ASCE President at the Regional Conference in Belgrade

On June 4-5, 2024, the "Public Utilities For All" conference was held in Belgrade, Serbia, with ASCE President as one of the guest speakers.

About the event

The Association for Communal Activities of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce organized the Regional Conference titled "Public Utilities For All", which took place on June 4th and 5th, 2024, at the Metropol Hotel in Belgrade, Serbia.

The concept of public utilities encompasses essential services provided by public institutions or private companies under strict regulatory frameworks to ensure access for all citizens. These services typically include water supply, waste management, public transport, and markets.

The "Public Utilities For All" conference emphasized the importance of ensuring that all citizens, regardless of economic status, location, or other factors, have access to these basic services. It was the first event of its kind and, in addition to addressing general topics relevant to communal services, the conference also featured special panels and thematic discussions on specific sectors.

The conference successfully brought together experts from the public and private sectors, academia, and civil society to discuss the latest trends, challenges, and solutions in the field of public utilities from Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. One of the guest speakers was ASCE President, Mrs Lidija Pliberšek, who presented the work of the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe.

You can find the event program HERE.

*Photos source: https://komorars.ba/

AGM and Conference 2022 overview

The unexpected, joyful, unravelling, friendly and above all multicultural days in Belgrade seeded new seeds into ASCE.

Steering committee of ASCE met on Wednesday to discuss the current state and activities. Looking into various options on how to continue far beyond 2022. Why, where and how do members want to continue working on our mission.

Online and offline, discussion was fruitful and rewarding, opening new frontiers.

Many new and old ASCE AGM participants saluted each other at the welcome drink. Warmly engaging into the discussions about the past. Noting the first colours of the future.

The usual rush of the morning AGM registrations was quickly disappearing in the relaxed atmosphere of our hosting city.

AGM schedule was loose enough to allow proper presentation of the important topics while leaving enough time for debates.

After the lunch conference presentations delved participants into the Cemeteries for Everybody theme through various presentations.

Evening walk through the New cemetery of Belgrade served us in many ways. From immense space to the multicultural diversity, our hosting city main cemetery finely contributed to the conference theme and even more to the discussions on the future.

An amazing day ended with a unique gala dinner in the most bohemian restaurant “Tri šešira” of the bohemian quartier Skadarlija.

Singing and even dancing through the poems and songs for everybody concluded a splendid first official day of our annual meetings.

Day two continued on the conference theme, bringing together even those who could not be with us in person.

Thoughtful presentations engaged several comments and discussions that went out through the day until the evening farewell drink.

Unfortunately due to the weather we just missed the visit to the Zemun cemetery.

Above all however the AGM in Belgrade seeded new seeds as expected.

Steering committee and participants agreed that our network must grow and build even stronger relationships in the future. Taking our beautiful history and turning it into a valuable resource for the future.

You can find the official AGM report HERE.

AGM 2022 report

On September 15th 2022, the Annual General Meeting took place in the House of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in Belgrade.

Over 60 participants from 16 countries signed up for another memorable meeting and conference. The event was a great success in terms of knowledge and ideas exchanged and was characterized by a relaxed atmosphere and the immense hospitality of our hosts.

AGM was preceeded by Mrs Lidija Pliberšek, president of ASCE and all steering committee members were present or gave proxy to other members. Members were present in the second call for assembly to be able to take decisions. During the AGM several things were outlined and discussed:

1. Introduction: Welcome speech and presentation by Mr Vladan Đukić (director of our host JKP "Pogrebne usluge") and Mrs Lidija Pliberšek (president of ASCE).

2. 20 years of ASCE book:  A special edition printed book was published in 2022 that celebrated the 20th anniversary of ASCE in 2021. All members present at this year's AGM received their copy as a gift. Other members will receive the book by post.

3. Financial report: A review of the financial status and situation of ASCE was presented by Mrs Lidija Pliberšek.

4. Membership fee: Steering committee decided about the membership fees for the year 2023. Fees are available on the ASCE website here.

5. New significant cemeteries procedure:  A new significant cemeteries recognition method was presented by Mr Ian Dungavell.

6. New members: New members and significant cemeteries were presented by Mr Ian Dungavell and received the official membership certificat which was handed to them by ASCE president, Mrs Lidija Pliberšek. New ASCE members and significant cemeteries are:

• Association Alma Finalis APS, Finale Emilia (Modena), Italy and the Jewish Cemetery in Finale Emilia
• La Maquinilla Association, Peñarroya-Pueblonuevo (Córdoba), Spain and the Saint George`s Cemetery that includes the French cemetery
• City Council of Varese - Civic Museums, Varese, Italy
• Municipality of Lavagna, Lavagna (Genoa), Italy and the Monumental Cemetery of Lavagna
• Council of Castro-Urdiales, Castro-Urdiales, Cantabria, Spain and the Municipal Cemetery of Castro-Urdiales
• Ecumenical Patriarchate, Istanbul, Turkey and the Balikli Patriarchal and Greek Orthodox Cemeteries
• Diplomatic Governing Board of the Feriköy Protestant Cemetery of Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey and the Feriköy Protestant Cemetery 
• City of Clermont-Ferrand , Clermont-Ferrand
• Brotherhood of Our Lady of Lapa, Porto, Portugal
• The City Council of the Municipality of Galati, Galati, Romania and the ”Eternity” (Eternitatea) Cemetery (also a new European Cemeteries Route member)
• Viktorovac City Cemeteries d.o.o. , Sisak, Croatia and the Viktorovac City Cemetery (also a new European Cemeteries Route member)

7. Projects and activities: Past, present and future projects were presented by Mr Dušan Vrban, including:

• importance of ASCE cooporation projects (green torism trends)
• WDEC 2022 and 2023
• Cultural routes crossroads project in practice
• European Cemeteries Route Tour 202x
• Schools on cemeteries (good practice video)

8. European Cemeteries Route: Mr Dušan Vrban presented the European Cemeteries Route and its sucessfull reevaluation, while Mrs Andreea Pop reviewed the Cultural routes of Europe Training Academy and the importance of cooperation with other cultural routes.

9. ASCE in Spain: Mr Miquel Trepat explained how activities and implementation of projects related to cemeteries look like in Spain. Above all, he highlighted the importance of cooperation with different active partners of the community and presented all the challenges and opportunities on concrete examples.

11. Sceintific representatives report: Mrs Andreea Pop and Mr Ian Dungavell reviewed the work of  ASCE Sceintific representatives in the past year.

Photos from AGM 2022

Photos from the AGM and conference 2022 are available in this album.

AGM 2022: Small change of venue location

A minor change of location to the AGM.

Due to unexpected work, the AGM 2022 in Belgrade venue is changed. AGM will be held at the national parliament building at Kralja Milana 14, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.

It is a minor change of location that can be seen in the image below:

AGM 2022: Meet our guides

Get to know the two Art History students who will take us on a guided tour around the New Cemetery in Belgrade as part of the AGM 2022.

Guided tour at the New Cemetery in Belgrade

One of the events during the upcoming AGM will be a guided tour through the New Cemetery in Belgrade.

As a continuation of an intensive work with youth at cemeteries, this year we will have a special treat for the 2022 ASCE AGM & Conference participants. Namely, for several years now our company is taking part in Belgrade Internship Program intended for University Students. Two of our young interns are future Art Historians, who we believe will bring a fresh perspective, and will be our guides through the New Cemetery in Belgrade.

Meet Katarina and Marina

Katarina is 4th year Art History undergraduate student, vivacious and vibrant, but on the other hand serious and meticulous. We believe her to be a future scholar.

Marina is a master’s student of Art History, quiet, easy going, however determined and interested in variety of topics. We are sure she will have a bright future in her filed.

A short guided tour insight

To tickle your imagination, the following is a short insight in what you will be able to see and hear on September 15, 2022, at the New Cemetery in Belgrade.

In addition to many architectural and sculptural treasures of the New Cemetery in Belgrade, including its distinctive Neo-Byzantine style, you will be able to see WWI & WWII military cemeteries, WWI ossuaries, including the Garden of Remembrance (beautiful rose garden intended for accommodation of cremated remains, initially designed with the intention to become a Turkish Military Cemetery).

Our guides will share intriguing stories about many authentic characters: a lawyer and a diplomat who was a personal friend of French Prime Minister and a US President during the Great War, married to an "American Million Dollar Princess"; sculptor who won a gold medal at the Paris World Fair in 1900; intellectual and patriot, who inspired the work of a famous American sculptress called "Modern Crusader";  WWI Field Marshal after whom a mountain located in Alberta, Canada, was named to honor the Serbian sacrifice during the Great War as a part Allied efforts in Europe; and many foreigners who settled in Belgrade in late 1800s and made Serbia their home.

Finally, you will be able to hear a story of a diplomat and politician who initiated the transfer of the urn with cremated remains of the world-renowned scientist Nikola Tesla to Belgrade, including some interesting details about his funeral both in USA and Belgrade, and how his urn ended up in a local museum.

Looking forward to seeing you in Belgrade and sharing many more stories with you!

You can find the whole AGM 2022 program HERE.

AGM 2022: Accommodation in Belgrade

Accommodation options for the AGM 2022, taking place in Belgrade, Serbia, from 15 to 17 September.

About accommodations in Belgrade

• Local check-in time is around 14:00/15:00 hrs., predominantly 14:00 hrs.
• Most of the hotels suggested in this post can organize shuttle bus transportation to the airport at reasonable prices.
• The AGM venue is equipped with underground parking in case participants decide on the hotel a little further from the city center.

Make your reservation

Below you will find a list of accommodations in a relative close proximity (5-30 minutes) to the venue of the Annual General Meeting and Conference 2022.

Of course, you can use booking apps to find some other accommodation options that suit you better.

Either way, we would strongly encourage you to book your accommodation as soon as possible due to a few international events taking place in Belgrade in the same period as the AGM.

Hotel Nobel (23 Visegradska St., Belgrade, Serbia)

• Comfortable hotel in a historic building.
• 54 rooms.
• Approximately 18 minutes on foot to the AGM venue (5 minutes by car and 10 minutes by public transportation).
• Hotel website
• Hotel Facebook page

Mercure Belgrade Excelsior (5 Kneza Milosa St., Belgrade, Serbia)

• Comfortable, reasonably priced little hotel with cozy rooms.
• Located just across the street from the AGM venue.
• Parking available in underground garage under the Belgrade City Assembly.
• Hotel website
• Hotel Facebook page

Belgrade City Hotel (7 Savski trg St., Belgrade, Serbia)

• 150 rooms.
• Centrally located within Savamala district - one of the most vibrant and most rapidly growing areas of Belgrade.
• 10 minutes walk from the AGM venue.
• Very reasonably priced.
• Parking in internal courtyard – should be booked in advance.
• Serving continental and gluten-free breakfast.
• Hotel website

Golden Tulip Zira Belgrade (35 Ruzveltova St., Belgrade, Serbia)

• 127 rooms.
• Located in the vicinity of the New Cemetery of Belgrade.
• Approximately 2 km from the AGM venue and the city center (5 minutes by car, 11 minutes by public transportation, around 20 minutes on foot).
• Underground parking available in the vicinity.
• Hotel website

Holiday Inn Express Belgrade City (23 Ruzveltova St., Belgrade, Serbia)

• 122 rooms.
• Located in the vicinity of the New Cemetery of Belgrade.
• Approximately 2 km from the AGM venue (5 minutes by car, 11 minutes by public transportation, around 15 to 20 minutes on foot).
• Parking available.
• Hotel website

Garni Hotel Heritage (7a Mije Kovačevića St., Belgrade, Serbia)

• 40 rooms.
• Located in the broader center of Belgrade, in the vicinity of the New Cemetery of Belgrade.
• Approximately 3 km from the AGM venue (5 minutes by car, 18 minutes by public transportation, around 30 minutes on foot).
• Parking available in front of the hotel.
• Hotel website

Metropol Palace (69 Bulevear Karalja Aleksandra St., Belgrade, Serbia)

• 236 air-conditioned rooms.
• Located in the center of Belgrade.
• Approximately 1,6 km form the AGM venue (3 minutes by car, 8 minutes by public transportation, around 13 on foot).
• Parking available (possibility of hiring a valet).
• Hotel website

88 Rooms Hotel (49 Takovska St., Belgrade, Serbia)

• Located in the broader center of Belgrade.
• Approximately 2,6 km from the AGM venue (4,5 minutes by car, 10 to 12 minutes by public transportation, 18 minutes on foot).
• Parking available.
• Serving vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free breakfast.
• Hotel website

Amsterdam Hotel (10 Jug Bogdanova, Belgrade, Serbia)

• 41 rooms.
• Located in the city center.
• Approximately 800 meters from the AGM venue (less than 5 minutes by car, 10 minutes on foot).
• Private parking available.
• Hotel website

Garni Hotel Opera (16 Brace Jugovica St., Belgrade, Serbia)

• Prime location in downtown Belgrade.
• Approximately 800 meters from the AGM venue (9 minutes by public transportation and 8 minutes on foot).
• Reasonably priced and well recommended hotel.
• Quiet, in spite of being located in the vicinty of the National Theatre and the main shopping street.
• Hotel website

Garni Hotel Le Petit Piaf (38 Skadarska St., Belgrade, Serbia)

• 18 cozy rooms.
• Located in the heart of Belgrade’s bohemian street of Skadarlija.
• 8 minutes from the AGM venue by public transportation, 12 minutes on foot.
• Garage available (reservations requested).
• Serving continental, vegetarian and gluten-free breakfast.
• Hotel website

Hotel Constantine the Great (27. marta St. No. 12, Belgrade, Serbia)

• Modern, luxury hotel located close to the city center.
• 50 rooms.
• The distance from the AGM venue is approximately 4 minutes by car, 10 minutes by public transportation or 13 minutes on foot.
• Private parking and garage available.
• Hotel website

Hotel Majestic (Obilićev Venac 28, Belgrade, Serbia)

• Main entrance is on the Obilićev Venac 28 while the back entrance is on Maršala Birjuzova 10.
• Built in 1936, Hotel Majestic is proteced as one of Belgrade’s historical landmarks.
• It was the first art deco building of its kind in the capital.
• Located in a quiet street, at the very center of Belgrade.
• The distance from the AGM venue is approximately 6 minutes by car, 8 minutes by public transportation or 10 minutes on foot.
• 83 rooms.
• On-site garage availabe.
• Hotel website

Hotel Envoy (13 Cika Ljubina St., Belgrade, Serbia)

• Modern, cozy, luxury hotel located in the very heart of Belgrade, tucked in a quiet pedestrian street.
• The distance from the AGM venue is approximately 6 minutes by car, 8 minutes by public transportation or 10 minutes on foot.
• Hotel website

AGM 2022: Welcome to Belgrade

Useful information and tips when visiting Belgrade during this year's Annual General Meeting and Conference.

AGM 2022 date and location

The AGM and Conference 2022 will take place on the 15th, 16th, and 17th of September 2022 in the National Assembly of Serbia (Kralja Milana 14, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia), which is:

• Located in downtown Belgrade in the historical building;
• Across the street from the State Assembly Building and beside the Presidential Offices;
• Easy accessible by car & public transportation;
• Underground parking available;
• Nearby city center hotels, restaurants & shopping;
• Cozy green area (city park) just outside the facility.

Easy Access to Belgrade

Belgrade is located at the crossroads of the entire corner of Europe. It is positioned at the intersection of the European E-70 and E-75 highways and can be reached from most of the European cities by 1,5 to 2,5 hours lasting flights.

Where to stay in Belgrade?

We would strongly encourage participants to book their accommodation as soon as possible due to a few international events taking place in Belgrade in the same period as ASCE AGM. Therefore, we have prepared a list of suggested hotels in a relative close proximity (5-30 minutes) to the venue and of a wider price range.

Of course, you can also use booking apps to find some other options.

Belgrade and Belgraders

Belgrade is outspoken, loud and audacious. Its turbulent past unfolds before your eyes: brutalist buildings squeezed between art-nouveau masterpieces and Viennese Secession gems, while the of Austro-Hungarian influences may be seen shoulder to shoulder with the Ottoman Relics.

Belgraders are vivacious, spontaneous, charmingly out of tune with the World as Belgrade itself, always ready to help, sometimes going to the extreme lengths, just to create the best possible experience for the visitor.

Soul food

Rest assured that you will never be hungry in Belgrade. From traditional restaurants in the bohemian district of Skadarlija, to contemporary fusion restaurants, you may taste iconic traditional dishes such as “roštilj” (Serbian barbecue) “sarma” (stuffed cabbage rolls), “gibanica” (cheese pie), or modern elaborate foods from all corners of the World.

Even though Serbia is still predominantly a country of meat eaters, there is an interesting emerging vegan and vegetarian restaurant scene. Anyway, even the most traditional restaurants will always be ready to fulfill most of your wishes food wise, the best they can. Check  10 best vegan eateries in Belgrade.

Top 5 attractions to see in Belgrade

1. Belgrade Fortress - dating from ancient Roman times,constructed all throughout the 1st to the 18th century.
2. Skadarlija Bohemian District - Montmartre of Belgrade with many traditional restaurants.
3. Nikola Tesla Museum - harobors the urn with cremated remains of the world renounced scientist.
4. St. Sava Church - one of the largest Orthodox Christian temples in the World. It can be seen from whatever side a visitor approaches downtown Belgrade.
5. Savamala District - waterfront promenade, vibrant restaurant and club scene.

2022 EU heritage days

Belgrade hosts around 100 festivals, most of them of international character, some well-established. The beginning of the ASCE Conference coincides with the European Heritage days (mid-September to mid- October 2022). The New Cemetery in Belgrade participates in this manifestation since 2014. This year’s topic is “Sustainable Heritage”.

Cemeteries in Belgrade

10 largest urban cemeteries managed by Public Utility Company “Funeral services” Belgrade encompass the area close to 350 hectares, representing the final resting place for more than 720.000 people, while harboring in excess of 300.000 burial places.

Tips for visitors

Watch the awarded official promotional video of Tourist Organization of Belgrade on YouTube: “Belgrade Walk through History and Culture”

The following are some interesting links to explore before you arrive to Belgrade:

• Tourist organization of Belgrade
• Tourist organization of Serbia

We are looking forward to seeing you in Belgrade!

AGM program and sign up

You can find the AGM 2022 program and sign up form at this LINK.

AGM 2022: Guided walk at the Zemun Cemetery

One of the activities that is going to take place during the Annual General Meeting and Conference 2022 is a guided walk around the Zemun Cemetery and the city of Zemun.

About the Zemun Cemetery

At the right bank of the Danube River, high on the Grados Hill, safely tucked behind the defense walls with the bastions and loopholes formerly belonged to the Zemun City rampart, lies the oldest and still operating cemetery in Belgrade, established during the first decades of 18th Century – Zemun Cemetery.

Zemun on the Danube, once an independent city, became a part of Belgrade only in 1934 and is now one of its municipalities. Zemun has a long history and rich cultural heritage, dating form prehistoric times. The city itself welcomed all those who were brought to this diverse environment by historic winds and the Danube River waives.

The Gardos Hill where the cemetery is located, is the oldest part of the settlement, now a core of the Zemun’s old town. For centuries, this cemetery was the final resting place for locals and newcomers alike, wherever they came from. Thy lived and worked together, fought wars, loved and shared passions, whereas many of them gained respect, fortune and even glory.

Over time the three confessions, initially each keeping to its own side of the burial ground blended together: Catholic, Orthodox and Jewish, but also the atheists and those undecided. People of all classes, origin, social status, positions, rich and poor, worriers and victims, they all found their piece together. The Cemetery harbors the catholic chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows, orthodox St Demetrious Chapel, Statue of the Christ Crucifix, in addition to one of the oldest Jewish Cemeteries in Serbia and WWII partisan cemetery. They all came together as equals in eternity: winners and losers of the Great War, worriers and victims of the WWII, each claiming their well-deserved place: aristocratic mausoleums next to ossuaries, grandiose headstones of the rich merchants alongside the modest graves of unknown ordinary citizens, last resting places of clergy and distinguished persons beside the graves of the individuals with “checkered past”.

Shouldering the burden of the city’s history, Zemun Cemetery itself participated in its creation. Once located outside the city walls, the cemetery is now surrounded by residential areas, separated by the gates and the terrain configuration, with the astonishing view to the famous Tower of John Hunyadi, also known as Gardos or Millennium Tower.

AGM 2022 sign up

This year's AGM and Conference will take place on the 15th, 16th, and 17th of September 2022 in the Belgrade City Assembly – Old Court Palace, Dragoslava Jovanovića 2, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.

You can sign up for participation here.