America:

"We have George Bush, Stevie Wonder, Bob Hope and Johnny Cash."

Serbia:

"We have Vojislav Koštunica, no wonder, no hope and no cash."

Labels: Fun, Serbia

EASTERN EUROPE

Belgrade: A capital city springs to life in Serbia

The city's past is visible in bombed-out buildings left unrepaired, but the vibe is hip, not tragic, and travelers are trickling back.

By Michael Levitin, Special to The Los Angeles Times
September 18, 2007

More at http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-tr-belgrade23sep23?page=1

Labels: Serbia

another great guy from the golden generation of Yugoslav and Serbian basketball (Djordjevic, Paspalj, Bodiroga, Savic... to name a few...) has done his farewell to basketball and moved on...

Some of them become coaches, some managers, some even go to politics, but Vlade decided to simply continue what he was doing already - to help people in need... this time to dedicate all his time to this though...

His friends from all over the world promised to help, and came to Belgrade to prove it... On photos above you can see some of them - Chris Webber (claimed himself to be first Serbian black dude - Kristijan Veberovic :P), Glen Rice, Scott Pollard...

Thank you Vlade!

And thank god for modern technologies... How would I explain my kids what a great guy he is, if there was no video? :)

text below is from B92.net
---------------------------------

Divac celebrates end of professional career

23 September 2007 | 11:47 | Source: Beta

BELGRADE -- Vlade Divac has celebrated his official retirement from professional basketball in front of 10,000 fans in Belgrade.

Vlade Divac bids farewell to his fans (Tanjug)

“I wish to thank you for a huge and selfless support you have been giving me throughout my basketball career that began here in Serbia and now ends here as well,” Divac told the crowd yesterday from a concert stage placed outside the National Parliament building.
The former member of Serbia’s national basketball team and sixteen-year NBA veteran has launched the “You Can Too” campaign, set to last four months, aimed at raising funds and providing housing for refugees and displaced persons in Serbia.
“Today , the most important match of my life begins. With your help, the biggest and best team is looking to score a vital victory and help those deprived of their land, home, and friends who are now living in conditions unworthy of human beings,” said Divac.
The farewell ceremony was attended by his former national team fellow players Aleksandar Đorđević, Predrag Danilović, Zoran Savić and Žarko Paspalj.
Divac’s NBA co-players, including Chris Webber, Scott Pollard and Glen Rice came to support their colleague, along with Divac’s former coaches Dušan Ivković, Duško Vujošević and Gregg Popovich.
“Vlade always has friends by his side. I will do my best to help him raise the money for the cause and I hope he will win this game as well,” Aleksandar Đorđević said.
Webber also addressed the crowd, saying "good evening" in Serbian.
“Vlade Divac has a heart of gold apart from being a great player. He is the best man I have ever met,” Webber said.
The concert held in his honor featured performances of numerous bands and artists form Serbia and abroad, including Van Gogh, Aleksandra Kovač, Darko Rundek, Esma Redžepova, Šaban Bajramović, and special guests African artists Mori Cante and Raste.
A short movie was played from a huge screen in which a score of Divac’s friends and colleagues praised his efforts and career, including NBA stars Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Bobby Jackson, Yao Ming, coach Phil Jackson, rapper Snoop Dogg, Red Hot Chili Peppers, actor Billy Crystal and many others.
On Sunday, Divac travels to his hometown of Prijepolje to officially open the Vlade Divac Museum, an exhibition that chronicles a basketball career that began in the small southern town when he was a tall 12-year-old boy dwarfing his teachers, and eventually ended in the NBA.
The museum will display European jerseys and basketball-related equipment; practice gear and official NBA uniforms from the Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte Hornets, and Sacramento Kings, medals won in international competitions, newspaper and magazine articles from all over the world; game footage, photos, letters from fans and children, and a special section dedicated to his humanitarian efforts.
“My goal for the museum is to show young people today that you don’t have to be born in a big city to become successful,” said Divac.
“Hard work, confidence, and respect are the keys to building a life and thriving professionally. I hope the museum illustrates this message and that the children in Prijepolje learn from it.”

Labels: Partizan, Serbia, Sport

Serbia is in the World Group of Davis Cup after 20 years!!!

What an atmosphere in Belgrade Arena these 3 days! 20.000 people, drummers, constant cheering and shouting... surprisingly, all in good manner (as we are not used to tennis, but rather football and basketball cheering)...

It was so cool to be in the Arena today when Djokovic won the match for 3:1 in wins and got us into the World Group... So cool to feel the eruption of happiness around me... awesome!

Check out some of the moments from the 2nd day... Will link couple more from today, as soon as anyone uploads them to youtube...

Labels: Serbia, Sport, Video

as the writer of the original post wrote in his piece - this had to pop-up sooner or later :)

How many times have I heard praises over Serbian women from fellow aiesecers and friends from all over the world that have visited Serbia? Jeez, who counts...

Or even when I'm abroad - people asking me if it's true that we have so many beautiful girls, asking how the hell is that possible and generally being envious that I've been born there (lol!). Some guys even asked me to find them internships here, so that they can spend a nice summer over here (and perhaps get married hehe)...

Anyhow, all the guys here are fully aware of this fact, especially those that have traveled a bit... And wouldn't be happy if they had to move to another country (not because we think there aren't beautiful girls everywhere, but the percentage here is simply remarkable...). Except maybe to Argentina, since they are quite good with this ratio too, plus girls there are latinas :)

And sure you'll hear all the guys talking about this all the time... But when you hear/read traditionally jealous women :) praising this particular phenomenon (among other), then it really becomes news... the author of the text below linked 2 nice articles there, to prove this... And I`m adding a link to a nice gallery of every-day girls in Belgrade, so...

Enjoy!

http://www.pbase.com/pavlec/belgrade_girls&page=all

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
text below cross-posted from: Belgrade 2.0: Serbian girls - hot or not?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------

This subject had to come up sooner or later, you know.
But I was hoping that something else will trigger it other than your usual drooling foreign guys impressions you see on net or hear from various sources: “Dude, they have the most beautiful girls there, I swear!” or “Man, Serbia is heaven on earth as for the girls are concerned!” or stuff like that.

No, I had to wait for at least a couple of women to mention it in order to conclude that there just might be something in all these drooling guys’ claims. And here they are:

Maggie Alderson, of Sydney Morning Herald :

“The whole thing was like some kind of genetic experiment. It was clearly just the national body shape.”

and Rosmary on her blog couple of days ago:

“If Tyra Banks saw an entire town of women like these while scouting for her America’s Next Top Model show, the top of her head would pop off. It would be too much to choose from, overwhelming.”

National body shape? Too much to choose from? Something is clearly going on here. Is it even possible to determine in one nation or in one region, say, that the women are, even generally speaking, better looking than somewhere else? Or is it just another stereotype? Well, even if it is, at least it’s a good kind of stereotype. I think. And what about us guys? Nobody mentions us, I guess we have to conclude that we are average joes. Oh well.

Maybe it’s just the way girls dress and the time they invest in dressing up. I don’t know what to think anymore, seriously. You?

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Labels: Fun, Serbia

Lots of friends from abroad have either been making fun of me or asking questions about my purse/handbag/european carryall/gay bag/whatever you call it...
for most of the people, it is either a gay thing, or metrosexual, or simply a girl item...
And it seems that it is a kind of a cultural shock for visitors in Serbia... it strucks them that such a "homophobic nation" is cool with "gay items"... :)

well, even if we often use a name "pederusa" (gay-bag) for it, I don`t think anyone really finds it gay... it`s simply useful! no need to fill your pockets with all the stuff you usually carry around: cell phone(s), credit cards, cigarettes, IDs, money, pen, papers, usb stick, condoms etc... although, it is indeed a risk that if you lose it - you lose all the stuff :), but that never happened to me... yet... :)

anyways, there`s a nice blog about it at B92.net VIP blog - author is a foreigner living in Belgrade... read the comments too - some are really funny!

Jess, enjoy it - this post is for you anyways! :D

Labels: Fun, Serbia

Jeez... Officially, it was 39C yesterday... However, this is temperature outside of the city center, where they measure it...
Check out the temperature in Belgrade`s main street yesterday...



Edit - another photo from another source... again Belgrade downtown yesterday at noon...

Labels: Fun, Serbia, World Issues

Labels: Serbia, Video

This is my homecity... :(

--------------------------------

Fresh blast in Kosovo

26 February 2007 | 11:35 | Source: AP

PRIŠTINA -- Explosion damaged several vehicles belonging to OSCE on Monday in Peć, a police official said. No one was hurt.
The blast occurred around 3:30 a.m. and was caused by an explosive device - possibly a hand grenade - that shattered windows or caused other light damage to seven vehicles in the parking lot of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
Investigators were not certain whether the OSCE was the target of the attack, which occurred in a residential area in the city of Peć, some 80 kilometers west of Kosovo's capital, Priština, said regional police spokesman Avni Gjevukaj.
Two other vehicles that did not belong to the organization were damaged in the blast. There was no immediate comment from the OSCE mission in Kosovo.
Tensions in Kosovo are running high amid negotiations between the ethnic Albanians and Serbs over the disputed province's status.
Three U.N. vehicles were bombed in Priština a week ago. In other recent violence, two people were killed in clashes between police and ethnic Albanians protesting the U.N. proposal on Kosovo's final status.

Labels: Kosovo, Serbia, World Issues

Labels: Partizan, Serbia, Sport

By John Phillips
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
February 20, 2007

ROME -- Any attempt by the international community to deny Kosovo independence will set off "a new Balkan war," a senior Kosovar negotiator cautioned yesterday.
    Speaking as he prepared to take part in final talks between delegations from Kosovo and Serbia scheduled for today in Vienna, Austria, negotiator Ylber Hasa said Kosovars believe they already have made extensive compromises.

rest of the story at Washington Post

-----------------------------------------

I`m going home in a week... Hopefully not directly to war... :(

Labels: Kosovo, Serbia, World Issues

KLA claims responsibility for Priština blast

20 February 2007 | 09:59 -> 13:05 | Source: B92, FoNet, Beta, AP

PRIŠTINA -- Kosovo Liberation Army says it blew up three UN vehicles in Priština last night.

The scene of the explosion in Priština (FoNet)

The blast caused no injuries but raised tensions amid ongoing negotiations on Kosovo's future.
Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) distributed a statement to the media by e-mail claiming to have set up the explosion. Kosovo Police Service is yet to determine the authenticity of the statement.
Kosovo Liberation Army , now a disbanded force that fought against Serb forces during the 1998-1999 conflict, said it had regrouped in order to "avenge the death of two protesters" during a recent demonstration in Priština, adding it would avenge "any future injustice" against its people.

more at b92.net.

Labels: Kosovo, Serbia, World Issues

I think I should create a label called "funny monuments in serbia" :)

-----------------

From The Times

February 17, 2007

Me Tarzan; you monument

BELGRADE A tiny Serbian hamlet on the border with Romania is planning to build a monument to Johnny Weissmuller, the late actor famed for his film role as Tarzan. Weissmuller, who won five Olympic swimming gold medals, was born in 1904 in the village of Medja, in the Banat region that straddles the two countries but which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Weissmuller, who became a Hollywood icon as Tarzan, died in 1984. (AFP)

Labels: Fun, Serbia

Comments?

Labels: Serbia, World Issues

Slobodan Antonić writes in Politika (Serbian original here):

... My "favorite" is the argument that says, "This isn't evil; the sooner we realize it's actually appropriate, the better off we will be!" Because, you see, "that's not ours anyway," and "who has ever actually been there," and "only priests and romantics care" and "queues in front of foreign embassies are a much bigger problem" and "they are actually doing us a favor," etc.
But when a NGO elitist says these words, he is really talking about himself. His mouth says "that's not ours anyway," but his eyes are betraying his thoughts: "that's not mine, so I don't care." His mouth says "who has ever actually been there?" but his eyes are going "I have never been there, so why would I care?" His mouth says "only priests and romantics care," his eyes are saying "I hate priests anyway, one church more or less, all the same to me." While his mouth says "queues in front of foreign embassies are a much bigger problem," his eyes are saying "why should I have to wait in those queues because of that damn Kosovo?" He considers it one and the same to "be modern" and "think only of oneself and money," and is now trying to persuade the rest of us that we should also be "modern," so we would feel as good as he does.

The hypocrisy of NGO "modernists," says Antonić, is best tested by the following hypothetical scenario: would they be as willing to give up one of the parking spots reserved for their SUVs, as they are willing to cede Kosovo? Ah, well, that's different, you see...
This is quotable enough, but Antonić offers another great passage in the same article:

Someone once compared the seizure of Kosovo with rape. The rapists are big and strong, the poor girl could get a beating if she resists too much, and maybe it is really better for her to give in. But for crying out loud, how can anyone say on top of that, "Oh be smart! Maybe they are rapists, but they are rich, powerful, you can't risk ruining your future relations with the, so don't dare complain. Think of your future, think of becoming a part of their rich and beautiful society tomorrow. Cry a little, then come back and smile as if nothing happened."
Can it really be like that? As if nothing had happened? Are you serious about the smiling? What if the boys get a desire to have a little bit of fun again? And what could one possibly say about those who jeer at the unfortunate woman, "Come on, sister, don't be conservative, the boys are doing you a favor, you need to be modern, enjoy the sex, and especially when the Big Boss goes on top of you. Then you have to be particularly enthusiastic, groan and sigh and scream - Yes! Yes! More!"
Yes, Big Boss likes to be the ladies' man. But dear Serbia, you don't have to put on an act for him. Cry freely. And most importantly, remember them all, both those who took their turns with you and those who jeered and cheered. Because one day...

------------

link via http://grayfalcon.blogspot.com

Labels: Kosovo, Serbia

After the statue of Brus-Li in Mostar, another fighter for justice will get the deserved statue in Balkans :D

gotta love the spirit...

from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6353659.stm

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Sylvester Stallone was made famous for playing Rocky Balboa

A tiny village in Serbia says it will construct a statue of the film character Rocky to ward off decades of bad luck.

An official from Zitiste, about 55k (33 miles) north of Belgrade, said the statue of Rocky was needed to give the village a more positive image.

Zitiste has suffered serious damage from floods and landslides, earning it a reputation for being jinxed.

Many of its residents have left the village in search of a better future.

The idea came from Bojan Marceta, a village resident, when he saw the latest Rocky film "Rocky Balboa".

"I felt as if Rocky has come from our village, he had to fight to win his place in society," he told B92 radio.

Zoran Babic of the local council said he and other officials agreed with the plan.

"This is the chance to give a better, more positive image to Zitiste," he said.

Mr Babic said villagers had already been in touch with officials in the US city of Philadelphia, where a Rocky Balboa monument has already been erected.

"We have also contacted a sculptor who has designed the statue, asking him whether he would help us," he told AFP news agency.

The film "Rocky", a story of a boxer who gets the chance to fight the reigning champ, won three Oscars for best picture, best director and best film editing.

Its star, Sylvester Stallone, has recently released "Rocky Balboa", in which the character comes out of retirement to fight once again.

Labels: Fun, Serbia

Serbia’s Knight

As of Thursday, February 8, Serbia has another Knight, a highly esteemed movie director Emir Kusturica. French Minister of Culture Rennaud Donnadieu de Vabres has awarded world renowned Serbian director with France’s Order of the Knight of Arts and Literature of the first degree — Commandeur dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

This is the highest French recognition for achievements in arts and culture, honoring those who have “significantly contributed to the enrichment of the French cultural inheritance.” The medal was given to Kusturica as an acknowledgement of his professional achievements in France.

Minister De Vabres said that with this recognition France wanted to express its affection and admiration to Kusturica and appreciation of his entire artistic opus that, along with movies, includes his music band Zabranjeno pusenje, documentary films and the magnificent ethno village he has built in Serbia.

Kusturica is a great artist who carries within all that Europe represents today — positive values, drama, tragedy. He is the artist of exquisite power and ingenious mind, the French Minister of Culture pointed out.

Before Kusturica, Serbian artist Vladimir Velickovic and writer Danilo Kis were also recipients of this decoration.

The ceremony was attended by representatives of culture and foreign ministries of France and Serbia as well as Serbian Ambassador to France Predrag Simic and Director of the Serbian Cultural Centre in Paris Zivadin Mitrovic.

Kusturica and Coppola Only

Born in Sarajevo, capital of former Yugoslav republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1954, Emir Kusturica graduated from the Film Faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague in 1978. Extravagantly brilliant, Kusturica almost immediately became one of the most creative cinema directors during the 1980s and 1990s, and the only director other than Francis Ford Coppola to have won the Cannes Palme d’Or twice.

Among his numerous awards is also the Best Director award at Cannes Film Festival in 1989 for Time of Gypsies, Golden Lion in Venice Film Festival in 1981 for his first movie Do You Remember Dolly Bell?, a Silver Bear at Berlin Film Festival in 1993 for Arizona Dream, and a Best European Union Film at César Awards in 2005 for Life is a Miracle.

From Emir to Nemanja

Although born of nominally Muslim parents, on Đurđevdan (St. George’s Day) 2005 Emir decided to correct the historical anomaly and return to his roots and the faith of his ancestors by being baptized into the Serbian Orthodox Church under the christened Serbian name of Nemanja, in Dormition Monastery near Herceg Novi.

While for Kusturica this represented an act of reclaiming his true origins and reaffirming his identity, among his critics and opponents it was equated with the final betrayal. Bosnian Croat Mile Stojic commented: “... it shall be written that Kusta was the first Orthodox Christian in modern history whose father’s name was Murat.”

Emir responded:

“My father was an atheist and he always described himself as a Serb. OK, maybe we were Muslim for 250 years, but we were Orthodox before that and deep down we were always Serbs, religion cannot change that. We only became Muslims to survive the Turks.”

Ethno village Serbian most imaginative director has built
on Tara Mountain, in the heart of Serbia.

From Paris and New York to Serbia’s Mecavnik

While filming a movie Life is a Miracle in Serbia, Emir noticed the beauty of the Mecavnik hill three thousand feet up on Tara Mountain, and decided to build a village there. Fiachra Gibbons of Guardian describes the visit to this unique place:

What started as a couple of salvaged traditional wooden houses 18 months ago, on a bluff above the spectacularly beautiful Mokra Gora valley in western Serbia, has mushroomed into a modern take on the great monastery-universities of the middle ages. The village is equipped with a library, Serbia’s most advanced cinema and, most incongruously of all, an underground basketball arena — a tribute to the three world championships won by the former Yugoslavia. For Küstendorf, as he calls the place, is also a hymn to Serbian cultural achievement and traditional living [...]

The focal point of Küstendorf, which is every bit as rustic, poetic and miraculous as his films, is Serbian Orthodox church dedicated to the first Serbian Archbishop and the father of Serbian nation, St. Sava. The church Kusturica built in the center of his village has been consecrated on St. Archangel’s Day in 2003 and dedicated to the great Serbian saint in January 2004, by the Bishop of Zica of Serbian Uzice Diocese, His Grace Hrizostom.

--------------

from: http://byzantinesacredart.com/blog/2007/02/kusturica-knight.html

Labels: Serbia

from www.b92.net/eng

-------------------------------

Russia fears chain reaction

9 February 2007 | 11:59 | Source: AP

SEVILLE -- Granting independence to Kosovo could inspire other breakaway regions in Europe and former Soviet Union, Sergei Ivanov warns today.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov spoke before holding planned talks with his NATO counterparts, who have backed a plan drawn up by U.N. envoy Martti Ahtisaari proposing internationally supervised statehood for the separatist Serbian province.
Ivanov issued a strong warning Friday that  Kosovo independence could spark 'chain reaction' among separatist regions. Russia has long expressed reservations about Kosovo's separatist aspirations, and Ivanov's comments underscored differences between Russia and the West. The issue of Kosovo's status will be discussed next month at the U.N. Security Council.
"If we imagine a situation where Kosovo achieves independence, then other people, people living in regions that are not recognized, will ask us: "are we not as good as them?" Ivanov told reporters.
"This concerns obviously the post-Soviet space, but also regions in Europe," he said. "This can create a chain reaction ... we must be careful not to open Pandora's box", Ivanov said.
Ivanov spoke after a meeting with German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung, who restated Western support for Ahtisaari's recommendations and said NATO and Russia should work together to persuade the Serbs and Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority to "accept this proposal in the interest of a peaceful and stable development."
Jung also rejected Serb requests for a delay in talks on the plan. "I would wish that the Security Council can vote on this in March, and vote positively," he said.
Moscow has often warned that Kosovo's status will serve as precedent for other nations with similar cases, including several breakaway provinces in the ex-Soviet Union. The Kremlin has hinted that, were Kosovo to gain independence, two pro-Russian rebel regions in Georgia and a breakaway province in Moldova, which enjoy Moscow's tacit support, could follow suit.
Serbian officials also have warned that an independent Kosovo could also serve as a precedent for independence movements elsewhere, notably in Spain's Basque Country or Catalonia.

Labels: Kosovo, Serbia, World Issues

Labels: Partizan, Serbia, Sport, Video

Labels: Serbia, Sport, Video

from http://belgrade.org.yu/blog

----------------------------------------------------

...we got Marti Ahtisaari in Belgrade today. Ahtisaari decided to come despite Koshtunica pretended he wasn’t there luckily, Boris Tadic was home so he opened the door and let the Finnish guy do his thing.

So, after his press conference in Media centre, everything is clear.

Apparently, the only things Kosovo will get are: justice department not controlled by outside forces**, their own police, an army free from external*** control and constraint, sovereign constitution, autonomous border control, Serbia’s property will become Kosovo property, they will choose their own coat of arms, national anthem, flag and will get the right to apply for membership in all international organizations without having to ask Serbia first.

Whew, and here i was, thinking they were going to get independence. Thanks to Sloba and Radicals some years ago and now Koshtunica, that will not happen. As Borat would say: Great success!

*oh, and please spread the news: we’re online again!

**as in: Serbia

***as in: Serbian

-----------------------------------------------------

from B92.net

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Tadić: Independence unacceptable

2 February 2007 | 14:51 -> 18:36 | Source: B92, FoNet, Beta

BELGRADE -- “I told Ahtisaari that Serbia and I, as its president, will never accept Kosovo’s independence”, president Tadić said.

President Boris Tadić

“Imposed independence for Kosovo would contravene with the basic principles of international law and would represent a very dangerous political and legal precedent”, the Serbian president said in his address.
Boris Tadić added that the Kosovo status proposal submitted by UN special envoy Martti Ahtisaari does not specifically mention the word independence, but that it also leaves out the terms sovereignty and integrity, when it comes to Serbia’s jurisdiction over the province.
The president said that the proposal also dealt with a number of issues beside Kosovo’s status, such as decentralization, protection of the Serb Orthodox Church and its heritage in Kosovo, and international civilian and military presence there.
Tadić said he will ask all the parliamentary parties’ leaders to attend a meeting where he will present Ahtisaari’s blueprint.
Drašković: Ahtisaari overstepped mandate
Serbia’s outgoing foreign policy chief Vuk Drašković reacted to Ahtisaari’s proposal presented in Belgrade today by saying that the UN special envoy has “overstepped the mandate given to him by the UN secretary-general”.
“He turned the Kosovo status negotiations into a change of Serbia’s status, an internationally recognized state”.
The foreign ministry press release states that Serbia will point to this it its communication with the Contact Group, the UN Security Council, the EU and NATO.
Analyst: No mention of Kosovo army - good news
Military analyst Zoran Dragišić believes lack of any mention of Kosovo’s army or armed forces in Ahtisaari’s proposal is a positive development, as those represent “elements of statehood”.
“’Lightly armed forces’ are mentioned, but that refers to a kind of gendarmerie rather than an army, set to operate within the police force. That would not be unacceptable since even municipalities have police, which is not an element of statehood”, Dragišić says.
He added that Annex VIII of the proposal needed to be studied carefully, as, in his words, “the devil is often in the details”.
Dragišić thinks the existence of a Kosovo intelligence agency would be unacceptable for Serbia, since such agencies work as part of a country’s foreign policy, something a province cannot exercise.

-----------------------------------------------

read more:

International Reactions

Ahtisaari: UN Security Council to decide status

Halimi: Kosovo will reflect on south of Serbia

What do you think about this?

Labels: Kosovo, Serbia, World Issues

Unfortunately, this is in Serbian only... and it is really impossible to translate all the bullshit this dude is telling to people.... he`s a tarot cards reader and I expect someone to kill him soon...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFeNgr1AbUo&eurl=

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8121789377623097580&hl=en-GB

Note: cross-posted from http://belgrade.org.yu/ (great blog about every-day Belgrade, with lots of links and texts, as well as tourist info about our greatest city)

Labels: Fun, Serbia, Video

So, what happens when leaders of a wannabe country are ex-terrorists educated by professional PR agencies from the West to show off as good guys?

Weapons seized, officials arrested in Kosovo

21 December 2006 | 14:19 | Source: Beta

PRIŠTINA -- Kosovo police (KPS) and KFOR confiscated a large amount of weapons in Glogovac last night.
KPS spokesman said that a significant amount of arms and ammunition was found in a van in the village of Štutica, Glogovac municipality, and confirmed that three people were arrested.
However, he did not disclose the identities of those placed in police custody. The media for its part speculates that a Kosovo government official is among those arrested last night.

Well, what happens is that they are commited to get Kosovo regardless of what Serbia or any other country thinks about it... Adn they smile in front of cameras, they visit Serbian enclaves and monasteries in Kosovo with foreign officials etc.. but they are also arming their fighters - poor stupid dudes that are willing to die for a stupid cause... and they are arming them even if UN (which is running Kosovo at the moment) doesn`t allow them to do so...

And in the end, the very same leaders stay untouched and some dude is arrested and will probably dissapear completely soon... Leaders will of course "condemn any illegal action regardless of who perpetrates it in the strongest terms and remains convinced that such people have no place in Kosovo’s government" and continue to use other dudes for the job...

The worst thing is that these poor dudes think that they are fighting for their "homeland" or "Great Albania" or even simply against "Evil Serbs", while they are actually fighting for the country that is supposed to serve those "leaders" as their own private land and a place where they can centralize their "business" of dealing drugs, firearms, lead prostituion etc...

I`m really trying not to write so much about Kosovo but recent moves and actions simply force me to do it... I can clearly see what is going to happen in Kosovo after final status is defined... One way or another, blood will be all over the place again...

And I hate that. And I don`t want to see that. Ever again.

Read the full story here and also check comments of dumbfucks from both sides (plus "peacefull foreigners").

Labels: Kosovo, Serbia, World Issues

The story continues... (am refering to this story)

Exactly the same system as in Kosovo and Southern Central Serbia. Macedonia too, I guess...

Ethnic Albanians demand release of terrorist suspects

18 December 2006 | 11:53 | Source: AP

PODGORICA -- Protests were held to free U.S. citizens accused of terrorist plots in Montenegro.

Relatives of two jailed U.S. citizens accused of plotting an ethnic Albanian insurgency in their native Montenegro rallied Sunday outside the U.S. Embassy here demanding freedom for the suspects.
"Help American citizens imprisoned without evidence" read a banner held by some of the several dozen protesters who claimed that the charges against cousins Rok and Kolja Dedvukaj were politically motivated.

Labels: Kosovo, Serbia, World Issues

If I find a version with english subtitle, I`ll post it...
Basicly it`s a pre-elections warning to politicians in Serbia to let them know that this is their chance to finally get rid of the past times and move forward...
For those that don`t know - October 5th 2000 revolution was not as succesful as many think it was... Milosevic`s people along with new mafia and tycoons are still present in public life of Serbia and even running it in a way...

More about Beogradski Sindikat at Wikipedia

Labels: Serbia

This is one of the moments when I hate the whole NATO world...
This is not even comparable with genocides or massacres - they happen in one moment. And this... this is killing for decades... constantly...

If my child is born deffected, give me one good reason not to become terrorist and do my best to make them hurt as it hurts me?
UPDATE: were they helping Albanians in Kosovo while bombing? They live there now... along with lots of KFOR soldiers and UN stuff... they all suffer...

Depleted Uranium Missiles Found In Serbia
December 12, 2006 6:09 a.m. EST

Komfie Manalo - All Headline News Correspondent

Belgrade, Serbia (AHN) - Representatives from the directorate for the protection of the environment in Serbia has said that a total of 161 depleted uranium missiles have been recovered in the southern part of the country in the past weeks.

The states Beta news agency said the missiles were found in Reljan near Preservo after the 1999 NATO bombing campaign.

It was said that during the 78-day air strikes in the former Yugoslavia in 1991, NATO war planes dropped 31,000 missiles and bombs believed to contain depleted uranium, a kind of radioactive toxic material that has been linked to Gulf War syndrome and spiraling levels of cancer and birth defects in Iraq.

NATO has admitted 112 sites in Kosovo where it used depleted uranium. But it has not given Belgrade a complete list for the rest of Serbia.

Belgrade ordered a clean up operation in Reljan on October 1 and some 6.5 out of 12 hectares of contaminated grounds have been searched and cleared. A total of 2.4 cubic meters of contaminated soil has also been collected and removed.

Serbia has spent an estimated $450,000 for the clean up operation in the Reljan site.

Labels: Serbia, World Issues

Can we do a-n-y-t-h-i-n-g correctly? :)

Man robs Austria bank, forgets card

Wednesday Dec 13 12:16 AEDT

A bank robber who was arrested because he left his account card at a branch where he had checked his balance just before holding it up was sentenced to four years in jail.

The knife-wielding robber was identified as a 32-year-old former policeman from Serbia after a clerk who witnessed the heist found the plastic card in the branch shortly afterwards, Austrian news agency APA said.

Police arrested the man a little later, after he tried to deposit some of his E14,260 ($A24,125) loot in his account to reduce his overdraft and reported his card as lost.

Labels: Fun, Serbia

one of the things that are so special about Serbia is definitely street food. I was using the term "junk food" until a dude from New York told me (while eating something similar to the pic below) that "if this is junk food, then what the f**k is what we eat in NY?"... And since then, I`m calling it simply street food...

and it`s really awesome... one of the rules to find good street food when you go abroad is to check where the locals eat, because they know what`s made for tourists and what`s not... well, in Belgrade you almost cannot miss - we don`t have so many tourists :)

of course, there are some shitty places (like ones next to bus and train stations), but in general street food is great! Unless you`re vegeterian, that is... :)

I will be posting photos of Serbian street food as I find them or take photos when I move back to Belgrade... Will write descriptions too, just to tease you a bit more...

Prijatno!

This is world famous "Pljeskavica". A gourman one in this case. While ordering, you can choose toppings from usually 5-15 different kinds of salads or sauces.

Pljeskavica on Wikipedia

Labels: Fun, Serbia

as suspected, "the Great Albania" project continues... however, I thought they will wait until they get Kosovo first and then continue...

anyhow, it will be interesting to see reactions from albanian side on this...

Montenegro accuses ethnic Albanians of plotting insurgency

8 December 2006 | 11:05 | Source: AP

PODGORICA -- Montenegrin authorities indicted 18 ethnic Albanians, including five living in the United States.

Full story here

Labels: Kosovo, Serbia, World Issues

Labels: Serbia

Serbia accepted into Partnership for Peace

29 November 2006 | 09:43 -> 17:21 | Source: B92

RIGA -- A decision was made at the NATO summit in Riga for allowing Serbia to unconditionally join the Partnership for Peace.

So we`re in... Yeah, this is not NATO partnership yet, but it is a road to NATO.. the very same NATO that bombed us `99... the very bombing that made us affraid to make babies because we`re not sure how the baby will look like (uranium bombs all over serbia - even NATO soldiers suffering in Kosovo)... jeez, do we forget easily or what?

So we`re in... Unconditionally as they say... Unconditionally my ass, if you ask me... they`ll ask for something really soon... Karla Del Ponte (main prosecutor at Hague Tribunal) already expressed dissatisfaction (some sources say she was throwing things in her office :)), so I expect her to ask for something special soon...

I just hope they won`t ask for Kosovo... if no other reason, then because Kostunica won`t give it... and even if he does, people won`t...

So let`s see what happens next... I expect them to ask for something within end of next week...

Labels: Serbia, World Issues

I wonder what would happen in any other country after such public display of disrespect to the country where you live...

to clarify something - each and every minority in Serbia is allowed to celebrate their national days (and even encouraged in a way through local municipalities` budgets) and display their national flag along with Serbian one, but only if they register so called National Council of respective minority (this is to protect from funny guys asking for funds from municipalities to celebrate "National Penguins day" or whatever they claim they are - because that`s another thing you can do in Serbia - you can actually declare as whatever you want to be :D). While most of the minorities did this, Albanians didn`t, for the sole reason that they expect this part of Serbia (southern central Serbia) to be next to get independence, after Kosovo.

And this is what they did...

Preševo Albanians remove Serbian, display Albanian flag

28 November 2006 | 14:19 -> 17:07 | Source: B92, Beta

PREŠEVO, BUJANOVAC -- Albanians in Preševo removed the Serbian flag and instead displayed three Albanian flags.

Serbian flag was taken off the municipal building as part of the Albanian national holiday celebrations in the south of Serbia. Preševo municipal president Ragmi Mustafa told journalists that the display of Albanian flags instead of the Serbian should ”not be viewed as an incident”, adding that ”Albanians in Serbia have the right to their own symbols”.

...

The organizers played the Albanian national anthem, after which the gathering paid tribute to the dead members of the officially disbanded Preševo, Medveđa and Bujanovac Liberation Army (UCPMB).

Now you tell me if it`s OK that they use local government`s money to pay tribute to the dead members of a terrorist group???

Which country would allow this? Which country would ignore this?

Indeed, only Serbia!

Labels: Kosovo, Serbia, World Issues

NATO may induct Serbia into Partnership for Peace

28 November 2006 | 18:29 | Source: AP

RIGA -- NATO may invite Bosnia, Montenegro and Serbia to join the Partnership for Peace at the Riga summit.
"I expect Serbia, Bosnia and Montenegro to be given a green light for the Partnership for Peace at this summit," Slovene Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel said. "For Slovenia it is important for the PFP to be enlarged and for the Adriatic Three to be given a clear signal for membership in the near future," Slovenia's foreign minister Dimitrij Rupel said on Tuesday.

Full story here

hmmm, very interesting... and I honestly don`t know how to see this... on one side, it can mean that they are offering this to show good will and support Serbia`s way to EU... it can also mean that they are changing their ideas regarding Kosovo`s status and that we will actually keep it... but it can also mean that they are giving us cookies and taking Kosovo from our hands...

I guess we`ll know in next couple of weeks... whatever it is, I expect more moves by the west soon...

This is also a big wind in the back for Kostunica and his Government... right before the elections in January...

Labels: Serbia, World Issues

First time on the World Championship after 28 years and they won a bronze medal!  

Labels: Serbia, Sport

It`s not the best CSR action I`ve seen, but it`s a job well done and the media attention around it should show corporate sector in Serbia that CSR is an investment, not pure philantrophy...

Telenor Hands Out Free Tickets to Belgrade High Schoolers

Belgrade, Nov. 14, 2006

Telenor handed out 2,000 tickets to Belgrade high-school students for a friendly football match between the national teams of Serbia and Norway, on Wednesday, Nov. 15, at 8.15 p.m. Tickets are valid for the east section of the stadium.

The Secretariat for Education of the City of Belgrade supported the action and recommended it to the principals.

“Our support reflects our belief that the Telenor action is valuable for the promotion of sports among Serbia’s young people,” said Vladimir Todic, head of the Secretariat.

Telenor provided 43 buses to pick up the students outside their schools and take them to the stadium. One bus will collect the protégées of all four Belgrade homes for children without parents in front of Mosa Pijade Home, 19 Ustanicka Street.

Read full press release

Labels: CSR, Serbia

First they tell us it`s not possible to join before 2014, then they tell us 2010 is fine, then they tell us they will slow down the process after accession of Bulgaria and Romania, then they tell us we`ll get in at 2009 if we let Kosovo to become independent, then they stop negotiations with us and finally this...

Grrrr, this really sucks...

And honestly, I wish they just leave us alone... I`m sick of Unions and stuff... Let Serbia be independent at once... Even if that means less wealth for us...
Just to finaly feel how is it to enjoy the benefits of what you do (instead of having to take care of other republics and keep feeding them)... To feel proud to be Serbian again (since this pride was heavily lost in last 50-60 years or was misinterpreted)...

Anyhow, the second news is that our economical reforms are quite good and that we are growing quickly... Not that we feel it that much because inflation is still quite high, but yeah, one can see impact of recent investments in Serbia... Belgrade is booming (was voted as SEE City of Future), Novi Sad is emerging as a big business center, Nis is still struggling but soon after the elections the improvement will be seen, Kragujevac is finally on a good way (after signing a strategic partnership between Zastava and Fiat), Indjija has become the best municipaity in the whole region etc...

First extradition, then candidacy in 2008

15 November 2006 | 13:02 | Source: Beta

BELGRADE -- The EU expects the next Serbian Government to extradite Ratko Mladić in a very timely manner.
If this is taken care of, Serbia will become a candidate-country for European Union membership in 2008, according to daily Blic.
Blic’s source adds that the EU will conditionally continue the discussions for signing the Stabilization and Association Agreement by the summer of 2007, if the new Serbian Government accepts the obligation of arresting Mladić with a definitive deadline for doing so.
The EU no longer believes in the Action Plan and is looking for a new date to be set, according to the daily. The source also says that Schengen visas could also be included in the package if all technical details are taken care of.
If this was to happen, Serbian citizens would be able to travel freely through the European Union without the need for visas, once Serbia becomes a candidate-country in 2008.

Serbia shows fastest growth

15 November 2006 | 08:48 | Source: B92

LONDON -- The EBRD stated that Serbia has shown the greatest amount of economic growth this year in Southeast Europe.

In the latest Transitional Report for Economic Trends in Southeast European countries, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development stated that Serbia had a 6.3 percent economic growth rate this year.
However, the region in total suffered a drop in economic productivity, from 6.9 to 4.7 percent, mainly because of Romania’s slumping economy.
In addition to Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria had good showings this year, with rates near six percent. The two countries will be joining the European Union in January.
The EBRD stated that industrial growth, mainly in the metal sector, a growth in exports, and larger domestic consumer demand linked to the expansion of crediting activity by banks, are responsible for the economic progress in the region.
Of all the former Communist countries, those of Southeast Europe have shown the most progress since last year, mainly because of the promise and perspective of joining the European Union many have received.
Still, the region is still very much behind Central Europe economically, a region which has show tremendous growth in recent years.

Labels: Serbia, World Issues

an intro for those who don`t know who Prince Pavle (Paul in english) Karadjordjevic is...

Born in 1893 as a member of the Royal Family of Karadjordjevic, he took over the regency in 1934, after the assasination of King Alexander in Marseille. Pavle ruled until March 1941 when something unimaginable happened - on March 25th in Vienna he signed a Tripartite Pact and joined Germany, Italy and Japan in Axis Powers!!!

Because of his decision, massive demonstrations happened in Belgrade and 2 days after his cousin Peter II Karadjordjevic overthrew his government and took over. 10 deys after, unsatsified Axis Powers, led by Germany, bombed Belgrade and invaded Yugoslavia.

Royal family left the country and Prince Paul was kept in house arrest by British in South Africa, until the end of the war. He died in Paris on September 11, 1976, without ever coming back to Yugoslavia.

Noone ever managed to unveil the secret of his decision to join the tripartite pact... However, by his last will his complete archive was given to Columbia University, but not to be opened until after 50 years of his death.

Anyways, some important historians pressured his only daughter, Jelisaveta (which is the only one with rights to break the 50 years veto) and she finally agreed to break it and gave them rights to open the archive.

So, microfilms are on their way to Belgrade and I`m looking forward to know the truth about what happened back then... And why he made a decision that simply destroyed all good  that his family did for our people in the history.. and made me hate them all...

Some say that he was forced to do it because British (his family was close to the UK at that time) betrayed him and he wanted to save the people... Some say that he was an evil man anyways and that he actually wanted to do it... Some say that he was simply stupid because he believed Germany that Yugoslavia will remain independent (in addition, he was strongly against communism) etc...

Well, I guess we`ll know really soon... As a big history lover, am not just looking forward... Am freaking excited!!

Labels: Serbia

My future will be decided very soon...

Not much in my hands anymore. Too many variations, too many players, too many possibilities for different ending...
Of course, I will continue to fight for the best solution to win, but some things I simply cannot influence...

If I only had the crystal ball...

Labels: Serbia

God, almost forgot how much I missed this city...

Labels: Serbia

In about 18 hours I will see her... My lady...

Labels: Serbia

And how can I not?

I was supposed to travel Belgrade by bus, which is 14-17 hours trip... and that`s only because I thought that if I buy a plane ticket in Belgrade it will be much cheaper (because of all those student discounts, euro<26, isic etc)...
So anyways, I had to move the date and leave on Saturday instead of Thursday, which screwed up my bus plan, so I had to buy a flight ticket... And that`s where the coolest system comes in place...

Sunday: Checking prces online - 250 EUR;
Monday: I`m calling to reserve the ticket and the lady tells me it`s 230EUR and no student discounts whatsoever;
Tuesday: Calling to re-schedule and lady tells me that`s fine and the new price is 196 EUR;
Wednesday: Happy me going to the agency to buy the ticket, and the nice lady hands it, takes 200 EUR from my hand and returns 35 - new price again, now 165 EUR!!!

I will never understand how this worked out (since JAT is well known for never changing the prices and especially not lowering them :)), but I do hope this will continue...

Labels: Serbia

Labels: Fun, Serbia

for those who didn`t know - Serbia recently changed its anthem from "Hej Sloveni" (which noone liked because it was introduced during communist regime, regardless of the beauty of the song and its meaning) to "Boze pravde" (God of Justice).
In last couple of years, all big events where our anthem was played were destroyed by people booing the anthem... This was the first time that everyone actually enjoyed completely...

Labels: Serbia, Sport

Historical moment...
Although 3rd gold in a row for our Waterpolo team, this is the first one for the Republic of Serbia.

As usual, Belgrade and other Serbian cities knew how to celebrate the success...

Labels: Serbia, Sport

Exactly one year ago I became the best man for the first time in my life. :)
It was Tanja`s and Jelenko`s wedding and it was a 3-day blast... Surely unforgetable, mostly because he is one of my best mates ever and this event is a milestone in my life and also because of the event itself (including being caught unprepared for the best man speech :) and singing/crying our favorite songs at 6am in already empty restaurant...

Will post some photos later...

Labels: Serbia

boris also wrote about it... check his blog.

Labels: AIESEC, Serbia

Yeah, it`s not a mistake... I`m not writing about IC 2006, but IC 2003... exactly 3 years ago on this day IC 2003 started with a Global Village at Nikola Pasic square and then grand opening at Center Sava in Belgrade.
I remember each and every moment of that day... It was the dream coming true, and in a pretty good way too! We were praying for good weather for almost a year and not only that it didn`t rain, but it was the hottest August day in the history of Belgrade :).

generally, no IC is easy to organize, but this one was special... our team faced so many challenges that I still cannot believe we did it... let me just name a few - murder of our prime-minister Djindjic (supposed to be our main supporter) couple of months before the conference, initiating "red-alert" status in Serbia and slowing our progress; then one of main political parties offering us money and help if we join them (most of directors of biggest companies are involved with them); then people of @ in Serbia not believing that we can do it (this was the worst); then huge cash flow problems, alumnies not helping etc. Oh my god, were we challenged all the time or what... But the only thing that matters is that we believed... There were days when we analyzed the situation, realizing that we`re all alone in this (the 5 of us) and discussed if it`s worth or not... If it`s worth losing health and precious time (some of us actually quit our jobs so that we can be full time IC execs)... It was not easy indeed...
But yeah, it was worth! It was worth each and every second! I realized it when the global village started and I got onto the stage with a beautiful view in front of me - all delegates dancing @ dances and Belgrade people joining them creating the biggest amount of positive energy I ever felt... Then the grand opening in Center Sava with couple of thousands of people and our Minister of Finances, Mr. Djelic giving a fantastic opening speech. Then Beli had a CCP speech and invited the whole CC on the stage... I was in my shorts and t-shirt, still dirty from cleaning the GV place, so there was no time to change (and yeah, I was CCVP, supposed to be in a nice suit and mingling with important guests)... but just the feeling of standing at the big stage with the whole team, while thousands of people are giving you standing ovations... well... it just hits you... more then 2 years (we first got the idea of orgnizing IC2003 on the last night of eurolds 2001, when we were completely drunk) of waiting for the moment, going through bidding nightmare, then organizing problems etc... it simply hits you... you succeded... and you can`t stop tears...

Labels: AIESEC, Serbia

The endemic species with this name grows only in Jelasnica and Sicevacka Gorge in Serbia and nowhere else in the world. This plant is called the Serbian phoenix flower since it can survive the most unfavorable conditions of draught during which it is almost dead but as soon as better conditions appear it lives again. In 1928 a herbarium made by a Russian scientist included this plant. By accident he spilt some water over it and the plant previously totally dry, produced flowers. This was registered in the Russian Botanical Journal in the same year.

See the connection?

Labels: Serbia

Serbia & Montenegro Win U20 Title

They went silently to Turkey with noone expecting any results from them... We all thought that golden era of Serbian basketball is finished, that there is no hope for recovery... And even worse - they all played for the non-existing country.
And then they got into the finals without a single lost game... And there was Turkey, the hosting country with thousands of its loud and aggresive fans...
But just before the match started, the coach read the following speech of legendary Mayor Dragutin Gavrilovic (he read this to soldiers that were defending Belgrade from Austrians in October 1915 - click here for more)...

"At three o'clock sharp, the enemy must be crushed by your mighty charge, torn to pieces by your grenades and bayonets. The honour of Belgrade must be spotless.
Soldiers!
Heroes!
The supreme command has erased our regiment from its records. Our regiment has been sacrificed for the honor of Belgrade and the Motherland. You no longer have to worry for your lives for they do not exist anymore. So, forward to glory! For King and Homeland! Long live the king! Long live Belgrade!"

No way anyone could beat these kids after that speech...

And the team spirit of our National team is back... One thing that we missed in last couple of years with our teams full of NBA players which don`t really care about the team... I truly hope that these kids wil continue to make miracles and soon enough we will be dominating the basketball world again...

Labels: Serbia, Sport

Every country and every nation has several special dates, like constitution day or independence day or similar... and one of them is always more special and more celebrated then other ones. Usually, it is the most victorious day or something like that. Usually... and for most of the countries... but not for my country... Not for Serbia.
Our most important date is the date of the biggest battle defeat in Serbian history... battle that has defined the rest of our history... defined the famous Serbian pride and stubborness which we call upon even today... it was on Vidovdan (St. Vitus day), 28th of June 1389 - a great battle of Kosovo, between the Ottomans and Serbs... both army leaders were killed... both armies had lots of casualties and in the end it was a defeat for Serbia... and for Europe at the same time... but it was also a huge moral win for our nation... yes, they were better, bigger and stronger, but we never raised the white flag... our soldiers and knights went to that battle with only one sentence in their mind: "We shall neither submit, nor yield!". They were aware that they are not defending only their children and families, but many more across the Eastern and Central Europe...
That`s how Vidovdan became synonymous for the 1389 Battle of Kosovo, which determined the Serbian people's collective and individual destiny. Vidovdan was imbedded in the Serbian ethnic and national self-awareness. It became the incentive for survival, the inspiration in the struggle for personal and national liberation.

Throughout history, many more important things for Serbia happened on Vidovdan - beginning of the WWI 1914, end of WWI 1919, proclamation of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians 1921, Milosevic deported to Hague 2001... But non of them is as important as the battle of Kosovo. Even 600 years later, we still feel and think the same...

Below is a nice text explaining in details what this date means for Serbs... By reading and understaning it you may start understanding why Kosovo is so important for us and why we won`t give it so easily...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fr. Mateja Matejic
Kosovo and Vidovdan
After Six Hundred Years
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Kosovo Ethics, which are implanted in the national consciousness of the Serbian people, have not changed for 600 years - nor will they ever change. The basic values of those ethics, bequeathed to Serbians on Vidovdan in 1389, have not been chiseled on 2 stone tablets, but are impressed in the inmost being of every Serb.

Every nation has 1 date in its history which it considers more important than any other. For the Serbs, the most important date in their history is June 15, by the old calendar - June 28, by the new calendar (Vidovdan). On that day, in 1389, 600 years ago, Serbian and Turkish armies clashed on the Kosovo Field. Both the Serbian ruler Prince Lazar and the Turkish Sultan Murad I died as a result of the battle. In addition, a great number of Serbian military leaders, as well as a great number of Serbian warriors, lost their lives. Notwithstanding the fact that according to historical documents neither the Serbs nor the Turks won the battle, Serbia was so exhausted that it was unable to continue resisting the Turks'a few decades later the heirs of Prince Lazar recognized Turkish suzerainty and 5 centuries of domination of the Serbs by the Turks ensued. That long and martyrlike enslavement changed the course of Serbian history and interrupted the cultural progress of the Serbs, which was clearly evident during the rule of the Nemanja dynasty.

It is difficult to assess the importance of the Kosovo Battle for world history. Such is also the case with the battles at the Alamo or Gettysburg, which are so important for American history. However, it is undeniable that the Battle of Kosovo was exceptionally significant not only for Serbia, but also for Europe and European Christian civilization.

It is a fact that on Vidovdan, June 15, 1389, the Serbs, without help from a single European nation, defended on Kosovo Field not only the frontiers of their own territory and lives of their people, but, at the risk of losing their national independence, they also defended the interests and security of Christian Europe. In the conflict of 2 rival civilizations, the Muslim and the Christian, the Serbs checked the wave of the Turkish invasion, interposed themselves as a wall between the Turks and Europe, and enabled Europe to make preparations for its own defense. It is questionable whether the history of Europe would have been the same without the Battle of Kosovo and the sacrifice of the Serbian nation.

However, no matter how great the historical value of Kosovo and Vidovdan may be, for the Serbs they have an additional unique dimension and preeminence. Persons of non-Serbian origin may consider Kosovo as only a far-away, strange, and, even, unimportant geographical territory, and Vidovdan, June 15, 1389, as a date of a battle of which they know little or nothing. As far as the Serbs are concerned, Kosovo is their Holy Land, the cradle of Serbdom, and their inalienable, historical, national, and cultural heritage. As far as they are concerned, Vidovdan, June 15, 1389, is not just the date of a battle, but their nation's identity, and the sacred will and testament which contains religious, ethical, and national principles for all Serbian generations from the Kosovo Battle until the present. In the national consciousness all of Serbian history is divided into 2 periods: prior to the Kosovo Battle and after the Kosovo Battle. And whereas the other battles in which the Serbs took part are mentioned only in historical textbooks, Vidovdan alone is included in the calendar, which registers holidays and the names of saints exclusively. Vidovdan alone has become a national holiday which has been observed through the centuries, and it is observed on this occasion, 600 years after the Battle of Kosovo.

As a geographical territory, Kosovo was Serbian even before the year 1389, before Vidovdan. That ownership was not marked by sticks, in the way the prospectors for gold marked their claims, nor by the deeds written in ink on paper, but by ancient and magnificent churches and monasteries and by Serbian cemeteries and tombstones. The capitals of Serbian kings and the thrones of Serbian archbishops and patriarchs were in Kosovo. Moreover, with the Battle of Kosovo, Kosovo and Vidovdan merged into a single concept and became a synonym with a specific meaning: The Serbdom. After June 15, 1389, one cannot speak of Kosovo apart from Vidovdan or about Vidovdan apart from Kosovo. They are inseparable because on Vidovdan 1389, on the Field of Kosovo, in the blood of Serbian warriors was written an indelible deed that forever confirms the Serbian ownership of Kosovo. Vidovdan commemorations, which have been celebrated annually for centuries, are reconfirmations of both the Serbian ownership of Kosovo and of the Vidovdan-Kosovo ethics, which are the core of the Serbian national image and the essence of Serbian identity.

It should be emphasized that the Vidovdan commemorations are not celebrations of a Serbian military victory over the Turks, for the Serbs were not victorious in the Kosovo Battle. However, it is incorrect, and even malicious, to claim that at Vidovdan commemorations the Serbs "celebrate their defeat in the Kosovo Battle." Such a statement has no logical or historical support. According to the historical documents, the Turks had not won a victory in the Battle of Kosovo. Neither a military victory nor a military defeat are not and could not have been either the reason or the meaning of Vidovdan commemorations. On those occasions the Serbs honor and commemorate the heroes of Kosovo who laid down their lives defending their faith, freedom, nation, and country. At the same time, Vidovdan commemorations are the annual reviews of the post-Kosovo Serbian generations. They are evaluated in terms of Vidovdan-Kosovo ethics and on the basis of their reconfirmation of the Pledge of Kosovo. On Vidovdan, June 15, 1389, on the Kosovo Field, the Serbs chose once and for all their religious, cultural, ethical, and national identity. Their choice, in the form of an unwritten pledge, was handed down to all post-Kosovo Serbian generations and, through 600 years, Serbs have lived by that pledge.

In the course of 6 centuries the geographical boundaries and demographic constituency of Kosovo, as well as the political and social conditions have changed. Serbs, who represented a majority in Kosovo, have been reduced to a minority. Uncontrolled migration of thousands of people from neighboring Albania to Kosovo on one hand and, on the other, mass exodus of Serbs from that territory, because of the merciless oppression to which the Serbs have been subjected by the newcomers, especially in the period 1943-1988, has changed the status of the Serbian population from a majority to a minority. Atrocities, unheard of even in uncivilized countries, have been perpetuated against the Serbian population in Kosovo. Regretfully, biased reporting in the world press, including the American, misrepresents the situation in Kosovo. Victims - Serbs - are portrayed as oppressors, whereas oppressors - the Muslim population in Kosovo - are depicted as victims. It is incomprehensible that the freedom-loving Serbs, the allies of America in 2 world wars, are being taunted and attacked in the American press, whereas their oppressors, the former allies of Hitler and Mussolini in World War II, are undeservedly favored and supported. Thus, not only geographical territories, social and political conditions, but allegiances change, too.

Fortunately, Kosovo ethics remain unchanged and those values will always endure for all future Serbian generations. Those values, briefly defined, are as follows:

Uncompromising faith in God, without which there is no genuine philanthropy;

Philanthropy, as a confirmation of the professed faith in God;

Firm dedication to Christianity as it is confessed by the Orthodox Church;

Priority of the spiritual over the material;

Faithfulness to God, nation, and motherland;

Freedom as a precious value for which everything should be sacrificed, whereas it should not be sacrificed for anything in the world;

Honesty, righteousness, and love for peace - virtues to be practiced by individuals as a basis for healthy social relationships;

Placing common interest above personal interests and readiness to sacrifice for those interests;

Compassion to be extended even to enemies;

National unity as a condition for national existence.

This testament, this set of ethics of Kosovo, represents the greatest importance of Kosovo and Vidovdan.

Inseparable through six centuries, it is the reason we celebrate Vidovdan today.

Labels: Serbia

Partizan VS Red Star Finals

We love our police... And they love us... And when two love eachother - fight is inevitable...

This happened just couple of days ago, during the second match of finals series. A great derby in finals after many years... A match that should be celebrated not only in Serbia, but in the whole Europe... Two giants which gave the world some of the greatest basketball legends of all time...

But no, the police proves again that past times are still not behind us...

Welcome to Serbia...

Labels: Serbia, Sport

this hurts...

...not only the act itself, but the crowd cheering... :(

this happened 2 years ago during March 17th pogrom in Kosovo...
Countless number of churches has been and is still being destroyed... there were 2400 before the war... now... well... noone really knows...

Labels: Serbia, Video, World Issues

That is the slogan that will follow Serbia and Montenegro during the World Cup...
Fifa made a poll on the World Cup webpage for a slogan for all the teams. And this one won for Serbia and Montenegro - a simple, yet powerfull slogan that shows the passion of my people towards the game... and not only football... and it doesn`t matter if we are good at it or not... it is the game that matters... igra je zakon (the game is the law), as we use to say...

so let the games begin! a happy,happy month is in front of us!

the rest of the slogans you can find at http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/w/hfc/bt_ws.html

Labels: Serbia, Sport

A new blog worth following...
A very good friend of mine and ex-colleague at the SCTM finally decided to start publishing his amazing texts, which he has many... I indeed hope he publishes all of them...

Read and enjoy... And follow his blog at http://nbgdblokovi.mojblog.co.yu.

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Svetsko prvenstvo. U fudbalu. Pocinje danas. Ima i nas, posle 8 godina. Tako smo navikli, jedno preskocimo, na drugo idemo. Bar je tako od 1972. Ja pamtim prvenstva od 1982. na ovamo. Kao devetogodisnjak sam overio prvo svetsko. I prve slicice, naravno. Espana 1982. Narandzasta maskota, Pizon, Pantelic, Vujovic, Surjak, Susic, Sestic, Gudelj, Sljivo... I Miljan, podrazumeva se. Nista bez MM-a. Nazalost. Rasturili sve u kvalifikacijama, a onda, kataklizma. Zbog cega, kako i zasto, nagada se i dan danas. Naravno, nama je najvise u secanju ostao Sorensen i ponovljeni penal. Uvek nademo kako da se utesimo i sakrijemo prave razloge. Secam se i igraca Hondurasa koji su plakali. A tek nasi... I tako je sve pocelo. U Meksiku nas nije bilo, pre toga su nas pregazili na evropskom i debitovao je Pikse. Onda opet kuliramo evropsko 1988, uzivamo u nocnoj mori Rinata Dasajeva, Marku Van Bastenu. Usput je i Sekularac unakazio bolju Zvezdinu generaciju od one iz Barija. Moja nocna mora, Keln 3:0. I onda Italija 1990. Imali smo sve. Ali smo imali kljuc. Cileanci na klupi, starci na terenu, trener Osim, jedan Meho, jedan Faruk, jedan Safet, jedan Refik, Robert, Alen, (hm, po kom je ovo kljucu islo...) Davor, jedan Dragan, janeza nema. Najmocnija igra 10 protiv 11 na jednom svetskom prvenstvu. I to protiv kralja kokaina i njegovih 10 gauchosa. Plakao sam kao malo dete. I nikad necu shvatiti zasto su tako kilavo sutirali Faruk i ekipa. Ubeden sam bio da bi dosli do finala. Kakav Skilaci, kakav Mateus. But... Posle smo odmarali osam godina. Evropsko 1992, Danci, koje smo gazili, prvaci Evrope. Nas oterase kao poslednje jadnike. Pa USA 1994, Engleska 1996. I onda, Francuska 1998. Sta hoces vise? Piksi, Dejo, Mijat, Miha, Savo, Deki klinac u naponu snage... Ali dzabe. Mentol Santrach na kormilu... Nema tu harizme. Nikad je nije ni bilo. A ni postenja. Kumovi, sestrici, rodaci. Kad se tako pravi tim, tu rezultata nema. Klanovi, plemena i ostali indijanci. Mislim da nam bolje nije ni sledovalo od onog gola u 92. minutu. Dosta smo se provlacili. I kao, ponadas se da ce se konacno nesto promeniti, ali ne lezi vraze. Dode Holandija 2000. Toga ne zelim ni da se secam. Lale su uradile ono sto je trebalo da urade 2 godine ranije. Ali, ni posle toga se nista nije promenilo. Pa ni kad smo preskocili Koreju i Japan, ni kada smo preskocili Portugal. Uvek ista prica. Sada se samo sa kumova i rodaka preslo na sinove. U principu pattern je isti. Da li sam defetista? Ma nisam, samo mi je krivo sto znam da bi dosta toga mogli da uradimo da su ljudi manje alavi i da razmisljaju kako treba. A ovako. Pa nista, lozimo se vrhunski kao i uvek, spremamo kokice i pakete piva. Ako doguramo daleko, bice nam Bogovi, ako ispadnemo i svi nas pregaze, pljuvacemo ih i traziti izgovore u narusavanju atmosfere i losim odnosima u savezu, u raspadu SCG i nedostatku motiva, zastave i himne... Naci ce se vec nesto, siguran sam. Ali nekako, mozda bas zbog svega toga ovog puta treba verovati. I pred raspad prosli put smo daleko dogurali. Zasto ne i sada? A po prvi put znam brdo ljudi koji su otisli, idu ili ce ici na SP. A ja sam blizu da dobijem karte za finale! I to je neki znak. Ne samo sto je blizu, vec zato sto ljudi nekako veruju da moze cudo da se dogodi. Meni se javilo ovako: Holandija 1:0, Argentina 0:0, Obala Slonovace 1:0. Osmina finala Meksiko 2:1, cetvrtina finala Engleska 1:0, polufinale Italija 1:0, finale Brazil 1:0. Zar ovo izgleda toliko nemoguce? Ne. Malo vere, hrabrosti, harizme, srece kao u kvalifikacijama i kao na EP za mlade, malo Nikole Zigica i voila! Hajdi nije ni svesna kakvu nam je uslugu ucinila...

Labels: Serbia

galata-ankara1
Originally uploaded by PeckoPivo.

galata-ankara4
Originally uploaded by PeckoPivo.

Labels: Istanbul, Serbia, Sport, Traineeship

Surfer
Originally uploaded by PeckoPivo.

Labels: Fun, Serbia

Belgrade Floods
Originally uploaded by PeckoPivo.

Labels: Fun, Serbia

...bombing of Serbia started... The "big and strong" NATO cowardly attacked my country from the air, attacking many non-military targets, killing 2500 people, dropping uranium bombs (which makes us affraid to have a baby these days - you never know if it will be born with an extra head or leg), trying out their new weapons...
I`m still pissed off... even if 7 years have passed... the only thing that calms me down is the fact that history told us that no dominant force is there forever... they will be fucked up soon... one way or another...
What history also tells us is that Serbia will always be around, sometimes strong, sometimes weak... but always an important factor in Balkans... liked it or not, that`s how it is... ;)

check out some pics made by a friend of mine, who is a news photographer - http://www.focus.co.yu/bombardovanjeeng1.htm

Labels: Kosovo, Serbia, World Issues

...yesterday in Vienna...
I`ll write more about the proposed solutions later, but until then, check out this BBC Belgrade video on "Why are Serbs reluctant to give up Kosovo". It doesn`t cover all the reasons, nor it is expected from BBC though, but it is still a nice presentation of what Serbs think about it...

Click here and then click on video file on the right side.

Labels: Kosovo, Serbia, World Issues

Wonderful idea... But we`re waiting for it way too long... Of course, the government is slowing down the process... Unfortunately, we`re still affraid of good things...

http://www.undp.org.yu/tareas/ict4d/nat_strategy.cfm

Labels: Serbia

Even if Serbia is not the strongest country in the world regarding the business ethics and CSR, there are still good case practices. Here`s one really awesome - a company will give away free or really cheap the land and basic infrastructure conditions in order to bring investments in this municipality, so to reduce unemployment and generally support the development of the region.

http://www.beocin-businesspark.com/ataglance.htm

I hope there will be many more similar activities soon... Who knows, I may start another blog, dedicated to CSR in Serbia... ;)

Labels: CSR, Serbia

For everyone interested in negotiations over Kosovo, this may be a relevant link:

http://www.srbija.sr.gov.yu/kosovo-metohija/

If you find other links also relevant for the topic, please leave a comment with the link...

Labels: Kosovo, Serbia, World Issues

... passed as if it were 7 days... I still remember all the details, all the faces, all the pain...

For those that don`t know me that good, I`m talking about a massacre in "Panda", a local pub in my hometown, Pec. It happened back in 1998, during the "war" in Kosovo, when 2 masked terorists jumped into a bar and killed 6 people with automatic guns... 6 of my really close friends... I should`ve been in that pub that day, for I`ve been there every bloody day and night for more then 3 years... I missed going there only once... when I heard of the massacre, beside the pain I felt like I dissapointed them... I should`ve been there... as I always was when we partied, watched football, played cards... damn, that is one fucked-up feeling, trust me...

I thought if I should upload this pic or not, and decided to do it... I think everyone should see it and think just for a second about the life... about how easy it is to take it from someone...



BTW, in most of the western media, this was an incident, not massacre...

Rest in peace, my dear friends...

Labels: Kosovo, Serbia, World Issues

A year after the tragic March events last year in which Kosovo Serbs and Roma experienced their "Kristallnacht" despite the presence of thousands of NATO led peacekeepers and the UN Mission hardly anything seems to have changed to the better in Kosovo. Although the international community strongly condemned the ethnic Albanian riots and the Kosovo Government reconstructed under the international pressure one part of destroyed homes, only a handful of 4000 expelled Serbs and Roma have returned to their homes. They don't feel safe in a society in which ethnic discrimination has become a regular pattern of life and in which no one can grant them security and freedom. Medieval Serbian churches are still in ruins, Christian cemeteries still covered by garbage and desecrated, there is no freedom of movement and normal life - the remaining Serbs remember the tragic anniversary in constant fear of renewed Albanian violence while explosions in Kosovo cities warn that the restive province is still a powder keg.

more on http://www.kosovo.com/news/archive/2005/March_17/1.html

Labels: Kosovo, Serbia, World Issues