Serbia wants to keep her scientists

Belgrade May 25. 2010. (Serbia Today) -  Serbia has recently established National Council for Science and Technology. As Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic announced that goal of Council is that Serbia no longer export smart people, but smart products. The task of the Council is also to check the quality and control implementation of key reform processes in the field of science and technology in Serbia." Djelic said. He also recently announced that Serbia will, in the next five years, invest around 800 million EUR in science and technological development. These funds should make better living conditions for all scientists in Serbia. We have clear priorities for different science areas such as biology, medicine, information technologies , energy and the economy",  Djelic said. The President of the newly established National Council for Scientific and Technological Development Vera Dondur  said that the Council has a duty to restore confidence of young people that it is good decision to stay in Serbia. Council will make sure that what scientists do in laboratories can be transformed into technology and products. Looking at our young people in universities, those who go to large research centers, I think we have great potential”, said Dondur.
 

Tourist visas for the United States now valid for 10 years

Belgrade, May, 24. 2010(Serbia Today) – Validity of visas for citizens of Serbia for tourist or business travel to the United States will be extended from three to ten years, said U.S. ambassador in Belgrade Vorlik Mary on Thursday.
This is the maximum period to which the citizens of one country in the world may grant the U.S. visa and means that visitors who visit the U.S.
on tourist or business travel, need only visit the embassy only once in 10
years to renew their visas. "This decision represents a turning point in relations between U.S. and Serbia and it is a symbol of our profound friendship. I hope that the introduction of visas for 10
years, with the possibility of multiple entries, will contribute to improving
operations between the Serbian and U.S. firms and that more Serbian
tourists will include the United States in their travel plans ", said Vorlik in Belgrade. Consul General U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, Peter Marilijano explained that the ten years visas are to be issued only for categories B1 and B2 which are related to short-term tourist and business visits, while the validity of all other visas will stay unchanged. Marilijano pointed out that America wants to increase the number of tourist
visits, and the citizens of Serbia who decide to travel first will have to buy PIN number at Raiffeisen Bank, which cost about 10 dollars, and then call the call center to schedule an interview with the relevant Embassy officials. All necessary forms for the visa, which will still cost 131 dollars, can be filled at the embassy website said Marilijano adding that the criteria for obtaining a visa for 10 years will not be changed, compared to the three-year visa. Also, the Serbian citizens who have valid U.S. visas continuing to use them until their expiration.

Penalties for selling alcohol and cigarettes to minors

Belgrade, May, 22.  2010 (Serbia Today)  From June , sellers of cigarettes and alcoholic beverages  will be required to prohibit buyers if they think that they are underage. The law on consumer protection has not been completed, and penalties are not officially defined but Serbian media are speculating that it will be up to 200, 000 EUR. Although selling alcohol and cigarettes to minors is already prohibited, minors can usually buy them without a problem. As of June it should not be more difficult, because the sellers and waiters will be required to screen them and check their age and the right to buy cigarettes or drink. Previous law prohibited serving alcohol and cigarettes to minors but has not determined the penalties for those who sell alcohol and cigarettes under 18 years. Researches showed that young people in Serbia first try alcohol at the age of 13.

Climate change conference opens

Belgrade, May, 21. 2010 (Serbia Today) - Parliament President Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic late on Monday officially opened a two-day climate change conference, called “Learning and teaching climate changesand the United Nations system”. Djukic-Dejanovic underscored that the meeting would give an important contribution to adopting specific programs. “I am confident that conclusions will be made at the conference that will be important and very useful for the stands of governments, international organizations, scientific institutions and all individuals that receive the information in Southeast Europe as a whole”, she said. Djukic-Dejanovic concluded that Serbia will work on improving the environment, both by adopting laws and implementing them.

Ministry of Education awards the best pupils

Belgrade, May, 20. 2010 (Serbia Today) – The Ministry of Education will reward the best pupils in primary and secondary schools in Serbia announced the Education Minister Zarko Obradovic on Monday. The best students in Serbia will be given 25 coins of alloy of new silver with characters of Serbian statesmen, scientists and artists, and a book on famous personalities from Serbian history, culture and science, such as Dositej Obradovic, Nikola Tesla, Milutin Milankovic and Milena Pavlovic Barili. Obradovic stressed that the goal is to promote education and the best pupils. He said that education in Serbia should be adjusted to the needs of market and economic development, so that Serbia does not fall behind other countries. One of the sponsors of this action is Politika. The president of the Board Sonja Licht said that the goal of action is to promote knowledge and pupils who are best worked. It will be awarded to a total of 1711 students. The best students will determine a classroom and teaching Council in schools, and in addition to success in school into account will be taken conduct and awards in competitions that were organized by the Ministry of Education.

Serbian students wants to leave the country

Belgrade, May, 19. 2010 (Serbia Today) - Most of the Belgrade university students, about two-thirds,  considering leaving Serbia after finishing their studies, writes  Belgrade daily Blic.  Research by the Marketing Workshop of the Economy Faculty shows that more and more students are considering leaving Serbia after graduation.  Results of the survey show that 56 percent of students would leave Serbia after school if an opportunity presented itself, while 21 would leave to continue their schooling and nine percent would leave to find a job. After finishing school, 63 percent of students intend to look for a job in Belgrade, 19 abroad, and 13.5 percent in their cities or towns of origin. More than one-third of those surveyed believe that a connection or acquaintance is needed to find a job, while one-fourth believe that ability is most important, and one-fourth believe that having a diploma is what is key in finding a job.

Organizers of last year’s gay Pride Parade are warning that the atmosphere of hatred toward the LGBT community is stirring up again

Belgrade, May, 18. 2010 (Serbia Today) - Organizers of last year’s gay Pride Parade are warning that the atmosphere of hatred toward the LGBT community is stirring up again, especially, as they say with the scenario of “planting false news. The announcement from the organizers said in Belgrade on Tuesday that already tested instruments for spreading false information were activated similar to what happened last year, when the parade was in the end canceled to security concerns. Earlier this week, it was announced that the Pride Parade would be held on September 19 in Belgrade, organized by the LGBT Forum Serbia, but the representatives of all relevant gay NGOs in Serbia claim that organization does not even exist. Members of Pride Parade 2009 organizing committee said that this was in fact a web page launched last year when the organization of the parade, which was scheduled for September 20, entered its most delicate phase. The site’s content was completely identical to the content of the Pride Parade’s official web page and the address was almost identical, in order to mislead the public that it was the official source of information. “Several days before the Pride Parade (last year) disinformation that the gathering would begin with the burning of the Republic of Serbia’s state flag was released on that fake website. Conservative centers of power wanted to additionally heighten tensions and increase threats of extreme-rightist groups in this way, which eventually led to the capitulation of the state authorities when they banned the Pride Parade in the scheduled location,” the announcement said. They also point out that the phantom organization LGBT Forum Serbia announced the flag burning again in its statement on Monday. The organizers conclude that will be taken all legal measures in this case.