Serbia: Leskovac City Makes Fantastic Model Authority to No Kill Animal Control Programmes

Posted on October 2, 2009 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Serbian Flag

 

You may remember our post of 18th August regarding the great news that Leskovac City in Southern Serbia had started a no-kill sterilisation programme for stray and roaming animals; attempting to reduce animal numbers without undertaking any killings.

Original SAV Link: 

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/08/19/serbia-breaking-news-leskovac-city-commences-no-kill-sterilisation-programme-for-stray-and-roaming-animals/

We sent our thanks to the officials of Leskovac city for being so positive thinking and decisive regarding their city future approach to stray and roaming animal management. 

Well we have some further great news to share now, as we hoped we would be able to give when we wrote our August post.

Leskovac city arms

Leskovac City Arms

On 25th September 2009,   Leskovac city has gone further in its attempts to solve its stray and roaming animal troubles.  It has now produced a second and vitally important document – a scheme which allows pet owners to sterilise and undertake anti tetanus vaccinations of their dogs and cats by an approved veterinarian using money / funding provided from the local municipal budget of Leskovac city.

The documentation declares that if for any reason, pet owners do NOT want their animal to be sterilised, then they, the owner have to declare this in writing on a form to the city authorities.  As a response the city authorities will send inspectors to the owners of the animals approximately 3 or 4 times every year.  If the owners re home or sell these un-sterilised animals, then they are obliged to keep the necessary documentation about the animal for at least 2 years.  If the owners of the animals do not comply with these requirements, they will be given a financial fine.

In addition, it is a requirement that all dogs and cats MUST be microchipped and vaccinated in agreement with existing Serbian national legislation.

Odluka o sterilizaciji

program kontrole brojnosti Leskovac

This is considered to be a great forward step for stray and roaming animals – because now this is a documented, legal way of undertaking the no kill sterilisation strategy which we have campaigned for in Serbia for years.

We very much trust that now they have produced all this legislation for stray and roaming (owned) animals in the city, the authorities of Leskovac city will fully implement them.  We are sure that they will and we say ‘Thank You’ to Leskovac City for being so forward thinking about animal numbers control programmes.

Further, we are informed that Leskovac city has now undertaken the construction of a No Kill Delta shelter for animals; a shelter which will comply with all the national legislation for shelters.

Leskovac must be congratulated for being the first city in Serbia to undertake such measures for stray and roaming (owned) animal control programmes.  This is a model of preventing unwanted animal births whilst at the same time financially punishing animal oweners who do not have their animals sterilised in the attempt to reduce and control the cities animal population.  Remember, although they are owned by someone, many animals are put out every day by their owners.  If these animals have not been, or are still not sterilised, then there is a daily chance that further production of new litters can happen.  Sterilsed animals cannot produce young; so we ask that all pet owners have their animals go through this procedure, unless there are specific reasons why it cannot be undertaken.

Serbian campaigners have already sent a request to government authorities in Belgrade requesting that all the other 134 community / authorities in Serbia now undertake the same policies as that running in Leskovac city.

Leskovac city is the first and a shining example of an authority which decides to be a no kill animal control authority, supported by a programme of animal microchipping, sterilisation and vaccination against disease.  And funded from the city budget !

As has been requested, we hope that this programme will now be used as a model by all 134 authorities throughout Serbia, and that gradually over time, we will begin to see stray and roaming (owned) animal numbers reduce.  This will be our aim, to have a day when no animals are caught and then killed in authority shelters and pounds as we have exposed so many times in the past.

Thank You Leskovac City for being such a forward thinking and animal welfare supportive city. 

We ask please that you send letters of thanks and support for their programme to the officials at Leskovac City.  Contact details are as follows.  Please inform them that they have become famous internationally for their positive approach to stray and roaming animal control programmes.

E mails to:    lodamiloda@hotmail.com

CC copies can also be made to Serbian national authorities at:

Kabinet@minpolj.gov.rs

micovicz@minpolj.gov.rs

jzivanovic@predsednik.rs

snezana.poledica@minpolj.gov.rs

also ‘Bcc’ please to:  epar@yunord.net

Link to Leskovac City:   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leskovac

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia | Leave a comment »

Uk: SOS for Serbian Animals – Winter Newsletter and Ebay Shop Link

Posted on September 22, 2009 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

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We have pleasure in providing you with access to the Winter newsletter as produced the wonderful Jean Bird at SOS for Serbian Animals, England, Uk.

SOS for Serbian Animals – http://www.serbiananimals.plus.com

Just click on this link to read the newsletter:    Winter newsletter 09

Please also visit Jeans ‘Tail Wags Shop at ebay and support Serbian animals with a purchase.

http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/Tail-Wags-Shop__W0QQ_armrsZ1

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, LETTERS, SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia, SUPPORTERS, The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE | Leave a comment »

SAV Presentation to Mr. Alain Hutchinson MEP – April 2009 – The Present Situation in Serbia

Posted on September 22, 2009 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Accessing the link ‘To Hutchinson’ below you will find a presentation made to Mr. Alain Hutchinson by SAV, during April 2009.

To Hutchinson

We trust that it will be of use to certain parties. 

All photographs are of the situation within Serbia during the last few years.

Photographs supplied where applicable by Serbian welfare campaigners / friends.

Regards SAV.

 

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Dogs_Multiply_Pyramid-1

 

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Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, DOCUMENTS, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, LETTERS, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering), SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia | Leave a comment »

Serbia: Campaign for the Protection of Zvezdara Forest in Belgrade

Posted on September 11, 2009 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

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Today (11/09/09) we are pleased to have had a communication from Dr. Miroslav Demajo (biologist) who is undertaking a campaign regarding forest park Zvezdara close to the centre of Belgrade.  The information below is a direct copy of the message sent to us by Miroslav, who also has a web site allocated to this campaign; it can be viewed at:  http://zvezdarskasuma.blogspot.com

So we will repeat the information below sent by Miroslav, which provides an excellent description of another attempt by officials to take back parkland / forest which contains a huge birdlife presence with over five species of owls alone !

If anyone wishes to make contact with Miroslav regarding this campaign, his telephone number and contact address is provided at the end of his article.

Further information about this campaign and what you can do to help (petition etc) will be posted on SAV as soon as we have the information.

SAV

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Protection of Zvezdara Forest in Belgrade

belgrade forest

As You are engaged in the protection of Stara Planina, I am free to communicate with You concerning the forest park Zvezdara (the name comes from word “star” because of the Astronomical Observatory).close to the centre of Belgrade.

The forest covers about 137 hectars. On the top is the Astronomy Observatory built in the 1930s. After the II World War, volunteers planted the forest. For years, illegal building has been taking place and now the City officials want to take 2 hectars for the adjacent hospital, some more for a church and other construction.

Big_Refractor_dome

A group of citizens established a group concerning the saving of this park. In the last 2 weeks we collected about 3000 signatures from citizens for our petition.

The fact is that the hospital itself has enough space for additional construction within its enclosure and doctors with whom we were in contact said it is not necessary to expand the hospital outside its existing site. The Church has a temple already closeby.

We contacted officials and have sent protest letters to many Institutions.

All this is actually based on the existing corruption related to construction sites etc. and forest land is very tempting and cheap. The forest is very healthy, rich in birds. About 5 species of owls live here also. The forest helps keep erosion away and not to mention its importance in keeping good air and milder climate in summer.

Belgrade does not have many places like this and it is a unique space for recreration.

We have a site unfortunately in Serbian with some English texts http://zvezdarskasuma.blogspot.com

Our battle continues and soon the Belgrade Parliament will try to implement the destructive plan. I must say that many people are angry for this and see corruption as the main culprit.

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As an attachment You will see a picture of the Forest from Google Earth and the already constructions which slowly intrude. We want to stop all further activities.

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The Astronomy Observatory is also threatened because of light pollution.

We would appreciate any support possible as You have done for Stara Planina. It is a similar problem all connected to land abuse.

Sincerely and many thanks for what You have already done and are doing,

Dr. Miroslav Demajo (biologist)

Tel . 381-11-2418237

Čingrijina 11/apt.10

11160 Belgrade

Serbia

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Serbia: Attempt to ‘Punish’ Serbian NGO Animal Shelter ? – Investigation Report Into Vaccination ‘Procedures’ Uncovers Discrepancies

Posted on September 10, 2009 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

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** Latest 10/09/09 ** :

Today, additional government pressure is being placed on NGO shelters within Serbia.

We refer to our recent post of 31/07/09 (link below) and veterinary inspectors who wrote to EPAR shelter and demanded that 174 dogs at the shelter must immediately be re-vaccinated.  As we declared in the post, “All of the dogs which the inspectors require to be vaccinated were vaccinated on 21/07/2008, almost one year ago to the day”.

Link:  https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/07/31/serbia-ngo-requests-to-government-ministry-for-information-about-zoo-animals-result-in-order-from-ministry-for-ngo-to-re-vaccinate-its-animals-or-face-massive-fine/

On 10/09/09, EPAR shelter have received another letter from the republic veterinary inspection information department declaring that veterinary inspectors will visit EPAR shelter to see if vaccinations of the 174 dogs which were demanded on 24.7.2009 have been undertaken.

The Director of the Veterinary station is one Mr Antun Orcic; he is the husband of veterinary inspector Matilda Orcic. Mr Orcic did not want to do the booster vaccinations of all 174 dogs.

Regardless, Veterinary Inspector Matilda Orcic demanded that booster vaccinations be given, even though the dogs were vaccinated approximately one year ago and according to our investigations (see report below), the duration of the vaccination is 3 YEARS.  According to us, the dogs are still covered by their current vaccination, and will be for around another 2 years.

EPAR shelter have sent a request/letter to the veterinary station today, declaring that any vaccinations on any dogs must be financed from the republic budget, as this is in agreement with the Veterinary law. 

It must be made very clear that EPAR shelter, which is simply an NGO which undertakes the care and protection of stray dogs delivered to the shelter, are not the legal owner of all the strays.  The owners of unmarked, unsterilised stray dogs which often end up at EPAR shelter are in some circumstances the tax paying citizens of Subotica City.  These taxes should contribute to the national budget, which should provide (out of the national budget) for the costs of vaccinating stray dogs at EPAR shelter.  It is not the responsibility of an NGO to suddenly be declared the ‘owner’ of all stray dogs at its shelter, and subsequently have to independently cover the costs of all the vaccinations.

These stray dogs at EPAR shelter may or may not have had a past owner – if they did, the owner would have been a taxpayer.  As the government does not have any system to aid identification of an animals owner, such as a microchip, the past owner of many animals simply cannot be identified.  But, because of this, either the original owner of the animal, or the state (if never owned animals) are responsible for the vaccination costs of dogs at EPAR shelter, not the NGO.  This declaration is clear in Article(s) 140. and 141. of the Veterinary Law. 

It would appear that by declaring EPAR shelter as the ‘owner’ of all strays which come through their front gate, and requesting they (EPAR) pay for animal vaccinations, the government are attempting to punish EPAR shelter in yet another way.

Article 55. of the Veterinary Law allows for shelters to take in the animals, but for official veterinarians to visit the shelter, do any necessary vaccinations, and then forward to the state a monthly reoprt of the number of animals vaccinated.  The vets are subsequently financed for their vaccinations out of the state budget.  See report below for detailed information.

So, EPAR shelter is Not the legal ‘owner’ of the stray dogs at its shelter.  It is simply a haven providing a home and shelter for the animals.  Now the government are attempting to ruin EPAR shelter by forcing costs and fines onto them for failing to cover costs for animal vaccinations which should not financially be their responsibility anyway ! 

The vaccination costs of stray animals living at a shelter is NOT the obligation of the shelter, it IS the obligation of the government.

Is this a Serbian government attempt to destroy EPAR shelter and the animal welfare organisations / shelters of Serbia ?

** Possibly the following investigation which has recently been undertaken may be the reason why there are attempts to destroy EPAR shelter.  We leave you to read the report below into our investigation and decide for yourself if what is happening is pure chance, or if there is a deeper reason why the veterinary profession and the government may wish to silence EPAR shelter. **

Please read on for full details of our investigation.

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 INVESTIGATION REPORT

 

We have an opinion now that the veterinary profession in Serbia, may be undertaking unnecessary work in relation to routine animal vaccinations, possibly charging both individual Serbian citizens and at the same time, the Serbian state, for the costs of the same (ie. One single) unnecessary vaccine.

Overview:

Under Serbian law, Article 55 of the Veterinary legislation demands that:

1)      everybody who  is the owner of an animal(s) must contact veterinarians who have a permit for undertaking the program of control for infective animal disease(s).

2)      it is the responsibility of the animal(s) owner to  keep vaccination documentation for a period of at least 2 years.

But owners of animals do not have any more obligations with regard Rabies vaccination(s). This is specifically a vaccination which must be performed / undertaken by a qualified veterinarian.

As far as we see, the term ‘vaccination’ means both 1)  the physical vaccine (vial) itself and 2)  the administration (application) of that vaccine to any animal.

A ‘vaccinator’, ie. the veterinarian, is one who vaccinates.

Important:  Veterinarians do not have a legal permit for the distribution of vaccines, but only for the administration (giving) of a vaccine to an animal.

The vets receive (via a distribution network) doses of the vaccine for Rabies which is called ‘Nobivac Rabies’. 

For 2007, the veterinarians within Subotica city alone were given 15,000 doses of the Nobivac Rabies vaccine. 

In 2008, 35,980 doses of the Nobivac Rabies vaccine have been allocated in Subotica.

NOBIVAC RABIES :  An inactivated vaccine for the immunization of dogs, cats, cattle, sheep, goats, foxes, ferrets and horses, and in principle all healthy mammals against Rabies.

Source – http://www.intervet.com/ipg/companion-animals.aspx

SAV contacts / Serbian campaigners have previously requested, and now actually have documented evidence of the numbers of vaccines provided (distributed) to veterinarians in all major cities within Serbia.  It is understood that the Republic of Serbia has paid a Dutch company named ‘Intervet’ for the legitimate, legal supply of all vaccines used in the Republic of Serbia.

‘Marlo Pharma’ http://www.intervet.com/contacts/serbia_and_montenegro.aspx  of Belgrade were the organisation responsible for the importation (into Serbia) and distribution within Serbia of the vaccine (including needles etc) to all the specific veterinary institutes around the country.  The other organisation is called ‘Net Vet’, also of Belgrade; who have a permit for the importation of ‘Rabdomun’, a very similar Rabies vacine.   The registration of both vaccines detailed is undertaken by a state organisation named ‘Agencija za lekove’ – a public agency with responsibilities for both human and veterinary medicines.

The veterinary institutes around the country were then responsible for forwarding on – allocating / distributing the vaccine doses to the regional / local veterinary facilities, who would then be responsible for the vaccination of any animals requiring innoculation within their specific region.

The current arrangement is that all the veterinary stations involved in this programme, being those which are located throughout Serbia, each send a monthly report to the National Veterinary Institute and the Veterinary Department of Serbia, detailing specifically how many doses of the (Nobivac Rabies) vaccine they have given in their individual national region (municipality) for that (1 month) period.

As a result, once they have been supplied with the monthly information from the individual (municipal) regions, the Republic of Serbia (government) then finances (pays back) the individual regional / municipal  veterinary stations for undertaking their monthly vaccination work – ie. the administration of the dose of vaccine to animals by the vaccinator.

But, now, following campaigners investigations, the vaccination rules seem to have changed a little.

The alleged situation now is that Mr. Micovic, the Director of the government Veterinary Department, is personally demanding that veterinary stations undertaking the application of antirabies vaccines can now ask the individual animal(s) owner to pay for the ‘application’ of the (Nobivac) Rabies ‘vaccination’ to their animal !

A conflict of terms it would appear to be, between ‘application’ and ‘vaccination’.

Individual animal owners are being told to finance a Rabies ‘application’ of the vaccine, whilst a Rabies ‘vaccination’ can be paid for directly from the national budget, without any cost to the animal owner.

This alleged ‘demand’ by Mr. Micovic is simply that, nothing more than a demand by him; it is not Serbian law / legislation, and is completely in opposition to the Serbian Veterinary law, Articles 140 and 141, which specifically state that antirabies vaccinations MUST BE FUNDED from the Republic of Serbia’s budget !

So, if the public are all specifically being asked (demanded via Mr. Micovic) to individually fund the ‘APPLICATION’ of the antirabies vaccination out of their own pocket for their own animal(s), where is all the money going which has been allocated and should be provided free of charge to Serbian animal owners by the Serbian Republic for exactly this same thing – in this case termed a ‘VACCINATION’ ?

We have concerns that the system now in place can allegedly lead to TWO individual charges and payments being made for every SINGLE (individual)  Rabies vaccine administered to animals; ie: we try to inform that:

1)                  The animal owner is individually charged by the regional veterinary station for the ‘APPLICATION’ of the vaccination; one payment made directly by the animal(s) owner;

2)                  Using the parallel system available, veterinary stations involved in the ‘VACCINATION’ programme, continue to send a monthly report to the national Veterinary Institute and the Veterinary Department of Serbia, detailing specifically how many doses of the vaccine they have administered to animals (ie. vaccinated) in their specific region / municipality for the latest (1 month) period. 

In each of the 135 cities within Serbia the prices being charged by veterinarians for the ‘APPLICATION’  of a vaccine to individual animals varies considerably.  It is 800 dinar in Belgrade, 500 dinar in Subotica, and 800 dinar per animal in Novi Sad, for example.

On 31/07/09, various telephone calls were made by SAV and Serbian campaigners to the European manufacturer of the anti Rabies vaccination at their contacts in both the Uk and Serbia.  In both cases, we were verbally informed that the re-vaccination (ie. Booster) times for animal species depended largely on the Rabies situation within individual nations. 

Reference to the vaccination manufacturers web site Data Sheet http://www.intervet.co.uk/Products_Public/Nobivac_Rabies/090_Product_Datasheet.asp  states that the duration of immunity is 3 years, and that for dogs and cats, booster vaccinations only need to be given every 3 years after the primary vaccination. 

SOURCE – Nobivac Rabies – Data Sheet information detailed below:

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Introduction 

Company name: Intervet / Schering-Plough Animal Health 

Address: xxxxxxxxx

Milton Keynes, England, Uk.

Xxxxxx

Telephone: 01908 xxxxxxx (Customer Support Centre)

Telephone: 01908 xxxxxxxx (Switchboard)

Fax: 01908 xxxxxxxx

Website: www.intervet.co.uk

Presentation

Inactivated vaccine containing > 2 I.U. Rabies virus strain Pasteur RIV per dose. Also contains Aluminium phosphate as an adjuvant. 0.1 ml Thiomersal are added as a preservative.

Uses

For the active immunisation against rabies to reduce clinical signs and mortality.

Onset of immunity: an adequate serological response (> 0.5 I.U.) has been demonstrated 2 to 3 weeks after vaccination.

*** Duration of immunity: ***   3 years.    ***

Dosage and administration

A single dose inoculation of 1 ml is sufficient irrespective of size, species or breed of animal. Sterile equipment should be used for administration. Avoid contamination of vaccine with traces of chemical sterilising agents. Do not use chemicals such as disinfectant or spirit to disinfect the skin prior to inoculation.

Primary course and booster vaccination:

Dogs & cats

Primary vaccination age* 3 months or older
*** Booster vaccination every 3 years ***
    

————————————————————– Data sheet End ————–

As well as checks in the Uk, checks within Serbia undertaken on 31/07/09 can reveal that the national Serbian policy for Rabies re-vaccination is in accordance with the manufacturers guidance; ie. every 3 years. 

This 3 year re-vaccination period was verified by a very distinguished authority at the Serbian Faculty of Veterinary  Medicine via e mail on Thursday, September 03, 2009.  SAV and also Serbian contacts have copies of this mail as evidence should it be required in future.

Taking the individual Subotica ‘application’ charges of 500 dinar being demanded from each animal owner, and with almost 36,000 vaccine doses being provided to Subotica in 2008, does this not mean that there is a maximum potential of

500 dinar x 36,000 doses = 18,000,000 dinar to be made for ‘applications’.

The current exchange rate is approximately 1 Euro = 92 Serbian dinar.

500 dinar (Subotica charge) divided by 92 dinar/Euro = approximately 5.4 Euros per ‘application’ in Subotica.

=>    5.4 Euros per ‘application’ x 35,980 doses (2008) in Subotica = 194,400 Euros. 

 These are additional finances to the ‘vaccination’ funding being provided out of the state budget.

So, if the monthly paperwork is being submitted for the (state funded) ‘vaccination’ of animals in any region, whilst at the same time veterinarians are charging individual animal owners for the ‘application’ of a vaccine, one has to ask

So where is all the ‘application’ money going ?

– money which is being taken directly from the public for a procedure which, according to our information regarding Serbian animal welfare legislation, should be provided to veterinarians indirectly via the state budget ?

 To date, the Serbian government have declined to provide any responses.

This report and post is now being provided to Members of the European Parliament who have responsibilites with the EU Animal Welfare Intergroup – http://www.animalwelfareintergroup.eu/

 

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, LETTERS, SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia, The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE | Leave a comment »

Serbia: ‘Stara Planina’ – The Environmental Destruction Evidence Continues to Build

Posted on September 3, 2009 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Serbian Flag 

Below you will see many photographs of a nature reserve area called ‘Golema Reka’ which is located within the region of Stara Planina.  Please see our past links on Stara Planina at:

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/08/24/240809-global-launch-of-campaign-to-save-stara-planina-animals-and-plants-international-supporters-your-individual-help-is-essential-please-copy-and-send-letter-given-in-post-below/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/08/09/serbia-more-major-environmental-destruction-planned-your-help-needed-to-raise-global-awareness/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/08/12/serbia-environmental-destruction-at-babin-zub/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/01/15/serbia-beautiful-environmental-region-of-serbia-to-become-ski-centre-please-read-and-take-action/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/06/24/serbia-please-give-your-petition-support-to-save-serbian-beautiful-river-rzav-from-government-and-industry-abuse/

A petition about Stara Planina can be signed by clicking on the following link.

Please give just one minute of your time to sign this. 

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-staraplanina-petition

Golema Reka is according to the Serbian government, allegedly, the most protected nature estate within Serbia.

Over the last few years during construction of the huge ski resort at Stara Planina, massive environmental damage has taken place at Golema Reka.  More than 3,000 hectares of very old Mountain Beech forest has been destroyed and roads have illegally been constructed through the forests – new roads constructed where according to legislation, only existing forest roads should be maintained. 

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Beautiful natural rivers and brooks have been diverted and are now routed through concrete pipework to comply with the planners wishes.  This has now led to mountain areas becoming dry; areas of the mountains that were once served by the passing rivers.  The new, man made dryness of the land has now resulted in rockslides. 

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For only two (2) months of the year will there be any remote possibility of adequate ski snow in the region of Stara Planina, but this is only if there is a temperature range of  0° C ± 2° C. – but regardless of the time of year, and including these two months mentioned, artificial snow producing equipment has now had to be purchased to make enough snow for future visitors to the resort.  There is a likely chance that with global warming,  the artificial snow making equipment may very well have to be used throughout all twelve (12) months to produce enough ski snow, which includes the ‘better’ two month natural ‘ski snow’ period !

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During the winter period 2008, for example 23rd / 24th  February, there was NO natural snow in the regions of Stara planina and Babin zub; February is a traditional Winter month when one would expect snow in a ski resort region.  It did not happen at Stara planina; so one has to question the logic behind the whole planning and management of this programme.  Stara planina is an area of outstanding natural beauty in relation to both its flora and fauna.  Any natural ‘ski snow’ season will last only two months, with the use of machines to produce enough additional ‘snow’ for visitors to ski on.  This is a project which has cost a great deal of money to construct; and for what ? – what financial costs can be attributed to a lot of permanent environmental damage as is being done here in this region ? 

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Serbian campaigners have information that allegedly, one Mr. Mladjan Dinkic, who was the President of the Ski Society of Serbia, has now resigned and gone elsewhere due to charges made regarding environmental (flora and fauna) destruction at Stara Planina.  Possibly Mr. Mladjan Dinkic is trying to avoid any current or future personal charges or prosecutions in relation to the environmental damage and construction decisions and procedures undertaken years ago in relation to the design of Stara Planina.  But quite rightly, regardless of peoples past or current involvement with the facility, campaigners are correctly calling for all parties involved to be investigated and further legal action to be taken where necessary, regardless of their past or their current involvement with the project.

Below is the charge made in relation to environmental damage at Golema Reka. Firstly written in its original Serbian, and then followed by an English translation.

Of special interest is the last paragraph, which declares that the Government representative at the public debate on the changes to the regional plan for the Knjazevac municipality, one of the areas affected by the work at Stara Planina, was one Mr. Ljubomir Jovanovic, who it is understood has since been arrested and investigated under accusations that he was engaged in the misuse of money from budgets associated with the the construction of ‘tourist objects’.

Investigations are on-going by campaigning organisations within and outside of Serbia.  Further information and photographs will be published as things continue and more information is obtained.

The charge made in relation to environmental damage at Golema Reka, which can be read below, provides full details of the rerasons why questions have to be asked about the entire history of the planning for Stara Planina.

Please take time to read the charge and to view all the pgotographs of the environmental damage being done for a ski resort which at best, will only have 2 months of natural snowfall each year.

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Serbian Original Charge

Ministarstvo unutrasnjih poslova

Ministarstvo zastite zivotne sredine i prostorno planiranje

Ministarstvo poljoprivrede sumarstva i vodoprivrede

Zavod za zastitu prirode Srbije

Predmet:  Prijava po saznanju da je u  Strogom Prirodnom Rezervatu Golema Reka na Staroj planini, najvecem zasticenom pririodnom dobru u Srbiji,  I kategorije  doslo do narusavanja i degradacije prirodnog ambijenta i odlika, unistavanje biljnih zajednica, izazivanje erozija i to zbog neplanskog izvodjenja radova na pravljenju/prosirenju  puta ka Babinom Zubu kroz strogi prirodni rezervat  Golema Reka, gde inace nisu dozvoljeni nikakvi radovi.

Strogi Prirodni rezervat Golema Reka  obuhvata autohtonu sumsku zajednicu tipa prasume koju sacinjava zajednica planinske bukve Luzulo-Fagetum serbicum, a namenjen je za ocuvanje genofonda i nalazi se u granicama zasticenog prirodnog dobra “Stara Planina” na kojoj  su  razvijene reliktne polidominantne sumske zajednice, koje izgradjuju biljne vrste endemskog i reliktnog karaktera, a kao posebno vredna podrucja  su izdvojeni rezervati kojima samo ime kaze sta zapravo predstavljaju a Zakonom o zastiti prirode je precizno definisano kakav stepen zastite im je namenjen zbog znacaja koji imaju!!! Nikakva izgradnja pa ni izgradnja puteva osim odrzavanja vec postojecih sumskih puteva nije predvidjena , cak je i zabranjeno bilo sta raditi sto moze dovesti u pitanje ocuvanje i opstanak strogog pririodnog rezervata.

Obavestavamo sve nadlezne da je tokom 2007-2008 god. radovima na prosirenju puta ka Babinom zubu doslo do narusavanja prirodnog dobra i stete po Strogi rezervat prirode”Golema reka”. Prilikom prosirenja puta izvodjac radova je nasipao zemlju, stenje i sut duz trase puta, a niz padinu pokrivenu bukovom sumom prasumskog tipa, cime je ugrozio integritet sumske zajednice i reke koja tuda tece(Golema reka).

Narusavanje biljnog pokrivaca pokrenulo je proces erozije, koji je dalje ugrozio kvalitet podloge i povrsinskih voda.

Osnovano sumnjamo da je neko od angazovanih na ovim poslovima zlonamerno premestio tablu sa obavestenjem o rezimu zastite (uklonio tablu sa nosaca, i vratio je sa druge strane nosaca, tako da se stice utisak da SRP “Golema reka” prestaje tamo gde zapravo pocinje), u cilju zbunjivanja javnosti i nadleznih inspekcijskih organa.

Osnovano sumnjamo (na osnovu cinjenice da su radovi otpoceli pre usvajanja izmena prostornih planova opstina Pirot i Knjazevac, koji su ustvari naknadno prilagodjavani  s predumisljajem , kako bi se  legalizovale nezakonite radnje ) da su radovi otpoceli bez odgovarajucih odobrenja, i da nisu sprovedeni u skladu sa vazecim planskim dokumentima u trenutku pocetka radova.

Takodje, osnovano sumnjamo (na osnovu kamiona sa drvnom gradjom primecenih na lokaciji), da se sa podrucja SRP “Golema reka” i drugih zasticenih podrucja Parka prirode “Stara planina” protivpravno sece suma i izvlaci drvna gradja, mimo nadleznosti i planova Javnog preduzeca”Srbijasume”, koje je nadlezno za staranje o Parku prirode.

Koristimo priliku da napomenemo da je izgradnja puta finansirana sredstvima Nacionalnog investicionog plana, a da je predstavnik Vlade na javnoj raspravi o izmenama prostornog plana opstine Knjazevac bio LjubomirJovanovic, kasnije uhapsen i pod istragom, pod optuzbom da je umesan u pronevere novca iz NIP u vezi sa izgradnjom turistickih objekata.

** ENGLISH TRANSLATION ** (below) – bold and underline added where cosidered necessary.

Subject:

Filing a report after receiving information that in the strict Nature Reserve “Golema Reka” in the region of Stara Planina, largest protected Nature estate in Serbia of the I category, the disturbance and degradation of the natural surroundings and its characteristics has already taken place, including the destruction of plant communities, induction of erosion due to the unplanned execution of road construction/widening towards Babin Zub through the strictest Nature Reserve “Golema Reka”, where otherwise no construction or other human activities are allowed.

 The strict Nature Reserve “Golema Reka”  encloses the primeval  autochtonous forest community of  Mountain Beech Luzulo-Fagetum serbicum, with the purpose of  protecting the gene fund and is within the borders of the of the protected estate Nature Park “Stara Planina” on which survive relict, polydominant forest communities, composed of plant species of endemic and relict charactreistics and as specially valuable regions are designated as reserves, their names describing what they actually represent and are thus protected according to the laws dealing with Nature Protection in which it is precisely defined what degree of protection is offered due to their significance!!!

No construction, including that of roads is expected, except the maintainance of existing forest roads and it is forbidden to undertake any activities which may endanger and question the survival of these Nature reserves.

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We inform all officials that in the years 2007-2008, during the widening of roads, towards Babin Zub, the disturbance of the Nature estate resulted, including damage in the strict Nature Reserve “Golema Reka”. During road widening, the contractor spilled soil, rocks and debris along the road track as well as down the adjacent slopes covered with beech forests of the primeval type, thus threatening the integrity of the forest community, including the river flowing through (Golema Reka, meaning “Huge River”).

Disturbance of vegetation cover initiated the process of erosion which consequently threatens the quality of substrate and surface waters.

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We have reason to doubt that somone engaged in the described activities purposely, with evil intentions, moved the sign which informs about the degree of protection offered to this region  (moved the sign from the posts, returning the sign backwards so that it looks as if the Reserve “Golema Reka ends where its boundries should actually begin) solely with the intention of confusing the public and inspection officials.

We also believe not without reason (according to the fact that the works started before the change of the regional  regulatory plans for the Pirot and Knjazevac municipalities , these being changed afterwards, with the intention to legalize afterhand these illegal operations) that the works began without proper permissions and were not processed in accordance to the valid plan documents  at the time of the onset of activities.

We also have reason to doubt (witnessing the presence of trucks with lumber at the location), that from the region of the strict Nature Reserve “Golema Reka” and other protected areas of the “Stara Planina” Nature Park, trees are unlawfully cut and the lumber hauled out, avoiding the officials and violating the lumbering plans of the company “Srbijasume” (SerbiaForests) which is the official guardian of  the Nature Park “Stara Planina”.

We take the opportunity to mention that the construction of the road is financed from the budget of the National Investment Plan and that the representative of the Government at the public debate on the changes in the regional plan of the Knjazevac municipality was Mr. Ljubomir Jovanovic, later arrested and investigated under the accusation that he was engaged in the misuse of money from the above mentioned budget , all connected with the building of tourist objects.

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Photographic Evidence:

** Photographic Evidence – First Set (Above and Below)

– Nature Reserve “Golema Reka” ** 

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** Photographic Evidence – Second Set (Below) ** –

The region of Babin Zub, and include destruction of plant communities, induction of erosion due to the unplanned execution of road construction/widening towards Babin Zub through the strictest Nature Reserve “Golema Reka”, where otherwise no construction or other human activities are allowed.

Photographs taken on 23rd/24th February 2008.

Mid February – the time for Winter snows and skiing !

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Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering), SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia | Leave a comment »

24/08/09: GLOBAL LAUNCH OF CAMPAIGN TO SAVE ‘STARA PLANINA’ Animals and Plants – ** International Supporters, Your Individual Help is ESSENTIAL ** – Please Copy and Send Letter Given (in Post Below) to Serbian Embassies Internationally – Full Details and Info Below.

Posted on August 24, 2009 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-6780866119360461696&ei=yk-QSqbXIMOG-Qahj_iUAg&hl=en

Remember;

without the destruction by the human species, it is a wonderful World !

We are delighted to be working with our friends at the Serbian Association for Conservation and Sustainable Development in highlighting the devastation to flora and fauna in Serbia with the current and future proposed construction of ski resort facilities at Stara Planina.

 

A petition about Stara Planina can be signed by clicking on the following link.

Please give just one minute of your time to sign this.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-staraplanina-petition

Please review some of our previous posts regarding this important campaign:

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/08/09/serbia-more-major-environmental-destruction-planned-your-help-needed-to-raise-global-awareness/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/08/12/serbia-environmental-destruction-at-babin-zub/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/01/15/serbia-beautiful-environmental-region-of-serbia-to-become-ski-centre-please-read-and-take-action/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/06/24/serbia-please-give-your-petition-support-to-save-serbian-beautiful-river-rzav-from-government-and-industry-abuse/

Our most recent post can be viewed via the following link.  This link is especially important as it provides a photo gallery of just some of the beautiful and endemic (native to a certain region) flora and fauna which are under threat by (current and proposed) construction work at Stara Planina :

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/08/15/serbia-campaign-to-save-flora-and-fauna-at-stara-planina/

Over the past few weeks we have been working on our plans to help save Stara Planina, and we are now ready to move forward with the next phase of the campaign.

Your help is essential in making this effective.  It does not matter where in the world you reside; the more international supporters who take part in the campaign, the better.

At the end of this SAV post you will find a ‘Sample Letter’ relating to the environmental devastation caused by the construction work at Stara Planina.  It is a long letter, but it contains essential and legally important information which justifies why this construction should immediately be halted.  Please take time to read it and learn how many legally protected plant and animal species are under threat.

Below, you will find a ‘Contact Guide’ directory of worldwide Serbian embassies, including their web site address, postal address and more importantly, their e mail contact details.  The e mail addresses are especially important. 

Wherever you reside in the World, there will be a Serbian embassy either in or very near to your home country.  We would ask that you please:

1)                  Use the Serbian embassy information guide below to find your national or nearest Serbian embassy.

2)                   Once you have done this, make a copy of the sample letter given below also and paste it into your embassy link found in 1 above.

3)                  If you wish, you can attach one or more pictures of the work at Stara Planina from our gallery which are also provided on this post.

4)                  Fill in your name and your nationality at the very end of the sample letter.  Your address is not required to be given.

5)                  Click on ‘Send’ – your sample letter (and photos if attached) will then be sent to your national Serbian embassy.

If we can get campaigners to send letters to Serbian embassies all around the world, then the Serbian government will have no choice but to accept that there is an international outcry about what is happening to flora and fauna at Stara Planina.

Do not expect to get anything in return for any mail(s) you send. 

Past animal welfare campaign experience with the Serbian government has shown us that they tend to keep issues and policies and decisions very close to their chest.  Unlike other national governments, writing to campaigners about issues and informing them of the situation is not the policy with the Serbian government.

Thank you for your help and support with the campaign to save Stara Planina.

If you wish, and we would advise, you could also ‘CC’ your (sample) letter to the following addresses; these will be in addition to your embassy e mail address which you have selected earlier from the listing 

** COMPLETE BLOCK LISTING (Government and Media – see directly above) ** –

This is an additional ‘CC’ list to add to your embassy contact selected earlier (as above).

predsednikvladesrbije@gov.rs,  kabinet.zpv@sr.gov.yu,  muprs@mup.gov.rs,  kabinet.potpredsednika@gov.rs,  foreignpress@srbija.sr.gov.yu,  oliver.dulic@ekoplan.gov.rs,  kabinet@ekoplan.gov.rs,  info@ekoplan.gov.rs,  webmaster@ekoplan.gov.rs, kabinet@mpravde.sr.gov.yu,  office@sepa.gov.rs,  slavisa.popovic@sepa.gov.rs, Ivica.radovic@ekoplan.gov.rs, Radislav.momirov@ekoplan.gov.rs  ,  maric.ljiljana@ekoplan.gov.rs,    svetlana.draskovic@ekoplan.gov.rs,  jasmina.jovic@ekoplan.gov.rs,  jzivanovic@predsednik.rs,  kabinet@minpolj.gov.rs,  svenik2003@yahoo.com,  snezana.poledica@minpolj.gov.rs, kabinet@mfin.gov.rs,  dusan.pajkic@minpolj.gov.rs,  direkcija@skijalistasrbije.rs, kabinet@merr.gov.rs,  press@merr.gov.rs,  nrs@vinca.rs,  stavretovic@zzps.rs,  beograd@zzps.rs,  jasmina@zzps.rs,  sladjana-krasulja@zzps.rs,  maja@zzps.rs, 

redakcija@gradjanski.rs,  redakcija@blic.rs,  redakcija@novosti.rs,  sr@radiosubotica.co.rs,  redakcija@politika.rs,  redakcija@glas-javnosti.co.yu,  radisa.kricak@b92.net,  zeljko.bajic@b92.net,  redakcija@kurir-info.co.yu,  redakcija@dnevnik.rs,   aleksandra.gazivoda@b92.net

 

SERBIAN EMBASSY CONTACT GUIDE;

Please either use the link below, or alternatively, the full embassy details in the following international list to find your national Serbian embassy. 

Source:    http://www.offshorewave.com/embassies_show.php?country_id=183

International Embassy List;

This is an alphabetical (A-Z) listing of worldwide Serbian embassies.

Make a copy of the ‘Sample letter’ at the end of this post, and send to youur national and other national Serbian embassies.  Also ‘CC’ your letter to all detailed on the ‘Complete Block Listing’ given above.

AMBASSADE DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE DE SERBIE
Donika Kastrioti 9/1
TIRANA
ALBANIE
Miroljub Zarić, otpravnik poslova

Tel. +3554 / 2223-042, 2232-091
Telex: 2256
Fax: 2232-089
E-mail: ambatira@icc-al.org
web: www.tirana.mfa.gov.yu

AMBASSADE DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE DE SERBIE
7, Rue des Freres Benhafid
B.P.366, HYDRA
ALGER
ALGERIE
Vladimir Kohut, ambasador

Tel. +21321 / 691218, 69-27-04, 69-23-26
Telex: 66-076
Fax: 693-472
E-mail: ambasada@ambserbie-alger.com
Web: www.ambserbie-alger.com

EMBAIXADA DA REPÚBLICA DA SERBIA
Rua Comandante Nzagi 25/27, Alvalade
LUANDA
REPUBLICA DE ANGOLA
C.P.3278
Branko Nikolić, otpravnik poslova
Phone +244 222 / 321-421, 320-393
Fax: +244 222 / 321-724
E-mail: serbiaemb@snet.co.ao

 

EMBAJADA DE LA REPÚBLICA DE SERBIA
Marcelo T.de Alvear 1705
1060 BUENOS AIRES
ARGENTINA
Gordana Vidović, ambasador

Tel. + 5411 / 4812-9133, 4813-3445, 4813-3446
Sekretarijat: + 5411 / 4811-2860
Fax: + 5411 / 4812-10-70
E-mail: serbembaires@ciudad.com.ar

 

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
4 Bulwarra Close
O’Malley, ACT 2606
CANBERRA
AUSTRALIA
Lepša Štulić, otpravnik poslova

Phone + 02 / 6290-2630, 6290-29-48
Telex: 62-317
Fax: +02 / 6290-2631
E-mail: serbembau@optusnet.com.au

CONSULATE GENERAL OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
12, Trelawney Street, Woollahra, N.S.W.2025
SYDNEY
AUSTRALIA
Aleksandar Besarabić, generalni konzul
P.O.Box 190 Edgecliff, N.S.W.2027

Phone +612 / 9362-46-37, 9362-30-03, 9362-46-38
Telex: 20-676
Fax: 9362-45-55
E-mail: gkrssid@froggy.com.au 

BOTSCHAFT DER REPUBLIK SERBIEN
Rennweg 3
1030 WIEN
OSTERREICH / AUSTRIA
Dragan Velikić, ambasador

Phone + 431 / 713-25-95, 713-25-96, 712-12 05
712-64-88, 713-42-77
Telex: 135-398
Fax: 713-25-97
E-mail:embassy.vienna@mfa.rs
Web Site: vienna.mfa.rs

BOTSCHAFT DER REPUBLIK SERBIEN-WIEN
Konsularabteilung
Johannagasse 1-3, A-1050 WIEN
Kosta Simonović,
šef konzularnog odeljenja

Phone + 431 / 544-75-85, 544-75-86
Fax: 544-75-95
E-mail: consulate.vienna@mfa.rs

PERMANENT MISSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA TO THE OSCE AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN VIENNA
Rennweg 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria
Miroslava Beham, ambasador

Phone + 431 / 714-13-45, 714-13-41
Fax: + 431 / 713-25-97
E-mail: mission.vienna@mfa.rs
Web: osce.mfa.rs

GENERALKONSULAT DER REPUBLIK SERBIEN
Schallmooser Hauptstrasse 99
5020 SALZBURG
OSTERREICH / AUSTRIA
Zoran Jeremić, generalni konzul

Phone + 43662 / 845-254
Fax: 845-25-44
E-mail: gkserbien-salzburg@utanet.at
Web Site: salzburg.mfa.gov.yu

 

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
Rumjanceva 4
220034 MINSK
REPUBLIC BELARUS
dr Srećko Đukić, ambasador

Phone +375 17/ 284 29 84; 284 29 90
Fax: +375 17 233 92 26
E-mail: minsk.embassy@mfa.gov.yu
Web: www.ambasadasrbije.info/

AMBASSADE DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE DE SERBIE
Avenue Emile de Mot 11
1000 BRUXELLES
BELGIQUE
Radomir Diklić, ambasador
Phone +322 / 647-2652, 647-5781, 649-6545
Consular Section: +322 / 649-8349
Fax: 647-29-41
E-mail: ambaserbie@skynet.be

 

MISSION DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE DE SERBIE AUPRES DE L‘ UNION EUROPEENNE
Avenue Emile de Mot 19
1000 BRUXELLES
BELGIQUE
Roksanda Ninčić, ambasador

Phone +322 / 649-82-42, 649-83-65
648-65-36, 646-99-98
Fax: 649-08-78
E-mail: mission.serbia.eu@mfa.rs

 

GENERALNI KONZULAT REPUBLIKE SRBIJE
Vojvode Radomira Putnika 2
51000 Banja Luka
Jadranka Derajić, generalni konzul

Phone +387 51/ 227-040, 227-060
Fax: +387 51 / 213-901
e-mail: konzulat.bl@mfa.gov.yu 

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA      

Obala Maka Dizdara 3a
Sarajevo

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Grujica Spasović, ambasador

Phone +38733 / 260-090, 260-080
Fax: 221-469
E-mail: srbamba@bih.net.ba

EMBAIXADA DA REPÚBLICA DA SERBIA
Ses Avenida das Nacoes, Q 803, lote 15
Cep 70409-900 BRASILIA
D.F. BRAZIL
Dušan Gajić, ambasador

Phone +5561 / 3223-72-72, 3223-62-22
Fax: +5561 / 3223-84-62
E-mail: embiugos@nutecnet.com.br
Web site: paginas.terra.com.br/noticias/embaixadaservia/

AMBASSADE DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE DE SERBIE
Veliko Trnovo 3
1504 SOFIA
BULGARIE
Danilo Vučetić, ambasador

Phone +3592 / 946-16-35, 946-16-33
Telex: 23-537 YUAMBA
Fax: 946-10-59
E-mail: sofia@emb-serbia.com
Web Site: www.emb-serbia.com

AMBASSADE DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE DE SERBIE
118 00 Praha 1, Mostecka 15
REPUBLIQUE TCEQUE
Vladimir Vereš, ambasador

Phone: +4202 / 57-53-20-75
Sekretarijat: +4202 / 57-53-03-93
Konzularno odeljenje: +4202 / 57-53-39-49
Telex: 183284
Fax: +4202 / 57-53-39-48
E-mail: srbambacz@vol.cz

AMBASADA REPUBLIKE SRBIJE
Pantovcak 245
ZAGREB
CROATIA
Radivoj Cvetićanin, ambasador

Phone +3851 / 457-90-67, 457-90-68, 4573 330, 4573 334
Fax: 457-33-38
E mail ambasada@ambasada-srbije.hr

GENERALNI KONZULAT SRBIJE
Erazma Barcica broj 9
51000 RIJEKA
CROATIA
Mira Jegdić, žeran

Phone +38551/ 337-420, 337-421
337-343
Fax: +38551/ 337-361
E-mail: konzulat-rijeka@ri.hinet.hr
Web; www.konzulat-srbije-rijeka.hr

GENERALNI KONZULAT SRBIJE
204 Vukovarske brigade br. 2
VUKOVAR
CROATIA
Bojana Ristić, generalni konzul

Phone +38532/ 441-016, 441-183,
441-184
Fax: +38532/ 441-015
Web: www.gk-srbije-vukovar.hr
E-mail:
generalni.konzulat@gk-srbije-vukovar.hr 

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
2, Vasilissis Olgas Str., Engomi,
1903 NICOSIA
CYPRUS
Mirko Jelić, ambasador

Phone +35722 / 777-511, 772-924
Fax: 775-910
E-mail: nicosia@serbia.org.cy
Web Site: www.serbia.org.cy

EMBAJADA DE LA REPÚBLICA DE SERBIA
5ta Avenida, No. 4406, entre 44 y 46,
Miramar Playa,
la Habana,
CUBA
mr Milena Luković-Jovanović, ambasador

Phone +537 / 204-24-88, 204-26-07
Telex: 512-137
Fax: 204-29-82
E-mail: ambsrbhav@embajadaserbia.co.cu

 

DANNEMARK
Vida Ognjenović, Ambasador
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
Svanevaenget 36
21000 COPENHAGEN
Phone +45 / 3929-7161; 3929-7784
Fax: 3929-7919
E-mail: serbianemb@city.dk

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
33, Al Mansour Mohamed St.,
ZAMALEK
CAIRO
ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT
Dejan Vasiljević, ambasador,

Phone +202 / 2735-40-61, 2736-54-94
2736-70-94 
Telex: 21-046 YUAMB UN
Fax: 2735-39-13
Web-site: www.serbiaeg.com
E-mail: serbia@serbiaeg.com
E-mail: konzul@serbiaeg.com

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
W15 K26, House No.923,
P.O.Box 1341
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
Aleksandar Ristić, otpravnik poslova

Phone +25111 / 551-7804, 551-5659
Fax: 551-4192
E-mail: serbembaddis@ethionet.et

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
Kulosaarentie 36
00570 HELSINKI
FINLAND
Vera Mavrić, ambasador

Phone +3589 / 684-74-66, 684-85-22
Telex: 122-099
Fax: 684-87-83
E-mail: ambascghki@kolumbus.fi, yuambafin@kolumbus.fi
Web: www.kolumbus.fi/info.ambasghki/

 

AMBASSADE DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE DE SERBIE
5, Rue Leonard de Vinci
75016 PARIS
FRANCE
Dušan Bataković, ambasador

Phone +331 / 40-72-24-24, 40-72-24-10
Secrétariat : 40-72-24-17
Telex: 645-846
Fax: 40-72-24-11, 40-72-24-23
E-mail: ambasadapariz@wanadoo.fr
Web: www.amb-serbie.fr

CONSULAT DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE DE SERBIE
7, Quai General Sarrail,
69006 LYON
FRANCE
Miloš Ušćebrka, šef Konzulata

Phone +33 437 249 401
Telex: +33 478 306 086
Fax: +33 478 240 173
E-mail: consulat.yu.lyon@free.fr

MISSION PERMANENTE DE SERBIE AUPRES DU
CONSEIL DE L’ EUROPE
26, Avenue de la Foret-Noire
67000 STRASBOURG
FRANCE
Dragana Filipović, ambasador 

Phone +33390/ 22 15 88
Fax: +33388/ 36 09 49
E-mail:

mis.serbia.coe@fr.oleane.com

GERMANY

BOTSCHAFT DER REPUBLIK SERBIEN
Taubert Strasse 18
D-14193 BERLIN
Milan Gojković, otpravnik poslova

Phone +4930 / 895-77-00, 895-77-0222
Telex: 304-652
Fax: 825-22-06
E-mail: info@botschaft-smg.de
Web Site: berlin.mfa.gov.rs

Konzulati RS

 

GENERALKONSULAT DER REPUBLIK SERBIEN
Thueringer Strasse 3
D-60316 FRANKFURT AM MAIN
Rajko Kolarov, generalni konzul

Phone +4969 / 9043-6760
Fax: 433-149
E-mail: info@gksrbfra.de

Konzulati RS

GENERALKONSULAT DER REPUBLIK SERBIEN

Harvestehuder Weg 101
D-20149 HAMBURG
Spasoje Milićević, žeran

Phone +4940 / 416-22-60, 416-22-612
Telex: 213-937
Fax: 410-47-47
E-mail: gk_hamburg@web.de

Konzulati RS

GENERALKONSULAT DER REPUBLIK SERBIEN
Bohmerwaldplatz 2
D-81679 MUENCHEN
Nataša Rašević, Žeran
 
Phone +4989 / 982-475-21, 982-47-50, 982-475-72 
Telex: 524-840
Fax: 981-319
E-mail: gk-minhen@t-online.de

Konzulati RS


GENERALKONSULAT DER REPUBLIK SERBIEN
Taubenstrasse 4
D-70199 STUTTGART
Dobrivoje Vujičić, žeran

Phone +49711 / 601-706-0, 601-706-22,
601-706-71, 601-70-636, 601-706-32
Telex: 722-618
Fax: 649-40-48
E-mail: gk-stutgart@t-online.de

 GENERALKONSULAT DER REPUBLIK SERBIEN
Klosterstrasse 79
D-40211 DUESSELDORF
Vlado Ljubojević, generalni konzul

Phone +49211 / 239-55-00
Telex: 858-68-27
Fax: 679-86-36
E-mail: yukonzdis@freenet.de 

AMBASSADE DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE DE SERBIE
106, Vassilissis Sophias Ave.
11527 ATHENES
GREECE
Dragan Županjevac, ambasador

Phone +30210 / 777-43-44, 777-43-55
Fax: +30210 / 779-64-36
E-mail: beograd@hol.gr
Web: www.embassyofserbia.gr 

CONSULAT DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE DE SERBIE
25, Evrou St.
11527 ATHENES
GREECE

Phone +30210 / 777-43-44, 777-43-55
Fax: +30210 / 779-64-36

CONSULAT GENERAL DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE DE SERBIE
Komninon 4
54624 THESSALONIKI
GREECE
Milan Dimitrijević, generalni konzul

Phone +302310 / 244-265, 244-266,
244-267
Telex: 412-605
Fax: 240-412
Web site: www.consulatesrb.gr
E-mail: srbcons@otenet.gr

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
Groot Hertoginnelaan 30
2517 EG The Hague
The Netherlands / HOLLAND
Čedomir Radojković, ambasador
 
Phone + 31 70 / 363-23-97, 363-23-93, 363-68-00
Fax: 360-24-21
E-mail: embassy.hague@mfa.gov.yu
Web site: users.bart.nl/~yuambanl

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
Dozsa Gyorgy ut 92/b
H-1068 BUDAPEST VI
HUNGARY
Dejan Šahović, ambasador

Phone +361 / 322-98-38, 342-85-12,
352-88-47, 322-14-36, 322-14-37, 342-0566
Telex: 225-117
Fax: 322-14-38, 352-88-46
E-mail: budapest@amb.srbije.net
Web: http://budapest.mfa.gov.rs/

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
3/50 G.Niti Marg Chanakyapuri
110021 NEW DELHI
INDIA
Nataša Đorđević, otpravnik poslova

Phone +9111 / 2687-36-61, 2687-20-73
Telex: 72 365
Fax: 2688-55-35
E-mail: office@embassyofserbiadelhi.net.in
Trade: trade@embassyofserbiadelhi.net.in
Consular Affairs: consul@embassyofserbiadelhi.net.in
Web: www.embassyofserbiadelhi.net.in

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
J.1.Cokroaminoto No.109
JAKARTA PUSAT
INDONESIA
Zoran Kazazović, ambasador

Phone +6221 / 314-35-60, 314-37-20, 334-157
Telex: 69-139 YUAMBA IA
Telefax: 314-36-13
E-mail: embjakarta@serbian-embassy.org

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
Velenjak avenue, 9 th street, nr. 9
TEHERAN -19858 P.O.Box 11365-118
IRAN
Fahrudin Mekić, otpravnik poslova

Phone +9821 / 2241-25-69, 2241-25-70,
Fax: 2240-28-69
E-mail: serbembteh@parsonline.net

 

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
Jadriya Babil District Mahala 923, ZUKAK 35, Building No.16
BAGHDAD
IRAQ
Dragan Pješivac, otpravnik poslova

P.O.Box 2061 Alwiyah
Phone +9641 / 778-78-87
Teleks: 212-277
Fax: +9641/778-04-89
E-mail: embsrbag@yahoo.com

AMBASCIATA DELLA REPUBBLICA DI SERBIA
Via dei Monti Parioli 20
00197 ROMA
ITALIA
dr. Sanda Rašković-Ivić, ambasador

Phone +3906 / 320-07-96,320-08-90,
320-08-05 (dezurni), 320-09-59
Telex: 616-303
Fax: 320-08-68
E-mail: amb@ambroma.com

 

CONSOLATO GENERALE DELLA REPUBBLICA DI SERBIA
Via Matilde Serao 1
20144 MILANO
Ivana Pejović, generalni konzul
 
Phone +3902 / 481-20-19, 481-24-90, 481-72-47
Telex: 353-676
Fax: 4801-04-26
E-mail: gkserbia@milano-gk.191.it 

CONSOLATO GENERALE DELLA REPUBBLICA DI SERBIA
Strada del Friuli 54
34136 TRIESTE
Vladimir Nikolić, generalni konzul

Phone +39040 / 410-125, 410-126
Telex: +39040 / 460-067
Fax: +39040 / 421-697
E-mail: gkrstrst@spin.it

 

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA – KUWAIT
BLOCK NO. 7
STREET NO. 12
WILLA 3
JABRIYA – KUWAIT
KUWAIT
Zlatan Maltarić, otpravnik poslova

Phone:   +965 / 2532 75 48,
             +965 / 2532 75 49,
             +965 / 2532 54 02
Telefax: +965 / 2532 75 68
E-mail: embrskw@qualitynet.net

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
Sh.Turkiya 14-16
P.O.Box 1087
TRIPOLI
S.P.L.A.J.- LIBYA
Dušan Simeonović, ambasador

Phone +21821 / 333-54-04, 333-33-92, 333-08-19
Telex: 20705
Fax: 333-41-14
E-mail: serbianembassy_tripoli@yahoo.com

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
Ul. Pitu Guli 8, SKOPLJE
MAKEDONIJA
Zoran Popović, ambasador

Phone +3892 / 3129-298, 3131-299, 3128-422,
3129-305
Fax: 3129-427, 3131-428
E-mail: srbamb@unet.com.mk
Web: www.scgembassy.org.mk

AMBASSADE DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE DE SERBIE
23, Avenue Mehdi Ben Barka
B.P.5014 Souissi
RABAT
MAROC
Stanislav Stakić, ambasador

Phone +212 537 752 201, +212 537 753 770
Fax: +212 537 753 258
E-mail: sermont@menara.ma

EMBAJADA DE LA REPÚBLICA DE SERBIA
Av. Montanas Rocallosas No.515
Lomas de Chapultepec
11000 MEXICO: D.F.
MEXICO
Milisav Paić, ambasador

Phone +5255 / 5520-05-24, 5520-25-23
Telex: 177-13-31
Fax: 5520-99-27
E-mail: embajadaserbia@alestra.net.mx

 

AMBASADA REPUBLIKE SRBIJE

PODGORICA

Montenegro
Zoran Lutovac, Ambassador

Phone: 00382-20-667-305, 00382-20-667-565
Fax: 00382-20-664-301
Consular section:
Phone: 00382-20-667306
E-mail: embassy.podgorica@mfa.rs

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
Drammensveien 105
0244 OSLO
NORWAY
Vladislav Mladenović, ambasador

Phone +47/ 23 08 68 58; 23 08 68 57
Fax: +47/ 22 55 29 92
E-mail: ambasada@serbianembassy.no
Consular:
Phone +47/ 23 08 68 52;
konzularno@serbianembassy.no
Web site: www.serbianembassy.no

AMBASSADE DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE DE SERBIE
AI.Ujazdowskie 23/25
00-540 VARSOVIE
POLOGNE
Bogojević Radojko, ambasador

Phone +4822 / 628-51-61, 625-60-41, 625-60-52
Fax: 629-71-73
E-mail: embassy.warsaw@mfa.rs
 

EMBAIXADA DA REPÚBLICA DA SERBIA
Av.Das Descobertas 12 – Restelo
1400-092 LISBOA
PORTUGAL
Duško Lopandić, ambasador

Phone +35121 / 301-53-11, 301-53-12
Telex: 12-103
Fax: 301-53-13
E-mail: serviaemba@netcabo.pt

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
Calea Dorobantilor Nr.34
RO-BUCHAREST
ROMANIA
Zoran. S. Popović, ambasador

Phone +4021 / 211-98-71, 211-98-72, 211-98-73
Telex: 92-535
Fax: 210-01-75
E-mail: mail@ambserbia.ro
Web: www.ambserbia.ro 

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
Mosfiljmovskaja 46
R-119285 MOSKVA RUSSIA
Jelica Kurjak, ambasador
 
Phone +7499 / 147-41-06, 147-90-08
147-41-05, 147-41-08
Telex: 414-423
Fax: +7495 /937-96-15,
+7499 /147-41-04
E-mail: ambasada@co.ru

AMBASSADE DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE DE SERBIE
Butkova 38
81104 BRATISLAWA
SLOVAKIA
Danko Prokić, ambasador

Phone +4212 / 544-31-927, 544-31-928, 544-31-929
Konzularno odeljenje: 544-31-935
Tel./Fax: 544-31-933
E-mail: embassy.serbia@internet.sk
Web site: bratislava.mfa.gov.rs

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
Slomskova 1
1000 Ljubljana
Slovenia
dr Predrag Filipov, ambasador
 
Phone +3861 / 438-01-11, 438-01-10
Sekretarijat: 438-01-20
Fax: 434-26-88, 434-26-89
E-mail: ambasada@ambasadasrbije.si
Web: www.ambasadasrbije.si

EMBAJADA DE LA REPÚBLICA DE SERBIA
Calle de Velazquez 162
E-28002 MADRID
SPAIN
Jela Baćović, ambasador
 
Phone +3491 / 563-50-45, 563-50-46, 564-22-50, 562-60-40
Fax: 563-04-40
E-mail: office@embajada-serbia.es
Web site: www.embajada-serbia.es

AMBASSADE DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE DE SERBIE
Seminarstrasse 5
CH-3006 BERNE
SUISSE
dr Milan St. Protić, Ambasador
 
Phone +4131 / 352-63-53, 352-63-54, 352-63-55
Telex: 912-848
Fax: 351-44-74
Web Site: www.ambasadasrbije.ch
E-mail: info@ambasadasrbije.ch

 
CONSULAT GENERAL DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE DE SERBIE
Alfred-Escher-Strasse 4,
8002 ZURICH
SUISSE
Svetlana Stanković, žeran

Phone +44 20 20 273; 20 20 274;
Fax: +44 20 20 278
E-mail: info@konzulat.ch
Web site: www.konzulat.ch

MISSION PERMANENTE DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE DE SERBIE
AUPRES DES NATIONS UNIES
5, Chemin Thury
CH-1206 GENEVA  SUISSE
mr Slobodan Vukčević, ambasador

Phone +4122 / 839-33-44, 839-33-41
Fax: 839-33-59
E-mail: misija-zeneva@bluewin.ch
 

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
Valhallavagen 70
P.O.Box 26209
S-10041 STOCKHOLM
SWEDEN
Prof. dr Ninoslav Stojadinović, ambasador

Phone +468 / 218-436, 218-482, 218-485, 247-748
Fax: 218-495
E-mail: serbiaemb@telia.com

AMBASSADE DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE DE SERBIE

4, Rue de Liberia, 1002 Tunis-Belvedere
TUNISIE
Ivan Kandijaš, otpravnik poslova

Phone +21671 / 780-624, 794-626, 783-057
Telex: 18-399
Fax: 796-482
E-mail: amb.serbia@gnet.tn

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
Paris Caddesi No. 47,
P.K.28
06691 Kavaklidere,
Ankara,
Turkey
Vladimir Ćurgus, ambasador

Phone +90312 / 426-02-36, 426-24-32
Telex: 46-680
Fax: 427-83-45
E-mail: embserank@tr.net

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
2134, Kalorama Road, N.W.
WASHINGTON.D.C.20008
USA
Vladimir Petrović, ambasador

Phone +1 202 / 332-0333
Fax:+1 202 / 332-3933, 332-5974
E-mail: info@serbiaembusa.org
Web site: www.serbiaembusa.org
 

PERMANENT MISSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
854, Fifth Avenue
NEW YORK, N.Y.10021
Feodor Starčević, ambasador

Phone +1 212 / 879-87-00, 879-87-01, 879-87-02,
879-87-03
Fax: 879-87-05
E-mail: info@serbiamissionun.org
Web: www.un.int/serbia/

CONSULATE GENERAL OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

62 West 45th Street, 7 Floor,
NEW YORK, NY 10036, USA
Branko Radošević, generalni konzul

Phone: 991212/ 5964 241
Telefax: 991212/5964 363
E-mail: consulategeneralserbia@verizon.net
Web: www.serbiaconsulatenyc.com

CONSULATE GENERAL OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

201 East Ohio Street, Suite 200
CHICAGO, IL 60611
Desko Nikitović, generalni konzul

Phone: 1 (312) 670-6707
Fax: 1 (312) 670-6787
E-mail: info@scgchicago.org
Web site: www.scgchicago.org

HONORARY CONSULATES

Mr. Jonathan Lawrence Vinnik
Honorary Consul General of the
Republic of Serbia 
Attn. Kim Kilmer
1700 W. Lincolnway
Cheyenne, CO 82001
Phone: (307) 635-8931
E-mail: vinnik@worldnet.att.net

Mr. Steven H. Katich
Honorary Consul General of the
Republic of Serbia 
999 18th Street, Suite 2250
Denver, CO 80202
Phone: (303) 898-2353
E-mail: stevenkatich@hotmail.com

Mr. Gregory Rusovich
Honorary Consul General of the
Republic of Serbia 
Transoceanic Shipping Co. Inc
32 East Airline Drive
Kenner , LA 70062
Phone: (504) 465-1000
Fax: (504) 465-1023
E-mail: Gregory@transoceanic.com  

Mr. Alex Machaskee
Honorary Consul General of the
Republic of Serbia 
Key Tower
127 Public Square, Box 33
Cleveland, OH 44114
Phone: (216) 344-2010
Fax: (216) 344-2015
E-mail: alex1801@aol.com

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
28 Belgrave Square
LONDON SW1X 8QB
UNITED KINGDOM
Dejan Popović, Ambasador
 
TEL 44 207 235 9049
FAX 44 207 235 7092
E-mail: london@serbianembassy.org.uk
Web Site: www.serbianembassy.org.uk

 *** SAMPLE LETTER ****** SAMPLE LETTER ***

Select your embassies from the above listing, copy the sample letter into the mail.

‘CC’ the letter to all given in the ‘Complete Block Listing’ given above or below.  Add (cut and paste) any jpeg images to your mail if you wish from out selection below; then simply send !

——————-  ** —————————————

Date: 

To: the Diplomatic representative of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia,

Located in (Country) : *** ENTER your country HERE ***

I give my full support to the call that the Decree of mountain tourism development program on Mt. Stara Planina (Official Gazette of Republic of Serbia: No. 85/2007), now be declared as illegitemate.

The names of all animal and plant figures detailed within this letter are classified under their full scientific (species) names in the petition found at:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-staraplanina-petition

I request that the Government of Serbia, as a signatory of existing international environmental legislation, respects all existing Serbian and international laws and conventions associated with same. 

I request a full revision of the Spatial and Master Plan for Nature Park Stara Planina and I request full consideration be given to alternative tourism development (agro-ecotourism, ethno tourism) and other sustainable and legal measures for improving the quality of life of the Mt. Stara Planina rural communities.

I am aware that Canadian and Serbian companies / organisations jointly constructed the Master Plan for tourism development on Stara Planina including a pre-investment study with physical and technical characteristics of ski center. During their work, they completely ignored the necessary legal procedure to contact the Institute for Nature Protection, and by that ignored the environmental protection law 

These violations of the legal procedures broke the Law for Protection of Natural Environment by articles No. 34, No. 49, No. 51 and No. 127 (Official Gazette of Republic of Serbia: No. 66/91, No. 83/92, No. 53/93, No. 67/93 and No. 153/2004). 

Within the now proposed Nature Park at Stara Planina, will be constructed about 40 ski lifts, nearly 30  ski tracks (in total length of more then 100 km) and 2 large tourist complexes on locations which are of exceptional significance for conserving the biodiversity.

This huge tourism center will have capacity for up to 40.000 people (according to the Master Plan) and is situated on the shoulders of the highest parts of the mountain – peaks Midzor (2170m), Babin zub (1758m), Tupanar (1964m).  The cost of the project during several developing years is between 260 million and 300 million Euros.

One of the centres (the largest one) will be on one peat meadow Jabu Dko ravni, which opposes the Ramsar Convention for wet-lands which Serbia has ratified. Also, Dojkino vrelo peat meadow, also on the list of high priority localites for protection under Ramsar Convention, will be used as a water source for the future ski resort.

Unforunately, the Government of Serbia already has constructed the first ski lift in the Babin zub area in 2006, without any planning documents and violating Serbian legislation.  

The first ski track was opened on 30th December 2006 next to the peak Babin zub, causing huge erosion. Therefore, this was the first big illegal activity and destruction which was conducted on the Mt. Stara Planina by the Government of Serbia (Ministry of Infrastructure and Ministry of Economy and Regional Development).

On that occasion, 6 official laws of Republic of Serbia were violated: also additional to this were a Decree on the Protection of Park of Nature Stara planina (Official Gazette of Republic of Serbia: No. 19/97),  Law for Protection of Natural Environment and a Decree on the Protection of Natural Rarities.

On Babin Zub, ski lifts have already been constructed and enormous forest complexes have been cut through for planning ski routes.  On the barren steep mountainous ground, inevitable land slides and erosion have been initiated and it is only a question of time when the remaining thinned out fragments of century old spruce forests will also be damaged. Immeasurable destruction has already been made by widening the existing road to the ski lifts. Forest complexes have been destroyed and water errosion is already causing significant damage.

The amount of money which Republic of Serbia (Ministry of Infrastructure and Ministry of Economy and Regional Development) wants to invest only during 2008 in building ski paths, infrastructure and equipment for artificial snow and ski lifts, is 31,213,000 Euros. Such a sum is sufficient to provide 100,000 sheep, 500 tractors with  accessory machinery and finance of up to 20,000 Euros per Stara Planina house-hold for tourist categorization, house reconstruction and adaptation for ethno tourism. The stated amount is enough for supporting development of at least 500 house-holds willing to start agricultural or any other kind of production, processing or services (with 100% financing from the state),

However, it is neither possible to find evidence of social surveys of local communities nor details of local community consultation by the creators of the Spatial and Master Plan (Ministry of Infrastructure and Ministry of Economy and Regional Development for Stara planina. Since this is the case, it is not honest to claim transparency in realization of this project.

It is claimed that the Master Plan has been built upon detailed analysis of recognized potentials of Stara planina. Another serious anomaly of the project is to highlight that there is a 5 month season under snow at altitudes above 1700 metres. In recent years, the Balkan Peninsula is one of Europe’s region’s where climate change is most recognizable. Ironically, the opening of the first ski lift on the mountain on 30th December 2006 is remembered for the season when MINIMAL QUANTITIES of snow fell in Serbia.

Sadly however, on that day, illegal government activities became official. 

The Serbian Government proclaimed in 1997 Stara Planina as a Nature Park, enjoying the First Category of Protection – as of utmost importance for the country. 

Stara Planina also has the status of a significant International region. It is on the list for International Important Birds, on the list for International Important Plant Areas, on the list of Prime Butterfly Areas in Europe, on the preliminary list of Cross-border Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO protection (Man and Biosphere, UNESCO), on the list of Important Ramsar Sites (peat meadows), on the Emerald list (sites significant for conserving the European ecological network), and also on the list of cross-border protected region placed in the European programme Green Belt (IUCN), on the list of ProGEO geological heritage sites under The European Association for the Conservation of the Geological Heritage.

There are 344 moss species on Mt. Stara Planina. Among them are numerous species which are supposed to be protected by various international and Serbian laws. Species that live on decaying wood and peat meadows are very threatened. One great danger for these species are the hydro-geological works, because of great changes in the water balance of their habitat. Under great threat is Buxbaumia viridis, which is protected within the Bern Convention and Habitat Directive in the whole of Europe, because of habitat destruction (wet tree trunks) which is threatened because of the forest destruction.

With ski-centre construction on the Jabucko ravniste, the peat meadow and water usage from Dojkino vrelo peat meadow, two most important peat meadows will be destroyed. This is a direct threat for all peat meadow associated moss species.

Diversity of flora in the Serbian part of the Stara Planina mountain (the other half is in Bulgaria) with at least 1195 growing plant species, of which 116 (9,7% from all recorded species) are locally or regionally endemic. Endemics are the most threatened category and also the most important floristic elements for the biodiversity. An example of the danger of wild tourism development is seen in the near extinction of Winged Bell (Campanula calycialata) which grew only on Stara planina.  One part of this fragile population was destroyed during the first phases of the project.

On Stara Planina grow 9 species from the World Red List,

42 species are on the  European Red List of which 4 are CRITICALLY endangered, 3 species from the Habitat Directive (Gentiana lutea), 45 species from the CITES list (41 species of orchids), 179 species with the regional IUCN threat status, 14 species from the National Red List and 153 species from that are protected in various ways by the Serbian national legislature. Also, 21 plant species are LOCALLY CRITICALLY endangered (IUCN YUCR)

From the Decree on the Protection of Natural Rarities (Official Gazette of Republic of Serbia: No. 50/93) 40 species are present and therefore IT IS ILLEGAL to damage and destroy their habitat. The Bern Convention also protects 2 species growing on the mountain.  Peat meadows are habitats for dozens of endemic plant species. On the peat meadows of Stara Planina, grow about  50-70 endemic species on average, one of the most important is Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia), a very rare and very threatened insectivorous plant species which became extinct in other parts of Serbia. It should be remembered that mountain peat meadows today represent the most scarce and threatened World ecosystems. According to IUCN categorization, they are specified among fragile (very sensitive) ecosystems, in which the smallest changes of abiotic and biotic factors are CRITICAL (the disappearance of only 1-2 species can result in total COLLAPSE of the system.). 

Construction of ski tracks (which involves both logging and bulldozing activites) on fragile steep slopes will unavoidably begin a process of erosion; this has already happened on some parts of the mountain where development was illegally started.

On Stara Planina live 136 species of butterflies, of which 3 are protected by the Bern Convention, 4 are declared as national rarities by the Decree on the Protection of Natural Rarities by IUCN categorization.

Of the butterflies that live on Stara Planina, THERE ARE 6 ENDANGERED SPECIES.

From the European conservation concern, there are 14 species recorded which are crucially dependent on peat meadow vegetation – and at least three of the species are living on the territory of the planned mega ski resort (Babin zub, Midzor, Topli Do).

Considering fish fauna of the mountain (26 species), the most important is Brown Trout In addition, in the cold mountain rivers lives the Golden Loach (Sabanejewia aurata) which is under protection by the Decree on the Protection of Natural Rarities. Also, the Bern Convention issues protection of six fish species which also live in the streams and rivers of Stara Planina Mt.

With the use of mountain springs as water sources for the demands of proposed tourist accommodation facilities, severe damage to the current water balance is expected, and the resulting effects on aquatic animals will be extremely harmful. Numerous streams and small rivers that are fragile ecosystems will also be threatened by pollution from effluent and drainage.

On Stara Planina live 18 species of amphibians and reptiles, of which 10 are protected under the Bern Convention, while 8 are protected by the Decree on the Protection of Natural Rarities. It is almost certain that many species will be lost if  and when the works proceed.

So far, 206 bird species are recorded on Stara Planina. From that number, 140 bird species are protected by the Bern Convention, but some of them have ALREADY BECOME EXTINCT recently on Mt. Stara Planina due to human activity.

Localities are under consideration for development which will endanger nesting / bird species which have bred there in the recent past and which are currently protected by both the Bern Convention and the Decree on the Protection of Natural Rarities.

It is of great importance for every one of the above flora and fauna species that THEIR HABITAT REMAINS PRESERVED, and is not ruined by government ploitical ignorance of environmental legislation.

There are some 60 species of mammals on Stara Planina, among which some are very rare, including the Snow Vole (Chionomys nivalis), also an extremely rare living fossil of Tertiary origin which lives on the highest slopes of the mountain; it is directly threatened by the ski resort.

Together with Snow Vole, under the Decree on the Protection of Natural Rarities, an additional 19 mammal species and their habitat are protected. Under the direct threat of habitat destruction are the Lynx (Lynx lynx), Marbled Polecat Vormela peregusna, Mole Rat (Spalax leucodon), Suslik (Spermophilus citellus), Water Shrew (Neomys fodiens) and the Southern Water Shrew (Neomys anomalus). The Bern Convention, Apendix II is protecting 6 species: Suslik (S. citellus) Brown Bear (Ursus arctos), Marbled Polecat (Vormela peregusna), Grey Wolf (Canis lupus), Wild Cat (Felis silvestris) and Otter (Lutra lutra), while Apendix III also protects an additional 12 species.

Only the Grey Wolf and Wild Cat in Serbia are not protected by law and sadly enough, considered as game animals by Serbian hunters who have a love for the destruction of nature. Animals detailed above, especially those from Apendix II, are now seriously threatened with habitat destruction from the building and future existence of the ski resort.

According to many scientific findings, this kind of tourism is likely to be unsustainable due to climate change (higher warming temperatures and lower snow yield), strong competition in the region and diversity destruction which will take result.

It is vigorously recommended that an alternative of rural (agro / eco and ethnic) tourism should be developed and made profitable on a sustainable basis without  any major habitat destruction.

This would require less investment and would benefit and preserve the local communities. This kind of tourism would very much improve the quality of life of local people by enabling them to find additional outlets for their food and craft products and local services.

Eco-tourism has been previously recommended by IUCN as the only acceptable kind of tourism development of this region. Also the World Bank is now working on a project with local communities to improve ecological management of Stara Planina Nature Park (142,000 ha), biodiversity and sustainable natural resource-use incorporated in a major agricultural and rural development program, for example including c.30,000 ha of grasslands under sustainable grazing.

Finally, I feel that the current proposals and objectives set by the current government of Serbia for the development of Stara Planina ski resort facilities are generally illegal under existing environmental and flora / fauna protection legislation as previously detailed.

I will be presenting this information to my own national government political representatives asking them to express their concerns to your (Serbian) government with regard Stara Planina development.

The proposals for development of this facility are not acceptable; I ask you to stop all development, or face a possible legal challenge under the international legislations detailed above.

Yours truly,

Name :

Nationality :

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Don’t Forget –

If you wish, and we would advise, you could also ‘CC’ your (sample) letter to the following addresses; these will be in addition to your embassy e mail address which you have selected earlier from the listing:

** COMPLETE BLOCK LISTING – This is an additional ‘CC’ list to add to your embassy contact selected earlier (as above).

predsednikvladesrbije@gov.rs,  kabinet.zpv@sr.gov.yu,  muprs@mup.gov.rs,  kabinet.potpredsednika@gov.rs,  foreignpress@srbija.sr.gov.yu,  oliver.dulic@ekoplan.gov.rs,  kabinet@ekoplan.gov.rs,  info@ekoplan.gov.rs,  webmaster@ekoplan.gov.rs, kabinet@mpravde.sr.gov.yu,  office@sepa.gov.rs,  slavisa.popovic@sepa.gov.rs, Ivica.radovic@ekoplan.gov.rs, Radislav.momirov@ekoplan.gov.rs  ,  maric.ljiljana@ekoplan.gov.rs,     svetlana.draskovic@ekoplan.gov.rs,  jasmina.jovic@ekoplan.gov.rs,  jzivanovic@predsednik.rs,  kabinet@minpolj.gov.rs,  svenik2003@yahoo.com,  snezana.poledica@minpolj.gov.rs, kabinet@mfin.gov.rs,  dusan.pajkic@minpolj.gov.rs,  direkcija@skijalistasrbije.rs, kabinet@merr.gov.rs,  press@merr.gov.rs,  nrs@vinca.rs,  stavretovic@zzps.rs,  beograd@zzps.rs,  jasmina@zzps.rs,  sladjana-krasulja@zzps.rs,  maja@zzps.rs, 

redakcija@gradjanski.rs,  redakcija@blic.rs,  redakcija@novosti.rs,  sr@radiosubotica.co.rs,  redakcija@politika.rs,  redakcija@glas-javnosti.co.yu,  radisa.kricak@b92.net,  zeljko.bajic@b92.net,  redakcija@kurir-info.co.yu,  redakcija@dnevnik.rs,   aleksandra.gazivoda@b92.net

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Finally, enjoy the video:

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-6780866119360461696&ei=yk-QSqbXIMOG-Qahj_iUAg&hl=en

Pictures to copy and paste into your embassy letter should you wish to include:

save stara planina

SP7

BZ19

 SP11

BZ20

SP5

BZ11

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, DOCUMENTS, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, GLOBAL PETITIONS - Anything Animal, Anywhere !, LETTERS, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering), SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia, SUPPORTERS, The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE | Leave a comment »

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