Serbia

VLADICIN HAN - Neither the Ukrainian nor Bosnian scenario will happen in Serbia as long as the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) is in power and has the trust of citizens, SNS leader Aleksandar Vucic said on Saturday.

BELGRADE - President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS) Zeljko Sertic and President of the Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce Jaafar Al-Hamdani signed an agreement on business cooperation on Friday aimed at improving economic relations and facilitating cooperation between businessmen.

BELGRADE - Former minister of economy Sasa Radulovic submitted a slate titled "Enough of That" on Friday evening, fielding 70 candidates for MPs for early parliamentary elections set for March 16.

In a statement to reporters, Radulovic underscored that the objective of his list is the fight against the particracy led by Aleksandar Vucic, leader of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).

BELGRADE - Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic stated on Friday that Serbia has proved to be a reliable partner and an honest friend, and improved its reputation and position in the world, adding that this approach would not change after the early parliamentary elections on March 16.

BELGRADE - Decisions about amending an important law such as labor law cannot be made without respect for opinions of all social partners, Secretary General of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) Bernadette Segol has said.

DUBAI - Serbia's Novak Djokovic failed to defend his title at the ATP tournament in Dubai, losing to Switzerland's Roger Federer 2-1 (3-6, 6-3, 6-2) in the semifinals on Friday.

This has been the 32nd match between the current world no. 2 and the world no. 8, and the 17th defeat for Djokovic.

BELGRADE – The Protector of the Citizens, the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection and the Anti-Corruption Agency appealed Friday to all participants in the election campaign ahead of Serbia’s early parliamentary elections to respect “the letter and spirit of the rules” and to establish a higher degree of self-control and respect for citizens.

BELGRADE - The National Library of Serbia has celebrated its 182nd anniversary on Friday, which also marks the National Book Day.

The ceremony was attended by Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, who pointed to the institution's fundamental role in the preservation of the national identity, language and culture.

BELGRADE - Industrial production in Serbia was by 3.8 percent higher in January 2014 than in the same month in 2013, but it was lower by 12.6 percent relative to the average in 2013, the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia (RZS) released.

BELGRADE - USAID signed a memorandum on understanding with the Republic Geodetic Authority (RGZ) to set up electronic register of urban plans in Serbia which will be put into operation by the end of the year.

The memorandum was signed by Chief of Party of the USAID Business Enabling Project Joe Lowther and RGZ Director Zoran Krejovic.