Priština, represented by Britain's Michael Wood. The court also invited UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to send his statement. His statement consisting of three parts in which he reminds of the process that led to the ICJ case, explains the establishment of the UN mission in Kosovo, and writes about provisions of international law relevant to the case, without expressing his position in favor or against the Kosovo's independence. Those countries taking part in the debate have until July 17 2009 to comment on other countries' statements, once again, in written form.
Srbijagas and Gazprom to Sign South Stream Deal
(May 13 2009) Serbian state owned gas company “Srbijagas” and Russian gas company “Gazprom” are going to sign a contract on Friday May 15, for the construction of a part of the South Stream gas pipeline. According to General Director of Srbijagas Dusan Bajatovic , with this agreement it will be formeda joint venture for the part of the South Stream pipeline that will go through Serbia. The predicted length of the pipeline through Serbia is estimated to be around 450 kilometers and it could carry around 23.1 billions of cubic meters of gas annually, Mr. Bajatovic added.The Gazprom-led project aims to bring Russian, Caspian and Central Asian gas to Europe and is a rival to the EU-backed Nabucco pipeline, which aims to reduce European reliance on Russia for its energy supplies.According to the agreement on the South Stream construction, signed on 24 December, 2008 in Moscow, Gazprom will owe 51 per cent and Srbijagas 49 per cent of the property of the joint venture for the pipeline’s construction. The two companies will also form a subsidiary company in Serbia for gas distribution. The date when this company will be formed is not yet determined.The signing will be followed by a feasibility study that will determine the gas pipeline's exact course. Serbia's government will discuss the proposed agreement Thursday. The pipeline through Serbia is scheduled to be finished by December 31, 2015.
EU Visa Liberalization for Serbian citizens ?
May 13 2009
The EU Official has warned that any speculation over when EU visa requirements will be lifted for Serbian citizens is ''premature''.
Mr. Pierre Mirel, Director of the West Balkan Directorate at the EU General Directorate for Enlargement, said the European Commission must first prepare well-founded and researched reports on the progress of the countries in West Balkans, including Serbia. According to Mr. Mirel “A decision on visa liberalization will depend on how much Serbia meets the set requirements. He noted that Serbia had already achieved considerable progress, especially in areas of reforms that are necessary for general entry into the EU, but a lot of work is still undone.Mr. Mirel welcomed the adoption of the National Strategy for European integration, which is a legislative package, designed to reform the judiciary and to set up laws against discrimination. He stressed that enforcement of the newly adopted laws had also to be assured. Bozidar Djelic, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, told press after a meeting with Pierre Mirel, that Serbia is already in the process of meeting required conditions and is working with the Commission to meet the goals for visa liberalization.
The EU Official has warned that any speculation over when EU visa requirements will be lifted for Serbian citizens is ''premature''.
Mr. Pierre Mirel, Director of the West Balkan Directorate at the EU General Directorate for Enlargement, said the European Commission must first prepare well-founded and researched reports on the progress of the countries in West Balkans, including Serbia. According to Mr. Mirel “A decision on visa liberalization will depend on how much Serbia meets the set requirements. He noted that Serbia had already achieved considerable progress, especially in areas of reforms that are necessary for general entry into the EU, but a lot of work is still undone.Mr. Mirel welcomed the adoption of the National Strategy for European integration, which is a legislative package, designed to reform the judiciary and to set up laws against discrimination. He stressed that enforcement of the newly adopted laws had also to be assured. Bozidar Djelic, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, told press after a meeting with Pierre Mirel, that Serbia is already in the process of meeting required conditions and is working with the Commission to meet the goals for visa liberalization.
250 Million Euro Credit from EIB
On Monday, May 11, in Belgrade Serbia and the European Investment Bank (EIB) signed a 250 million euro (341 million dollars) credit intended to support the Balkan country's small and medium-sized enterprises.
EIB, the European Union's investment arm, and Serbia also signed a new agreement setting up the framework for EIB's activity in Serbia.
The credit agreed Monday is the first in a series of operations that expected to reach more than 1.4 billion euros in 2009-10 planned as support of Serbian economic recovery and helping its European integration.
"Our commitment in 2009 and in the years to come will help Serbia to combat the recession and make a swifter recovery, thereby adding greater weight each day to that country's plans of nurturing closer ties with the European Union," said EIB Vice President Dario Scannapieco.
(May 11 2009)
EIB, the European Union's investment arm, and Serbia also signed a new agreement setting up the framework for EIB's activity in Serbia.
The credit agreed Monday is the first in a series of operations that expected to reach more than 1.4 billion euros in 2009-10 planned as support of Serbian economic recovery and helping its European integration.
"Our commitment in 2009 and in the years to come will help Serbia to combat the recession and make a swifter recovery, thereby adding greater weight each day to that country's plans of nurturing closer ties with the European Union," said EIB Vice President Dario Scannapieco.
(May 11 2009)
Goran Bregovic’s Concerts in US and Canada
The famous Serbian composer and musician Goran Bregovic and his “Weddings and Funerals Orchestra” will soon set off on their first big American tour, which will start in Brooklyn, NY, on June 11 with the performance at the Summer festival “Cellebrate Brooklyn”.
From there Goran Bregovic and his 19-member orchestra will go to Toronto to take part in the Festival of Art and Creativity “Luminato” with two concerts on June 12 and 13. The celebrated Serbian musician and his orchestra will then perform on June 14 at the Ravinia Festival in Chicago, on June 15 in Cleveland, on June 17 in Austin, on June 19 and 20 in Los Angeles, on June 21 at the Jazz Festival in San Francisco and on June 23 at the Moore Theatre in Seattle. After this series of eight concerts, the orchestra will continue the tour in Europe. Bregovic is currently finishing the second part of his album “Alcohol”. At the end of last year, he released “Slivovitz”, the first CD of the two-part album “Alcohol”, while the sequel titled “Champagne” is expected to be released soon. (May 11 2009)
From there Goran Bregovic and his 19-member orchestra will go to Toronto to take part in the Festival of Art and Creativity “Luminato” with two concerts on June 12 and 13. The celebrated Serbian musician and his orchestra will then perform on June 14 at the Ravinia Festival in Chicago, on June 15 in Cleveland, on June 17 in Austin, on June 19 and 20 in Los Angeles, on June 21 at the Jazz Festival in San Francisco and on June 23 at the Moore Theatre in Seattle. After this series of eight concerts, the orchestra will continue the tour in Europe. Bregovic is currently finishing the second part of his album “Alcohol”. At the end of last year, he released “Slivovitz”, the first CD of the two-part album “Alcohol”, while the sequel titled “Champagne” is expected to be released soon. (May 11 2009)
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