Visa-free travel becomes reality for Serbs

Belgrade, Dec. 22 2009 ( Serbia Today) - As of December 19th, Serbian citizens with biometric passports can travel throughout the EU Schengen area without visas. To mark the occasion Serbian Government organized and paid for fifty citizens to take a trip around Europe.
The group of 50 will visit Brussels, Berlin, Paris, and Rome. Before their departure Friday night, the first Serbian no-visa travelers were greeted at the Belgrade airport by Deputy Prime Minister Božidar Đelić. Wishing the Serbians a safe trip and exciting time in Europe were officials of the French, Italian and Germany Embassies in presence as well.
First to cross the border after midnight on December 19 was Vuk Jeremic, the Serbian foreign minister, and local officials from the town of Subotica around 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the border with Hungary. Several dozen of citizens from a neighboring town of Kanjiza then followed, walking across the border. Hungarian Border policemen gave Serbian travelers a flier with all the information they need for visiting an EU country, their rights and obligations. Many of those traveling have a close family relatives across the border and seeing them more often now will be a reality.
Visa liberalization for Serbian citizens was long expected and desired in Serbia. It remains to be seen what it will bring to both EU and Serbia. While some are still concerned with the security risks, others wonder if EU will experience new (Serbian) wave of the low cost high qualified seasonal illegal work force. In most of the EU countries average pay is over 10 times higher than in Serbia.

The Completion of Demining in Sid

Belgrade, Dec. 21, 2009 (Source: US Embassy Press Release, Serbia Today) - On Monday, December 21, 2009 the Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade Jennifer Brush, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Ivica Dacic, Ministry of Defense State Secretary Zoran Jeftić, Director of the Mine Action Center Petar Mihajlovic, Director of the International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance (ITF) Goran Gacnik, the Mayor of Šid Natasa Cvjetkovic, and members of the international community are participating in an event organized by the Mine Action Center to mark the completion of a demining project in Šid.
The closing of this demining project concludes a seven-year effort in which the United States donated over $4.2 million to clear landmines that were placed along the Serbian border during the conflicts of the 1990s.
The event will include brief remarks by Chargé Brush, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Ivica Dacic, and Director of the Mine Action Center Petar Mihajlovic.
The United States is the biggest donor to humanitarian demining in Serbia having contributed over $4.2 million to projects in Serbia since 2003, including almost $900,000 in 2009. Remica stan near Šid was the last demining project and the land will now be returned to local farmers. This is the site where in 2000 a father was injured and his son killed from a mine that exploded while they were on their tractor. Work done on this site required the full range of equipment, including armored excavators, remote driven mine clearance vehicles, dogs, and human deminers.
As the world’s single largest financial supporter of humanitarian mine action, the United States has provided more than $1.5 billion toward landmine clearance and conventional weapons destruction in 47 countries. In Serbia the U.S. works with the Slovene International Trust Fund (ITF) for Humanitarian Demining and Mine Victims Assistance, which has administered U.S. funds in the region since 1999.

Serbian Minister of Health to receive H1N1 vaccine first

Belgrade, Dec. 16,2009 (Serbia Today) - In his statement to the press on Tuesday, the Serbian Minister of Health Tomica Milosavljevic confirmed that vaccination against H1N1 flu virus will begin on Thursday (Dec. 17) , and that he will be the first one to be vaccinated in the Community Hospital in Rakovica Borough of Belgrade.
The Ministry of Health purchased 620,000 vaccines for December and according to Milosavljevic that will be enough to cover needs of the parts of population that are most at risk like elderly, babies, people with chronic illnesses, those working in public sector and health professionals.

In spite of many suspicions as to the side effects of the new vaccine, the Minister added that it is still the best protection against this type of flu and to prove his point he will be the first one to receive that new vaccine.

According to last reports by Beta News Agency, the condition with the H1N1 virus infection is worsening in the Nis Region of Serbia. In last 24 hours 48 people were examined in the Medical Center of Nis and half of them were infected. Yesterday, one more patient died because of the complications related to the H1N1 virus. So far, 12 infected patients died at the Medical Center of Nis, five from Nis and seven from other parts of southeast Serbia.

Fight against sexual and gender based violence

By Jelena Jovanovic
Belgrade, Dec. 15 2009 (Serbia Today) - Ministry of Labor and Social Policy - The Department for Gender Equality started the project „Fight against sexual and gender based violence“ in 2009 with the financial support of the Government of the Kingdom of Norway, and with its professional and technical cooperation and support in ensuring the fulfillment of international standards by the United Nations.
The project that will last until 2011, is based on the national strategy for improving the position of women and promoting gender equality, on the international documents in the field of violence against women, and on the conclusions of the National conference on violence against women held in Serbia in 2007.
According to the data that can be found on the official web site of Serbian Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, the National Strategy for improving the position of women and gender equality (2009 - 2015), which was recently adopted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia, defined 6 priority topics. These topics were defined in the tune with needs of the State and in the accordance with the UN Committee recommendation on implementation of the Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women.
Combating violence against women is recognized as one of the six highest priority in Serbia. In Serbian society there is a high tolerance for gender-based violence, and most victims are not aware of their rights. The system of collecting data on victims of sexual and gender based violence is not sufficiently developed. Various researches and experiences of civic organizations that provide services to victims of violence revealed high rates of psychical and psychological violence in Serbian society. ( The fact is also that the most of violent acts are never reported to the state institutions)
Beside these facts, in the official web site of Serbian Ministry of Labor , all details about the project ’Fight against sexual and gender based violence ’ are described. Main aims of this project are:
Strengthening the capacity of the Gender Equality within the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy; Developing capacity to create public policy related to the core and their implementation;
Introduction of uniform standards for collecting data on the core of the relevant institutions and development standards for the production of official statistics core in the relevant institutions; Improving horizontal and vertical coordination of stakeholders;
Improving access to victims of the corresponding core services;
Developing a set of recommendations for dealing with perpetrators of core programs and the introduction of the perpetrators and Raising awareness about the core.
It is particularly stressed that the main aim of this project was systematically providing help to all victims of violence - through State institutions and non government organizations – and stimulating institutions and organizations that provide such help.
Part of the project, organized in the cooperation with daily newspaper Danas from Belgrade, is the campaign adressed to the public. Its goal is to raise the level of the awareness in the society about violence against women and to remind on basic principles of gender equality.
In the articles , published in `Danas` since the mid November, various terms has been explained, as well as significant historical changes in the recent history. Some of the articles were about gender-based violence, sexual violence, discrimination, ageism (discrimination of the older persons) , misogyny (discrimination of women) ...
One of the articles reminded on the Day Against Violence Against Women and on the Council of Europe Recommendation from 2002. This recommendation provides a framework of measures to protect women from violence, especially domestic violence, as the most frequent form of gender-based violence.

NIS Shares to Be Given to Public

By Milen Vesovic
Belgrade, Dec.10, 2009 (Serbia Today) - On January 6th of next year, Serbian citizens meeting certain qualifications, will receive five shares of Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS) at the nominal value of RSD 2,500 and RSD 1700 from the Privatization Registry each, announced Minister of Economy and Regional Development Mladjan Dinkic.
Dinkic said that by the end of the year, amendments be adopted to the Law on the Right to Free Shares, which will provide procedures for the free distribution of shares of companies that are not yet privatized.
Dinkic said that in 2010, shares would be distributed from Telekom Serbia, Belgrade Airport and from the Unified Action.
Dinkic conveyed the recommendation of the Serbian Government that shares of large public companies be traded on the Belgrade Stock Exchange (BSE). It is hoped that the highest price will be obtained by trading on the open market.
The Minister advised small shareholders in NIS should work together on the basis of controlling their shares and elect representatives to the board of the company, in order to affect the board business and dictate dividends.
According to the current structure, small shareholders could count on two seats on the board of NIS, which would have to relinquish their state allotted seats, said Dinkic.

Serbia’s Tackles Traffic Safety with New Law

Belgrade, Dec.8th 2009 (Serbia Today) - It has been the complaint of visitors and residents alike that traffic in Serbia is unmanageable and drivers do not observe the basic safety rules, especially in the big cities. All of that is about to change with the implementation of the new law on traffic security which will become effective December 10th.
The new Law on Traffic Safety, as it is formally known, will introduce a negative points system which is not unlike existing European or US systems for maintain driver’s records. The new law will also introduce more rigorous penalties for a variety of violations.
Video surveillance will be introduced, in order to enable easier identification of responsible parties when more serious traffic violations occur. The law prohibits the use of mobile phones while driving, and the same restrictions on phone use will also be applied to pedestrians while crossing the street.
The law also contains measures for penalties for aggressive driving. Bicycle and motorcycle riders will have to wear helmets.
Some of these laws may seem over due to the Western observer, but Serbia has gone through a dramatic period of political changes that were accompanied by economic hardships. Urban planning was forced to take a back seat to more pressing needs, as authorities concentrated on basic services.
On the roads of the Serbia, 60,000 traffic accidents occurred annually, including between 850 and 1200 fatalities and between 16,000 and 19,000 injured. In 1/3 of the traffic incidents with casualties, the main cause was high speed of a vehicle.
The drafters of the law have adopted the goal of decreasing the number of deaths in traffic by half in the next three years.

Science Festival in Belgrade

By :Jelena Jovanovic
Belgrade, Dec.8th 2009 (Source: Serbia Today) - The 3rd Festival of Science, was held in Belgrade from December 4th to December 6th. The festival has gained an increasing following since its inception and has proved that science has many fans in Serbia. The festival drew over 17 000 visitors in total – among them were students from 135 Serbian primary and secondary schools. In the first day alone there were 6000 visitors to the festival.
This year`s the Science Festival took place in the vacated space of department store `Kluz`, in the city center, and provided a perfect setting for exhibitions, presentations, scientific experiments, and lectures.
Most visitors of the festival were from Belgrade, but many school groups from the surrounding towns of Negotin, Nis, Cuprija, Pozega, Smederevo, Arandjelovac came to Belgrade with their teachers.
The festival was formally opened by Serbian Minister for Science and Technological Development Bozidar Djelic and the Festival producers from the organization ’Museum Night’ - Ana Jovanovic and Mladen Petrovic.
More than 200 scientists and researchers from 22 scientific institutions and 30 foreign guests had a project or experiment to present and explain the importance of achievements from 28 scientific fields including; physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, mathematics, geology, psychology, and genetics. Among foreign guests at the festival were representatives of the Centers for Science Promotion from France, Spain, and Sweden, and there were also guest exhibitors from Switzerland and Thailand.
The slogan of this year festival, organized under the patronage of the Ministry of Science and the Belgrade City Assembly, was ’100% Science’. Additional sponsor of the festival was of the festival was Erste Bank.

Serbian Orthodox Church Election Meeting on January 22

Belgrade, Dec. 7, 2009 (Serbia Today) – The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church decided at its session today that the electoral assembly of the Church will meet on January 22, 2010 to elect a new Patriarch.

According to a statement published on the website of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Holy Synod also decided that a prayer service and a 40-day memorial for the late Patriarch Pavle will be held on December 24 at the St Sava Temple in Vracar. The service will begin at 9 am. 

After the service a small commemoration ceremony will also be held at the graveside of Patriarch Pavle, at the Rakovica Monastery

Corruption has a new enemy in Serbia: Minister Dacic

Belgrade, Dec. 7, 2009 (Serbia Today) - In a break from politics as usual, and a sign of real leader ship in the Serbian Government, Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said that workers are holding justified strikes in Serbia, and that those who robbed these workers should first be arrested.
There is an increasing number of workers for various State owned enterprises that have either been sold or are in the process of being reorganized. Thousands of these workers all over Serbia have either not been paid for work already rendered, or not been given severance pay, benefits, and new jobs that were promised, and Minister Dacic appears to have seen enough and is making a stand.
The Socialist Party of Serbia leader said that there must be discussion of “whether there is only an elite in this country of several dozen wealthy people who robbed and bought Serbia, or whether there are the millions who created Serbia,” said Dacic at the 19th anniversary celebration of the SPS city council in Belgrade, and he went on to say that most of the demands of the workers who are striking and protesting in Serbia are completely justified, reported Serbian news service B92.
While these remarks may seem inflammatory to some, there is a growing feeling outside of the Government, and now inside the Government that Serbian powerbrokers, hanging on from the Communist Party, have unjustly taken profits from privatization and illegal monopolies since the breakup of Yugoslavia.
“First, all those who made these workers redundant and robbed their factories should be arrested,” and then there can be talk of getting the workers off the streets, Dacic said.
Tough talk like this is not often heard from such a high seat in the Serbian Government. It is a positive sign that Serbia’s Ministers now have the freedom to make such remarks. Dacic and his colleges’ progress in facing corruption will be followed closely, as Serbia put its affairs in order, and prepares to join the EU

Poll Finds Most Serbs Unwilling to Vaccinate

Belgrade, Dec.5th, 2009 (Serbia Today) – The recent release of results from the a TNS Medium Gallup poll conducted in November showed that most residents of Serbia would not even consider taking the recently imported H1N1 influenza vaccine.
Leading member of the Serbian government’s influenza work group, epidemiologist Branislav Tiodorovic, attempted to play down the results of the poll by pointing out that the mood in Serbia at this point is similar to that in most other European countries, but that in Norway, "initially only 10 to 15 percent of the population planned to get vaccinated".
“However, when serious cases and fatal outcomes started to occur the percentage suddenly increased. If 30% of the citizens stated that they would be vaccinated, that means about two million. We would consider vaccinating 1,500,000 a success. If they were chronic patients and children the result would be far better than anyone expected,” said he.
Over half of the population did not plan to receive the vaccine against swine flu, 29 percent said they would be inoculated, and 19 percent were indecisive, according to Serbian news service B92.
Todorovic added that the results of a survey that showed about 29 percent of the population were ready to be vaccinated were "as expected".
The H1N1 influenza is still considered an epidemic and the prognosis for the situation in Serbia is still a cause for concern.
“We could say that the next epidemic wave is slowly starting to gain momentum. There shouldn't be any significant difference regarding the number of the cases compared to the previous wave. This is just the introduction to the main wave,” Tiodorovic stated.
According to him, the manufacturer of the swine flu vaccine would be responsible for any side effects, "if it failed to warn about them".
“The state is responsible too, and obligated to create certain conditions and provide a tested, registered and high quality vaccine," he told daily Danas.
Serbia has so far reported 394 confirmed swine flu cases, with 22 fatal outcomes.
The country bought the vaccines from Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis, and the inoculation, which will be voluntary, is set to start in mid December.

U.S. Forensics Expert at Belgrade Science Festival

Belgrade, Dec.5th, 2009 (Serbia Today) - U.S. Forensic Expert Scott Rubins will visit Belgrade as part of the U.S. sponsored Speaker program from December 2 to 6, to participate in the 2009 Science Festival. Rubins will deliver lectures at the Novi Sad University, NKTC and the Faculty of Physical Chemistry to a group of students and faculty professors.
Rubins is President of Forensic Futures Education Consulting Group (FFEG) and an Adjunct Instructor for the College of New Rochelle graduate school as well as the Department of Chemistry at Syracuse University.
When opening the science festival the Deputy Prime Minister for EU integration and Minister of Science and Technological Development Bozidar Djelic commented that this kind of interaction amongst young scientists is beneficial for the future of the country.
He also stressed that 250 scientists from 22 scientific institutions and 30 guests from abroad will attend the festival, adding that in just three days the festival will gather together 15,000 children and young people.
Guests from Switzerland, Thailand, Sweden, Spain, USA, France and Croatia, as well as Serbian scientists will participate in the festival. The science festival is being held under the auspices of the Ministry of Science and Technological Development and the Belgrade City Assembly’s Secretariat for Education. The U.S. Embassy often organizes U.S. Speaker programs in Serbia, inviting experts and scholars to speak on various topics throughout the country.

Serbian Hackers Caught in Vranje

By: Bojana Jankovic
Vranje, Dec.4, 2009 (Serbia Today) - The American software giant Microsoft sent a detailed report, totaling hundreds of pages long, on a dangerous group of hackers from Serbia, to Serbian police. Much to the lead investigator’s surprise, they came across a boy of only 17 years old from Vranje as the brains of this complex international operation. With the help of three friends who are 18 years old, this young man had raised the ire of the American juggernaut and triggered an international investigation.
Microsoft, in its elaborate report, claimed that the hackers broke into the databases electronic stores, or e-commerce centers, in New York and Washington, and obtained shoppers data and details on their purchasing habits.
After initial data theft, the group then sent the people a false e-mail from a bank which sought information on their credit cards. In this way, they illegally obtained information on hundreds of payment cards, which were then used for purchases, from Serbia.
The search for a group by Microsoft technical staff took an unexpected turn, as inspectors from the police department for high-tech crime, found that the Internet hackers were not a group of professional criminals, but boys from Vranje, who were ordered computers, technology, luxury mobile phones, games at first, for themselves, and then for girls and friends as a gifts. Police disguised themselves as couriers of City Express (the company paid to deliver the illegally purchased items) and arrested them while delivering the goods to their residence.
One of the boys, who is 18 years old, was in charge of handling the phone and confirmed the address where the goods were to be delivered. The delivery address was to houses down from where the brain of the operations lived. Unfortunately for the group, two doors down was not quite far enough away to throw the police off their trail.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

By: Milen Vesovic
Belgrade, Dec.4th (Serbia Today) - Today marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, when a full 10% percent of the total population of the world is officially recognized. This day takes on special meaning in Serbia as the disabled are fighting for their rights and the resources to join the mainstream in Serbia.
There is no accurate data as to exactly how many people with disabilities live in Serbia. However there are some estimates that the number ranges from 800,000 to a million individuals.
According to data presented last year by Minister of Labor and Social Policy, Rasim Ljajic, 70% of the total number of persons with disabilities in Serbia are living below the poverty line, and only 13% are employed, with more than half getting by on various social welfare programs.
The National Employment Service (NES), along with other agencies and public institutions is working on the implementation of active employment policy measures for this population through training and job search, individual employment plans, job fairs, and professional fairs.
NEA was founded as a center for vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. NEA organizes and implements activities aimed at training persons with disabilities for suitable jobs, maintaining employment, and promotion or career change.
Minister Ljajic visited several associations of persons with disabilities. Ljajic said that Serbia should work on establishing the best possible living conditions of persons with disabilities.

WWII Heroes of Serbia Remembered

By: Bojana Jankovic
Bajina Basta, Dec.2, 2009 (Serbia Today) - On Sunday, 29th November, 2009, on the Kadinjaca Mountain, in Western Serbia, between Uzice and Bajina Basta, the 68th anniversary of the WWII battle in which some 300 warriors of Radnicki Bataljon ( the Worker’s battalion) were killed. These heroes gave their lives defending the retreat to the Supreme Headquarters of the Partisan army in the Uzice Republic.
On this day, the clergy of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Uzice held a liturgy for the fallen heroes, and delegation of the Ministry of Defense and leader from all political parties in Uzice and Bajina Basta as well as associations of descedants, laid the wreaths at memorial monuments, with the honor guard of the Army of Serbia.
The Radnicki batalion of Uzice’s Partisan Unit, in the command Andrija Djurovic, offered fierce resistance a far more superior enemy who was at that time carrying out an offensive in the liberated territory on the Republic Uzice. The small, underarmed battalion put up such a fierce resistance to the attacking Nazi forces that the entire offensive was held up by the this small band of warriors fighting to a man in the face of certain death. The enemy forces broke the last defense of free Uzice, but the heroism battalion remains etched in the memory of the people to this day.
The ceremony marking the battle took place in front of several hundred people, as the Yugoslav tricolor flag flew overhead, along with the flag of the proleterian. Survivors of the National Liberation War, as the Balkans theater of WWII is known in Serbia, wore hats which were worn at that time, and sang a songs of tribute and all around Serbia, the famous battle was celebrated as Republic of Day.

‘WE CARE’ Conference for Serbia’s Children

By: Jelena Jovanovic
Belgrade, Dec.1, 2009 (Serbia Today) - Marking the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child was the conference WE CARE, in Cultural Center Rex. This conference, organized by Belgrade Child Rights Center (Serbian non-governmental organization founded with the support of Save the Children Norway and Save the Children UK), had several goals and topics.
Ivana Stevanovic, president of the Child Rights Center spoke about UN Convention on the rights of the child, 20 years after its adoption and Bjorn Hagen, director of South East Europe Regional Office of Save the Children Norway, spoke about the organization and its work in Serbia.
Marija Petrović, from the Children Coalition, presented the project - ‘ (Un)secured Rights of Children in Serbia, in 2009’.
The main aim of the Child Rights Center is the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Serbia. Therefore, all activities are focused on introducing such laws, policies and practices that enable the improvement of children's well being, protection of their rights and their full participation in society.The project ` Towards implementation to the Rights of Children` started in 2005 and will end at the end of 2009. The book ‘(Un)secured Rights of Children in Serbia` is part of this project. It presents parts of the alternative report on implementing Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The Coalition for Monitoring Children’s Rights in Serbia, which prepared this report consists of 18 civil associations in Serbia. Their work started in 2007, with a report about implementation of UN Convention in Serbia between 1992 and 2007. Later, their activities were implemented with the support of Save the Children Norway, Save the Children Sweden and UNICEF. From the beginning of 2009, the support has also been given by OEBS.
The Coalition for Monitoring Children`s rights has been extended with programs to further define needed services to address the problems of child trafficking, prostitution, pornography and child soldiers. The need for these programs is to precisely identify responsibilities and create new standards in order to protect children’s rights and to protect children from exploitation.Serbia has ratified both protocols put forward by the UN and these international contracts are now part of Serbian law.
The results of the report completed by the Children Coalition showed that certain shifts in Serbia, in 2009, have been made. Several important laws were adopted, including – laws for the protection of discrimination, laws mandating the registration of births, and changes in the criminal legal code. Laws concerning social protection are being prepared. In 2009, the process of changing two important documents - the National Plan of Action for Children and the Strategy for Decreasing Poverty in Serbia – finally bore fruit, and significant results are already being seen as the Government prepares services. More efficient protection of children’s rights in Serbia has obstacles at the local level in many municipalities in Serbia. Also, there are faults in the field of health protection and in the strategy of further education development. There are many issues in Serbia that are preventing children`s rights from being universally observed. The evaluation is that 70% of children with special needs do not attend school. Children from rural environments and Roma children are also at risk.
After finishing primary school, children in Serbia show achievements that are below average, compared to their peers in OEBS countries. These facts show that the educational system in Serbia needs improvement if it is to serve as a part of the solution in the protection of children’s rights.Global economic crises made the economic situation worse in many families in Serbia this year, and the poverty of children has been increased. Some progress is noticed in the field of crimes committed against minors. Family law is still not as efficient as it needs to be to effectively intervene in domestic violence cases. There is a need for an ombudsman for protecting the rights of the children. All these conclusions can be found in the report on the project (Un) secured rights of the children in Serbia, in 2009.
The aim of the conference, which marked the 20th anniversary, was also to raise the awareness of the public and to call awareness to the fact that the rights of children in Serbia are not upheld. And, that necessary steps in solving many problems lie at the feet of the Serbian authorities.

UNICEF Still Helping the Children of Serbia

By: Valentina Radulovic
Belgrade, Dec.1, 2009 (Source: Serbia Today) – Since 1947, when the first package of aid was sent in the former Yugoslavia, UNICEF has played a role in Serbia. During the past sixty years, including the the most recent years in the turbulent history of the region, UNICEF was giving aid to children in need.
Nowadays, UNICEF continues with its mission and supports the efforts to protect and promote children’s rights, in order to create a better world for them by creating an environment where their basic needs will be met. UNICEF tries to enlarge the opportunities for Serbian children to develop their potentials.
The organization is completely financed by donations and charities of the government and foundations, partnerships with business sector and by citizens’ donations. This current campaign, ‘Greeting Cards Full of Life’, is yet another campaign drive to continue their efforts.
As a part of its present program (2005 – 2009), UNICEF tries to create better conditions for the youngest, especially those who live in poverty and in social isolation. They closely cooperate with the Serbian Government, and help NGOs in their struggle to make a difference.
Thanks to UNICEF, Serbia is the only country to receive funds from the greeting cards campaign.
The Children’s Fund of UNICEF in Serbia, in cooperation with Ministry of Education, and with the support of Institute Servantes, has organized the exhibition: Greeting Cards full of life. In that way, it will be celebrating 60 years of work of this kind in Serbia.
This exhibition will open on December 2nd in the Gallery of Institute Servantes, in Belgrade. The pupils from Serbian primary schools have taken part in this campaign. They have made drawings or wrote stories, under the topic ‘My UNICEF Greeting’ and ‘My New Year’s Wish’. The winning works will be exhibited in Institute Servantes from December 2nd to 6th.
During the exhibition, the work from previous decades will be presented, as well. Some of the most famous artists gave their works to UNICEF, including Spanish painters Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro.
The results of the campaigns of UNICEF, and its continuous struggle for better life for children, have made a difference in the lives of children in Serbia and around the world.

Ombudsman for HIV Patients Needed

Belgrade, Dec.1, 2009 (Serbia Today) - State Secretary for Human and Minority Rights Marko Karadzic today stated that persons with HIV in Serbia are still being discriminated against, although the general attitude towards them is much better than 10–15 years ago.
At the seminar “Sigma, HIV/AIDS, the Media” Karadzic noted that this research from 2006 shows that 89% of Serbian citizens would not live with an HIV positive person, 65% would not let them into their home and 39% believe they should be dismissed from work.
He said that Serbia's anti-discrimination laws protect persons with HIV, noting that it is necessary to open an office of the equality ombudsman who will deal with issues of HIV positive persons and recommend sanctions against those who discriminate against their fellow citizens on the basis of health or any other reason.
The goal of the seminar is to inform the media on issues accompanying HIV infection and generate awareness of the major issues in the lives of persons in Serbia infected with this virus.

Anniversary of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts

Belgrade, Nov.30, 2009 (Serbia Today) - The Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SANU) is celebrating its 168 anniversary, since it was founded in 1841.
Speaking at the celebrations last week was Serbian President Boris Tadic. He emphasized the quality of every state was dependant on the contribution of the science community, reported Serbia International Radio.
The Academy was founded by Jovan Sterija Popovic and Atanasije Nikolic, with the support of Prince Mihailo Obrenovic in 1841. 25 years later, the Basic Law of the Royal Serbian Academy was enacted, which created the academy. The Law stipulated that the first academicians should be elected by the king and that they in turn should elect new ones.
Eminent scientist of the day, Josif Pancic, was the first academy president elected, and since that time academicians themselves have elected full and part time members.
In 1947, the Academy changed its name into the Serbian Academy of Sciences and in 1960 it was named The Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts. Today, it numbers 183 members – 106 full members and 77 correspondent members, and it consists of eight departments.
Speaking at the celebrations, Serbian President Boris Tadic emphasized that the more than 100 years the Academy has existed as the central scholarly institution in Serbia testified to the scholarly tradition of Serbia. He further stated that prosperous and emancipated societies owe their development and dynamics to knowledge and innovation.
“Even in the most difficult times, Serbia has endeavored to preserve its cultural, scientific, scholarly and educational institutions and SANU will always enjoy state support,” said Tadic.
Tadic went on today to add that those in the Government are not satisfied with the level of support given to science and hopes to increase that support in the near future.
Tadic reminded those in attendance that Serbia’s current efforts to join the EU, and develop its economy are closely link to the efforts of the members of SANU.

Student Demands Met by Government

Belgrade, Nov.30, 2009 (Serbia Today) - The government has agreed to fulfill a majority of the demands of students that have been protesting in Belgrade over the last several days. However, a group of students that are still not content with the agreement has announced that it would continue with a radicalization of the protests, while the Education Ministry has called on them to focus on their studies instead.
The government has agreed to five of the six demands of the Belgrade University students.
Education Minister Zarko Obradovic called on students to return to their studies, and confirmed for B92 that all faculties will receive information on the government decision for relaxation of registration for the coming year on Monday.
During the week, the Ministry will pass the added quotas for Master’s studies and the problem with heating in the universities will be solved in cooperation with the city of Belgrade.
The only demand that was not met is the one related to collective registration.
“By law, in order to register for a school year you must pass courses that will total 48 points. Last year, we changed the law in agreement with the deans and students. It was then said that 48 points is the right measure. The statistics that at least half of the students are following that trend shows that we are on the right path for implementing Bologna in our education system. If we agreed on violating the law, and register students that did not pass enough courses, that would be a great step backwards,” Obradovic said.

H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Arrives in Serbia

Belgrade, Nov.28, 2009 (Serbia Today) - The first shipment of 140,000 doses of ‘Novartis’ vaccines against the new flu shall be delivered to Serbia from the company’s factory in Siena, Italy on November 28 while the remaining 500,000 doses shall arrive on December 8th, according to Serbian daily Blic.
The vaccine is arriving earlier because it is to undergo analysis at the National Laboratory and Agency for Medicine so that vaccination can begin in the middle of December. The analysis shall have to be made in accordance with present law governing medication importation into Serbia. This law is to be changed so to accept registration of a medication by a relevant EU body.
Further deliveries shall be order as agreed with the manufacturer.Serbia Health Minister Tomica Milosavljevic said yesterday that “there is not a single argument against vaccination.”
Until yesterday there have been 356 registered cases of new flu. Seventeen people died while 477 people are presently hospitalized.

Students Continue Protests in Belgrade

Belgrade, Nov.28, 2009(Serbia Today) - The University of Belgrade students who had been protesting in front of the Serbian Government main administration building on Wednesday will gather again at the end of the week.
The students are calling for the so-called cumulative registration, which stipulates that all those who meet the conditions to receive educational assistance should receive the funds in the form of one time installment for 2009/2010 academic year, according to Serbian news service B92.
They are also calling for assistance for students who have 48 or more credits which are not covered from the budget. Reported outages in the heating of University Halls during the recent cold weather has also contributed to the students concerns.
The students also blocked Brankov Bridge across the Sava River at one point, before leaving from in front of the Government building in Nemanjina St., at midnight last night, according to Serbian news agency Beta.
Both Kneza Milosa and Nemanjina streets were blocked as the protesters held a two hour meeting with the Government on Wednesday.
The traffic in the wider city center was also significantly slowed because of the protest.